Weekly civic intelligence report · v2.2
The Trump administration revoked a scientific finding on carbon emissions, drawing criticism from Oregon officials. This represents rollback of environmental regulations and climate policy.
Constitutional damage (24.88) driven primarily by regulatory capture (4.0) - executive branch overriding scientific findings represents institutional corruption favoring industry interests. Rule of law (3.5) reflects undermining of evidence-based policymaking norms. Separation of powers (2.5) shows executive overreach into scientific determinations. Policy_change mechanism adds 15% modifier; federal scope with broad population adds 20%. Severity: durability 1.1 (can be reversed but sets precedent), reversibility 0.95 (technically reversible but institutional damage persists), precedent 1.15 (normalizes political override of science). Distraction score (17.81) moderate due to outrage_bait (6) and media_friendliness (7) - climate issues generate predictable partisan responses. Layer 2 pattern_match (5) reflects recurring Trump environmental rollback narrative. Intentionality at 6 (pattern consistency, narrative fit). Delta of +7.07 places this in Mixed territory - real institutional harm to scientific integrity in policymaking, but also generates substantial partisan noise that obscures the regulatory capture dynamics.
Monitor for: (1) Industry beneficiaries of revocation and their connections to administration; (2) Career scientist departures or suppression; (3) Legal challenges and judicial responses to political override of scientific findings; (4) Pattern of similar revocations across agencies. The core issue is institutional capture of regulatory science, not climate policy per se. Track whether media coverage focuses on partisan climate debate (distraction) versus corruption of evidence-based governance (substance).