DIThe Distraction Index

#congressional oversight

14 events across 9 weeks

0Damage

5Hype

9Noise

7.1Avg Dmg

24.0Avg Hype

WEEK 84Aug 2 – 8

NOISE2026-08-02

Iran Conflict Enters Sixth Month with White House Strategic Divisions

Norm Erosion Onlyinternational · broad

NOISE2026-08-02

Iran Negotiations and Congressional Transparency Concerns

Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · narrow

WEEK 82Jul 19 – 25

NOISE2026-07-23

Senate Democrats Investigate IRS CEO for Allegedly Misleading Congress

Personnel Capturefederal · narrow

WEEK 78Jun 21 – 27

Bill Pulte Acting DNI Raises Congressional Concerns

Personnel Capturefederal · broad

WEEK 75May 31 – Jun 6

Senator Warren Prods Prediction Markets Regulator Over Bias and Interference Reports

federal · narrow

NOISE2026-06-05

Congress Loses Major Tool to Oversee Agencies

Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · broad

House Passes Ukraine Aid in Rebuke of Trump Policy

federal · narrow

WEEK 68Apr 12 – 18

Senate Republicans Reject Effort to Halt Iran War

Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · broad

Senate to Vote on Reining in Trump's Iran War Powers

Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · broad

WEEK 54Jan 4 – 10

NOISE2026-01-09

Senate Pushes Back on Trump Military Threats Against Venezuela

Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · moderate

NOISE2026-01-09

Senate Votes on Bipartisan War Powers Measure Against Trump Military Threats

Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · moderate

WEEK 24Jun 8 – 14

NOISE2025-06-14

Rep. Maxwell Frost Confronts James Comer Over DHS Subpoena

Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · narrow

WEEK 16Apr 13 – 19

NOISE2025-04-19

Senator Van Hollen Visits Deported Maryland Man in El Salvador

Enforcement Actioninternational · narrow

WEEK 14Mar 30 – Apr 5

NOISE2025-04-05

Columbia University Ordered to Notify Congress Before Sharing Student Records

Judicial/Legal Actionsingle state · narrow