#foreign policy | The Distraction Index
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#foreign policy
56 events across 25 weeks
3
Damage
30
Hype
23
Noise
8.1
Avg Dmg
35.2
Avg Hype
WEEK 72
May 10 – 16
HYPE
2026-05-10
Rubio Defends New US Sanctions on Cuba
international · narrow
Damage
—
Hype
14.5
HYPE
2026-05-10
Putin Outlines Warning Call with Trump on Ukraine Exit
Policy Change
international · broad
Damage
12.6
Hype
46.8
WEEK 70
Apr 26 – May 2
HYPE
2026-04-26
US Withdraws from Peace Talks with Iran
international · moderate
Damage
—
Hype
70.8
WEEK 69
Apr 19 – 25
HYPE
2026-04-19
Iran Strait of Hormuz Closure and Ceasefire Expiration
Damage
0.0
Hype
87.3
WEEK 68
Apr 12 – 18
HYPE
2026-04-16
Trump Administration Escalates Iran Conflict; Republicans Break Ranks
Policy Change
international · broad
Damage
28.6
Hype
72.3
HYPE
2026-04-15
US Blockade of Iranian Ports Implemented
Resource Reallocation
international · broad
WEEK 67
Apr 5 – 11
HYPE
2026-04-05
Pete Buttigieg Criticizes Trump Budget Priorities
Damage
0.0
Hype
63.0
WEEK 66
Mar 29 – Apr 4
HYPE
2026-03-29
Potential U.S. Military Ground Operations Against Iran
Damage
12.0
Hype
85.0
WEEK 65
Mar 22 – 28
HYPE
2026-03-22
Trump Threatens Iran with Military Action Over Strait of Hormuz
Norm Erosion Only
international · broad
Damage
25.3
Hype
82.3
WEEK 64
Mar 15 – 21
HYPE
2026-03-15
US-Iran Military Conflict Escalates
Damage
18.0
Hype
92.8
WEEK 63
Mar 8 – 14
NOISE
2026-03-12
Noise: Foreign Policy and Economic Analysis
Damage
0.0
Hype
5.5
HYPE
2026-03-10
Cuba Policy Signals
Policy Change
international · moderate
Damage
0.0
Hype
28.0
WEEK 62
Mar 1 – 7
NOISE
2026-03-07
NOISE: Trump Turns Attention to Western Hemisphere at Americas Summit
Damage
0.0
Hype
2.8
HYPE
2026-03-05
Trump Demands Israeli President Pardon Netanyahu
Norm Erosion Only
international · narrow
Damage
0.0
Hype
WEEK 60
Feb 15 – 21
NOISE
2026-02-20
US Plans to Reopen Embassy in Syria After 14 Years
Policy Change
international · narrow
Damage
5.0
Hype
22.8
HYPE
2026-02-19
Trump Board of Peace Initiative Announced with Global Commitments
Policy Change
international · broad
WEEK 59
Feb 8 – 14
NOISE
2026-02-10
US Criminal Investigation Targets Maduro Ally Previously Pardoned by Biden
Enforcement Action
international · narrow
Damage
6.3
Hype
23.5
HYPE
2026-02-06
US Aims for March Peace Deal in Ukraine with Quick Elections
Policy Change
international · broad
WEEK 54
Jan 4 – 10
HYPE
2026-01-09
Republican Senator Calls Greenland Invasion Proposal 'Weapons-Grade Stupid'
Norm Erosion Only
federal · narrow
Damage
0.1
Hype
44.3
DMG
2026-01-09
Trump Administration Pursues Venezuela Regime Change Policy
Policy Change
international · moderate
WEEK 48
Nov 23 – 29
NOISE
2025-11-28
Xi Raises Taiwan Issue in Trump Call
international · broad
Damage
0.0
Hype
19.1
NOISE
2025-11-28
Putin Responds to US Peace Plan for Ukraine Conflict
international · broad
Damage
WEEK 40
Sep 28 – Oct 4
DMG
2025-10-03
Trump Declares Drug Cartels 'Unlawful Combatants' and Orders Military Strikes
Policy Change
international · moderate
Damage
55.3
Hype
32.1
NOISE
2025-10-03
Trump Administration Eyes Access to Ukrainian War Drone Technology
Policy Change
international · narrow
WEEK 36
Aug 31 – Sep 6
NOISE
2025-09-06
Trump Signs Executive Order on Wrongful Detention of Americans
Policy Change
international · narrow
Damage
5.1
Hype
11.4
NOISE
2025-09-06
Trump Administration Eases Travel Restrictions on Corrupt African Leader
Policy Change
international · narrow
WEEK 32
Aug 3 – 9
HYPE
2025-08-09
Trump-Putin Meeting Scheduled for Alaska
Norm Erosion Only
international · broad
Damage
11.9
Hype
52.4
HYPE
2025-08-09
Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Deal Brokered at White House
Information Operation
international · moderate
WEEK 30
Jul 20 – 26
NOISE
2025-07-26
Trump Dismisses Macron's Palestinian State Recognition
international · narrow
Damage
0.2
Hype
16.9
NOISE
2025-07-26
Democratic Senators Demand Investigation of US Citizen Killed in West Bank
international · narrow
WEEK 28
Jul 6 – 12
NOISE
2025-07-12
US Slaps Visa Sanctions on Cuban President
Policy Change
international · narrow
Damage
0.5
Hype
10.6
WEEK 19
May 4 – 10
NOISE
2025-05-10
Trump Heads to Saudi Arabia for Diplomatic Visit
Damage
0.0
Hype
3.6
NOISE
2025-05-10
Trump and Ukraine Diplomacy Efforts
Damage
0.0
Hype
2.1
WEEK 16
Apr 13 – 19
NOISE
2025-04-19
Trump May Abandon Ukraine Peace Talks Within Days
Policy Change
international · narrow
Damage
7.1
Hype
21.6
NOISE
2025-04-19
Trump Administration Reduces U.S. Military Presence in Syria
Policy Change
international · narrow
WEEK 9
Feb 23 – Mar 1
HYPE
2025-03-01
Heated Trump-Zelenskyy Oval Office Confrontation
Norm Erosion Only
international · broad
Damage
2.4
Hype
47.1
HYPE
2025-03-01
Trump Mulls Ending Military Aid to Ukraine
Policy Change
international · narrow
WEEK 7
Feb 9 – 15
DMG
2025-02-15
VP Vance Delivers Blistering Speech to European Allies on Democracy and Russia
Norm Erosion Only
international · moderate
Damage
28.3
Hype
18.1
WEEK 6
Feb 2 – 8
NOISE
2025-02-08
US Reduces Role in Ukraine Defense as UK Expands
Policy Change
international · narrow
Damage
5.0
Hype
14.4
WEEK 2
Jan 5 – 11
HYPE
2025-01-11
Panama Canal Administrator Pushes Back Against Trump Claims of Chinese Meddling
Information Operation
international · narrow
Damage
11.4
Hype
46.1
HYPE
2025-01-11
GOP Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Repurchase Panama Canal
Policy Change
international · narrow
Damage
40.0
Hype
79.3
HYPE
2026-04-12
Trump Downplays Iran Ceasefire Negotiations
Norm Erosion Only
international · broad
Damage
7.8
Hype
59.0
NOISE
2026-04-11
UK Halts Chagos Islands Handover After Trump Withdraws Support
Norm Erosion Only
international · narrow
Damage
0.0
Hype
29.3
HYPE
2026-04-11
Trump Administration Conflict with Pope Over US-Israel Iran War
Norm Erosion Only
international · narrow
Damage
0.0
Hype
81.3
67.3
HYPE
2026-03-05
Trump Says He Must Be Involved in Selecting New Iran Leader
Norm Erosion Only
international · broad
Damage
4.6
Hype
70.0
HYPE
2026-02-27
Trump Administration Targets Oil Shipments to Cuba with New Executive Order
Policy Change
international · narrow
Damage
3.3
Hype
52.5
Damage
8.4
Hype
27.9
HYPE
2026-02-19
Trump Presses Iran with 10-Day Deadline for 'Meaningful' Deal
Policy Change
international · broad
Damage
10.6
Hype
28.2
NOISE
2026-02-19
Trump Mixes Diplomacy and Flattery at Peace Board Meeting
Policy Change
international · moderate
Damage
0.0
Hype
3.8
HYPE
2026-02-18
Trump Discusses Taiwan Arms Sales with China, Raising Concerns
Policy Change
international · narrow
Damage
16.7
Hype
27.5
NOISE
2026-02-13
US Refiner Valero to Import Venezuelan Crude Despite Sanctions
Policy Change
international · moderate
Damage
4.6
Hype
9.1
Damage
21.8
Hype
50.0
HYPE
2026-02-06
Trump Orders Defense Spending Prioritization in Weapons Sales
Policy Change
international · moderate
Damage
10.6
Hype
39.0
Damage
27.8
Hype
22.2
0.0
Hype
12.2
NOISE
2025-11-28
Venezuelan Airline Ban Criticized as Disproportionate
Enforcement Action
international · narrow
Damage
0.5
Hype
3.8
Damage
11.8
Hype
19.4
Damage
11.1
Hype
21.6
Damage
0.0
Hype
48.2
Damage
3.2
Hype
20.0
Damage
9.1
Hype
13.5
Damage
9.8
Hype
24.9
NOISE
2025-03-01
Trump Calls for Immediate Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire
Policy Change
international · narrow
Damage
0.2
Hype
22.3
NOISE
2025-03-01
Trump Administration Approves $3 Billion Arms Sale to Israel
Policy Change
international · narrow
Damage
12.3
Hype
11.2
Damage
0.9
Hype
34.2
HYPE
2025-01-11
Greenland Leader Says He Is Ready to Talk to Trump
Information Operation
international · narrow
Damage
0.0
Hype
27.7
HYPE
2025-01-11
US and UK Impose Sanctions on Russian Energy Sector
Policy Change
international · narrow
Damage
2.5
Hype
30.8