DIThe Distraction Index

#free_speech

17 events across 14 weeks

5Damage
7Hype
5Noise
17.1Avg Dmg
30.2Avg Hype
WEEK 91Sep 20 – 26
HYPE2026-09-18
Trump Administration Speech Restrictions and Institutional Chilling Effect
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · broad
Damage
15.8
Hype
26.5
WEEK 81Jul 12 – 18
NOISE2026-07-16
US Nonprofits Sue Trump Administration Over ICC Sanctions
Enforcement Actionfederal · narrow
Damage
8.0
Hype
22.5
HYPE2026-07-15
Mahmoud Khalil Files Suit Alleging Public-Private Conspiracy to Target Israel Critics
Judicial/Legal Actionfederal · narrow
Damage
23.5
Hype
28.0
WEEK 80Jul 5 – 11
NOISE2026-07-06
New York Resident Sues ICE Over Free Speech Retaliation
Enforcement Actionsingle state · narrow
Damage
4.4
Hype
15.2
WEEK 71May 3 – 9
HYPE2026-05-03
Virginia Tech Speaker Controversy Over Anti-American Remarks
Norm Erosion Onlysingle state · narrow
Damage
0.0
Hype
82.3
WEEK 68Apr 12 – 18
HYPE2026-04-16
YouTube Suspends Pro-Iran Channel Posting Lego-Style Clips Mocking Trump
Information Operationfederal · narrow
Damage
2.1
Hype
71.8
WEEK 45Nov 2 – 8
HYPE2025-11-07
Texas Drag Show Ban Upheld by Federal Appeals Court
Judicial/Legal Actionsingle state · narrow
Damage
26.5
Hype
28.1
WEEK 42Oct 12 – 18
DMG2025-10-17
Government Suppressing Speech to Prevent ICE Raid Warnings
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
30.2
Hype
28.6
HYPE2025-10-17
Florida Teacher Forced to Remove Charlie Kirk Poster After Complaint
Information Operationsingle state · narrow
Damage
3.2
Hype
24.8
WEEK 26Jun 22 – 28
NOISE2025-06-27
Supreme Court Upholds Texas Age Verification Law for Pornographic Websites
Judicial/Legal Actionfederal · broad
Damage
18.3
Hype
21.0
DMG2025-06-23
Mahmoud Khalil Released from ICE Detention After 104 Days
Enforcement Actionfederal · narrow
Damage
43.7
Hype
27.6
WEEK 21May 18 – 24
NOISE2025-05-23
New Jersey Bar Cancels Springsteen Cover Band After Anti-Trump Comments
Information Operationlocal · narrow
Damage
0.4
Hype
17.1
WEEK 20May 11 – 17
NOISE2025-05-17
Professor Sues University of Washington for Penalizing Parody Land Acknowledgement
Judicial/Legal Actionsingle state · narrow
Damage
11.6
Hype
21.4
WEEK 8Feb 16 – 22
DMG2025-02-22
Judge Blocks Trump Executive Order Ending DEI Program Funding
Judicial/Legal Actionfederal · broad
Damage
32.9
Hype
17.8
WEEK 4Jan 19 – 25
HYPE2025-01-24
Weather Reporter Fired for Criticizing Elon Musk
Norm Erosion Onlysingle state · narrow
Damage
1.5
Hype
32.0
WEEK 3Jan 12 – 18
DMG2025-01-18
CBS Owner Considers Settling Trump Lawsuit Over Kamala Harris 60 Minutes Interview
Information Operationfederal · moderate
Damage
35.1
Hype
29.2
WEEK 1Dec 29 – Jan 4
DMG2025-01-04
TikTok and Government Clash in Final Supreme Court Briefs
Judicial/Legal Actionfederal · broad
Damage
33.8
Hype
19.7