DIThe Distraction Index

#institutional capture

33 events across 18 weeks

10Damage
16Hype
7Noise
26.5Avg Dmg
37.0Avg Hype
WEEK 84Aug 2 – 8
HYPE2026-08-03
Trump v. Smithsonian: White House Fight Over 'Woke' History
federal · narrow
Damage
—
Hype
50.8
HYPE2026-08-02
Trump Proposes Drastic Smithsonian Budget Cuts Citing 'Woke Ideology'
Resource Reallocationfederal · moderate
Damage
13.4
Hype
49.5
NOISE2026-07-30
VOA Nominee Suggests Return of Journalists on Leave
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
4.7
Hype
14.3
WEEK 83Jul 26 – Aug 1
DMG2026-07-30
Democrats Document Staffing Gaps in Counterterrorism and Election Security
Resource Reallocationfederal · broad
Damage
31.5
Hype
19.0
HYPE2026-07-30
Kelly Loeffler's Husband Linked to Trump Jr. Executive Branch Club
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
11.0
Hype
27.8
HYPE2026-07-27
Trump Executive Order on Smithsonian Museum Signage and Historical Exhibits
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · moderate
Damage
20.2
Hype
57.5
WEEK 80Jul 5 – 11
HYPE2026-07-05
White House Report Brands Smithsonian Leadership as 'Radical Activists'
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
29.9
Hype
61.8
HYPE2026-07-04
Treasury Department Launches 'Trump Accounts' for Minors
Resource Reallocationfederal · moderate
Damage
16.9
Hype
53.8
WEEK 79Jun 28 – Jul 4
HYPE2026-06-28
White House Secretly Influenced Federal Worker Protection Board
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
53.4
Hype
54.0
HYPE2026-06-28
Trump Administration Targets Philadelphia Slavery Exhibit
Norm Erosion Onlysingle state · moderate
Damage
8.3
Hype
61.8
HYPE2026-06-28
Trump Administration Challenges National Park Slavery Exhibit
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · moderate
Damage
11.2
Hype
52.8
DMG2026-06-27
Lance Schroyer appointed ICE director
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
40.2
Hype
22.8
WEEK 77Jun 14 – 20
DMG2026-06-14
Trump Nominates Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
42.0
Hype
32.0
NOISE2026-06-11
Democracy Forward Sues FBI and DOJ for Records Related to Director Kash Patel
Enforcement Actionfederal · narrow
Damage
6.0
Hype
17.5
DMG2026-06-11
DOJ Formally Moves to Drop Halkbank Case
Enforcement Actionfederal · narrow
Damage
43.6
Hype
25.3
WEEK 75May 31 – Jun 6
HYPE2026-06-05
Trump Signs Executive Order Allowing Easier Firing of Senior Federal Employees
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
39.2
Hype
46.3
HYPE2026-06-05
Mount Sinai Confirms Willingness to Provide Trans Youth Records to Trump Administration
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · narrow
Damage
13.4
Hype
48.3
DMG2026-06-03
Trump Strips Civil Service Protections from 8,000 Federal Workers
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
34.7
Hype
24.0
WEEK 74May 24 – 30
HYPE2026-05-24
Trump Justice Department Scrubs Jan. 6 News Releases from Website
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
40.5
Hype
43.0
WEEK 73May 17 – 23
HYPE2026-05-17
Top FDA Drug Regulator Fired
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
17.1
Hype
53.5
DMG2026-05-16
Trump Administration Creates $1.776B 'Truth and Justice Commission' to Compensate Political Allies
Resource Reallocationfederal · narrow
Damage
60.3
Hype
54.0
WEEK 72May 10 – 16
HYPE2026-05-10
Trump Religious Liberty Commission Rejects Church-State Separation
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · broad
Damage
24.2
Hype
40.0
NOISE2026-05-09
Religious Liberty Commission Policy Recommendations
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
20.8
Hype
23.0
WEEK 71May 3 – 9
NOISE2026-05-03
Pete Hegseth Consolidates Pentagon Control Through Political Appointees
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
21.5
Hype
23.3
WEEK 70Apr 26 – May 2
HYPE2026-04-26
Trump Administration Fires National Science Board Members
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
23.5
Hype
29.5
WEEK 68Apr 12 – 18
NOISE2026-04-15
Trump Administration Ends Consumer Protection Bureau Headquarters Lease
Resource Reallocationfederal · moderate
Damage
7.8
Hype
18.0
WEEK 66Mar 29 – Apr 4
DMG2026-03-27
Congress Extends Federal Oversight of DC Government Through 2029
Resource Reallocationlocal · narrow
Damage
72.2
Hype
26.8
WEEK 63Mar 8 – 14
DMG2026-03-08
Federal Court Rules Trump Administration's Dismantling of Voice of America Illegal
Judicial/Legal Actionfederal · broad
Damage
49.1
Hype
27.3
WEEK 62Mar 1 – 7
HYPE2026-03-02
Education Department Features Charlie Kirk in Educator Recognition Banners
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
15.7
Hype
82.3
WEEK 60Feb 15 – 21
NOISE2026-02-19
Arts Commission Approves Trump's White House Ballroom Plan
Resource Reallocationfederal · narrow
Damage
1.1
Hype
4.2
NOISE2026-02-15
Paramount Hires Ex-Trump Official as Public Policy VP
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
4.0
Hype
12.5
WEEK 59Feb 8 – 14
DMG2026-02-05
Trump Administration Ends Job Protections for Federal Workers
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
39.2
Hype
33.3
WEEK 43Oct 19 – 25
DMG2025-10-23
Pentagon Announces Conservative-Only Press Corps After Departures
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
58.9
Hype
32.0