DIThe Distraction Index

#misinformation

38 events across 22 weeks

5Damage
26Hype
7Noise
12.1Avg Dmg
34.6Avg Hype
WEEK 85Aug 9 – 15
HYPE2026-08-10
Trump Signs Executive Order on Childhood Vaccines
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
27.7
Hype
50.5
HYPE2026-08-09
Trump Administration Weighs Executive Order on Autism and Vaccines
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
17.0
Hype
51.0
WEEK 83Jul 26 – Aug 1
HYPE2026-07-31
Fact-Check: Trump Baselessly Claims Walz Behind Cyberattack
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
13.4
Hype
49.3
NOISE2026-07-28
Fact-Check: No Trump Executive Order on Electronic Cattle Tags
Damage
0.0
Hype
14.8
WEEK 82Jul 19 – 25
NOISE2026-07-25
Experts Dispute Massive Trump Attack Rumors
federal · narrow
Damage
0.0
Hype
6.0
HYPE2026-07-20
Podcast Claims Melania Trump Linked to Epstein; GOP Accused of Racism
Information Operationfederal · narrow
Damage
0.1
Hype
62.0
HYPE2026-07-20
Trump Releases Documents Identifying China as 2020 Election Bad Actor
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
0.3
Hype
60.0
HYPE2026-07-19
Trump Makes Admission Regarding Election Fraud Claims
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
1.1
Hype
29.5
WEEK 81Jul 12 – 18
HYPE2026-07-15
Trump Claims Fraud in Minnesota After Endorsing GOP Governor Candidate
Information Operationsingle state · moderate
Damage
21.4
Hype
54.5
HYPE2026-07-12
GOP Candidate Promotes Absurd Threat Narrative
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
0.0
Hype
32.0
NOISE2026-07-12
CNN Duped Into Running Fake X Post Mocking Its Own Analyst
Information Operationfederal · narrow
Damage
0.0
Hype
21.0
WEEK 78Jun 21 – 27
HYPE2026-06-21
Trump Social Media Post Misidentifying Woman
Information Operationfederal · narrow
Damage
0.0
Hype
43.0
WEEK 77Jun 14 – 20
HYPE2026-06-15
Trump Claims Strait of Hormuz Reopened; Shipping Activity Remains Minimal
Information Operationinternational · moderate
Damage
0.0
Hype
50.8
WEEK 76Jun 7 – 13
HYPE2026-06-07
Trump Makes False Claim About Black Unemployment
Information Operationfederal · moderate
Damage
2.1
Hype
41.3
WEEK 69Apr 19 – 25
HYPE2026-04-19
Trump Comments on Dyslexia Cause Public Concern
Information Operationfederal · moderate
Damage
2.1
Hype
40.0
HYPE2026-04-18
Trump Admin Conspiracy Claims About Dead Scientists
Information Operationfederal · narrow
Damage
0.0
Hype
36.5
WEEK 61Feb 22 – 28
DMG2026-02-27
Trump Iranian Missile Claims Unsupported by Intelligence
Information Operationinternational · broad
Damage
41.7
Hype
24.8
HYPE2026-02-25
Trump's Economic Claims Out of Sync with Public Perception
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
4.0
Hype
38.9
WEEK 60Feb 15 – 21
HYPE2026-02-15
Media Criticism and Conspiracy Theories About Democratic Coordination
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
6.2
Hype
47.4
WEEK 59Feb 8 – 14
NOISE2026-02-09
Fact-Check: Liam Conejo Ramos Not in Bad Bunny Super Bowl Show
Information Operationfederal · narrow
Damage
0.0
Hype
4.0
HYPE2026-02-09
Democratic Operatives Amplify Epstein-Trump Conspiracy Claims
Information Operationfederal · moderate
Damage
2.5
Hype
45.3
HYPE2026-02-09
Trump Super Bowl Ad Claims Free Trump Accounts for All American Children
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
27.4
Hype
59.3
WEEK 56Jan 18 – 24
DMG2026-01-23
White House Shares Altered Image of Civil Rights Attorney Arrest
Information Operationfederal · moderate
Damage
49.6
Hype
32.5
WEEK 54Jan 4 – 10
HYPE2026-01-09
Misinformation Spreads About Minneapolis ICE Shooting
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
16.6
Hype
40.8
WEEK 37Sep 7 – 13
NOISE2025-09-13
WSJ Publishes Inaccurate Report on Kirk Ammo Messages
Information Operationfederal · narrow
Damage
0.0
Hype
8.2
WEEK 34Aug 17 – 23
HYPE2025-08-23
Trump Blames Rising Electricity Prices on Renewable Energy
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
11.8
Hype
29.8
HYPE2025-08-23
Trump Touts DC Arrests While Experts Question Crime Metrics
Information Operationsingle state · moderate
Damage
9.5
Hype
33.8
NOISE2025-08-23
Trump Claims Credit for Multiple Ceasefires
Information Operationinternational · narrow
Damage
0.0
Hype
14.9
WEEK 27Jun 29 – Jul 5
HYPE2025-07-05
Trump Claims Spending Bill is Most Popular Ever Signed
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
8.8
Hype
27.5
WEEK 24Jun 8 – 14
DMG2025-06-14
New Hampshire Jury Acquits AI Robocall Consultant
Information Operationsingle state · moderate
Damage
31.2
Hype
21.6
WEEK 22May 25 – 31
DMG2025-05-30
RFK Jr. Denies Cuts to Scientific Research While Slashing Staff and Funding
Information Operationfederal · moderate
Damage
26.5
Hype
23.7
NOISE2025-05-30
White House to Correct Errors in MAHA Report
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
6.5
Hype
13.1
WEEK 21May 18 – 24
HYPE2025-05-23
Trump and Allies Spread Unfounded Claims About Biden Cancer Diagnosis
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
8.0
Hype
29.7
WEEK 16Apr 13 – 19
DMG2025-04-19
FDA Chief Offers Support for Kennedy on Autism Claims
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
45.2
Hype
35.9
WEEK 5Jan 26 – Feb 1
HYPE2025-02-01
Democratic State Attorneys General Condemn Trump Lies About DEI
Norm Erosion Onlymulti state · moderate
Damage
3.0
Hype
25.4
HYPE2025-02-01
Trump Administration Targets FAA Diversity Efforts in Plane Crash Response
Information Operationfederal · moderate
Damage
30.2
Hype
45.8
WEEK 2Jan 5 – 11
HYPE2025-01-11
False Reports of Immigration Sweeps Spread During LA Wildfires
Information Operationsingle state · moderate
Damage
17.7
Hype
30.4
HYPE2025-01-11
Mark Zuckerberg Claims Biden Administration Pressured Meta to Censor Content
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
29.4
Hype
38.1