DIThe Distraction Index

#personnel

82 events across 42 weeks

18Damage
28Hype
36Noise
16.0Avg Dmg
23.4Avg Hype
WEEK 89Sep 6 – 12
HYPE2026-09-06
JD Vance Fumbles Public Appearance in Press Briefing
federal · narrow
Damage
—
Hype
37.0
WEEK 86Aug 16 – 22
HYPE2026-08-20
Trump Appoints Heidi Overton as FDA Commissioner
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
28.6
Hype
32.0
WEEK 85Aug 9 – 15
NOISE2026-08-10
Justice Alito Remains on Supreme Court
Damage
0.0
Hype
3.3
HYPE2026-08-08
Pentagon Strips Security Clearance from Former Air Force Chief
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
28.8
Hype
30.8
WEEK 84Aug 2 – 8
NOISE2026-08-03
Trump AG Nominee Blanche Rescinds 'Anti-Weaponization Fund'
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
9.4
Hype
15.8
DMG2026-08-03
Postmaster General Faces Removal Call Over Mail Voting Executive Order
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
51.3
Hype
25.0
HYPE2026-08-03
MAGA Turns on Trump's DHS Chief
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
2.4
Hype
28.8
HYPE2026-08-01
Trump Threatens 'Anti-Weaponization' Fund Contingent on AG Nominee Confirmation
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · narrow
Damage
22.4
Hype
38.5
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
Blanche Nomination and Payouts to Trump Allies
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
29.8
Hype
20.0
WEEK 82Jul 19 – 25
NOISE2026-07-24
Adam Candeub nominated to DOJ Antitrust Division
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
0.6
Hype
24.1
NOISE2026-07-23
Senate Democrats Investigate IRS CEO for Allegedly Misleading Congress
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
2.2
Hype
24.5
HYPE2026-07-22
Federal Prosecutor Fired After 54 Minutes Sues Trump Administration
Judicial/Legal Actionfederal · narrow
Damage
14.4
Hype
49.8
HYPE2026-07-22
Jay Clayton Advances as DNI Nominee
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
16.1
Hype
30.5
NOISE2026-07-22
Senate Panel Advances Jay Clayton Nomination for US Intelligence Leadership
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
6.0
Hype
8.0
DMG2026-07-22
Federal Prosecutor Sues After White House Firing
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
32.6
Hype
8.9
WEEK 81Jul 12 – 18
HYPE2026-07-19
Trump Official Faces Scandal Criticism from DC Insiders
federal · narrow
Damage
0.5
Hype
32.0
NOISE2026-07-15
Panel to Study Pentagon COVID Vaccine Mandate and Troops Dismissal
Damage
1.8
Hype
18.5
HYPE2026-07-12
John Rich Named Special Envoy for American Landowners in USDA Role
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
1.3
Hype
42.5
WEEK 80Jul 5 – 11
NOISE2026-07-07
Over 10,000 Federal Lawyers Leave Government as Democrats Recruit Them
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
6.2
Hype
17.5
NOISE2026-07-04
Trump Deputy HHS Secretary Appointment Tied to Fertility Industry
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
14.1
Hype
22.8
NOISE2026-07-04
Elon Musk's DOGE Agency Ends Operations
Policy Changefederal · narrow
Damage
0.1
Hype
24.5
WEEK 79Jun 28 – Jul 4
NOISE2026-06-30
Pierre Yared Departs as Council of Economic Advisers Head
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
2.4
Hype
15.5
NOISE2026-06-28
Trump Administration Nominates Lance Schroyer as ICE Director
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
14.8
Hype
19.0
DMG2026-06-27
Lance Schroyer appointed ICE director
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
40.2
Hype
22.8
WEEK 76Jun 7 – 13
HYPE2026-06-07
Trump Chief of Staff Denies Departure Reports
federal · narrow
Damage
—
Hype
48.0
WEEK 75May 31 – Jun 6
HYPE2026-06-05
Jan. 6 Rioter Hired at Pentagon
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
26.0
Hype
44.3
DMG2026-06-03
Bill Pulte Appointment as Acting Intelligence Chief / DNI Nomination
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
40.8
Hype
34.8
DMG2026-06-03
Trump Strips Civil Service Protections from 8,000 Federal Workers
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
34.7
Hype
24.0
DMG2026-05-31
Mass Lawyer Exodus from Trump Government
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
41.7
Hype
27.8
WEEK 74May 24 – 30
NOISE2026-05-24
Former Surgeon General Nominee Takes Role at Walter Reed
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
2.4
Hype
5.5
WEEK 72May 10 – 16
NOISE2026-05-13
David Venturella Appointed as ICE Acting Leader
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
17.2
Hype
22.3
NOISE2026-05-10
Sean Duffy Criticized for 'Tone Deaf' Family Reality Show
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · narrow
Damage
1.4
Hype
31.0
WEEK 70Apr 26 – May 2
HYPE2026-04-26
Trump Military Ban Impacts Decorated Service Members
Policy Changefederal · moderate
Damage
22.3
Hype
42.8
NOISE2026-04-25
Fed Chair Warsh Expected to Maintain Steady Policy Course
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
0.0
Hype
8.8
HYPE2026-04-25
Kevin Warsh Fed Chair Confirmation Expected
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
28.3
Hype
44.0
HYPE2026-04-25
RFK Jr. Health Policy Authority Constrained by Trump Administration
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
0.0
Hype
27.3
WEEK 69Apr 19 – 25
HYPE2026-04-19
Fed Chair Succession Saga
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
30.5
Hype
33.3
WEEK 68Apr 12 – 18
HYPE2026-04-16
DNI Tulsi Gabbard Potential Criminal Referrals
Enforcement Actionfederal · narrow
Damage
35.5
Hype
57.3
NOISE2026-04-15
Trump Administration Seeks Former Deputy Surgeon General to Lead CDC
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
5.6
Hype
9.3
WEEK 65Mar 22 – 28
HYPE2026-03-25
Kennedy Ally Quits Vaccine Panel, Cites Sabotage
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
2.4
Hype
32.0
WEEK 61Feb 22 – 28
HYPE2026-02-23
RFK Jr. Backs Pesticide Production Despite Prior Opposition
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
21.9
Hype
28.5
WEEK 60Feb 15 – 21
DMG2026-02-19
Trump Nominates Lawyer from Legal Team for Appeals Court
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
36.2
Hype
16.5
NOISE2026-02-15
Warsh Federal Reserve Chair Nomination Process
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
0.0
Hype
8.8
WEEK 59Feb 8 – 14
DMG2026-02-05
Trump Administration Ends Job Protections for Federal Workers
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
39.2
Hype
33.3
HYPE2026-02-05
Trump Defends Cabinet Nominees at National Prayer Breakfast
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
6.9
Hype
30.5
WEEK 57Jan 25 – 31
HYPE2026-01-30
Rep. Jimmy Panetta Calls for Ousting of High-Ranking Trump Officials
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · narrow
Damage
2.0
Hype
28.2
WEEK 51Dec 14 – 20
NOISE2025-12-19
Senate Confirms Jared Isaacman as NASA Administrator
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
8.0
Hype
9.2
WEEK 44Oct 26 – Nov 1
DMG2025-10-30
White House Fires Commission Members Overseeing Trump Construction Projects
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
42.1
Hype
16.1
WEEK 36Aug 31 – Sep 6
NOISE2025-09-06
Trump Administration Loading Officials with Multiple Jobs
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
24.4
Hype
9.9
NOISE2025-09-06
RFK Jr. Nephew Calls Him Threat to Every American
Information Operationfederal · narrow
Damage
0.0
Hype
16.1
WEEK 34Aug 17 – 23
DMG2025-08-23
Judge Rules Alina Habba Illegally Serving as US Attorney
Judicial/Legal Actionfederal · narrow
Damage
42.8
Hype
22.1
WEEK 33Aug 10 – 16
NOISE2025-08-16
RFK Jr. Dismisses Questions About Loyalty to Trump
federal · narrow
Damage
4.0
Hype
9.1
NOISE2025-08-16
Democrats Revolt Over Noem Living at Coast Guard Base After Doxing
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · narrow
Damage
3.0
Hype
24.1
WEEK 30Jul 20 – 26
HYPE2025-07-26
Congressman Claims GOP Preventing Trump Recess Appointments
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
11.0
Hype
27.4
WEEK 28Jul 6 – 12
HYPE2025-07-12
Dan Bongino Considers Resignation Amid Epstein Memo Fallout
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
0.6
Hype
32.3
NOISE2025-07-12
State Department Lays Off Over 1,300 Employees
Resource Reallocationfederal · narrow
Damage
13.4
Hype
22.4
HYPE2025-07-12
Laura Loomer Rumored as DeSantis Replacement for Pam Bondi
Information Operationfederal · narrow
Damage
0.0
Hype
46.2
HYPE2025-07-12
Ty Cobb Says Pam Bondi Not Going Anywhere Amid Power Struggle
Information Operationfederal · narrow
Damage
4.7
Hype
35.5
WEEK 24Jun 8 – 14
DMG2025-06-14
Judge Blocks State Department from Firing Workers During Injunction
Judicial/Legal Actionfederal · moderate
Damage
25.5
Hype
13.3
WEEK 23Jun 1 – 7
HYPE2025-06-07
Trump Surgeon General Pick Criticized for Conflicts of Interest
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
8.4
Hype
24.9
WEEK 22May 25 – 31
HYPE2025-05-30
FAA Experiences Mass Employee Departures
Resource Reallocationfederal · moderate
Damage
21.6
Hype
25.3
HYPE2025-05-30
Elon Musk Departs DOGE with Upheaval and Unmet Expectations
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
20.7
Hype
32.4
DMG2025-05-30
White House Implements Merit-Based Federal Hiring Plan
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
45.5
Hype
22.4
WEEK 21May 18 – 24
NOISE2025-05-23
Ambassador to Ukraine Who Resigned Under Trump May Run for Congress
Damage
0.0
Hype
7.5
NOISE2025-05-23
Third CFTC Commissioner Announces Departure
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
18.5
Hype
3.1
WEEK 19May 4 – 10
DMG2025-05-10
Librarian of Congress Firing and Cultural Institution Upheaval
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
32.6
Hype
20.1
DMG2025-05-10
Military Dealing with Order to Remove Transgender Troops
Enforcement Actionfederal · narrow
Damage
37.2
Hype
19.5
NOISE2025-05-10
Ousted Election Official Urges Civility Toward Election Workers
Election Admin Changesingle state · narrow
Damage
7.4
Hype
19.9
NOISE2025-05-10
Trump Nominates Jonathan McKernan for Treasury Post
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
19.9
Hype
11.2
HYPE2025-05-10
Trump Surgeon General Pick Questions Vaccines on Podcasts
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
18.7
Hype
26.1
WEEK 18Apr 27 – May 3
NOISE2025-05-03
White House Works to Address Rubio's Dual National Security Roles
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
11.2
Hype
9.8
WEEK 17Apr 20 – 26
NOISE2025-04-26
White House Announces New Senior Pentagon Staff as Part of Restructuring
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
17.1
Hype
15.8
WEEK 13Mar 23 – 29
NOISE2025-03-29
Trump Fires Clean Energy Leader From TVA Board Without Public Explanation
Personnel Capturesingle state · moderate
Damage
12.1
Hype
17.3
WEEK 10Mar 2 – 8
DMG2025-03-07
Federal Prosecutors in Eric Adams Case Escorted from Workplace
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
39.8
Hype
38.5
DMG2025-03-07
Former Government Watchdog Ends Legal Challenge to His Firing
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
29.9
Hype
16.6
WEEK 6Feb 2 – 8
DMG2025-02-08
Russell Vought Confirmed as OMB Director
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
26.4
Hype
12.4
WEEK 5Jan 26 – Feb 1
NOISE2025-02-01
Lee Zeldin Sworn In as EPA Administrator
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
10.2
Hype
11.1
WEEK 4Jan 19 – 25
NOISE2025-01-24
Trump Administration Expected to Appoint Non-CDC Director for Health Agency
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
18.6
Hype
19.4
WEEK 3Jan 12 – 18
NOISE2025-01-18
Kristi Noem Faces Senate Confirmation Hearings for DHS Secretary
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
7.4
Hype
18.2
NOISE2025-01-18
Ohio Governor Appoints Jon Husted to Senate Seat Vacated by Vance
Personnel Capturesingle state · narrow
Damage
7.5
Hype
12.0
WEEK 2Jan 5 – 11
NOISE2025-01-11
Vance Resigns from Senate to Become Vice President
Personnel Capturefederal · narrow
Damage
0.0
Hype
3.2