DIThe Distraction Index

#press_freedom

18 events across 14 weeks

7Damage
8Hype
3Noise
23.8Avg Dmg
27.4Avg Hype
WEEK 85Aug 9 – 15
DMG2026-08-10
Analysis: Trump Administration Campaign Against the Press
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · broad
Damage
35.8
Hype
24.5
WEEK 82Jul 19 – 25
DMG2026-07-24
FCC Head Signals Licensing Review Based on ABC's Trump Speech Decision
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · narrow
Damage
40.9
Hype
20.5
NOISE2026-07-24
Trump Withdraws Subpoenas Against New York Times Reporters
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · narrow
Damage
0.1
Hype
9.5
NOISE2026-07-24
Government Withdraws Subpoenas Compelling New York Times Reporters to Testify
Enforcement Actionfederal · narrow
Damage
6.7
Hype
19.8
HYPE2026-07-20
DOJ Sought Phone Records of NYT Journalists' Spouses and Family Members in Air Force One Leak Probe
Enforcement Actionfederal · narrow
Damage
18.6
Hype
30.3
WEEK 81Jul 12 – 18
HYPE2026-07-12
White House Subpoenas New York Times Reporters Over Air Force One Coverage
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · narrow
Damage
9.3
Hype
32.0
WEEK 75May 31 – Jun 6
HYPE2026-06-03
CBS 60 Minutes Scott Pelley Firing and Media Control
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · narrow
Damage
2.0
Hype
45.3
WEEK 67Apr 5 – 11
HYPE2026-04-05
Satellite Company Halts Iran War Coverage at US Government Request
Information Operationfederal · moderate
Damage
23.6
Hype
64.5
WEEK 59Feb 8 – 14
DMG2026-02-09
Hong Kong Sentences Pro-Democracy Mogul Jimmy Lai to 20 Years
Judicial/Legal Actioninternational · narrow
Damage
39.6
Hype
13.0
WEEK 56Jan 18 – 24
NOISE2026-01-23
Minnesota Church Protest Arrests; Judge Rejects Charges Against Journalist
Enforcement Actionsingle state · narrow
Damage
9.4
Hype
18.2
WEEK 50Dec 7 – 13
DMG2025-12-11
Trump Opposes Warner Bros. Discovery Retaining CNN Ownership
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
33.1
Hype
24.2
WEEK 47Nov 16 – 22
HYPE2025-11-21
Trump Lashes Out at ABC, Calls for Licenses to be Taken Away
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · narrow
Damage
10.3
Hype
28.1
WEEK 29Jul 13 – 19
DMG2025-07-19
Trump Sues Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch Over Epstein Reporting
Information Operationfederal · moderate
Damage
44.5
Hype
36.1
WEEK 26Jun 22 – 28
HYPE2025-06-25
Kari Lake Testifies USAGM Is "Rotten to the Core" and Should Be Eliminated
Information Operationfederal · moderate
Damage
21.1
Hype
27.7
DMG2025-06-22
Voice of America Mass Layoffs Eliminate 85% of Workforce
Personnel Capturefederal · moderate
Damage
48.3
Hype
24.2
WEEK 23Jun 1 – 7
HYPE2025-06-07
Appeals Court Allows Trump to Block AP from White House Events
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · narrow
Damage
18.5
Hype
24.3
WEEK 11Mar 9 – 15
DMG2025-03-15
Voice of America Cuts Contracts With AP, Reuters, and AFP
Information Operationinternational · broad
Damage
43.0
Hype
22.5
WEEK 8Feb 16 – 22
HYPE2025-02-22
AP Sues Trump Administration Over Press Access Ban
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · narrow
Damage
23.9
Hype
28.2