#press_freedom | The Distraction Index
The Distraction Index
Weekly civic intelligence report · v2.2
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#press_freedom
10 events across 9 weeks
5
Damage
4
Distraction
1
Noise
29.2
Avg A
24.6
Avg B
WEEK 59
Feb 8 – 14
DMG
2026-02-09
Hong Kong Sentences Pro-Democracy Mogul Jimmy Lai to 20 Years
Judicial/Legal Action
international · narrow
A
39.6
B
13.0
WEEK 56
Jan 18 – 24
NOISE
2026-01-23
Minnesota Church Protest Arrests; Judge Rejects Charges Against Journalist
Enforcement Action
single state · narrow
A
9.4
B
18.2
WEEK 50
Dec 7 – 13
DMG
2025-12-11
Trump Opposes Warner Bros. Discovery Retaining CNN Ownership
Personnel Capture
federal · moderate
A
33.1
B
24.2
WEEK 47
Nov 16 – 22
DIST
2025-11-21
Trump Lashes Out at ABC, Calls for Licenses to be Taken Away
Norm Erosion Only
federal · narrow
A
10.3
B
28.1
WEEK 29
Jul 13 – 19
DMG
2025-07-19
Trump Sues Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch Over Epstein Reporting
Information Operation
federal · moderate
A
44.5
B
36.1
WEEK 26
Jun 22 – 28
DIST
2025-06-25
Kari Lake Testifies USAGM Is "Rotten to the Core" and Should Be Eliminated
Information Operation
federal · moderate
A
21.1
B
27.7
DMG
2025-06-22
Voice of America Mass Layoffs Eliminate 85% of Workforce
Personnel Capture
federal · moderate
A
WEEK 23
Jun 1 – 7
DIST
2025-06-07
Appeals Court Allows Trump to Block AP from White House Events
Norm Erosion Only
federal · narrow
A
18.5
B
24.3
WEEK 11
Mar 9 – 15
DMG
2025-03-15
Voice of America Cuts Contracts With AP, Reuters, and AFP
Information Operation
international · broad
A
43.0
B
22.5
WEEK 8
Feb 16 – 22
DIST
2025-02-22
AP Sues Trump Administration Over Press Access Ban
Norm Erosion Only
federal · narrow
A
23.9
B
28.2
48.3
B
24.2