DIThe Distraction Index

#public health

32 events across 16 weeks

5Damage
20Hype
7Noise
17.5Avg Dmg
33.2Avg Hype
WEEK 87Aug 23 – 29
HYPE2026-08-24
Trump Administration Sweeping Vaccine Order Driven by RFK Jr. Concerns
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
24.8
Hype
57.5
HYPE2026-08-23
Dr. Oz Contradicts Trump on MMR Vaccine Safety
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
2.3
Hype
31.5
HYPE2026-08-21
US Health Department Seeks Public Feedback on Vaccine Guidelines After Trump Order
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
20.8
Hype
37.5
WEEK 86Aug 16 – 22
HYPE2026-08-16
NOISE: TPS Termination Public Health Impact
federal · moderate
Damage
—
Hype
9.8
HYPE2026-08-16
GOP Senator Bill Cassidy Criticizes Trump Vaccine Order
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · narrow
Damage
0.0
Hype
44.0
HYPE2026-08-15
Trump Executive Order on Childhood Vaccines
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
38.0
Hype
40.5
WEEK 85Aug 9 – 15
HYPE2026-08-10
Secretary Kennedy Announces Food Policy Reforms for MAHA Agenda
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
4.8
Hype
35.8
NOISE2026-08-10
RFK Jr. Announces Policy Changes for Food Ingredients
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
3.0
Hype
17.5
HYPE2026-08-10
Trump Signs Executive Order on Childhood Vaccines
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
27.7
Hype
50.5
WEEK 82Jul 19 – 25
NOISE2026-07-25
Cyclospora Outbreak Response at Catastrophic Level
Enforcement Actionfederal · broad
Damage
2.6
Hype
13.5
NOISE2026-07-25
Trump Mocks Question on Cyclospora Outbreak
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · broad
Damage
0.1
Hype
7.5
NOISE2026-07-23
FDA Identifies Second Cyclospora Outbreak as US Case Count Reaches Record High
federal · broad
Damage
0.0
Hype
8.5
NOISE2026-07-23
Senate Committee Postpones Vote on CDC Director Nominee
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
0.0
Hype
11.0
WEEK 77Jun 14 – 20
HYPE2026-06-14
PFAS Regulation Shift Under Trump Administration
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
18.8
Hype
32.0
WEEK 75May 31 – Jun 6
HYPE2026-06-03
USAID Cuts Linked to Ebola Outbreak Overseas
Resource Reallocationinternational · broad
Damage
0.0
Hype
42.5
HYPE2026-06-03
Trump Signs Order Calling For Fewer Childhood Vaccines
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
36.1
Hype
59.0
HYPE2026-05-31
Trump Executive Order on Childhood Vaccine Recommendations
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
37.9
Hype
71.0
WEEK 72May 10 – 16
NOISE2026-05-10
Chicago Health Department Federal COVID Funding Underutilization
Resource Reallocationsingle state · moderate
Damage
0.0
Hype
11.5
HYPE2026-05-10
FDA Opens Door to Flavored Vapes
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
23.6
Hype
49.0
HYPE2026-05-10
Trump Administration Drug Strategy Expands Addiction Services
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
0.0
Hype
50.8
HYPE2026-05-10
CDC Sidelined During Hantavirus Cruise Ship Outbreak
Resource Reallocationfederal · narrow
Damage
11.2
Hype
43.3
HYPE2026-05-09
Trump Administration Pollution Exposure and Environmental Rollback
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
35.6
Hype
36.5
WEEK 61Feb 22 – 28
NOISE2026-02-24
Democratic State AGs Announce Lawsuit Against Trump Over Vaccine Policy
Judicial/Legal Actionmulti state · broad
Damage
22.9
Hype
24.2
WEEK 60Feb 15 – 21
DMG2026-02-20
Trump EPA Revokes Climate and Environmental Protections
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
30.9
Hype
18.1
WEEK 59Feb 8 – 14
HYPE2026-02-08
Dr. Mehmet Oz Vaccine Appeal Amid Measles Cases
Damage
0.0
Hype
49.0
WEEK 49Nov 30 – Dec 6
DMG2025-12-05
Trump Officials Press CDC to Scrap Hepatitis B Vaccine for Newborns
Policy Changefederal · broad
Damage
46.2
Hype
31.7
WEEK 35Aug 24 – 30
DMG2025-08-30
Jim O'Neill Named Acting CDC Director
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
37.1
Hype
21.9
WEEK 19May 4 – 10
HYPE2025-05-10
Trump Surgeon General Pick Questions Vaccines on Podcasts
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
18.7
Hype
26.1
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 7Feb 9 – 15
HYPE2025-02-15
CDC Data on Influenza and Bird Flu Goes Missing as Outbreaks Escalate
Information Operationfederal · broad
Damage
24.3
Hype
27.4
WEEK 6Feb 2 – 8
DMG2025-02-08
Federal Health Workers Face Mass Firing Threat
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
Damage
46.2
Hype
27.1
HYPE2025-02-08
New Bird Flu Variant in Cattle Raises Federal Response Concerns
federal · broad
Damage
0.9
Hype
38.8