#sanctions | The Distraction Index
The Distraction Index
Weekly civic intelligence report · v2.2
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#sanctions
16 events across 15 weeks
3
Damage
3
Distraction
10
Noise
14.2
Avg A
20.8
Avg B
WEEK 59
Feb 8 – 14
NOISE
2026-02-07
US Imposes Oil Supply Blockade on Cuba
Policy Change
international · broad
A
21.5
B
17.3
WEEK 57
Jan 25 – 31
NOISE
2026-01-30
Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Cuba Oil Trade
Policy Change
international · moderate
A
18.0
B
23.7
DMG
2026-01-30
Trump Weighs Military Action Against Iran
Policy Change
international · moderate
A
32.0
B
26.5
WEEK 53
Dec 28 – Jan 3
NOISE
2026-01-01
US Imposes Sanctions on Venezuelan Oil Firms and Tankers
Policy Change
international · narrow
A
0.5
B
3.1
WEEK 48
Nov 23 – 29
NOISE
2025-11-28
Venezuelan Airline Ban Criticized as Disproportionate
Enforcement Action
international · narrow
A
0.5
B
3.8
WEEK 45
Nov 2 – 8
DMG
2025-11-07
UN Approves US-Backed Effort to Lift Sanctions on Syria President
Policy Change
international · broad
A
48.0
B
30.6
WEEK 43
Oct 19 – 25
NOISE
2025-10-23
Trump Imposes Sanctions on Russian Oil Over Ukraine War
Policy Change
international · moderate
A
0.0
B
8.9
WEEK 39
Sep 21 – 27
NOISE
2025-09-26
Trump Hints at F-35 Jet Sales to Turkey in Exchange for Ending Russian Oil Purchases
Policy Change
international · narrow
A
11.2
B
17.4
WEEK 38
Sep 14 – 20
DMG
2025-09-20
Trump Administration Threatens Sanctions Against Harvard
Enforcement Action
single state · narrow
A
32.5
B
28.6
WEEK 34
Aug 17 – 23
NOISE
2025-08-23
Trump Threatens Russia Sanctions Over Ukraine Peace Talks Failure
Policy Change
international · narrow
A
3.5
B
22.1
WEEK 28
Jul 6 – 12
NOISE
2025-07-12
US Slaps Visa Sanctions on Cuban President
Policy Change
international · narrow
A
0.5
B
10.6
WEEK 26
Jun 22 – 28
DIST
2025-06-28
Trump Threatens Additional Military Strikes Against Iran
Norm Erosion Only
international · broad
A
27.2
B
42.1
WEEK 18
Apr 27 – May 3
DIST
2025-05-03
US Readies Russia Sanctions Over Ukraine; Trump Approval Unclear
Policy Change
international · moderate
A
13.9
B
30.7
WEEK 10
Mar 2 – 8
DIST
2025-03-07
Trump Threatens Russia with Tariffs and Sanctions Over Ukraine
Policy Change
international · broad
A
4.4
B
39.7
WEEK 6
Feb 2 – 8
NOISE
2025-02-08
Trump Sanctions Against ICC Raise International Law Concerns
Norm Erosion Only
international · narrow
A
13.3
B
17.4
WEEK 5
Jan 26 – Feb 1
NOISE
2025-02-01
Trump Administration Tightens Cuba Policy
Policy Change
international · moderate
A
0.3
B
10.9