The Distraction Index
DashboardUndercoveredSmokescreenTimelineTopicsSearchMethodCorrectionsAboutBlogContactSupport

Undercovered High-Damage

Week 38: Sep 14 – Sep 20, 2025 · 🔒 FROZEN

◀ PrevNext ▶

These are events where constitutional damage (A-score) far exceeds the media attention they receive (B-score). An Attention Budget below −15 means the event is getting less coverage than its real-world impact warrants — the public should know more about these.

Undercovered (2)
Trump Appointee George Cook Takes Interim Lead at Census Bureau
Personnel Capturefederal · broad
1 source
A
46.9
B
22.5
-24 BALANCED
IF YOU ONLY DO ONE THING

Monitor: (1) Any directives regarding census methodology changes, particularly around citizenship questions or sampling techniques; (2) Career statistician departures from Census Bureau; (3) Changes to data privacy protections or differential privacy parameters; (4) Alterations to 2030 census planning timeline or budget; (5) Communication between political appointees and career census staff regarding data collection protocols.

US Government Seeks Supreme Court Action to End Venezuelan Migrant Protections
Policy Changefederal · moderate
1 source
A
38.7
B
22.6
-16 BALANCED
IF YOU ONLY DO ONE THING

Monitor Supreme Court docket for case acceptance and oral arguments; track implementation timeline if petition granted; assess precedential implications for other protected populations; document civil rights organization responses and potential counter-litigation strategies.

All List A Events (4)
Washington Election Chief Refuses DOJ Request for Voter Rolls
Enforcement Actionsingle state · moderate
1 source
A
40.5
B
29.3
-11 BALANCED
Trump Administration Threatens Sanctions Against Harvard
Enforcement Actionsingle state · narrow
1 source
A
32.5
B
28.6
-4 BALANCED
FCC Chair Brendan Carr Threatens Jimmy Kimmel's Broadcasting License
Norm Erosion Onlyfederal · narrow
10 sources
A
30.5
B
26.6
-4 BALANCED
RFK Jr. Vaccine Panel Changes COVID-19 Shot Guidelines
Policy Changefederal · broad
2 sources
A
47.2
B
45.6
-2 BALANCED