The Distraction Index
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Feb 8 – Feb 14, 2026
Week 59🔒 FROZEN
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⚠️Smokescreen: Trump Criticizes Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Performance → US Sets June Deadline for Ukraine-Russia Peace Agreement · SI: 29.8 SIGNIFICANT
82
+51
Events
9
+7
List A
43
+31
List B
30
+13
Noise
9.6
+1.5
Avg A
26.4
+5.8
Avg B
LOOK AT THIS
US Appeals Court Upholds Trump's DEI Ban · US Sets June Deadline for Ukraine-Russia Peace Agreement
THEY WANT YOU TO LOOK AT
Trump Criticizes Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Performance · Trump Administration Promotes 'Trump Homes' Housing Development Initiative
This Week's Key Stories
Top Damage
US Appeals Court Upholds Trump's DEI Ban

A US appeals court rejected legal challenges to Trump's efforts to ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. The ruling allows the administration's DEI restrictions to proceed.

0 sources
A
61.5
Constitutional Damage
B
40.3
Media Hype
Top Distraction
Trump Criticizes Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Performance

Trump publicly attacked Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show performance, calling it 'absolutely terrible.' This represents a presidential social media/public statement attacking entertainment figures.

1 source
A
2.1
Constitutional Damage
B
76.3
Media Hype
Smokescreen Pair
Trump Criticizes Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Performance
is obscuring
US Sets June Deadline for Ukraine-Russia Peace Agreement
SI: 29.8
Full Index
Real Damage
Constitutional Threats · 9 events
#1
US Appeals Court Upholds Trump's DEI Ban
2026-02-06-21 BALANCED
A
61.5
B
40.3
#2
US Sets June Deadline for Ukraine-Russia Peace AgreementMIXED
2026-02-07· 1 source-19 BALANCED
A
46.0
B
26.6
#3
Trump Calls for Nationalizing Elections
2026-02-07· 3 sources-19 BALANCED
A
43.8
B
24.9
#4
Hong Kong Sentences Pro-Democracy Mogul Jimmy Lai to 20 Years
2026-02-09· 6 sources-27 BALANCED
A
39.6
B
13.0
#5
Trump Signs Executive Order on Iran Tariffs and SanctionsMIXED
2026-02-06· 2 sources-2 BALANCED
A
39.4
B
37.5
#6
Trump Administration Ends Job Protections for Federal WorkersMIXED
2026-02-05-6 BALANCED
A
39.2
B
33.3
#7
ICE Raids and Immigration Enforcement SurgeMIXED
2026-02-07· 10 sources-9 BALANCED
A
36.7
B
27.9
#8
'Stop the Steal' Lawyer Sought Voter Fraud Evidence from US IntelligenceMIXED
2026-02-11· 1 source-6 BALANCED
A
30.5
B
25.0
#9
Trump Uses Military Leaders for Diplomatic Efforts on Iran and Ukraine
2026-02-07· 1 source-5 BALANCED
A
28.1
B
23.1
Distractions
Manufactured Outrage · 43 events
#1
Trump Criticizes Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Performance
2026-02-09· 1 source+74 DISTRACTION
A
2.1
B
76.3
#2
Trump Administration Promotes 'Trump Homes' Housing Development Initiative
2026-02-03· 1 source+67 DISTRACTION
A
8.3
Noise Floor
Low Impact · 30 events
#1
March for Life Attendees Exposed to Measles
2026-02-09· 4 sources
10
#2
Iran Sees Diplomatic Opening with US but Rejects Nuclear Curbs
2026-02-07· 1 source
9
#3
Netanyahu Meets Trump on Iran Negotiations
2026-02-07· 8 sources
9
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B
75.5
#3
Justice Department Releases Jeffrey Epstein Files
2025-02-27· 4 sources+72 DISTRACTION
A
0.0
B
71.8
#4
Virginia Lawmaker Shuts Down Ted Cruz with Profanity
2026-02-07· 1 source+70 DISTRACTION
A
0.1
B
69.8
#5
Trump Super Bowl Ad Claims Free Trump Accounts for All American Children
2026-02-09· 3 sources+32 DISTRACTION
A
27.4
B
59.3
#6
Trump Signs Executive Orders to Boost Coal Industry
2025-04-08· 1 source+53 DISTRACTION
A
2.0
B
54.5
#7
Trump Orders Pentagon Coal Purchases to Revive Coal Industry
2026-02-11· 1 source+44 DISTRACTION
A
9.3
B
53.5
#8
Pfizer Drug Price Deal with Trump Administration
2025-09-30· 1 source+52 DISTRACTION
A
1.8
B
53.5
#9
US Aims for March Peace Deal in Ukraine with Quick Elections
2026-02-06+28 BALANCED
A
21.8
B
50.0
#10
Dr. Mehmet Oz Vaccine Appeal Amid Measles Cases
2026-02-08+49 DISTRACTION
A
0.0
B
49.0
#11
Elon Musk Offers to Pay Legal Fees for Epstein Victims
2026-02-09· 1 source+47 DISTRACTION
A
0.0
B
46.5
#12
Democratic Operatives Amplify Epstein-Trump Conspiracy Claims
2026-02-09· 2 sources+43 DISTRACTION
A
2.5
B
45.3
#13
Trump Attacks Bad Bunny Super Bowl Halftime Show
2026-02-09· 17 sources+44 DISTRACTION
A
0.0
B
44.0
#14
Trump Orders Defense Spending Prioritization in Weapons Sales
2026-02-06· 1 source+28 BALANCED
A
10.6
B
39.0
#15
Trump Rescinds Tariff on India Over Russian Oil Purchases
2026-02-06· 2 sources+37 DISTRACTION
A
1.7
B
39.0
#16
Trump-Xi Call on Taiwan and Trade Relations
2026-02-04· 1 source+33 DISTRACTION
A
4.2
B
37.3
#17
Trump Administration Restricts Defense Contractor CEO Pay and Dividends
2026-02-06· 2 sources+32 DISTRACTION
A
2.9
B
34.8
#18
FCC Investigates The View for Equal Opportunity Violation
2026-02-07· 1 source+31 DISTRACTION
A
3.6
B
34.8
#19
Trump Administration Blocks EV Charging Infrastructure Expansion
2026-02-12· 1 source+33 DISTRACTION
A
2.0
B
34.5
#20
Bitcoin Market Volatility Amid Trump-Era Policy Uncertainty
2026-02-07· 1 source+33 DISTRACTION
A
0.0
B
33.0
#21
House Votes Against Trump's Canada Tariffs in Rare Rebuke
2026-02-11+17 BALANCED
A
14.8
B
32.3
#22
DOJ Accused of Protecting Epstein Perpetrator
2026-02-07· 1 source+26 BALANCED
A
6.1
B
32.0
#23
Trump Administration Deportation Enforcement Monitoring
2026-02-03· 1 source+21 BALANCED
A
10.7
B
32.0
#24
Epstein Files Reveal Trump Connection
2026-02-07· 1 source+29 BALANCED
A
2.7
B
31.9
#25
Kid Rock Performs Alternative Super Bowl Halftime Show
2026-02-09· 8 sources+32 DISTRACTION
A
0.0
B
31.7
#26
Trump Administration Energy Secretary Visits Venezuela for Oil Industry Assessment
2026-02-12· 1 source+29 BALANCED
A
1.8
B
30.8
#27
Trump Defends Cabinet Nominees at National Prayer Breakfast
2026-02-05· 1 source+24 BALANCED
A
6.9
B
30.5
#28
Trump Board of Peace Holds First Meeting
2026-02-07· 1 source+15 BALANCED
A
15.4
B
30.2
#29
X Awards $1 Million Prize to Creator with Racist Post History
2026-02-07· 1 source+29 BALANCED
A
0.1
B
29.6
#30
White House Faces Court Challenge Over Trump Ballroom Lawsuit
2026-01-23· 1 source+18 BALANCED
A
11.3
B
29.0
#31
Iran Vows to Target US Bases if Attacked
2026-02-07· 1 source+25 BALANCED
A
2.5
B
27.6
#32
Kash Patel Accused of Cover-Up in ICE Agent Killing
2026-02-07· 1 source+8 BALANCED
A
18.7
B
26.9
#33
Trump Administration Tariff Actions on China and Mexico
2026-02-05· 2 sources+15 BALANCED
A
11.8
B
26.5
#34
Trump Approves Nexstar-Tegna Media Merger
2026-02-07· 1 source+5 BALANCED
A
20.9
B
26.1
#35
Trump-Netanyahu Meeting on Iran Negotiations
2026-02-10· 2 sources+26 BALANCED
A
—
B
26.0
#36
Pentagon Ends Relationship with Harvard University
2026-02-07· 1 source+11 BALANCED
A
14.0
B
25.5
#37
Trump Tariff War Economic Impact Concerns
2026-02-09· 3 sources+20 BALANCED
A
5.5
B
25.4
#38
Father of US-Based Hong Kong Activist Convicted Under National Security Law
2026-02-11+25 BALANCED
A
—
B
25.3
#39
Meta Makes Nuclear Energy Deals Endorsing Trump Energy Vision
2026-02-07· 2 sources+25 BALANCED
A
0.0
B
25.0
#40
Washington Post Publisher Will Lewis Departs Following Mass Layoffs
2026-02-07+20 BALANCED
A
—
B
20.3
#41
Health Costs Emerging as Democratic Campaign Issue
2026-02-07+6 BALANCED
A
—
B
5.5
#42
US Reaffirms Commitment to Philippines Against Chinese Assertiveness
2026-02-11· 1 source+6 BALANCED
A
—
B
5.5
#43
US Diplomatic Engagement on Iran Tensions in Strait of Hormuz
2026-02-10· 1 source+3 BALANCED
A
—
B
2.8
#4
China Overturns Canadian Death Sentence After Carney Visit
2026-02-09· 1 source
5
#5
Fact-Check: Liam Conejo Ramos Not in Bad Bunny Super Bowl Show
2026-02-09· 13 sources
1
#6
Thomas Massie's Microphone Snatched at GOP Dinner
2026-02-07· 1 source
1
#7
FBI Outreach to Elections Officials on Midterm Preparation
2026-02-09· 1 source
1
#8
New Jersey House Primary: Mejia Leads by 486 Votes
2026-02-07· 1 source
1
#9
Nancy Pelosi Endorses Jack Schlossberg for New York Seat
2026-02-07· 1 source
1
#10
India-US Deal Strengthens India's Regional Position
2026-02-09· 3 sources
1
#11
Trump Administration Approves Dicamba Weed Killer
2026-02-07· 1 source
1
#12
Washington Post Slashes Jobs and Global Coverage
2026-02-07· 4 sources
1
#13
Three Venezuelan Opposition Figures Released
2026-02-09· 2 sources
1
#14
US Imposes Oil Supply Blockade on Cuba
2026-02-07· 1 source
1
#15
Trump Hosts Honduras President at Mar-a-Lago
2026-02-07· 3 sources
1
#16
Washington State Proposes 3-Cent Sugar Tax
2026-02-07· 1 source
0
#17
Kwame Kilpatrick Gives Up Fight Against Federal Charges
2026-02-07· 1 source
0
#18
Washington State Loses Insurance Coverage After Tax Credit Loss
2026-02-07· 2 sources
0
#19
DOJ Deputy Antitrust Chief Steps Down
2026-02-09· 1 source
—
#20
US Judge Rejects California Mask Ban for Federal Officers
2026-02-10· 1 source
—
#21
USAID Division Relaunches as Nonprofit with $48M Philanthropic Backing
2026-02-06
—
#22
US Criminal Investigation Targets Maduro Ally Previously Pardoned by Biden
2026-02-10
—
#23
Federal Judge Rejects DOJ Attempt to Obtain Michigan Voter Data
2026-02-10· 1 source
—
#24
McMaster Backs Evette for South Carolina Governor; Trump Endorsement Pending
2026-02-11
—
#25
US-India Interim Trade Framework Agreement
2026-02-07· 1 source
—
#26
Trump Administration Diplomatic Engagement with Colombia on Venezuela and Drug Enforcement
2026-02-03· 1 source
—
#27
Congressional Hearing on America's 250th Anniversary Celebration Conflicts
2026-02-11· 1 source
—
#28
Trump Administration Announces Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program
2026-01-27· 1 source
—
#29
AP-NORC Poll on Trump's First Year Approval
2026-01-15· 1 source
—
#30
New Jersey House Special Primary: Mejia Defeats Malinowski
2026-02-10
—