The Distraction Index
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Mar 22 – Mar 28, 2026
Week 65🟢 LIVE
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⚠️Smokescreen: White House Installs Christopher Columbus Statue from Toppled Baltimore Monument → California Sheriff Seizes Ballots While Running for Governor · SI: 70.0 CRITICAL
28
+12
Events
1
0
List A
16
+5
List B
11
+7
Noise
15.4
-5.8
Avg A
36.8
-4.1
Avg B
THIS WEEK IN 30 SECONDS

While the media fixated on "Trump Threatens Iran with Military Action Over Strait of Hormuz", the real story was "California Sheriff Seizes Ballots While Running for Governor" — scoring 100.0 for critical constitutional damage. Critical smokescreen activity detected (SI: 70) — distraction is actively displacing coverage of real damage. 28 events tracked across 1041 sources.

LOOK AT THIS
California Sheriff Seizes Ballots While Running for Governor
THEY WANT YOU TO LOOK AT
Trump Threatens Iran with Military Action Over Strait of Hormuz · White House Installs Christopher Columbus Statue from Toppled Baltimore Monument
This Week's Key Stories
Top Damage
California Sheriff Seizes Ballots While Running for Governor

A GOP sheriff in California seized more than half a million ballots from the 2025 election while running for governor. This represents potential election administration interference and abuse of law enforcement authority.

2 sources
A
100.0
Constitutional Damage
B
55.3
Media Hype
Top Distraction
Trump Threatens Iran with Military Action Over Strait of Hormuz

Trump issued multiple threats to attack Iranian power plants and obliterate Iran if it does not open the Strait of Hormuz, while simultaneously claiming to wind down the war and sending additional US troops to the region. Iran responded with counter-threats to target US energy and IT systems.

8 sources
A
25.3
Constitutional Damage
B
82.3
Media Hype
Smokescreen Pair
Trump Threatens Iran with Military Action Over Strait of Hormuz
is obscuring
California Sheriff Seizes Ballots While Running for Governor
SI: 70.0
Full Index
Real Damage
Constitutional Threats · 1 event
#1
California Sheriff Seizes Ballots While Running for Governor
2026-03-22· 2 sources-45 UNDERCOVERED
A
100.0
B
55.3
Distractions
Manufactured Outrage · 16 events
#1
Trump Threatens Iran with Military Action Over Strait of Hormuz
2026-03-22· 8 sources+57 DISTRACTION
A
25.3
B
82.3
#2
White House Installs Christopher Columbus Statue from Toppled Baltimore Monument
2026-03-22· 2 sources+80 DISTRACTION
A
2.0
B
82.3
#3
Trump Administration Deploys ICE to Airports During DHS Shutdown
2026-03-22· 8 sources+51 DISTRACTION
A
27.8
B
79.0
#4
Senate Blocks Amendment on Transgender Athletes During Voting Bill Session
2026-03-22· 1 source+67 DISTRACTION
A
9.7
B
76.3
#5
CNN Segment on Trump and Anti-Semitism Allegations
2026-03-22· 1 source+49 DISTRACTION
A
0.0
B
49.3
#6
Ted Cruz Suggests Splitting ICE and CBP Funding From DHS
2026-03-22· 1 source+44 DISTRACTION
A
5.0
B
49.0
#7
Trump Executive Order on College Football and Army-Navy Game TV Rights
2026-03-20· 3 sources+39 DISTRACTION
A
9.1
B
48.3
#8
Mexico Reports Nearly 200,000 Repatriations From U.S. Since Trump Return to Office
2026-03-23· 1 source+11 BALANCED
A
36.4
B
47.8
#9
Trump Administration Cancels Underground Railroad Museum Grant Based on RaceMIXED
2026-03-22· 1 source+3 BALANCED
A
41.8
B
44.5
#10
Federal Government Shutdown - TSA and Employee Impact
2026-03-22· 3 sources+26 BALANCED
A
11.4
B
37.5
#11
Trump's DOJ Waves White Flag in Some ICE Cases
2026-03-20· 1 source+21 BALANCED
A
16.5
B
37.0
#12
Military Deployment in D.C. Could Get Extended Until End of Trump Term
2026-03-22· 1 source+18 BALANCED
A
16.5
B
34.8
#13
Opinion: Courts Cannot Save Us From Trump
2026-03-22· 1 source+33 DISTRACTION
A
—
B
33.3
#14
Kennedy Ally Quits Vaccine Panel, Cites Sabotage
2026-03-25· 1 source+30 BALANCED
A
2.4
B
32.0
#15
Opinion and Analysis Content
2026-03-22· 3 sources+32 DISTRACTION
A
—
B
32.0
#16
Trump Administration Announces Data Center and Gas Plant Development on Ohio Uranium Site
2026-03-22· 1 source+23 BALANCED
A
3.7
B
26.5
Noise Floor
Low Impact · 11 events
#1
Detained Immigrant Children Face Concerning Conditions at Texas Facility
2026-03-22· 1 source
—
#2
Judge Restores Voice of America Jobs After Trump Administration Cuts
2026-03-22· 1 source
—
#3
Senate Advances Trump Homeland Security Nominee Mullin
2026-03-22· 2 sources
—
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#4
Judge Rules Lawsuit Can Proceed Against Trump-Era Student Visa Revocations
2026-03-22· 1 source
—
#5
DOJ Delays Implementation of Marijuana Reclassification
2026-03-22· 1 source
—
#6
Trump Executive Order on Local Pipeline Project
2026-03-21· 1 source
—
#7
Trump EPA Rolls Back Air Quality Protections in National Parks
2026-03-22· 1 source
—
#8
Hawaii Flooding Crisis - Worst in 20 Years
2026-03-22· 2 sources
—
#9
Cuba Power Grid Collapses - Third Blackout in March
2026-03-22· 3 sources
—
#10
Noise - Non-Administration Content
2026-03-22· 36 sources
—
#11
Robert Mueller, Former FBI Director and Special Counsel, Dies
2026-03-22· 2 sources
—