Narrow these 316 — tap a value to filter:
Trait 43
Crony capitalism becomes indistinguishable from governance 48Chaos is used as a strategy to fragment focus and disable accountability 26Administrative agencies are deregulated or captured by private interests 24Policy outcomes are driven by elite lobbying and financial contributions 21Federal power is weaponized against disfavored states or localities 19Executive power operates without effective oversight 13Law is a weapon of the state, not a limit on its power 12Wealth buys not only speech, but law 12Emergency powers are normalized and permanent 9Citizenship is stratified by wealth, ideology, and heritage 8Public funds are used for personal glorification and symbolic dominance 6Crimes committed by elite donors or allies are concealed, not prosecuted 5Inequality is not a flaw—it is a function of the system 4Legislatures function as performance, not deliberation 4State power is outsourced to unaccountable private contractors 4Tax codes are engineered to favor capital, not labor 4Transparency laws are weakened or unenforced 4Economic data is selectively published, massaged, or ignored 3Access to lawmakers is bought through donations and influence networks 2Civil service roles are politicized or privatized 2Crisis becomes a profit opportunity for those closest to power 2Data and algorithms are used to manipulate, not serve, the public 2Economic monopolies are tolerated or encouraged 2Entire industries are shielded from accountability through lobbying power 2Financial crimes by elites are unpunished or quietly settled 2Independent media is starved while state-aligned outlets thrive 2Investigations into corruption are blocked, buried, or retaliated against 2Labor protections are eroded to keep workers atomized and dependent 2Opposition parties are allowed but structurally weakened 2Police and military are aligned with elite preservation, not public defense 2Regulatory agencies are staffed by former or future industry executives 2Universities are pressured to suppress dissent or lose funding 2Courts issue rulings aligned with donor or elite preference 1Elections are flooded with disinformation funded by elite actors 1Foreign influence is welcomed if it supports regime interests 1Government archives are sealed, sanitized, or destroyed 1Judicial independence is eroded through politicized appointments 1Memory is curated by power—what cannot be controlled is erased 1National history is rewritten to glorify conquest, not justice 1Political risk is offloaded onto the public; profits are kept private 1Public tragedy is monetized by regime insiders 1Voter suppression is rationalized as election integrity 1Whistleblowers are prosecuted, not protected 1
Tier 1 carried by a primary record
Corroborated 2+ independent news desks
Every result is verified and democracy-related.
Open an event to see its evidence. Attack and trait tags link to their definitions
Mar 9, 2026 President Trump said high oil prices were a small price to pay for war aims Tier 1 · Primary Economic Structure
The comment framed consumer economic pain as acceptable collateral of military policy, linking war choices to household costs.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reports
- Trump comments on high oil prices due to military actions — President Trump stated that high oil prices resulting from military actions in the Middle East are "a very small price to pay for U.S.A., and World, Safety and Peace." This comment reflects the administration's framing
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 60 – 2026-03-07–2026-03-13
wk60_ES_016
Mar 8, 2026 Bapco Energies declared force majeure on oil shipments after an attack on Bahrain's refinery Corroborated Economic Structure
The declaration disrupted energy supply obligations and deepened market instability tied to regional conflict.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Bahrain Declares Force Majeure on Oil Shipments — Bahrain's state oil company, Bapco Energies, declared force majeure on its shipments following an Iranian attack on its only oil refinery.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 60 – 2026-03-07–2026-03-13
wk60_ES_005
Mar 7, 2026 The Trump administration temporarily suspended some sanctions on Russian oil Tier 1 · Primary Economic Structure
The move altered energy markets and gave economic relief to a foreign oil producer while responding to domestic price pressure.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Temporarily Suspends Some Russia Sanctions — The US has temporarily suspended certain sanctions on Russia to make Russian oil available, despite concerns about Russia's financial benefit amid its war in Ukraine.
- Trump Administration Reverses Course on Russian Oil Sanctions — The Trump administration has been criticized for relieving Russian oil sanctions, a move seen as aiding Russia's war economy against Ukraine.
- Trump Administration Lifts Sanctions on Russian Oil Shipments — The Trump administration has temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian oil shipments to mitigate economic fallout from its military conflict with Iran.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 60 – 2026-03-07–2026-03-13
wk60_ES_003
Mar 7, 2026 Diesel prices in the United States surged amid the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz Corroborated Economic Structure
The price spike showed how war-related disruption can quickly raise transport costs and strain household and business budgets.
Independently corroborated by5 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- U.S. Diesel Prices Surge Amid Conflict — The national average price of diesel in the United States has surged past $4.50 per gallon, with projections indicating it could soon approach $4.95.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 60 – 2026-03-07–2026-03-13
wk60_ES_004
Mar 5, 2026 BlackRock capped withdrawals from a large private credit fund Tier 1 · Primary Economic Structure
The restriction signaled stress in a major financial vehicle, highlighting how private market instability can affect broader economic confidence.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- BlackRock Limits Withdrawals from Private Credit Fund — BlackRock has announced a cap on withdrawals from its $26 billion private credit fund, limiting them to 5% despite investors requesting 9.3%.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 59 – 2026-02-28–2026-03-06
wk59_ES_029
Mar 5, 2026 The U.S. economy lost 92,000 jobs in February and saw unemployment rise Corroborated Economic Structure
The labor market decline affected household security and public confidence, shaping the economic context in which democratic choices are made.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- U.S. Economy Loses 92,000 Jobs in February — The U.S.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 59 – 2026-02-28–2026-03-06
wk59_ES_030
Mar 5, 2026 The Trump administration designated Anthropic a supply chain risk and threatened its business operations Corroborated Economic Structure
The move used state economic power to pressure a private firm over policy conflict, raising concerns about coercive industrial favoritism.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Switches AI Partnership from Anthropic to OpenAI — The Trump Administration ceased its partnership with Anthropic and switched to working with OpenAI for AI development.
- Trump Administration Designates Anthropic a "Supply Chain Risk" — The Trump Administration designated the AI company Anthropic as a "supply chain risk," a move that could potentially cut the company off from working with major tech firms like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Google.
- Trump Administration Threatens Anthropic with Business Termination — The Trump Administration threatened to terminate Anthropic's business operations if it did not comply with government terms.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 59 – 2026-02-28–2026-03-06
wk59_ES_031
Mar 1, 2026 Senator Marco Rubio said the administration knew Iran strikes would likely raise gas prices Corroborated Economic Structure
The acknowledgment linked foreign policy choices to foreseeable consumer costs, highlighting weak economic safeguards around executive war decisions.
Independently corroborated by6 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- US Military Strikes and Energy Prices — Senator Marco Rubio acknowledged that President Trump was aware that military strikes on Iran would likely lead to increased gas prices for Americans.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 59 – 2026-02-28–2026-03-06
wk59_ES_002
Feb 28, 2026 President Trump ordered federal agencies to stop using Anthropic technology and cut related contracts Corroborated Power and Authority
The order used executive and national security power to punish a private firm over an ethics dispute, testing limits on coercive state leverage over private actors.
Independently corroborated by9 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump orders US agencies to stop use of Anthropic technology — On February 27, 2026, Donald Trump directed all federal agencies to immediately cease using technology from Anthropic, an AI company, due to a dispute over AI safety guidelines.
- Trump Administration Cuts Off Anthropic from Government Contracts — The Trump administration has ordered the cessation of all government contracts with AI company Anthropic, citing national security concerns.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 59 – 2026-02-28–2026-03-06
wk59_PA_001
Feb 27, 2026 The California Fast Food Workers Union drafted a constitutional pledge urging employers to require judicial warrants before ICE entered private work areas Tier 1 · Primary Civil Rights and Dissent
The pledge used workplace organizing to defend immigrant workers' rights against warrantless or coercive enforcement practices.
Independently corroborated by1 independent news desk
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- ICE raids on California fast food workers — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been conducting raids at fast food workplaces across California, causing fear and walkouts among workers.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 58 – 2026-02-21–2026-02-27
wk58_CR_016
Feb 26, 2026 The Pentagon threatened Anthropic's contract unless it removed AI safety limits and granted broader military access Corroborated Economic Structure
The pressure used federal contracting leverage to shape private technology design, showing how state purchasing power can steer corporate conduct.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Pentagon Threatens Anthropic Over AI Safety Measures — The Pentagon has threatened to cancel a $200 million contract with Anthropic and label the company a "supply chain risk" unless it removes safety precautions from its AI model, Claude, and grants the military
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 58 – 2026-02-21–2026-02-27
wk58_ES_023
Feb 26, 2026 Governor Kathy Hochul requested a $13.5 billion refund tied to Trump's tariff regime Tier 1 · Primary Economic Structure
The request sought restitution for state-level economic harm and underscored the fiscal consequences of disputed executive trade actions.
Independently corroborated by1 independent news desk
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- New York Governor Requests Refund of Trump Tariffs — New York Governor Kathy Hochul formally requested a $13.5 billion refund from the Trump Administration due to the Supreme Court's decision on Trump’s tariffs.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 58 – 2026-02-21–2026-02-27
wk58_ES_024
Feb 26, 2026 Wholesale price data showed faster-than-expected inflation in January Tier 1 · Primary Economic Structure
The data signaled continued cost pressure in the economy, shaping the policy environment for households and federal decision-makers.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Inflation Concerns as Wholesale Prices Rise — Wholesale prices in the US rose at a faster-than-expected pace in January, with the core producer price index increasing by 0.8%.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 58 – 2026-02-21–2026-02-27
wk58_ES_039
Feb 23, 2026 The CFTC supported Crypto.com in litigation shortly after a large pro-Trump political donation Corroborated Economic Structure
The intervention raised concerns that regulatory power was being used in ways that tracked donor access rather than neutral enforcement.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration's CFTC Supports Crypto.com in Lawsuit — The Trump administration's Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) intervened in a lawsuit on behalf of Crypto.com, supporting its appeal against the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 58 – 2026-02-21–2026-02-27
wk58_ES_009
Feb 22, 2026 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declined to commit to refunds for tariffs collected under the invalidated regime Corroborated Economic Structure
The refusal left unresolved whether the government would return unlawfully collected money, weakening fiscal accountability to importers and consumers.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Treasury Secretary declines to commit to tariff refunds — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has declined to commit to issuing refunds for the $134 billion collected under Trump's now-invalidated tariffs.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 58 – 2026-02-21–2026-02-27
wk58_ES_004
Feb 21, 2026 President Trump imposed new global tariffs under Section 122 and then said the rate would rise from 10% to 15% Corroborated Economic Structure
The move used unilateral trade power to reshape prices and commerce after a court loss, increasing economic uncertainty and testing statutory limits.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Announces New Global Tariffs — Following the Supreme Court's ruling against his previous tariffs, former President Donald Trump announced new global tariffs, initially set at 10% and later increased to 15% within 24 hours.
- Trump Signs Global 10% Tariff — On February 20, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an order imposing a 10% tariff on all countries, effective February 24, 2026.
- Trump announces new global tariffs following Supreme Court decision — In response to the Supreme Court's ruling against his tariffs, President Trump announced he would impose a new global 10% tariff on all countries, effective almost immediately.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 58 – 2026-02-21–2026-02-27
wk58_ES_001
Feb 21, 2026 The Trump administration ordered ICE to sharply increase detentions and daily arrests Corroborated Power and Authority
The directive expanded direct coercive state power in immigration enforcement and increased the risk of detention for migrants and travelers with limited immediate recourse.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Orders ICE to Increase Detentions — Following Donald Trump's second inauguration on January 20, 2025, his administration ordered ICE officials to increase the number of detentions, setting new quotas to raise daily arrests from a few hundred to
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 58 – 2026-02-21–2026-02-27
wk58_PA_001
Feb 21, 2026 The Department of Homeland Security reversed its suspension of TSA PreCheck while keeping Global Entry halted Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The reversal showed how shutdown-era executive decisions could quickly disrupt and then selectively restore basic public-facing security services.
Independently corroborated by6 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- TSA Suspends PreCheck and Global Entry Programs — TSA announced the suspension of its PreCheck and Global Entry programs due to a DHS shutdown.
- Homeland Security Reverses TSA PreCheck Suspension — On February 22, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reversed its decision to suspend the TSA PreCheck program, which had been halted due to staffing shortages from a partial government shutdown.
- DHS suspends and then reinstates TSA PreCheck and Global Entry — The Department of Homeland Security announced a suspension of TSA PreCheck and Global Entry programs during a partial government shutdown over immigration enforcement tensions.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 58 – 2026-02-21–2026-02-27
wk58_PA_004
Feb 15, 2026 John Paulson planned to move an Ohio plant to China Corroborated Economic Structure
The offshoring plan highlighted how private capital decisions can undercut local jobs despite public claims of domestic investment.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- John Paulson Plans to Offshore Ohio Plant to China — Hedge fund billionaire John Paulson plans to offshore an Ohio manufacturing plant to China, despite previous statements supporting domestic manufacturing.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 57 – 2026-02-14–2026-02-20
wk57_ES_004
Feb 14, 2026 The Trump administration withheld federal funding from Minnesota Tier 1 · Primary Economic Structure
The funding pressure used federal money as leverage against a state, threatening services and state autonomy.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
The New York Times · PBS · NPR
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Federal funding withheld from Minnesota — The Trump administration has attempted to withhold several streams of federal funding from Minnesota as part of its crackdown on the state.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 57 – 2026-02-14–2026-02-20
wk57_ES_001
Feb 8, 2026 Freedom 250 and its corporate sponsors offered donor access to President Trump and funded pro-Trump events through large contributions Tier 1 · Primary Economic Structure
The arrangement blurred lines between political access, corporate money, and public-facing civic programming, raising pay-to-play and influence concerns.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Pay-to-Play Scheme Exposed — Freedom 250, an organization linked to the White House, is offering access to President Trump and other benefits to donors contributing at least $1 million.
- Corporations Fund Pro-Trump Events Through Freedom 250 — Major corporations, including Mastercard, Deloitte, and ExxonMobil, are financially supporting Freedom 250, an organization promoting events aligned with President Trump's political agenda.
- ExxonMobil Seeks Favor with Trump Administration — ExxonMobil is sponsoring Freedom 250 to repair its relationship with the Trump administration after CEO Darren Woods' comments about Venezuela being "uninvestible" drew Trump's ire.
Traits
Access to lawmakers is bought through donations and influence networksCrony capitalism becomes indistinguishable from governanceElections are flooded with disinformation funded by elite actorsMemory is curated by power—what cannot be controlled is erasedNational history is rewritten to glorify conquest, not justicePolicy outcomes are driven by elite lobbying and financial contributions
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 56 – 2026-02-07–2026-02-13
wk56_ES_002
Feb 7, 2026 A federal judge reversed the freeze on Gateway tunnel funds Corroborated Civil Rights and Dissent
The ruling checked arbitrary executive action and protected lawful administration of a major public project against political misuse.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Federal judge reverses Trump’s freeze on $16bn for NY-NJ tunnel project — A federal judge in New York, Jeannette Vargas, has reversed a freeze imposed by the Trump administration on $16 billion in funds for the Gateway Project, which aims to enhance rail links between New York and New Jersey.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 56 – 2026-02-07–2026-02-13
wk56_CR_001
Feb 7, 2026 Governor Greg Abbott barred Texas public universities and state government from hiring H-1B workers Corroborated Economic Structure
The policy tied labor access and public-sector staffing to immigration restriction, affecting who can work in state-supported institutions.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Texas Governor Halts H-1B Hiring — Texas Governor Greg Abbott has stopped public universities and the state government from hiring H-1B workers, most of whom are Indian.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 56 – 2026-02-07–2026-02-13
wk56_ES_001
Feb 5, 2026 U.S. employers announced more than 108,000 layoffs in January while hiring weakened Corroborated Economic Structure
The labor data pointed to economic strain that can shape political power by increasing insecurity and dependence.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Economic Concerns Amid Rising Layoffs — U.S.
- U.S. Employers Announce Significant Layoffs
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 55 – 2026-01-31–2026-02-06
wk55_ES_026
Jan 31, 2026 President Trump nominated Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve Corroborated Economic Structure
The nomination mattered because control of the central bank shapes monetary independence and the balance between politics and economic governance.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump's Nomination of Kevin Warsh to Lead the Federal Reserve — President Trump has reportedly nominated Kevin Warsh, known for his hard-money stance, to lead the Federal Reserve.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 55 – 2026-01-31–2026-02-06
wk55_ES_005