Narrow these 57 — tap a value to filter:
Trait 18
Universities are pressured to suppress dissent or lose funding 36Federal power is weaponized against disfavored states or localities 12Law is a weapon of the state, not a limit on its power 8Chaos is used as a strategy to fragment focus and disable accountability 7Civil service roles are politicized or privatized 7Memory is curated by power—what cannot be controlled is erased 7Citizenship is stratified by wealth, ideology, and heritage 4Executive power operates without effective oversight 4National history is rewritten to glorify conquest, not justice 3Textbooks and museums are altered to erase dissent and accountability 3Dissent is reframed as disorder, treason, or terrorism 2Surveillance of ordinary citizens increases; elite crimes remain opaque 2Administrative agencies are deregulated or captured by private interests 1Data and algorithms are used to manipulate, not serve, the public 1Dissenters are labeled unpatriotic, subversive, or corrupt 1Opposition parties are allowed but structurally weakened 1Protest rights are abridged through zoning, permits, or security claims 1Religion is co-opted as a tool of legitimacy and control 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
Jul 25, 2026 President Trump ordered temporary signs outside the Smithsonian National Museum of American History accusing it of inaccuracy and calling for exhibit renovation Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The order used presidential power to shape public history at a national institution and steer how citizens encounter the historical record.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump orders signs accusing Smithsonian of inaccuracy — On Friday, President Donald Trump ordered the Department of the Interior to display signs outside the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
- Executive Order on Smithsonian Institution — On July 24, 2026, President Trump issued Executive Order 14415, titled "Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution." The order directed the National Park Service to place temporary signage outside the Smithsonian
- Executive Order on Restoring Trust in the Smithsonian Institution — President Donald J.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 80 – 2026-07-25–2026-07-31
wk80_PA_001
Apr 6, 2026 The Department of Education terminated civil rights settlements that protected transgender students in schools and college Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
Ending the settlements withdrew federal enforcement power from a vulnerable group and narrowed practical civil-rights protection in education.
Independently corroborated by5 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump administration ends civil rights settlements for trans students — On April 6, 2026, the US Department of Education announced the termination of civil rights settlements with five school districts and a college, which were established under previous administrations to protect
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 64 – 2026-04-04–2026-04-10
wk64_PA_005
Mar 29, 2026 Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and the Trump administration pressed federal cultural institutions to align exhibits and historical interpretation with the president's preferred narrative Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The campaign used executive authority to shape public memory and narrow how federal institutions presented slavery, impeachment, and other contested history.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- National Park Service directed to adhere to Trump's historical narrative — On May 20, 2025, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued an order instructing officials at all National Park Service sites to ensure that information presented adhered to President Trump's ideological demands.
- National Park Service removes displays on slavery — On May 20, 2025, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued an order instructing officials at all National Park Service sites to ensure that information presented aligns with President Trump's directive to avoid negative
- National Portrait Gallery alters Trump's portrait text — In January 2026, the National Park Service removed displays about the enslavement of nine Black Americans at the home of President George Washington in Philadelphia.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 63 – 2026-03-28–2026-04-03
wk63_PA_005
Feb 3, 2026 President Trump sought $1 billion in damages from Harvard University Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The demand used executive leverage against a university and raised concerns about coercing academic institutions through federal power and funding threats.
Independently corroborated by9 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump administration seeks $1bn in damages from Harvard University — Donald Trump announced that his administration is seeking $1 billion in damages from Harvard University, accusing the institution of antisemitism and mishandling civil rights violations.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 55 – 2026-01-31–2026-02-06
wk55_PA_006
Nov 19, 2025 The State Department proposed removing 38 universities from a research program over their DEI policies Corroborated Power and Authority
The proposal used federal funding leverage to pressure universities over internal policy choices, testing academic independence and executive control over public resources.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- State Department proposes cutting 38 universities from research program over DEI policies
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 44 – 2025-11-15–2025-11-21
wk44_PA_007
Aug 27, 2025 The White House threatened to cut sex education funds unless states removed references to transgender people Corroborated Power and Authority
The threat used federal funding power to force changes in state curricula, linking executive control to limits on recognition of a minority group.
Independently corroborated by1 independent news desk
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- White House threatens to cut sex education funds over transgender references — The Trump administration has issued a directive to 46 states, territories, and Washington DC, threatening to withdraw federal funding for sex education programs unless references to transgender people are removed from
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 32 – 2025-08-23–2025-08-29
wk32_PA_014
Aug 7, 2025 Brown University settled with the Trump administration to restore frozen federal funds under new policy conditions Corroborated Power and Authority
The settlement showed how executive control over funding could be used to force ideological and administrative concessions from a university.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Brown University reaches settlement with Trump administration — Brown University has reached a settlement with the Trump administration to restore frozen federal funds.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 29 – 2025-08-02–2025-08-08
wk29_PA_015
Aug 7, 2025 President Trump ordered colleges to submit admissions data to prove they did not consider race Corroborated Power and Authority
The action used federal authority to intensify oversight of university admissions and pressure institutions on diversity-related policy choices.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump signs executive action on university admissions data — On August 6, 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive action mandating that colleges and universities submit data to prove they do not consider race in admissions.
- Trump signs memo requiring detailed admissions data from colleges — President Trump signed a memo requiring colleges to provide detailed admissions data to the Education Department, targeting affirmative action practices.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 29 – 2025-08-02–2025-08-08
wk29_PA_019
Aug 7, 2025 The Trump administration kept UCLA funding frozen after the university settled a protest-related lawsuit Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The continued freeze showed executive use of funding pressure to influence university governance beyond the underlying private settlement.
Independently corroborated by7 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- University of California, Los Angeles settles lawsuit over pro-Palestinian protests — The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) agreed to pay $6 million to settle a lawsuit by Jewish students and a professor regarding its handling of pro-Palestinian protests.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 29 – 2025-08-02–2025-08-08
wk29_PA_021
Jul 31, 2025 The Trump administration reached a settlement with Columbia University tied to withheld funding Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The settlement showed the executive branch using funding pressure to force changes in university hiring and governance practices.
Independently corroborated by6 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump administration withholds funds from Columbia University — The Trump administration reached a settlement with Columbia University, which agreed to pay $221 million and not to consider race, color, sex, or national origin in hiring decisions to restore $1.3 billion in funding
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 28 – 2025-07-26–2025-08-01
wk28_PA_020
Jul 30, 2025 The Trump administration froze $108 million in federal research funding to Duke University Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The funding freeze used federal money as leverage to force policy changes at a university, testing limits on institutional autonomy.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- White House freezes $108m in funds to Duke University over affirmative action — The Trump administration has frozen $108 million in federal research funding to Duke University following allegations of racial discrimination through affirmative action.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 28 – 2025-07-26–2025-08-01
wk28_PA_015
Jul 29, 2025 The Department of Justice issued a memo urging federal fund recipients to ban DEI programs Corroborated Power and Authority
The memo used executive leverage over grants to reshape institutional policy and narrow protected diversity efforts.
Independently corroborated by5 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- DOJ Memo Asks for DEI Program Bans — The DOJ published a memo asking recipients of federal funds to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, aligning with Trump's executive orders to restrict DEI initiatives.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 28 – 2025-07-26–2025-08-01
wk28_PA_011
Jul 23, 2025 President Trump issued executive orders to expand AI exports, speed data center permitting, and restrict federal use of so-called woke AI Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The orders combined deregulation, procurement control, and ideological standards, expanding executive influence over infrastructure, information systems, and federal technology policy.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump administration unveils plan to fast-track AI sector — The Trump administration has announced a plan to accelerate the development of the artificial intelligence sector by dismantling certain environmental and land-use regulations.
- Executive Order on Promoting the Export of the American AI Technology Stack — On July 23, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to promote the export of American AI technology.
- Executive Order to Accelerate Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure — On July 23, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at accelerating the federal permitting process for data center infrastructure.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 27 – 2025-07-19–2025-07-25
wk27_PA_009
Jul 1, 2025 The Trump administration withheld nearly $7 billion in federal school funding Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The withholding tested executive control over congressionally appropriated funds and put federal leverage over schools at the center of a legal dispute.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Withholds Federal School Funding — The Trump administration withheld nearly $7 billion in federal funding for schools on July 1, 2025, citing a review of funds supporting various educational programs.
- Trump’s Education Department withholds $6.8 billion in school funding — The Trump administration announced it is withholding $6.8 billion in K–12 school funding that was legally required to be disbursed starting today.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 24 – 2025-06-28–2025-07-04
wk24_PA_011
Jun 27, 2025 The Trump administration pressured the University of Virginia president to resign during a Justice Department investigation of DEI policies Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The resignation showed federal executive power being used to shape university leadership and policy through investigative pressure.
Independently corroborated by8 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- University of Virginia President Resigns Under Pressure from White House — James Ryan, the president of the University of Virginia, resigned after facing pressure from the Trump administration to step down.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 23 – 2025-06-21–2025-06-27
wk23_PA_014
Jun 7, 2025 President Trump suspended Harvard from the student visa program Corroborated Power and Authority
The move used immigration power against a university, pressuring institutional autonomy through federal control of visas.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump suspends Harvard from student visa program — Trump signed a proclamation suspending Harvard University from the student visa program, effectively banning international students from attending the school.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 21 – 2025-06-07–2025-06-13
wk21_PA_007
Jun 5, 2025 President Trump signed a proclamation restricting foreign student visas at Harvard Corroborated Power and Authority
The proclamation used immigration authority to target a specific university, testing limits on executive retaliation against institutions.
Independently corroborated by5 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump signs proclamation to restrict foreign student visas at Harvard — On June 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to restrict foreign student visas at Harvard University.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 20 – 2025-05-31–2025-06-06
wk20_PA_017
May 30, 2025 The Trump administration ordered mandatory social media screening for Harvard visa applicants and visitors Corroborated Power and Authority
The directive used visa power and surveillance screening to target one university's international community, increasing executive leverage over academic exchange.
Independently corroborated by1 independent news desk
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Orders Social Media Screening for Harvard Visitors — The Trump administration has mandated that US consulates worldwide conduct mandatory social media screenings for all visa applicants intending to visit Harvard University.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 19 – 2025-05-24–2025-05-30
wk19_PA_019
May 26, 2025 The Trump administration paused new foreign student visa interviews at U.S. embassies Corroborated Power and Authority
The pause expanded executive control over who could enter for study and gave the administration leverage over universities that rely on international students.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump administration pauses foreign student visa interviews — The Trump administration ordered U.S.
- Trump administration halts student visa interviews at US embassies — The Trump administration has issued a directive to US embassies worldwide to stop scheduling visa interviews for foreign students.
- Trump Administration Pauses Visa Interviews for Foreign Students — The Trump administration has paused all visa interviews for foreign students seeking to study in the United States.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 19 – 2025-05-24–2025-05-30
wk19_PA_009
May 26, 2025 The Trump administration ordered federal agencies to cut ties with Harvard Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
Canceling contracts used federal purchasing power to punish a disfavored institution and pressure it to align with executive demands.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump cuts ties with Harvard — The Trump administration ordered all federal agencies to sever ties with Harvard University and revoke existing contracts and grants, totaling around $100 million.
- Trump orders federal agencies to cut ties with Harvard — The Trump administration has directed federal agencies to cancel all government contracts with Harvard University, totaling an estimated $100 million.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 19 – 2025-05-24–2025-05-30
wk19_PA_010
May 25, 2025 The Trump administration revoked Harvard's authority to enroll foreign students Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The move used federal immigration power to pressure a university, tying academic operations to executive demands and threatening institutional independence.
Independently corroborated by6 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Revokes Harvard's Privilege to Enroll Foreign Students — The Trump administration informed Harvard University that it had lost the privilege to enroll foreign students due to the university's failure to provide information on foreign students' protest activities and
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 19 – 2025-05-24–2025-05-30
wk19_PA_004
May 21, 2025 Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revoked Harvard's authority to enroll foreign students Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The order used executive immigration power to punish a university, threatening academic autonomy and the legal status of thousands of students.
Independently corroborated by6 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem revokes Harvard's Foreign Exchange Student Program — DHS Secretary Kristi Noem sent a letter to Harvard University revoking their Foreign Exchange Student Program effective immediately, preventing the enrollment of additional foreign students and requiring current
- Trump Administration Revokes Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students — The Trump administration revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students, citing alleged anti-American activities.
Attacks
Traits
Chaos is used as a strategy to fragment focus and disable accountabilityCitizenship is stratified by wealth, ideology, and heritageDissenters are labeled unpatriotic, subversive, or corruptFederal power is weaponized against disfavored states or localitiesUniversities are pressured to suppress dissent or lose funding
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 18 – 2025-05-17–2025-05-23
wk18_PA_012
May 13, 2025 President Trump signed an executive order aimed at dismantling the Department of Education Corroborated Power and Authority
The order tested whether the executive could weaken a cabinet department without Congress, shifting power away from normal lawmaking.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump signs executive order aiming to dismantle the Department of Education — The Trump administration has signed an executive order that seeks to dismantle the Department of Education, which is responsible for federal education policy and funding.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 17 – 2025-05-10–2025-05-16
wk17_PA_013
May 6, 2025 The Trump administration blocked Harvard from receiving new federal research grants unless it met administration demands Corroborated Power and Authority
The funding threat used executive leverage to pressure a university’s governance and speech environment, testing limits on federal coercion.
Independently corroborated by6 independent news desks
CNN · Politico · Fox News · NBC News · New York Post · The Dispatch
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Blocks Grant Funding for Harvard — The Trump administration, through Education Secretary Linda McMahon, has informed Harvard University that it will no longer receive federal research grants and aid unless it complies with a list of demands.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 16 – 2025-05-03–2025-05-09
wk16_PA_013
May 2, 2025 President Trump ended federal diversity programs, moved to dismantle the Education Department, and reclassified civil-service roles as political appointments Corroborated Power and Authority
These actions expanded presidential control over the bureaucracy and weakened institutional independence across education and the civil service.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump ends diversity, equity, and inclusion programs government-wide — President Trump has ended diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across the federal government, following recommendations from Project 2025.
- Trump signs executive order to dismantle the Department of Education — President Trump signed an executive order directing the education secretary to begin dismantling the Department of Education, a move that aligns with Project 2025's recommendations.
- Trump signs executive order to reclassify civil service roles — President Trump signed an executive order in April to reclassify tens of thousands of civil service roles as political appointments.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 15 – 2025-04-26–2025-05-02
wk15_PA_022