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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 13, 2026 President Trump announced and then quickly reversed a cargo-fee plan for the Strait of Hormuz Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The abrupt announcement and reversal showed volatile executive decision-making on war-adjacent trade powers with major diplomatic and economic stakes.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Declares US Control Over Strait of Hormuz — Former President Donald Trump announced that the United States will take control of the Strait of Hormuz and impose a 20% cargo fee on vessels passing through.
- Trump Walks Back Strait of Hormuz Toll Plan — Former President Donald Trump retracted his announcement to impose a 20% toll on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Trump Reverses Strait of Hormuz Fee — President Donald Trump reversed his decision to impose a 20% "reimbursement fee" on the Strait of Hormuz less than a day after announcing it.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 78 – 2026-07-11–2026-07-17
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Jun 20, 2026 President Trump threatened Iran and proposed U.S. control or tolls in the Strait of Hormuz during talks. Corroborated Power and Authority
The threats showed personalized use of executive and allied power in foreign policy, bypassing normal deliberation and raising the risk of coercive military and economic action.
Independently corroborated by7 independent news desks
BBC · CNBC · NPR · PBS · New York Post · The Atlantic · The Washington Times
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Lindsey Graham Comments on Iran Negotiations — Senator Lindsey Graham stated in a CBS interview that if the Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) deal fails, Trump will take control of the Strait of Hormuz by force and charge tolls.
- Trump Threatens Iran on Social Media — Former President Trump posted on Truth Social threatening to "hit Iran very hard again" if a deal was not reached during the ongoing negotiations in Switzerland.
- Trump Threatens Tolls on Ships in Hormuz Strait — On June 20, 2026, President Trump threatened to impose U.S.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 75 – 2026-06-20–2026-06-26
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Feb 28, 2026 President Trump announced and defended major combat operations against Iran without congressional authorization Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The president used war powers unilaterally, shifting core decisions on force away from Congress and weakening democratic checks on military action.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Announces Military Action Against Iran — On February 27, 2026, former President Donald Trump released a video on his social media platform, Truth Social, announcing a military operation against Iran.
- Trump announces military operations in Iran — Following the military strikes on Iran, President Trump posted an 8-minute video on social media announcing the commencement of major combat operations.
- Trump expresses desire for regime change in Iran — In a phone call with reporters, President Trump stated that his primary goal in the military action against Iran is regime change, emphasizing his desire for freedom for the Iranian people.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 59 – 2026-02-28–2026-03-06
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Jan 14, 2026 The Justice Department released a memo approving a military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro without resolving its legality under international law Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The memo asserted broad executive war-making discretion and weakened legal limits on cross-border force by treating domestic authorization as sufficient.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- DoJ Memo on Military Raid to Capture Maduro Released — A memo from the Trump administration's Department of Justice (DoJ) was released, revealing that the administration approved a military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro without concluding whether
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 52 – 2026-01-10–2026-01-16
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Jun 21, 2025 President Trump ordered U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities without congressional approval Corroborated Power and Authority
The strikes tested constitutional limits on war powers by concentrating military decision-making in the presidency and bypassing normal legislative authorization and advance notice.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
50501 Movement · CNN · MeidasTouch · Axios · The Guardian · Zeteo
Supporting reports
- President Trump Orders Airstrikes on Iranian Nuclear Facilities — On June 21, 2025, President Trump ordered airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—marking the first U.S.
- U.S. Military Conducts Airstrikes on Iranian Nuclear Sites — On June 21, 2025, President Donald J.
- US military conducts airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites — The US military launched airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, involving over 125 aircraft and multiple bomb types, including GBU-57 bunker buster bombs and Tomahawk missiles.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 23 – 2025-06-21–2025-06-27
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Apr 16, 2025 The Trump administration closed the State Department's foreign disinformation hub and put staff on leave Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The closure removed a dedicated federal capacity to counter foreign influence operations and concentrated control over how such threats are handled.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump administration closes State Department's R/Fimi hub — The Trump administration has closed the State Department's Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (R/Fimi) hub, which was responsible for monitoring foreign disinformation campaigns.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 13 – 2025-04-12–2025-04-18
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Feb 3, 2025 Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared himself acting head of USAID as staff were locked out Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The takeover concentrated control over a statutory agency in the executive branch while bypassing normal institutional boundaries.
Independently corroborated by6 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Marco Rubio declares himself head of USAid as workers locked out of office — On February 3, 2025, U.S.
- Rubio Appointed Acting USAID Administrator — Senator Marco Rubio announced he would serve as the acting administrator of USAID, despite the agency's historical independence.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 3 – 2025-02-01–2025-02-07
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Feb 1, 2025 President Trump froze most foreign aid pending a 90-day review Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The freeze concentrated executive control over congressionally backed aid programs and disrupted humanitarian operations without new legislative action.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump administration freezes foreign aid pending review — Following an executive order by President Trump, the State Department issued stop-work directives, effectively freezing all foreign aid except for emergency food assistance.
- Freeze on Foreign Aid — President Trump imposed a freeze on foreign aid, cutting off approximately $60 billion in funding to the U.S.
- U.S. foreign aid frozen by Trump — President Trump unilaterally froze all U.S.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 3 – 2025-02-01–2025-02-07
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Feb 1, 2025 President Trump imposed emergency tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
Using emergency powers for broad trade penalties expanded unilateral presidential control over economic policy and foreign relations.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump signs executive orders imposing tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China — On February 1, 2025, President Donald Trump signed three executive orders imposing tariffs of 25% on all goods from Canada and Mexico, and a 10% tariff on Canadian oil exports and imports from China.
- Trump invokes emergency powers for tariffs — Trump invoked emergency powers to justify the imposition of tariffs, citing border security as a rationale.
- Executive Order Imposing Duties on Chinese Products — On February 1, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order imposing a 10% ad valorem tariff on all products from the People's Republic of China.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 3 – 2025-02-01–2025-02-07
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Jan 27, 2025 The Trump administration announced a freeze on federal grants, loans, and payments Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The freeze asserted executive control over congressionally appropriated funds and threatened broad disruption of public programs and state capacity.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump freezes federal grants and payments — Former President Trump ordered a freeze on federal grants, loans, and payments to millions of Americans to review their appropriateness, claiming they were awarded due to DEI initiatives.
- Federal grants and loans paused by OMB — The White House Office of Management and Budget issued a memo pausing all federal grants and loans, affecting trillions in government spending and public programs.
- Trump Administration Freezes Federal Grants Targeting DEI and Environmental Programs — The Trump administration announced a freeze on federal grants, specifically targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and environmental initiatives labeled as the "green new scam." The freeze, defended
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 2 – 2025-01-25–2025-01-31
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