Narrow these 10 — tap a value to filter:
Trait 8
Chaos is used as a strategy to fragment focus and disable accountability 3Transparency laws are weakened or unenforced 3Independent media is starved while state-aligned outlets thrive 2Civil service roles are politicized or privatized 1Dissenters are labeled unpatriotic, subversive, or corrupt 1Executive power operates without effective oversight 1Judicial independence is eroded through politicized appointments 1Memory is curated by power—what cannot be controlled is erased 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 13, 2026 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized CNN and suggested the network would improve under new ownership Corroborated Information, Memory and Manipulation
The comment implied a preference for media outcomes tied to ownership changes, raising concerns about pressure on press independence.
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Hegseth Criticizes CNN Over Iran Reporting — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized CNN for its reporting on the Iran war, suggesting that the network would improve under new ownership by David Ellison, whose company is acquiring Warner Bros.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 60 – 2026-03-07–2026-03-13
wk60_IM_014
Mar 12, 2026 The FBI issued a California alert about a possible Iran threat based on unverified information Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
The alert showed how unverified security messaging can spread fear and confusion even when officials say no credible threat exists.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- FBI Issues Alert on Potential Iran Threat — The FBI issued an alert to local police in California about a potential plan by Iran to strike the west coast using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 60 – 2026-03-07–2026-03-13
wk60_IM_013
Mar 11, 2026 The Defense Department barred press photographers from Iran war briefings Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
The restriction narrowed visual scrutiny of military messaging and reduced press access to a major public matter.
Independently corroborated by5 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Hegseth Bans Photographers Over ‘Unflattering’ Photos — The Defense Department, led by Secretary Pete Hegseth, banned press photographers from briefings on the Iran war after "unflattering" photos were published.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 60 – 2026-03-07–2026-03-13
wk60_IM_011
Mar 10, 2026 The Department of Justice withheld 37 pages of materials related to the same Trump allegation Corroborated Information, Memory and Manipulation
The omission limited public access to records that could bear on accountability for a high-profile allegation.
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- DOJ Withholds Key Documents on Trump's Alleged Assault — The DOJ has withheld 37 pages of materials related to Trump's alleged sexual assault of a minor, despite the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 60 – 2026-03-07–2026-03-13
wk60_IM_010
Mar 9, 2026 The Coalition for Independent Technology Research sued over a policy targeting noncitizens who worked against misinformation Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The complaint tested whether the government could use immigration powers to punish speech-related activity and advocacy.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reports
- Coalition for Independent Technology Research files complaint against administration's "Censorship Policy" — On March 9, 2026, the Coalition for Independent Technology Research filed a lawsuit in the U.S.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 60 – 2026-03-07–2026-03-13
wk60_IG_009
Mar 9, 2026 Energy Secretary Chris Wright falsely said the U.S. Navy had escorted an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz and later retracted it Corroborated Information, Memory and Manipulation
The false statement spread confusion during a war-linked shipping crisis and weakened trust in official communications.
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Energy Secretary's False Claim on U.S. Navy Escorting Oil Tankers — Energy Secretary Chris Wright falsely claimed that the U.S.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 60 – 2026-03-07–2026-03-13
wk60_IM_007
Mar 9, 2026 Reports on the Iran war indicated that U.S. troop injuries had been underreported Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
The discrepancy suggested the public and lawmakers were not receiving full information about the human costs of war.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- U.S. Troop Injuries in Iran War Underreported — Reports indicate that as many as 150 U.S.
- Lawmakers express frustration over Pentagon transparency — Congressional lawmakers expressed frustration that the Pentagon did not proactively announce the revised casualty numbers of U.S.
- Pentagon revises U.S. troop casualty numbers — The Pentagon revised its estimate of U.S.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 60 – 2026-03-07–2026-03-13
wk60_IM_008
Mar 7, 2026 A federal judge ruled that Kari Lake had unlawfully run the U.S. Agency for Global Media and voided her actions Corroborated Institutions and Governance
The ruling enforced appointment rules and restored legal limits on executive control over a public media institution.
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Federal Judge Rules Against Kari Lake's Actions at Voice of America — US District Court Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that Kari Lake acted unlawfully in her management of the US Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America.
- Judge rules Kari Lake unlawfully ran US media agency — A federal judge ruled that Kari Lake unlawfully led the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) without Senate confirmation, voiding mass layoffs and other actions she took during her tenure.
- Federal Judge Rules Kari Lake's Actions at Media Agency Unlawful — A federal judge ruled that Kari Lake, a Trump-appointed official, unlawfully ran the U.S.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 60 – 2026-03-07–2026-03-13
wk60_IG_002
Mar 7, 2026 The Trump administration blocked release of a joint intelligence bulletin warning of heightened Iran-related threats in the United States Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
Holding back a threat bulletin limited information available to local authorities and the public during a national security crisis.
Independently corroborated by1 independent news desk
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Blocks Intelligence Bulletin on Iran War Threats — The Trump administration blocked a joint intelligence bulletin from the FBI, DHS, and the National Counterterrorism Center that was set to warn state and local authorities about heightened threats tied to the ongoing
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 60 – 2026-03-07–2026-03-13
wk60_IM_002
Mar 7, 2026 The Trump administration released propaganda-style war videos on social media Corroborated Information, Memory and Manipulation
The videos used stylized combat imagery to shape public perception of war rather than inform it.
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Uses Propaganda Videos to Rally Support — The Trump administration has released a series of propaganda videos featuring combat footage from the war with Iran, mixed with clips from action movies and video games.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 60 – 2026-03-07–2026-03-13
wk60_IM_003