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Category: Information, Memory and Manipulation ×
Trait: Economic data is selectively published, massaged, or ignored ×
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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
Aug 21, 2026 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scaled back foodborne illness surveillance from eight pathogens to two Corroborated Information, Memory and Manipulation
Reduced federal disease-tracking capacity degraded the nation's ability to detect and respond to public health threats, contributing to a documented outbreak.
Supporting reports
- CDC scaled back foodborne disease surveillance from eight pathogens to two — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scaled back the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) from tracking all eight pathogens to tracking only two pathogens.
- Federal funding cuts reduced food safety inspection capacity by more than 40 percent — Federal funding cuts scaled back the ability of federal agencies to conduct food inspections and provide grants to state and local health departments, reducing food safety detection systems by more than 40 percent.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 83 – 2026-08-15–2026-08-21
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May 14, 2026 Major media outlets repeated the Pentagon’s Iran war cost estimate without much scrutiny Corroborated Information, Memory and Manipulation
Uncritical repetition of official figures risked narrowing informed public debate about war costs and government credibility.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Media Outlets Repeat Pentagon's Cost Estimate Without Scrutiny — Major media outlets, including the New York Times, USA Today, NPR, and others, reported the Pentagon's $29 billion cost estimate for the Iran War without questioning its accuracy or completeness.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 69 – 2026-05-09–2026-05-15
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May 11, 2026 The Department of Health and Human Services issued a statement on hantavirus cruise ship passengers that reportedly omitted key details Corroborated Information, Memory and Manipulation
Incomplete official health communication risked weakening public trust and limiting informed response during a public health concern.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- HHS Issues Statement on Hantavirus Cruise Ship Passengers — The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a statement regarding passengers from a cruise ship affected by hantavirus who have landed on U.S.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 69 – 2026-05-09–2026-05-15
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May 6, 2026 A confidential CIA report contradicted public claims by Trump and Pete Hegseth about Iran's weakness Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
The gap between intelligence and public messaging raised concerns that the administration was shaping war information for political effect.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- CIA Report Contradicts Trump and Hegseth on Iran — A confidential CIA report delivered to policymakers contradicts public statements by Trump and Pete Hegseth regarding Iran's situation.
- CIA Leaks Assessment Contradicting Trump's Claims on Iran — The CIA has leaked an assessment that contradicts former President Trump's claims regarding Iran.
- CIA Report Contradicts Administration's Claims on Iran — A confidential CIA report revealed that Iran can withstand economic hardship for several more months, contradicting the administration's claims of a collapsing Iranian economy due to military actions.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 68 – 2026-05-02–2026-05-08
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May 6, 2026 Pete Hegseth and Pentagon officials reported Iran war costs to Congress far below internal and outside estimates Corroborated Information, Memory and Manipulation
The discrepancy weakened democratic oversight by obscuring the fiscal burden of military action from lawmakers and the public.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Pentagon Understates Iran War Costs to Congress — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Acting Comptroller Jules Hurst informed Congress that the Iran War had cost $25 billion in its first 60 days.
- Underreporting of Iran War Costs — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth informed Congress that the cost of the Iran War for the first 60 days was $25 billion.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 68 – 2026-05-02–2026-05-08
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May 5, 2026 The FDA blocked publication of taxpayer-funded studies that found Covid-19 and shingles vaccines were safe Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
The decision withheld evidence relevant to public health and trust, showing state control over information that citizens use to judge policy and risk.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- FDA Blocks Publication of Vaccine Safety Studies — The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has blocked the publication of several studies that found Covid-19 and shingles vaccines to be safe.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 68 – 2026-05-02–2026-05-08
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Aug 18, 2025 The Justice Department and U.S. attorney's office in Washington opened investigations into alleged manipulation of D.C. crime data Corroborated Information, Memory and Manipulation
The probes put official public-safety information under political pressure and raised concerns about using law enforcement to shape narratives.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- DOJ Investigates DC Crime Data Manipulation — The Trump DOJ is investigating whether DC police manipulated crime data to make rates appear lower.
- Federal prosecutors launch inquiry into Washington DC police over crime statistics — Federal prosecutors have initiated a criminal investigation into the Washington DC police department over allegations of manipulating crime statistics to present a safer image of the city.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 31 – 2025-08-16–2025-08-22
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Apr 3, 2025 The Trump administration released a formula for tariff rates that critics said was fabricated or misleading Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
The release raised concerns that major economic policy was being justified with distorted public information rather than clear evidence.
Independently corroborated by2 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Releases Made-Up Tariff Rates — The Trump administration released a formula used to calculate the tariff rates they attributed to other countries, which were previously criticized as being fabricated.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 11 – 2025-03-29–2025-04-04
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Mar 4, 2025 President Trump delivered an address to Congress that included multiple false claims Corroborated Information, Memory and Manipulation
False statements in a major presidential address distorted public understanding of policy, spending, and social issues at a key democratic forum.
Independently corroborated by5 independent news desks
NPR · CNN · ABC News · The Dispatch · ProPublica
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump delivers address to Congress with false claims — President Trump delivered a televised address to Congress filled with false claims about immigration, the economy, and other issues.
- Trump turns Congress speech into a campaign rally — President Donald Trump delivered a speech to a joint session of Congress, which he turned into a campaign-style rally.
- Trump's False Claims in Congress Address — During a recent address to Congress, former President Donald Trump made several false claims, including the assertion that the United States has given Ukraine $350 billion since Russia's invasion in 2022, and that
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 7 – 2025-03-01–2025-03-07
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