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Trait: Chaos is used as a strategy to fragment focus and disable accountability ×
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Category 5
Attack target 49
Rule of Law 87Truth 70Separation of Powers 59The Information Environment 50Public Service 49The Civil Service 43The Justice Department 36Immigrants & Refugees 34The Economy 30Congress 23The Constitution 23The Press 23Global Democracy 18Trade 18Transparency 18Public Health 17Workers 16Minorities 15The Military 14Diplomacy 13Low-Income Americans 13The Presidency 11The Courts 10Elections 8Peace 8Education 7The Sick & Vulnerable 7Disabled People 6The Environment 6Peaceful Transfer of Power 5Science 5The Intelligence Community 5Children 4LGBTQ People 4Public Norms & Decency 4Inspectors General & Watchdogs 3Law Enforcement 3Allies 2Anti-Corruption Safeguards 2Dissent & Protest 2Public Memory 2Veterans 2Voting Rights 2Women 2Birthright Citizenship 1Climate Cooperation 1Privacy 1The Idea of America 1Whistleblowers 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 23, 2026 The Trump administration announced new tariffs on major trade partners and later imposed tariffs on 60 countries Tier 1 · Primary Economic Structure
Broad new tariffs expanded executive control over trade policy and risked higher costs across supply chains and households.
Independently corroborated by1 independent news desk
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Imposes New Tariffs Amid Rising Tensions — The Trump administration announced new tariffs on several major U.S.
- New Trump Tariffs Hit 60 Countries — Former President Donald Trump has imposed new tariffs ranging from 10 to 12.5 percent on 60 countries, citing forced labor concerns.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 79 – 2026-07-18–2026-07-24
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Jul 23, 2026 The Pentagon revised the official Iran-war death toll downward by excluding four service members killed after a declared cease-fire Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
Changing casualty counts in a politically sensitive way raised concerns that war records were being shaped to protect the administration.
Independently corroborated by1 independent news desk
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Pentagon Adjusts Casualty Numbers in Iran Conflict — The Pentagon revised its reported casualty figures for American service members in the ongoing conflict in Iran.
- Pentagon removes recent casualties from official list — The Pentagon's official list of service members killed in the ongoing Iran war was altered to exclude four soldiers who died during recent fighting.
- Pentagon Lowers U.S. Death Toll in Middle East Conflict — The Pentagon has quietly revised the U.S.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 79 – 2026-07-18–2026-07-24
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Jul 22, 2026 The House of Representatives passed the NDAA with war funding, voting restrictions, and a Pentagon renaming provision Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
Bundling defense policy with election restrictions and war measures showed Congress using must-pass vehicles for major democratic changes.
Independently corroborated by1 independent news desk
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- House passes $1.15tn defense bill — The US House of Representatives passed a $1.15 trillion defense policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with a 216-212 vote.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 79 – 2026-07-18–2026-07-24
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Jul 22, 2026 The Trump administration cut federal funding for legal aid to unaccompanied immigrant children and pressed providers for sensitive data Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
Cutting counsel for children in immigration court reduced due process protections for a vulnerable group facing state power.
Independently corroborated by1 independent news desk
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Cuts Funding for Legal Aid to Immigrant Children — The Trump administration has cut federal funding for legal aid to over 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children, risking their loss of legal representation in immigration courts.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 79 – 2026-07-18–2026-07-24
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Jul 21, 2026 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked the Senate for nearly $88 billion in supplemental Iran-war funding and defended a much larger military budget Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
Large war and budget requests forced Congress to confront executive military expansion through appropriations and oversight.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Defense Secretary Requests Additional $88 Billion for War on Iran — During a Senate appropriations committee hearing, U.S.
- Pete Hegseth Testifies on Military Budget Increase — On July 21, 2026, U.S.
- Pentagon Requests Additional Funding Amid War Costs — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee, requesting an urgent $67 billion to sustain Pentagon operations until
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 79 – 2026-07-18–2026-07-24
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Jul 20, 2026 The Office of Management and Budget proposed a rule shifting broad federal grant-making control to political appointees Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
Moving grant decisions toward political appointees would centralize executive leverage over public funding and weaken neutral administration.
Independently corroborated by1 independent news desk
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Proposes Overhaul of Federal Grant-Making Process — The Trump administration's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed a comprehensive overhaul of the federal grant-making process, which would place nearly $1 trillion in grant-making authority into the hands
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 79 – 2026-07-18–2026-07-24
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Jul 18, 2026 President Trump accused journalists of hiding election fraud and called for revoking broadcasters' licenses Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
Threats against media licenses used state power rhetoric to intimidate the press and narrow independent scrutiny.
Independently corroborated by1 independent news desk
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Attacks Media for Alleged Election Fraud Conspiracy — President Trump accused American journalists of being part of a conspiracy to protect the radical left and suppress information about alleged election fraud.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 79 – 2026-07-18–2026-07-24
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Jul 16, 2026 President Trump repeated 2020 election claims in a national address and called for revoking ABC and NBC licenses Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
The speech combined election disinformation with direct pressure on broadcasters, linking media punishment to political narrative control.
Independently corroborated by5 independent news desks
Reuters · NPR · ABC News · PBS · NBC Philadelphia
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Relitigates 2020 Election Loss — In a national address, Trump reiterated debunked claims of foreign interference in the 2020 election to pressure Republicans into passing the SAVE America Act, a voter suppression bill.
- Trump Criticizes Media Coverage of Election Security Speech — Former President Trump criticized NBC and ABC for not covering his speech on election security, accusing them of being part of a plot to continue election fraud.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 78 – 2026-07-11–2026-07-17
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Jul 16, 2026 President Trump announced the declassification and release of election-security intelligence documents Corroborated Power and Authority
The release used presidential control over intelligence to shape election narratives and press for new investigations into past officials.
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Announces Declassification of Election Security Documents — Former President Donald Trump announced the immediate declassification and release of intelligence documents purportedly revealing vulnerabilities in the U.S.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 78 – 2026-07-11–2026-07-17
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Jul 15, 2026 The White House and FBI leadership pursued a leak investigation into reporting on a Qatari-gifted airplane Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
The probe blurred political and law-enforcement lines in a way that risked chilling internal disclosure and press scrutiny.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Investigation into Leaks About Qatari-Gifted Airplane — The White House, led by Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and FBI Director Kash Patel, launched an investigation into leaks about security deficiencies of a Qatari-gifted airplane intended for use as Air Force One.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 78 – 2026-07-11–2026-07-17
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Jul 14, 2026 President Trump announced the reinstatement of an Iranian blockade and a U.S. security-fee role in the Strait of Hormuz Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The announcement asserted sweeping wartime and trade authority with limited visible congressional buy-in, raising separation-of-powers concerns.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reports
- Trump announces reinstatement of Iranian blockade — On July 13, 2026, President Trump announced via social media that the U.S.
- Trump announces blockade on Iran — President Trump announced the reimposition of a blockade on Iran, declaring the U.S.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 78 – 2026-07-11–2026-07-17
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Jun 28, 2026 President Trump gave Senator Cassidy a briefing on the Iran war after oversight pressure Corroborated Power and Authority
The episode showed the White House controlling access to war information that Congress sought as part of its constitutional oversight role.
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Grants Briefing on Iran War to Senator Cassidy — President Donald Trump conceded to Senator Bill Cassidy's demand for a briefing on the Iran war, following a heated exchange over the president's failure to inform Congress about the conflict.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 76 – 2026-06-27–2026-07-03
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Jun 27, 2026 House Freedom Caucus members voted against procedural measures needed for House business Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The vote disrupted basic legislative operations and showed how internal obstruction can weaken Congress as an independent governing body.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reports
- House MAGA loyalists vote against procedural measures — Members of the far-right Freedom Caucus in the House voted against procedural measures necessary for the House to conduct business, following President Trump's ultimatum to not sign any legislation until the Senate
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 76 – 2026-06-27–2026-07-03
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Jun 27, 2026 Senate Republicans voted against advancing a war powers resolution Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The vote reduced congressional pressure for executive accountability on war-making and weakened legislative oversight of military action.
Independently corroborated by5 independent news desks
Associated Press · ABC News · Time · CNN · PBS
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Senate Republicans vote against advancing war powers resolution — Senate Republicans voted against advancing a war powers resolution that had been passed the day before, in an apparent attempt to appease President Trump after he refused to sign a bipartisan housing bill.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 76 – 2026-06-27–2026-07-03
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Jun 27, 2026 President Trump canceled the housing bill signing and tied approval to a proof-of-citizenship voting bill Corroborated Power and Authority
The move used executive leverage over unrelated legislation to pressure Congress on election rules, testing limits on presidential bargaining power.
Independently corroborated by5 independent news desks
CNBC · Axios · BBC · Yahoo Finance · CBS News
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- President Trump cancels signing of housing bill — President Trump canceled the signing of the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which had passed with significant support in both the Senate and the House.
Attacks
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 76 – 2026-06-27–2026-07-03
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Jun 20, 2026 President Trump blamed left-wing vandals and antifa for Reflecting Pool damage without providing evidence. Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
The unsupported claims spread a politicized narrative that shaped public understanding of a government failure without verified facts.
Independently corroborated by5 independent news desks
Associated Press · NPR · PBS · NBC News · Time
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Blames Antifa for Reflecting Pool Vandalism — Former President Trump blamed Antifa for the vandalism of the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial, claiming serious crimes were committed against national monuments.
- Trump Blames Vandalism for Reflecting Pool Issues — Following the completion of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovations, President Trump claimed on June 20, 2026, that "Radical Left Lunatics" were responsible for vandalism at the site, despite no evidence being
- Trump Claims Vandalism Arrests Related to Reflecting Pool Damage — Former President Donald Trump claimed that five individuals were arrested and five more are under investigation for vandalism related to algae blooms and peeling paint at the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool.
Traits
Chaos is used as a strategy to fragment focus and disable accountabilityDissenters are labeled unpatriotic, subversive, or corruptElections are flooded with disinformation funded by elite actorsMemory is curated by power—what cannot be controlled is erasedPublic funds are used for personal glorification and symbolic dominancePublic tragedy is monetized by regime insiders
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 75 – 2026-06-20–2026-06-26
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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 by1 independent news desk
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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Jun 2, 2026 The Pentagon barred journalists from its press office by redesignating the space as a classified facility. Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
The restriction reduced independent press access to defense officials and narrowed public visibility into military decision-making.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Pentagon bars journalists from entering its press office — The Pentagon has barred journalists from entering its press office, redesignating it as a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility.
- Pentagon Classifies Press Room — The Department of Defense has classified its press room, making it off-limits to journalists.
- Pentagon Designates Press Office as Classified Space — The Pentagon has classified its press office as a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), requiring journalists to make appointments to speak with the press secretary.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 72 – 2026-05-30–2026-06-05
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Jun 2, 2026 The Justice Department said it would not proceed with the proposed anti-weaponization fund. Corroborated Power and Authority
The decision halted an executive-backed payout scheme that had raised concerns about favoritism, accountability, and misuse of federal funds.
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- DOJ abandons proposed anti-weaponization fund — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced to a House Appropriations subcommittee that the Justice Department would not proceed with the proposed $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 72 – 2026-05-30–2026-06-05
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May 31, 2026 The Trump administration said it would abandon the proposed $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund. Corroborated Power and Authority
The reversal showed executive retreat under political pressure over a fund criticized as a vehicle for rewarding allies with public money.
Independently corroborated by6 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Drops $1.8 Billion 'Weaponization' Fund — The Trump administration has decided to abandon its controversial $1.8 billion 'weaponization' fund, which was intended to compensate alleged victims of prosecutorial conduct under the previous administration.
Verified: Corroborated — 2+ independent news desks
Week 72 – 2026-05-30–2026-06-05
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May 28, 2026 The Trump administration proposed a $250 bill bearing Donald Trump's portrait and reassigned an official who objected Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The proposal paired personal glorification with pressure on a dissenting official, raising concerns about executive power being used for symbolic self-promotion.
Independently corroborated by4 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Administration Proposes $250 Bill with Trump's Portrait — The Trump administration has proposed a new $250 bill featuring Donald Trump's portrait, despite federal law prohibiting living individuals on U.S.
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 71 – 2026-05-23–2026-05-29
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May 27, 2026 DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced plans to withdraw customs agents from airports in sanctuary cities Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The plan would use federal operational power to pressure disfavored local governments, testing limits on coercion between levels of government.
Independently corroborated by3 independent news desks
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- DHS Secretary Mullin Plans to Withdraw Customs Agents from Sanctuary Cities — DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced plans to withdraw U.S.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 71 – 2026-05-23–2026-05-29
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May 26, 2026 Speaker Mike Johnson sent House members home early to avoid a war powers vote on Iran Tier 1 · Primary Institutions and Governance
The move weakened Congress's ability to check military action and showed procedural control being used to avoid institutional oversight.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reports
- Congress Prepares to Address War Powers Regarding Iran — Following the expiration of the 60-day timeline for congressional approval of military action in Iran, House Speaker Mike Johnson had to send representatives home early to prevent the passage of a war powers resolution
Attacks
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 71 – 2026-05-23–2026-05-29
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May 26, 2026 The Office of Personnel Management proposed nondisclosure agreements for federal workers Tier 1 · Primary Power and Authority
The proposal expanded executive control over employee speech and could deter disclosures that support public oversight and press accountability.
Primary sourceA record that carries the claim alone
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- White House Proposes NDAs for Federal Workers — The Trump administration has proposed that federal employees sign nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) to prevent them from leaking confidential information to journalists.
- Trump Administration's Proposed Nondisclosure Agreement — The Trump administration proposed a requirement for federal employees to sign a nondisclosure agreement, a move that critics argue would limit transparency and accountability in government operations.
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 71 – 2026-05-23–2026-05-29
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May 12, 2026 President Trump called for the prosecution of political opponents in a late-night social media spree Tier 1 · Primary Information, Memory and Manipulation
The posts fused misinformation with demands for punishment, using mass communication to normalize retaliatory politics.
Independently corroborated by5 independent news desks
The New York Times · PBS · The Hill · BBC · Time
Supporting reportingSurfacings — do not carry alone
Supporting reports
- Trump Calls for Prosecution of Political Opponents — In a late-night social media spree, President Donald Trump called for the prosecution of his political opponents, including former President Barack Obama and other Democratic figures.
- Trump posts on social media accusing enemies of treason — On May 12, 2026, President Trump posted fifty-five times on social media, accusing former President Barack Obama and others of treason, claiming the 2020 election was stolen, and demanding the indictment of his
Verified: Tier 1 primary record
Week 69 – 2026-05-09–2026-05-15
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