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Democracy Trends Factor Analysis

These interactive network visualizations map how major news stories affect political accountability factors upholding US democratic vitality in real-time. Each week, our analysis tracks thousands of news articles and identifies the most significant developments impacting 39 specific democracy factors across 13 institutional dimensions.

🔷 Blue Diamonds = Story Themes: Major news clusters sized by article volume, representing the week's most impactful democratic developments.

🟡 Colored Circles = Factors: Political accountability levers colored by the severity of their weekly movement.

📊 Network Connections show which news stories directly affected which democratic institutions, revealing the complex web of relationships between current events and institutional health.

Interactive Features:

  • Click any story theme (diamond) to highlight affected democracy factors

  • Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories influenced it

  • Hover for detailed impact scores and article counts

Powered by RealTime DemTrends - Real-time analysis of democratic accountability trends

Democracy Trends Network Analysis - October 27-November 2, 2025
Democracy Trends Network Analysis
Week of October 27-November 2, 2025 • Politicization Begets Collateral Damage

Network Overview

Total Articles Analyzed: 2,180
Story Themes: 18
Democracy Factors: 25
Network Connections: 104

Democratic Vitality Signals

Significant Signs of Progress (+3)
Moderate Signs of Progress (+2)
Minor Signs of Progress (+1)
Stable - No Change (0)
Minor Signs of Concern (-1)
Moderate Signs of Concern (-2)
Significant Signs of Concern (-3)
Story Themes

Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

Click any theme below to highlight its connections in the network.
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - October 20-26, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of October 20-26, 2025 • Shutdown Crisis Cascades Across Institutions

    Factor Impact Levels

    Signs of Significant Progress (+3)
    Signs of Moderate Progress (+2)
    Signs of Minor Progress (+1)
    Stable - Mixed Signals (0)
    Signs of Minor Concern (-1)
    Signs of Moderate Concern (-2)
    Signs of Significant Concern (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme (diamond or sidebar) to highlight its connections. Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories affect it. Click again to deselect.
    Total Articles: 2,157
    Story Themes: 15
    Democracy Factors: 23
    Network Connections: 72
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - October 13-19, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of October 13-19, 2025 • Third Week of Government Shutdown

    Factor Impact Levels

    Signs of Significant Progress (+3)
    Signs of Moderate Progress (+2)
    Signs of Minor Progress (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Signs of Minor Concern (-1)
    Signs of Moderate Concern (-2)
    Signs of Significant Concern (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme (diamond or sidebar) to highlight its connections. Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories affect it. Click again to deselect.
    Total Articles: 2,256
    Story Themes: 17
    Democracy Factors: 27
    Network Connections: 98
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - October 6-12, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of October 6-12, 2025 • Government Dysfunction & Federal-State Tensions

    Factor Impact Levels

    Minor Signs of Progress (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Minor Signs of Concern (-1)
    Moderate Signs of Concern (-2)
    Significant Signs of Concern (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme (diamond or sidebar) to highlight its connections. Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories affect it. Click again to deselect.
    Total Articles: 2,477
    Story Themes: 20
    Democracy Factors: 26
    Network Connections: 104
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - September 29-October 5, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of September 29-October 5, 2025 • Grinding to a Halt

    Factor Impact Levels

    Significant Signs of Progress (+3)
    Moderate Signs of Progress (+2)
    Minor Signs of Progress (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Minor Signs of Concern (-1)
    Moderate Signs of Concern (-2)
    Significant Signs of Concern (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme (diamond or sidebar) to highlight its connections. Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories affect it. Click again to deselect.
    Total Articles: 2,344
    Story Themes: 15
    Democracy Factors: 21
    Network Connections: 67
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - September 15-21, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of September 15-21, 2025 • Executive Power Expansion & Democratic Resistance

    Factor Impact Levels

    Significant Signs of Progress (+3)
    Moderate Signs of Progress (+2)
    Minor Signs of Progress (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Minor Signs of Concern (-1)
    Moderate Signs of Concern (-2)
    Significant Signs of Concern (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme (diamond or sidebar) to highlight its connections. Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories affect it. Click again to deselect.
    Total Articles: 2,621
    Story Themes: 15
    Democracy Factors: 20
    Network Connections: 65
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - September 22-28, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of September 22-28, 2025 • Institutional Independence Under Strain

    Factor Impact Levels

    Signs of Significant Progress (+3)
    Signs of Moderate Progress (+2)
    Signs of Minor Progress (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Signs of Minor Concern (-1)
    Signs of Moderate Concern (-2)
    Signs of Significant Concern (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme (diamond or sidebar) to highlight its connections. Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories affect it. Click again to deselect.
    Total Articles: 2,243
    Story Themes: 16
    Democracy Factors: 24
    Network Connections: 60
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - September 8-14, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of September 8-14, 2025 • The Unprecedented Becomes Routine

    Factor Impact Levels

    Signs of Significant Progress (+3)
    Signs of Moderate Progress (+2)
    Signs of Minor Progress (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Signs of Minor Concern (-1)
    Signs of Moderate Concern (-2)
    Signs of Significant Concern (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme (diamond) to highlight its connections. Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories affect it. Click again to deselect.
    Total Articles: 2,542
    Story Themes: 19
    Democracy Factors: 25
    Network Connections: 97
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - September 1-7, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of September 1-7, 2025 • Short-term Wins, Long-term Losses

    Factor Impact Levels

    Significant Signs of Progress (+3)
    Moderate Signs of Progress (+2)
    Minor Signs of Progress (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Minor Signs of Concern (-1)
    Moderate Signs of Concern (-2)
    Significant Signs of Concern (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme (diamond or sidebar) to highlight its connections. Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories affect it. Click again to deselect.
    Total Articles: 2,442
    Story Themes: 15
    Democracy Factors: 23
    Network Connections: 62
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - August 25-31, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of August 25-31, 2025 • Federal Firings & Institutional Vulnerability

    Factor Impact Levels

    Significant Signs of Progress (+3)
    Moderate Signs of Progress (+2)
    Minor Signs of Progress (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Minor Signs of Concern (-1)
    Moderate Signs of Concern (-2)
    Significant Signs of Concern (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme (diamond or sidebar) to highlight its connections. Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories affect it. Click again to deselect.
    Total Articles: 1,981
    Story Themes: 16
    Democracy Factors: 24
    Network Connections: 64
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - August 18-24, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of August 18-24, 2025 • Electoral Systems & Executive Power Tensions

    Factor Impact Levels

    Significant Signs of Progress (+3)
    Moderate Signs of Progress (+2)
    Minor Signs of Progress (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Minor Signs of Concern (-1)
    Moderate Signs of Concern (-2)
    Significant Signs of Concern (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme (diamond) to highlight its connections. Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories affect it. Click again to deselect.
    Total Articles: 2,298
    Story Themes: 15
    Democracy Factors: 25
    Network Connections: 83
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - August 11-17, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of August 11-17, 2025 • Federal Power Surge Meets Grassroots Resistance

    Factor Impact Levels

    Signs of Significant Progress (+3)
    Signs of Moderate Progress (+2)
    Signs of Minor Progress (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Signs of Minor Concern (-1)
    Signs of Moderate Concern (-2)
    Signs of Significant Concern (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme (diamond or sidebar) to highlight its connections. Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories affect it. Click again to deselect.
    Total Articles: 2,113
    Story Themes: 16
    Democracy Factors: 25
    Network Connections: 76
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - August 4-10, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of August 4-10, 2025 • Politicization Begets Collateral Damage

    Factor Impact Levels

    Significant Signs of Progress (+3)
    Moderate Signs of Progress (+2)
    Minor Signs of Progress (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Minor Signs of Concern (-1)
    Moderate Signs of Concern (-2)
    Significant Signs of Concern (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme (diamond or sidebar) to highlight its connections. Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories affect it. Click again to deselect.
    Total Articles: 1,813
    Story Themes: 16
    Democracy Factors: 20
    Network Connections: 72
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - July 28-August 3, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of July 28-August 3, 2025 • A Nearly 4:1 Ratio: Pressure to Resilience

    Factor Impact Levels

    Significant Positive Impact (+3)
    Moderate Positive Impact (+2)
    Minor Positive Impact (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Minor Negative Impact (-1)
    Moderate Negative Impact (-2)
    Significant Negative Impact (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Total Articles: 2,341
    Story Themes: 15
    Democracy Factors: 26
    Network Connections: 88
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - July 21-27, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of July 21-27, 2025 • Leveling the Playing Field - Democratic Resilience Emerges
    Interactive Controls

    Factor Impact Levels

    Significant Positive Impact (+3)
    Moderate Positive Impact (+2)
    Minor Positive Impact (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Minor Negative Impact (-1)
    Moderate Negative Impact (-2)
    Significant Negative Impact (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme (diamond or sidebar) to highlight its connections. Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories affect it. Click again to deselect.
    Total Articles: 2,220
    Story Themes: 12
    Democracy Factors: 21
    Network Connections: 60
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - July 14-20, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of July 14-20, 2025 • Federal Consolidation & Democratic Resistance
    Interactive Controls

    Factor Impact Levels

    Significant Positive Impact (+3)
    Moderate Positive Impact (+2)
    Minor Positive Impact (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Minor Negative Impact (-1)
    Moderate Negative Impact (-2)
    Significant Negative Impact (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme (diamond or sidebar) to highlight its connections. Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories affect it. Click again to deselect.
    Total Articles: 1,812
    Story Themes: 9
    Democracy Factors: 23
    Network Connections: 52
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - July 7-13, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of July 7-13, 2025 • Federal Consolidation & Civil Society Resistance
    Interactive Controls

    Factor Impact Levels

    Significant Positive Impact (+3)
    Moderate Positive Impact (+2)
    Minor Positive Impact (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Minor Negative Impact (-1)
    Moderate Negative Impact (-2)
    Significant Negative Impact (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme (diamond or sidebar) to highlight its connections. Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories affect it. Click again to deselect.
    Total Articles: 2,281
    Story Themes: 10
    Democracy Factors: 20
    Network Connections: 48
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - June 30-July 6, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of June 30-July 6, 2025 • Executive-Judicial Tensions & Institutional Accountability

    Factor Impact Levels

    Significant Positive Impact (+3)
    Moderate Positive Impact (+2)
    Minor Positive Impact (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Minor Negative Impact (-1)
    Moderate Negative Impact (-2)
    Significant Negative Impact (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme (diamond or sidebar) to highlight its connections. Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories affect it. Click again to deselect.
    Total Articles: 2,051
    Story Themes: 13
    Democracy Factors: 15
    Network Connections: 43
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - June 23-29, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of June 23-29, 2025 • Executive Stress & Institutional Resilience
    Interactive Controls

    Factor Impact Levels

    Significant Positive Impact (+3)
    Moderate Positive Impact (+2)
    Minor Positive Impact (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Minor Negative Impact (-1)
    Moderate Negative Impact (-2)
    Significant Negative Impact (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme (diamond or sidebar) to highlight its connections. Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories affect it. Click again to deselect.
    Total Articles: 2,456
    Story Themes: 12
    Democracy Factors: 27
    Network Connections: 68
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - June 16-22, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of June 16-22, 2025 • Current Impacts & Extensive Pending Legislative Effects
    Interactive Controls

    Factor Impact Levels

    Significant Improvement (+3)
    Moderate Improvement (+2)
    Minor Improvement (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Minor Decline (-1)
    Moderate Decline (-2)
    Significant Decline (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme (diamond or sidebar) to highlight its connections. Click any factor (circle) to see which news stories affect it. Click again to deselect.
    Total Articles: 1,163
    Story Themes: 13
    Democracy Factors: 24
    Network Connections: 62
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis - June 9-15, 2025
    Democracy Trends Network Analysis
    Week of June 9-15, 2025 • Democratic Stress vs. Institutional Resilience
    Interactive Controls

    Factor Impact Levels

    Significant Improvement (+3)
    Moderate Improvement (+2)
    Minor Improvement (+1)
    Stable - No Change (0)
    Minor Decline (-1)
    Moderate Decline (-2)
    Significant Decline (-3)
    Story Themes

    Story Themes (Click to Highlight)

    Click any theme to see its democratic impact network.
    Key Network Insights
    All 12 shifting factors are now visible: 7 declining (led by Social Cohesion -3) and 5 improving (led by Popular Mobilization +2). The Big Beautiful Bill creates the most systemic connections, affecting 8 different factors through its broad policy scope.
    Total Articles: 2,390
    Story Themes: 9
    Democracy Factors: 19
    Cross-Factor Links: 44
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