Our Mission

This timeline documents the systematic capture of American democracy through verifiable events, court records, and public reporting. We’re building a living intelligence infrastructure that helps citizens understand and respond to the erosion of democratic institutions.

The Capture Cascade Framework

Democracy doesn’t fall gradually—it cascades. Each captured institution enables the capture of three more, creating exponential acceleration. This framework helps explain the accelerating erosion we’re witnessing:

The Pattern

1. Capture Oversight → No one watching
2. Capture Courts → No legal recourse
3. Capture Enforcement → Selective prosecution
4. Capture Media → Public can’t see
5. Cascade Accelerates → Each enables 3 more

The Evidence

Our timeline shows the mathematical reality of this cascade:

• 1970s: <1 event/year
• 2010s: 8 events/year
• 2020s: 100+ events/year

This isn’t gradual erosion—it’s exponential acceleration.

What We Document

• 1,945+ verified events spanning 1142-2025
• 6,373 credible sources from court records, official documents, and verified reporting
• 3,606 tags tracking patterns across nine capture lanes
• 3,585 actors showing network connections and coordination

Our Standards

Every event in this timeline must meet strict criteria:

1. Minimum 2 credible sources (tier-1 or tier-2)
2. Verifiable documentation - court records, official documents, or verified reporting
3. Clear significance - explains why it matters to democratic institutions
4. Proper context - connects to broader patterns

We adhere to strict factual accuracy. If we make a mistake, we correct it transparently.

How to Use This Timeline

For Researchers

• Use the chronological view to track how patterns emerge over time
• Filter by actors to see network connections
• Filter by tags to understand specific capture lanes
• Check sources to verify every claim

For Journalists

• Find connections between events and actors
• Track how specific patterns have evolved
• Verify facts with our comprehensive sourcing
• Identify emerging trends before they become obvious

For Citizens

• Understand what’s happening in real-time
• See how seemingly unrelated events connect
• Make informed decisions based on documented facts
• Share verified information to counter disinformation

Two Ways to Explore

Static Timeline (This Site)

• SEO-friendly and accessible to search engines and AI agents
• Clean, fast browsing with pagination
• Filter by actors and tags
• Perfect for deep reading and research

Interactive Viewer

• Advanced filtering and search
• Network visualization showing connections
• Timeline visualization showing acceleration
• Real-time updates as events are added

Contributing

We welcome contributions! You can help by:

1. Validating Events - Verify sources and fact-check
2. Submitting New Events - Add documented events with sources
3. Improving Documentation - Help make the timeline more accessible
4. Sharing & Discussing - Spread awareness

See our GitHub repository for contribution guidelines.

Open Source

This project is completely open source:

• Timeline Data: CC BY-SA 4.0 - Share and adapt with attribution
• Source Code: MIT License - Free to use and modify

Anyone can fork this repository and create their own timeline. Democracy requires transparency.

Contact

• GitHub: CaptureCascadeTimeline
• Discussions: GitHub Discussions
• Issues: Report problems or suggest improvements

Disclaimer

This timeline documents publicly available information from credible sources. While we strive for accuracy, events may contain errors or require updates as new information emerges. All events are sourced and can be independently verified. This is a living document maintained by the community.

“Those who would destroy democracy depend on our ignorance. This timeline is our defense.”