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Steven W. Webster

@stevenwwebster.bsky.social
2.3K followers 196 following 123 posts

Political scientist and Director of the Center on American Politics at IU Bloomington.

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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
It was my pleasure! Awesome seeing friends/colleagues and hearing about all of the cool work in progress.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
That's a wrap! My thanks to all of the invited guests for a wonderful event. There are so many cool projects in the works. 👇 CAP will be back with another conference next year.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
It was a great event! So much interesting work being done by people all over the country.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Final presentation of the day is from Taylor Carlson, who is looking at discussion networks and polarization.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
@sgadarian.bsky.social presenting work on emotion, partisanship, and public health crises.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Now we have Chris DeSante presenting data on congressional-level temperature increases and political behavior.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Back after a lunch break. Here we have @gjmartin.bsky.social presenting work on targeted campaign advertisements and how it changes who runs for office.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
She also measures the amount of dehumanizing language in newsletters sent by politicians. She finds that receiving newsletters with dehumanizing language increases individuals' dehumanization of the out-party.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
She finds that, among individuals who don't pay attention to politics or regularly receive communications from their legislator, abstract elite language about out-partisans increases dehumanizing attitudes.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Now we have the on-the-market (!) Mary Adams Plooster talking about hyperbolic language, abstract language, and partisan dehumanization.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
FT ratings of feminists, by party ID, broken down by whether feminists are described as “quiet,” “vocal,” or are given no description.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Examines open-ended survey responses about attitudes towards feminists and the "feminism" label.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Third presentation is from @elizabethcconnors.bsky.social on whether one identifies as a feminist. Distinguishing between operational and symbolic feminism.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Next is @tylerreny.bsky.social presenting work at the intersection of race and reproductive politics. His argument is that racial threat shapes attitudes towards reproductive rights.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
“The officeholder curve is a candidacy curve. District demographics predict who runs, not who wins.”
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Minority candidates can win, in both parties, when they run. The key is fitting the partisan lean of their state/district.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Starting with @egojunk.bsky.social with “What comes After Racial Redistricting?” Impressive data collection effort on winners—and losers!—in state legislative elections.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
2nd IU Center on American Politics conference is today! Speakers: @egojunk.bsky.social, @tylerreny.bsky.social, @elizabethcconnors.bsky.social, Mary Adams Plooster, @gjmartin.bsky.social, Chris DeSante, @sgadarian.bsky.social, and Taylor Carlson.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Excited for the 2nd IU CAP conference next week in Bloomington! Speakers: Taylor Carlson, @elizabethcconnors.bsky.social, Chris DeSante, @sgadarian.bsky.social, @egojunk.bsky.social, @gjmartin.bsky.social, Mary Adams Plooster, @tylerreny.bsky.social. www.iu-cap.com/conference.h...
iu-cap.com
IU Center on American Politics
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
"Some news," as they say. Five years, 12 datasets, and ~30000 responses in the making...
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
We tried to get Cignetti on the committees but he said no. Something about being "too busy" during the Fall.
static.klipy.com
Curt Cignetti Looking
ALT: Curt Cignetti Looking
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Open-rank positions in quantitative methods (indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings/34175) and IR (indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings/34176) at Indiana. Deadline for both is 10/1.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
"Political scientists have shown how rage undermines trust in government, reinforces polarisation and reduces voters’ commitment to democratic norms, even when the source of anger is detached from politics itself." Sounds familiar! :) www.economist.com/united-state...
economist.com
Quantifying anger in American politics
The country is awash in indignation
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Both will be open rank!
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
IU political science is hiring in two areas this year: 1. Quantitative methods 2. Security (interest in the relationship btwn emerging technologies and conflict) This is part of the University's "Faculty Strategic Hiring Initiative," so both positions should be well-resourced. Ads to come soon.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
What do you mean, “the syllabus is due on Monday”?
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Early 4th of July present incoming?
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Can't see the experiment, unfortunately, but I'll give it a R&R.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Would be a decent job…
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Negative partisanship. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/02/n...
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
It's always Strava.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Are you a grad student in American politics? Want to join a group of scholars for a conference in Bloomington this Fall? See below. 👇
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
TONIGHT -- join the IU Department of Political Science for a reception honoring the life and legacy of Ted Carmines. Wilson Room, 3rd floor, Palmer House, 7-8:30 PM.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
If interested in participating, email me: 1) a proposal of what you'd like to present 2) a short (1-2 paragraph) letter of support from an advisor I'll select three proposals! Preference given to ABDs. Deadline of 6/20. 2/2
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Announcing the 2026 IU Center on American Politics conference (10/2) lineup. 6 faculty + new this year: a graduate student panel! There are 3 open slots for any grad student in the US. The Center will cover travel and lodging expenses. See below: 1/2 www.iu-cap.com/conference.h...
iu-cap.com
IU Center on American Politics
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Just saw that this is online now! academic.oup.com/poq/advance-...
academic.oup.com
You’re Making Us Look Bad: Can Partisan Embarrassment Dampen Partisanship and Polarization?
Abstract. Partisan elites and members of the public often have attitudes or engage in behavior that could embarrass copartisans. We examine this occurrence
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
Join us!
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
So thrilled to have Betsy Sinclair on campus giving the annual Charles S. Hyneman lecture. Her talk is on how AI chatbots can “prebunk” election rumors.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Save the date! On Friday, 4/24, from 7-8:30, the IU Department of Political Science will host a reception at MPSA to honor the career and life of our late colleague, Ted Carmines. Room announcement to come. Earlier in the day (3:20), some of Ted’s former students will host a panel in his honor.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
Anger, Negative Partisanship, and Joy in the Suffering of Political Others Forthcoming at JEPOP, w/ Mary Adams Plooster. Mary is a top-notch IU PhD candidate working on abstract mental representations and how they shape partisan animosity. stevenwwebster.com/research/ang...
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
Featuring some of my latest research, w/ @nickbichay.bsky.social and Mary Adams Plooster.
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
New working paper w Mary Adams Plooster (a fantastic IU grad student) and @nickbichay.bsky.social. We draw on two survey experiments to investigate the effect of partisan anger on partisan dehumanization. We also examine heterogeneous f.x. by trait dogmatism. www.stevenwwebster.com/research/ang...
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
Congrats, and thanks for all of your hard work with this!
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Reposted by Steven W. Webster
Alessandro Nai @alessandronai.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
After 3 years and 5,322 emails (and counting) our Encyclopedia of Political Communication is finally out at @elgarpublishing.bsky.social 📚 Three volumes ⭐ 431 entries 🎓 581 wonderful authors from across the world A very short 🧵
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Rachel Porter @rachelporter.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
‼️ New working paper ‼️ We find bipartisan appeals credibly signal policymaking intentions—on an issue-by-issue basis We show how and why bipartisan lawmaking persists amid congressional conflict: progress often comes through issue-specific pathways rather than broad consensus between Ds and Rs 🧵👇
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
I remember hearing about this at the APSA in LA! So cool!
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
Rage as a political strategy. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/o...
nytimes.com
Opinion | Carville: How About a Sweeping, Aggressive, Unvarnished Platform of Pure Economic Rage
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Steven W. Webster @stevenwwebster.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
What a cool cover!
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Reposted by Steven W. Webster
Rachel Porter @rachelporter.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
Political inexperience in Congress has measurable effects on legislative outcomes. Our research finds that when districts elect political newcomers over career politicians, congressional dysfunction tends to increase. New explainer of our PNAS study: theconversation.com/amateur-hour...
theconversation.com
Amateur hour in Congress: How political newcomers fuel gridlock and government shutdowns
The public’s frustration with ‘politics as usual’ has led more political newcomers to win office. But amateurs are more likely to view bipartisanship as a concession, not a tool for advancing policy.
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