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Travis N. Ridout

@tnridout.bsky.social
1.5K followers 574 following 13 posts

Thomas S. Foley Professor, Washington State University; co-director of Wesleyan Media Project; political advertising, news media, political communication

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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout
Andrew Arenge @mrarenge.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
NEW: The Elon Musk backed America PAC started running paid digital ads in various Senate races over the weekend largely focused on the transgender issues Here's a🧵of some of the ads They're running on Facebook, Instagram + Google First up, #TXSen ad going after James Talarico
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Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
💥NEW WMP report: Spending in the 2025-2026 midterm election cycle surpassed $2.2 billion in House, Senate, & Governor races, & the federal messaging is predominantly about Trump. mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/release-0618... @efranklinfowler.bsky.social @mikefranz.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social
mediaproject.wesleyan.edu
Midterm Ad Discussion Revolves Around Trump - Wesleyan Media Project
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Travis N. Ridout @tnridout.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
It is amazing to me just how much Trump has been the focus of ads in most GOP House and Senate primaries...
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Travis N. Ridout @tnridout.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
It has been fun to track AI-generated political ads this year, and the pace at which they are being released has picked up in the past couple of months.
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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout
Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Remarkable: 100% of the ads in Northern Virginia heavily featured Trump to turn out voters for the redistricting referendum in the closing days, a source tells me. That's right, all of the ads were all about Trump. This backfired for him spectacularly. New piece: newrepublic.com/article/2093...
newrepublic.com
How Trump Accidentally Handed Dems Their Big Win in Virginia
The vote yes campaign featured Trump all of its closing ads in areas where it ran up huge numbers. Voters know who started this war.
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Travis N. Ridout @tnridout.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Washington State University is hiring at the associate or full level! We are seeking a professor of American Politics who will also serve as the Director of the Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service. More details: wsu.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/WSU_Jo...
wsu.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com
Associate Professor/Professor
Online applications must be received before 11:59pm on: December 7, 2025 If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details. Available Title(s): 280-NN_FACULTY - A...
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APSA & ICA Political Communication Divisions @polcomm.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
✨POLCOMM PUBLICATION FRIDAY✨ In case you missed it over the holoday break, be sure to check out the latest issue of the Political Communication Report, fpcused on... "What Does PolComm Stand For?"
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Kevin Coe @kcoe.bsky.social · 18/12/2024
Political Communication Report has become some of our subfield's most essential reading, and this new issue is no exception. Many thanks to @curdknupfer.bsky.social for his work to revitalize this important forum, and to all the excellent contributors!
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Campaign Legal Center @campaignlegal.org · 04/12/2024
VICTORY: In a win for transparency, a Washington state court rejected Meta's challenge to a key disclosure law that requires media entities, including social media companies, to track and disclose political advertising. campaignlegal.org/update/meta-...
campaignlegal.org
Meta Violated Washington State Disclosure Requirements, State Court Rules
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 06/12/2024
Elon Musk spent over a quarter of a billion dollars to help Donald Trump win the presidency, federal filings revealed.
nytimes.com
Elon Musk Spent Over $250 Million to Help Elect Trump
The enormous spending from the world’s richest man quietly fueled allied groups and was revealed only now, as Mr. Musk plays a key role in the presidential transition.
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Travis N. Ridout @tnridout.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
TV advertising in 2024 presidential race was close to dead even. Our quick take on political advertising in this year's campaign. With @efranklinfowler.bsky.social and @mikefranz.bsky.social
electionanalysis.ws
Advertising trends in the 2024 presidential race - Election Analysis - United States
Prof. Travis N. Ridout Professor in the School of Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs at Washington State University. He does research on political communication, political campaigns and advertisi...
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Bellingcat @bellingcat.com · 04/11/2024
In this new guide by Pooja Chaudhuri and Melissa Zhu we outline how we used Meta’s free-to-use Ad Library to analyse data about political candidates’ ad spending to get a sense of how they approach digital advertising. www.bellingcat.com/resources/20...
bellingcat.com
Tracking Harris and Trump’s Ad Spending on Facebook and Instagram
Meta’s Ad Library is free to use, and provides useful insights into how politicians and their campaigns are advertising on social media platforms.
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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout
Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · 24/10/2024
💥 NEW report from WMP: Nearly $300 Million in Presidential Ad Spending Across Platforms Over Past Two Weeks. Read the full report: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-102... @efranklinfowler.bsky.social , @tnridout.bsky.social, and @mmfranz.bsky.social. #2024election #politicalads
mediaproject.wesleyan.edu
Harris TV Ads Plummet Before Rebounding - Wesleyan Media Project
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Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · 17/10/2024
💥 New tools for visualizing presidential advertising by geography! One that shows the breakdown of presidential ads by issue mentions on TV & one that shows FB & IG spending over time. ⬇️ mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/issues-oct24/ @mmfranz.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social @efranklinfowler.bsky.social
mediaproject.wesleyan.edu
Presidential Advertising Issue Spotlight (7/22/24 – 10/15/24) - Wesleyan Media Project
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Erika Franklin Fowler @efranklinfowler.bsky.social · 04/10/2024
Clicking on the states also reveals the distribution of issue attention in each state. A huge thank you to @breezefloyd.bsky.social for producing these!! Cc: @tnridout.bsky.social @mmfranz.bsky.social
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Brendan J. Doherty @brendanjdoherty.bsky.social · 02/10/2024
The NRSC is shifting its ad buys from independent expenditures to hybrid ads. Why? The law requires candidates to be offered the "lowest unit rate" for TV and radio ads close to an election, while parties pay higher rates for independent expenditures. www.politico.com/news/2024/10...
politico.com
Senate Republicans make sudden change in ad strategy amid cash crunch
The NRSC is canceling its independent ad reservations and redirecting it to hybrid ads, made with the candidates.
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Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · 27/09/2024
💥NEW from WMP: Pro-Trump Ads Declining on TV; Harris outspends Trump 16:1 on Meta & 3:1 on Google. Pro-Harris TV ads more common than pro-Trump in almost all media markets nationally. mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-092... @efranklinfowler.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social @mmfranz.bsky.social
mediaproject.wesleyan.edu
Pro-Trump TV Ads Plummet in Past Two Weeks as Harris Expands Ad Advantage Across Platforms - Wesleyan Media Project
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Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · 12/09/2024
💥NEW from WMP: Dem, GOP TV ads are almost equal, but Harris is outspending Trump nearly 3:1 on Meta & Google. Airings in pres race have shifted to focus on the economy. Full report: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-091... @mmfranz.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social @efranklinfowler.bsky.social
mediaproject.wesleyan.edu
Presidential Campaign Turns to Economic Issues - Wesleyan Media Project
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Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · 29/08/2024
💥 New WMP report: Trump & allies unleash barrage of attack ads. Harris is competitive on TV & w/DNC heavily outspending Trump on Meta & Google. #2024election polisky polcomm #commsky @tnridout.bsky.social @efranklinfowler.bsky.social Read the full report: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-082...
mediaproject.wesleyan.edu
Trump and Allies Launch Barrage of Negative Ads - Wesleyan Media Project
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Travis N. Ridout @tnridout.bsky.social · 04/09/2024
I'll back up that!
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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout
Matt Grossmann @mattgrossmann.bsky.social · 08/08/2024
Pro-Harris advertising is much more effective than anti-Trump advertising. The best ads are normal Democratic issue ads: www.slowboring.com/p/whats-bett...
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Sage's Social Science Computer Review @sscratsage.bsky.social · 13/06/2024
SI @SSCRatSage #2: @tnridout.bsky.social, @efranklinfowler.bsky.social and others examine paid election advertisements placed on YouTube, Google search, Instagram, and Facebook during the US 2020 elections doi.org/10.1177/0894...
doi.org
Sage Journals: Your gateway to world-class research journals
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
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Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · 23/05/2024
💥New WMP Report: Biden airs $13m in broadcast ads since Super Tuesday.  Trump campaign has none. @tnridout.bsky.social @efranklinfowler.bsky.social & Michael Franz w/ @opensecretsdc.bsky.social Read the full report here: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-052... polisky polcom #commsky
mediaproject.wesleyan.edu
Biden on TV in Key States, While Trump is Off-Air - Wesleyan Media Project
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Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · 14/03/2024
💥New WMP Report: 📉Senate, House Advertising Spikes as Presidential Ads Wane @efranklinfowler.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social & Michael Franz @opensecretsdc.bsky.social Read the full report here: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-031... #wesmediaproject #2024election
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Dr. Monali Desai @drmonalidesai.bsky.social · 01/03/2024
2024 Political Ad Spending Will Jump Nearly 30% vs. 2020 www.insiderintelligence.com/press-releas...
insiderintelligence.com
2024 Political Ad Spending Will Jump Nearly 30% vs. 2020
<p>Total US political ad spending will surpass $12 billion in 2024 January 11, 2024 (New York, NY) – Total US political ad spending* will hit $12.32 billion in 2024, up nearly 29% from the prior presi...
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Travis N. Ridout @tnridout.bsky.social · 10/03/2024
It's not too hard to detect Biden's general election strategy in this ad.
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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout
Vibes only @brazuca.bsky.social · 09/03/2024
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6e4...
youtube.com
For You | Biden-Harris 2024
Follow Joe!Joe’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/joebidenJoe’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joebidenJoe’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joebidenJoe...
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Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 23/02/2024
"Political Ads Can Target Your Personality. Here’s What Could Go Wrong. This banner year for elections worldwide may witness the arrival of advertising tailored to your personality" www.scientificamerican.com/article/poli...
scientificamerican.com
Political Ads Can Target Your Personality. Here's What Could Go Wrong
This banner year for elections worldwide may witness the arrival of advertising tailored to your personality
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Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 24/02/2024
As targeted political advertising on social media has become trickier US campaign groups are paying ‘micro-influencers’ to sway voters in specific communities on.ft.com/42MBhUV
on.ft.com
Will ‘micro-influencers’ sway tight US election races?
Political campaign groups spend millions on social media users with small followings to target messages better
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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout
Social Media Lab @socialmedialab.ca · 29/02/2024
If you're a journalist/ researcher interested in election transparency, add our PoliDashboard app to your workflow. It's a tool designed to make paid online political advertising on Meta’s platforms more transparent & resistant to both foreign+domestic manipulation. socialmedialab.ca/2024/01/23/m...
socialmedialab.ca
Making the Invisible Visible: Introducing PoliDashboard v2 – An App For Tracking Political Ads on Meta’s Advertising Platforms | Social Media Lab
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Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · 16/02/2024
Read the full report here: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-021... #wesmediaproject #2024election
mediaproject.wesleyan.edu
Advertising in Presidential Race Takes a Nosedive after New Hampshire - Wesleyan Media Project
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Reposted by Travis N. Ridout
Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · 16/02/2024
💥New WMP Report: Advertising in Presidential Race Takes a Nosedive after New Hampshire📉 @efranklinfowler.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social & Michael Franz
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Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · 11/01/2024
Biden and pro-Biden Super PACs are focused on the general election and have spent about $27 million on 22,700 ad airings in support of the president.
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Wesleyan Media Project @wesmediaproject.bsky.social · 11/01/2024
📢New report from WMP: Heavy Spending by GOP in Iowa, Including Trump Read the full report here: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-011... @efranklinfowler.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social & Michael Franz #wesmediaproject #2024Election
mediaproject.wesleyan.edu
Heavy Spending by GOP in Iowa, including Trump - Wesleyan Media Project
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Travis N. Ridout @tnridout.bsky.social · 09/10/2023
If you like humor in your political advertising, check out this video from the Yes side in the Voice referendum in Australia...https://youtu.be/SAqIypjk-5A
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WSU PPPA @wsupppa.bsky.social · 06/10/2023
🚨Job alert!🚨 We are hiring a TT Asst. Prof. in Philosophy with a focus on Philosophy of Technology: ethical, just, and equitable use of new technologies, such as robotics, nanotechnologies, augmented realities, data security and privacy, LLM and AI. wsu.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/WSU_Jo...
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Mike Salamone @enomalas.bsky.social · 23/09/2023
Polisky: We are hiring! Washington State University is looking for an Assistant Professort (TT) specializing in global politics (comparative and/or IR). Reach out if you have questions. Read the full ad here: wsu.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/WSU_Jo...
wsu.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com
Assistant Professor
Available Title(s): 270-NN_FACULTY - Assistant Professor, 395-NN_FACULTY - New Tenure-Track - Pre-Academic Year Business Title: Assistant Professor Employee Type: Faculty Time Type: Full time Position...
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Travis N. Ridout @tnridout.bsky.social · 28/09/2023
What @profjslewis.bsky.social said! Send your students our way...
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Travis N. Ridout @tnridout.bsky.social · 21/09/2023
Boy does this two-minute-long ad on the Voice referendum in Australia pack an emotional punch! youtu.be/br8dB_0z3Fk?...
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Kevin Collins @kwcollins.bsky.social · 14/09/2023
How you run as a Democrat in Montana www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcGM...
youtube.com
Ryan Busse for Montana - Let it Fly
Join our movement, donate to Ryan by visiting: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/busse-youtube-letitfly
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Kevin Collins @kwcollins.bsky.social · 11/09/2023
These are interesting experiments, but given the experiments I'm wondering if, given the clustering by media market (as the article sort of describes), the experiment isn't way way way underpowered. www.politico.com/news/magazin...
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Barry Burden @bcburden.bsky.social · 21/08/2023
After the debate dust has settled, join me & an amazing panel of experts on Sept 14 to map the road to the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. Go here to register for in-person on the UW-Madison campus or online options elections.wisc.edu/gop/
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Dannagal Goldthwaite Young @dannagal.bsky.social · 20/08/2023
These predatory journal invitations have gotten hilarious.
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Travis N. Ridout @tnridout.bsky.social · 20/08/2023
New Biden ad going up on TV.
youtube.com
Fought Back
Follow Joe!Joe’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/joebidenJoe’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joebidenJoe’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joebiden#Jo...
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