iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Travis N. Ridout @tnridout.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Watching 170 AI-generated ads was eye-opening, to say the least.

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

101

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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

141

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...

000

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.

041

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.

621811449

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...

072

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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?"

064

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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!

0126

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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

16728

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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.

16014

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

044

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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

044

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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

084

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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.

001

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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

074

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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

023

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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

053

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...

818052

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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

042

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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

132

Travis N. Ridout @tnridout.bsky.social · 10/03/2024

It's not too hard to detect Biden's general election strategy in this ad.

010

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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

125

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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

011

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

012

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

121

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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.

101

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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

173

Travis N. Ridout @tnridout.bsky.social · 11/12/2023

Try this: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

110

Travis N. Ridout @tnridout.bsky.social · 28/11/2023

More back to policy in 2020...see this almost comparable figure

031

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

010

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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...

022

Reposted by Travis N. Ridout

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...

23431

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?...

130