Democrats Lost the Propaganda War

How the Consulting Class Is Eating the Democratic Party

Fundraising costs gobble up most of the funds raised. Billions are spent on TV ads that have virtually no impact. Candidates may win or lose—but the consulting class always wins.

Conservative PACs have paid at least $1.6 million to the extended Metric Media network this election cycle, a Tow Center investigation reveals.

Nonprofits and political action committees (pacs) are using Metric Media’s extended network of local news sites to provide a range of campaign services to conservative candidates in the run-up to the November midterm elections, new research by the Tow Center shows.    The tactic of using partisan newspapers to launder advocacy is being taken up […]

Midterm Political Ad Spending Hits Record $11.21 Billion

Political ad spending for the 2026 midterms has hit a record $11.21 billion, surpassing the 2024 presidential election cycle, according to AdImpact.

Inside the Secretive World of Campaign Ads Funded by AI Super PACs

Bellingcat analysed more than 300 online video ad campaigns promoting or opposing candidates for the upcoming US midterm elections.

How Facebook fought to keep political ads in the shadows

The process needs more transparency.

‘Dark money’ networks hide political agendas behind fake news sites

Political operations are pouring millions of “dark money” dollars into ads masquerading as news to influence the 2020 election. Fake News abounds.

Dark Money Political Ads Proliferate on Facebook and Instagram

“Pink slime” newsrooms secretly backed by partisan donors are spending big on Facebook and Instagram ads in battleground states.

How we fought bad ads in 2015

Here are some of the top areas we focused on in our fight against bad ads in 2015.

What the shockingly large Democratic election sweep means for the tech world

AI money flopped, crypto’s “army” lost its marquee rematch, and data centers turned out to be a voting issue. Silicon Valley bought a lot of ads this year. Voters didn’t buy them. And Live Activities continue to impress.

Alarming AI ads are flooding social media in the lead-up to Victoria’s election. But who is behind them?

A machete-wielding robber, a ‘tsunami of debt’ … campaigns echoing opposition talking points outspend major parties

Who paid for this?

Find out who really paid for political mailers and TV ads.

Republican Victory and the Ambience of Information

For years, Democrats have sought to win elections by micro-targeting communities with detailed facts. What if the secret is big, sloppy notions seeded nationwide?

Bellingcat Analysis: Google Ads Run By AI-Backed Super PACs Ahead of US Midterms 2026

In Texas, AI-generated political ads are blurring the line between real and fake - Poynter

Experts say increasingly realistic campaign ads could make it harder for voters to distinguish authentic messages from fabricated ones

Improving social media for democratic discourse

Social media have expanded opportunities for communication and political participation, but today's dominant platforms are optimized primarily for engagement and advertising revenue, contributing...