Why does Congress still thrive on a social media diet? Great question! Let's talk about it... (thanks @kevinrkosar.bsky.social )

Art of Science recently interviewed @anneliserussell.bsky.social about her paper "Information is cheap, but filtering is costly," co-authored with Alison Craig. Tune in now! Listen: open.spotify.com/episode/3K7g... Watch: youtu.be/_VoifAE1XLI Read the transcript: substack.com/home/post/p-...

New Art of Science episode out now! Watch, listen, or read episode 10: Dr. @anneliserussell.bsky.social Research Note here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... 📺 Youtube: youtu.be/_VoifAE1XLI 🎧 Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3K7g... 📖 Substack: substack.com/home/post/p-... #PSJ

Finally found words for the PoliticoPro news... Government does not succeed without (useful) information and — more importantly — ways to put that information into context. I don't give a damn who does it, but we can't pretend it is not vital to public policy.

Not gonna lie, listening to my public policy students worry about having their dreams of government service dashed after EOs/OMB news was crushing today. We've got great students. I sincerely want the best for them.

For our first ever Voice/Mail interview, we chatted with @anneliserussell.bsky.social about the mechanics of how Member offices reach constituents, and the history and incentives shaping this modern landscape. voicemailgov.substack.com/p/connection...

OMB memo and federal aid freeze are a good reminder that amid uncertainty, constant (digital) comms is key. You don't have to have every solution, but you've gotta show people that you're showing up.

Sabbatical advice! I'm back from sabbatical, and thinking back on those things I did wrong/would do differently. Don't be me. Be better. Here are eight ways to fail (ways that I failed).

Political cartoon reactions are a good reminder that most people don't have a clue how a newsroom is organized or how decisions are made or the realities of the people working within those newsrooms.

👋 Comms lady twiddling her fingers while waiting for House members to be sworn in and new websites/social accounts/office info to go live...

I am so thankful @zeljkopoljak.bsky.social let me team up on this one with him. Another reason why small policy conferences remain some of my favorite.

Anything from @blumrm.bsky.social is a MUST read!

When people ask me "why did you leave the Hill for academia" ... one of the most truthful answers: time. My love language is being on time, giving people my time, and reliably showing up. None of these are conducive to realities of covering or working in Congress.

This semester’s sabbatical has taught me an important lesson… I remain completely incapable of “stepping away”. Upside? I love what I do.

Important reminder post election... Sure, policy agendas will change, but don't forget new folks changes HOW and WHEN Congress communicates. Dem leaders in the House will communicate for the first time sans WH... It's no longer a McConnell operation... Lot's of Qs to be answered!

Headed to NCA in New Orleans to talk about all things digital, linking comms to campaign donors, and secretly hoping the EU solves the US digital comms dilemmas.

Congress comms? I hear this Russell person wrote a book about that... global.oup.com/academic/pro...

New Real World/Road Rules Challenge unlocked!

Logging on here after months feels strange but here we are again post election. Probably means I’m going to start getting calls about the other site… *yes, I happily answer those reporter calls.

Headed to Chicago for #MPSA2024 tomorrow! Three papers on the docket, and NOT all of them are about Twitter* *Yes, they are all about digital communication in Congress — digital comms/fundraising, policy collabs on Twitter, and House spending on media.

So much of my work on Congress these days is thinking "someone has to have that data" Then realizing no, and the only place to look is House disbursements. And then deciding that I don't need that inconsistency and pain in my life today.

If you or your students are looking for a career outside the academy but don’t know where to start, I’m moderating a fantastic panel on the subject in a few weeks! Register here: www.apsanet.org/EVENTS/Event...

Lots of absurd things about political science research... But one thing that has gotten better, I think, is the notion that work on social media/digital politics is no longer something we brush off as "not interesting"

@winls.bsky.social Writing Group today 2:30pm ET with me & @juliamarinhellwege.bsky.social ! JOIN US :)

Our monthly writing group meets next Monday, November 13, from 2:30-3:30 Eastern. Register to write with us here: docs.google.com/form...

Early evidence that the Kentucky Gov race would go this way… About 4 weeks ago, my husband announces that he FINALLY saw a Cameron yard sign. We live in central Lexington, college town, but Trump signs -homemade- signs were everywhere. Most of those folks didn’t even have signs this year.

As the parent of a small person, I very much appreciate Kentucky's habit of 6am voting. #58 at 6:45am. And now I will drink all the coffee because that same small person has no school because of Election Day.

Using IR theory & reputation mechanisms to explain digital behavior in Congress was not the interdisciplinary collab I had on my BINGO card. But if it works...

Excited to discuss work by @ryan-dawkins.bsky.social and coauthors on the power of affective representation in Congress. Love seeing other junior scholars push the field of congressional communication. LFG.

May we all have this kind of luck traveling today for @winls.bsky.social!

Kind of a big deal: In conjunction with the announcement, the administration released a new online tool to help people determine their eligibility for LIHEAP funds rollcall.com/2023/10/24/b...

As the parent of a preschooler, the true metaphor for Republican speaker disfunction isn't organizing shit, poop, ducks, etc. Best explained by the chaos of water beads. Water beads inside. With a 4-year-old. Picking them up by hand.

A reluctant Sunday study buddy at the office.

Realized today I have more than 8K words in a document about "how a press office works in Congress" and I am still so far from being done... Maybe we just skip paid comms and ethics and pretend it's fine.

Finishing my @winls.bsky.social paper today for next week's conference ... and I am definitely excited. Gonna start working on my awkward wave now.

Today's Speaker gobbledygook is another example of how investment in presentation, communication and media incentives are inherently tied to institutional capacity.

I am my grandmother's child... I say things like "we're cooking with Crisco!" My 4-year-old has adopted these phrases, but likes to add his own spin. For example... "we're cooking with crime!"

Today's Speaker contest will be another day where the congressional digital dialogue collapses to primarily one issue. Here is an example of what it looked like last year in response to the Dobbs decision:

I know its a long teaching day because I am eating my dinner at 1pm. I'll regret these choices at 8pm, but for now, we feast on granola and peanut butter.

Reminder to all the new folks migrating over from the other place.... The Women in Legislative Studies writing group is TODAY at 2:30pm ET. All are welcome, anytime. So join us. Don't think you study legislatures? Let me convince you otherwise.... docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

An article acceptance is a great antidote to the "fun" of a tenure year :) Time to do some sneaker shopping...

My PhD students debating the applicability of Punctuated Equilibrium to congressional leadership changes ... this is my professoring nirvana.

I don't recommend writing a proposal with 3,500 words when the call asked for ~3,000 characters. But if it gets accepted and when it comes time to write the paper... Starting from 50-yard-line is a nice bonus.

Never disagree with @jenvictor.bsky.social

The best part about radio interviews is I can nervous sweat in the comfort of my own home.

Searching for legislative answers to a potential congressional shutdown without considering communication incentives is both misguided and foolhardy.

Submitting my MPSA proposal ahead of time qualifies as productive procrastination.

The resiliency of Fenno's Homestyles...