Irish Politics
Campaigning likes it 1999 (when it feels like its 1938)
How do you run a political campaign without digital ads? I asked two of our best campaign gurus what we might expect.
elections
Seven weeks to polling day: what The Briefing will cover
We finally have a date: October 24th. Between now and then, The Briefing will run twice weekly: short, data-led analysis of campaign dynamics, plus curated reads on elections and tech policy. No horse race, just what the campaign reveals about our democracy, our economy, and our digital future.
Irish Politics
Tech looms over this election, but as fiscal policy, not a campaign tool
Between Trump's appointees, mobile tech capital and changing tax rules, we are facing a possible fiscal cliff. Yet we are still hearing 2007-style auction politics. Where is the vision for a less FDI dependent economy?
elections
Hope is making a comeback
Michelle Obama's barnstorming speech in Chicago on Tuesday night announced that "hope is making a comeback". It made me nostalgic for "hopey-changey" 2008, staying up all night to watch Obama win, intoxicated by optimism, smugness, and aesthetic agreeableness. In hindsight of course it looks
elections
ICYMI: The Splinternet election
A recent Op-Ed; an overview of the Irish online campaign that looks at what our fracturing internet means for campaigning and politics in 2024 in Ireland and the rest of the world
elections
Shuttershock: Ad spend roundup, plus last minute shenanigans
Happy Voting Eve. A last pre-election round up, bringing together as best anyone can spend data from the Meta and Google ad archives. Plus, a collection of election news covered by other people
Political Ads
Investigation: TikTok is failing to comply with EU rules on political ads
Our investigation shows multiple candidates are running ads on TikTok for Ireland's election, despite the company's claims to block political ads. TikTok is both not enforcing its own policies, AND, failing to comply with EU rules.
Political Ads
Campaign round up: Irish Freedom Party dominating YouTube ad spend
The Irish Freedom Party spent €4,100 in the past 3 weeks on YouTube ads, the biggest spenders on YouTube ads this election.