Investigating the Democratic Spam Machine: Adam Bonica on Data & Democracy

The Challenge of Unsubscribing from Spam

• ✉️ It appears there is no easy way to get off spam email and text lists, with messages often originating from multiple groups even after attempting to opt-out.
• 💡 The only potential solution discussed is for someone with authority within the Democratic party to decide to discontinue participation in this fundraising ecosystem.

Addressing the Spam Ecosystem

• 🎯 A proposed solution involves the Democratic party chair creating a list of vendors and consultants associated with problematic firms, stating that anyone working with them will not be paid by the party.
• ⚠️ Candidates should also be encouraged not to pay these vendors, mirroring attempts made with consultants who worked for primary challengers.
• 🏛️ The party has the ability and responsibility to police this space and ensure ethical guidelines are followed.

The Consultant Class and Ideological Divides

• 💰 A consultant class within the Democratic party is criticized for prioritizing personal enrichment, often through media buys that benefit them more than grassroots efforts like canvassing.
• 🧩 This issue is framed within a broader establishment versus anti-establishment divide within the party, which can cut across ideological lines.
• ⚖️ The current election cycle may determine whether the party continues with its traditional consulting class or seeks a different approach.

Researching and Exposing Bad Actors

• 🔍 Adam Bonica's research into "Mothership" is part of a broader effort to identify and understand these types of groups, building on existing political science research using machine learning to identify scam PACs.
• 📣 Increased media exposure and public pressure are seen as crucial for compelling the Democratic Party apparatus to shut down these problematic practices.
• 📈 Bonica hopes his work will contribute to a broader perspective on identifying bad actors in the political space.