Ross Weistroffer
@libraryofbabble.bsky.social
🗳️ #DemocracyScience nerd for an incrementally better world, reporting from the intersection of info & action.
💾 #HCI + #CSCW researcher @ discourselabs.org
🌇 Angeleno urbanist & governance reform advocate @ fairrepla.bsky.social
Pro-🏳️🌈,🏳️⚧️, 🇺🇸, and 🇺🇳 🌎🌏🌍
💾 #HCI + #CSCW researcher @ discourselabs.org
🌇 Angeleno urbanist & governance reform advocate @ fairrepla.bsky.social
Pro-🏳️🌈,🏳️⚧️, 🇺🇸, and 🇺🇳 🌎🌏🌍
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
The latest thought-provoking piece out of the League's Center for Democracy Innovation argues that if we want mass deliberation to succeed, we can’t just design better forums, we have to build an economy and culture that supports participation.
Food for thought: 👀📰: https://ow.ly/jCNU50YhMkp
Food for thought: 👀📰: https://ow.ly/jCNU50YhMkp
February 19, 2026 at 2:15 PM
The latest thought-provoking piece out of the League's Center for Democracy Innovation argues that if we want mass deliberation to succeed, we can’t just design better forums, we have to build an economy and culture that supports participation.
Food for thought: 👀📰: https://ow.ly/jCNU50YhMkp
Food for thought: 👀📰: https://ow.ly/jCNU50YhMkp
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
The LA Charter Reform Commission (CRC) locked in its first set of recommendations Wednesday night, beginning with the unanimous 12-0 approval of all planning & infrastructure reforms below (for more information, see links here: t.co/LnhV1rIQTn )
February 19, 2026 at 10:48 PM
The LA Charter Reform Commission (CRC) locked in its first set of recommendations Wednesday night, beginning with the unanimous 12-0 approval of all planning & infrastructure reforms below (for more information, see links here: t.co/LnhV1rIQTn )
Same
February 18, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Same
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
Can feed algorithms shape what people think about politics? Our paper "The Political Effects of X's Feed Algorithm" is out today in Nature and answers "Yes."
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
February 18, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Can feed algorithms shape what people think about politics? Our paper "The Political Effects of X's Feed Algorithm" is out today in Nature and answers "Yes."
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
We’re recruiting participants for a paid research study on AI for inclusive virtual collaboration.
Interested? Scan the QR code or visit: bit.ly/allyshipteam
Interested? Scan the QR code or visit: bit.ly/allyshipteam
February 18, 2026 at 8:56 PM
We’re recruiting participants for a paid research study on AI for inclusive virtual collaboration.
Interested? Scan the QR code or visit: bit.ly/allyshipteam
Interested? Scan the QR code or visit: bit.ly/allyshipteam
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
[1/n] Just wrapped up 7 months interning with @pcastr.bsky.social at Google DeepMind and I'm so excited to share our work: arxiv.org/abs/2602.10324.
TLDR: We used LLM-powered program synthesis to automatically model and discover differences between human and LLM strategic behavior
TLDR: We used LLM-powered program synthesis to automatically model and discover differences between human and LLM strategic behavior
February 16, 2026 at 10:46 PM
[1/n] Just wrapped up 7 months interning with @pcastr.bsky.social at Google DeepMind and I'm so excited to share our work: arxiv.org/abs/2602.10324.
TLDR: We used LLM-powered program synthesis to automatically model and discover differences between human and LLM strategic behavior
TLDR: We used LLM-powered program synthesis to automatically model and discover differences between human and LLM strategic behavior
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
WEDNESDAY (2/18), 4 PM, LA City Hall, Room 350: the Charter Reform Commission meets to vote on whether to advance key reforms.
Also on the agenda: a motion for Commission STAFF to disclose their communications w/elected officials.
More meeting info at: bit.ly/FRLA26
Also on the agenda: a motion for Commission STAFF to disclose their communications w/elected officials.
More meeting info at: bit.ly/FRLA26
February 16, 2026 at 10:57 PM
WEDNESDAY (2/18), 4 PM, LA City Hall, Room 350: the Charter Reform Commission meets to vote on whether to advance key reforms.
Also on the agenda: a motion for Commission STAFF to disclose their communications w/elected officials.
More meeting info at: bit.ly/FRLA26
Also on the agenda: a motion for Commission STAFF to disclose their communications w/elected officials.
More meeting info at: bit.ly/FRLA26
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
I keep coming back to @cdsamii.bsky.social essay on the “problem-centered” over “puzzle-centered” research paradigm and I can’t help but feel like so many problems with social science methods boil down to this cyrussamii.com?p=3682
The “problem solving” approach and social science methodology – Cyrus Samii
cyrussamii.com
February 14, 2026 at 8:02 PM
I keep coming back to @cdsamii.bsky.social essay on the “problem-centered” over “puzzle-centered” research paradigm and I can’t help but feel like so many problems with social science methods boil down to this cyrussamii.com?p=3682
It was such a fantastic experience to get to facilitate at LA’s first civic assembly! Much thanks to all participants and @publicdemocracyla.bsky.social for making this happen.
Hear from the Angelenos who deliberated on land use housing at the ReWrite LA civic assembly in December 2025. Their views will be shared with the Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission for possible inclusion on the November 2026 ballot youtu.be/0hsn9cZt6Yw?...
Los Angeles Mini-Civic Assembly (December 2025)
YouTube video by Public Democracy LA
youtu.be
February 13, 2026 at 6:55 PM
It was such a fantastic experience to get to facilitate at LA’s first civic assembly! Much thanks to all participants and @publicdemocracyla.bsky.social for making this happen.
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
Our full video of this meeting of the LA Charter Reform Commission is now up at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMg5...
February 12, 2026 at 6:11 AM
Our full video of this meeting of the LA Charter Reform Commission is now up at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMg5...
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
📢New co-authored article in @polbehavior.bsky.social about PARTICIPATION and REPRESENTATION!
✨We ask "Are the Politically Active Better Represented?" Our answer, using the most comprehensive data to date: A clear "YES" for nonelectoral participation like protest.
⬇️See Jesper's 🧵for more ✨
✨We ask "Are the Politically Active Better Represented?" Our answer, using the most comprehensive data to date: A clear "YES" for nonelectoral participation like protest.
⬇️See Jesper's 🧵for more ✨
🧵I am happy to announce a new article in Political Behavior @polbehavior.bsky.social, “Are the Politically Active Better Represented?”, co-authored with @jenny-oser.bsky.social, @rdassonneville.bsky.social, @professormpersson.bsky.social, and Anders Sundell.
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Are the Politically Active Better Represented? - Political Behavior
Political participation is considered an important path for people to influence politics. However, whether those who participate actually see more of their preferred policies implemented remains an op...
link.springer.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:00 AM
📢New co-authored article in @polbehavior.bsky.social about PARTICIPATION and REPRESENTATION!
✨We ask "Are the Politically Active Better Represented?" Our answer, using the most comprehensive data to date: A clear "YES" for nonelectoral participation like protest.
⬇️See Jesper's 🧵for more ✨
✨We ask "Are the Politically Active Better Represented?" Our answer, using the most comprehensive data to date: A clear "YES" for nonelectoral participation like protest.
⬇️See Jesper's 🧵for more ✨
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
I decided to start an open @semble.so collection to curate more examples/inspiration for "extreme citizen science": semble.so/profile/joel...
cc @ronentk.me
cc @ronentk.me
February 11, 2026 at 1:52 PM
I decided to start an open @semble.so collection to curate more examples/inspiration for "extreme citizen science": semble.so/profile/joel...
cc @ronentk.me
cc @ronentk.me
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
existential cookie message from the olympics website
February 10, 2026 at 4:09 PM
existential cookie message from the olympics website
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
WEDNESDAY (2/11) @ 4 PM - LA City Hall, Room 350: the full Commission meets to (hopefully) finally vote on the Charter reforms the Ad Hoc Committee purged.
Stand up and be counted to restore the Charter reforms LA's future needs!
Zoom & meeting info: bit.ly/FRLA26
Stand up and be counted to restore the Charter reforms LA's future needs!
Zoom & meeting info: bit.ly/FRLA26
February 9, 2026 at 8:53 PM
WEDNESDAY (2/11) @ 4 PM - LA City Hall, Room 350: the full Commission meets to (hopefully) finally vote on the Charter reforms the Ad Hoc Committee purged.
Stand up and be counted to restore the Charter reforms LA's future needs!
Zoom & meeting info: bit.ly/FRLA26
Stand up and be counted to restore the Charter reforms LA's future needs!
Zoom & meeting info: bit.ly/FRLA26
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
Much AI ethics work focuses on preventing future harm through better design or regulation. Ntapanta’s work draws attention to ethical judgement that takes place when prevention has already failed health.uct.ac.za/ethics-lab/a...
Repair as Translation: Thinking AI Ethics from Salvage Worlds
Webinar Recap: How can African repair practices reshape AI ethics? Moving beyond upstream design concerns towards downstream sites where ethical judgement occurs amid constraint, toxicity and unequal ...
health.uct.ac.za
February 6, 2026 at 7:56 AM
Much AI ethics work focuses on preventing future harm through better design or regulation. Ntapanta’s work draws attention to ethical judgement that takes place when prevention has already failed health.uct.ac.za/ethics-lab/a...
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
As we navigate the undermining of democratic processes & witness how tech facilitates/resists authoritarianism, join us on Feb 20@12pm to hear from @technolua.bsky.social @tamigraph.bsky.social @thakurdhanaraj.bsky.social @royapak.bsky.social B.Wylie, J.Bolthouse
dtdlab.virginia.edu/event/digita...
dtdlab.virginia.edu/event/digita...
February 2, 2026 at 3:01 PM
As we navigate the undermining of democratic processes & witness how tech facilitates/resists authoritarianism, join us on Feb 20@12pm to hear from @technolua.bsky.social @tamigraph.bsky.social @thakurdhanaraj.bsky.social @royapak.bsky.social B.Wylie, J.Bolthouse
dtdlab.virginia.edu/event/digita...
dtdlab.virginia.edu/event/digita...
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
The LA Charter Reform Commission's Ad Hoc Committee finally executed their reform purge. Time to fight back.
Tell the FULL Commission to purge the Ad Hoc Committee instead, and put real reform back on the table.
More meeting info: bit.ly/FRLA26
Tell the FULL Commission to purge the Ad Hoc Committee instead, and put real reform back on the table.
More meeting info: bit.ly/FRLA26
February 5, 2026 at 12:37 AM
The LA Charter Reform Commission's Ad Hoc Committee finally executed their reform purge. Time to fight back.
Tell the FULL Commission to purge the Ad Hoc Committee instead, and put real reform back on the table.
More meeting info: bit.ly/FRLA26
Tell the FULL Commission to purge the Ad Hoc Committee instead, and put real reform back on the table.
More meeting info: bit.ly/FRLA26
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
Updated our long-list of resources on accessibility and visualization, including 2025 articles, guides, and technical tools!
(For those that don't know, this single-page doc is one of my most-starred projects on github.)
github.com/dataviza11y/...
(For those that don't know, this single-page doc is one of my most-starred projects on github.)
github.com/dataviza11y/...
github.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Updated our long-list of resources on accessibility and visualization, including 2025 articles, guides, and technical tools!
(For those that don't know, this single-page doc is one of my most-starred projects on github.)
github.com/dataviza11y/...
(For those that don't know, this single-page doc is one of my most-starred projects on github.)
github.com/dataviza11y/...
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
📢 New article!
What if “populist” political visuals aren’t really populist at all?
Using insider interviews with top party communication strategists in 🇮🇹, we show that emotional and stylistic visuals are used across the board driven by social media logics
Link: journals.sagepub.com/eprint/2IXE9...
What if “populist” political visuals aren’t really populist at all?
Using insider interviews with top party communication strategists in 🇮🇹, we show that emotional and stylistic visuals are used across the board driven by social media logics
Link: journals.sagepub.com/eprint/2IXE9...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
January 28, 2026 at 1:56 PM
📢 New article!
What if “populist” political visuals aren’t really populist at all?
Using insider interviews with top party communication strategists in 🇮🇹, we show that emotional and stylistic visuals are used across the board driven by social media logics
Link: journals.sagepub.com/eprint/2IXE9...
What if “populist” political visuals aren’t really populist at all?
Using insider interviews with top party communication strategists in 🇮🇹, we show that emotional and stylistic visuals are used across the board driven by social media logics
Link: journals.sagepub.com/eprint/2IXE9...
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
Mary Ellen Pleasant, American civil rights pioneer, entrepreneur. The “Mother of Civil Rights in California”; one of the wealthiest & most powerful people in California. Key role in major #civilrights court cases; California black rights activist #womenshistory #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM #woc #PolSky
February 2, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Mary Ellen Pleasant, American civil rights pioneer, entrepreneur. The “Mother of Civil Rights in California”; one of the wealthiest & most powerful people in California. Key role in major #civilrights court cases; California black rights activist #womenshistory #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM #woc #PolSky
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
The Open Visualization Academy (OVA) IS LIVE!
openvisualizationacademy.org
Thread follows #dataViz #infographics #dataJournalism #dataVisualization
openvisualizationacademy.org
Thread follows #dataViz #infographics #dataJournalism #dataVisualization
January 30, 2026 at 3:09 PM
The Open Visualization Academy (OVA) IS LIVE!
openvisualizationacademy.org
Thread follows #dataViz #infographics #dataJournalism #dataVisualization
openvisualizationacademy.org
Thread follows #dataViz #infographics #dataJournalism #dataVisualization
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
What makes technical expertise a legitimate source of authority? Trym Nohr Fjørtoft (@trymnf.com) examines “technical legitimacy”, proposing conditions under which expertise can justify delegation to non-majoritarian institutions. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/b3DAdu1
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social #ECRs
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social #ECRs
January 31, 2026 at 6:01 PM
What makes technical expertise a legitimate source of authority? Trym Nohr Fjørtoft (@trymnf.com) examines “technical legitimacy”, proposing conditions under which expertise can justify delegation to non-majoritarian institutions. Read OPEN ACCESS: buff.ly/b3DAdu1
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social #ECRs
@polstudiesassoc.bsky.social #ECRs
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
THIS SATURDAY (1/31) • 9:30 AM • Occidental College
The LA Charter Reform Commission’s “electric saw” committee is back to decide which proposed changes to how LA works move forward…and which get cut. 🪚
More meeting info: bit.ly/FRLA26
The LA Charter Reform Commission’s “electric saw” committee is back to decide which proposed changes to how LA works move forward…and which get cut. 🪚
More meeting info: bit.ly/FRLA26
January 30, 2026 at 4:54 PM
THIS SATURDAY (1/31) • 9:30 AM • Occidental College
The LA Charter Reform Commission’s “electric saw” committee is back to decide which proposed changes to how LA works move forward…and which get cut. 🪚
More meeting info: bit.ly/FRLA26
The LA Charter Reform Commission’s “electric saw” committee is back to decide which proposed changes to how LA works move forward…and which get cut. 🪚
More meeting info: bit.ly/FRLA26
Reposted by Ross Weistroffer
Thank you Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez!
CM Hernandez is the 1st City of LA elected official to offer their support for allowing "residents 16 and up to vote in LAUSD Board elections to allow for representation of the people most impacted by these elections."
CM Hernandez is the 1st City of LA elected official to offer their support for allowing "residents 16 and up to vote in LAUSD Board elections to allow for representation of the people most impacted by these elections."
January 30, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Thank you Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez!
CM Hernandez is the 1st City of LA elected official to offer their support for allowing "residents 16 and up to vote in LAUSD Board elections to allow for representation of the people most impacted by these elections."
CM Hernandez is the 1st City of LA elected official to offer their support for allowing "residents 16 and up to vote in LAUSD Board elections to allow for representation of the people most impacted by these elections."
"If misinformation stabilizes disrupted worldviews, the solution lies not in better facts, but in better ways of making meaning."
Fantastic work on the need for broader lenses to address the disordered discourse that emerges from epistemic collapse (to borrow from @eliothiggins.bsky.social).
Fantastic work on the need for broader lenses to address the disordered discourse that emerges from epistemic collapse (to borrow from @eliothiggins.bsky.social).
Excited my most recent article is out now! In it, we talk about our work to combat anti-trans misinfo at @transstudies.bsky.social and the research my students are I are doing advancing a new framework for understanding misinfo effects.
Give it a read here: www.tandfonline.com/eprint/R6MNB...
Give it a read here: www.tandfonline.com/eprint/R6MNB...
Combating anti-transgender misinformation: A sociological approach
Anti-transgender misinformation has become a defining feature of political discourse across the Anglosphere, driving a surge in harmful legislation and public attitudes. Learning from the change-ma...
www.tandfonline.com
January 29, 2026 at 7:44 PM
"If misinformation stabilizes disrupted worldviews, the solution lies not in better facts, but in better ways of making meaning."
Fantastic work on the need for broader lenses to address the disordered discourse that emerges from epistemic collapse (to borrow from @eliothiggins.bsky.social).
Fantastic work on the need for broader lenses to address the disordered discourse that emerges from epistemic collapse (to borrow from @eliothiggins.bsky.social).
