"Feed algorithms are widely suspected to influence political attitudes. However, previous evidence from switching off the algorithm on Meta platforms found no political effects1. Here we present results from a 2023 field experiment on Elon Musk’s platform X shedding light on this puzzle. We assigned active US-based users randomly to either an algorithmic or a chronological feed for 7 weeks, measuring political attitudes and online behaviour. Switching from a chronological to an algorithmic feed increased engagement and shifted political opinion towards more conservative positions, particularly regarding policy priorities, perceptions of criminal investigations into Donald Trump and views on the war in Ukraine. In contrast, switching from the algorithmic to the chronological feed had no comparable effects. Neither switching the algorithm on nor switching it off significantly affected affective polarization or self-reported partisanship. To investigate the mechanism, we analysed users’ feed content and behaviour. We found that the algorithm promotes conservative content and demotes posts by traditional media. Exposure to algorithmic content leads users to follow conservative political activist accounts, which they continue to follow even after switching off the algorithm, helping explain the asymmetry in effects. These results suggest that initial exposure to X’s algorithm has persistent effects on users’ current political attitudes and account-following behaviour, even in the absence of a detectable effect on partisanship."

#InfluencePeddling

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10098-2

"Trump’s Team Offers to Keep Some Ballroom Donors Incognito. Many corporate interests that have donated to the president’s pet project have business before his administration."

Also, Vladimir Putin is known for being shy, so he would prefer not to have his bribe to Trump publicized:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/01/us/politics/trumps-team-offers-to-keep-some-ballroom-donors-incognito.html
#InfluencePeddling #EpsteinMemorialBallroom #TheBestPresidentMoneyCanBuy #politics

This is a great look into the legal bribery going on in the felon’s regime. I encourage you to watch the video on this page, and there’s an interactive feature, as well.
#Corruption #InfluencePeddling #Greed
#FollowTheMoney

https://perfectunion.us/trumps-corporate-colluders/?link_id=1&can_id=f93ef4029806401fa821e16bc2028860&source=email-we-analyzed-trumps-donors-and-uncovered-a-massive-corruption-and-influence-buying-scheme&email_referrer=email_2955144&email_subject=we-analyzed-trumps-donors-and-uncovered-a-massive-corruption-and-influence-buying-scheme

"Revealed: How the Meat Industry Uses Environmental Groups to Make Beef Seem Climate-Friendly"

<💬>
“They put this huge spotlight, with the help of [non-governmental organizations], on these marginally effective practices,” she said. “This is what I call the ‘positive-side-of-the-ledger’ approach, which Big Ag does a lot: Just focus your big spotlight on the positive stuff and completely ignore the overall system and the overall indicators.”
</💬>

https://www.desmog.com/2025/08/06/revealed-how-the-meat-industry-uses-environmental-groups-to-make-beef-seem-climate-friendly/

By @desmog.com

#meat #Bigmeat #beef #industry #capitalism #climate #protein #WWF #NatureConservancy #astroturfing #lobbying #climateRegulations #influencePeddling #FAO #regenerativeGrazing #grifters #sustainability #soil #carbonSequestration #climateDenial #climateChange #climateChangeDenial

🇫🇷 French Culture Minister Rachida Dati to face trial for "corruption" and "influence peddling" during her time as an MEP. #France #RachidaDati #Corruption #InfluencePeddling

https://kokcha.news/4139/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Sons of #DJT Voyage Abroad Chasing $ For Daddy In Awkward Pseudo Diplomatic Scheme To #Sell International Influence

https://nyti.ms/4iNzTYv #USA #InfluencePeddling #FamilyBusiness #GiftLink #SharedLink

Meanwhile, in Mexico ...

#GOP #Republican #corruption #InfluencePeddling #Graft

And of course, #TedCruz is involved

Isn't "America great again" already?

'Wealthy Mexican Business Owners Offered 'Influence' and Direct Access to Trump for $250,000 Donation'

https://www.latintimes.com/wealthy-mexican-business-owners-offered-direct-access-trump-250-k-donation-576872