These two maps are a good example how data visualization influences our perception. Same election, same results, but one shows the winning party by area, one by population density. (Map Credits: Karim Douïeb, Jetpack.ai)

Edit: This is not based on the midterms this week. I wanted to point out the difference in visualization. It was originally done in 2019

I just set up a filter for "RT" and it instantly cleared my feeds of most of the cross-poster stuff.

I am quite uninterested in birdsite cross posts. They are almost universally broadcasty with no attempt at creating interaction or conversation.

That's very out of place on #mastadon and the larger #fediverse.