What if we treated politics more like a park and less like a sport?
I asked an audience at Montana State University in Bozeman that question a few weeks ago, my written remarks are here.
www.ethicsinpoliticalcommunication.org/blog/what-if...
We should be alarmed by the lying, not that AI and social makes lying easier. Candidates should disavow these accounts, and voters should punish candidates who condone this nonsense.
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/17/b...
Attacking a free press is anti-democratic. The point of the press is to be critical, that's their job in a democracy. Journalists who always make government happy aren't doing their job.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Attacking someone's faith is wrong. It was wrong when Catholics and Quakers were attacked in pre-revolutionary America, it is wrong when Muslims and Jews are attacked today.
www.npr.org/2026/03/14/g...
Is it ethical to use AI to enhance someone's voice in a political ad? What if the person whose voice it is agrees to it?
www.politico.com/news/2026/03...
Nehls is saying doing the wrong thing is OK if you keep power. Machiavelli might be smiling, but no one else is.
"But aren’t some things bigger than politics?” CNN’s Manu Raju asked.
“No,” Nehls continued. “Not up here, not the way we — what we do in the house.”
www.huffpost.com/entry/maga-r...
"We are trading serious governance for a carnival atmosphere, and it’s tearing the seams of our 1787 agreement. Democracy isn't a game show—it’s fueled by truth and the mutual respect to listen, even when we don't get our way."
- Former MT Gov and RNC Chair Marc Racicot
youtu.be/AJFwf094-_k
Former MT Governor and RNC Chair Marc Racicot has strong feelings about the promise of our democracy, the perilous times were in, and the current administration.
www.ethicsinpoliticalcommunication.org/blog/former-...
Tomorrow I'm talking to former MT Governor and RNC Chair Marc Racicot about ethics in political communication. Yes, the SOTU will come up.
www.ethicsinpoliticalcommunication.org/blog/event-c...
The Montana Republican Party rebuked their former Governor and former RNC Chair Marc Racicot for endorsing Biden. We talk to him on Thursday about ethics his new role at Republicans for Integrity.
www.ethicsinpoliticalcommunication.org/blog/event-c...
Is a story true if it's made up of facts from different stories? Does it matter if the message at the core of the story is true and the facts are accurate?
Via @scottnover.bsky.social
wapo.st/4tITiAC
On Feb 26 former MT Gov and RNC Chair Marc Racicot joins the Project to talk about ethics in political communication. Details and registration here:
www.ethicsinpoliticalcommunication.org/blog/event-c...
This is obscene. Elected officials, candidates, pundits, and their staff will stop behaving like racists when voters and consumers punish them for it. Public condemnation is a critical start - but unless outrage is matched by action, racist behavior will continue.
www.axios.com/2026/02/06/t...
Candidates, elected officials, and pundits should not promote or excuse threats or violence. They should call out and condemn threats and violence, regardless of who is doing it and who the target is.
www.thefp.com/p/fear-is-no...
Political violence should be condemned, even when that violence is committed against people you disagree with. The point of democracy is that we argue rather than fight. Normalizing violence undermines the point of democracy.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Ethics is doing what you think is right, even when it comes at a personal cost.
“Weaponizing criminal investigations against political opponents is unconstitutional, regardless of who is in power..."
share.google/3F7ZGFnChHRO...
It is unethical to deceptively alter pictures to make a political point.
www.cbsnews.com/news/white-h...
The point of an independant judiciary is that it's independant. Attacking or threatening judges because you disagree - even strongly - with their rulings is undemocratic.
thehill.com/homenews/hou...
The point of democracy is that you don't need dictators but you do need elections. Leaders of democratic nations shouldn't talk about cancelling elections or promoting dictatorships.
www.newsweek.com/trump-davos-...
In 2019 I asked students in my political communication ethics class about the ethics of a Rep running as a Dem in the fictional state of West Carolina.
In 2026 voters in the real state of North Carolina will be able to answer that question.
www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaig...
"Our most precious commodities are time and attention...how you focus your time and attention tells me a lot about who you are and the ethical choices you’re making in the world."
www.deseret.com/politics/202...
More elected officials should follow the lead of Minnesota State Rep. Coleman (R) and call out nonsense for what it is - nonsense.
wapo.st/3KQqsNe
What else should be on this list?
I would love to join your class, event, brownbag, or pretty much anything else to talk about ethics, advocacy, AI, and political communication. I have zoom and am always angling for frequent flier miles. Drop me a note at ploge@gwu.edu
A textbook that includes chapters from academics and political professionals (I believe the only textbook of its kind so excuse the self-promotion, I promise I'm not getting rich off of ethics).
www.bloomsbury.com/us/political...
A lot of resources from the Project on Ethics in Political Communication, including video conversations with political professionals
www.ethicsinpoliticalcommunication.org
Teaching politics, political communications, or campaigns this spring? Looking for resources on ethics? Good news - a bunch are below.
If you aren't going to include ethics in your course, well, you should.
Veteran Republican strategist Joe Pounder joined Project on Ethics in Political Communication director Peter Loge for a conversation about ethics and political consulting. You can watch our dicussion here.
youtu.be/FUX9jrJpMKY
