Political campaigns in the United States devote millions of dollars to advertising and media strategies in an attempt to influence voters. But can the media truly change the way voters see the world and what they do at the ballot box? In this first episode of a new Talking Policy miniseries on U.S. elections, guest host Georgia Kernell, a political scientist at UCLA, is joined by Stuart Soroka and Lynn Vavreck to examine the information environment surrounding U.S. elections, and how even the smallest persuasive effects or changes to the media ecosystem can lead to major impacts on the political landscape.

This episode was recorded on April 2, 2026, with additional recording on October 8, 2026. The conversation was edited for length and clarity.