Gov. Andrew Cuomo attacks Metropolitan Transportation Authority contractors for profiting from the agency. But he relies on some of the same firms for major campaign cash. Source: NYT > Business – Emma G. Fitzsimmons, J. David Goodman and Agustin Armendariz
Ad Tool Facebook Built to Fight Disinformation Doesn’t Work as Advertised
The social network’s new ad library is so flawed, researchers say, that it is effectively useless as a way to track political messaging. Source: NYT > Business – Matthew Rosenberg
Mediator: Social Media Pollution, a Huge Problem in the Last Election, Could Be Worse in 2020
As a candidate, Donald Trump promoted a mystery Twitter account that falsely portrayed a protester as an ISIS terrorist. Nothing stops him from doing it again. Source: NYT > Business – JIM RUTENBERG
Trump Names Jovita Carranza, U.S. Treasurer, to Lead the Small Business Administration
The current administrator of the agency, the former pro wrestling executive Linda E. McMahon, stepped down from the role last week. Source: NYT > Business – JULIA JACOBS
A Texan’s Big Bet on a Fossil-Fuel Future for California
Andrew Beal, a poker-playing billionaire and major Trump backer, could upend California’s carbon-free power goals with a case before federal regulators. Source: NYT > Business – IVAN PENN and THOMAS KAPLAN
Digital Hype Aside, Report Says Political Campaigns Are Mostly Analog Affairs
On average, candidates in the 2018 midterm races spent no more than 5 percent of their overall media budgets on digital advertising, according to a report by Tech for Campaigns. Source: NYT > Business – KEVIN ROOSE