Derek Willis
@dwillis.bsky.social
I teach data journalism at the University of Maryland, run OpenElections. Fan of WBB & test cricket. Posting obscure things about campaign finance, Congress & elections.
https://github.com/dwillis
https://thescoop.org
https://github.com/dwillis
https://thescoop.org
November 25, 2025 at 2:15 AM
I get SMS messages:
November 23, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I get SMS messages:
November 9, 2025 at 11:24 PM
TIL: Thomas Edison is a recruiting manager for the "Great Illuminati".
November 9, 2025 at 12:57 PM
TIL: Thomas Edison is a recruiting manager for the "Great Illuminati".
Need a ruling from @aedwardslevy.bsky.social on this "survey question" from a Ted Cruz fundraising email (secure.winred.com/ted-cruz/pg_...)
November 6, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Need a ruling from @aedwardslevy.bsky.social on this "survey question" from a Ted Cruz fundraising email (secure.winred.com/ted-cruz/pg_...)
A fundraising "survey" for Texas Rep. Brandon Gill that features VP Vance includes this question, which I haven't seen before in fundraising appeals (also, I don't know what a "polling occasion" is):
October 31, 2025 at 7:34 PM
A fundraising "survey" for Texas Rep. Brandon Gill that features VP Vance includes this question, which I haven't seen before in fundraising appeals (also, I don't know what a "polling occasion" is):
Post a perfect album from 1989, a perfect music year.
October 29, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Post a perfect album from 1989, a perfect music year.
Abigail Spanberger's #VAGOV campaign says this is what the polling is like in an SMS fundraising message:
This is what @decisiondeskhq.bsky.social says the polling is like:
But fundraising requires a narrative, I guess.
This is what @decisiondeskhq.bsky.social says the polling is like:
But fundraising requires a narrative, I guess.
October 25, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Abigail Spanberger's #VAGOV campaign says this is what the polling is like in an SMS fundraising message:
This is what @decisiondeskhq.bsky.social says the polling is like:
But fundraising requires a narrative, I guess.
This is what @decisiondeskhq.bsky.social says the polling is like:
But fundraising requires a narrative, I guess.
"You're not a journalist but I'm contacting you to complain about your reporting" is not the most important thing about this, but it sure is the nuttiest.
October 20, 2025 at 10:59 PM
"You're not a journalist but I'm contacting you to complain about your reporting" is not the most important thing about this, but it sure is the nuttiest.
My university sent out this email to faculty inviting them to buy tickets to the homecoming game against Indiana “this Saturday”.
The game is next Saturday.
The game is next Saturday.
October 20, 2025 at 10:43 PM
My university sent out this email to faculty inviting them to buy tickets to the homecoming game against Indiana “this Saturday”.
The game is next Saturday.
The game is next Saturday.
Area politician who says "This is the end" and "Whether I win or lose this race WILL determine the future of our nation" denies being dramatic:
October 17, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Area politician who says "This is the end" and "Whether I win or lose this race WILL determine the future of our nation" denies being dramatic:
Don't threaten me with a good time.
October 17, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Don't threaten me with a good time.
Most D-I women's soccer teams create fewer shots on the road, but Maryland is off on its own in its quadrant (red dot on this plot; the vertical and horizontal lines are the D-1 averages):
October 13, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Most D-I women's soccer teams create fewer shots on the road, but Maryland is off on its own in its quadrant (red dot on this plot; the vertical and horizontal lines are the D-1 averages):
Maryland women's soccer has a road problem, and here's one way to understand it: the Terps have been unable to create shots away from home. Among teams with a positive average shot differential at home and a negative average differential on the road, UMD has the 2nd-largest swing (+3.4 to -17.1).
October 13, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Maryland women's soccer has a road problem, and here's one way to understand it: the Terps have been unable to create shots away from home. Among teams with a positive average shot differential at home and a negative average differential on the road, UMD has the 2nd-largest swing (+3.4 to -17.1).
"I'll take 'unbelievable possession stats' for $600, Alex."
October 12, 2025 at 7:16 PM
"I'll take 'unbelievable possession stats' for $600, Alex."
Maryland counties have mostly very high rates of MMR vaccination among kindergarteners, helping to contain the spread of measles.
And then there's Kent County.
cnsmaryland.org/2025/10/09/a...
And then there's Kent County.
cnsmaryland.org/2025/10/09/a...
October 9, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Maryland counties have mostly very high rates of MMR vaccination among kindergarteners, helping to contain the spread of measles.
And then there's Kent County.
cnsmaryland.org/2025/10/09/a...
And then there's Kent County.
cnsmaryland.org/2025/10/09/a...
My idea for this is to make my campus a Coca-Cola campus.
October 9, 2025 at 2:02 PM
My idea for this is to make my campus a Coca-Cola campus.
The fun part is that this stuff works
October 9, 2025 at 1:08 AM
The fun part is that this stuff works
Might need to start taking this to meetings
October 4, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Might need to start taking this to meetings
Steve Garvey, the former LA Dodger who lost his Senate race in 2024, resumed raising money for his new PAC last week:
October 3, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Steve Garvey, the former LA Dodger who lost his Senate race in 2024, resumed raising money for his new PAC last week:
How it started/how it's going:
September 27, 2025 at 7:01 PM
How it started/how it's going:
Today is one of my favorite days of the year @ UMD: the Annual Fire Safety Report is out, detailing at least some of the ways that students unintentionally set fire to things last year.
My favorite: "Chipotle chips burned in microwave oven"
My favorite: "Chipotle chips burned in microwave oven"
September 25, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Today is one of my favorite days of the year @ UMD: the Annual Fire Safety Report is out, detailing at least some of the ways that students unintentionally set fire to things last year.
My favorite: "Chipotle chips burned in microwave oven"
My favorite: "Chipotle chips burned in microwave oven"
Well, I think we knew this was coming:
September 25, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Well, I think we knew this was coming:
I get SMS messages
September 24, 2025 at 10:14 PM
I get SMS messages