ICYMI: February Roundup
Protecting election workers, anti-abortion activism on TikTok, Super Bowl halftime shows, hate and harassment against Olympians, and anger over legislative hurdles
Hello again from the Open Measures team. As we’re heading into March, here’s a look back on the research pieces we published in February.
Case Study: Protecting Elections and Preventing an Attack on Election Workers Using Open Measures
One of customers who works to protect the security and integrity of elections in Arizona shared that Open Measures allowed them to detect and prevent an attack against election workers. We detailed how that happened here:
US Anti-Abortion Activists Intensify Their Recruitment Efforts on TikTok
Our researchers dove into the world of anti-abortion content on TikTok, finding that movement activists have increased their efforts on the platform in recent years. Some of the content they found targeted abortion clinics, which have dealt with increased harassment and disruptions since the US Supreme Court repealed the right to abortion in 2022.
Bad Bunny Outshined Artists at Alternative Halftime Show, Even Among Pro-Trump Audiences
A conservative activist group allied with the Trump Administration staged an alternative event to air against this year’s Super Bowl halftime show headlined by Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny, who performed almost entirely in Spanish. Our analysis found that pro-Trump communities discussed Bad Bunny more than any of the artists featured in the counter-programmed show, suggesting audiences were more interested in what the event represented than the show it put on.
US Olympians’ Discomfort with American Politics Met with Online Hate and Harassment
Several Team USA athletes competing in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games used their platform to voice their disapproval and discomfort with American politics under the Trump Administration, sparking online hate and harassment from pro-Trump communities. Our researchers found that female athletes were targeted more aggressively and for longer periods than their male counterparts.
‘He Needs to Go Die’: MAGA Communities Fume at Senate Republicans Over SAVE Act Delays
Republicans in US Congress have sought to pass voting laws ahead of 2026 midterm elections that experts warn would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters. Their flagship legislation, known as the SAVE America Act, has encountered significant roadblocks in the US Senate, angering pro-Trump communities. Researchers observed that users in those spaces have attacked top Republican Senators over the delays, calling on them to be removed from Congress.
