Cyberwar: how Russian hackers and trolls helped elect a president : what we don't, can't, and do know

Introduction : US susceptibilities, troll and hacker synchronies, and my suppositions

Who did it, why, and what research says about how it might matter. How do we know that Russian spies and saboteurs (aka hackers and trolls) intervened in the 2016 presidential election? ; A theory of communication that posits effects

The prerequisites of troll influence. The first troll prerequisite : widespread messaging ; The second troll prerequisite : messages aligned with Trump's electoral interests ; The third troll prerequisite : mobilizing veterans, white Christians, demobilizing blacks and Sander's supporters, and shifting liberals to Stein ; The fourth troll prerequisite : persuasive appeals ; The fifth troll prerequisite : well-targeted content

How the Russians affected the news and debate agendas in the last month of the campaign. The effect of Russian hacking on press coverage ; The effect of hacked content on the last two presidential debates ; The Russian effect on the media agenda in the last days of the election

What we don't, can't, and do know about how Russian hackers and trolls helped elect Donald J. Trump. Afterword : Where does this leave us?

Appendices : Evaluations of Clinton and Trump traits in October

Appendix one : Changes in perceptions of Clinton and Trump in October

Appendix two : Debate 2 and debate 3 exposure effect on candidate trait evaluations

Appendix three : Association between perception changes and vote intentions

Appendix four : Effect of traits on vote intention.

Prologue

Introduction: US susceptibilities, troll and hacker synchronies, and my suppositions

Who did it, why, and what research says about how it might matter

The prerequisites of troll influence

How the Russians affected the news and debate agendas in the last month of the campaign

What we don't, can't, and do know about how Russian hackers and trolls helped elect Donald J. Trump

Afterword: Where does this leave us?

Appendix one: Changes in perceptions of Clinton and Trump in October

Appendix two: Debate 2 and debate 3 exposure effect on candidate trait evaluations

Appendix three: Association between perception changes and vote intentions

Appendix four: Effect of traits on vote intention.