Press

Our Experts

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  Ann Ravel

  Policy Director

  Ann leads the development and promotion of Decode Democracy’s policies to tackle online disinformation in politics. She served on the Federal Election Commission from 2013 to 2017, holding the roles of vice chair and chair. Ann previously chaired the California Fair Political Practices Commission, acted as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the United States Department of Justice, and served as Santa Clara County Counsel for over a decade.

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  Daniel G. Newman

  President and Co-Founder

  Daniel, a national expert on government accountability and money in politics, has led Decode Democracy since its founding as MapLight in 2005. Newman has appeared in hundreds of media outlets, including CNN, CBS, MSNBC, FOX Business, and NPR. He led a ballot measure campaign establishing public funding of elections in Berkeley, California, and was named one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business. He is the author of Unrig: How to Fix Our Broken Democracy from Macmillan/First Second Books.

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  Viviana Padelli

  Disinformation Policy Manager

  Viviana conducts research and produces content on policy approaches to online political manipulation. Viviana has ten years of experience in policy analysis and advocacy, acquired in the U.S. and the EU. Her field of expertise ranges from antitrust and state subsidies to the impact of emerging technologies on business and society. Viviana holds a BA in Economics and Social Sciences from Bocconi University in Milan, an MSc in Economics from Tilburg University, and an MPA from the Goldman School School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley.