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By many accounts, Svedka’s Super Bowl debut earlier this year flopped. Critics, including ADWEEK, picked apart its use of AI and the polarizing revival of its Fembot mascot.  

So this time around, the vodka brand is posing a challenge to the public: can you do any better?

As Svedka gets ready to return as a Super Bowl advertiser in 2027, it’s kicking off a contest with Bravo’s Andy Cohen for a chance to make its commercial and win $500,000. I spoke with its marketing leader about why she’s backing the brand’s first Super Bowl outing and what comes next.

Meanwhile, the midterm elections are tomorrow—don’t forget to vote!—and new data finds that for the first time in a midterm, political ad spend on CTV has overtaken cable. Robert Klara also rounded up the most low-down ads of this election cycle.

Plus, DoorDash’s acquisition of Instacart could create a powerful rival to Uber’s ad business. 

Refill your coffee and keep scrolling.

1. Svedka Hands Its Next Super Bowl Ad to the Public After Polarizing AI Debut

Svedka's Super Bowl debut was polarizing, but it was also a business success, driving a 23% sales increase in the first half of 2026. For round two, the brand is giving the public creative control of its Big Game ad. While it’s up to entrants how they make the spot, "we believe fans will find the best, easiest way to bring the Fembot to life is using AI," CMO Sara Saunders said. She told me why the Fembot isn’t going anywhere, and why the brand’s use of AI isn't either.

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2. CTV Overtakes Cable in Political Ad Spend for the First Time in a Midterm

This year’s midterms have already drawn more ad spend than any election cycle tracked by data company AdImpact. And most of that growth has gone straight to CTV, according to Kendra Barnett’s story.

CTV spend grew 122% to $2.4 billion (21% of total spend) compared with the 2022 cycle, while cable fell 26% to less than $1.3 billion. Roughly 62% of total spend went to linear TV, including broadcast, cable and satellite, down from 73% in 2022. Where those ad dollars were spent across the map also differed from the 2022 cycle.

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3. DoorDash Buying Instacart Challenges Uber's $2 Billion Ad Business

On Thursday, DoorDash agreed to buy Instacart for about $17 billion. The companies say their unified retail media networks would give brands a "scaled alternative" for reaching customers online. While it’s unclear exactly how large a combined DoorDash-Instacart media business would be, it will likely rival Uber’s ad business, which surpassed $2 billion in annual revenue last year.

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4. ADWEEK Creativity Advantage: As Holdcos Consolidate Production, Independent Studios Are Under Threat

I recently toured WPP's new flagship production hub, which spans 34,000 square feet in east London. The hub is the latest sign that holdcos are investing more in production capabilities as clients face demands to create more relevant content faster than ever. In a changing market where many clients are in-housing their own capabilities and consolidating with fewer partners, agencies see production as a potential new revenue stream.

But as this shift accelerates, it’s raising the stakes for independent production companies and the talent they employ. I explore this trend in my latest ADWEEK Advantage analysis.

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5. Stagwell’s Mark Penn Has a Plan to Avoid Holding Company Bloat

Stagwell’s numerous acquisitions, partnerships, hires, and contract wins over the past year led the company to its best quarter in 5-year public-market history. But as Stagwell scales, CEO Mark Penn is careful to ensure it doesn’t fall into the trap of becoming too bloated, as some competitors have. He outlined his plan to avoid being weighed down by excess bulk.

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• The four down and dirtiest political ads of the 2026 midterms, (ADWEEK). 
  
  
• How news networks are covering the 2026 midterm elections, (ADWEEK). 
  
  
• The Cheesecake Factory is the real winner in the Obama-Trump food fight, (ADWEEK). 
  
  
• How Patrick Stewart lent his star power to brands, (ADWEEK). 
  
  
• Selena Gomez and Tate McRae bring the magic to Ulta Beauty’s holiday campaign, (ADWEEK).
  
  
• Global AI sell-off eases after Nasdaq’s worst month in a year, (FT).
  
  
• FIFA quietly paid millions in taxes for its president, (NYT). 
  
  
• Zocdoc opens its platform to AI agents, (ADWEEK).
  
  
• AI in advertising must have a growth mindset, (Brandshare from Nexxen).

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• 13 recent marketer moves to know at Liquid I.V., MrBeast, NYT, and more, (ADWEEK).
  
  
• AI ad-placement companies Rembrand and Whisper World merge, eyeing IPO, (ADWEEK).
  
  
• Paula Reid joins MS NOW as chief White House reporter, (ADWEEK).