  Dilepton and direct photon measurements in heavy ion collisions provide
access to the early stages of the collision. Dilepton continuum measurements at
SPS and RHIC show an excess consistent with broadening of the rho meson
spectral function as a result of hadronic interactions. Direct photon
measurements at RHIC and the LHC show an excess of low $p_{T}$ photons over the
expected yield. This excess has a large azimuthal anisotropy with respect to
the collision plane. Understanding the direct photon excess and its anisotropy
has become an outstanding question in the field of heavy ion physics. This
proceeding consists of a summary of new dilepton and direct photon experimental
results shown at the 2017 International Conference on Ultrarelativistic
Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions and presents them in the context of our current
understanding of these electromagentic probes.
