Money Makes The World Go 'Round #404
By Hank Silverberg
Money Trap
Labor Day has traditionally been the start of the fall election campaign season, though that tradition has pretty much slipped away over the last decade of election cycles.
Money continues to play a big role in who gets elected because it pays for campaign logistics, and more significantly, mass media advertisements.
Now a U.S. Supreme Court ruling has given the GOP a big advantage in what could be the most significant Congressional race in a generation, and the most expensive ever. According to the Federal Elections Commission, more than $670.1 million has been spent on the Senate campaigns so far in 2026 with two key months to go.
In an 8-1 decision on Friday that overruled a lower appeals court, the Justices said there can be no rule that prohibits political parties or fundraising committees from getting favorable television advertisement rates that have been traditionally reserved for individual candidates.
FCC regulations require broadcasters to take campaign ads from all candidates at reduced rates, or take no campaign ads at all. This ruling would extend the reduced rates to political parties and fundraising committees which often raise much more money than individual candidates.
That decision will now open the flood gates to millions of dollars in TV ads for the Republicans from numerous sources. The GOP has raised millions more than the Democrats for this election.
So you as a voter can expect to be bombarded by TV ads as November approaches--ads that often have little substance, lots of slanted rhetoric, and sometimes outright lies.
Put that on top of the unrestricted use of ads on the internet that are unregulated and are often totally false, and voters will likely end up misinformed or they will tune out completely.
This coming election, already tainted by false claims about voter fraud and mail-in voting, could be the most expensive in U.S. history and leave many voters asking: why?
If the Democrats gain control of one or both houses of Congress, they will act as a barrier to much of what Trump wants to do in his last two years, and possibly roll back some of the massive damage he has already done to millions of citizens and our reputation in the world.
I know what I will do: ignore the ads, search for substance and not be fooled by the dog-and-pony show which has dominated Trump's second term.
But please don't tune out completely. It is your duty as an American to make your vote count.
We need to push all candidates on issues like ending the war with Iran, making housing more affordable, food insecurity, climate change and an immigration system that works without putting innocent people in detention centers. You can do that in local appearances by your members of Congress and candidates that are frequent during an election cycle.
We learned quickly in both 2016 and 2024 that elections do matter.
News You May Have Missed
Kennedy Center Roof Collapse
The slow demise of the famed Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. has been one of the saddest elements of the current chaos.
Now comes word that a chunk of the ceiling inside the main hallway fell down over the weekend during stormy weather. Here's a picture sent on the Center's official X post:
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| (from the Kennedy Center) |
It comes during a dispute over the future of the building on which President Trump wants his name, and a $250 million renovation that could take two years.
There have been several court battles over the Center's future, with the Trump administration actually threatening to tear it down if the building is not closed and Trump's planned renovations are not made. The roof damage will now be used as an example of why the renovations must move forward the way a Trump-appointed Board of Directors planned.
Last week a large stick figure sculpture known as Blue was removed from the Center with no reason given, and weeping willows that grew along the side of the building as a tribute to the fallen president, have been cut down.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kennedy-center-ceiling-collapse-renovations-trump/
Party Switchers
Some interesting numbers from the Gallup Poll this week: more voters are identifying as leaning
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In its quarterly data, Gallup says 49% of the voters they surveyed leaned Democrat, including independent voters, while only 39% leaned Republican.
That is a sharp reversal from the 4% advantage Republicans had over Democrats in 2024.
Why the switch? The same survey indicated that 58% of the voters now disapprove of President Trump's performance.
The poll has a sampling error rate of plus or minus 2%.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/654560/quarterly-party-affiliation.aspx
Dumbest Quote Of The Week!
This week's dumbest quote comes from a repeat offender, Vice President JD Vance. When asked this past week about the latest attacks and counter- attacks in the ongoing war with Iran, Vance said:
"I wouldn't call it a war, Right now, there is no active shooting. I recognize there have been places where this has flared up."
His comments are a surprise to the thousands of sailors, airmen, Marines and soldiers who have been fighting in the Middle East. And it is an insult to the 482 service members wounded in the conflict, and even more so to the families of the 18 service members who have been killed.
(My latest book "The Campaign" can be purchased at the links below. Or you can buy a copy by emailing me at: HankSilverberg@gmail.com for instructions on how to get a copy at a reduced price and with my signature)
(You can also join me at this event later this month)
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-campaign-hank-silverberg/1126429796
My NEWEST book is now available. It is designed for use in Public Speaking and entry level communications classes.
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