Tag Archives: advertising

FEC clears Cruz in podcast complaint

Posted on February 26, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Oh, well. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz did not run afoul of campaign finance laws when the company that syndicates his podcast contributed nearly $1 million through a series of payments to a super PAC supporting Cruz’s reelection bid, the Federal … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The billboards of Fayette County

Posted on November 5, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I have three things to say about this. Members of the local Democratic party in rural, bright red Fayette County were thrilled this month when they learned their hours of phone banking and fundraising would finally pay off. The party’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Cruz files FEC complaint over Allred ads

Posted on October 28, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I’m laughing. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s campaign manager filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission Thursday, accusing U.S. Rep. Colin Allred’s campaign of illegally coordinating on television ads with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Cruz’s campaign cited a series … Continue reading →

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Get ready for a lot more Allred and Cruz ads on TV

Posted on September 27, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Keep the remote nearby so you can hit “mute” as needed. U.S. Senate Democrats are sending millions to Texas in a new round of investments to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee announced Thursday. The DSCC will … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Third complaint over Ted Cruz’s podcast payments

Posted on July 29, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Three strikes and…well, nothing really. They’re just complaints and even if they’re found to be meritorious we’re a long way away from anything happening. But since I’m following this story, I’ll keep on it. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, remains … Continue reading →

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Uvalde parents sue Daniel Defense again

Posted on May 26, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I’m rooting for them. Several Uvalde families are suing Daniel Defense, the gun company whose AR-15 style rifle an 18-year-old gunman used to kill 19 children and two teachers and injure several others at Robb Elementary two years ago, lawyers … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ted Cruz may owe taxes on his podcast payments

Posted on April 27, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This is a gift that keeps on giving. The peculiar payment scheme behind U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s popular podcast has raised ethical questions and drawn complaints about election law violations. Now tax experts say the deal involving a massive radio … Continue reading →

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Second complaint filed over Ted Cruz’s podcast payments

Posted on April 21, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Bring ’em all on. The Campaign Legal Center (CLC), a money-in-politics watchdog group, has filed a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee alleging that U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz violated the upper chamber’s ban on members taking honoraria for speeches or … Continue reading →

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FEC complaint filed over Cruz’s podcasting gig

Posted on April 11, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Go for it. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is facing a formal campaign finance complaint over money sent from the company that syndicates his podcast to a political action committee supporting his reelection bid. The complaint, filed Tuesday with the Federal … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024, Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Of course Ted Cruz is getting paid to podcast

Posted on March 31, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This is so stupid. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s office has repeatedly dismissed ethical questions about his three-times-a-week podcasting gig, saying he makes no money from the venture with a company that lobbies Congress. But over the last year, iHeartMedia, the … Continue reading →

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Who else can we think of who’s alleged to have violated Texas securities law?

Posted on November 25, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Into every story about cryptocurrency, some amount of absurdity is sure to follow. Texas is investigating celebrities who had endorsed FTX, the now bankrupt cryptocurrency firm, for potentially violating state securities laws. The Texas State Securities Board started looking into FTX’s … Continue reading →

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Endorsement watch: Starting out with Susan

Posted on October 4, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron kicks off endorsement season with a fulsome recommendation of Susan Hays for Ag Commissioner. Hays, 53, lives in Alpine, where she and her husband purchased land several years ago to grow hemp and hops. Her background is as … Continue reading →

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Coulda Been Worse

Posted on September 11, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Are you ready for some attack ads? A shadowy new group has purchased at least $6 million in TV ads ahead of the November election and is airing an ad that targets Gov. Greg Abbott as he runs for reelection. … Continue reading →

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More on how abortion bans will be enforced

Posted on June 7, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

It’s all about the data. The Supreme Court is shortly expected to issue its decision on a challenge to Roe v. Wade that will—if a leaked draft version of the opinion holds—end federal protection for abortion access across the US. If that … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

More investment from Bloomberg

Posted on October 29, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Once again, better late than never. Billionaire Michael Bloomberg is funding a last-minute ad blitz on behalf of Joe Biden in Texas and Ohio, providing a boost to the former vice president as polls and a flutter of late campaign … Continue reading →

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Morning Consult: Biden 48, Trump 47

Posted on October 23, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

The overview is here and there are some words that I’ll include shortly, but for the headline we’ll need this picture: I know it says “Tied” despite the “Biden 48, Trump 47” listing. My guess is that the exact numbers … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020, The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

There’s so much more money in Texas races

Posted on October 8, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Item one: It’s the question that many, many people have raised — often as a joke — for years. But the combination of changing demographics, chaos among the state Republican ranks, and the ongoing struggles of President Donald Trump’s campaign … Continue reading →

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Castaneda on the air

Posted on September 29, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

More of this, please. Chrysta Castañeda, the Democratic candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission, is investing in six figures worth of television ads in the Houston area starting Friday. Castañeda is facing off against Republican Jim Wright, best known for … Continue reading →

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Is the GOP punting CD07?

Posted on September 24, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

That’s one possible interpretation of this, though probably not the most likely. The National Republican Congressional Committee has canceled about $2 million worth of advertising it had reserved for campaigning in the Houston television market, according to several Democratic and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Hegar to get a boost

Posted on August 6, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Nice. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee announced Tuesday that it will spend at least $1 million to help MJ Hegar in her challenge to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. The DSCC said it will be the first time the committee … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

8 Day finance reports: Mayor and Controller

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Erik Manning spreadsheet is here, the July reports from Mayoral candidates are here, the July reports from Controller candidates (which in this case was just Chris Brown) are here, and the 30 day reports for both Mayorals and Controllers … Continue reading →

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On the air in HD28

Posted on October 16, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The HD28 special may be the hottest race going right now. The first TV ads are set to air in the special election to replace state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, as Democrats rev up their homestretch push to flip the … Continue reading →

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Why is allowing ads on Metro buses so hard?

Posted on April 25, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

The Chron editorial board weighs in. The Metropolitan Transit Authority should proceed cautiously as it considers lifting its ban on commercial advertising on buses, rail cars, stations and shelters. That prohibition has served Houston well over the years, working together … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

We are still talking about Metro maybe allowing ads

Posted on April 22, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

This is one of the longer ongoing story lines I’ve followed on this blog. The red and blue stripes on Metro’s buses and trains soon could be joined by advertisements for Red Lobster and Blue Bell, a nod to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Two possible straws in the wind

Posted on November 6, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Ken Paxton seems a little nervous. Less than 36 hours before Election Day, the race for attorney general is showing signs of competition that have been absent in just about every other statewide contest. Republican incumbent Ken Paxton, who was … Continue reading →

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When Ken Paxton attacks

Posted on October 27, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

He’s gotta be a little scared. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has started airing a statewide TV ad against his Democratic challenger, Justin Nelson, as Nelson presses to close the race with an emphasis on the indictment that has dogged … Continue reading →

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On the air

Posted on October 22, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

You might be seeing some TV ads from Texas Democrats who aren’t Beto O’Rourke or Lizzie Fletcher. There’s Justin Nelson: Attorney Justin Nelson, a candidate for attorney general, on Tuesday became the first — and likely only — Democrat running … Continue reading →

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On negative ads and name recognition

Posted on September 11, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

I confess, I’m amused by this. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is going after Democrat Beto O’Rourke for cursing during some of his campaign speeches. The Cruz campaign released a digital ad on social media that shows O’Rourke cursing at various … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Beto’s ad strategy

Posted on August 19, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Nothing wrong with a little low-tech outreach. Over the last year, U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has drawn national fanfare as a thoroughly modern, digital-first campaign. He regularly draws an audience of thousands to … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2018 | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

The rising cost of losing

Posted on July 21, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Womp womp. The price of losing keeps going up for Republican Kathaleen Wall. Four months after losing her campaign for Congress, the Houston Republican had to put yet another $150,000 of her own money into her campaign to pay for … Continue reading →

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Voter registration deadline is Monday

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Check your registration status. Houston-area voters are registering to vote in record numbers just in time for the March 6 primaries, and the two major political parties are bracing for yet another wave of newcomers over the next few days. … Continue reading →

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Clinton campaign to run ads in Texas

Posted on October 18, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

It’s come to this. Hillary Clinton’ campaign is going on the air in solid-red Texas, a remarkable move by a Democratic presidential nominee as her Republican rival, Donald Trump, struggles across the country. Clinton is launching a one-week ad buy … Continue reading →

Posted in The making of the President | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

KHSPVA

Posted on October 15, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

That will be the new acronym for the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. After impassioned debate, the Houston school board voted 7-2 Thursday to accept a $7.5 million gift for the district’s renowned arts high school and … Continue reading →

Posted in School days | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Checking in on Garcia v Green

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

An update on how the biggest primary fight in the county is going. U.S. Congressman Gene Green has taken Texas’ 29th District Democratic primary to television, leveraging his substantial financial advantage over challenger Adrian Garcia to pour more than $240,000 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments