How the government spends a billion dollars a year on advertising

The federal government is among the biggest spenders on advertising. At about $ 1.3 billion a year, it’s in the top 25 U.S. spenders. The Government Accountability Office has new analysis of which agencies spend the most on advertising, and the companies they spend it with. GAO’s Director of Strategic Issues Jessica Lucas-Judy joins the Federal Drive with Tom Temin. Interview transcript: Tom Temin Jessica Lucas-Judy. Ms. Lucas-Judy, what prompted GAO to look at something that in the grand scheme of things is not that big of a deal? Spending…

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C’mon, Man

Never underestimate the destructive power of a stubborn old narcissist with something to prove. Ideally no one gets hurt along the way: Maybe grandpop refuses to give up his license, drives into an oak tree, and only the car gets totaled. But sometimes there are casualties: Maybe a pedestrian gets hit. President Joe Biden, 81, is acting like one of history’s most negligent and pigheaded leaders at a crucial moment, and right now, we are all pedestrians. Since his debate debacle nearly two weeks ago, much of America has been…

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Advertising Giant GARM Illegally Censored Conservative Outlets, House Report Finds

The Global Alliance for Responsible Media likely violated federal antitrust laws by censoring the speech of conservative news outlets and personalities, the House Judiciary Committee concludes in a new report. GARM used its “tremendous market power in the advertising industry” to keep advertising dollars away from certain conservative news platforms, including Breitbart, Fox News, and The Daily Wire, according to the report released Wednesday by the committee chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. According to the report, emails show the alliance’s leadership strategized on how to use the coalition against…

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Today’s Flashback: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “Left the Door Open” on Project 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following Monday’s National Conservatism Conference, MoveOn Political Action slammed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for previous statements supporting the Heritage Foundation, the right-wing think tank behind Project 2025, the extremist policy proposals for a second Donald Trump administration.  The Deseret News reported that RFK Jr. “left the door open” on Project 2025 and said, “I’ll be interested in talking to everybody.” He also keeps a copy of Heritage’s “Mandate for Leadership” conveniently located on his desk. That doesn’t seem like reference material a so-called “independent” candidate would need…

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WEP & GPO repeal, Schedule F among issues facing Congress

Debate over Social Security benefit blackouts for certain federal, state and local government employees, it never ends. A recent hearing once again considered what to do about Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Offset Pension. One observer who listened closely, the staff vice president at the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, John Hatton. He gives the Federal Drive with Tom Temin an update. Interview Transcript:  Tom Temin   And John the beat goes on with respect to the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset for Social Security…

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