Court Snatches Republicans' Discounted TV Ads Like Black Friday Steals

KEY POINTS

•On Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled the FCC incorrectly extended candidate discounted TV ad rates to political parties.
•Four Democratic candidates including Sen. Jon Ossoff sued to block this practice, citing unfair Republican advantages fueled by large donor war chests.
•Despite the ruling applying to both parties, Republicans plan to appeal as they face deeper campaign finance battles ahead of November midterms.

In a 2-1 judicial mic drop Tuesday, the Fourth Circuit told Republicans ’No discounts here!‘ on political ads, canceling their hopes to tap into cheaper TV airtime via party committees. The ruling shrugs off FCC’s extension of candidate rates to joint fundraising schmoozes, souring GOP’s pricey ad binge fueled by mega-donors' bulging wallets. The plaintiffs? A Democratic Avengers roster featuring Sen. Jon Ossoff (GA), former Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH), ex-Gov. Roy Cooper (NC), and Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI) – basically political Avengers stamping out GOP coupon abuse. DSCC and DCCC executives praised the ruling as defending grassroots muscle; NRSC's Joanna Rodriguez isn’t taking the L quietly, vowing an appeal fiesta. Meanwhile, Supreme Court earlier nuked spending limits, making campaign cash wars even more gladiatorial this fall.