National

Did Ted Cruz Violate A Federal Ban?

On Wednesday, the Campaign Legal Center filed a complaint against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, alleging he violated a federal ban on lawmakers taking gifts from lobbyists.

Cruz agreed to take free production and marketing services from San Antonio-based iHeartMedia for his podcast, which is an “unprecedented national syndication agreement for a sitting member of Congress,” according to the filing by Ethics.

iHeart’s offer would expand the number of episodes for Cruz’s podcast from one to three weekly and provide him with a new co-host, who would, according to current co-host Micheal Knowles, “fund production, dump a whole bunch of money into marketing” and “make this show sustainable… for the next years.”

The nation’s largest radio station holding company’s offer to Cruz comes even though it’s been registered as a lobbyist since 2003. According to San Antonio Current, in 2021 the radio company spent $4.6 million on lobbying efforts. So far this year, it’s reported $3.4 million in lobbying expenditures, according to the complaint.

iHeartMedia officials weren’t available for immediate comment on the complaint. 

Jovanka Palacios

Jovanka Palacios, a Mexican-American Politics Reporter and Managing Editor at RA's Gun Violence Watch, unveils the Capitol's inner workings. Focused on Public Education and Gun Policies, she passionately advocates for informed dialogue, delivering concise, impactful insights into the intricate political landscape.

Recent Posts

Wall Street South? Texas Launches Bold Bid with New Stock Exchange

A bold new financial chapter is unfolding…

5 hours ago

Nearly 900 Texans Rescued After Catastrophic Flooding in Kerr County, Death Toll Rises

At least 32 people are dead and many more remain missing — including children from…

21 hours ago

Texas Bets on Bitcoin: A Strategic Play for Financial Innovation

In a move that has drawn national…

1 day ago

Elon Musk’s $50K House vs. His Nearly $70K Cybertruck

Elon Musk, a figure with billion-dollar ventures…

1 day ago

Delta-8 vs. Delta-9: Why Texas’ Marijuana Dispensaries Say They Can’t Compete

Texas' medical marijuana industry entered 2025’s legislative…

2 days ago

Paxton drops appeal: Texas to pay $6.6 million to whistleblowers

Texas will pay $6.6 million to four former top deputies to Attorney General Ken Paxton…

2 days ago

This website uses cookies.