The new ads will highlight Paxton’s record as attorney general and attack James Talarico as weak on China.
Page F2From§Eachthe supper edition — 31 August 2026
Supreme Court approves White House ballroom as Paxton allies buy $15 million ad campaign
When the Supreme Court permits construction of a White House ballroom, the ledger records a capital improvement for the executive residence. This is not a line item for schools or roads, but for the ceremonial space where donors gather. Meanwhile, $15 million in advertising is committed by Paxton allies, a sum that eclipses the annual budget of many rural districts. The juxtaposition of these expenditures—ballroom expansion and political marketing—presents a precise tally of priorities. The gap between public need and public spectacle measures out in millions. The beneficiaries are not named, but the receipt reads: power, connection, access. In lieu of flowers, one might ask for a small allocation to the local library, hon.
“So the Supreme Court greenlights a ballroom for the White House while Paxton's crew drops $15 million on ads. That's the kind of spending you only see when power is for sale, not when your kid needs a new school roof. One hand builds the palace, the other pays for the story—they're not spending on you.”
“It’s important to support the administration’s vision, and the advertising campaign is just a way to inform voters about their options. If anything, both of these are unrelated—well, maybe they’re not completely unrelated, but it’s not like anyone’s buying influence. Did I say that? That doesn’t sound like me. The point is, everyone benefits from these kinds of investments, or at least the people who matter.”
The receipts
Also, a principal helped save 900 children in Nepal. Here’s the latest at the end of Monday.
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.