The billionaires behind the record midterm ad blitz

About this episode

<p>More than <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/14/us/politics/midterms-ad-spending-10-billion.html">$10 billion</a> is expected to be spent on advertising in this midterm cycle. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/theodore-schleifer">New York Times</a> reporter Teddy Schleifer joins to explain where the money comes from, how a recent Supreme Court ruling has shifted power back toward party committees, and what voters should watch for in the final two weeks.</p> <p>Russia freed a retired <a href="https://apple.news/Ak0xkJ5CnQ_y1OuMCF9Sn2g">American schoolteacher</a>, and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff called Putin a &ldquo;humanitarian&rdquo; &mdash; drawing swift bipartisan criticism. Francesca Ebel, Ukraine correspondent for the <a href="https://apple.news/AM-aMCyzbTV-HE-BB3U-h-Q">Washington Post</a>, explains what the prisoner release and a fresh promise of peace talks actually signal about where negotiations stand, and why Ukraine is heading into a difficult winter.</p> <p>Nearly a decade after Apu quietly disappeared from ‘The Simpsons’ amid controversy, the character is back &mdash; this time voiced by an Indian American actor. The <a href="https://apple.news/AYErILHvUTDCjIFIoEju_JQ">AP</a>&rsquo;s Terry Tang looks at what the recast means at a moment of growing South Asian political visibility.</p> <p>Plus, the <a href="https://apple.news/A2dlysylLSgiHr2UWvmJFTg">Supreme Court ruled</a> that the Trump administration must continue providing gender-affirming care to transgender federal inmates, a New Mexico court made a <a href="https://apple.news/A4cCa5TF-R7eBlqnU-Am8yw">substantial financial ruling against Meta</a>, and America just got its first <a href="https://apple.news/AbmjMP4WvRDiE-aBkv-qkmg">new national park</a> in six years.</p> <p>Today&rsquo;s episode was hosted by Gideon Resnick.</p>