All posts tagged: ads

Pro-Trump “love me” ads paid for by taxpayers

Pro-Trump “love me” ads paid for by taxpayers

Published by Sam Flores

A new political ad airing this week features clips of President Donald Trump pledging to defeat “communism, socialism and Marxism in America,” and promising “America will never be a communist country.” It cuts to flashing text reading the “largest tax cuts in history” and “reigniting American manufacturing” while a choir repeatedly sings “love me” in the background. The sample is from JMSN’s song “Love Me,” who said on X that he did not authorize license of the song. The UFC’s Dana White chimes in, saying Trump “is the toughest, most resilient person that I’ve ever met, and nothing was going to stop him from fighting so hard for the country he loves.” The 30-second spot seems like any other campaign ad, designed to use emotion to sway voters, but it turns out that taxpayers actually paid for the whole thing, which may not be legal. That’s sparked considerable controversy on Capitol Hill, with both Republicans and Democrats criticizing the ads. The cost of the ad is $430,000 and is running across multiple network TV channels …

Chris Hansen Buys Ads Before Every Screening of A24’s ‘Primetime’

Chris Hansen Buys Ads Before Every Screening of A24’s ‘Primetime’

Published by Daniella Wilson

Moviegoers who show up to see Robert Pattinson play To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen in Primetime will first find themselves face-to-face with the real thing. Hansen has purchased preshow advertising on every screen showing the upcoming A24 release, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. In the spot, he directs audiences to TruBlu, his streaming network devoted to the same kind of predator investigations that made him famous. The film, a dark exploration of Hansen’s specialty of luring suspected sex predators into nondescript suburban kitchens before confronting them on camera, opens Sept. 25 following its world premiere Sept. 5 at the Venice International Film Festival. Hansen has said on podcasts and on Jesse Watters’ Fox News program that he declined an invitation to see the film because he was required to sign an agreement barring him from taking legal action against A24. Sources close to Hansen tell THR that he is now consulting attorneys about his options following the film’s release. In the meantime, Hansen is capitalizing on the renewed attention by placing the ad …

News Bites: From Deceptive Health Product Ads to Imposter Scams

News Bites: From Deceptive Health Product Ads to Imposter Scams

Published by Sam Flores

Analysis Reveals Widespread Deceptive Health Product Ads. On April 15, 2026, Reset Tech, a global public policy not-for-profit company, reported that it collected 350,549 Facebook ads across 22,320 pages and 2,073 Google ads from 472 advertisers for more than 390 products promoted in the European Union (EU) with unfounded medical claims. Cumulatively, Facebook ads reached 878 million unique users in the EU with exposure of many individuals to multiple ad campaigns. Google ads generated between 5.9 million and 8.3 million impressions, mostly in the EU. Reset Tech exposed advertising campaigns in violation of the media platforms’ own policies; ads impersonating celebrities, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and medical organizations; coordinated networks of advertisers, including accounts used in multiple scam campaigns and the Russian influence operation Doppelganger; and lack of accountability and transparency for advertisers based in Brazil and Vietnam. Reset Tech calls for the platforms to apply stricter rules to stop problematic ad campaigns and for regulators to enforce violations of the EU’s Digital Services Act to protect the public’s health. (For more, see Issue #26-21 of Consumer …

Licence fee, subscription or ads?

Licence fee, subscription or ads?

Published by Daniella Wilson

The TV licence system may not be perfect, but if the BBC is to remain impartial and continue to deliver its mission to inform, educate and entertain, it’s vital that it gets an adequate level of funding without being beholden to either the government or to advertisers. If the BBC was subscription- or advertising-funded, much of its best work would never have been commissioned, as it wouldn’t be worth risking anything that was expected only to appeal to a minority, such as, say, Monty Python or Fleabag. For me, Radio 4’s I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue would justify the licence fee on its own, but there are so many others that I couldn’t possibly list them all. Direct government funding would open it to accusations of being a state broadcaster. It seems to me that the TV licence is the best available compromise, and we should keep it. David MonksfieldStansted, Essex The BBC is doing the best it can in a media world currently akin to a minefield, and they can’t get it right …

The Person Behind Those Viral Polycule Ads Says It’s Just a Joke

The Person Behind Those Viral Polycule Ads Says It’s Just a Joke

Published by Miika Tikkanen

The flyer on a pole in San Francisco was very straightforward, if a little bewildering. It read, “Seeking New Polycule Member: We recently had a defector in our polycule and are seeking a new member.” A link at the bottom invited anyone interested to apply to join a polycule—a group of cohabitating adults all in a consensual romantic relationship. The ad seemed almost normal at first, inviting applicants to join a “fun-loving, diverse, ragtag bunch of lover people.” The more you read, the weirder it gets. The link went to an application page hosted on Notion, where responders could share information about themselves, like their hobbies, their waistline (in inches), and whether they were interested in being a part of a “breeding pool.” Courtesy of Danielle Egan “Please do not think of this as an application!” the website read. “We prefer to think of it more like the X-Factor, but for finding another soulmate.” This went viral, of course, spreading across X and Reddit. Some people saw it as a joke. Many were seemingly furious …

AI-generated ads are trickling into political campaigns, sparking big worries

AI-generated ads are trickling into political campaigns, sparking big worries

Published by Sam Flores

At least 15 campaign ads featuring AI-generated content have run since November, stoking concerns that the now-ubiquitous technology could cause confusion or even mislead voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. In state, local and federal elections across the country, AI has been everywhere from school board campaigns to governor’s races, used to enhance speech, turn politicians into cartoons or, in one notable case in Massachusetts, mimic a rival politician’s voice. In the state’s gubernatorial race, the campaign of Republican primary candidate Brian Shortsleeve created an AI-generated radio ad that sounds like Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, using Healey’s “voice” to say things she never actually said, including about the state’s economy. The clip does not contain an explicit AI disclaimer, and instead the caption says it’s what her radio ads would sound like “if she was honest.” Shortsleeve’s campaign has also released AI-generated videos depicting Healey as the Grinch and another of her hissing with red eyes, neither of which contained explicit AI disclaimers. Patrick Nelson, Shortsleeve’s communications director, said the campaign uses AI to …

McDonald’s Germany Hides Food Ads During Ramadan

McDonald’s Germany Hides Food Ads During Ramadan

Published by Jenni Sidey

Authored by Steve Watson via Modernity.news, McDonald’s latest marketing stunt in Germany syncs billboards to show empty packaging by day and full meals only after sunset, drawing backlash for prioritizing a minority’s religious observance over the broader customer base. As Ramadan unfolds, McDonald’s Germany has rolled out a campaign that effectively erases tempting food visuals from digital billboards during fasting hours, a move seen by critics as yet another concession to cultural shifts driven by mass immigration. The fast food chain’s digital out-of-home posters display empty fries containers and burger boxes throughout the day, filling them with food images precisely at sunset when Muslims break their fast.  🇩🇪 In Germany, McDonald’s has removed food images from its billboards during daylight hours for Ramadan McDonald’s Germany launched a new outdoor campaign in which digital billboards sync with the sun, revealing food only after dark throughout the month of Ramadan. pic.twitter.com/iG3lcXdafj — Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) February 25, 2026 According to Newsweek, the ads carry the message “Happy Ramadan” and use sun-synced data tied to local prayer times to trigger the switch from …

New ChatGPT Ads Assume People Can’t Think for Themselves

New ChatGPT Ads Assume People Can’t Think for Themselves

Published by Jenni Sidey

Peter Biles December 9, 2025 3 Artificial Intelligence ChatGPT wants to do it all for you. Peter Biles December 9, 2025 3 Artificial Intelligence ChatGPT wants to do it all for you. Whether it’s craft a workout, create a delicious new recipe, or plan a weekend trip with your sister, the AI system is there to give you a bullet point list of everything you need to know and do. ChatGPT has put out several ads over the past few weeks, and the message is clear: The tasks that people have performed since the dawn of history no longer need to originate from your own brain. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman even went so far as to say ChatGPT might be necessary for child-rearing. Altman said on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon that ChatGPT has been vital in helping him raise his own son. Jimmy Fallon: “And do you use ChatGPT when raising your baby?” Sam Altman: “I cannot imagine figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT.” pic.twitter.com/jx29pvvpGM — More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) …