US judge halts taxpayer-funded TV ads featuring Trump
Why it matters: The ruling cuts off public money for spots critics said could sway the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
A federal judge in Manhattan temporarily blocked the Trump administration from using taxpayer money for television ads featuring President Donald Trump after the spots triggered bipartisan criticism. US District Judge Jennifer Rochon granted the order in a lawsuit brought by Common Cause and other plaintiffs, who argued the ads were political propaganda rather than public service announcements. The commercials began airing in late September and ended with a disclaimer that they were paid for by the US government. The White House had already said the ads would stop being publicly funded, with MAGA PAC set to cover future costs. Trump also said taxpayers would not be reimbursed for ads that had already run.