Episode 528
Gov Ads or Campaign Ads?
The White House is running TV ads with President Trump that literally end with “paid for by the US Government,” and people are saying they look a whole lot like campaign spots. They call ’em public service announcements, critics call ’em suspicious — and yeah, it’s all happening right before the midterms, so ya gotta squint. As a taxpayer who hates waste I kinda bristle, but as a radio hack who lives off ads I also joked “where’s my cut?” I even recorded a parody ad for the DMV — stuff like “we lowered wait times by nearly 41 seconds,” “Wi‑Fi not available,” and “bring proof of address (yes, your electric bill)” — and told them to just send a check. Bottom line: if taxpayers are buying presidential airtime, I say make it useful... or at least hilarious, and don’t skip my station when you do the ad buy.
Takeaways:
- I riffed on the White House running TV ads with Trump that say "paid for by the US Government," and people think they resemble campaign spots.
- We noted critics complain these spots blur the line between public service announcements and obvious campaign-style praise, especially right before midterms.
- I reminded folks gov agencies do legit ads — anti-smoking, military recruitment, Medicare — but this one's suspiciously campaigny and uses campaign imagery.
- As a taxpayer I'm like, 'nah' — I don't wanna fund praise-songs for politicians, even though my radio ad-based livelihood makes me joke about getting a cut.
- So I recorded a parody DMV spot bragging about a 41-second improvement, proving government ads can be ridiculous and taxpayer-funded comedy gold.
Transcript
It tast.
Speaker A:And the White House is running television commercials featuring President Trump.
Speaker A:And they do the disclaimer, kind of like a political ad.
Speaker A:You know how they say paid for by.
Speaker A:So it's these ads say, paid for by the US Government.
Speaker A:Meaning, Meaning you bought the commercial.
Speaker A:I bought the commercial.
Speaker A:We, we bought the commercial.
Speaker A:Now the White House says that these are essentially public service announcements and they explain what the administration is doing.
Speaker A:Critics are saying, yeah, come on, these look like campaign, campaign ads.
Speaker A:And I, it gets a little weird because government agencies absolutely do advertise.
Speaker A:I mean, you've seen anti smoking ads, military recruitment, Medicare enrollment, click it or ticket.
Speaker A:Nobody thinks that it's strange for the government to advertise to say, here's a government program you should know about, or, you know, well, here's a warning, we're gonna find you if you do this.
Speaker A:But some of these Trump ads are using rhetoric and even imagery that is very similar to his campaign stuff.
Speaker A:And of course, it's all happening right before the midterm elections.
Speaker A:So the arguments become, what's, you know, what's the, where's the difference there?
Speaker A:Paid for by the US Government at the end of a political looking TV ad.
Speaker A:Feels like, did I just, did I just buy that?
Speaker A:There's, there's a difference between, here's what your government is doing and look how awesome your government is doing it.
Speaker A:And that distinction becomes very important when taxpayers foot the bill.
Speaker A:And I'm gonna be honest, I.
Speaker A:My first reaction as a taxpayer who thinks we spend way too much money on way too many things is, ah, hell no.
Speaker A:My tax dollars should not be spent on advertising, but my livelihood is based on advertising.
Speaker A:And so the truth is that I think, well, this be all right as long as this radio station gets a cut.
Speaker A:I think as long as this radio station is included in the ad buy, I am all for it.
Speaker A:In fact, I, I gotta say, I think there are probably quite a few government agencies and institutions that could use some positive publicity.
Speaker A:So I've gone ahead and, and been generous enough to, to record an advertisement now so that the folks at this particular agency can just go ahead and write me a check and we'll start playing this commercial all the time.
Speaker A:This message is paid for by your state government.
Speaker A:Want the ultimate in customer service?
Speaker A:Look no further than the Department of MOT lowered wait times by nearly 41 seconds.
Speaker A:Your visit with us will fly by as you stare at your phone.
Speaker A:WI Fi, not available.
Speaker A:Sitting in our comfortable, hard plastic chairs.
Speaker A:And when you finally make it to the window our dedicated professionals will tell you with a smile that you forgot to bring proof of address like your electric bill that you didn't even know you needed.
Speaker A:You want a state agency that works for you and we do.
Speaker A:Weekdays starting at 9am with convenient evening hours ending at 4pm we are the Department of Motor Vehicles making your driving experience great again, paid for by your tax dollars.
