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Elon Musk spends $366m to bolster Republican Party in midterms

Republicans are trying to overcome the president's slipping popularity and cost of living worries heading into November; separately, X users reportedly punked the same billionaire over Lego.

On air: Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Dale Bearman on BBN Tonight
Published 7:16 PM ET, Monday, October 12, 2026

Photo: Mys 721tx · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

▶ As it aired · Tech

Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Dale Bearman on this story, from BBN Tonight at 7:16 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Al Jazeera's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance

First reported by Al Jazeera: “Elon Musk spends $366m to bolster Republican Party in US midterm elections”, with reporting from Wired.
Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 7:16 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Dale Bearman.
Topics: Elon Musk, US.
BBN covered this story before: Murphy, Barrasso, Trump on Fetterman and Ukraine (October 11).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorElon Musk is spending three hundred sixty-six million dollars to bolster the Republican Party in this year's midterm elections, according to Al Jazeera.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe money arrives as Republicans try to overcome the president's slipping popularity and voter anger over the cost of living, which is the thing most people notice at the grocery store.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorA man worth that much worrying about groceries on your behalf is a lovely gesture, and I think we should let it breathe.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThree hundred sixty-six million dollars, Vera, and not one cent of it lowers the price of eggs.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe eggs were not on the invoice.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorMeanwhile Wired says X users punked him over a Grok Lego Star Wars haul, so even he can't buy a good week.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorImagine owning the platform and still losing the prank war to strangers.

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