U.S.TOP STORY

America's Most Expensive Senate Race

The Texas Senate showdown is the costliest Senate race in U.S. history, and it has Republicans nervous about the midterms; the ads are still coming.

On air: Hank Ledger and Dale Bearman on The Five O'Clock
Published 5:01 PM ET, Thursday, October 15, 2026

Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger and Dale Bearman on this story, from The Five O'Clock at 5:01 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The New York Times's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

Photo: Donald Trump — Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

First reported by The New York Times: “America’s Most Expensive Senate Race”.
Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 5:01 PM ET on The Five O'Clock, by Hank Ledger and Dale Bearman.
Topics: Senate, North America.
BBN covered this story before: Marcus: Fraud, growth and culture will decide the Senate (October 13).

The real story

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

The New York TimesAmerica’s Most Expensive Senate Race

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorTexas is home to the most expensive Senate race in American history, and The New York Times says it shows why Donald Trump and Republicans are worried about the midterms.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorRecord spending, and every dollar of it buys another ad for a voter who already hates ads. Tonight, every dollar in Texas is a toaster dropped in the bath.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA toaster in the bath.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorPlugged in and billing by the minute.

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