U.S.WEIRD NEWS

GOP ad buyer mixes up Portlands, sends Collins ad money to Oregon

Maine Senator Susan Collins's ad budget was redirected to Oregon, a three-thousand-mile mistake that left intended voters in the dark; someone really should double-check the map.

On air: Hank Ledger and Chip Darnell on The Five O'Clock
Published 5:35 PM ET, Monday, October 12, 2026

Photo: U.S. Congress · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger and Chip Darnell on this story, from The Five O'Clock at 5:35 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are NBC News's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: U.S. Congress · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Susan Collins — Photo: U.S. Congress · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by NBC News: “GOP ad buyer mixes up Portlands, spends money meant to help Maine Sen. Susan Collins in Oregon”.
Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 5:35 PM ET on The Five O'Clock, by Hank Ledger and Chip Darnell.
Topics: Sen, Maine, Oregon, Susan Collins, GOP.
BBN covered this story before: Big Ten admits ref erred on Oregon's two-point try (October 12).

The real story

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

NBC NewsGOP ad buyer mixes up Portlands, spends money meant to help Maine Sen. Susan Collins in Oregon

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHere it is, the story we hinted at: a Republican ad buyer mixed up the two Portlands and spent money meant to help Maine Senator Susan Collins in Oregon.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo the ads meant for lobster country went to a place famous for rain and rose gardens, and voters in Oregon got a pitch for a senator they can't even vote for.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorNBC News reports the mistake sent the Maine ad budget to the wrong coast entirely, which is a three-thousand-mile error on a map that has both names printed on it.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSomebody typed Portland and hit enter like it was a pizza order.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorPizza orders get double-checked.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorFair. Honestly, I hope Oregon enjoyed the commercials, because that is the most anyone in that state will ever hear about Maine.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorAnd the Maine voters who should have seen them got a regular evening, with their own senator's ad nowhere in sight.

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