Supreme Court Hands Trump Admin 7-2 Win in Political Ad Dispute

The Supreme Court has ruled 7-2 in favor of the Trump administration in a dispute over discounted political advertising rates ahead of the midterm elections. In the case FCC v. Brown, the Court blocked a Fourth Circuit ruling that would have required the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to resolve a challenge to its political advertising policy within 48 hours.

The dispute centers around the FCC's lowest unit charge rules, which require broadcasters to offer favorable advertising rates during the weeks immediately before an election. Four Democratic candidates, Sherrod Brown, Jon Ossoff, Roy Cooper, and Kristen McDonald Rivet, have challenged FCC guidance extending those discounted rates beyond candidates themselves to political parties engaged in coordinated spending and some joint fundraising committees.

The Court held that the Fourth Circuit went too far when it ordered the agency to make a final decision within two days, stating that federal law requires the FCC to rule on applications before it, but does not obligate the Commission to act within a particular time frame.

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