Rupert Murdoch Pours Millions into Republican Super PACs Ahead of US Midterms
Billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch has contributed more than $US2 million to Republican-aligned political committees this year, according to political donation receipts filed with the US Federal Election Commission. [smh.com.au] The donations arrive as the Republican party fights to maintain its majority in the House and expand its majority in the Senate during the US midterm elections. [smh.com.au]
The largest of these financial contributions was a May 3 payment of $US2 million directed to SLF PAC, a Republican super PAC focused on expanding the party’s control of the Senate, filing records show. [smh.com.au] Later in the election cycle, the Murdoch patriarch added two separate $US10,000 donations in August to the California Republican Party Federal Account. [smh.com.au] News Corp did not respond to requests for comment regarding the filings. [smh.com.au]
Financial Backing Persists Despite High-Profile Tensions with Donald Trump
Murdoch’s sustained financial support for the Republican apparatus continues despite well-documented friction between the media proprietor and US President Donald Trump. [smh.com.au] Court evidence from Dominion’s lawsuit against Fox revealed that the elder Murdoch wanted to render Trump a “non-person.” [smh.com.au] That legal battle concluded when Fox reached a $US787.5 million settlement in April 2023. [smh.com.au]
The relationship between the two figures encountered further strain in July of the previous year after the Wall Street Journal reported on a 2003 birthday book containing a letter, reportedly from Trump, to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. [smh.com.au] In response, Trump initiated a defamation lawsuit against the Journal and Murdoch. [smh.com.au] Although a District Court judge dismissed the suit in April, Trump’s legal team refiled the action in May. [smh.com.au] Tensions flared again last month when Fox News joined other networks in boycotting coverage of the president following his attacks on the press. [smh.com.au]
Museum of Contemporary Art Prepares for Upcoming Fundraising Auction
In Sydney, the Museum of Contemporary Art is preparing for the fourth run of its MCA Artists Ball following a successful third outing that generated approximately $1.6 million from about 250 artists and patrons. [smh.com.au] The institution will host its upcoming event on November 7 to honor Australian artist Julie Rrap. [smh.com.au] The evening will feature an auction of works contributed by prominent figures, including Chinese contemporary artist Ai Weiwei, British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor, and Australian artists Del Kathryn Barton, Gregory Hodge, Janet Laurence, Danie Mellor, and Tom Polo. [smh.com.au]
Political Staffer Writing Roles Spark Disclosure Questions
Former Coalition staffer Vikki Campion has drawn scrutiny on Macquarie Street following her contracting work for One Nation’s NSW executive, where she was listed as the media contact for state leader Mike Newman. [smh.com.au] Campion has maintained her weekly opinion column for The Daily Telegraph without an accompanying print edition disclosure regarding her work for the One Nation NSW executive as a contractor. [smh.com.au] While the newspaper eventually added a disclosure to the bottom of the column online, it remains unclear whether the notice was present at initial publication or added following inquiries to News Corp Australia, which declined to comment. [smh.com.au]
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