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The Rest Is Politics: US

The Rest Is Politics: US

232. This Attack Ad Just Set a New Low for America

Oct 22, 2026 · 42 min · 14 segments

Will Vivek Ramaswamy’s vicious attack ad against Amy Acton sink his chances of becoming Ohio governor? Why has JD Vance come out in defence of the ad? And, will Trump’s obsession with Senator Jon…

Will Vivek Ramaswamy’s vicious attack ad against Amy Acton sink his chances of becoming Ohio governor? Why has JD Vance come out in defence of the ad? And, will Trump’s obsession with Senator Jon Husted’s physique help or hurt his chances to win the state’s senate race? Join Katty Kay and Anthony Scaramucci as they answer all these questions and more. **Become a Founding Member**: Go deeper into US politics every week with ad-free listening, members-only miniseries, early access to live show tickets and a bonus members-only Q&A podcast every week. Sign up at ⁠therestispoliticsus.com⁠ This episode is sponsored by eToro. As with all investing, your capital is at risk. Visit http://www.etoro.com/A131776\_TClick.aspx ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to our free newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@RestPoliticsUS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@RestPoliticsUS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠therestispoliticsus@goalhanger.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Video Editor: Kieron Leslie Social Producer: Charlie Johnson Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe Producer: India Dunkley Senior Producer: Fiona Douglas Executive Producer: Tom Whiter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Will Vivek Ramaswamy’s vicious attack ad against Amy Acton sink his chances of becoming Ohio governor? Why has JD Vance come out in defence of the ad? And, will Trump’s obsession with Senator Jon…

Show signals: SuitabilityLimitedBiasLeans leftPopularityTop Podcasttop 1%Audience≈415k followers

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Amazon Music Website

Speakers: Katty KayHostAnthony ScaramucciHost

Top entities: Vivek Ramaswamy×25 Donald Trump×59 Ohio×48 J. D. Vance×25 Sherrod Brown×17

Ramaswamy’s Controversial Attack Ad2:19 – 9:29

2:19

Okay, so I think we are now in peak symbol of the MAGA age.

2:25

It is not helpful politically to Republicans and it is morally pretty gross.

2:31

So here's what happened, guys, in case you missed it.

2:33

Vivek Gramaswamy, who is running for the governorship of Ohio, released a 60-second advert featuring...

2:41

the mother of the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, his rival in this race, Amy Acton.

2:49

Amy Acton's mother, who has not seen her daughter since 1978 when they were in a courtroom where Amy Acton's stepfather was being charged with sexual abuse of Amy Acton.

3:03

She comes on the screen in this 60 second ad and says, you can't trust my daughter.

3:08

She lies.

3:08

She has a problem.

3:09

Ohioans shouldn't lie.

3:11

She's lied about her background.

3:13

This has now raised all sorts of anger both in the Republican Party in Ohio.

3:19

They don't like this at all.

3:20

Several Republican politicians in Ohio have come out and said, this is disgusting.

3:25

It's gross.

3:27

You cannot bring in a family member like this.

3:29

It's morally reprehensible to use somebody's estranged mother.

3:33

And there is ample court documentation around the filing and the charging of the stepfather.

3:40

She accused him of rape.

3:42

He was actually brought to a court, but then fled the state of Ohio before his court date and never actually faced a judge.

3:51

There are all the court documents are there and he was charged with sexual abuse.

3:54

And her brother, Amy Acton's brother, has come out and said, this did happen.

3:59

Amy was abused.

4:00

We were both abused.

4:02

She tried to protect me as a child.

Vivek RamaswamyPersonAmerican entrepreneur and politician
99%25 mentions
Donald TrumpPerson45th and 47th U.S. President
98%59 mentions
OhioAdministrative AreaUS state
97%48 mentions
J. D. VancePersonVice President of the United States
96%25 mentions
Sherrod BrownPersonFormer United States Senator
94%17 mentions
Amy ActonPersonPhysician and former Director of the Ohio Department of Health
93%20 mentions
United States SenateOrganizationGoverning body
92%19 mentions
Anthony ScaramucciPersonFinancier and former White House Communications Director
90%16 mentions
Dave McCormickPersonBusinessman and former Deputy National Security Advisor of the United States
89%6 mentions
Make America Great AgainEntity
88%5 mentions
Katty KayPersonBritish journalist and author
87%25 mentions
John McCainPersonFormer United States Senator
85%4 mentions
United StatesCountryCountry in North America
84%19 mentions
Jon HustedPersonUnited States Senator
83%19 mentions
Republican PartyOrganizationPolitical party
81%30 mentions
Edward LucePersonJournalist
80%3 mentions
Financial TimesPeriodicalNewspaper
79%8 mentions
Jabba the HuttEntityStar Wars character
78%7 mentions
eToroCompanySocial trading company
76%7 mentions
Chris ChristiePersonLawyer and former Governor of New Jersey
75%6 mentions
The Celebrity TraitorsTV SeriesTelevision series
74%4 mentions
Democratic PartyOrganizationPolitical party
72%22 mentions
Nikki HaleyPersonFormer Governor of South Carolina
71%4 mentions
RussiansEntityEthnic group
70%1 mention
YouTubeWebsiteVideo sharing company
69%4 mentions
United KingdomCountryCountry in Europe
67%8 mentions
HawaiiAdministrative AreaUS state
66%3 mentions
RussiaCountryCountry
65%6 mentions
Marco RubioPersonUnited States Secretary of State
63%3 mentions
PodcastEntity
62%1 mention
MailchimpCompanyEmail marketing company
61%1 mention
LondonCityCapital of England
60%2 mentions
InstagramSoftware ApplicationSocial networking service
58%1 mention
XEntitySocial networking service
57%1 mention
Princess LeiaEntityStar Wars character
56%2 mentions
Mitt RomneyPersonBusinessman and former United States Senator
54%2 mentions
The Rest Is EntertainmentEntityBooks podcast
53%4 mentions
Barack ObamaPerson44th U.S. President
52%3 mentions
CanadaCountryCountry in North America
51%2 mentions
Usha VancePersonSecond Lady of the United States
49%2 mentions
Harry S. TrumanPerson33rd U.S. President
48%1 mention
Jeffrey EpsteinPerson
47%3 mentions
Anderson CooperPersonAmerican broadcaster
46%1 mention
Marina HydePersonJournalist
44%3 mentions
MuslimsEntityPeople
43%3 mentions
United States CongressCompanyGoverning body
42%2 mentions
World War IIIEntity
40%1 mention
ChristmasEntityCelebration
39%1 mention
PennsylvaniaAdministrative AreaUS state
38%2 mentions
TexasAdministrative AreaUS state
37%2 mentions

Campaign ConductEthics > Political Ethics
United States PoliticsPolitics
Political EthicsEthics
State ElectionsPolitics > United States Politics
Ohio ElectionsPolitics > United States Politics > State Elections
Political PartiesPolitics
Ohio Gubernatorial RacePolitics > United States Politics > State Elections > Ohio Elections
Use of Family Trauma in Political AdsPolitics > Political Campaigns > Campaign Advertising > Negative Campaigning
Trump-Aligned Republican PoliticsPolitics > Political Parties > Republican Party > MAGA Movement
Sherrod Brown–John Husted ContestPolitics > Elections > U.S. Senate Elections > Ohio Senate Race
Exploitation and Personal AttacksEthics > Political Ethics > Campaign Conduct
Moral Criticism of Campaign TacticsEthics > Political Ethics > Campaign Conduct > Exploitation and Personal Attacks
Republican PartyPolitics > Political Parties
MAGA MovementPolitics > Political Parties > Republican Party
Negative CampaigningPolitics > Political Campaigns > Campaign Advertising
Political CampaignsPolitics
U.S. Senate ElectionsPolitics > Elections
Campaign AdvertisingPolitics > Political Campaigns
Ohio Senate RacePolitics > Elections > U.S. Senate Elections
Politics
ElectionsPolitics
Ethics

Ramaswamy’s Controversial Attack Ad2:19 – 9:29

2:19

Okay, so I think we are now in peak symbol of the MAGA age.

2:25

It is not helpful politically to Republicans and it is morally pretty gross.

2:31

So here's what happened, guys, in case you missed it.

2:33

Vivek Gramaswamy, who is running for the governorship of Ohio, released a 60-second advert featuring...

2:41

the mother of the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, his rival in this race, Amy Acton.

2:49

Amy Acton's mother, who has not seen her daughter since 1978 when they were in a courtroom where Amy Acton's stepfather was being charged with sexual abuse of Amy Acton.

3:03

She comes on the screen in this 60 second ad and says, you can't trust my daughter.

3:08

She lies.

3:08

She has a problem.

3:09

Ohioans shouldn't lie.

3:11

She's lied about her background.

3:13

This has now raised all sorts of anger both in the Republican Party in Ohio.

3:19

They don't like this at all.

3:20

Several Republican politicians in Ohio have come out and said, this is disgusting.

3:25

It's gross.

3:27

You cannot bring in a family member like this.

3:29

It's morally reprehensible to use somebody's estranged mother.

3:33

And there is ample court documentation around the filing and the charging of the stepfather.

3:40

She accused him of rape.

3:42

He was actually brought to a court, but then fled the state of Ohio before his court date and never actually faced a judge.

3:51

There are all the court documents are there and he was charged with sexual abuse.

3:54

And her brother, Amy Acton's brother, has come out and said, this did happen.

3:59

Amy was abused.

4:00

We were both abused.

4:02

She tried to protect me as a child.

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