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https://www.welch.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Sens.-Welch-and-Blumenthal-Letter-to-Smart-Media-LLC.pdf
3/16/2026
Mr. Kyle Roberts President and CEO Smart Media Group LLC 1427 Leslie Avenue #200 Alexandria, VA 22301
Dear Mr. Roberts, On February 13, 2025, Safe America Media LLC (Safe America Media) signed a no-bid contract ultimately worth $143 million to produce advertising campaigns for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).1 According to public reporting, Safe America Media then hired your company—Smart Media Group LLC (Smart Media)—to place these ads.2 We write to request information and records regarding Smart Media’s agreement with Safe America Media.
According to public reports, Smart Media has worked on multiple Republican political campaigns during the last decade with Corey Lewandowski, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s Chief Advisor. Smart Media has a subsidiary that received more than $329 million in 2024 from President Trump’s Political Action Committee while Mr. Lewandowski was advising the campaign’s senior leadership team.3
Smart Media also placed ads for Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry’s 2024 gubernatorial race while Mr. Lewandowski and People Who Think LLC—the other company selected by DHS as a prime contractor for the ad campaigns—were consultants for the Landry campaign.4 The company that hired Smart Media to complete the work for DHS, Safe America Media, which has no apparent office or website, was incorporated seven days before it received the $143 million agency contract.5
Safe America Media is registered to the personal address of Mike McElwain, a longtime Republican political operative.6 Pursuant to our responsibility to oversee DHS and federal contracting, our offices are reviewing allegations of misconduct arising from federal contract awards to assess whether and the extent...
In order to better understand the relationships between Smart Media, Safe America Media, and DHS political leadership, and to understand how $143 million in taxpayer dollars were spent, we request the following documents by March 23, 2026:
1. A copy of any subcontract or other agreement with Safe America Media. 2. Any invoices Smart Media submitted to Safe America Media in connection with the DHS ad campaign, pursuant to a subcontract agreement or otherwise. 3. Any communication(s) between you or any agent of Smart Media and Safe America Media, or agents thereof, related to the production of the DHS ad campaign. 4.
Any communication(s) between you or any agent of Smart Media and any DHS personnel, including but not limited to Secretary Kristi Noem, Corey Lewandowski, and Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
In addition, please provide detailed responses to the following questions: 1. When did Smart Media first communicate with Safe America Media about the potential of a contract? 2. Do you or Smart Media have any contractual, lobbying, or other relationship with Corey Lewandowski that refers or relates to this contract? If so, please provide any documentation regarding that relationship. 3. Did Smart Media directly or indirectly compensate—financially or otherwise—any DHS personnel, including but not limited to Special Government Employees, in connection with the DHS ad campaign?
4. Please identify all individuals and firms that Smart Media compensated—financially or otherwise—in connection with the DHS ad campaign. 5. Has Smart Media received any other contracts or subcontracts for services connected to or solicited by DHS? If so, please identify the projects and provide a description of Smart Media’s involvement. 6. Does Smart Media intend to pursue additional DHS or other federal agency contracts or subcontracts? 7. Does Smart Media have a conflict of interest policy? If so, please provide the policy. If it does not maintain such a policy, explain why not. Sincerely,
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AdImpact started in 2014 with the goal of creating the best competitive intelligence tools in politics. Within five years, we became the trusted partner of major campaigns, consultants, media companies, and news organizations at the local and national level. In political races, every second counts. We have taken that mentality with us as we’ve expanded our services into the commercial ad intelligence space.
AdImpact’s team is uniquely positioned to deliver actionable insights to our customers faster than ever. Today we are at the cutting edge of ad tracking on TV, digital, and streaming devices, monitoring millions of airings a day. By combining real-time analysis with carefully curated tools, our clients gain an automatic advantage against competitors using incumbent ad intelligence platforms.
li
Chief Executive Officer at AdImpact
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Big news yesterday from the Supreme Court: NRSC v. FEC.
The Court struck down the caps on coordinated party expenditures, ruling they violate the First Amendment. Those caps varied by voting-age population and went as low as $65,000 for a House race.
Effective immediately, national party committees may spend unlimited sums in full coordination with federal candidates on any campaign expense, including advertising.
What's the impact? First, this only changes independent expenditure (IE) advertising from the major committees: NRSC, NRCC, DCCC, and DSCC. But it also means the RNC and DNC can now play in the paid advertising space directly, spending ad dollars in coordination with campaigns.
Who does this impact? Every linear media company required to provide lowest unit rate under FCC Section 315 — broadcast and cable. And specifically, only the IE dollars that went to those companies.
How much did IE spend in 2024? Roughly $350 million, spent by NRSC, NRCC, DCCC, and DSCC on independent expenditure advertising. That $350 million was not LUR-eligible before. It is now, but only within 45 days of a primary and 60 days of a general election.
For context — 2024 House and Senate broadcast spend: → Candidates: $715 million → Super PACs: $1.5 billion → Independent expenditures: $350 million
What share is that? Broadcast took in almost $5 billion in political advertising in 2024. $350 million is 7% of the total pie.
#CampaignFinance #Broadcast #PoliticalAdvertising #SCOTUS #adimpact
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- Jan 2014 - Present · 12 yrs 8 mos
- President/CEO
- Jan 2014 · 1 mo
- Alexandria, Virginia
- AdImpact has the only real-time ad detection tool covering all 210 DMAs, 50 national cable networks and the top national broadcast networks. It's forward looking real time media intelligence on your own campaigns and your competitors.… more
Jul 2005 - Present · 21 yrs 2 mos
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Media Placement Technologies
Jan 1998 - Apr 2005 · 7 yrs 4 mos
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KYLE ROBERTS, Smart Media Group / AdImpact – Media Buying
Kyle Roberts, President & CEO of Smart Media Group, is one of the top Republican media strategists in the nation. With over 20 years in political media buying, Kyle started Smart Media with a simple mission in mind: to provide GOP candidates with sophisticated traditional and digital research, faster responsiveness and tenacious negotiation on his client’s behalf—delivering stronger results and better value.
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Editors' Pick
Super PAC Backing Ted Cruz Continues To Receive Revenue Payments From His Podcast Producer
Two government watchdogs earlier filed a complaint alleging campaign finance violations by the super PAC, yet funds have continued to flow from iHeartMedia to the Truth and Courage PAC.
ByZach Everson,Former Staff. Zach Everson is a staff writer at Forbes covering money in politics.
Oct 31, 2024,
Ted Cruz
A super PAC backing Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) continues to receive payments from iHeartMedia, which produces his podcast. (Photo by Wade Vandervort / AFP) (Photo by WADE VANDERVORT/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Despite government watchdog complaints that the arrangement may violate campaign finance laws, iHeartMedia continues channeling funds to a super PAC supporting Texas Senator Ted Cruz’s re-election campaign.
Recent filings show the media giant funneled an additional $174,000 in “digital revenue” to the Truth and Courage PAC, bringing its total contributions to the super PAC $961,000 through October 16. Overall the PAC has raised $32 million this election cycle.
The money trail from iHeartMedia, formerly called Clear Channel Communications, has drawn scrutiny. Two government watchdogs, Campaign Legal Center and End Citizens United, allege that Cruz is effectively soliciting “soft money” contributions from the corporation, a practice prohibited for federal candidates. In April, the groups filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, contending that Cruz’s podcast generates revenue that is then funneled to the super PAC at his direction. This framework, they argue, could breach laws barring federal candidates from soliciting or directing corporate donations as well as prohibitions on accepting more than $5,000 from a donor per election. A spokesperson for the FEC declined to comment, citing regulations requiring confidentiality until a complaint is resolved.
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ggl 8 26
mart Media Group: Powering Winning Campaigns
SMG is the only agency that leverages Smart TV Data from over 20MM HHs, as well as the largest media database in politics to create the most data-driven media ...Read more
Missing: gop | Show results with: gop
AI Overview
+5
Smart Media Group (SMG) is a prominent Republican-aligned media planning, analytics, and ad-buying agency based in Alexandria, Virginia. Led by CEO Kyle Roberts, it ranks among the top GOP media firms, managing massive television, streaming, and digital ad cycles for conservative candidates, campaigns, and outside groups. 
Smart Media Group +4
Core Profile
- Leadership: Founded and led by Kyle Roberts, a veteran GOP media strategist.
American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) +1 - Services: Data-driven media strategy, real-time impression tracking across TV, cable, and streaming platforms, and digital re-targeting. Smart Media Group
- Affiliated Entities: Operates subsidiaries and related entities like Del Ray Media, which has ranked as a top Republican-aligned ad-buying vendor.
OpenSecrets +1
Industry Role and Scale
- Ad Spending: The firm and its subsidiaries handle hundreds of millions of dollars in political ad cycles for federal and state races, positioning them among the dominant vendors for Republican campaigns and super PACs. OpenSecrets +1
- Client History: Has worked on major high-profile Republican presidential, senatorial, and gubernatorial campaigns, alongside groups like the Republican Governors Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC)
March 16, 2026 Mr. Kyle Roberts President and CEO Smart ...
Mar 16, 2026 — On February 13, 2025, Safe America Media LLC (Safe America Media) signed a no-bid contract ultimately worth $143 million to produc...
U.S. Senator Peter Welch (.gov)
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On the web, SMG ran over 40 million banner ad and video impressions for local and statewide for both issue and candidate clients, ...
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Feb 12, 2026 — Del Ray Media, a subsidiary of GOP-aligned Smart Media Group, followed closely behind at about $336 million, making it the top Rep...
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KYLE ROBERTS, Smart Media Group / AdImpact – Media Buying Kyle Roberts, President & CEO of Smart Media Group, is one of the top Re...
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https://theaapc.org › board-of-directors › kyle-roberts
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Missing: del ray fec
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U.S. Senator Peter Welch (.gov)
https://www.welch.senate.gov › uploads › 2026/03
Mar 16, 2026 — Mr. Kyle Roberts President and CEO Smart Media Group LLC ・ bid contract ultimately worth $143 million to produce advertising campaigns ・ $143 ...
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AAPC Foundation
https://aapcfoundation.org › board-members
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Missing: del ray
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https://theaapc.org › event_speaker › kyle-roberts
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This Month's Key Events
Federal Communications Bar Association
https://www.fcba.org › october_2007_news-1
Oct 2, 2007 — Kyle Roberts, of Smart Bobby Baker, Federal Communications Commission. Smart Media (represents Republican candidates and issue advertisers) ...
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FOR CONGRESS
FEC.gov
https://www.fec.gov › files › legal › murs
Nov 17, 2017 — RE: MUR NO. 7272. Dear Commissioners: I am writing on behalf of Congressman Steve Chabot and Cliabot for Congress as its Treasurer (referred.Read more
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analytics.usa.gov
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... fec.gov,/data/receipts/individual-contributions/,1199140 "Browse Receipts ... GROUP INCORPORATED PAC (UNITEDHEALTH GROUP PAC) - committee overview ...Read more
Missing: del | Show results with: del
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POP INFO GOP Senate candidate spent $400,000 of taxpayer money on campaign-style ads
GOP Senate candidate spent $400,000 of taxpayer money on campaign-style ads
Georgia Congressman Mike Collins is using public funds to pay a political ad firm — the same firm that makes his Senate campaign ads.
Jul 01, 2026
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GOP Senate candidate spent $400,000 of taxpayer money on campaign-style ads
Georgia Congressman Mike Collins is using public funds to pay a political ad firm — the same firm that makes his Senate campaign ads.
Judd Legum
Jul 01, 2026
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Collins speaks to supporters at a primary night event on May 19, 2026 in Jackson, Georgia. (Photo by Jason Allen/Getty Images)
Congressman Mike Collins (R-GA), the Republican nominee for a hotly contested U.S. Senate seat in Georgia, spent over $400,000 of taxpayer money designated for office expenses on TV ads that are virtually indistinguishable from his campaign ads.
Collins paid for these ads using funds provided for the operation of his congressional office. Although it is permissible for such funds to be used for “mass communications” to constituents, the House Communications Standards Manual states that such communications “should not be used for political or personal business.” Further, the manual states that mass communications paid for with office funds should contain “no campaign content” and “no content laudatory of a Member on a personal or political basis.”
“Congressman Mike Collins. Mike you were fantastic,” President Trump says at the beginning of one ad paid for with Collins’ office funds. A narrator then states, “Mike Collins is protecting Georgia by working with President Trump to pass the Laken Riley Act.” The 30-second ad concludes by playing Trump’s praise of Collins again. “He loves this state and he took this very personally,” Trump says. “Thank you, Mike.” The only indication that the ad is not a campaign ad appears in small type for four seconds: “PAID FOR WITH OFFICIAL FUNDS BY THE OFFICE OF MIKE COLLINS.”
Indeed, Collins’ Senate campaign is currently running an ad that is substantively identical. Both ads include the exact same quote from Trump praising Collins, paired with the same video. In his taxpayer-funded ad, a narrator says Collins is “protecting Georgia by working with President Trump to pass the Laken Riley Act.” In his campaign ad, Collins says he “wrote the Laken Riley Act… to protect Georgia families.”
Another reason why these ads were so similar: it appears they were created by the same political ad firm, Smart Media Group. On its website, Smart Media Group says it “powers winning campaigns” and is “trusted by all the top Republican committees.” The firm says it leverages data to produce ads that “help campaigns win elections.” The House Communications Standards Manual also prohibits the distribution of “content developed using campaign resources.”
According to the House Statement of Disbursements, where each member must report their office expenses on a quarterly basis, Collins’ House office paid Smart Media Group over $400,000 between October 2025 and March 2026. This includes a payment for $307,160 on March 16, 2026.
To put that figure in perspective, over the same six-month period, the average Congressional office spent about $33,000 on all mass communications. A Popular Information review of the spending of every House member from 2020 to the present found that the payment of over $300,000 to Smart Media by Collins’ office was the single largest recorded payment for advertising.
Meanwhile, on May 1, 2026, Collins’ Senate campaign paid Smart Media Group $400,910 for an ad buy.
Unsolicited mass communications paid for with Congressional office funds are prohibited within 60 days of an election. Collins’ taxpayer-funded ad ran through March 18, 2026, just before that 60-day cutoff ahead of the May 19 primary in Georgia.
Collins’ office did not respond to a request for comment.
All unsolicited mass communications, including Collins’ ads, must receive an advisory opinion from the House Communications Standards Commission. Collins’ ads were approved, but the process is a rubber stamp handled by commission staff. There is no public record of any communication being rejected — or even elevated to the six-member commission for a vote.
The use of office funds to run TV and other video advertisements is a relatively recent phenomenon. Prior to 2000, mass communications by Congressional offices were limited to mail. Since the 18th century, members were permitted to send mail using their signature as postage, a process known as “franking.” This was seen as a crucial mechanism “to convey information to their constituents about the operations of government and policy matters before Congress.”
In 2000, the definition of mass communications in the House was formally expanded to encompass “mailings, advertisements, automated phone calls, video or audio communications, and emails.” This opened the door to the kind of taxpayer-funded ads Collins is running.
Several other members of the House, Democrats and Republicans, produce video ads with office funds. One of the more brazen examples is Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA), who is a member of the House Communications Standards Commission. Collins’ conduct, however, stands apart due to the amount of taxpayer money he is spending, his use of campaign consultants, and the similarity of his taxpayer-funded communications to his campaign advertisements.
If Collins defeats incumbent Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) in the general election, he will have to change his conduct. There is no framework in the Senate that allows for the use of office funds for television ads.