Why Is Hollywood Supporting ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ Republican John Thune’s Reelection Campaign?

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It’s all about putting the entertainment industry’s business interests over ideology

U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) speaks a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on Aug. 5, 2022. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

It’s no secret that the entertainment industry favors the Democrats. But in every election season, there’s at least one Republican who stands out as an exception to the rule.

Meet Hollywood’s favorite Republican of the moment: U.S. Senator John Thune of South Dakota.

Yes, he’s pro-NRA, anti-abortion and believes in the mantra “drill, baby, drill.”

He defeated a West Coast favorite, Democratic Sen. Tom Daschle, in 2004 despite a half-million-dollar cash infusion to Daschle from Hollywood.

So why are the entertainment industry’s key political action committees backing Thune to the tune of $117,500 in donations? It’s about broadband.

As a ranking member of the Senate’s influential Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and its subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet, Thune wants every rural corner of the country to have 5G broadband access — a big deal for any studio looking for a future in streaming.

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