THE DAILY BS: HOW MUCH CAN YOU HANDLE?
SPARE ME THE BS (I’ve got things to do).
- Hillary Clinton criticized Matthew McConaughey’s appeal to consider independent candidates, arguing voters should elect Democrats to check President Trump.
- Clinton acknowledged exceptions for independents who can win without helping Republicans, including a Montana candidate.
- San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones also attacked the actor’s message as “reckless privilege” and urged voters to support every Democrat.
LAY IT ON ME (I’ve got time).
Matthew McConaughey encouraged Americans to look beyond the two major parties, study their ballots and consider independent candidates. Hillary Clinton has reviewed his performance and would like another take.
Preferably one where he says “Democrat.”
Speaking Wednesday on High Stakes, her podcast with Kara Swisher, Clinton called the actor’s intervention badly timed ahead of the midterms, arguing that defeating Republicans should take priority over experimenting with independent alternatives.
“I think it’s really unfortunate,” Clinton said, pointing to McConaughey’s reach and describing the election as an opportunity to restrain Trump.
Hollywood celebrities are welcome to use their platforms. There are, however, apparently some notes from the political studio.
McConaughey’s six-minute video, posted Sunday under the caption “Independent counts,” challenged the assumption that supporting an independent amounts to throwing away a vote. He argued that three to five independent senators could become pivotal votes, forcing both parties to compete for support from the middle.
“Independent does not mean you’re middle of the road. Independent is the original road,” he said.
Clinton’s response was that Democrats already offer the range voters need.
“Democrats are representing, I think, every kind of American in these elections,” she said.
That certainly simplifies comparison shopping.
But the conversation contained a revealing exception: Clinton wasn’t rejecting every independent. She praised an independent candidate in Montana and pointed to senators Angus King and Bernie Sanders, who caucus with Democrats.
Her distinction was whether an independent could win without siphoning off Democratic votes and handing Republicans a victory.
“It’s about winning,” Clinton said.
Independence, then, can get a favorable review. It helps considerably if the final scene benefits Democrats.
Swisher also criticized the timing and said McConaughey seemed “a little dizzy.”
Meanwhile, San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones delivered an even less diplomatic review, calling his pitch “reckless privilege.” She argued that independent voting could undermine efforts to defeat Republicans over health care, immigration enforcement, abortion and other issues.
Her instruction was considerably shorter than McConaughey’s video: “Vote for every Democrat.”
The actor’s argument does have an audience to address. Gallup found that a record 45% of American adults identified as independents in 2025, compared with 27% each identifying as Democrats or Republicans.
Fox News Digital sought comment from McConaughey’s representative about Clinton’s criticism but reported receiving no immediate response.
DBS WIRE SOURCES (I’ve got all day).
- New York Post / Fox News — Hillary Clinton criticizes McConaughey’s independent-candidate video
- Podscripts — October 21 podcast transcript, including Clinton’s exceptions for independents
- Mediaite — McConaughey’s original video and argument for independent senators
- San Antonio Express-News — Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones attacks the actor’s message
- Gallup — Record 45% of U.S. adults identify as political independents
