🍻 In This Week's Hill Spill Newsletter: Kamala Gets TikTok'd, Jack Schlossberg Ponders Whether Men Are Getting Uglier and Chuck Edwards Really Loves Adam Sandler

The Democratic National Committee's official TikTok account, @Democrats, appears to have manually blocked the word "Kamala" from appearing in comments on their videos. If you type anything containing the word "Kamala," you can see your own comment — but no one else can. Sources noted that there is a TikTok feature that allows account managers to filter specific keywords, effectively ghost-hiding any mention of the former VP from public view. We've included photos and videos below — cropped as carefully as possible to protect the identities of our sources.

Republicans first flagged the issue, and Sources Say independently verified it — testing the filter across three different people's phones and accounts, all returning the same result.

Some of our friends in the tech world added that it might be worth noting that TikTok's keyword filtering can sometimes behave inconsistently, and the DNC may be genuinely unaware of how the setting was applied on its account.

Still, three independent tests all pointed to the same conclusion. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Republicans think they've found a crack in Graham Platner's working-class oyster farmer image.

Republican operatives argue his latest donor filings show him cozying up to Hollywood elites, tying him to the same circles he rails against. The attack centers on nearly $30,000 from entertainment-industry donors in Q1, including Creative Artists Agency co-chair Richard Lovett, who attended a 2011 Oscars party with Jeffrey Epstein, and members of the Huvane family. Republicans are also resurfacing Ari Emanuel's 2023 accusation that Kevin Huvane helped protect Harvey Weinstein inside Hollywood, claims Lourd dismissed as performative and not supported by an outside investigation. The Epstein links vary in directness and some are contested.

Platner has been vocal about Epstein on the campaign trail, accusing Collins of "protecting pedophiles and abusers" and asking "whose bidding is she doing?" In February, he declared Epstein-connected donors would get a hard "no."

Republicans argue he isn't practicing what he preaches.

"Graham Platner says one thing and does another. He is lying about everything from his phony working-class background to accepting Epstein money to fund his oyster farm and his campaign," one GOP operative told us.

Republicans have also been surfacing his prep school background and his parents' history as political donors. The oyster farm origin story has drawn scrutiny over a reported loan that has raised questions.

Democrats have, in turn, responded by turning the lens on Collins. One source noted her super PAC includes Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan among its backers, a billionaire who has faced scrutiny over his links to Epstein and dropped $50,000 in donations, Drop Site reported. Rowan disputes any improper connection to Epstein. Democrats are also hitting Collins over Apollo's controversial history in Maine. Collins has said data center decisions should be made at the local level. The shuttered Jay mill is now eyed for one.

.Platner's supporters also pushed back on the Hollywood narrative, pointing to donations from 98% of Maine's counties with a donor base they say is largely teachers and medical professionals. His $27.55 average donation, they argue, reflects a genuine grassroots operation. Republicans are betting voters care more about who's actually in his donor list.

Jack Schlossberg — the Kennedy scion running for New York's 12th Congressional District who has no shortage of great-looking male ancestors — is asking a very important question that I ask myself anytime I swipe through any of my friends' dating apps… Are men getting worse looking? We need the people's take on this, so I decided to create this poll.

Alex Pelbath was the air mission commander for the final Kabul evacuation and made the radio call that officially ended America's longest war. Now he's running for South Carolina's first district. He joined the pod this week to talk about what those 17 days were like, why he's jumping into a crowded primary and what a career military guy thinks about the state of Congress. Grab a bev and tune in!

Congress comes back from recess next week with a lot of baggage. Kate Santaliz broke the news that Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) is under an active Ethics probe over allegations of a long-term affair with his former deputy chief of staff, who left his office earlier this year. Edwards has denied it. Edwards — apparently a big Adam Sandler guy — allegedly gifted a staffer jewelry, a custom Sandler puzzle and an invite to a Sandler comedy show. Another young female staffer allegedly received a purse. Love really must be blind if Ethics finds that affair allegation to be true…

NOTUS also reported that Rep. Alma Adams (D-N.C.) was investigated over an alleged inappropriate relationship with a staffer — a probe that was never publicly announced and was ultimately closed without a finding. And Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) had his own previously unreported complaint surface, alleging he made inappropriate advances toward a then-22-year-old intern years ago.

The House… it really can always get weirder.

I almost forgot Cinco de Mayo was even this week until I stumbled across some discourse on social media over AI-generated photos of Democrats in sombreros. A few days late, but we love any excuse to enjoy a marg, so we're celebrating all week long.

Muddle the basil in a shaker, add your remaining ingredients with ice and shake well. Strain into a Tajín-rimmed glass over fresh ice and garnish. 🍹🍉🌿