AUSTIN, Texas – The Houston Chronicle’s bombshell front-page report on Ted Cruz’s podcast scandal is only picking up steam, and Texans are taking notice.

Here’s what they’ve been watching about the potentially “unlawful” “and growing” payments from iHeartMedia to a super PAC supporting Cruz.

ABC13 Houston – WATCH:

• “This morning there are plenty of questions surrounding Texas senator Ted Cruz’s fundraising arrangement with a company that distributes his podcast.”

• “The company, iHeartMedia, employs lobbyists – and senators cannot accept financial gifts from lobbyists.”

• “Our partners at the Houston Chronicle uncovered records showing iHeartMedia donated more than $630,000 last year to a PAC which, according to its own website, exists to ensure the senator’s reelection.”

• ABC13: “So if an entity which employs lobbyists is giving hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to your reelection efforts, how can you say you're not being compensated?”

• Cruz: [Laughs]

CW39 Houston – WATCH:

• “Senator Ted Cruz’s campaign says his podcast is a service to constituents, and he does it for free – despite reports that his campaign benefits from the arrangement.”

• “Our partners at the Houston Chronicle report that a super PAC whose sole responsibility is supporting the reelection of Senator Cruz received hundreds of thousands of dollars from iHeartMedia, which distributes the podcast on its streaming platforms.”

Spectrum News 1 San Antonio – WATCH:

• “iHeartMedia gave more than $600,000 to a super PAC backing Texas senator Ted Cruz.”

• “According to the Houston Chronicle, iHeart says the payments to the PAC are associated to revenue from the podcast.”

• “Some ethics and campaign finance experts say this arrangement blurs the lines of what’s allowed under campaign finance laws.”

• “Cruz is the top Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee, that oversees the media industry.”

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