Former Democratic Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown pitches himself as a blue-collar populist fighting for Ohio workers – but his campaign cash shows Brown is quietly leaning on West Coast megadonors from Hollywood.  

Brown, who according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, has received at least $1.2 million from actors, producers, writers, industry executives and a slew of others who live in wealthy California zip codes associated with the film industry, will attend another Hollywood fundraiser this week hosted by the CEO of Sony Pictures, Tom Rothman, and his wife, Jill. 

The fundraiser was confirmed by Puck News, which noted that the invite suggests a $10,000 donation to Brown’s campaign for those who attend. 

EX-DEM SENATOR’S PAC SPLURGES ON LUXURY PERKS WHILE SKIRTING HEFTY TAX BILL AHEAD OF POTENTIAL COMEBACK BID

Several of the Hollywood elites who have forked over cash to support Brown include “The West Wing” creator Aaron Sorkin, comedian Will Ferrell, actor Jeff Bridges, actor Michael Douglas, actor Danny DeVito and actress Elizabeth Banks. 

When Donald Trump won his first election in 2016, Sorkin lamented the day following his win that “the Klan won last night.” Meanwhile, Bridges said he had to go through a “grieving process” after Trump’s 2024 victory, while Douglas recently said at a film festival in Italy that he was “embarrassed” by the U.S. under Trump.

In a video announcing his intention to run to retake his lost Senate seat in 2026, Brown positioned himself as a fighter for the working class, while slamming billionaires and wealthy people. 

“Everywhere you look, costs are too high for Ohio’s working families. While billionaires and corporations get record-high tax cuts, Ohioans can’t catch a break. I’m fighting back,” Brown said in a Monday post on X. 

UNEARTHED FEC RECORDS EXPOSES VULNERABLE DEM SENATOR’S HYPOCRISY ON TAKING CASH FROM BILLIONAIRES

In October, Brown also touted in a press release how his campaign’s third-quarter fundraising haul “was powered by an army of grassroots donors.” However, Brown’s Q3 fillings showed that 74% of his disclosed donations originated from out of state, with nearly 40% from liberal havens like California, New York, and the D.C., Maryland and Virginia region, according to The Ohio Press Network.  

Brown lost his Senate seat to GOP challenger Bernie Moreno in 2024. His loss followed Brown’s attendance at another big-money fundraiser in the Hollywood Hills that took place while Ohio residents were still reeling from the aftermath of a dangerous chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio.

If selected as the Democratic Party’s candidate, Brown’s likely GOP opponent would be Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, who was appointed to fill Vice President JD Vance’s seat after he left for the White House. A 2026 special election will decide who will serve out the remainder of Vance’s term, which lasts until 2029.

Fox News Digital reached out to representatives for Brown, but did not receive a comment in time for publication.

Fox News Digital’s Houston Keene contributed to this report.

The Detroit Lions needed some help from an AFC rival to improve their playoff odds before their Week 15 matchup, but they didn’t get the outcome they desired.

The Lions (8-5, 3rd in NFC North) are facing off against the NFC’s top-seeded Los Angeles Rams (10-3, 1st in NFC West) on Sunday, Dec. 14, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. As the NFC’s No. 8 seed, the Lions entered the day with a 54% chance to make the playoffs per NFL Next Gen Stats, but those odds fell with the result in Chicago.

With the No. 7-seeded Chicago Bears hosting the 3-10 Cleveland Browns, Lions fans were hoping for a Browns upset to drop the Bears to 9-5 and allow the Lions to move into a playoff position with a win, since a 9-5 Lions team would own a tiebreaker over Chicago (thanks to their Week 2 victory). However, the Bears took care of business on a frigid day at Soldier Field, beating the Browns, 31-3, to improve to 10-4.

FOLLOW ALONG: Lions vs Rams live updates: Start time, TV channel for Week 15 game

With the Bears beating the Browns, the Lions playoff odds have now lowered to 52% ahead of their game against the Rams (4:25 p.m., Fox). Here’s a look at what the rest of the NFC playoff picture looks like, including how a Lions win can help improve their position.

Lions playoff scenarios

Here’s the latest info on how the Lions can make it into the NFL playoffs, how they could miss out and what their playoff odds are.

What are Lions’ odds to make NFL playoffs?

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Lions have a 52% chance of making the playoffs. If they beat the Rams, they will have a 73% chance to make the postseason, but those odds drop to 40% with a loss.

NFC playoff standings

Only the top seven teams make the playoffs in each conference. Here are the NFC standings entering the Lions Week 15 game against the Rams, with playoff odds from NFL Next Gen Stats:

1. Rams: 10-3, 97%
2. Packers: 9-3-1, 92%
3. Eagles: 9-5, 95%
4. Panthers: 7-6, 47%
5. Seahawks: 10-3, 97%
6. Bears, 10-4, 68%
7. 49ers: 9-4, 93%
8. *Lions: 8-5, 52%
9. *Buccaneers: 7-7, 54%
10. *Cowboys: 6-6-1, 8%

MILWAUKEE — To honor those who were killed on Sunday in Sydney, Australia during a Hanukkah event, Chabad of Milwaukee will be honoring the memory of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was killed, and all those affected at the Hanukkah Festival and Gelt Drop event at Bayshore Mall in Glendale on Sunday evening, according to Rabbi Levi Stein.

“Acts of hate and violence are meant to spread darkness and fear,” Stein said in a statement. “Tonight we are choosing to respond with more light.”

Rabbi Schlanger was among the 16 victims killed during the terrorist attack that occurred at the “Hanukkah by the Sea” event held at Bondi Beach in Australia.

To honor the memory of Rabbi Schlanger and those affected, Chabad of Milwaukee will be handing out electric tea lights to those in attendance, giving out coins for Tzedakah (Charity), as well as encouraging everyone to do additional good deeds throughout the evening.

CEO of Chabad Lubavitch of Wisconsin, Rabbi Mendel Shmotkin, urged the Milwaukee community, Jewish and not, in a statement, “to come together tonight, not only as an act of solidarity with the Jewish people, but as a declaration that all good people stand on the front lines of this moral struggle.”

“This is a moment for Jews and non-Jews alike to recognize that we are on the same side of history,” he said. “History has also shown that when good people stand together, evil loses.”

Chabad will also be increasing security, Stein said, and will also be working closely with local law enforcement to ensure that everyone remains safe and warm during the event.

Rabbi Schlanger’s wife, who was also shot but survived, was the roommate and classmate of Stein’s wife, Leah. “This tragedy hits painfully close to home,” Stein said.

“Tonight, we gather not just to celebrate Chanukah – but to reaffirm that light, goodness, and humanity will always outshine the darkness,” Stein added.

Southeast Wisconsin communities speak out

In a statement sent to TMJ4, Forward Latino, a local non-profit, non-partisan, service and advocacy organization in Franklin, called out to everyone to “join us in a moment of remembrance and prayer for those whose lives were lost, and then to recommit ourselves to standing against hate and bigotry in all their forms.”

“We are confronted with the painful reality that hate and antisemitism continue to be actively and passively promoted, while too few speak out with the urgency such moments demand,” the statement continued. “During this holiday season, a time of faith, reflection, and renewal, we must each look inward and ask ourselves, ‘What can I do to help eliminate hate?’”

The Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Whitefish Bay posted a statement on social media thanking the Wisconsin Jewish Security Network, local law enforcement and everyone who works to keep the Jewish communities safe.

“Hanukkah is a holiday rooted in resilience – a reminder that even in moments of darkness, light endures,” the JCC wrote. “At the JCC, we believe the antidote to antisemitism is Jewish Joy, Connection, and Community, and we will not allow hate to silence our traditions or our plans to celebrate Hanukkah with our community today and for all eight nights.”

“Tonight, as we light our candles, we do so with broken hearts and in defiance of hate everywhere,” Co-Chair of the WisDems Jewish Caucus said in a statement sent to TMJ4. “We are resilient, and our community has never, and will never, hide away in response to this sort of violence.”

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