In American politics, “I approve this message” (sometimes in the past tense, with “authorize” in place of “approve,” or with “ad” instead of “message”) is a phrase frequently said by candidates for federal office in political advertisements on television and radio in order to comply with the so-called “stand by your ad” provision of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, enacted in 2002, that requires “a statement by the candidate that identifies the candidate and states that the candidate has approved the communication.”

But Hillary’s “3 A.M. ad” Girl Doesn’t Approve of that Message