Apple’s iOS 26 update introduces a new text message filtering feature that moves messages from unrecognized numbers to an ‘Unknown Senders’ folder without sending notifications. This change has raised concerns among political campaigns, particularly the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which estimates the feature could cost GOP campaigns up to $500 million in lost revenue by reducing small-dollar donations, as 70% of these donations are made via text messages. While Apple maintains the rules are clear, the new interface may lead to fewer messages being seen, affecting both parties equally.