Likely Republican gets overwhelming ovation for silly speech (8)
I believe the answer is:
claptrap
'silly speech' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'likely republican gets overwhelming ovation' is the wordplay.
'likely' becomes 'apt' (similar in meaning).
'republican' becomes 'R' (abbreviation in US politics).
'gets' indicates putting letters inside.
'overwhelming ovation' becomes 'clap' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'apt'+'r'='aptr'
'aptr' inserted into 'clap' is 'CLAPTRAP'.
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for claptrap that I've seen before include "Tripe" , "Contrived but foolish talk" , "Stuff and nonsense" , "moonshine" , "Bull" .)