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.
Maybe they are linked in a way 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' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'overwhelming ovation' becomes 'clap' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'apt'+'r'='aptr'
'aptr' inserted within 'clap' is 'CLAPTRAP'.
'for' is the 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" .)