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Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Friday, May 22, 2026

Texas politician James Talarico is going viral after an emotional and inspiring conversation that has people across social media talking about faith, hope, leadership, empathy, and the future of America. Many viewers are calling this one of the most powerful political and personal podcast conversations of the year. The discussion touches on humanity, division in America, and why millions of people are searching for authentic leadership again. Could voices like James Talarico reshape the future of political conversations online?

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Democrats are hopeful about their chances of winning a Senate seat in Texas following Trump's decision to back Ken Paxton, seen as a weaker general election candidate than John Cornyn. Democrats think they have a uniquely strong nominee in James Talarico and Paxton would be a vulnerable opponent.

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-- Jon Cooper (@joncooper-us.bsky.social) 9:09 AM · May 21, 2026

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Thread link is to clips from the Full Interview below:

www.youtube.com

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2026-05-22 05:29 PM | Reply

Hi Corky:

Thanks for posting.

FYI: www.followthemoney.org

#2 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-05-22 05:34 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

#3 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-05-22 05:35 PM | Reply

I'm afraid that Purists rarely ever win.

And unilateral disarming is usually a bad idea. He took some money a couple of years ago, but isn't taking it now.

"When questioned about the contribution, Talarico's team defended it by arguing that he will not "unilaterally disarm" while Republicans play by different rules.

His team also noted that he has consistently pushed for campaign finance reform legislation to cap state contributions at, which would have prevented massive donations like the one from the Texas Sands PAC."

www.google.com

"James Talarico does not accept money directly from AIPAC and has explicitly disavowed their support.

While his campaign does not accept corporate PAC money, he has faced criticism for accepting maximum donations from billionaire GOP donors and independent-expenditure PACs."

AIPAC: Talarico has continuously pledged not to accept money from AIPAC or its PACs. Campaign records confirm no such direct contributions, although a very small percentage of his massive grassroots funding has come from individuals who also support pro-Israel organizations.

Corporate PACs: Talarico runs on a grassroots platform and does not accept corporate PAC money.

www.google.com

#4 | Posted by Corky at 2026-05-22 05:49 PM | Reply

#4 Corky hits the nail on the head when he says, "I'm afraid that Purists rarely ever win."

#5 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-05-22 05:52 PM | Reply

I'm also considering posting full videos in links... but I fear that the DR Hamster, aka hip hop name Notorious Rat Bastard, will get a hernia from all the heavy lifting, come to my house and pee in my coffee!

#6 | Posted by Corky at 2026-05-22 05:55 PM | Reply | Funny: 1 | Newsworthy 1

#4 Corky points out that "Talarico runs on a grassroots platform and does not accept corporate PAC money."

Which is exactly why I found the introduction of "TrackAIPAC" red squares by Coriolanus so abhorrent.

He smeared Talarico, a fantastic candidate, with that very square I posted in my #3.

And as I have subsequently provided ...

With
Coriolanus' hissy fit over the now released "DNC autopsy," is he going to continue to do everything he can to sabotage and defame Democratic candidates?

Or is Coriolanus going to start working to elect Republicans?

What's Coriolanus' goal here?

I can never tell, Corky.

#7 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-05-22 06:00 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

#7

He'll have to answer that; he's usually quite perceptive.

Problem these days is we don't have enough quality Rwingers (oxymoron alert!) to keep us busy. We end up arguing among ourselves, and that to no benefit.

#8 | Posted by Corky at 2026-05-22 06:26 PM | Reply

Adam Kinzinger Says the Republican Party "Burned Itself to the Ground" |

www.youtube.com

Prolly closer to being a Dem now.

#9 | Posted by Corky at 2026-05-22 06:32 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#6 Corky says, "...he's usually quite perceptive."

No, Coriolanus is the opposite of "perceptive."

Coriolanus is well spoken.

Coriolanus is quite obviously very well educated.

Coriolanus cooks and plays bridge.

Coriolanus knows all the cool stuff.

But ...

Coriolanus is no different that others who were well spoken, well educated, knowledgeable about the culinary arts and table games, with the "in crowd."

For the exact same reason why I posted these two pictures, side-by-side:

|
Do you know who the well-spoken, well educated, accomplished cook and card player on the right is?

Hint: It isn't Coriolanus.

Coriolanus is on the left in those two pictures.

#10 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-05-22 06:44 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

Looking forward to the midterm election season, as MAGA criminals running for office have to explain why they keep on supporting Trump and his bankrupting ways, and people like Talarico actually remind of that there are decent people on this earth...though of course MAGA will do what they can to toss mud all over him and his religious base.
I support Talarico and I identify as an atheist. Should be a lot of voters who have faith systems like his that will hear MAGA for what they are...posturing greed merchants.

#11 | Posted by Hughmass at 2026-05-23 06:40 AM | Reply

Beto 2.0

#12 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-05-23 12:53 PM | Reply | Funny: 1 | Newsworthy 1

MAGA criminals running for office have to explain why they keep on supporting Trump

11 | Posted by Hughmass

My local criminals advertise that they are trying to stop "Sharia Law at our doorstep".

Not kidding.

It remains to be seen if this new MAGA plea for hysteria will be outmatched by Generals Groceries, Gasoline, and Electricity Rates.

#13 | Posted by Zed at 2026-05-23 12:59 PM | Reply

The Texas Senate race is going to be interesting.

My current view...

Texas is a Red State. And that is likely not to change in this election.

Candidate Talarico has an uphill battle ahead of him (mild understatement).

Will he be able to get the Democratic voters to the polls to support him?

I don't know at the nonce. But that may be the game-changer he needs.



#14 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-05-23 10:57 PM | Reply

hmmmmmmm.......

This guy sounds interesting...however...if he really wants to get the attention of Republicans he needs to stand on his own words and ditch Obama.

#15 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-05-24 09:08 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

" if he really wants to get the attention of Republicans he needs to stand on his own words"

So ... the words he speaks (the words of Jesus) aren't enough?!?

#16 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-05-24 09:27 AM | Reply

Obama is an actual Christian, DJT is an evil man.

#17 | Posted by Corky at 2026-05-24 09:51 AM | Reply

" he needs to stand on his own words and ditch Obama."

BillJohnson blames Obama for making gay marriage legal. He'll NEVER forgive Obama. Never.

#18 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-05-24 09:55 AM | Reply

Dan,

"BillJohnson blames Obama for making gay marriage legal. He'll NEVER forgive Obama. Never."

You're obsessed with that idea I am against gay marriage.

All I ever said was I would have preferred Civil Unions to avoid possible religious implications tied to the word "marriage."

You are a non-stop liar. You are absolutely the worst on this site I've responded to. Just lie, lie, lie....you're pathetic how you lie. Don't bother saying anything more you might think I'll respond to. Unless you lie some more and I have to correct you.

What I AM very glad about is Obama being directly involved in gays being able to openly serve in the Armed Forces. That's almost unbelievable when I think back picturing how we had to be careful. You might get the word out to some other gays you know in the military maybe we're meeting someplace for drinks on the base or someone's place. I remember there was a ship's store that was run by a young gay guy. After hours we would go there and lock the door and basically just talk.

Obama got rid of DADT.

I was in even prior to that. Simply no gays allowed. Obviously, everyone lied when they joined.

#19 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-05-24 10:24 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

I've listened to a few sound bites from Talarico.

He has some original thoughts.

He still has plenty of time to shoot himself in the foot.

And, he does a little too much grinning like Mamdani, whose photos creepily remind me of a Guy Fawkes mask with that frozen grin.

The trick will be aligning with Democrats without really aligning with Democrats and still coming across as his own man.

#20 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-05-24 10:33 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

" You're obsessed with that idea I am against gay marriage."

I watched you turn against Democrats the moment gay marriage became legal, and I've seen you time and again suggest it was later, when Trump came on the scene.

"You are a non-stop liar."

What a riot, coming from someone who lied to the military, lied to the public, and continues to lie about the efficacy of mail-in ballots, even after failing to find ANY PROOF after five and a half years.

#21 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-05-24 10:36 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

" You are absolutely the worst on this site I've responded to."

You're just embarrassed I keep pointing out how
cockamamie your theory is, and reminding folks you still have ZERO victims coming forward, even after nearly six years.

You even refuse to address ANY of my salient points about voter suppression.

Go ahead and plonk me, coward. No skin off my nose.

#22 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-05-24 10:41 AM | Reply

" And, he does a little too much grinning"

Thanks for proving my point you're willing to find ANYTHING against a Democratic, no matter how far you have to move the goalposts. "He's with Obama; he's grinning too much." Recently, it was "She laughed inappropriately".

Meanwhile, if he had an (R) after the name, you'd line up to lick his taint.

#23 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-05-24 10:50 AM | Reply

- ditch Obama.

Obama popularity vs Trump?

2017 Jan. 17-19 Barack Obama 59 37 4
2021 Jan. 4-15 Donald Trump 34 62 4

www.presidency.ucsb.edu

Trump is less popular than Covid.

Only the Cult loves him.

#24 | Posted by Corky at 2026-05-24 10:57 AM | Reply

Dan,

"Thanks for proving my point you're willing to find ANYTHING against a Democratic"

I don't like fake.

Maybe you're used to it but I prefer authenticity.

#25 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-05-24 11:35 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

I prefer authenticity.

#25 | Posted by BillJohnson a

That's why you vote Trump.

Makes sense.

#26 | Posted by Zed at 2026-05-24 11:45 AM | Reply

BJ the gimp

#27 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-05-24 11:47 AM | Reply

Zed,

Trump or Cackles.

That was the choice.

Sometimes people vote against someone, rather than for someone.

I voted against Kamala.

#28 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-05-24 12:02 PM | Reply

Legal,

Tell me 5 thing Kamala promised to get done.

#29 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-05-24 12:03 PM | Reply

Bathhouse Bills worships a child rapist.

#30 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-05-24 12:14 PM | Reply

Tell me 5 thing Kamala promised to get done.

#29 | Posted by BillJohnson

Tell me five things Trump lied about doing.

#31 | Posted by Zed at 2026-05-24 12:47 PM | Reply

Trump or Cackles.

That was the choice.

#28 | Posted by BillJohnson

And so, naturally, you voted for the single most evil and incompetent man we've ever had as a president.

Like I said: Makes sense.

#32 | Posted by Zed at 2026-05-24 12:49 PM | Reply

One thing we can be sure of, Kamala would have never put America in the poor position we are now in the world... nor would she have preferred wealthy corporations and billionaires over the poor and middle classes.

Not to mention she wouldn't be building Ballrooms and Arches to herself, naming airports after herself, attacking other countries with our Military, and threatening to take over our neighboring countries.

We also can be sure that the first thing she would not have done would be giving tax cuts the the Oligarchs by not only taking benefits and healthcare from average Americans...

... but she would never have also given herself and them cuts by causing the deaths of 100's of thousands of people in Africa, mostly children, mostly though starvation.

She would also not have personally profited billions of dollars by scamming the Gov she ran, LIED about only Deporting the 'Worst of the Worst', and instead deported people who 90 percent of the time had no criminal records.

;;
I could go on, but Cult Members don't care; they've already been told not only what to think, but how to respond, as we see on this site daily:

www.youtube.com

1 min

#33 | Posted by Corky at 2026-05-24 12:51 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Tell me 5 thing Kamala promised to get done.

#29 | POSTED BY BILLJOHNSON

No one is interesting in your see lies you sea lion.

So. You voted against her and you are not even familiar with her policies?

You want to debate her policies? Look them up and propose counter arguments to each.

Or GFY.

I really don't care.

Do you?

#34 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-05-24 12:52 PM | Reply

Trump or Cackles.

That was the choice.

#28 | Posted by BillJohnson

So he voted for Cankles instead.

#35 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-05-24 12:54 PM | Reply

Donner,

That is actually funny.

#36 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2026-05-24 01:23 PM | Reply

Shut up BillJohnson. Anyone who has convinced themselves that Kamala Harris could have been worse in any way than the American disaster we currently have as POTUs is both a fool and an "-hole.

#37 | Posted by moder8 at 2026-05-24 01:33 PM | Reply

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