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‘Silly season’: James Talarico tackles GOP conspiracies on his flu absence
MS NOW ^ | Oct. 11, 2026 | Rosa Flores and Erum Salam

Posted on 10/11/2026 3:47:56 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

James Talarico, the Texas Democratic nominee for Senate, on Sunday dismissed GOP conspiracy theories about his flu-induced absence from the campaign trail and sought to turn the tables.

“I had the flu,” he said in an exclusive interview with MS NOW. “This is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. It’s wild that someone can just post something on the internet and then the media just runs with it.”

He dismissed the brouhaha as “silly season in our politics” and issued a fresh challenge to his GOP rival, Ken Paxton, who spent the better part of 10 days fueling wild speculation about Talarico’s whereabouts while the Democrat recovered from his illness.

“He asked for proof of life from me. I’m asking proof of spine from him,” Talarico told MS NOW, referring to his repeated invitations to Paxton to debate him publicly in a race that is stunningly tight in deep-red Texas.

“I’ve heard credible reports that Ken Paxton has a serious medical condition that causes clinical level of cowardice,” Talarico joked during his first nationally televised interview since returning to the campaign trail.

Paxton, the scandal-plagued Texas attorney general backed by President Donald Trump, and other Republicans had been posting faux “missing” and “wanted” posters online, demanding “proof of life” from Talarico’s camp. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, piled on by posting a milk carton featuring the face of a “missing” Talarico.

When pressed on why his campaign had not more forcefully addressed the attacks on him in a high-stakes race so close to Election Day, Talarico pointed a finger at journalists and social media. “Sorry to disappoint our conspiracy theorists online, but our social media and traditional media system really just rewards rumor and innuendo because it’s what gets clicks,” Talarico told MS NOW.

(Excerpt) Read more at ms.now ...


TOPICS: Humor
KEYWORDS: debunked; demagogicparty; democrattruth; disappearance; eagleton; fake; frootloopsjimmy; inthenervoushospital; jameseagleton; jamestalarico; jimmyeagleton; loonybin; marxistsocialistnooz; mentalhospital; mentalpatient; msnowtoadies; nutterbutter; slop; talafreako; talawacko; texas
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To: MinorityRepublican

There are medicines that reduce the time and severity of the flu.


41 posted on 10/11/2026 7:06:50 PM PDT by kaktuskid (And )
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To: Political Junkie Too
Nobody is denying it

"It?" My guess is MSNOW claims that he has the flu and any other explanation is a "conspiracy theory." I guess it could be some other virus.

42 posted on 10/11/2026 8:44:38 PM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Re-imagine the media!)
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To: MinorityRepublican

All Bull Droppings. Why did he not have one press conference from his bed or living room as he recovered from the flu? The only logical explanation is he was GAGA.

Oddly campaigning while sick would be wise for the sympathy factor. Something was wrong with him, very wrong!


43 posted on 10/11/2026 8:56:29 PM PDT by cpdiii (cane cutter, deckhand, oilfield roughneck, drilling fluid tech, geologist, pilot, pharmacist, MAGA)
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To: MinorityRepublican

All Bull Droppings. Why did he not have one press conference from his bed or living room as he recovered from the flu? The only logical explanation is he was GAGA.

Oddly campaigning while sick would be wise for the sympathy factor. Something was wrong with him, very wrong!


44 posted on 10/11/2026 8:56:34 PM PDT by cpdiii (cane cutter, deckhand, oilfield roughneck, drilling fluid tech, geologist, pilot, pharmacist, MAGA)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Any of you other Texans know who that drunken old fart is that’s doing the “Greed” ad. The boy’s doesn’t appear to be playing with a full deck. Paxton needs to throw a hefty lawsuit on his ass if he can find out who the hell he is.


45 posted on 10/12/2026 12:12:57 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (What good is a "media" that never makes accusations and allegations against their Bros and Sisters.)
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To: cpdiii

He still hasn’t returned to the campaign trail. He has only done a short, softball, scripted interview.

EC


46 posted on 10/12/2026 5:17:38 AM PDT by Ex-Con777 ("Journalism is about covering important stories-with a pillow, until they stop moving." ~ David Burg)
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To: PGR88

One Flu Over The Cuckoos Nest.

EC


47 posted on 10/12/2026 6:03:37 AM PDT by Ex-Con777 ("Journalism is about covering important stories-with a pillow, until they stop moving." ~ David Burg)
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To: escapefromboston

ECT is not the normal treatment for flu.


48 posted on 10/12/2026 6:10:47 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn )
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To: central_va
ECT is not the normal treatment for flu.

When Traitorico is part of the story it's always abnormal.

49 posted on 10/12/2026 7:20:48 AM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Re-imagine the media!)
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To: Steely Tom

Not just MS NOW. Lookee here...

https://www.theguardian.com/profile/erum-salam


50 posted on 10/12/2026 7:23:54 AM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away! 🇺🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

If Talarico has the flu, he could have a number of other maladies at the same time. The media can tell what they think is less damaging while suppressing the other part of the news. This is called “lying by omission.” Hence the oath a trial witness swears: “...the whole truth...”


51 posted on 10/12/2026 8:57:20 AM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Re-imagine the media!)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Dopey Opie Tallywacko is a liar. He’ll make a great Communist DemonRAT.


52 posted on 10/12/2026 11:45:34 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (What good is a "media" that never makes accusations and allegations against their Bros and Sisters.)
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To: FlingWingFlyer
But will he win the election? I hope not. My TX county has 1% of the population of Harris County, but I received a postcard with my correct street address urging somebody who does live here to register and vote to keep ICE from "killing US citizens."

I won't forward it to him. They seem to think they have the urban area in the bag. They are aiming for the rural voters. Talarico is FOS but how many gullible voters are going to vote for him?

53 posted on 10/12/2026 4:54:32 PM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Re-imagine the media!)
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To: FlingWingFlyer
urging somebody who does live here urging somebody who does NOT live here to register and vote to keep ICE from "killing US citizens."Oops!
54 posted on 10/12/2026 5:50:34 PM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Re-imagine the media!)
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