PBD19-The James Talarico Hospital Rumor Was False Tony Ortiz - Politics with the Big Dogs

Anthony Holm and CurrentRevolt.com publisher Tony Ortiz tear apart the viral claim that Texas Senate candidate James Tallarico spent time in an Ohio mental‑health facility. By playing the full six‑minute call to the hospital, they expose a repeatedly denied presence and a vague “checked out this evening” line that never confirms an admission. Security footage and phone records show Tallarico at concerts in Austin and Dallas during the alleged window, and home‑camera logs place him in Texas for days in early October. The hosts argue the rumor is a calculated distraction that keeps Republicans from confronting Tallarico’s record on taxes, parental‑rights legislation, and other policy positions.The conversation pivots to the broader Texas Senate race, where Holm warns that the Tallarico‑Paxton showdown is eclipsing down‑ballot races and candidates like Nate Sheets. He blames both media fixation and internal GOP dynamics, including the lingering influence of the John Cornyn‑Karl Rove‑George W. Bush network, for the toxic focus on personality over policy.Ortiz and Holm then dive into the contentious school‑choice debate. Ortiz cites a CurrentRevolt investigation revealing that vouchers are funneled through a single private entity, Odyssey, allowing purchases ranging from bilingual classes to electric guitars. Holm counters that Texas lags behind other states, that only a tiny fraction of students benefit, and that the massive public‑school budget continues to fund failing schools. Both agree on the principle of parental choice but clash on the implementation and the role of a monopolistic voucher provider.Throughout, the hosts maintain a bold, unapologetic tone, dismissing the New York Times as unlikely to jeopardize its global reputation with false reporting, while still criticizing its bias. The episode ends with a call to listeners to shift the conversation from sensational rumors to concrete policy battles that will shape Texas’s future.

Categories: Political Commentary