Transcript:In recent months, the GOP has thrown everything it can at James Talarico, the Texas senatorial candidate who just won the Democratic primary and Republicans worry is a strong contender for the election in November. On Tuesday, the X account for Senate Republicans tried to turn his words back on him, but it didn’t go quite the way whoever handles the profile expected. Along with a video of Talarico speaking before a Texas church congregation, the tweet quoted him saying, “Christ is the immigrant deported without due process. Christ is the senior deprived of their Social Security benefits. Christ is the protestor kidnapped in an unmarked vehicle by plain clothes officers.” At the head of the quote, the poster included a red flashing light emoji, signifying that there was something alarming about his words. However, Talarico. a Presbyterian seminarian and former school teacher. retweeted the post along with a simple response: “I approve this message.”This isn’t the first or most visible time Republicans have had their attempts to stymie Talarico’s campaign backfire. In February, after CBS lawyers prevented Stephen Colbert from televising a segment with the Texas Democrat due to pressure from Trump’s FCC chief Brendan Carr, the interview was posted to YouTube where it garnered more than 9 million views, with many commenters noting they only watched because of the controversy. Within 24 hours of the video going live, Talarico’s campaign raked in over 2.5 million dollars in donations. its highest single fundraising day yet.“I think Donald Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas,” Talarico’s campaign asserted in a statement. “This is the party that ran against cancel culture. Now they’re trying to control what we watch, what we say, and what we read. This is the most dangerous kind of cancel culture, the kind that comes from the top. A threat to one of our First Amendment rights is a threat to all of our First Amendment rights.”Now with the primary behind him and the general election approaching fast, it seems increasingly apparent that these GOP attacks are failing. “I just wish these Republicans weren’t so stupid,” said Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough, speaking about Talarico’s campaign. “The very person they were trying to defeat, the very person whose message scared them, is the very person who they helped win this race. It just keeps happening over and over.”Our Analysis:GOP's Misfires Amplify Talarico's MessageIn what can only be described as a spectacular backfire, the GOP's attempts to undermine Texas senatorial candidate James Talarico have not only fallen flat but have actively amplified his campaign's reach and impact. It's a classic tale of political miscalculation, one where the aggressor's weapons turn against them, leaving them worse off than before they launched their attack.The Misguided AttackThe GOP, in their infinite wisdom, decided to target Talarico with his own words, words spoken before a Texas church congregation. These words, meant to highlight the plight of the marginalized and draw parallels to Christian teachings, were presented as something alarming. The tweet, adorned with a red flashing light emoji, quoted Talarico: “Christ is the immigrant deported without due process. Christ is the senior deprived of their Social Security benefits. Christ is the protester kidnapped in an unmarked vehicle by plain clothes officers.”However, this attempt to paint Talarico in a negative light didn't just fail. it spectacularly backfired. Talarico's response? A simple, yet powerful, “I approve this message.” It's a response that speaks volumes, turning the GOP's attempt at alarmism into an endorsement of his deeply held beliefs.The Colbert EffectLet's not forget the February fiasco, where the GOP's efforts to suppress a segment featuring Talarico on Stephen Colbert's show led to an unintended viral sensation. Blocked from television by CBS lawyers under pressure from Trump's FCC chief, the interview found a new life on YouTube, raking in over 9 million views. The controversy, rather than stifling Talarico's message, amplified it, resulting in a staggering 2.5 million dollars fundraising boost in just 24 hours.Talarico's Campaign and the GOP's IronyTalarico's campaign has rightly pointed out the irony in the GOP's actions. For a party that has long railed against "cancel culture," their attempts to control the narrative. what we watch, what we say, what we read. epitomize the very essence of cancel culture. It's a dangerous game, one that threatens the First Amendment rights they profess to hold dear.The OutcomeAs we approach the general election, it's clear that the GOP's attacks have not only failed but have inadvertently reinforced Talarico's standing. Joe Scarborough's comment on Morning Joe sums it up perfectly: “The very person they were trying to defeat, the very person whose message scared them, is the very person who they helped win this race.”Conclusion: A Self-Inflicted WoundThe GOP's misguided attempts to derail James Talarico's campaign serve as a cautionary tale. In their eagerness to undermine his message, they have only succeeded in broadcasting it further, turning their intended target into a symbol of resistance against their tactics. It's a self-inflicted wound, one born out of a fundamental misreading of the public's appetite for genuine, compassionate leadership.In the end, Talarico's campaign, buoyed by GOP missteps, may just prove to be the turning point in Texas politics. And if Talarico's success is any indication, the GOP might want to reconsider its strategy, lest they continue to be the architects of their own downfall.s

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit paulstsmith.substack.com