Ezra Klein

But he began emerging as somebody who was breaking through on TikTok and Instagram and viral videos where he would talk about whether or not the Ten Commandments should be posted in schools.

And the ways in which the Bible's emphasis on helping the poor and the needy had been perverted—

by those who wanted to use religion as a tool of power and even greed.

And then what was really surprising to many people is that he ended up on Joe Rogan's podcast.

The first significant Democrat that Rogan seemed interested in in a very long time.

Now, Tallarico is running for Senate in Texas.

He's running in a primary with Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett for what will be one of the most important Senate elections in the country.

So I want to have Tallarico on the show to talk to him about his faith, his politics, and the way those two have come together in this attentional moment to allow him to say things in a language and a frame that

that people seem to really want to hear, that people seem hungry for.

A language of morality and even of faith at a time of incredible cruelty and at a time when the radicalism of faith seems to have been perverted by the corruption of politics.

As always, my email, EzraKleinShow at NYTimes.com.

James Tallarico, welcome to the show.

Thanks for having me.

So I wanted to start in your faith because your politics is so rooted in your faith.

For you, what is the root or the experience of your belief?

Is it learned for you?

Is it embodied, cerebral?

Is it something you always had, something you had to struggle to find?

All of the above.

But you just slipped into how you live your faith, not what it is for you.