Can James Talarico Reclaim Christianity for the Left?
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How did James Talarico rise to prominence in Texas politics?
The New York Times app has all this stuff that you may not have seen. The way the tabs are at the top with all of the different sections. I can immediately navigate to something that matches what I'm feeling. I go to games always. Doing the mini, doing the wordle. I loved how much content it exposed me to. Things that I never would have thought to turn to a news app for. This app is essential. The New York Times app. All of the times, all in one place. Download it now at nytimes.com slash app.
One of my obsessions over the past few years has been the role of attention in modern American politics. The way attention is a fundamental currency. And the way it works differently than it did at other times when it was controlled by newspaper editorial boards and nightly newsbookers. And so I've been particularly interested in politicians who seem native to this attentional era, who seem to have figured something out. We've talked a lot about how the Trump administration uses attention, how Zoran Mamdani uses attention. But somebody who's been breaking through over the past year in a very interesting way is a state representative from Texas named James Tallarico. And Tallarico is a little bit unusual for a Democratic politician.
He's this very forthrightly Christian politician. He roots his politics very fundamentally in a way you don't always hear from Democrats in his faith.
Because there is no love of God without love of neighbor.
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.
This bill, to me, is not only unconstitutional, it's not only un-American, I think it is also deeply un-Christian.
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.
Jesus liberates. Christian nationalism controls. Jesus saves. Christian nationalism kills.
And then what was really surprising to many people is that he ended up on Joe Rogan's podcast.
All right, James. You too. Well, how are you? Very good. Nice to meet you. It's nice to meet you. Thanks for having me. My pleasure.
The first significant Democrat that Rogan seemed interested in in a very long time.
You need to run for president. We need someone who's actually a good person.
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.
So my granddad was a Baptist preacher in South Texas, in Corpus Christi and in Laredo, where my mom grew up. And when I was real little, he told me that Christianity is a simple religion. Not an easy religion, he would always clarify, but a simple religion, because Jesus gave us these two commandments, to love God, our source, and to love our neighbors. And so those two commandments, I think, have really guided my life at its best moments. And it's why I'm in public service.
What role does faith play in James Talarico's political views?
I was a public school teacher and now a public official. That's the loving my neighbor. And it's why I'm a seminary student studying to become a minister one day.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
How did James Talarico rise to prominence in Texas politics?
0:01–5:10
2
What role does faith play in James Talarico's political views?
5:10–11:09
3
How does James Talarico define Christian nationalism?
11:09–16:26
4
What is the significance of the separation of church and state?
16:26–20:55
5
How does Talarico view the current immigration debate?
20:55–26:00
6
What are Talarico's thoughts on the 'rage economy'?
26:00–31:31
7
How does Talarico propose to engage with voters who disagree with him?
31:31–37:07
8
What books does Talarico recommend for understanding his perspective?
37:07–1:29:29