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A Project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center

Talarico’s Campaign-Trail Absence Sparks False Rumor

Talarico’s Campaign-Trail Absence Sparks False Rumor

Q: Claims about James Talarico being hospitalized in a mental health facility. Is this true?

A: No. An Ohio mental health center rebutted false online rumors that Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, had been there as a patient. Talarico said he was off the campaign trail for several days in early October while recovering from the flu at his Texas home.

Paxton’s Uvalde Comment in Full Context

Paxton’s Uvalde Comment in Full Context

In the Texas Senate race, comments Republican Ken Paxton made in 2022 about the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, are circulating on social media, thanks to posts by his opponent, Democrat James Talarico, and the Democratic Party. But their posts use just a snippet of Paxton’s remarks, depriving voters of the full context.

GOP Ads Mislead on Public Option Proposals’ Impact on Rural Hospitals

GOP Ads Mislead on Public Option Proposals’ Impact on Rural Hospitals

As Democrats release a flurry of midterm ads portraying GOP cuts to Medicaid as a threat to rural healthcare, Republicans have countered with ads claiming Democratic candidates in Texas and Pennsylvania would put dozens of rural hospitals out of business by creating a public health insurance option. But the ads cite an industry-backed study whose assumptions don’t apply to all public option proposals. 

Paxton’s AI-Heavy Ad Leaves Out Context of Talarico Remarks About Christianity

Paxton’s AI-Heavy Ad Leaves Out Context of Talarico Remarks About Christianity

In the Texas Senate race, Republican candidate Ken Paxton is running an ad that features an artificial-intelligence version of James Talarico, Paxton’s Democratic opponent, repeating several statements the real Talarico made about religion and gender identity. But some of the statements are missing the context behind the remarks.

Democrats’ and Republicans’ Screwworm Blame Spin

Democrats’ and Republicans’ Screwworm Blame Spin

Politicians of both political parties have blamed either the Trump or the Biden administration for the arrival of the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating fly that affects the cattle industry, in the U.S. after decades of eradication. But experts say the reasons are different or more complicated than either side is saying — and that it’s no one administration’s fault.

Ad in Texas GOP Runoff Attacks Cornyn on Immigration, Islam

Ad in Texas GOP Runoff Attacks Cornyn on Immigration, Islam

A TV ad attacking incumbent Texas Sen. John Cornyn for supporting “Muslim mass immigration” misleadingly cites a 2021 quote from Cornyn about certain Afghan refugees and claims that “Cornyn has a special place in his heart for radical Islam.”

Trump, Project 2025 and Immigration

Trump, Project 2025 and Immigration

Project 2025 and President Donald Trump are largely in sync on immigration. As part of our series, we examine some of the many actions that Trump has taken that were proposed in the conservative document. 

Weather Modification Played No Role in Texas Floods

Weather Modification Played No Role in Texas Floods

Unfounded rumors linking an extreme weather event to human attempts at weather modification are again spreading on social media. It is not plausible that available weather modification techniques caused or influenced the July 4 flash flooding along the Guadalupe River in Texas.