The Aporia
The Aporia
Miller, T. (2026, October 16). The Trio: MAGA Influencers Are Running for Cover After Talarico Smear Collapses. The Bulwark. https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-trio-maga-influencers-are-running
Miller, Tim. “The Trio: MAGA Influencers Are Running for Cover After Talarico Smear Collapses.” The Bulwark, 16 Oct. 2026, https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-trio-maga-influencers-are-running.
Miller, Tim. “The Trio: MAGA Influencers Are Running for Cover After Talarico Smear Collapses.” The Bulwark, October 16, 2026. https://www.thebulwark.com/p/the-trio-maga-influencers-are-running.
Dated from the outlet's own feed. Check the original for its byline.
As of October 16, 2026, James Talarico, the Democratic Senate candidate in Texas, has debunked claims that he was treated at a mental health facility in Ohio. Initially absent from campaign activities for over ten days due to flu, Talarico faced rumors spread by conservative influencer Nick Sortor and others suggesting he had been hospitalized in Ohio. However, the Lindner Center of Hope denied ever treating him, and security camera footage showed him at his Austin home during the alleged absence period. The New York Times reviewed this evidence but did not publish it due to security concerns, raising questions about why Talarico’s campaign did not provide such proof earlier to counter the false rumors.
It’s the Trio. Uncut, ad-free, and uncensored.
Sam Stein, Tim Miller, and Will Sommer give an update on the MAGA influencers caught pushing a false story about Texas Democrat James Talarico, and why those behind the smear may face few consequences.
They also examine court documents revealing how Kristi Noem and Corey Lewandowski allegedly fed false information to Laura Loomer to smear a government employee, raising questions about how political disinformation spreads without traditional media scrutiny.
