‘One side is trying to rig the rules’: Texas Democrat James Talarico fact-checked a Fox News host so hard he had to end the interview

Texan lawmaker James Talarico has been dubbed a rising star among Democrats and it’s easy to see why. The 36-year-old Representative recently appeared on Fox News to discuss the gerrymandering issue but he soon found himself in the hot seat as the host quizzed him on the Democrat’s approach to the issue. Despite this he remained cool and delivered nothing but straight facts.

Trump’s Republican party is getting desperate ahead of the fast approaching mid-terms. So desperate as a matter of fact they’ve started a redistricting war as GOP lawmakers look to gain a few seats by shifting district lines. While Democrats are fighting fire with fire Republicans are set to gain a total of 13 more seats from the controversial tactic compared to the Democrat’s 9 as per NPR.

It goes without saying but this kind of gerrymandering is typically frowned upon as it seems like a clear and blatant attempt to change the rules to favor Republicans in the middle of Trump’s term. Of course, Talarico was questioned over his party’s decision to engage in the same tactics but his response to the Fox News host was both factual and respectful, earning him heaps of praise online.

Gerrymandering should be banned

While the host claimed that Democrats were redistricting to give themselves more seats, Talarico reminded him that it was the GOP who started it. He also correctly pointed out that when Democrats had a majority in congress they had tried to bring in a bill to prevent gerrymandering in every state. Unfortunately, not a single Republican voted in favor of it.

“You can spare me the “both sides” rhetoric. It’s clearly one side that is trying to rig the rules in the middle of the game,” Talarico says as the host is left speechless. The Texan Democrat claims it is “cheating” and shouldn’t be accepted in our elections.

The host does manage to muster a response although he probably would have been better off staying quiet as he tells Talarico, “you’ve done the same thing as us,” adding, “by the way if you do it we’re going to ratchet it up even more.” It goes back and forth for a little longer before the visibly angry host cuts the interview short claiming to be pressed for time.

Of course, very few bought the excuse with some viewers on X confidently claiming, “Talarico cooked that joker.” Another observed, “Dude had nothing – not even some BS talking points to fall back on so he blamed his producer for rushing him out of there.”

James Talarico may prove to be a problem for the Republican party in the coming years. He’s sharp, eloquent, and he knows his facts. Basically the polar opposite of your average Trump supporter.