Texas State Rep. James Talarico just climbed a mountain few Democrats have. That mountain was the Joe Rogan podcast. Not only did Talarico climb the mountain, it might just be the most hopeful thing you’ll watch all week.
In the interview, Talarico—a young Democrat from deep-red Texas—speaks about his faith. Not as a political calculation. Not as a way to pander. But as the moral foundation for why he became a Democrat in the first place.
Talarico plainly explains how his faith taught him to care for the poor, and to believe every child deserves a good education, and that every member of the community deserves a real shot at success.
At a time when religion has been hijacked by right-wing extremists, when GOP politicians weaponize scripture to attack LGBTQ+ people, strip women of their rights, and justify cruelty to immigrants—James Talarico is offering a different vision.
A vision of a Democratic Party that doesn’t run from faith, but runs because of it.
This Is How We Win Back Voters of Faith
Let’s be honest: for too long, Democrats have ceded the language of religion to Republicans. But the truth is, the values we fight for—compassion, justice, mercy, dignity—are religious values. They’re moral values. And people of faith across the country need to hear that from us.
Talarico is showing us how.
By unapologetically embracing his Christianity, and connecting it to policies that lift people up, he’s reaching voters who may have tuned us out. He’s reminding folks sitting in church pews every Sunday that Jesus didn’t preach tax cuts for the rich—he preached love for the poor, healing for the sick, and welcome for the stranger.
It’s not just smart politics. It’s moral clarity.
Going Toe-to-Toe with Joe Rogan—and Winning Hearts
But what makes James Talarico even more remarkable is how he’s spreading that message.
He didn’t wait for MSNBC or the New York Times. He went to Joe Rogan’s podcast.
That move alone tells you everything you need to know about Talarico. He’s not afraid to talk to people who disagree with him. He’s not afraid of the conversation. He wants the conversation. Because he knows that’s how minds change.
And in that podcast studio, in front of millions of listeners who may have started out skeptical, he didn’t yell. He didn’t lecture. He listened. He connected. He spoke from the heart.
And you could see it: Rogan listened. Really listened.
We don’t always need to fight louder. Sometimes, we need to go deeper. And that’s exactly what Talarico does.
The Next Generation Is Already Here
James Talarico isn’t just an exciting Democrat from Texas. He’s the kind of leader we need more of across this country. A new generation of Democrats who are deeply grounded in their values, unafraid to bridge divides, and bold enough to reclaim the moral high ground.
He’s showing us a path forward: one rooted in faith, compassion, and conviction. One that invites more people in instead of pushing them away.
And let’s be clear—he’s not alone. Across the country, young Democrats are rising up with this kind of clarity. But they need our support. They need our attention. They need our voices.
Because the future of the Democratic Party is already here. His name is James Talarico.
Let’s follow his lead.
Let’s lift him up.
-The Democratic Wins Media team
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