We’re Seeing Stars

The Lone Star Is Texas’ Yelp Rating
We’re Seeing Stars
Credit: Texas Public Radio
By Tengrain — August 7, 2026

The Senate is the real uphill battle in the 2026 Pie Fight. Every senate race matters, and frankly Texas keeps breaking our hearts.

I think James Talarico might be one of those once-in-a-generation talents. This is a Master Class in positioning and framing, and he does it with Texas charm:

James Talarico: The young people here might not remember this, but those of you who are a little older might. Not so long ago, you could afford to live a good life here in America.

But today that middle class has disappeared.

The top 1% put the American Dream behind a paywall.

— Team Talarico (@teamtalaricohq.bsky.social) 2026-08-06T02:33:55.302Z

“The top 1% put the American Dream behind a paywall” positions economics in perfect context for the generation that grew up on the internet.

James Talarico: 50 years ago, a corporate lawyer named Lewis Powell circulated a memo around DC — a blueprint for how corporations could amass political power, reverse the gains of the Great Society and the New Deal, and rig the system for themselves.

And it worked.

— Team Talarico (@teamtalaricohq.bsky.social) 2026-08-06T02:40:52.491Z

Putting the Powell Memo —make that the infamous Powell Memo— into context is thrilling. This is what set up Fox News and the demise of our mainstream press. It is just as significant as Saint Ronnie’s Trickle-Down economics.

Talarico: We are getting screwed.

The billionaires buying politicians like Ken Paxton don't care who you are. They don't care about your politics. They only care about their profits.

They see us as one opposing team — so we might as well start acting like one.

— Team Talarico (@teamtalaricohq.bsky.social) 2026-08-06T02:55:52.599Z

Who the billionaires are and what they want, and positioning them (and himself) as teammates with a common goal.

Talarico: We cannot let artificial intelligence become yet another arena where billionaires write the rules for the rest of us.

We can start by cracking down on the data centers that are jacking up our utility bills and using up all our water.

— Team Talarico (@teamtalaricohq.bsky.social) 2026-08-06T03:05:52.552Z

Given how off the polls were in Michigan, I don’t accept that Talarico is ahead, outside of the margin of error. Don’t let up the pressure on Paxton, he’s quite literally a crook backed by other crooks and billionaires (redundant?) trying to buy a Senate seat.

That matters to all of us, where’er you happen to be.

If you are in Texas, don’t take this opportunity for granted. If you are outside of Texas (and have a few bucks) send them his way.

Published with permission of Mock Paper Scissors

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