Warm-up speaker at Talarico's Lubbock rally calls to abolish ICE; Talarico has denied backing that
Malik Williams, a Democratic candidate for the Texas legislature, called for abolishing ICE and legalizing cannabis while introducing Senate nominee James Talarico in Lubbock. Talarico has said he does not support abolishing ICE. Only right-leaning outlets have covered it so far.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 1Malik Williams, a Democratic candidate for the Texas state legislature, called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and legalizing marijuana at a Tuesday rally in Lubbock, Texas, for U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico. Fox NewsR “Malik Williams, a Democratic candidate for a seat in Texas' state legislature, called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and for legalizing marijuana during a Tuesday rally for U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico in Lubbock, Texas.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1Williams said: "We can legalize and tax THC and cannabis. We're gonna abolish ICE, we're gonna tax the rich and we're going to get my friend, the next United States senator from the state of Texas, James Talarico, elected!" Fox News said the line drew raucous applause. Fox NewsR “We can legalize and tax THC and cannabis. We're gonna abolish ICE, we're gonna tax the rich and we're going to get my friend, the next United States senator from the state of Texas, James Talarico, elected!" Williams exclaimed to raucous applause.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1In introducing Talarico, Williams also criticised President Donald Trump and Talarico's Republican opponent, Ken Paxton, and backed more education funding, guaranteed childcare and expanded healthcare, according to Fox News. Fox NewsR “Williams also advocated for more education funding, guaranteed childcare and an expansion of healthcare” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 1Talarico has avoided direct calls to abolish ICE on the campaign trail. At a joint CNN and Jubilee town hall he answered "No, and I never have" when asked whether he supported abolishing it, adding, "We need Immigration and Customs Enforcement in this country, but that's not what we're seeing." Fox NewsR “"No, and I never have," Talarico responded, adding, "We need Immigration and Customs Enforcement in this country, but that's not what we're seeing.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 2Fox News and Hot Air noted that in a January primary debate with Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Talarico had said it was time to "tear down" ICE and replace it with an agency focused on public safety. He also advocated "hauling in" agents to testify before Congress. Fox NewsR “In January, during a primary debate with Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, Talarico said it was time to "tear down" ICE.” Read at Fox News ↗ Hot AirR “Talarico also advocated for "hauling in" agents in front of Congress to testify on actions taken during enforcement actions.” Read at Hot Air ↗ Right · 1Fox News cited polling: a July YouGov/The Economist poll found 48% of Americans overall supporting abolition of ICE, and a February Texas Politics Project poll found 42% of Texans viewing the agency favorably and 47% unfavorably. Fox NewsR “The same poll found 48% of Americans overall supporting ICE's abolition.”“Only 42% of the state views the agency as very favorable or somewhat favorable, compared to 47% of the state viewing ICE as somewhat unfavorable or very unfavorable” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 1Hot Air said Trump and Paxton held a rally in Lubbock at the same time. Talarico posted that 4,000 people attended his, though Hot Air said it was unclear whether that figure included people turned away. It said the ballroom holds up to 2,600, with plans to stretch to 3,000, and that a reporter estimated about 4,000 at the Trump rally. Hot AirR “Lubbock County voted for President Trump by 40 points. Tonight 4,000 people showed up at our rally. Texans are ready for change.”“The venue’s ballroom accommodates up to 2,600 people” Read at Hot Air ↗ Right · 1Hot Air argued the remarks show Talarico's "true agenda" and that the crowd represents the fringe of Texas politics, and noted that a state legislator has no power over ICE. It also urged Republican groups to use the clip in ads, with five days left before the election. Hot AirR “This not only speaks to Talarico's true agenda, it also tends to rebut the value of the turnout as an indication of crossover support for Talarico”“a Texas state legislator has exactly zero power to do anything about ICE within the jurisdiction of his office” Read at Hot Air ↗ Right · 1The Talarico, Williams and Paxton campaigns did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Fox NewsR “The Talarico, Williams and Paxton campaigns did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital for further comment.” Read at Fox News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets present Williams's remarks as a contradiction of Talarico's public stance on ICE. Fox News leads with the contrast; Hot Air uses it to question Talarico's sincerity and the rally's significance.
- Emphasis
- Talarico's shift from January's "tear down" ICE to the CNN denial; ICE and cannabis as unpopular positions; Hot Air adds crowd size and early-vote analysis.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither reports any Talarico response or explanation, or whether Williams spoke for the campaign. Hot Air treats the speaker as Talarico's "surrogate" and "opening act" without evidence that the campaign scripted the remarks. Neither includes left or centre perspectives.
- Charged language
- “far-Left demands”“fringe of Texas politics”“secret police force”“Talarico's true agenda”
What every side reports
- Malik Williams called to abolish ICE and legalize cannabis at a Tuesday Talarico rally in Lubbock.
- Talarico told a CNN town hall he has never supported abolishing ICE.
- In January Talarico said it was time to "tear down" ICE.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the rally remarks reveal Talarico's real position
- Left
- No left coverage.
- Centre
- No centre coverage.
- Right
- Hot Air says they reveal his "true agenda" despite his denial; Fox News frames them as contrasting with his message.
James Talarico person
Talarico says he has never wanted to abolish ICE and that the country needs it, while criticising what he calls a "secret police force". He had earlier called for tearing ICE down and replacing it. No comment on the rally remarks was reported.
“"No, and I never have," Talarico responded” — Fox News
Malik Williams person
Williams, a Democratic legislative candidate, told the crowd that abolishing ICE and legalizing and taxing cannabis were goals he supported alongside electing Talarico.
“We're gonna abolish ICE, we're gonna tax the rich” — Fox News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Talarico rally warmup act calls for abolishing ICE, contrasting Senate hopeful's message
Critical News report leading with the gap between the warm-up speaker's call to abolish ICE and Talarico's denial, backed by his January remarks and polling.
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Hot AirR ·
Talarico Rally: Let's Abolish ICE and Legalize Weed!
Critical Opinion-style blog post that builds on the Fox report to portray Talarico's rally as radical and urges Republicans to use it in ads.
- 28 Oct 14:36 First Fox NewsR Talarico rally warmup act calls for abolishing ICE, contrasting Senate hopeful's message
- 28 Oct 20:00 +5h 24m Hot AirR Talarico Rally: Let's Abolish ICE and Legalize Weed!
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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