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Texas hasn't elected a Democrat for Senate since 1988. James Talarico has a shot, but Republicans have launched a full culture war to try to prevent it. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Jolie Myers, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by Bridger Dunnagan, and hosted by Noel King. Democratic US Senate candidate James Talarico speaks at a campaign rally during his "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts Tour" at the Galveston Railroad Museum in Galveston, Texas, on October 22, 2026. Photo by Mark Felix / AFP via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming...
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B2 · Upper-intermediate
Comfortable if you already follow TV news
- 89% of the words are B1 or easier.
- 161 words a minute: natural, fairly fast speech.
- 117 harder words (B2 and up) in the whole episode.
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Also, Paxton has done some very, very bad stuff.
Tallarico is man enough for Texas.
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Is this episode right for you?
B2 · Upper-intermediate
Comfortable if you already follow TV news
- 89% of the words are B1 or easier.
- 161 words a minute: natural, fairly fast speech.
- 117 harder words (B2 and up) in the whole episode.
Transcript
The opening of the episode. The whole transcript is in the player.
harder words (B2+)
The people of the great nation of Texas have not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988, but this year that might change. James Talarico, a Presbyterian seminarian, school teacher, self-convest, cringe progressive — Yes, I was doing it maybe in an annoying way — is leading in most polls.
His opponent, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, is facing two headwinds, the price of gas and everything. Also, Paxton has done some very, very bad stuff. So Republicans have been trying some messaging questioning whether
Tallarico is man enough for Texas. Low-T, Tallarico. Too weak for Texas. Tofu, Tallarico.
That was the opening. The rest of the episode (25 min) is in the player: every word clickable, with translation, saved words and flashcards.
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