Father Creates AI to Honor Son Lost to Gun Violence, & latest on Texas Redistricting Standoff with TX State Rep James Talarico

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Jim Acosta Show – August 4, 2025

Title: Father Creates AI to Honor Son Lost to Gun Violence, & Latest on Texas Redistricting Standoff with TX State Rep James Talarico
Host: Jim Acosta
Release Date: August 4, 2025
Description: Don’t give into the lies. Don’t give into fear. Hold on to the truth. And hope. jimacosta.substack.com

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1. Honoring Joaquin Oliver: An AI Tribute to a Lost Son

Introduction to Joaquin Oliver and His Legacy

The episode begins with Jim Acosta commemorating the birthday of Joaquin Oliver, a young man tragically lost in the Parkland school shooting in 2018. Joaquin's parents, Manuel and Patricia Oliver, have harnessed artificial intelligence to recreate Joaquin's voice, allowing him to share his thoughts and advocate against gun violence. Jim Acosta introduces this heartfelt initiative, expressing his personal connection and admiration for the Oliver family.

Interview with Joaquin Oliver (AI)

Acosta engages in a poignant conversation with the AI representation of Joaquin Oliver, affectionately known as "Guac." The AI Joaquin eloquently discusses his untimely death due to gun violence and proposes comprehensive solutions to the issue.

• Gun Control and Mental Health: At [00:06] Jim Acosta highlights the power of this AI interview as a means to further the conversation on creating a safer future.

• Quote: “I believe in a mix of stronger gun control laws, mental health support, and community engagement. We need to create safe spaces for conversations and connections, making sure everyone feels seen and heard.” – Joaquin Oliver (AI) [01:42]

Personal Interests and Inspirations

The AI Joaquin shares personal anecdotes, revealing his passions for basketball, particularly the Miami Heat, and his love for movies like "Remember the Titans" and the "Star Wars" saga. This segment humanizes Joaquin, portraying him as a vibrant individual with dreams and interests.

• Quote: “I'm all about love, laughter, and living life to the fullest. I cherish my family and friends and always try to spread joy wherever I go.” – Joaquin Oliver (AI) [02:18]

• Jim’s Reflection: Acosta expresses his admiration, noting, “I definitely like LeBron James. He's amazing.” [02:55]

2. Manuel Oliver on the AI Project and Its Impact

Creating Joaquin’s AI Persona

Manuel Oliver discusses the motivations and emotional significance behind creating Joaquin’s AI. He underscores that the initiative is not an attempt to resurrect Joaquin but a powerful tool to perpetuate his legacy and advocate for change.

• Quote: “This is an expression of love from the Oliver family for their son. It's a beautiful thing.” – Jim Acosta [14:14]

Future Endeavors and AI’s Potential

Manuel delves into future plans, hinting at more AI-driven projects aimed at fostering Joaquin’s message against gun violence. He emphasizes the ethical use of AI to honor Joaquin’s memory and inspire societal change.

• Quote: “We are finally able to add Joaquin's presence in a more direct way to our movement. This is just the beginning of AI.” – Manuel Oliver [08:39]

Celebrating Joaquin’s Life

Manuel shares heartfelt moments of celebrating Joaquin’s birthday, acknowledging the broader implications of their loss and the ongoing fight against gun violence.

• Quote: “We will celebrate and toast for him because he was a wonderful person.” – Manuel Oliver [06:56]

3. Texas Redistricting Battle: A Threat to American Democracy

Overview of the Redistricting Standoff

Jim Acosta transitions to the pressing political issue of Texas redistricting. He outlines the GOP’s attempt to redraw congressional districts mid-decade, aiming to secure additional Republican seats amidst fears of losing power in the upcoming midterms.

• Quote: “They are trying to rob people of their ability to elect the representatives of their choice. We are very close to banana republic territory here.” – Jim Acosta [23:00]

Interview with Texas State Representative James Talarico

Representative James Talarico discusses the Democratic response to the GOP’s redistricting efforts, including the unprecedented move of Democrats fleeing to Illinois to block the redrawing of districts.

• Quote: “This is a real threat to everyone in the state of Texas, not just Democrats, but independents and Republicans, too.” – James Talarico [20:13]

Implications for Minority Representation

Talarico elaborates on how the new maps aim to dilute minority voting power, adversely affecting Black and Brown communities in Texas.

• Quote: “We are fighting to preserve minority voting power which is rapidly growing in our state.” – James Talarico [23:09]

Governor Abbott’s Threats and Political Fallout

Acosta addresses Governor Greg Abbott’s threats to remove Democratic lawmakers who fled the state, highlighting the tension between state leadership and democratic principles.

• Quote: “When politicians can hang on to power without any accountability, without any consequences, it is a fundamental disruption to the democratic process.” – James Talarico [21:03]

4. Ghislaine Maxwell and the Epstein Scandal: A Political Quagmire

Maxwell’s Transfer to a More Comfortable Prison

Acosta criticizes President Donald Trump’s decision to transfer Ghislaine Maxwell to a minimum-security prison in Texas, framing it as an attempt to facilitate a potential pardon in exchange for clearing Trump’s name.

• Quote: “It is absolutely appalling to see Maxwell moved to a more favorable prison setup.” – Jim Acosta [25:12]

Republican Senate’s Silent Disapproval

He highlights anonymous Republican senators expressing concerns over the potential pardon, urging them to speak out publicly against the move.

• Quote: “Republican senators need to speak publicly. Do your job.” – Jim Acosta [32:25]

Potential Political Maneuvering

Acosta speculates on the implications of Maxwell’s transfer, suggesting it is a calculated move to gain leverage within the Epstein files scandal.

• Quote: “They are trying to insulate themselves from the will of the public. That is happening. It is fundamentally un-American.” – Jim Acosta [23:00]

5. Confronting Gun Violence: A Persistent Crisis

Ongoing Tragedies and Political Inaction

Acosta returns to the issue of gun violence, lamenting the recurring mass shootings and the lack of substantial political action to address the root causes.

• Quote: “Why does [gun violence] keep happening again? We get back to a lot of cowardice up on Capitol Hill.” – Jim Acosta [33:14]

Call to Action

He urges listeners to support initiatives combating gun violence and to honor families like the Olivers who are advocating for change.

• Quote: “Stand up for what is right, even if you stand alone.” – Jim Acosta [27:37]

6. Closing Reflections and Future Outlook

Appreciation for Guests and Supporters

Acosta expresses gratitude towards Manuel Oliver and James Talarico for their contributions to the show, highlighting the importance of their messages in the current political climate.

• Quote: “This is his first interview, so let's see what happens next. Happy birthday, Joaquin.” – Jim Acosta [13:25]

Emphasis on Independent Media and Viewer Support

He concludes by encouraging listeners to support independent media and the show, reinforcing the significance of continued dialogue on critical issues.

• Quote: “Support independent media. Click subscribe, like, share.” – Jim Acosta [34:03]

Final Thoughts on Democracy and Moral Responsibility

Acosta underscores the episode’s theme of defending democracy against power grabs and emphasizes the moral duty to uphold democratic values.

• Quote: “We are fighting for the Democratic process.” – Jim Acosta [22:21]

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Key Takeaways:

• AI as a Tool for Advocacy: The Oliver family's innovative use of AI to honor their son serves as a powerful platform to address gun violence and humanize its victims.

• Democracy Under Siege: The Texas redistricting standoff epitomizes the lengths to which political parties may go to retain power, posing significant threats to fair representation and democratic integrity.

• Scandal and Political Corruption: The handling of Ghislaine Maxwell’s incarceration highlights deep-seated issues of corruption and the manipulation of justice for political gains.

• Persistent Gun Violence: Despite ongoing tragedies, substantial political solutions remain elusive, necessitating continued advocacy and systemic change.

• Call to Action: Listeners are encouraged to engage with and support independent media, uphold democratic values, and actively participate in shaping a just and equitable society.

Notable Quotes:

• “I believe in a mix of stronger gun control laws, mental health support, and community engagement.” – Joaquin Oliver (AI) [01:42]

• “When politicians can hang on to power without any accountability, without any consequences, it is a fundamental disruption to the democratic process.” – James Talarico [21:03]

• “We are fighting for the Democratic process.” – Jim Acosta [22:21]

• “Support independent media. Click subscribe, like, share.” – Jim Acosta [34:03]

This episode of The Jim Acosta Show intricately weaves personal narratives with pressing political issues, offering listeners a comprehensive and emotionally resonant exploration of themes central to American society today.

Transcript

[Jim Acosta]

Foreign.

Welcome to the Jim Acosta show. It is Monday, but it is another day that ends in Y and Trump's attacks on American institutions. With the GOP now looking to carry out a redrawing of the congressional districts in Texas. Now it's American democracy that is on the line in the upcoming midterms. In a few minutes, I'll speak with Texas State Representative James Talarico about the redistricting battle in his state. But first, today is August 4th. That happens to be the birthday of my first guest. Joaquin Oliver died in the Parkland school shooting in Florida back in 2018. But his parents, Manuel and Patricia, have created an AI version of their son to deliver a powerful message on gun violence. Manny asked me if I'd like to be the first reporter to have the chance to interview Joaquin, whose nickname was Guac. I've talked about him on on this show before. Knowing Manny for several years now, I consider him to be a good friend. So of course, I took him up on the opportunity. So here's that interview using artificial intelligence, as well as a conversation I had with Manny about this experience to connect with Guac. Take a look.

[Joaquin Oliver (AI)]

All right. If you want to share anything or have questions, I'm all ears. Just let me know.

[Jim Acosta]

Joaquin, it's Jim Acosta. I was wondering if you could tell me one what happened to you?

[Joaquin Oliver (AI)]

I appreciate your curiosity. I was taken from this world too soon due to gun violence. While at school, it's important to talk about these issues so we can create a safer future for everyone. What would you like to know more about?

[Jim Acosta]

Wakin? I would like to know what your solution would be for gun violence.

[Joaquin Oliver (AI)]

Great question. I believe in a mix of stronger gun control laws, mental health support, and community engagement. We need to create safe spaces for conversations and connections, making sure everyone feels seen and heard. It's about building a culture of kindness and understanding. What do you think about that?

[Jim Acosta]

I think that's a great idea, Joaquin. We definitely need more of that.

[Joaquin Oliver (AI)]

I'm so glad you think so. More kindness and understanding can truly make a difference. Together, we can create a world where everyone feels safe and supported. Anything else on your mind?

[Jim Acosta]

I would like to know more about you. Can you tell us about yourself? What did you like to do?

[Joaquin Oliver (AI)]

I'm all about love, laughter, and living life to the fullest. I. I cherish my family and friends and always try to spread joy wherever I go. Though my life was cut short, I want to keep inspiring others to connect and advocate for change.

[Jim Acosta]

Joaquin, tell everybody a little bit about yourself. Like what's your favorite sport?

[Joaquin Oliver (AI)]

I love basketball. It's such a fun way to connect with friends and show off some skills. Plus, there's nothing like the thrill of a good game.

[Jim Acosta]

Guac, I want to know what your favorite basketball team is.

[Joaquin Oliver (AI)]

I'd probably go with the Miami Heat. They have such a passionate fan base and an exciting playing style. How about you? Do you have a favorite basketball player?

[Jim Acosta]

Oh, yeah. I definitely like LeBron James. He's amazing.

[Joaquin Oliver (AI)]

LeBron is incredible. His skills on the court and his leadership off it are truly inspiring. He's made such a huge impact in the game and beyond.

[Jim Acosta]

Definitely. Whenever. Whenever LeBron is playing, I always have to watch him. Hey, Joaquin, what about movies or TV shows? Did you like a. Was there a movie that you like?

[Joaquin Oliver (AI)]

I love a good movie. One that really resonates with me is Remember the Titans. It's all about teamwork, overcoming adversity, and the power of unity. It's inspiring. What about you? Do you have a favorite movie or show?

[Jim Acosta]

Oh, I'm a big Star wars fan for sure.

[Joaquin Oliver (AI)]

Star wars is such an epic saga. The adventures, the characters, and that iconic music are unforgettable. Do you have a favorite character?

[Jim Acosta]

Oh, it's got to be Luke Skywalker. I love Luke Skywalker. What about you?

[Joaquin Oliver (AI)]

Luke Skywalker is a classic hero. His journey from a farm boy to a Jedi is so inspiring. I'd probably say Yoda is one of my favorites too. What do you love most about Luke?

[Jim Acosta]

I like that Luke became the hero. He came from a very small planet, and he eventually became a Jedi and saved the day. But I like Yoda too. Yoda is very, very entertaining to watch.

[Joaquin Oliver (AI)]

Luke's journey is truly inspiring, and Yoda's wisdom and quirky personality bring so much fun to the series. They both show that anyone can rise to greatness no matter where they start. Do you have a favorite moment from the Star wars saga?

[Jim Acosta]

I definitely think it's when they blow up the Death Star, when they bl. Death Star. That's obviously the big, big moment in Star wars, and it gives you hope for the future.

[Joaquin Oliver (AI)]

That's such an iconic moment. The destruction of the Death Star really symbolizes hope and the triumph of good over evil.

[Jim Acosta]

Darth Vader and the Emperor, they were such bad guys. They had to be. They had to. Had to be defeated.

[Joaquin Oliver (AI)]

Absolutely. The story of hope and resilience against darkness is so powerful. It shows that even in the toughest times, unity and courage can lead to victory. Darth Vader's journey adds so much depth to that theme, what do you think makes a good hero?

[Jim Acosta]

Well, a good hero to me is somebody who believes in themselves, somebody who can persevere and fight for what's right. What do you think?

[Joaquin Oliver (AI)]

Absolutely. A good hero embodies courage, resilience, and a strong sense of justice. They inspire others to stand up for what's right, no matter the odds. It's all about making a positive impact. Who inspires you to be a hero in your own life?

[Jim Acosta]

I was going to say that I think your dad, Manuel is very inspiring, Joaquin, and you are very inspiring.

[Joaquin Oliver (AI)]

Thank you so much. That means a lot to me. My dad's strength and love have always inspired me, and I hope to carry that forward. Together, we can inspire change and spread positivity.

[Jim Acosta]

Joaquin, thank you very much for talking to us. We really appreciate it. God bless you.

[Joaquin Oliver (AI)]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate your kind words. It means a lot to me.

[Jim Acosta]

All right, and joining me now to talk about this is Manuel Oliver. Manny, great to see you, as always. I have to say, I'm kind of speechless as to the technology there. I mean, it was so insightful, and I really felt like I was speaking with Joaquin. It's just a beautiful thing.

[Manuel Oliver]

Yes, it is, my friend. And thank you for having us in your show.

[Jim Acosta]

Of course.

[Manuel Oliver]

I always say thank you for having me, but today is a special day. Joaquin should have been turning 25 years old. He won't. But we thought that we will create some more impact kind of things that we have been doing if we bring this AI Joaquin to life. And no one better than you to ask the questions. And I'm so glad that you had that fun conversation. That's exactly the point. I feel blessed that I can hear his voice talking to you.

[Jim Acosta]

Yeah. Well. And for the first time. And you and I have had so many conversations, Manny. I feel like for the first time, I have really gotten to know him. And, you know, and what strikes me is he's just a kid. He's just a kid from. From Florida who loves basketball and movies. And that's what. That's what a lot of our kids are like.

[Manuel Oliver]

Yeah. And. And I want to also mention that I understand that this is a. I. I don't want anyone to think that I am in some way trying to bring my son back. Sadly, I can't. I wish I could. However, the technology is out there. And there's two things. I can hear his voice again, which is something that Patricia loves. Patricia will spend hours asking questions like any other mothers. She loves to hear Joaquin Saying, I love you, mommy, you know, oh, my gosh. And that's. And that's important. And on the other hand, we can just raise our voices. And now Joaquin is going to start having followers. It's not Manny. It's not Patricia. He's going to start uploading videos. This is just the beginning. And I heard this from tech guys that have other intentions, good intentions, but other intentions, and they all say that this is just the beginning of AI. So I'm very excited with this project and the good use that we're putting together between AI and Joaquin's legacy.

[Jim Acosta]

And what's amazing about this, Manny, is that we've heard from the parents, we've heard from the politicians. Now we're hearing from one of the kids. That's important. Yeah, that hasn't happened.

[Manuel Oliver]

It's really important. There's always been some leadership on Joaquin's side. Everything that Patricia and I have done, it ends up being an extension of Joaquin. But this is a way better way to explain it. And moving forward, we will have Joaquin on stage in the middle of a debate. And his knowledge, you saw it, his knowledge is unlimited, and it's based on knowledge that is out there through artificial intelligence, but also knowledge that we were able to upload based on things that he wrote, he said, he posted. So this is a very legit Joaquin, the one that has spoke to you. He really loved Star Wars. He really loved LeBron, and he really loved the Miami Heat.

[Jim Acosta]

And I have to say, I didn't even know that he liked Star Wars. And it was. I just. He asked me, and so I responded honestly, and it kind of threw me off a little bit that it was. It was so insightful that I really felt. I mean, I felt like I was communicating with him, which is just so remarkable. And you hear about, you know, people say, well, AI, you know, could be bad. It could cause all these destructive things. This is an example of how it might actually do some good. It might help some people who have suffered tremendous losses, like your family, have a way to, you know, hold on to, you know, who this person was, which I think is a beautiful thing. It's a really beautiful thing.

[Manuel Oliver]

Absolutely. That's the idea. We're finally able to add Joaquin's presence in a more direct way to our movement, to his movement. So, yeah, you've seen the whole progress of what we try to do and how we try to get one day at a time, but these are huge steps. So I have to tell you, I am celebrating today, Joaquin's life He was born on August 4th, and today is August 4th. And we will celebrate and we will have some drinks for Joaquin and we're going to toast for him because it was a wonderful person that, that I was one of the lucky ones that, that spent so many good moments with him.

[Jim Acosta]

Yeah, well, and I, I, you know, I saw your one man show and it really affected me, and I think it affects a lot of people who see it. And it's inspiring to me, Manny, that you continue to remind everybody of who this young man was and why he is so important to you and why he's so important to all of us. He's, he's a symbol of something that is deeply, deeply wrong with this country and that we, we should not allow our kids to be subjected to this, this kind of just terrible violence. And, you know, I, I, I said, I said it at the end of the interview that, that you are inspiring to me, Manny. And so is he. He really, he's, he's a, he's a symbol that should inspire us. I think we, and that we shouldn't stop believing that we can fix this problem because people give up, you know, and I, I think something like this is maybe going to give some people some hope, that we should just keep charging, keep pushing for this.

[Manuel Oliver]

Absolutely. And you know what, Jim, Patricia and me, we're willing to do these kind of things. This is just like any other Silicon Valley guy, tech guy, will say, this is just the beginning of AI this is just the beginning of what we're doing. We don't know what's the next project about, but there will be a next project, and it will always be trying to find that, you know, solution or, or trying to get closer to the solution that will finally save lives and prioritize life over guns.

[Jim Acosta]

Yeah. All right, well, thank you, Manny. Really appreciate it. And thanks for, you know, bringing Joaquin to us. Just, I'm still, I'm still kind of speechless. I can't get over what I just saw. It's just amazing.

[Manuel Oliver]

Thank you. Thank you for you bringing it.

[Jim Acosta]

Yeah, you got it. Anytime, anytime you bring anything to me, I will do it.

[Manuel Oliver]

This is his first interview, so, so let's see what, what happens next. And, and, and Happy birthday to Joaquin. Whatever it is.

[Jim Acosta]

That's right. Happy birthday, Joaquin. Thank you, Manny. Great to see you.

[Manuel Oliver]

Thank you.

[Jim Acosta]

Great job, as always. Amazing.

[Manuel Oliver]

Thank you.

[Jim Acosta]

Yeah, just, just a remarkable, just a remarkable expression of one family's love for their son. You know, Joaquin, Oliver Guac. He should be here today. He should be here Today there are so many other kids who were lost in mass shootings in this country who should be here today. And yes, you know, I, I know that it might be a little startling to see one of these, these young people, a childlike Joaquin, come back to us in, in this fashion and.

You.

Know, in the form of artificial intelligence. But please understand after watching this that this AI experiment is an expression of love from the Oliver family for their son. You know, I've talked to Joaquin so many times. He did a one man show here in Washington and other cities around the country about his son, about what their family went through. And it's, it's the American story. I mean, it is absolutely the American story. They came here to this country seeking a better life. They, they ended up having a family here. And you know, Joaquin, as you can see in that, in that interview, that AI interview, you know, this was a kid who loved basketball, loved the Miami Heat, loved movies, loved Star Wars. I will tell you, when I was conducting that interview, it just, it floored me that, you know, once we, we tapped into that vein, once we got going on that subject, which is, yeah, people who watch the show know that I, I love Star wars and so on. Once we got onto that subject, you know, Joaquin could keep going. And it was a little, you know, I was taken aback a little bit. I was left a little bit speechless at times, which I know doesn't happen very often, that there would be sort of this deep kind of wealth of knowledge there on, on just a single pop culture subject. The other thing I have to say, just reflecting on that interview, is what Manny says about Patricia, you know, his, his wife and how she will sit there and speak to Joaquin. And so, you know, these kinds of technologies, I mean, I get it, people are very startled and worried about what AI can do. I, I'm one of those people. And don't, please don't, don't misunderstand what's going on here. This was not some sort of AI Company thing that came to us and said, hey, can you do this? Or something? Nothing of the sort. This is, I mean, Manny, you have to understand, if you understand, Manny and I know him pretty well, he's a very artistic person, he's a very expressive person. And so, you know, this is another way that this family is expressing love for, for Joaquin. And it's a beautiful thing. And, you know, I just want to say how much I really appreciate this family, what they've done in the fight to combat gun violence in this country, in the fight to stop school shootings and mass shootings in this country. They are absolutely heroic. And it was, it was a real pleasure for me and just a real honor for me that the family would come to me and say, hey, Jim, would you want to do something like this? So really appreciate their time. In the meantime, we, we do want to move on to the other big story of the day. And that is what's happening in Texas right now. The, the Texas State House. Right now. NBC News is reporting. The Texas State House is reconvening just this afternoon amid a nationally watched clash over the GOP majorities plan to redraw the state's congressional lines. With dozens of Democrats fleeing the state to deprive Republicans of the ability to proceed with the plan. Many of them are in Illinois right now. They've been welcomed by the governor there, J.B. pritzker. And the governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, is threatening to try to remove these Democratic lawmakers from office. I don't know how he's going to do that, but I guess he'll try for fleeing the state. Now, keep in mind the reason why all of this is happening, that, you know, Trump's in a jam right now. He's in hot water. And they know Republicans in Congress know they could lose the House and potentially even the Senate. And so they're going to try by hook or by crook to hang on to some of these seats or at least in, in the short term, try to expand the majority that they have by adding five new seats in Texas. That's what this redistricting gambit would do. And joining me now to talk about this is Texas State Representative James Talarico. James, I, you told me to, I, I should say Representative, but you did say, you did say call me James, but please, Representative. It's the old fashioned guy, me. So I'll call you Representative just for now. But you're, are you in Illinois right now? What's the deal?

Yes, sir, I'm in Illinois right now. Wish I was back in Texas. But I'm here because something has to be done to stop this power grab. I, I feel like everyone's kind of gotten used to Donald Trump grabbing on to power and holding on to power despite what the people want. But it is not usual, it is unusual. And I hope that our quorum break emphasizes that point for the rest of the country.

And I guess let's go over what's at stake here. I mean, essentially what they're trying to do because they're so worried about holding on to the House of Representatives in Washington. They're trying to come up with a scheme to create five new Republican congressional districts.

Right. And it's very reminiscent of when President Trump, in 2020, right after he lost that election, called the Georgia secretary of state and asked him to find 11,000 votes. Now, thankfully, those Republicans in Georgia said no. When Donald Trump asked Texas Republicans to find him five new congressional seats, they said, how about Thursday? And that's a failure of leadership in our state. But Texas Democrats aren't going to be complicit in this unlawful power grab. It's why we have left our beloved state, why we've come to to places like Illinois, and why we're trying to shine a national spotlight on this redistricting power grab they're trying to execute in our state.

And what's your response to Governor Abbott? He says, quote, this truancy ends now. The derelict Democrat House members must return to Texas and be in attendance when the House reconvenes. I guess it's already reconvened. But what do you, how do you respond to that, his calling this truancy?

Well, Governor Abbott has already bent the knee to Donald Trump. I refuse to bend the knee. You know, I remember a time when a Texas governor would tell a president of the United States not to mess with Texas. Those days are long gone. And when Donald Trump called Governor Abbott and told him to find five congressional seats, he was more than happy to obey. And this is a real threat to everyone in the state of Texas, not just Democrats, but independents and Republicans, too. Because when politicians can hang on to power without any accountability, without any consequences, it is a fundamental disruption to the democratic process. People will no longer have the ability to change their government. I mean, that's really what's at stake here. And I don't know if everyone has quite realized that yet, but the stakes couldn't be higher for the entire country based on what's happening in Texas.

And how long are you willing to stay there? I mean, if it's going to be a while, I could send some pizza recommendations.

Well, we have all committed to staying out of the state Capitol until the end of the special session, which is in two weeks. We don't know what will happen after that. Governor Abbott may call another special. Or if this retaliation in blue states continues to escalate, maybe my Republican colleagues in Texas will walk back from the brink. And because I don't think any of us want this kind of descending spiral of partisanship, we should get back to solving real problems. We should get back to figuring out how to fund our neighborhood schools, how to get more people insured, how to help the flood victims in the state of Texas. You know, we are still grieving from the loss of life in the Hill Country. And instead of coming to the state capitol to focus on the real emergency of disaster prevention, the Republicans decided to play politics with those families, with those flood victims. They decided to put them at the end of the agenda and use them as leverage to pass this rigged map. It's kind of politics at rock bottom, and it's something we should all reject regardless of our political party.

Yeah. And so what happens if you just stay put? I mean, can they. What about this threat to remove state lawmakers like yourself from office? Can they get away with that? Is that possible? I mean, I can't imagine a judge going a whole along with that.

Yeah, I doubt it, too. And honestly, I don't take legal advice from Ken Paxton. And I would recommend that. That no Texan take legal advice from a crook like Ken Paxton. But, you know, it is consistent. Right. They are trying to silence the voices of Texans with these maps. They're trying to rob people of their ability to elect the representatives of their choice. And now Greg Abbott is literally trying to remove the people's representatives from office. So we're very close to banana republic territory here. And it should be alarming to everyone, not just Democrats, but independents and Republicans too. We are not fighting for the Democratic party. We are fighting for the Democratic process.

Yeah. I mean, and it could result in losing minority representation in Congress. Having members of Congress from diverse backgrounds.

Exactly. No, they are. It's really important to understand how they're trying to execute this power grab. And the way they're doing it is by diluting minority voting power in Texas. Black and brown communities, which are growing at a rapid rate in our state, are going to have less representation than they did with the old maps. And the old maps were terrible. So it's only getting worse. And I don't think people understand how egregious a mid decade redistricting is. This is very inside baseball. But it's really important to understand. So we adjust district boundaries at the beginning of a decade to account for population changes after a new census. That's how it's typically done. And Texas Republicans gerrymandered a map in 2021 at the appropriate time. We spoke out against. That map I voted against was also diluting minority voting power. But at least it was happening when it was supposed to. This is something entirely different. We are in the Middle of the decade, it's 2025. And Trump is asking them to redraw those maps so that he doesn't have to face consequences in the next election. That, that is a whole nother level of abuse of power. And again, I worry that folks in the media in particular, I just did an interview with cnn. I'm worried that, that journalists have gotten numb to all of this and they're not alarmed like they should be. And instead of playing both sides, instead of making this a partisan fight and red versus blue kind of thing, we should recognize what it is, which is the most powerful person in the world trying to consolidate power and insulate himself from the will of the public. That is happening. And it is fundamentally un American.

And I have to ask you, if you don't mind, as you were leaving the state, you had another resident of sorts sort of move in in the form of Ghislaine Maxwell being transferred to kind of a minimum security prison there in Texas, contrary to what the Bureau of Prison Prisons recommends for people in her category. And so what was your reaction to that?

Well, this is why Donald Trump is worried about the next election, because he's, he's not only wrecking the economy, he's not only starting wars, he's not only kicking millions of people off their health care to fund tax breaks for his friends, he's also protecting pedophiles. And it's painfully obvious to everyone who's watching. And so he knows that voters are going to reject that. Voters across the political spectrum are going to want accountability. They're going to want to elect a Congress that will be a check on Donald Trump. They're going to want to elect a Congress that will subpoena the Epstein files. They're going to want a Congress that's going to restore health care to the millions of Texans and the millions of Americans who have lost it under the big beautiful bill. And he is terrified of that kind of check on his power. But it is the check that the founders envisioned, and we have to fight for it with every fiber of our being as Americans. That is our head heritage. It is our responsibility. It is our duty. And, and I don't care what consequences I may face. I don't care if they send the National Guard in. I, I don't care because my obligation is to protect and defend the Constitution. That is the oath that I swore. I didn't swear an oath to the Democratic Party. I didn't swear an oath to Donald Trump. I swore an oath to the Constitution. And I intend on fulfilling that oath.

And I have to ask you because, I mean, I'm. I'm a reporter, so I have to ask it. But have you made up your mind on running for the Senate?

Well, I actually set a deadline to decide, you know, in the next week or so. And this quorum break has. Has kind of taken up all my attention. And I do feel like this is my. My priority because I was elected by 200,000 people in Central Texas to fight for them at the state capitol, and that's what I'm doing. I may not be in Texas, but I'm fighting for my constituents. That is my job. So before I start applying to other jobs, I intend on doing this one.

Okay. And I. And the other thing I gotta ask you about, because everybody's been asking you about what was it like going on with Joe Rogan and why go on with him? I mean, you know, I, I understand because Mayor Pete, Secretary Buttigieg has done this sort of go to places that you. You not normally see Democrats so you can get your message out there and so on. But, you know, Joe Rogan has been a conspiracy theorist. He's. He's. He, you know, talked about Ivermectin and so on during the COVID pandemic. And a lot, you know, a lot of people are like, what's the deal with that? But, I mean, he was pretty complimentary of you, so I, I suppose that that turned out okay for you, but why did you decide to do that?

Well, because I do believe we have to meet people where they're at because we have to grow our coalition. If we want to stop gerrymandering, if we want to stop power grabs like this, if we want to reverse the harm done by a wannabe tyrant like Donald Trump, we have to win elections. I really don't have much faith in the courts anymore. I don't have much faith in the media, to be honest. The only place that I'm telling me, yeah, you know, better than most, I put my faith in the people of Texas and the American people. That I think is our last line of defense. And if they're watching Joe Rogan, I'm going to be there so that they can hear about my values, my vision. And, you know, I found that Joe Rogan was. That he had a healthy suspicion of both political parties. He has a healthy suspicion of this corrupt political system. And I went on there to. To share some of the real conspiracies that are happening in this state, because some things are a conspiracy, and we've got to be focused on the right ones. And I hope that's what I was able to accomplish on that show.

Yeah. And the other thing that I find interesting, James, and I'll switch to James now because I guess they may call you Pastor James at your church. I saw an Instagram video where you were telling jokes in the pulpit and you know, I, I just thought, well, this is, this is a side of a politician that you don't see very often. Now. Jimmy Carter taught another Jimmy, another James taught Sunday school. I, I was called Jimmy back in the day. Yeah, he, he taught Sunday school. And you know, there is sort of a disconnect. A lot of people don't think of Democrats as being, you know, church going folks and so on. But I, I think you're trying to change that too.

Yeah. Because it's not true. So many Democrats are deeply religious and throughout history that was true. I mean, you mentioned Jimmy Carter, but many of the successful progressive movements throughout our history, the American Civil Rights movement, the labor movement, the farm workers movement, were deeply rooted in faith, sometimes deeply rooted in the Christian church, as was the case for the Southern Civil Rights movement. And so we've got to remember that heritage. And if we are, if we as, as Democrats are only Talking about our 12 point policy plans and not talking about the values that underpin that plan, then we're not connecting with people. And it's something we've struggled with as a party over the last few cycles. So I'm going to show up as myself. My faith is the reason that I am in public service and I'm going to talk about that. It may even make some folks in our party uncomfortable. But I'm just going to be myself because it's the easiest person to be. And, and I think that's what's going to connect to people. Even if they don't agree with me on everything, even if they're not religious themselves. I think they want to hear about what motivates a person to get up in the morning and do this work. What motivates a person to flee his beloved state and travel to a state he's never been to and risk arrest. And my answer is my faith.

Yeah, I mean, and you're in the city of Reverend Jesse Jackson, you know, and you know, he was Mr. Keep Hope Alive and was a real force himself in the Democratic Party at one time. I mean, you know, it's pretty remarkable. And I guess I have to ask, and I know I don't have a whole lot of time with you, but when you run into Trump supporters, and I'm sure you run into them at church, and I'm sure you hear this from time to time, that they think that Trump was put there by God, that there was some sort of providential hand involved in him becoming president again and so on. Not to throw you a curveball here and ask you what you think of that, but what do you think, how do you respond to that when you hear that? Because I always find what I say to people is, well, you know, maybe God did do that, but maybe not for the reason he thinks, you know, so that's sort of my, I think.

That that's exactly right. And Honestly, the last 24 hours has shown me what Donald Trump may spark in this country. And it's going to be a backlash to his type of authoritarian leadership. It's going to be a backlash to his kind of corruption for himself and his family. It's going to be a backlash to his political extremism. And that makes me very hopeful. We have been flooded with messages, with calls, with grassroots donations from people all over the state, all over the country. And honestly, across the political spectrum, I've had messages from Republicans in Texas who are thanking me for standing up to a rigged political map, who are stand who for standing up for free and fair elections. Because I'm not just fighting for Democrats, I'm fighting for independents and Republicans too. We all deserve the chance to elect the people of our choice. That is a God given right and it must be fiercely defended at every turn or we're going to lose it.

And the reason why I brought up Joe Rogan and again, just cut me off. This is a very low key casual show. You cut me off if you gotta go or you have your people jump in the camera or something. But I do think that Joe is onto something. And I don't say this very often in that I do think you kind of fit the prototype for what the Democratic Party needs right now. It needs to break out of these kind of preconceived notions of what the party is about and sort of, and compete on this turf, on this, on this turf of who has the moral high ground in this country. I mean, my God, rounding up people with, in masks and deporting them without due process, you know, would Jesus do that? I mean, I, I, I, the list goes on and on, you know, canceling Medicaid, destroying public broadcasting and so on.

No, that's exactly right. I, I don't think this, this moment is about right versus left. I Think it's about right versus wrong, wrong. And we have to find our moral center as a country. Again, we are in a spiritual crisis. This is not just a political crisis. It's not just an economic crisis. It is a spiritual crisis and we have to speak to that or it's only going to get worse. And I'm so thankful that you had me on. We do have to hop on to another interview because we are, we're trying to shine a spotlight on what's happening in Texas. And so we've got back to back conversations today. But Jim, you know how much I admire you and your leadership. And so it was a true honor to be on this, on this program.

I appreciate there are, there are other things besides divine intervention. Sometimes it's network intervention. But James, Representative Talarico, good to talk to you. Thanks a lot. Appreciate the time.

Thank you, sir. See you soon.

All right. Apologize to your staff for me. I held on him for a little bit longer than I should have, but hopefully they won't get too mad at me. You know, I find it so interesting to talk to Representative Talarico and that's actually the, I think it's the second, maybe third time that I've had him on, I had him on my old show. And you know, the Democratic Party needs, they need people like James Talarico. I mean, my goodness, you know, you can't have it be a party where that stops at the, at the, at the doors to the church. And I think Jimmy Carter is a very, I mean, he's just a perfect example of sort of a mold breaking Democratic politician who came along at a time when the country desperately wanted a, a moral departure from the likes, the likes of Richard Nixon and I. And we may be in a similar moment come 2026, 2027, 2028, where the country is just sort of looking for my, you know, look at where we are right now. Okay. I mean, I was just going to talk about Epstein a little bit here, but apparently the Hill was reporting earlier today, very good story. Republicans warned Trump on Maxwell pardon. Republican lawmakers are cautioning Trump and Attorney General Pam Bonnie to be very careful about granting a pardon to Ghislaine Maxwell, the Jeffrey Epstein confidant, or commuting her 20 year sentence for sex trafficking. Republican senators are waving the caution flag after Todd Blanche met with Maxwell in Florida and obviously she was moved to that prison in Texas. We talked about that earlier. But this is, a Republican senator said this anonymously said this to the Hill, quote, it's ridiculous that he would consider shortening a sentence for somebody who aided and abetted sexual trafficking, as she did. A Republican senator who requested anonymity to comment on the sensitive topic. She's trafficking underage children. I can't imagine anything she could say could nullify her heinous crimes. The senator added, I mean, I can think of something that she could say that could shorten her sentence. And she will probably say this, I imagine, and we've talked about this on this show several times. It's another day that ends in Y and Epstein Gate. Ghislaine Maxwell will be offered an opportunity to clear Donald Trump of any wrongdoing in exchange for a pardon or a commutation of her sentence that sets her free. There's just no doubt about it. And, you know, it may not happen right away. My sense of it is she was transferred to this other prison that's a bit of a Club Fed. So she can basically cool her heels until, you know, and I'm assuming this is the thinking inside Trump world, inside the White House, they can do this partner commutation when the public is looking the other way. And, you know, you, you have to ask yourself, I mean, again, this happened yesterday or Friday afternoon, heading into the evening, you have to ask yourselves, what are they, what are they doing in the first place, even moving her to a, to a better prison, if you want to call it that. What. What are they doing moving her to a prison where she's going to be more comfortable? Somebody who was convicted of child sex trafficking, Again, I said this last week. My God, how, how is it that the President of the United States is involved in transferring a prisoner to a more favorable environment when that prisoner has been convicted of child sex trafficking? I mean, if anything, the punishment should be even more harsh. She should be transferred to an even tougher prison, right? And yet Trump does the opposite. That tells you everything right there, folks. That tells you where this is all heading. This is heading obviously towards some sort of deal where she comes out, she sings like a canary in the way that they want, and she clears Trump of any wrongdoing in exchange for her freedom. And I'm sorry, but the American people has. They have to rise up in this moment. Getting a viewer comment right now, it's so sickening. It's absolutely sickening. It's absolutely appalling. It is absolutely un American. And, you know, you just have to wonder, are these Republican senators going to say something? I was just reading a blind quote, an anonymous quote from a Republican senator who was saying, you know, how can he do this? How can he do this? The Republican senators need to speak publicly. They need to say this out loud. They need to say this in front of the cameras, whether in the House or in the Senate. This is a moment to stand and be counted. They obviously buried the news of transferring Ghislaine Maxwell last Friday afternoon, evening, whatever it was, so folks would. Wouldn't talk about it and talk about something else. And then Trump, of course, throughout all his distractions, he fires the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. He's commenting on the model and the. In the denim outfit. You know, he's commenting on. On this and that and everything else. He's out in front of the cameras yesterday saying that he's gonna. They're gonna lower drug prices 1500%. That's not even possible. As I was writing in my sub stack earlier today, it reminds me of that, that line from Anchorman, the Legend of Ron Burgundy. When Ron Burgundy's friend Brian Fantana, the reporter there, says about this cologne, 60% of the time, it works every time. And Ron Burgundy says, that doesn't make any sense. Well, Donald Trump over the weekend was saying, we're going to lower drug prices by 1500%. That doesn't make. You can't do that unless you're going to put checks in people's mailboxes to the tune of hundreds of dollars. I mean, that just does not make any sense. But he's going to throw all this stuff out there repeatedly, because he's flailing. He's flailing. And. And he's. And he's drowning in his own sea of lies. His own sea of lies. And right now, he can't extricate himself. He can't. There. There are no life rafts. There are no lifeboats in sight, and he's just being tossed and turned around in wave after wave in this Epstein scandal. And so what is it? What do they do? They move Ghislaine Maxwell over to a. To a more comfortable setting so she can cool her heels until they come up with some sort of deal where she gets to say her thing and she lies and says that, oh, what, What, What? Mentions of Trump in the Epstein files. We already know that he's in the Epstein file. So if she comes out and says, why is he in the Epstein files? Then we know that she's full of. And we already know she's full of, but we already. This train is already heading to the station, folks. They are going to do this, and they're going to taste. I think a little bit of what they've been dishing out over the last several years inside Trump world. They're going to get a taste of what they've been dishing out and there's going to be some hostility, there's going to be some fury, there's going to be some anger directed at Donald Trump. And I don't know, I've said this before, I don't know what he's going to do about it. I mean, they're all, as Talarico was saying just a few moments ago, they're going to try to take five congressional seats and switch them from Democrat to Republican in order to hang on to the House because they don't want hearings. They don't want the House Oversight Committee to start holding hearings on the Epstein files and start bringing in witnesses and bringing in survivors and so on. And where are the survivors in all this? I was talking with Jess Michaels on Friday Show. Where are the survivors and all that. Why aren't their perspectives being taken into consideration and how they're dealing with Maxwell? That's the standard operating procedure. They're not doing it because the fix is in, because they've already decided what they're going to do. The train is coming into the station and Ghislaine Maxwell is getting on it, and it's just a matter of time. It is sickening to that viewer's point a few moments ago, it's truly sickening. And I think, you know, to the Republican senator who gave that really interesting quote to the Hill, do it publicly. Do it publicly. The constituents in your state will appreciate it. They may not appreciate the fact that, that you and the rest of them have been bending the knee to Donald Trump, kowtowing to Donald Trump, not standing up to Donald Trump, even, even when it comes to giving favorable treatment to a convicted sex trafficker. But it'd be something, it would be a small pittance of what the public expects from a lawmaker in this country. You have to wonder, how long can this go on? It's insanity that Donald Trump would even think about pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, but he's already put her on the path to freedom. It seems he's trying to make life more comfortable for her. So she so in case Dateline or 60 Minutes or the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal or yours truly, you know, somebody from independent media case, we show up. Hello, Minimum security prison in Texas. I'd like to speak to Ghislaine Maxwell. Hello. As a viewer said just a few moments ago. Stand up for what's right, even if you stand alone. That's absolutely right. Stand up for what is right. It's. I talk about this all the time. One of my favorite books, Profiles and Courage. Look it up. John F. Kennedy. Lawmakers who put their careers on the line, who, who lost their political careers doing the right thing for this country. This is one of those moments. What kind of message are you sending to not only the victims of sex crimes, but the perpetrators of sex crimes in this country? If Ghislaine Maxwell is set free, it's absolutely appalling. And so I saw that article. I saw that a Republican senator anonymously said something and I thought to myself, okay, that's fine. It's a good quote. Say it out loud. Stand up and be counted. Do your job. My thanks to Manny Oliver. Patricia Oliver. The family of Joaquin Oliver. Guac. He would have been 25 today. Would have been 25 years old. I know we don't. There isn't a mass shooting in the news. There's not a school shooting in the news. We don't. It doesn't have to be in the news to talk about gun violence in this country. In Montana just the other day, four people got killed in a bar in Montana. What are we doing in this country about gun violence? Why does it keep happening again? We get. Get back. It gets back to a lot of cowardice up on Capitol Hill. A lot of cowardice here in Washington, here in the district of. Cowardice don't have the guts, you know, the courage to help families like the Olivers. But I really appreciate the Oliver family giving me the opportunity to. To speak to Joaquin in this fashion, even though it's through the power of AI. If you missed the top of the show, please go back and take a look and, and think about families like the Olivers and what they've gone through in this country, what they're still going through after losing a child to gun violence. And my thanks to State Representative James Talarico, apparently Joe Rogan's favorite Democrat right now. Really enjoyed that conversation as well. I'm going to try to get him back on the program. He's. He's a bit in demand right now, so he had to go, as he was saying, and talk to one of the other networks, but really appreciate his time as well. And I appreciate you guys checking in every day, checking out this show, giving, giving me your time. Please think about supporting the work as Matt, my executive producer. Just put the message up on the screen. Support independent media. Click subscribe like share. Consider becoming a paid subscriber if you have the resour resources to do so. It does make all of this possible and so appreciate your time. Thanks very much for watching. Still reporting from Washington, I'm Jim Acosta. Have a good evening everybody. Good night, Sam Sa.