This dispatch of Deja’s Download is coming to you from Exo Coffee in Tucson, one of my favorite neighborhood spots! In the Group Chat, I’ll talk about my recent CNN hits. Find My Friends has an opportunity to join me on the road this month and Candidate Corner will introduce you to a Zohran backed challenger in NYC with an election on 6/23!
Last week on Abby Phillip’s for News Night, my cheer section was loud! My mom sent me this loving snap of my nephew who stayed up late to watch auntie on TV. In fact, when we hang out he often requests to play a game he calls “Deja Foxx on the news”. I oblige coming up with new plots and interview questions. But back to our regularly scheduled and gloomier programming…
I was on breaking down real time election results in Texas’ GOP primary for U.S. Senate. For anyone tuned in, it’s no spoiler that Ken Paxton took it home. A bit more on him:
Unfortunately we’re all going to be hearing a lot more about about Ken Paxton over the next few months. But here are some fast facts:
He was investigated by the FBI and impeached by his own party.
His net worth has is up 7000% since assuming office. That’s more than 12 Million Dollars!
He owns at least 10 homes all over the country.
When he’s not busy enriching himself he’s used his position to:
kill overtime pay for five million Texans
end rest and water breaks for workers
give an Epstein-style sweetheart deal to a child sex abuser
So, here’s the zoom out. Trump’s influence on that primary and others around the country is undeniable. But, the unintended consequence is it seems like everyday there is a new story of one of these ousted republicans, in this case Sen. John Cornyn, suddenly growing a spine and standing up to his increasingly deranged and self interested demands.
With Cornyn out of the race, the Republicans have forfeited their incumbent advantage and will need to spend more to preserve the seat which could create an opening for other competitive races down ballot in Texas. More than that, Paxton is bringing serious baggage. His sordid past, both personal and professional, is likely to make this a race where corruption is a central conversation. From where I sit it seems Americans all across the country are hungry for moral leadership. Between Trump’s daily dishonesty, the obvious rot laid bare by the Epstein files, and forever wars abroad broadcast live, daily on our screens, we are in a cultural and political moment that Talarico’s faith based approach and background as a Presbyterian seminarian are uniquely suited to meet.
And to close, I’ll leave you with this memeable snap shot. To be fair, the missing context here is that I was imploring people to not let AI replace their therapist. Like please things are bad enough, just no. This Monday (6/8), you can catch me live again on CNN at 10PM ET— save the date!
I’m joining the Aspen Ideas Festival as a fellow this month in Colorado!
I met up with Darializa Avila Chevalier at a plant store doubling as a coffee shop in Harlem. She was studying for her PhD in sociology at Columbia, where she was helped organize the campus encampment for Palestine, when she was tapped to run for Congress. Her June 23rd election against an AIPAC and corporate backed incumbent, Adriano Espaillat, in NY-13 is fast approaching, but has seen serious momentum since securing the endorsement of Zohran Mamdani just this week.
Big Three Issues: Housing for All, Abolish ICE, Babies and not Bombs
DF: You were studying for your Ph.D. Now you’re running for Congress. How does that happen?
DAC: I was actually approached by an organization, Justice Democrats, who said I had been nominated by my community. And when I realized that my community trusted me with this role, I just knew that it was something that I had to do because things have gotten tough for every single person here in this district, and we all just deserve fighters in office.
DF: You’re a first time candidate, right? What has been the thing that has been hardest about running that was maybe unexpected?
DAC: I have been an organizer for over 14 years, my entire adult life, and it really was switching from thinking about the ‘we’ and how we move in as a team in a horizontal way to all of a sudden the campaign is your name on your face and thinking about things in that way. How do you shift the power dynamic there to make it more horizontal so that people can feel ownership around this campaign. Our goal here is to bring people into their government and to have them be excited about that process. It’s been really a challenge because these structures were not set up that way, right? But it’s been really exciting to figure it out together with everyone on this team.
DF: Is there anything that’s come easier to you than you might have expected?
DAC: Um…
DF: It’s okay if not.
READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE:
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