The Best And The Brightest

By my count, @PamBondi has chased 14 prosecutors away from MN USAO, plus maybe 6 from Civil Rights, all because of her grotesque abuse of office. https://t.co/6t4ktAKzgw

— EU says Elon should not lie abt my blue check (@emptywheel) February 2, 2026

Who’s losing this fight? This isn’t even a Pyhrric victory for Trump and Miller. The weaker they make the DOJ, the weaker they make their own ability to enact their agenda. And Trump’s popularity, and therefore his agenda, both keep crumbling.

Linkhttps://t.co/7iaGtcJs01

— EU says Elon should not lie abt my blue check (@emptywheel) February 2, 2026

Abolish what, now?

Texas Dems have a historic opportunity to finally have a real chance in the US Senate race with everything lining up well to put them in the game, but fighting with each other instead of against Trump and Republicans appears to be the main priority.

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) February 3, 2026

Huh?

I just want to remind everyone that we are fighting for the survival of the Republic against an authoritarian movement that is tearing our Constitution to shreds and that’s pretty much what most of us are focused on. pic.twitter.com/ftDE3xhNMS

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) February 3, 2026

Context.  That and Molly Ivins’ comment about an attack on her she likened to being “gummed by a newt.” The newt is Allred. 

He showed up as the Democrat opposing Cruz two years ago. He was supposed to be the next Beto, but who could win this time. He turned out to be a much, much worse political candidate. Everyone hoped he’d just gone away. 

Crockett has national credibility. Talarico got a big boost from a Texas Monthly profile published in their annual “Bum Steer” awards, a Texas version of the recap of the year Esquire used to do. I’m guessing that’s one of their big newsstand sellers, so I’m sure that helped Talarico. TM is a very conservative magazine, which only in Texas would be considered left of center. I mean, their claim to fame now is Barbecue. Now, I grew up on Texas barbecue and Tex-Mex, and love both dearly. I’m fortunate my daughter married a man who is a pit master in his own right, even if he only cooks in his backyard on occasion. But the veneration of barbecue (before that it was tacos 🌮. Seriously. TM pushed that hard. No takers.) perplexes hell out of me. There is really good barbecue, and there is bad barbecue, and that’s the end of it. I will drive to Lockhart (about 2 hours one way) for the best BBQ in Texas (aside from my SIL’s). But Michelin has starred two (at least) BBQ joints in Texas, which to me is the equivalent of giving Kissinger the Nobel Peace Prize. It’s hard to respect either award anymore.

A long winded way of saying TM is not to be taken seriously, nor is it a kingmaker. But that profile boosted Talarico, and Allred decided being Mr. Nice Guy two years ago didn’t work for him. 

He’s still a newt.

Talarico is going to benefit mightily from Trump and Miller. If he draws Paxton as his opponent, his odds are even better. Although if Cornyn tacks too much to the center in the general, he could lose the GOP crazies. And already the primary issue in the Texas GOP is “sharia law.” Yeah, they really know how to read the room.

We’ll see. But Allred hurting the Democratic candidate? Yeah; no. Republicans won’t notice him, and Democrats won’t, either. He’s a newt.