U.S.POLITICS WATCH

Talarico explains his flu timeline after nine days off the trail

The Texas Senate Democratic candidate missed nine days of in-person campaigning due to flu, prompting online speculation about his absence; apparently a medical note wasn't enough.

On air: Hank Ledger and Dale Bearman on The Five O'Clock
Published 5:44 PM ET, Monday, October 12, 2026

Photo: Antonioaesparza · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Photo: James Talarico — Photo: Antonioaesparza · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by New York Post: “Conspiracies mount after Texas Senate Democratic candidate James Talarico’s absence for nine days due to ‘nasty case of the flu’”.
Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 5:44 PM ET on The Five O'Clock, by Hank Ledger and Dale Bearman.
Topics: Democratic, James Talarico, LeBron James, Texas, Maine Senate.
BBN covered this story before: Viral Democrat parody sounds eerily like James Talarico (October 12).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

New York PostConspiracies mount after Texas Senate Democratic candidate James Talarico’s absence for nine days due to ‘nasty case of the flu’

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorJames Talarico is now laying out the timeline of his nasty flu, after nine days away from in-person campaigning in the Texas Senate race.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorNine days, and the internet has theories. The New York Post says they're piling up online.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe theory is he was sick. That's the whole theory.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorAh, but a flu is exactly what they'd say it was, Hank.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorOnly in politics does a sneeze need a notarized timeline.