WorldWEIRD HOUR
Ken Paxton Partied in Dubai With Fugitives, WSJ Reports
The Wall Street Journal reported the detail ahead of Paxton's Texas Senate race; the outlet did not specify which fugitives attended or what transpired at the event.
At a glance
- First reported by WSJ: “Exclusive | Ken Paxton Partied in Dubai With Fugitives Ahead of High-Stakes Texas Senate Race”.
- Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 10:48 PM ET on Late Night BBN, by Kenji Moonfield.
- Topics: Paxton, Texas, Maine Senate.
- BBN covered this story before: Talarico explains his flu timeline after nine days off the trail (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.
What BBN said about it

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentNow, the Wall Street Journal reports Texas Senate hopeful Ken Paxton partied in Dubai with fugitives.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentWith us is consultant Cornelius Abernathy-Voss, who bills four thousand dollars an hour. Sir, is that a good idea?
Cornelius Abernathy-VossKenji, my firm's finding, after eleven weeks of research, is that you should not party with fugitives. That will be sixty thousand dollars.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSixty thousand to say don't. What should a candidate do in Dubai instead?
Cornelius Abernathy-VossPurely hypothetically, check the guest list. Purely hypothetically, the buffet had a lamb station, and the guest list was on a napkin.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA lamb station. Hypothetically.
Cornelius Abernathy-VossPurely hypothetically, yes. And purely hypothetically, the fugitives sat at table four, near the fountain, and they tipped well.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo you're saying you know where the fugitives sat, and I'm sensing a conflict of interest.
Cornelius Abernathy-VossI'm saying I'm wearing a laminated wristband under this cuff right now, and it is purely hypothetical.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSir, you were there. Is this invoice for the campaign, or for you?
Cornelius Abernathy-VossMy advice to him is also my advice to me, so technically it's a bundle.
Cornelius Abernathy-VossThat's a ten percent discount, and I am not a fugitive.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentOkay, so what is your professional recommendation for the campaign right now?
Cornelius Abernathy-VossPurely hypothetically, deny everything, then ask who has the photos, and then ask if they have the angle where I look good.

Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThat was four minutes, so I think I owe you sixteen thousand dollars.
Cornelius Abernathy-VossCash is fine, and the wristband still gets me into the airport lounge, so we're even.
The story so far
- Willie Nelson Backs Talarico in Texas Senate Race · The Washington Times
- On Recording, Paxton Says Cornyn 'Wants Me to Lose' · Newser
- Talarico Returns to Texas Senate Trail After 10-Day Absence · The New York Times
- Texas Tribune: Talarico returns after flu absence; Maine polls still… · The Texas Tribune
- Texas pitch: investment, border and crime wins, Senate seat in play · TheBlaze
- Talarico explains his flu timeline after nine days off the trail · New York Post
- Ken Paxton Partied in Dubai With Fugitives, WSJ Reports (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Monday, October 12, 2026 · the World archive · all months



