As Twitchy reported on Monday, Politico decided to do a wellness check on the James Talarico senatorial campaign; in particular, how his "masculinity problem" was being addressed after Republicans "seized" on "Talarico’s unmarried status and smaller physical build to paint the Democratic candidate as weak and effeminate."
Politico perhaps should have held the presses. On the same day, this video of Talarico wielding a blowtorch started making the rounds. Michael Karlis, multimedia journalist for the free alternative weekly San Antonio Current, noted that he'd never seen Ken Paxton use a blowtorch before.
Folks say James Talarico isn’t “manly enough” for Texas. But I’ve never seen Ken Paxton use a blowtorch before… pic.twitter.com/wJjhPP5uU1
— Michael Karlis (@MichaelKarlis) August 3, 2026
Clip courtesy of SA Current intern Natalia Edwards.
— Michael Karlis (@MichaelKarlis) August 3, 2026
This is a self described “journalist” pushing staged PR slop on behalf of a candidate.
— Brad Slager: CNN+ Lifetime Subscriber (@MartiniShark) August 4, 2026
He’s “using” that torch the same way Dukakis was “driving” that tank. pic.twitter.com/HEhJnAlZFo
— AmErican (@Flipper628) August 4, 2026
He’s not really using one in this video, pal….. https://t.co/TLkv3iuSkP
— EducatëdHillbilly™ (@RobProvince) August 4, 2026
What exactly is he doing here?
— Vanessa (@Nessakins_) August 4, 2026
I have never been more turned on. 😍😍
— 🫃🏼💉🇺🇦🇮🇷🇨🇺Hollaria Briden, Esq. (@HollyBriden) August 4, 2026
HA HA!
Cringe level: Infinity
— Obi_1_D_AllKnowing (@obiopiah) August 4, 2026
LOL. That’s a crafting device for art class.
— Voice of Sanity (@HouseofElon) August 4, 2026
THESE are a blowtorches: pic.twitter.com/X4ZeLzqrxe
😂 you still haven’t seen talarico use one either.
— Nobody likes my posts. Thanks Elon (@Brucekathy) August 4, 2026
Pro tip: if you want all the normal people to know you are full of shit, keep calling it a blowtorch, soft hands boy.
That’s a propane brazing torch, not for welding or cutting - ie. an oxyacetylene “blowtorch”. It’s sweating a copper pipe, typical DIY plumber shit, and he’s there with a lab coat and gloves holding it like it’s a hand grenade . Seriously, this is just pathetic.
— TexanJustin (@TexanJustin) August 4, 2026
Dude's holding the thing like he's scared of it.
— CatoTheElder556 (@CElder556) August 3, 2026
It's this consultant-approved, unintentionally and laughably effeminate performance art over again. pic.twitter.com/VStaZ20pyo
— Mattison Brooks (@RealMBrooks) August 3, 2026
Wait a minute…. This is a serious post? You’re not making fun of how fake and gay this is?
— Harvey's Pistol & Pawn (@harveyspistols) August 4, 2026
It's definitely flaming.
Moderate voter here.
— Andrew ₿entley 🇺🇸 (@AndrewBTC) August 4, 2026
I was on the fence and planned to vote for Paxton. But now that I have seen Talarico handle a blowtorch I’m changing my vote.
Thanks for sharing this helpful video!
Same energy. pic.twitter.com/KhxZifB29r
— Shooting News Weekly (@SN_Weekly_) August 4, 2026
No testosterone detected
— vestigev47 (@vestigv47) August 4, 2026
At least the intern for the free alternative weekly San Antonio paper showed up and caught it on video. Was this a press event? Like, was he touring a manufacturer or something?
***