Good Riddance to John Cornyn and His Democrat Staffers
Schlichter argues that Cornyn's former policy aide joining Talarico's staff reflects poorly on the senator.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYTownhall is rated 44 by the site's past-story assessment, and this page is explicitly an opinion column rather than reported news. The named author and clearly identified publisher provide transparency, but the page itself offers limited verifiable reporting.
- Track record — The site's rating across 134 stories is 44, indicating below-average institutional credibility.
- Source type — The publisher is identified as an opinion outlet for this article, not an independent news report.
- Author attribution — The column names its author, Kurt Schlichter.
- Transparency — The page clearly labels the piece as a column, but provides little documentation for its factual assertions.
The piece is a strongly argued opinion column with a named author, but it relies heavily on insult, assertions, an anecdote, and unnamed friends' assessments. It includes a quotation attributed to Cornyn, but offers little sourcing or opposing perspective to test its claims.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article is an openly one-sided opinion column. It quotes Cornyn's explanation for the staffer's move but responds by ridiculing it rather than exploring competing arguments or providing independent context.
- Loaded language — The article repeatedly uses insulting and inflammatory language.
- Counterarguments presented — Cornyn's quoted explanation appears, but is not given a substantive or sympathetic examination.
- Opinion vs reporting — The page is an opinion column and openly advocates a political preference.
- Source diversity — There is no meaningful range of independently sourced perspectives.
The column uses explicitly conservative partisan framing and repeatedly disparages Cornyn and Talarico while urging support for Paxton. Its language and selection of arguments strongly favor the Republican right.
- Language tone — Uses repeated insults and pejorative descriptions for Cornyn and Talarico.
- Framing — Frames Cornyn as a betrayal of Republican voters and presents Paxton as the preferable alternative.
- Source selection — Relies on the author's observations and unnamed political contacts for its assessment of the race.
- Headline — The headline expressly celebrates Cornyn's departure and attacks his staff.
Kurt Schlichter argues that John Cornyn’s former deputy legislative director joining James Talarico’s campaign reflects poorly on Cornyn and urges Texas Republicans to support Ken Paxton. He also predicts the staff change will not alter the Senate race, while offering largely anecdotal support for his view.
In an opinion column, Schlichter criticizes Senator John Cornyn after his former deputy legislative director, Jacob Smith, joined James Talarico’s staff. Schlichter alleges that Cornyn has failed to uphold conservative positions and mocks Cornyn’s response to the staffer’s move.
Schlichter says the staff change will not affect the Texas Senate race and favors Ken Paxton over Talarico. He points to tightening polls, Jasmine Crockett’s lack of an endorsement, and observations from friends and his own visit to Texas, while acknowledging that some of his evidence is anecdotal.
Community verdict
2 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →Texas senator criticized over his former aide's move to a Senate candidate's staff and his record and response
Texas Senate candidate whose campaign hired Cornyn's former deputy legislative director and whom Schlichter criticizes
Talarico's version of this story ↗Republican Senate candidate whom Schlichter favors over Cornyn and predicts may fare well in the race
Paxton's version of this story ↗Representative mentioned in discussion of Talarico's electoral prospects
Former Cornyn deputy legislative director who joined Talarico's staff
Former representative mentioned in a comparison about endorsements
President whose support Cornyn allegedly emphasized in campaign advertising
Senator cited as an example alongside Cornyn
Former presidential candidate mentioned in a comparison about endorsements
Senator cited as an example alongside Cornyn
Political comparison in Schlichter's criticism of Cornyn
Senator mentioned as O'Rourke's former election opponent
Former Texas Senate candidate used as a comparison for Talarico's campaign prospects
Part of a bigger story
2 OUTLETS- ARTICLES
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- AVG CRED
- 57
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