Rep. Talarico comes to Killeen

The Inside Killeen podcast crew recounts their experience covering the press conference and rally held by State Rep. James Talarico in his campaign for U.S. Senate  Host Kevin Limiti is joined by Erik Walsh, Copperas Cove editor, and Hamida Botchway, the KDH News multimedia/video journalist.

Transcript

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SPEAKER_01 0:00

This episode is sponsored by Big Sacks Tire Shack. New and quality used tires. Two locations in Kaleen and one in Temple. Nearly 30 years in business. Got a flat? They'll get you back rolling.

SPEAKER_06 0:25

Welcome to the Inside Kaleen podcast brought to you by KDH News. My name is Kevin Limbiti. I'm the city government reporter here, and I'm joined today by Eric Walsh, Copper's Cove Editor. How are you doing, sir?

SPEAKER_04 0:38

Hey, I'm doing great, Kevin.

SPEAKER_06 0:40

And Hamida Bachui, as always, is on the technical producing side. However, we she also shared with we all three of us shared a unique moment. What was it last week already? How long has it been? It's been a week.

SPEAKER_04 0:54

Yeah, a week ago today.

SPEAKER_06 0:56

Time sure flies.

SPEAKER_04 0:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 0:57

But in any case, James Tal Rico, the state representative and running for senator of our state, came to the city of Killean, and it was really interesting in a lot of different ways. And it was probably a unique, unique situation for all of us in some ways. We don't often get people uh like that coming down. Actually, the last time I can think of was Jasmine Crockett. She came down to the Alliance Club Park.

SPEAKER_04 1:26

But anyways, Ted Cruz, Ted Cruz came in once too.

SPEAKER_06 1:28

Oh, did he? Oh, yeah, that's right. I don't know how I forgot about Ted Cruz because I took a photo of him. But but, anyways, Eric, what was your thoughts about seeing James Tal Rico in person?

SPEAKER_04 1:39

Well, it was it was pretty cool. Um I kind of worked my way into going. Originally, Kevin and Himita were assigned to go, but I kind of pressed to be involved to get another person there, convinced staff that you know it would be useful to have a third person. And I'm glad I was able to weasel my way in there. It was it was it was a good time, and I feel like we got some good news coverage.

SPEAKER_02 2:05

Yeah, I think it turned out really well because um Kevin had to come back and then I think it worked out in the end.

SPEAKER_04 2:10

So yeah, we always had a couple of us there.

SPEAKER_06 2:13

It it only worked out because like you guys stay saved me from my own stupidity, because basically I was operating under the very confident assumption that the press conference would be held outside. I don't know why. Thank God that was the case.

SPEAKER_03 2:29

It was so hot.

SPEAKER_06 2:30

It it just to me, it just whenever like I recall like doing like and I'm not saying I do a lot of them, but whenever I recall doing press conferences, I always remember them being outside. So I just assumed that would be the case. But boy, was I wrong, and I'm glad that I was wrong.

SPEAKER_02 2:47

Yeah, I do a lot of press conferences, and most of them are outside.

SPEAKER_06 2:50

Yeah, I mean, so okay, at least I'm supported somewhat by Himita here. But you know, it kind of but it was a bummer for me because I can't went to the Central Texas Theater where it was being held, got like searched and everything, and by the way, Eric he got searched almost immediately by like a very scary security guard, very aggressive security guard, yes.

SPEAKER_04 3:16

Like, spread your rod and legs, you know.

SPEAKER_06 3:19

I mean, there was like five journalists in the building, I think, and it's like I mean, like, like I don't think it was really necessary. Like, I feel like you have probably more things to do at a rock concert, but who who well maybe but then again, I'm I'm not a security guard, so I can't judge their behavior. But I mean, I just thought when I saw Eric in a search like that, I was like, like, holy crap, I better like take out all my stuff on the pockets, and I gotta better better make sure I'm super compliant, but you know, yeah, they're very thorough.

SPEAKER_02 3:50

I think they checked one guy twice because she wasn't sure if he was checked or whatever. So yeah, they were very thorough.

SPEAKER_06 3:56

I don't recognize you. Let me search you again.

SPEAKER_02 3:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 3:59

So we got checked and separated into like the you know, you've been searched area of the of the hallway, basically. We got hered off to the side, and after we got checked, we just waited until it was time to to go in. And I actually met some all kinds of of people. And one of the one of the things that was really interesting to me, besides what Talo Rico had to say, was just meeting the different journalists. I I kind of made it a point to meet a few, and I met people from all over the country. I met a woman that worked for NBC in Chicago. I met a guy that worked in Austin Statesman. There were people all over. You you met somebody too, right? Where are some other places that the people were coming from?

SPEAKER_06 4:48

I didn't meet anybody, I was like really, really like tunnel vision that day because press conferences, like especially ones with people as like high profile as Talo Rico, make me very nervous. Like, especially, and it didn't help that like when we got on the stage of like the Central Texas Theater, like the the lights were like bearing down on my head, and I was starting to sweat. And I like I felt extremely uncomfortable. I had a knapsack on my back that kept slipping off and I had to keep pulling it up. And like I remember when his uh press agent or whatever, like when he when he started questioning, like asking whether or not we had any questions, because we had discussed this previously, what we were going to.

SPEAKER_04 5:34

Yeah, we had a little meeting the day but the day before and went over what we'd ask.

SPEAKER_06 5:38

Yeah, we we knew we would only have one chance to ask him something. And and like so when they when he's when the guy started going around pointing at it, he pointed at me, and I was like, I was like, like, uh, veterans exemption.

SPEAKER_04 5:54

Yeah, it was a it was kind of funny. It was kind of funny.

SPEAKER_06 5:57

And he's like, come again. Yeah, and Eric saved me because he just like said, Yes, we are gonna ask a question.

SPEAKER_04 6:04

Yeah, I just like you know I just gave the simplest answer possible, you know, the direct information, if you will.

SPEAKER_06 6:10

I mean, I mean who I mean it would be amazing if that press secretary knew anything about what I was talking about. Even if I tried to explain it to him, he probably wouldn't understand. And then and then he would ask me, Well, what's the big deal? Because, you know, in case people do need a refresher, the disabled veterans exemption is a mandate from the state, which gives property tax exemption to disabled veterans, which sounds great, but it is great for them, it is, but the problem is that it also means that the city can't collect any property taxes on a huge portion of the city's population, right? And norm, I mean, normally in most cities it's not even that big of a deal.

SPEAKER_04 6:56

And not just clean the whole area, too.

SPEAKER_06 6:58

Yeah, Copper's Cove, Parker Heights is also impacted, yeah, the whole surrounding central Texas area.

SPEAKER_04 7:04

Yeah, yeah. People go to Fort Hood, they stay here after they get out, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 7:08

Yeah, but yeah, but anyways, so the idea of me being able to explain the severity of this complicated issue to a press conference person who's only looking for a 10-second answer is absurd.

SPEAKER_04 7:22

Yeah, that he maybe didn't even want that, he just wanted to know what paper we were in if we had a question.

SPEAKER_06 7:28

Yeah, well, yeah, so I that so if I was already if I wasn't already feeling stupid then, I was certainly feeling stupid after that. But so I was like, okay, let's just let Eric handle that part of it. But, anyways, that was a long preamble to say that we we did eventually ask a question, or rather, Eric did, and here is that question for all of you guys to hear.

SPEAKER_03 7:51

Hi, I'm uh from the Clean Daily Herald. Thank you for coming here to Clean and Sports area. My question is about the veteran tax exemptions with the cities uh reimbursed support. It it unproportionally affects cities like Killeen, Parker Heights, Copper's Coke. And I was wondering what you have in mind for cities like that that are affected by that deeply.

SPEAKER_00 8:13

Absolutely. Our federal government should have the backs of our cities, our local governments that are carrying a lot of this weight. And it shouldn't just fall to cities like Kaleen. It should be a shared burden. We all are committed to serving the veterans who served us. And that means that we've got to back that up. We've got to put our money where our mouth is. And we can't just honor our veterans with our words. We have to honor them with our actions. Actions speak a lot louder than words, especially when it comes to the challenges that our veterans and military families are facing. And so that means as the next U.S. Senator from the state, I will have the backs of everyone in Killeen, including our city leaders, who are doing their best to support our veterans and military families that need some support from our federal government.

SPEAKER_06 9:01

And that was Representative James Tallerik. Well, uh uh what did you think of that answer, Eric?

SPEAKER_04 9:08

Well, I remember when I first heard it, I felt like he didn't give a real good uh answer. Like I wasn't very satisfied with what he had to say. But listening to it again, uh you know he does address he doesn't necessarily address that uh that Kaleen doesn't you know because we it how how much it affects the budgets, like he didn't mention anything about how badly it affects Kaleen, but he did say uh it shouldn't just be up to them. So it seems like at least it's in his it's in its it's in his purview somewhere that that it's a it's a big thing and it's it's affecting the city, uh but everyone needs to contribute to this. So you know, may maybe that maybe there just needs to be a bigger reimbursement, you know, to these cities like Clean. You know, I'm not sure she didn't give a plan.

SPEAKER_06 9:59

Yeah, well, I mean I felt like his answer was vague enough that it could be applied in many different ways. He I feel like he must at least have some knowledge of the issue since he's a state rep. He must have come across it at some point. So I wouldn't say that he's like ignorant of it, but but certainly some people did point out that he was talking about a federal response when it's a state mandate. So I mean that's kind of like an important thing that probably should be acknowledged. And so I mean, was it the worst answer he possibly could have given? No, but I think it's I think it kind of leaves a lot of room for improvement.

SPEAKER_04 10:44

Yeah, yeah, and honestly, our our cities in this area, uh, you know, they need they need some help. I mean, we both cover uh the different cities, you know. I cover Coppers Cove, you cover Kaleen, and it's budget season. And what's what's going on right now with budgets? You know, everybody's in deficit. You know, and what's a big reason that they're talking about? They're talking about this tax exemption.

SPEAKER_06 11:10

Yeah. I mean, it's one of the reasons why like I feel and as I've the older I've gotten, the more I've begun to realize this. Like, taxes are exist for a reason, and they do help pay for things that we need. And to completely spurn them is part of the reason why we're having so many issues, at least in this state, my opinion. Yeah, and I know there's a there's a very like strong like full philosophical what do you call it, opposition to taxes, but I mean honestly, like if I felt like my tax dollars were going towards something that would help people, I would gladly pay them. And I'm I'm pretty sure most people would, if they were honest about the situation, would feel that way too. With that said, it is what it is. His answer was what it was. How did you overall like what were your overall impressions of him in general?

SPEAKER_04 12:11

Well, I mean, I think he's an excellent speaker. He he presents himself well. He he he's he's he's just I think he knows how to communicate. I think, you know, I mentioned it to you off off camera before the podcast. He kind of reminds me of of Barack Obama, which the just the way he speaks, his cadence, the way he like kind of holds himself. He kind of gives me some of those vibes, you know. So I and and obviously uh Barack was an amazing speaker, still is, and you know, really helped him get a lot of votes, too. So, you know, I think James Tallerico, he he appears like he's uh like a really good candidate to me. You know, he seems like a like a good dude that's trying his best, you know. That's that's my impression of him, you know.

SPEAKER_06 12:58

Sure. Million dollar question. Do you think he's gonna win?

SPEAKER_04 13:02

No, I I don't I don't think so. I think it's too hard in Texas for a Democrat to win that big of election. But I I do think he's a deserving candidate for sure.

SPEAKER_06 13:13

There were some polls that had him up like by like a point.

SPEAKER_02 13:17

What are those polls from? Or do you know?

SPEAKER_06 13:19

I don't remember. I think, but I do remember that I got them from like I believe the New York Times. So so unfortunately I can't cite them off the top of my head, but but it was like 51%. Like it wasn't a very big lead. It was just and uh and so that's like within the margin of error, I'm sure. So like I mean, obviously it could still go either way.

SPEAKER_04 13:44

They are spending the money though. Are you seeing the the numbers for how much the two sides are? I have not well. I can't give you specifics off the top of my head, but you know, we have the news running here all day on the TVs, and I'll look up and see the headlines sometimes, and it talks about how how much the Tali Rico campaign is outspending the Paxton campaign. It's pretty considerable.

SPEAKER_02 14:04

Oh, I have seen those, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 14:06

I mean, to me, like Ken Paxton doesn't seem nearly as likable, but like you guys said, I mean, maybe it is just too hard for a Democrat to win. But on the other hand, like there people that like follow like polling and like statistics and stuff have been like saying that it's more likely now that like that a Democrat could win. So I mean it could I mean Texas wasn't always like a hard red state, you know. There was a good period of time, I think around the nine early nineties and earlier.

SPEAKER_04 14:42

George but George George Bush won the the governorship. It was maybe ninety five, ninety-four, ninety-six. Up to then it was all Democrats.

SPEAKER_06 14:54

Yeah. So, you know, maybe maybe like things don't could could get turned for them, but I don't know. I I guess we'll just have to see. I think a lot of people are expecting some sort of backlash from like the Trump like situation because you know, because this is something I couldn't cite Trump's like at 33% approval rating rating, I believe.

SPEAKER_04 15:17

Right. So that's what I was thinking about is well, there's still several I mean it's gonna be a while till um no, no. Yeah, I mean, I think it actually is a pretty good time for him, you know, considering Trump's unpop current unpopularity. I mean, people haven't been happy with ICE. You know, a lot of people I mean, I I think that the country needed to do something about immigration after the Biden years, but they they they just took it too far.

SPEAKER_05 15:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 15:52

And it really made I think that hurt Trump. The the war in Iraq has been incredibly unpopular. Not Iraq, not Iraq, yeah, Iran. It's been incredibly unpopular. If there's ever a time, you know, that you're gonna get those votes that aren't one side or the other yet, you know, it would be it would be right now.

SPEAKER_02 16:16

Yeah, I think I agree with you. So you think Trump's endorsement for Paxton is hurting him right now?

SPEAKER_04 16:23

Oh no. No, no, no. I no, it's still help helping him. Because the second, the second that Trump endorsed Paxton, Cornyn lost the, you know, they were going against each other. The second that he endorsed Paxton, it was over for Cornyn. So it it's helped him, you know, because the party the base is gonna rally around that. Yeah. You know, and that's gonna be the majority of the votes, a pretty large majority. We're talking about the margins here, the people that are undecided. You know, and you know, those I think this is the time to get the you know, if those if everyone be have a sympathizers from those that vote, that piece of voting, that's gonna be now.

SPEAKER_02 17:00

Yeah. Well I don't go ahead.

SPEAKER_06 17:05

No, you go ahead.

SPEAKER_02 17:06

So like it's really up to the undeciders right now.

SPEAKER_04 17:11

We'll see. We'll see. I don't know. It may not be enough. Then I think that's what I was really, you know. My conclusion was that it's you know, I don't I still don't think it's enough. You know, my con my thought is that, you know, Paxton's gonna win because the debate is too strong here. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:27

I think so too.

unknown 17:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 17:29

Hi, this is Eric Walsh. I'm a reporter for the Clean Daily Herald, and I focus on community reporting in the Coppers Cove area. Do you love staying connected to what's going on at the Clean Fort Hood area through this podcast? Independent reporting takes real work. By purchasing a digital subscription to KDH News, you don't just unlock full digital access to the stories on our website. You become an integral part keeping boots on the ground as we deliver the in-depth reporting you care about most. For less than $4 a month, you can help us keep bringing the news you rely on. Visit kdhnews.com and start your digital subscription today. That's kdhnews.com slash subscriptions. And thank you for supporting local journalism.

SPEAKER_06 18:19

I guess I'm a little bit more optimistic or depend on your viewpoint, yeah. Yeah, I mean, from my perspective, like Ken Paxton is not a very likable politician, like in any way.

SPEAKER_04 18:34

I mean, I tend to agree.

SPEAKER_06 18:35

I mean, I mean, I feel like even people that don't necessarily like subscribe like to like certain policies of the Democrats might be willing to forgive it if they could just vote against Paxton.

SPEAKER_04 18:48

Yeah. I mean, I'm not, I mean, you know, I'm I'm not a like a Democrat, but when Pac whenever he endorsed Paxton, I'm just like, man, could you pick the worst guy? You know. But that's just my opinion.

SPEAKER_06 19:04

Yeah, but anyways, so as I was explaining earlier, I stupidly thought that the press conference was gonna be held outside. So I didn't even think to bring a laptop with me to the to the Central Texas Theater. So as soon as like the press conference wrapped up, I left. I saw outside people were like checking bags and stuff, so I didn't think I was gonna get be able to get back in very easily. So drove really quickly back to the newsroom and typed up my press conference. But meanwhile, you guys stayed and you covered the actual rally. Yeah. And tell us tell us about that.

SPEAKER_04 19:44

Sure, yeah. So I I got this, I got basically permission to stand and be in the front row so I can do a live stream. You know, I was recording on my telephone. Uh so you know, but the back row wasn't gonna cut it for that. So they let me sit in the front, which they would typically, you know, make it for supporters, you know, but I was just there as media doing uh some coverage. I talked to a bunch of people. Actually, Melissa Brown sat right behind me. Yeah, I had like a five-minute conversation with Melissa Brown before it started. You know, I said hi, I noticed her. We talked, I got to know her a little bit, you know. Most I've ever talked to her, I think.

SPEAKER_06 20:23

Yeah, Melissa Brown is councilwoman for Kalina.

SPEAKER_04 20:25

Oh, yeah, thanks. Yeah, I think she's doing that. Yeah, she's uh the city councilwoman. She talked about her, she just had an anniversary and she talked about her children. We had a pretty good conversation, yeah. She was likable, I thought.

SPEAKER_06 20:39

Yeah, Melissa is really easy to talk to sometimes.

SPEAKER_04 20:44

And so that was right before the rally, you know. So she was in the second row, I was in the front row, so it's like turning around, like my neck was kind of hurting. But and then, you know, people were excited about Talarico. You know, obviously the rallies are for supporters, you know, trying to get people hyped up and get the base growing. And so everybody was pretty excited about bringing him in. But there was a surprise, and there was another guest that we didn't that we didn't expect.

SPEAKER_06 21:11

The kind of for governor.

SPEAKER_04 21:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 21:13

Yeah, that that threw me off guard because I was like, wait a minute, what? Yeah, I didn't know I had to record extra, and I was like, Do I have anything?

SPEAKER_04 21:22

Yeah, we weren't uh informed that she was going to be there. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 21:25

That's Hinohasa, right?

SPEAKER_04 21:27

Gina.

SPEAKER_02 21:28

I don't know how to say her last name, so I'm not even gonna try.

SPEAKER_06 21:31

I made an attempt, and if people want to criticize me for the attempt, then I let uh at least you're trying.

SPEAKER_04 21:37

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, so it was uh it was kind of news to us. It was like, oh wow, how about that? Yeah, and she was there, but she still was, even though she was running for governor, she wasn't the keynote, if you will, speaker. You know how when you when you go to see a concert, there's like the bands that come out first.

SPEAKER_02 21:53

She was like the opener, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 21:54

She was like the opener for like band. If it was a band, if it was a concert, you know, but then Tyler Rico came out later and they're like, He's. Like on Metallica or whatever. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 22:03

Well, I think she's sort of like expected is more expected to lose than Talo Rico is, if you know what I mean. Yes. Uh yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:11

But she really had the crowd hyped.

SPEAKER_04 22:12

Like you wouldn't hear that from her though.

SPEAKER_02 22:15

She had the they were like chanting her name and everything. I was like really surprised. At first I was like, they didn't chant Talo Rico's name, but then I was but then Eric was like, he doesn't have a Talerico. Yeah, he doesn't have a really chanting name. So that makes sense. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 22:32

Too many syllables. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:34

I guess if you want to get into politics, you should make sure you have a good chanting name.

SPEAKER_04 22:39

Yeah, a good chanting name, absolutely.

SPEAKER_06 22:41

Yeah, and not something that Trump can use alliteration with.

SPEAKER_04 22:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:47

But my experience, after the press conference, we were turning a lot of interviews in, and I was kind of like worried because they wanted us all the way in the back of the theater, the press with our cameras and stuff, but I also needed to get man on the street type of interviews. And it was kind of hard because I didn't want to lose my good spot, but I also wanted to get interviews. And but I think I got some pretty good ones.

SPEAKER_04 23:11

Did you lose your spot?

SPEAKER_02 23:12

No. Okay. I got a pretty good spot actually. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 23:15

You got a pretty good spot when we even got up to the press conference. You were like probably better than any of the other journalists there.

SPEAKER_02 23:21

I was the first one up there, so yeah, I got a pretty good spot. I was like right in the middle.

SPEAKER_06 23:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 23:26

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 23:27

We had to hold our ground a little bit with the key TV cameras.

SPEAKER_02 23:30

Yeah, they're asking me to like, could you move like maybe a step?

SPEAKER_04 23:35

You know.

SPEAKER_02 23:36

I only moved a little for Talarico's crew because they were like dead in the middle, and my camera was in their shot, and I was just I I was just being nice. I don't want to be in anyone's shot because I don't want anyone in my shot. But yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_06 23:50

Well, it was definitely like an exciting night, I felt like mostly because not because of who Tal Rico was, but because like he basically was like a high-profile political figure that came to our city. And you know, it's stuff like that that reminds me of why I do journalism in the first place. You know, because you know, there's I mean, when you're when you're a journalist like in a local area, it's sometimes like sometimes it does feel like you're being like sidelined a little bit because like all this national huge m news is going on, and like, you know, and meanwhile you're covering like your little city council and like the the petty dramas that happened there. So it was nice to that somebody on the on, I guess, the national scene would come to Kullian and and like give me a little bit of a taste of like that type of like reporting.

SPEAKER_04 24:51

I thanked him for being here. You did.

SPEAKER_06 24:53

I that's not something that I would have done, honestly. I mean, I don't I don't like really thank people. I don't know if people listening who have seen me at the counts me know this about me, but like I don't clap for anybody. Like, even when like little kids are getting like trophies and stuff, like I I don't clap.

SPEAKER_02 25:15

And that's interesting.

SPEAKER_06 25:16

Yeah, it's just like it's just like basically because I feel like I have to treat everybody the same, regardless of like I'm an impartial journalist.

SPEAKER_04 25:25

I will not get invested in this personally. I'm gonna be have a clear, a clear outlook at this.

SPEAKER_06 25:31

I mean, the truth is nobody is ever actually really impartial, but like it's up to do your best. But you know, but but some but I just but it's just a personal policy of mine. I do not clap, I do not like acknowledge anything. Sometimes I chuckle if I can't help it, but that's about it.

SPEAKER_02 25:47

I actually do something similar when I'm like watching performances. I the way I clap is based on how I feel the about the performance. So if I think it was eh not that great, I probably just won't clap, or you know, like if I'm like, you know, fair.

SPEAKER_06 26:04

Yeah. Small clap. Small claps, yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 26:07

I have like a clapping meter for their performance. Yeah. Yeah. And if I stand up and clap, then you know you did really good.

SPEAKER_06 26:18

But anyways, do you do you guys have a similar feeling about Cal Rico coming here?

SPEAKER_02 26:25

I I liked that. I liked him coming here because kind of similar to what you said, it was more on a it was like a bigger scale story.

SPEAKER_06 26:40

Sure, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 26:41

And you do get a lot of FOMO when covering a lot of smaller local things. Like sometimes I see a lot of things happening in pop culture, and I just I want to go out and cover those things. Like, I want to interview TV stars and Robert Downey Jr.

SPEAKER_04 27:00

Robert Downey Jr. Talk to me about Dr. Doom.

SPEAKER_02 27:03

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_04 27:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 27:05

Yeah, no, I agree.

SPEAKER_02 27:07

Like, I would love to be a celebrity journalist. That'd be so cool.

SPEAKER_06 27:11

It's always the one thing I never wanted to do in journalism is celebrity journalism.

SPEAKER_02 27:16

Really?

SPEAKER_06 27:16

Yeah, I don't know. I was just thinking, like, like one time I was covering like this movie premiere, and that guy from Fox News, like, what was one of the people I interviewed. Oh my god, what was his name? He not Bill O'Reilly. Although, interesting fact about Bill O'Reilly, he went to Shamanad in Long Island which for high school while I went to Kellenberg. Close by. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 27:51

But so you you interviewed a prominent Fox News anchor.

SPEAKER_06 27:55

Yeah, it was so weird because I didn't expect him. And all of a sudden he just he just he just walked out.

SPEAKER_04 28:01

Sean Sean Hannity.

SPEAKER_06 28:02

No, it wasn't Sean Hannity. Uh Glenn Beck. Okay. Glenn Beck. I interviewed Glenn Beck, who I hasn't been at Fox News in a while because I think he had some sort of scandal or something. But but yeah, that was that was kind of bizarre when that happened. But that's about as far. I don't think I've interviewed too many celebrities.

SPEAKER_04 28:22

I can't think of anybody off the top of my head. I've had some weird interviews, but they weren't celebrities, you know. Some wild people for sure, but nothing. I can't think of a celebrity.

SPEAKER_06 28:34

Well, you know.

SPEAKER_02 28:37

I'll get there one day.

SPEAKER_04 28:39

Yeah, I I was, you know, I was glad he was here. And I I hope that Ken Paxton can come.

SPEAKER_02 28:45

Yeah, I hope he does too.

SPEAKER_04 28:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 28:48

That would be really interesting if Ken Paxton came. I mean, do you do you think he would though?

SPEAKER_02 28:54

I don't know. I think he should.

SPEAKER_04 28:55

I don't know enough about like uh his campaign agenda to really know. I mean, I I yeah, he should.

unknown 29:02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 29:03

So the videos we posted, most of the comments were in support of him. So he of Ken? Yeah, so he has a lot of support in this area.

SPEAKER_04 29:13

Yeah. I I I would like to go too just so I could get an idea of him, because you know, most of what I think about him is the things I hear and the things I read. And it'd be it'd be good to just have my own opinion too. You know, either you know what I mean? Because I've never met with him or talked with him or you know, except uh things on TV, you know, or what I've read.

SPEAKER_02 29:36

I've met him at an event once or twice before.

SPEAKER_06 29:41

Yes, and what happened?

SPEAKER_02 29:44

I just took a picture.

SPEAKER_06 29:45

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_02 29:46

Okay, because it was it was uh Gallibut, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 29:49

How long ago was it?

SPEAKER_02 29:50

I think two years ago.

SPEAKER_04 29:52

Okay. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 29:56

Alright, well, um I really appreciate everybody appreciate.

SPEAKER_02 29:59

We didn't ask your opinion on Taler Rico.

SPEAKER_06 30:02

Oh, Tal Rico? I thought you guys did already.

SPEAKER_02 30:05

No, I don't think we did.

SPEAKER_06 30:06

Well, my opinion on Tal Rico is that he seems like a politician who might, because of circumstances in the country, be poised to win.

SPEAKER_04 30:20

He's so young and clean cut.

SPEAKER_06 30:22

He is. He knows what's he's very straight-laced. He's he he's not like one of those He's younger than my than I am. Yeah, he it's not like since this isn't New York or whatever, like he's not like a democratic socialist, he's not running a campaign like that.

SPEAKER_04 30:37

But oh, remember what he said? We're about to end, but I'm gonna think something he said that was neat was remember he was like, we're talking about turning the state blue, and he's like, Well, some of my people in my party talk about turning the state blue, but he said he thinks it would look better purple.

SPEAKER_02 30:56

I did like that.

SPEAKER_06 30:57

Yeah, that was a good good line.

SPEAKER_04 30:59

And the reason, which I really liked is he said that because if you have strong candidates on both sides, it keeps everybody on their toes. And so if everyone is is putting their best foot forward on both sides, it makes us all stronger.

SPEAKER_06 31:11

I mean, I could totally see Texas becoming like a swing state in the future.

SPEAKER_02 31:15

Really?

SPEAKER_06 31:16

Yeah, it might not happen for a bit, but I think it might happen. It will, I think that this election is probably gonna make it clear whether I'm right or not.

SPEAKER_04 31:25

I mean, you also thought Texas had some chances in the last one, too.

SPEAKER_06 31:28

I did, I did, but honestly, I feel like I can be forgiven because like Ted Cruz is such an unlikable person that like I just can't imagine, I just couldn't fathom that he would win. But like, like I said, I'm from New York originally, so I have like uh I have my New York prejudices about things, so you know, and you know, I I always feel like I will always see myself as a New Yorker, even if I live in Texas for the rest of my life.

SPEAKER_04 31:59

Man, that's right. I moved to Texas within like a few years. I was like, okay, I'm a Texan now.

SPEAKER_06 32:04

Well, who knows? Maybe that'll change. I've been here uh four years, I think, three and a half, maybe. I don't know.

SPEAKER_04 32:11

Do you say y'all? No, really, you gotta convert you to y'all.

SPEAKER_06 32:14

I sometimes say use. Yeah, no, no, no, y'all.

SPEAKER_04 32:17

Here'd say it with me, Kevin.

SPEAKER_02 32:19

No, how you've never said y'all?

SPEAKER_04 32:21

Nope.

SPEAKER_02 32:21

I can't. What what do you say besides y'all? You said use.

SPEAKER_04 32:25

Oh, like use guys.

SPEAKER_02 32:27

Oh no, no, you gotta say y'all.

SPEAKER_04 32:29

Y'all. Come on, Kevin.

SPEAKER_06 32:31

No, no, no. Come over. Nope, nope. I I like maintaining my New York identity. It to me, it may it means that I look at things differently than a lot of people here do, and I think I I would think that people might appreciate that.

SPEAKER_04 32:46

So I do appreciate you, Kevin.

SPEAKER_02 32:48

Yeah, yeah. The diversity's good.

SPEAKER_04 32:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 32:52

But you can say y'all.

SPEAKER_06 32:53

All right. Well, okay, I'll try just this one. Y'all.

SPEAKER_03 32:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 32:58

You have the accent there too.

SPEAKER_06 32:59

That's good. Yeah. All right. Well, really appreciate you guys joining us. This has been the Inside Clean podcast brought to you by KDH News. I'm Kevin Limity with Eric Walsh and Hamida Botchway. Thank you and have a great day.