James Talarico’s controversial appearance with Stephen Colbert has turned into a fundraising bonanza. More than $2.5 million poured in within a day, fueled by a viral YouTube clip that reframed him as a candidate battling institutional suppression.
The irony is that CBS later clarified the situation was not federal interference but internal guidance around equal time rules. Jasmine Crockett even confirmed that her team had been contacted about appearing. That nuance complicates the narrative, but politics often rewards the first frame, not the most precise one.
Talarico’s move was strategically sharp. In a primary where Crockett thrives on confrontation and racial intensity, he used the moment to appear embattled yet composed, raising serious money while softening some of his perceived weaknesses. The danger for him is what comes next. If he defeats Crockett, he’ll still need her voters in November. And right now, the bad blood between their camps is very real.
