White then brought up the long-running controversy involving former employees of the Texas attorney general’s office who accused Paxton of retaliation after reporting allegations about him to federal authorities.
A Texas judge awarded four former Paxton aides $6.6 million in 2025 after finding that they had proven the attorney general’s office violated the Texas Whistleblower Act. Paxton later dropped his appeal, while his office continued to dispute the allegations against him.
White used considerably harsher language on Rogan’s show.
“James Talarico didn’t cost this state $6 million in fines and lawsuits, and that happened with Ken Paxton. Guess who paid that $6 million? You and me paid the $6 million settlement to the whistleblower for his bribery. His own party impeached him – 121 votes to 72, but the senate put him back in. He’s a criminal. He’s a piece of shit.”
White’s description of Paxton as a “criminal” was his characterization. Paxton was impeached by the Republican-controlled Texas House in 2023 over allegations that included bribery and abuse of office, but the Texas Senate subsequently acquitted him on 16 articles and dismissed four others. Federal authorities also closed a corruption investigation without bringing charges.
None of that stopped White from arguing that Texas Republicans have controlled state politics long enough.
“Let somebody else f***ing drive,” White said.
The remarks came after White praised Talarico’s opposition to Texas’ school-voucher push and described the Democrat as someone he considers intelligent and honest. Rogan also spoke positively about Talarico’s position concerning displays of the Ten Commandments in public schools.
That makes the exchange politically notable.
White never used the formal words “I endorse James Talarico,” but his comments unmistakably contrasted the two candidates and presented Talarico in a favorable light while urging Texas to move away from Paxton.
The timing is especially significant because Paxton survived years of controversy before defeating longtime Republican Sen. John Cornyn for the GOP nomination. Despite an expensive primary campaign highlighting Paxton’s legal and ethical controversies, Republican voters chose Paxton by a wide margin.
Now those controversies are being revived in the general election.
Recent reporting describes the Paxton-Talarico contest as highly competitive, with Republicans pouring resources into a Senate seat that would ordinarily be expected to favor the GOP. Talarico has also amassed a major fundraising advantage, giving Democrats substantial resources for the final stretch.
But White’s criticism of Paxton tells only one side of the political equation.
Talarico has his own record that Republicans are aggressively highlighting, particularly on transgender policy.
During his years in the Texas House, Talarico opposed Republican legislation restricting transgender participation in women’s and girls’ athletics. In September, however, he changed his public position, saying transgender athletes should not compete in girls’ sports “if it endangers safety or fairness.” The reversal has drawn criticism from transgender activists as well as scrutiny from Republicans who accuse him of changing positions during a competitive statewide campaign.
That record provides important context for voters hearing White’s argument.
Paxton enters the race carrying years of controversies, including impeachment and the multimillion-dollar whistleblower judgment. He also enters it having survived those controversies politically, won acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial and captured the Republican nomination despite opponents spending heavily to make his record the central issue.
Talarico, meanwhile, is attempting to broaden his appeal beyond the Democratic base while defending — and in some cases revising — positions he took during his years in the Texas Legislature.
White has clearly decided which side of that contrast he wants to emphasize.
His appearance on Rogan’s enormously influential podcast ensures that millions of politically engaged listeners may now hear the same argument Democrats have been making against Paxton throughout the campaign.
For Republicans, the episode is another reminder that Paxton’s past controversies remain very much alive in the general election.
For Texas voters, the decision remains theirs: weigh Paxton’s record, Talarico’s record and the competing arguments now being amplified far beyond traditional campaign advertisements.
White, however, has already made his feelings about Paxton crystal clear.
“That guy’s just too corrupt,” he said. “You know, he’s just a bad egg, and we don’t need him around here.”
