James Talarico Limits Local Press Access at Closed-Door Data Center Forum
Texas Senate hopeful James Talarico faced criticism after a data-center roundtable was closed to local reporters but allowed a national cable outlet.
During a roundtable on data centers held on Aug. 13 at the G.V. Daniels Recreation Center, Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico described the gathering as a closed-door, bipartisan forum intended for candid resident feedback. The event excluded local media, prompting criticism from the Abilene Reporter-News, while MS NOW’s Chris Jansing was present and recorded the discussion.
Following the session, Talarico convened a short press gaggle outside, emphasizing the need for a “private conversation” free of cameras. A campaign aide later urged reporters to stay on data-center topics. The campaign subsequently posted a 14-minute video of the roundtable, featuring participants such as Diana Luna and Riley Rodriguez, on Talarico’s YouTube channel.
Why it matters
The incident raises questions about transparency and media access in local political campaigns.
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