Video surfaces showing 'Low T Talarico' saying climate change is the result of 'white supremacy and capitalism'

James Talarico speaking with Sierra Club members in a 2020 Zoom call.

Newly-surfaced footage of U.S. senate hopeful James Talarico speaking with climate activists on a Zoom call in 2020 has emerged in which Talarico connected climate change to "white supremacy and capitalism," showing the Democrats' nominee in Texas leaning heavily into woke talking points.

The remarks came during a conversation with members of the Austin chapter of the Sierra Club in September 2020, according to CNN, which obtained the video. Talarico was fed a question that seemed heavily scripted about what could be done to mitigate the so-called impacts of climate change on Texas. 

He began his answer diving right into some of the left's most extreme talking points, saying, "I'm thankful that you asked this question and thankful that young activists have really drawn the link between climate change and white supremacy and capitalism in our country." He added, "And I think only understanding the ways that all three of those oppressive systems work together are we going to be able to begin the process of dismantling them."

A disdain for capitalism among Democrats and far-left candidates, like those from the DSA who have won notable primary races this year, gained significant traction over the last year, and Talarico's comments from six years ago show he was already talking about these types of anti-American ideas long before it became politically fashionable on the far left.  

Elsewhere in the conversation, Talarico blasted the Lone Star State's oil industry. “We all know that Texas has been a leader in oil and gas, but in many ways that’s like being the leader in cassette tapes in the 1980s,” Talarico said in response to another question. “That industry is not gonna last. And if we wanna ensure we have an economy that’s gonna work for our children and our children’s children, we gotta be ahead of the curve and Texas has to lead instead of follow on this issue.”

Talarico's campaign has tried to distance the candidate from those sorts of extremist remarks, telling CNN some of his comments in the past have "missed the mark" and insisted that Talarico thinks of himself as "a proud capitalist." Other remarks that have drawn criticism, particularly from Republicans, include Talarico saying Americans should eat less meat to fight climate change, a suggestion that earned him the nickname "Tofu Talarico."

More recently, Republicans have cast him as "Low T Talarico" due to some of his other extremist comments on the border and transgender issues as well as his feminine-leaning delivery style, which was on full display in the Zoom conversation with the Sierra Club members. Recent polling has shown Talarico with a healthy lead over his opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, and, through fundraising, Talarico has amassed a significant campaign war chest. But, as The Wall Street Journal pointed out, Paxton has history as well as President Trump on his side. 

Watch a highlight from the Zoom call below.