Politics
The House | Burnham’s on his way to No.10. Could I be on my way out of the House of Lords?
4 min read
“Scandalous”. This was the word used by Keir Starmer’s successor to describe the House of Lords just a few short weeks ago when referring to the fact that “half” of the UK’s legislature is unelected.’
I agree with him. It is scandalous, especially when the actual number is more than half. We have 650 Members of the House of Commons, chosen by voters, but at the time of writing, we have 791 Members of the House of Lords, many of whom reach the Lords through systems of patronage and personal networks. A world most people will never be privy to.
To be fair to the outgoing Prime Minister, he did at least attempt to reduce the number of hereditary peers – all male, all born with the opportunity to make laws that affect us all.
Eighty-Five lost their seats. Twenty-nine promptly regained them. A third returned. The system regenerates itself faster than anyone is willing to reform it.
It is no secret that I want to see the House of Lords abolished and replaced with a democratic second chamber. But it is also no secret how the incoming Prime Minister feels either.
Back in 2001, he said the case for Lords reform was “urgent”. If it was urgent twenty-five years ago, then surely it is overdue today. His recent comments on the Makerfield by-election campaign trail reinforced that urgency when he said that reform “cannot be delayed any longer” and that the Lords is the first place to look when “cutting the cost of politics”. He has long supported a Senate of the Nations and Regions, which is a model that would finally give Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the English regions a meaningful voice.
As a woman representing Wales – one of very few Welsh voices in the Lords – this is music to my ears. How can a legislature dominated by a handful of London and South-East England postcodes genuinely represent communities hundreds of miles away, whose lives and experiences many peers have never known the likes of?
So, given that we seem to see eye to eye on this, I thought I would set out how I think he can best go about it.
In the 2024 manifesto, the Labour Party committed to consult on proposals to replace the House of Lords with an alternative second Chamber, seeking the input of the British public on how politics can best serve them. The argument I hear time and again is that such reform is impossible – too big of a beast, too complex, and too much resistance from within the Lords itself.
But that simply isn’t true.
The Salisbury Convention is a constitutional convention that means that the House of Lords should not block legislation that implements a clear manifesto commitment. While the convention is not legally binding, it has mostly been respected for over 80 years and provides a strong foundation for delivering what voters were promised.
And if the Lords did attempt to obstruct it, the Parliament Acts provide a statutory route to ensure the elected House prevails. A Bill passed by the Commons in two successive sessions – with at least a year between its first and final passage – can be sent for Royal Assent without the Lords’ consent. Reform may be a bit of a bumpy ride, but it is not impossible, and it certainly shouldn’t be a reason for us to shy away from transforming the institutions that underpin our very lives to better serve the people of these nations.
Given the current UK Government’s sluggish approach to their 2024 manifesto commitment, I recently introduced a Private Member’s Bill to establish a framework for consulting stakeholders on replacing the Lords with a democratic second chamber. This is exactly what the Labour Party promised in its manifesto, so I thought I would give them a helpful nudge.
Some may think – when people are struggling with the cost of living and public services in need of support – why would this be the next Prime Minister’s priority? But as the ‘King of the North’ said himself, the “constitutional stuff” and the wiring of the country is part of the problem. For that reason, I sincerely hope he may be bolder still. After all, nothing says ‘man of the people’ quite like dismantling an ancient institution that was designed by and for the elite.
I would be delighted to work with anyone who shares this vision. So, Andy, my door is open – as I hope yours will be too.
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
If there’s one thing we take good care of in summer, it’s our skin. Or the skin on our face, at least.
While we spend the sunny months and beyond prepping our faces with acids, primers, and sunscreens, other areas get ignored.
But it’s time we get real about the spots that get the most sweaty during the heatwave – our genitals.
Yep, I’m going there. You might be wearing breathable cotton and linens on the rest of your body, but most of us forget to protect our bits during the heat, and they need just as much attention.
I’m sure I don’t need to tell you this, but sweating down there gets uncomfortable pretty quickly.
You don’t need to suffer in silence, though, because I’ve found the solution to better comfort between your legs in the heatwave: bamboo underwear.
Although lots of underwear brands use polyester and synthetic materials in their underwear, that could contribute to excess sweat, and won’t let your genitals breathe properly. Talk about a one way ticket to thrush town.
To combat discomfort during the warmer months, Step One has created an underwear line crafted entirely from bamboo.
As well as being sustainable (thanks to how quickly it grows) bamboo also makes breathable, antibacterial, and moisture-wicking underwear.
Not only does this make them comfy enough to wear all day, but also means they’re great for sweating during training or long runs.
And whether you’re a briefs gal or a trunks guy, Step One has crafted a shape for every occasion – it even has period pants (which just so happen to be this shopping writer’s favourite).
If you’re looking for a sure-fire way to transform your comfort during the heatwave, I’ve rounded up the best pieces of Step One underwear to shop now.
And if you’re in pursuit of a bargain, good news: when you buy a multi-pack you’ll get a discount of up to 15% off. Yippee!
Westminster’s sleaze watchdog has launched an investigation into Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice.
The parliamentary commissioner for standards said he had begun investigating claims Tice had failed to declare an interest.
A separate probe into Nigel Farage’s failure to declare a £5 million gift from a Thailand-based crypto billionaire has been suspended while he fights the Clacton by-election.
Labour said: “The Reform sleaze scandals continue to pile up.”
In a post on X, Tice claimed the complaint against him had been made by an “anti semitic anti Israel lobby group over whether I should have referenced my register of interests at start of a debate on UK democracy and Israeli influence”.
A Labour spokesperson said: “Reform’s leader and deputy leader now have standards investigations hanging over them.
“With police probes, Nigel Farage’s secret £5 million gift, and reports of funding from a convicted fraudster – it’s clear Reform think the rules just don’t apply to them.”
Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
“I had everything that could go wrong with me… go wrong with me,” he said at the time, adding that “drinking too much” left his kidneys “messed up”.
Phil has also explained he’s been dealing with a spinal injury as well as type 2 diabetes.
And speaking to The Times recently, the Genesis star shared that he almost died in 2024.
He said he was admitted to a Swiss hospital in late 2023 due to alcohol addiction before being discharged and brought back a second time. He added he was placed in intensive care on his return and was mostly unconscious during this second stay.
“My kidneys were packing up, my organs were just seizing up,” he told The Times.
“People were coming to say goodbye. But I don’t remember them coming. I didn’t have no idea this was going on. They were all worried that they wouldn’t see me again. It could all have gone so terribly wrong.”
His five children reportedly visited during this time.
Phil continued: “There were some decisions to be made about ‘Do we keep Phil on life support?’ kind of thing. I was very lucky to have come out of that… Needless to say, I haven’t had a drink since.”
Back in 2021, Phil said he could no longer play the drums. “I’d love to but I mean, I can barely hold a stick with this hand,” he told BBC Breakfast.
“There are certain physical things which get in the way.”
The singer told Mojo magazine in 2025 that he’d considered making new music: “I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens. But I’m not hungry for it anymore.
“The thing is, I’ve been sick. I mean very sick.”
You can read The Times’ interview in full here.
If your grass is looking crispier than ever, you’re not alone.
Across the UK, once-lusciously-green lawns are drying out. In areas with hosepipe bans in place; brown spindly grass is a common sight.
You might be thinking all is lost and you’re going to have to deal with the troublesome task of starting over with your back garden when the weather cools (and rain finally makes an appearance).
But horticulturist Monty Don has shared some words of reassurance for those whose blades are looking fragile during this period of drought.
“If, like the cricket pitch, your grass is burnt entirely brown with not a blade of green grass, don’t worry,” said the seasoned gardener.
“And don’t waste water on it! I assure you it will recover full greenness very quickly once we get some rain.”
Why your brown grass probably isn’t dead
While your grass blades might look frazzled, the underneath of the grass likely tells a different story.
“Most UK lawns simply go dormant during prolonged hot, dry weather,” note the experts at Johnsons Lawn Seed.
Those tiny blades of grass are clever and dormancy is basically a “natural survival mechanism”, the lawn pros added, which helps them to conserve energy until rain arrives.
So long as the plant’s “crown” – the node at which soil and root meet – stays healthy, “the grass has the capability to recover once temperature and moisture conditions improve,” Utah State University explained.
This key section can survive despite, and in fact because of, brown grass blades.
How to tell if grass is dead or not
If you do think your grass might be on its last legs, a simple way to tell is by doing a ‘tug test’ – basically, grab a clump of grass and tug.
Dead grass will pull up incredibly easily, with practically no resistance, HuffPost UK previously reported, while dormant grass will remain rooted after being gently tugged.
My lawn is newly laid. How do I stop it from dying?
If your lawn isn’t well-established and you want to stop it from dying immediately, you might be able to still use a hosepipe to water it.
According to Thames Water’s hosepipe ban FAQs page, people can use a hose or sprinkler if their new lawn was recently laid by a business as a service.
“In this case, hose use is allowed for the first 28 days from the day of planting, sowing or turf laying. The hosepipe must only be used on the new planting, and not elsewhere,” reads the site.
After 28 days, gardeners should switch to a watering can instead (or use an approved irrigation system).
Irrigation system? Tell me more…
Some irrigation systems are allowed to be used during hosepipe bans – although you should check with your water supplier as rules vary.
Thames Water notes that customers can use approved drip or trickle irrigation watering systems.
But they “must be fitted with a pressure reducing valve and a timer”. Irrigation systems which cause surface run-off or dispersion of water through the air (using a jet or mist) aren’t allowed.
Back in March, the Labour government’s bill to restrict access to jury trials – a right enjoyed by English citizens for over 800 years – successfully passed its first reading. But last week, only hours after former Justice Minister David Lammy was dropped from Andy Burnham’s new cabinet, a Downing Street spokesperson announced that the newly coronated Prime Minister had no intention of following through with the plan.
Eyebrows were raised, however, at the ministerial re-appointment of Sarah Sackman, Keir Starmer’s ex-solicitor general and a key supporter of Lammy’s jury proposals. Sackman has previously worked as a foreign law clerk at the Israeli Supreme Court, and her grandfather once served as an ambassador for the settler state. Last week, Burnham extended her role in government with a re-appointment at the Ministry of Justice.
Sackman’s funders
At the end of June, and just eleven days after Burnham’s by-election victory in Makerfield, Sackman registered two new donations, each of £1250, from veteran pro-Israeli bankroller Trevor Chinn.
Sackman has long been a favourite of wealthy lobbyists, receiving tens of thousands of pounds from ex-Labour Friends of Israel chair Jonathan Mendelsohn, former Israeli soldier Jonathan Kestenbaum, and the Grabiner family. Anthony Grabiner, who is not amongst Sackman’s donors, was one of the UK Lawyers for Israel patrons recently subject to a “legal intimidation” complaint.
What do Sackman and Burnham really care about?
On Wednesday, at an event organised by Jewish Care, a charity whose Life President is former Tony Blair bankroller Michael Levy, Sackman announced:
It was wonderful to welcome the Prime Minister back to Jewish Care in Golders Green this morning … As Andy said, this time we are going to get this right.
However, a professed passion for reforming the care system is not the only thing the pair have in common. One of the funders of Burnham’s 2015 Labour leadership campaign was Michael Sternberg, who has also financed the current Courts Minister.
From 2015-2024, Sackman was vice-chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, which states that one of its aims is:
to promote the centrality of Israel in Jewish life.
In 2015, Sackman said:
The issue of Israel is something that is deeply personal and emotional.
Sackman’s opposition to the ICC
In May 2024, Sackman opposed International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Yoav Gallant, saying:
I trust the Israeli people to hold their leaders to account.
A 2025 Penn University poll recorded that 82% of Jewish Israelis supported the forced expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza. 47% agreed that the Israeli military should kill all inhabitants of enemy cities. This is the nation Sackman “trusts” to hold war criminals Netanyahu and Gallant to account.
Before entering politics, Sackman worked at Matrix Chambers with former attorney general Richard Hermer, who once declared that he has “dear family members” serving in the Israeli military. Last week, Burnham replaced Hermer with Ellie Reeves, a long-time supporter of the Labour Friends of Israel lobby group.
Burnham continues Starmer’s legacy
Starmer will always be remembered for the military and diplomatic support he consistently lent to the Israeli state. But in December 2024, just over one year into the Gaza genocide, Sackman insisted that Starmer’s administration had “broadly got it right” on the issue of Palestine.
She made the comments in a public conversation with Adrian Cohen, LFI’s lay chair. Last Thursday, the controversial lobby group published a new paper suggesting that a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements is “practically and politically impossible”.
LFI-affiliated MPs continue to dominate the Labour cabinet. On the issue of Palestine, Sackman’s re-appointment sends a loud signal to those who thought Burnham might change course.
Featured image via Facebook
Spider-Man: Brand New Day has just had the biggest ever global opening weekend of any Spider-Man film. In fact, it’s the second-biggest opening weekend for any movie, bested only by Avengers: Endgame, Deadline reports.
It raked in a mammoth $972 million (about £721 million) from 90,000 screens across the world, against Sony’s projected $425 million (£316 million).
Sony Pictures explained that $572 million (£425 million) of that came from international (non-North American) markets. $121 million (£90 million) came from China, the company said, while $49 million (£36.4 million) stemmed from UK office sales.
The previous best Spider-Man global opening weekend was for No Way Home, which was also the third-highest-grossing first weekend of any film at the time.
The movie, which made $600.5 million (£490 million), now sits in fourth place.
Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, has called these results “truly phenomenal”, thanking fans for “coming out and experiencing our film the way it was meant to be seen” in cinemas.
Critics, many of whom called Tom Holland’s performance in Brand New Day his best yet, have praised the movie for its stunning visuals. Den of Geek called the newest installment of the franchise “the best looking Spidey has been since the days of [director Sam] Raimi”.
Brand New Day tracks a forgotten Peter Parker as he undergoes a transformation he “may not have the power to control”.
Its runaway success comes after a comparative slump for Marvel. After its Avengers: Endgame peak, the BBC reports, films like The Marvels and Thunderbolts have proven some of the studios’ lowest-grossing films.
These early results might prove good news for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, set to come out later this year.
The UK has had several big by-elections over the past 12 months, with Reform UK underperforming in all of them. In the most recent, Reform’s underperformance wasn’t the only story; there was also the emergence of Restore Britain.
Now, Restore leader, Rupert Lowe, has called for something of a cooperation pact between the two parties.
What’s really going on here?
The Greater Manchester result showed what Restore Britain can deliver.
The next step is how we maximise the chances of delivering the change Britain needs – it means putting personal differences aside.
That is why today I am making a public offer to Nigel Farage and Reform UK. pic.twitter.com/vwQJYRkEFp
— Rupert Lowe MP (@RupertLowe10) August 2, 2026
Rupert Lowe: ‘I only care that it is done’
Lowe begins his video by talking about the public falling out he had with Farage — a falling out which was followed by Reform unceremoniously sacking him. He then repeats the far-right talking points we’re used to, including a reference to Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech (emphasis added):
The country we both love is changing beyond recognition. Millions of people feel like strangers in their own communities.
Lowe ends his video by saying:
I do not care how that is done. I only care that it is done. So Nigel, my message is simple. If you are prepared to work together around serious policies, serious reform and serious government, then so are we. Not because it’s politically convenient for Restore Britain. Not because it’s personally easy. After the events of the last 18 months, I would certainly rather not be making this offer.
Reading between the lines, Lowe is saying, ‘Adopt all our policies or we will continue to oppose you’. Reform is unlikely to move as far right as Restore, though, because it’s functionally difficult for it to do so.
Reform is open to people who aren’t white, as long as said people are willing to accept the politics of white supremacy. Restore Britain, meanwhile, is full of activists who think that white supremacy belongs to the whites.
Should Reform move further right, it would struggle to hold on to politicians like Suella Braverman, Nadhim Zahawi and Laila Cunningham. The same is true of Restore in reverse, which is why many think Lowe is making his move first.
People have accused Restore of splitting the far-right vote. Now, Lowe can claim he attempted to bridge the divide, even if it’s obvious such a plan would never work.
Reform’s Raheem J. Kassam was among those who noticed what Lowe is doing, saying:
Rupert Lowe, polling nationally on 1%, has made a multi-camera, scripted video asking if he can work with Reform again.
Yep. Instead of sending a text or picking up the phone, he’s done what he’s always done: try and get himself a little attention.
What’s interesting is that Rupert doesn’t actually make a concrete offer in this video.
No, he makes policy DEMANDS of Reform, but doesn’t state what they’d get in return. It’s a total and utter grift, designed to try and make Reform look unreasonable, while actually offering nothing.
“Work together?” What does that look like? Is it an electoral pact? Would he fold Restore? Nah, no specifics, just some more “woe is me” crap and then an ultimatum dressed up in pseudo patriotism.
We trust Kassam about as much as we trust Lowe, but in this instance he’s pointing out the obvious.
Why a Reform-Restore takeover won’t work
Lowe also said:
In my view, failing to even try because of our own personal difficulties is simply not an option. The British people deserve nothing less than our best and sincere efforts to make it happen. Now is the time to put our differences aside and cooperate for the good of the country that we all love.
Let’s be real, the only way Restore could benefit Reform is by standing down completely (much like the Brexit Party did for the Tories in 2019). No one seriously thinks Lowe wants to step aside, but he could be up to something else.
When Lowe founded Restore, the Canary made the following point:
While it’s tempting to think Restore will split the Reform vote, there is another possibility. The spurned Lowe could use Restore as a weapon to damage Reform’s electability, and he could then use that to force Farage out and take control of both parties. This wouldn’t surprise us, as Lowe has already merged with Advance UK — a party formed by Ben Habib — i.e. another of the politicians Farage kicked out of Reform
Commentators like Don McGowan are making similar points today:
The beginning of a hostile takeover from Rupert Lowe?
Farage is finished, we can all see that now. Is Lowe making the first inroads into taking control of Reform UK when Farage, and probably Tice, have to stand away?
This is an interestingly timed interjection. https://t.co/RBFFbNrZfe
— Don McGowan (@donmcgowan) August 2, 2026
As noted, it would be difficult for any politician to combine Reform and Restore into one movement. Restore is too far right for many Reform people; Reform is too centre-right for many in Restore. Lowe is certainly egotistical enough to think he could make it happen, though, and given his many ongoing scandals, it does look like Farage’s days are numbered.
Featured image via Belinda Jiao/ Reuters
By Willem Moore
Boy George, the multi-award winning music artist, is a convicted criminal who once falsely imprisoned a sex worker in his home by handcuffing him to a radiator. He’s also pretty much the last celebrity willing to defend the genocidal nation of Israel, and this means the Zionists have no option but to hold him up as some sort of hero.
Boy George is an iconic British superstar.
This week he put out a song to show solidarity with the Jewish people post October 7. It is called We Will Dance Again.
As a result, he has been libelled by almost all British media as “pro genocide”. He has had to withdraw from…
— Eve Barlow (@Eve_Barlow) August 1, 2026
Boy George and Zionists unite
Zionism is the ideology that dictates Israel must exist as an expansionist colonial state — one which also serves as America’s foothold in the Middle East. Zionists have used this belief to justify the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, as well as the recent expansion into Lebanon. They also use it to justify the criminal mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners, as we’ve reported:
- Serious scabies outbreak in Israeli occupation prisons is part of the policy of torture and slow killing used against Palestinian political prisoners
- 2025 saw unparalleled testimonies and atrocities from Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails
- Palestinian prisoners — Israeli lawyer branded traitor for exposing torture
Given the above, it’s no surprise that Israel and Boy George would find common ground. In 2009, the Guardian covered his trial:
Boy George was today sentenced to 15 months in jail for falsely imprisoning a male escort by handcuffing him to a wall and beating him with a metal chain.
The judge told the 47-year-old former Culture Club front man, whose real name is George O’Dowd, he had left the escort “shocked, degraded and traumatised” by the ordeal.
O’Dowd was found guilty last month of attacking the Norwegian model Audun Carlsen, 29, after he visited the singer’s flat in London in April 2007.
Given Boy George’s conviction, it’s frankly reprehensible that Zionists would hold him up as a paragon of human virtue. At this point, though, who’s surprised?
‘Dehumanising and racist propaganda’
Speaking on the Boy George song that led us here, human rights advocate, Gary Spedding, said:
The [Boy George] song that many (including myself) have been talking about is objectionable because the lyrics dehumanise Palestinians, justify Israel’s crimes against Palestinians, and attack other musicians who have expressed solidarity with Palestinians.
Lyrics that stand out are:
“You say genocide, I say war. When you’re attacked, it’s what the army is for. Does it get ugly? You bet it does. When I know you want to kill every last one of us.”
And
“You condemn the Jews, with selective memory. Musicians holding flags, mouthing like sheep. Propaganda fuelled by the internet feels so weak.”
Accusing Palestinians of wanting to slaughter every last Israeli Jew is dehumanising and racist propaganda that portrays Palestinians as blood thirsty savages. Combine this with the denial that Palestinians are facing a genocide and justifying the IDFs actions in Gaza and we can see a very obvious smear.
His attack on other musicians is blatant and horrendous. He discusses propaganda fuelled by the internet and yet its obvious that Boy George himself has been driven by what hes been absorbing in terms of online content.
Because they’ve no cultural relevance left, Zionists have felt compelled to issue messages like the following:
Boy George, you dared to sing for truth and humanity while others marched with the mob. Now the United Nations must hear you. I intend to make it happen. https://t.co/yD2kTs3iAo
— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) August 1, 2026
Time will tell, and we are people of patience.
I'm with Boy George on this one. https://t.co/e1d22ILP8H — Ella Ke (@EllaTravelsLove) August 1, 2026
Thank you @BoyGeorge for your moral clarity and normal working brain — Shelley Blond (@BlondShelley) August 2, 2026
https://t.co/d2llttL5eu
We’re not sure it’s best to describe Boy George as having a “normal working brain” given interactions like the following:
Yo, @BoyGeorge, read the pending community note. pic.twitter.com/EEhQpAFsSK
— Mukhtar (@I_amMukhtar) July 28, 2026
LBC host James Hanson said this:
Whatever your view on Israel’s actions in Gaza, no-one should be cancelled for speaking up for their Jewish friends and writing a song that condemns October 7.
Solidarity with Boy George.https://t.co/43xXrxWpUw — James Hanson (@jhansonradio) August 1, 2026
If Boy George is ‘cancelled’, it’s not just because he defended a genocide; it’s because in doing so, he drew attention to his past conviction. No one forced him to do that. And let’s be real, the people who are boycotting Boy George today were already functionally boycotting him anyway because he hasn’t been relevant in years.
Wait, it gets worse
In case you didn’t already know, Boy George used AI to create the rancid song in question. In other words, everything about this story is grim and unnecessary, which is the most accurate description of where the Zionists are in this current moment.
Featured image via Astrida Valigorsky/ Getty Images
By Willem Moore
He’s eating barbecue. He’s winning over Joe Rogan. He’s challenging his opponent to mano-a-mano televised faceoffs.
James Talarico is determined not to let his GOP challenger Ken Paxton’s and Republicans’ attacks on his masculinity define him in what has emerged as one of the party’s loudest tactics in the crucial Senate race.
The Texas Democrat is working to position himself as a candidate focused on issues he says men actually care about instead of speculation about his diet, sexuality and religious beliefs.
“They’ve even called me a vegan, and those are fighting words in the state of Texas,” Talarico said at a San Antonio rally this summer.
“Nowadays our culture tells young men that greatness is tearing other people down, is trolling and owning and dominating. But my dad showed me what real greatness looks like. He inspired me to serve,” Talarico said at another rally in Houston, referencing how his dad often mowed the lawn of his elderly widowed neighbor without asking.
Talarico’s attempt to reclaim the masculinity narrative by confronting the issue head-on could help propel him to flip a seat Democrats haven’t held in nearly four decades, and which could determine control of the Senate next year.
It comes as both parties, in Texas and across the U.S., are fighting to win male voters — especially young, Black or Hispanic men — who in 2024 lurched to the right to help Republicans take control of the White House and Congress. The issue of masculinity has also been turbo-charged during Donald Trump’s second term, with the president hosting UFC fights on the White House lawn and his Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth pushing for testosterone testing in the military.
If Talarico prevails, he could ultimately serve as a model for other Democratic candidates to connect with male voters or fend off Republicans who try to use issues of masculinity as a cudgel.
“Democrats need to be prepared for more of these attacks to come and understand how to handle them,” Lucas Holtz, a senior political adviser at the centrist think tank Third Way, said in an interview.
Republicans think they’ve hit a nerve with Texas voters about Talarico’s manhood. Members of the party have targeted the 37-year-old public school teacher-turned-state legislator for past statements endorsing a vegan lifestyle, suggesting that “God is nonbinary” and opposing legislation that erodes transgender rights.
“If you look at him, this is a guy who’s publicly stated pretty bizarre things — that God is nonbinary,” said Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) in an interview. “He’s a total weirdo, and I think Texas voters recognize that.”
Talaricosaid recently his comment on God’s gender was meant to be “deliberately provocative” and that he meant God is beyond gender.
Republicans are also seizing on Talarico’s unmarried status and smaller physical build to paint the Democratic candidate as weak and effeminate. Some have falsely called him gay or transgender. Paxton’s very first ad of the general election campaign implied Talarico has low testosterone levels. And a conservative PAC released an AI-generated video of Talarico as an actress from “The Sound of Music” singing about wanting to give hormones to children.
Talarico opposes gender affirming care for minors, his spokesperson JT Ennis said.
“In Texas, there’s a certain level of tough guy-ness that we all pretend to have in ourselves, and that we like in our elected officials,” said Vinny Minchillo, a Texas-based Republican admaker who is not involved in the race. “If you push that the right direction, that especially does not sit well with Hispanic men and Black men.”
Paxton’s campaign and his allies think Talarico’s previous comments on these issues put him out of touch with voters in both parties.
“Texans can spot an audition for a new identity and they know he is weak and woke on core Texas values,” Paxton adviser Nick Maddux said in a statement. Maddux pointed to moves Talarico has made during the campaign he said shows flip-flopping, such as wearing a Texas flag shirt after calling the American flag a “complicated symbol.”
“He is undoubtedly hurting Democrats,” Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said in an interview about Talarico.
Some Hill Democrats say Republicans’ fixation on Talarico’s manhood is an attempt to distract from Paxton’s weaknesses.
“They fear his strength, especially since he’s running against the most notorious scumbag in American politics,” Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) said.
Paxton has faced an ethics complaint that was later dropped, a Justice Department corruption investigation for which he was not charged and securities fraud charges which were ultimately dismissed in an agreement. He was also impeached by the Texas GOP-led House for bribery and abusing his public office, which he called a “sham” coordinated by liberals, and was later acquitted by the Texas Senate.
Paxton also has a history of using cultural issues to his advantage, such as stoking anti-Muslim fears through campaign messaging.
Meanwhile, Talarico’s campaign says they’re not seeing evidence that the masculinity barbs are gaining traction, pointing to robust Democratic gains among Hispanic voters while also arguing that polling shows a toss-up general election contest. The campaign did not share specific data to support that its messaging to male voters was lifting Talarico’s polling with that demographic.
Talarico has focused on issues he says affect many men — like lowering housing costs, stopping corporate landlord rent manipulation and curbing the influence of billionaire mega-donors in politics.
“Ken Paxton is picking these fights no one cares about to distract from the fact that he has no solutions to lower the cost of gas, groceries, or healthcare,” Ennis said in a statement. “Real men serve others, weak men serve themselves.”
Talarico also has tried to appeal to young men and Hispanic voters by placing ads during World Cup and NBA Finals games. And he’s challenging Paxton to a series of televised debates, in which the two could spar on manhood and other issues. Paxton’s team said he’s agreed to the debates but they’re still negotiating logistics and terms.
The Democrat’s campaign also said it is trying to facilitate similar opportunities to Talarico’s pivotal appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast last year, which boosted his national profile to millions of young men who make up Rogan’s core audience. The podcaster — who during the interview exclaimed “you need to run for president,” to Talarico — has continued to compliment the Texas Democrat and defend his views, including during a conversation with Vice President JD Vance last month.
Talarico has also fired back with his own jabs. He responded to Paxton calling him “Talafreako” by putting the phrase on T-shirts and selling them on his campaign website.
And Talarico turned on Paxton’s low-testosterone message by telling MS NOW “I don’t think guys my age are really concerned about that kind of thing,” adding, “You’ve got these old guys lathered up in their fake tans throwing cheesy nicknames at each other.”
Some public opinion research shows Talarico’s strategy fits the 2026 moment.
The growing cost-of-living crisis — exacerbated by the deeply unpopular military conflict in Iran — and Trump’s low approval ratings may mean the GOP’s masculinity attacks fall flat this cycle, Luke Warford, founder and director of Texas Public Opinion Research, a nonpartisan public opinion research firm, said in an interview.
The top issues for men and young men in Texas center on affordability, the cost of living, economic growth and job creation, according to an aggregate of data shared with POLITICO from the group’s latest surveys in May and June.
“We’ve got a really different scenario now where the Republicans are in power in Texas and nationally, so they own the things that are broken,” Warford said. “There is a deep anti-establishment sentiment in this country and a deep frustration with the status quo particularly among men, and that could be a much stronger political force than the cultural attacks.”
Matt Angle, founder of the Lone Star Project, a Democratic-aligned political action committee in Texas, said “there’s no attack that should be ignored,” but that Democrats are in a good position.
“Ken Paxton is no he-man. He’s a thin-chested, soft spoken, weak guy,” Angle said.
One warning sign for Talarico: a swath of male voters perceive him as too progressive, said Holtz, the Third Way adviser. Holtz noted a recent poll of men by the group in which 49 percent of respondents said the candidate was “too far left.”
In focus groups held by the centrist think tank last year and this year, young men overwhelmingly pointed to the Republican Party as the better representative of men’s priorities. Respondents in those groups associated Democrats with more social and cultural issues while tying Republicans with financial independence, finding a partner and starting a family.
On Capitol Hill, some Democrats are calling the conversation in Texas an opportunity to revisit the party’s historic avoidance of issues that are important to men, which have made them more susceptible to criticism.
Rep. Marc Veasey, a moderate Texas Democrat, said in an interview that “Democrats, overall, need to do a better job of expressing some of the concerns that young men have.”
“When we have people on our side who are attacking things like nuclear family structure and expecting everybody to fall in line, that’s pure insanity,” Veasey said. “There’s this expectation with Democrats that men are just going to follow along, and they’re not. We haven’t figured out how to talk to them.”
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) said in an interview that Democrats tend to display examples of “traditional masculinity” rather than the “stereotypical masculinity” Republicans are attacking them for not adhering to. He pointed out he served in the Marines, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) played football and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) was an astronaut.
“What voters know is truly masculine is a politician who is going to take care of their needs and be a protector and be a provider for the family,” Gallego added.
“When a man can’t support his family because inflation is so fucking high, they’re not going to care about who is on the ballot that is, quote unquote, ‘not masc enough.’”
Samantha Morton, whose amazing performance in The Odyssey has earned her well-deserved praise, recently opened up about her experience of grief with The Sunday Times.
In an interview, the foster care leaver said: “My relationship with my past changes as I age and my children age, but things keep happening.
“I sadly lost my sister on April 22 this year, she was 53,” she added.
“I am still dealing with the coroners and the trauma. I lost my real father 18 months ago. Trauma. So the past is always with me and I’m not saying I’m not going to be all right next week, but every day I wake, say a prayer and say ‘Please help me.’”
One of nine siblings, Samantha continued: “I went pillar to post with foster families, homeless hostels, sleeping by the bins at the back of the Co-op, because it was too dangerous to go back to the children’s home because of the abuse.”
This experience, she said, might have helped to influence her portrayal of Circe.
She shared: “When I opened my mouth, I was every woman. I was speaking for my mother, who suffered all sorts at the hands of men. And my sister, friends, grandmother.
“It was all the wrongs and ways that women have been depicted or treated forever.”
Speaking to The Guardian in 2022, she compared her experience of foster care to being “owned by the state,” adding, “the state treated me a certain way, and I’m a product of that”.
In 2024, while receiving a BAFTA Fellowship Award, she dedicated the prize to “every child in care, or who has been in care and who didn’t survive”.
And when accepting an OBE, she pointed out that “The care system isn’t fit for purpose. It’s been privatised, and unfortunately, there’s a lot of unregulated children’s homes that are operating up and down the country.”
The CRAZIEST Reveal In Financial Audit History
Greatland boss blasts tax changes
Bithumb shares its new roadmap toward 2028 IPO
-
Business5 days agoWhy Trees Belong on the Risk Register
-
Fashion3 days agoWeekend Open Thread: Wit & Wisdom
-
Politics3 days agoMeta enters AI-training agreement with far-right ‘propaganda rag’ Newsmax
-
Entertainment6 days ago‘Stargate’ Creator’s New Sci-Fi Series Returns for Season 3 Tomorrow
-
Politics7 days agoLuke Littler dismantles Gerwyn Price to retain title in Blackpool
-
Crypto World2 days agoMicroStrategy Post-Earnings CLARITY Act Push Could Add New Catalyst for Its Stock
-
Politics6 days agoThe Part of the Electric Transition Nobody Wants to Discuss
-
Business5 days agoMajor shareholder moves on Canyon
-
Crypto World2 days agoXRP Ledger v3.3.0 brings five institutional features
-
News Videos4 days agoBitcoin Enters the 3rd Stage of the Bear Market
-
Crypto World5 days agoKraken Enables Retail Access to Jersey Mike’s IPO via Tokenized Shares
-
Tech6 days agoNew macOS Sequoia & Sonoma security updates for older Macs
-
Politics4 days agoLuke Littler’s dominance sparks GOAT debate
-
News Videos6 days agoClaude: Build Financial Dashboards in Minutes (2026)
-
Business6 days agoJohnson & Johnson agrees to $5.5B settlement over talc cancer claims
-
Sports3 days agoSeema Kaliramna Wins Discus Throw Bronze, Takes India’s CWG Medals Tally To 17
-
Crypto World1 day agoCrypto PAC spending tops $2M in Michigan House race
-
Business3 days agoTrump Announces Hamas Disarmament Agreement as Iran Strikes Kuwait Air Base and US Attacks Pause Overnight
-
Tech5 days agoGemini can now summarize the messiest comment threads in Google Docs
-
Tech1 day agoESET tracks rise in malicious AI skills and adaptable malware
You must be logged in to post a comment Login