Texas Dem and Fox’s Will Cain Trade Blows Online After Producer Dumps Out of Fiery 10-Minute Interview

A tense Fox News interview over Texas’s contested redistricting maps spilled into an online slugfest late Tuesday after state Democrat James Talarico (TX) accused host Will Cain of ducking pushback and abruptly ending the lengthy segment.

Appearing on The Will Cain Show from Illinois, where Texas Democrats are facing mounting fines for fleeing the state to block GOP-backed maps, Talarico accused Republicans of “rigging” congressional boundaries to secure up to five more seats ahead of the 2026 midterms. Cain bristled, accusing the lawmaker of abandoning his post.

In their 10-minute long clash, Talarico pressed Cain on whether he knew how many Republicans in Congress had joined Democrats to ban gerrymandering in 2021.

“All the Democrats voted for it. Zero Republicans voted for it, zero,” he said. “You can spare me ‘both sides’ rhetoric. It’s clearly one side that is trying to rig the rules in the middle of the game… We shouldn’t accept cheating in our elections.”

Cain admitted he was “unfamiliar” with the vote, then later avoided answering Talarico’s pointed question: “If Republican policies are popular, why do they need to redraw these maps, why can’t they run on their policies?”

On that point, the Fox host signaled the interview was ending: “I’m getting wrapped on time. I’m enjoying this conversation. I apologize.”

“I appreciate you being on the show,” Cain added. “You’re welcome to be here in Texas sitting across the table from me, hopefully soon when you return to take the votes.”

Afterwards, Talarico took to X to accuse Cain of cutting him off early — despite the interview lasting a full 10 minutes.

“I just went on Fox News to tell the truth about the redistricting power grab in Texas,” he posted, claiming Cain “refused to answer — and cut the interview early.”

Cain fired back, calling the claim “dishonest” and accusing Talarico of “run[ning] away from Texas.” He added a Trumpian insult: “Stay in Illinois little Jimmy. Better fit for you than TX.”

Watch above via Fox News.