NPR promoted leftist Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico with a five-minute interview on Friday’s Morning Edition. Typically, anchor Leila Fadel just set up an answer about Ken Paxton's problems with charges of fraud and adultery instead of airing her question: “Talarico and his party believe those scandals give the Democrat an edge.” Talarico proclaimed without challenge: “The most corrupt politician in America just became the Republican nominee for the United States Senate. That kind of corruption is the rot at the core of this whole broken system." Fadel first asked about the Republican “taunting” about his left-wing stands. She didn’t ask him to explain those: FADEL: You know, Ken Paxton won and then wasted no time coming up with taunting, in many cases anti-LGBTQ nicknames for you -- Six-Gender Jimmy, James Talafreako, Tofu Talarico -- as his way of denouncing your positions on gender-affirming care, immigration, energy, religion. What do you make of these insults? TALARICO: Well, we just announced last night that we have I'm A Talafreako T-shirts available on our website for purchase - jamestalarico.com - for all the Talafreakos out there. You know, we're running against... FADEL: So there's merch from these. TALARICO: Yeah. That's right. That's exactly right. I think we're all tired of these old dudes who are pretending like this is professional wrestling, you know, all slathered up and throwing these silly nicknames at each other. Like, these nicknames don't lower the price of groceries. They don't lower the price of gas. They don't lower the cost of housing and childcare and prescription drugs. Fadel pushed back a little: "Well, that's true, but they were an effective mechanism for President Trump. He would name his political opponents a nickname. It would stick." She added: “We saw Stephen Miller post this anti-trans post about you.” She didn't quote from it. Miller joked “The Democrats made history in Texas by nominating their first transgender senate candidate.” Fadel also didn't mention the official Democrats X account came back with "shut up you ugly f--k" at Miller. Talarico disagreed that the nicknames worked for Trump, that people wanted him to fix inflation and other things and he's failed. The last two questions were also soft. She said "You've said that you're willing to break with your Democratic colleagues on issues that matter to Texans. What are those issues?" Talarico tried to argue he wants a "comprehensive" solution to immigration, something more constructive than what Biden did. Then she came from the left: "What do you think about ICE? 'Cause some of the more progressive candidates in your party want to see it abolished." Predictably, Talarico did the left-wing tapdance:  Well, I want to put an end to this secret police force, and I want to rebuild an agency that's actually focused on immigration and customs enforcement....this secret police force of masked men in unmarked vehicles terrorizing our hardworking neighbors is not keeping any of us safe. And I think people are ready for someone who's going to tackle this broken immigration system with the seriousness that it deserves. Fadel told listeners "We've asked Talarico's opponent, Ken Paxton, for an interview and comment. We have not heard back." Everyone knows why -- he wouldn't get softballs like Talarico. Republicans get much tougher treatment.