New York Times Review Debunks Talarico Ohio Psych Hospital Rumor, Questions Campaign's Delayed Evidence The New York Times reviewed time-stamped security images placing Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico at his Austin home during his nine-day campaign absence, debunking viral claims he was at an Ohio behavioral health center, while critics question why the campaign did not release such evidence sooner. A viral rumor claiming Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico secretly spent his recent campaign absence at an Ohio behavioral health center has been debunked, but new questions are emerging over why evidence that could have quickly undercut the allegation was not made public while speculation exploded online. The New York Times reported Monday that it reviewed time-stamped security camera images provided by Talarico's campaign showing the Democrat at his Austin home between Oct. 1 and Oct. 8, the period of his nine-day absence from the campaign trail. The images, which the campaign provided to the Times on the condition they not be published for security reasons, offer the clearest independent evidence yet supporting Talarico's account that he was home recovering from the flu.Campaign Evidence Contradicts Ohio Treatment ClaimsThey contradict claims that he instead traveled more than 1,000 miles away for treatment at an Ohio facility. The revelation has prompted criticism from some observers questioning why Talarico's campaign did not provide similarly verifiable evidence earlier, before an unsubstantiated theory about his whereabouts mushroomed across social media and was amplified by prominent conservatives.GOP strategist Mark Bednar told Fox News Digital that in October of an election year every day and every hour count as candidates do everything they can to meet with voters. He said that if you are out of commission for any extent of time, it is easy for voters to wonder what is going on. Bednar added that if there is a simple explanation like an illness, it is even easier to just prove that outright to voters.He said that if the flu was really the case with Talarico, it is mind-numbing malpractice that his campaign did not quickly and easily demonstrate that. Washington Free Beacon investigative reporter Chuck Ross pointed to the Times report Monday, writing on X that the footage could have been released a week ago and quashed the rumors. Talarico's campaign had maintained throughout his absence that he was recovering from the flu.Speculation Grows Over Absentee Campaign Trail AppearancesTalarico appeared virtually at an event Sept. 30 while visibly ill and told attendees he had come down with the illness. But his extended absence from in-person campaigning increasingly became a subject of speculation. The speculation accelerated after Talarico's campaign reposted footage from a February rally on Oct. 3 without initially identifying it as a months-old video. His campaign told the Times it routinely reposts older social media content.Matt Gorman, chief communications officer at Targeted Victory, told Fox News Digital that 20 days out from Election Day, running for Senate in one of the biggest states in the country, candidates should use technology to connect through direct-to-camera videos and livestreams. He said that to just go dark is malpractice and that Talarico is running for Senate, not some cubicle dweller.Fox News Digital gave Talarico's campaign an opportunity Tuesday to respond to the criticism and update its previous statement following the New York Times reporting. The campaign declined to add to its earlier response. Talarico campaign spokesman Ennis said it has been 87 days since James challenged Ken Paxton to come out of hiding and answer Texans' questions in a debate, which even President Trump called on him to do. Ennis said the ball is in Paxton's court.The episode has also drawn attention in broader political coverage, with Fox News programs like Watters reacting to James Talarico's mysterious disappearance and the debate between Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers. Other headlines circulating alongside the story include Democrats' fury over an Ilhan Omar raid drawing a stinging GOP reminder about a raid from the past, Letitia James' fair Cornell rape probe vow colliding with an accused aide's quiet exit, and Kimberly Guilfoyle confirming her exit as ambassador to Greece as Trump asked her to resign amid a flurry of scandals.Additional coverage includes Americans drawing the line at livestreaming the spectacle of a Fort Hood shooter's execution, with one man offering a shocking proposal, and a Trump-linked super PAC pulling funding from two House Republicans as the GOP fights to keep its majority. Fox News Power Rankings show that as the House falls, the Senate stays in play, while Republicans see an opening in the Minnesota Senate race as a Democrat faces fallout from the state's fraud scandals.A Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate stood next to an empty podium as the Republican opponent skipped a debate. Omar raid outrage went from bad to worse when the internet noticed her past six-word claim, Trump said he is looking at firing the ambassador to Greece and said we are not happy, and Trump commented on Kimberly Guilfoyle's resignation by saying we did not like what we were reading. The White House press secretary touted Trump's Ohio rally and economic record.