Talarico M.I.A. Questions, Ilhan Omar Investigation & Dave Bennett Joins Chris X

The October 13 edition of Chris X Radio on KSEV AM 700 covers Texas election season, questions surrounding James Talarico’s recent absence from public events, reports involving Rep. Ilhan Omar, the demolition of Houston’s former Greenspoint Mall, early voting and a featured interview with Texas House District 149 candidate Dave Bennett. Chris opens the show with a reminder that early voting begins October 19, then previews several major stories and introduces Dave Bennett as the day’s featured guest. One of the first viral moments comes from an interview clip featuring Jamie West, a Democratic candidate for local office in Indiana. Chris plays West’s contentious comments about Republicans and uses the exchange to discuss the increasingly hostile tone of modern politics. Closer to home, Chris discusses another body discovered in Buffalo Bayou and jokingly revives his ongoing “Houston vampire colony” theory before moving into Texas politics. A major storyline throughout the episode is James Talarico’s recent absence from public campaigning. Chris recounts canceled appearances, inconsistent explanations he says were given about where Talarico received treatment for the flu, and online claims that Talarico had instead been at the Lindner Center of Hope in Ohio. The Talarico campaign, according to the transcript, denied that claim and said he had been home in Austin recovering from the flu. The show presents significant speculation around the issue, but the transcript itself does not establish that Talarico received treatment at that facility. Chris also discusses reports involving Rep. Ilhan Omar, including a federal search of her Washington residence and questions surrounding financial disclosures attributed to her husband’s businesses. These points are discussed as news reports on the program. Another Houston story hits close to home: demolition has officially begun at the former Greenspoint Mall. Chris reminisces about Greenspoint, Northwest Mall, Willowbrook and Deerbrook while reflecting on the disappearance of traditional shopping malls around Houston. The featured interview begins around 35:52, when Republican Dave Bennett joins Chris to discuss his campaign for Texas House District 149. Bennett describes himself as an engineer rather than a career politician and says he previously worked in infrastructure and cybersecurity for Phillips 66. He says his involvement in Texas electric-grid legislation helped motivate him to run for office. Bennett explains the unusual geography of HD-149, which includes much of Alief along with areas closer to Katy, and says those portions of the district often have different priorities. He says voters in Alief frequently bring up crime and repeat offenders, while Katy-area residents are more likely to focus on cost of living. Bennett also discusses Texas electricity prices and his desire to continue working on electric-grid and utility policy if elected. The second hour returns to election politics, Talarico, Omar, the new White House press secretary, listener calls and Chris’s Hill Country weekend before the show closes with another reminder about early voting and the changing Houston landscape. TOPIC CHAPTERS 00:00 News, Texas politics & national headlines 07:12 Two-for-Taco Tuesday begins 08:34 Early voting countdown & show preview 10:13 Another body found in Buffalo Bayou 12:11 James Talarico absence raises questions 14:04 Ilhan Omar investigation discussion 16:08 Greenspoint Mall demolition begins 17:42 Jamie West interview clip 25:00 Hill Country weekend & hunting talk 35:52 Dave Bennett joins Chris X 41:30 Crime, Alief & HD-149 priorities 44:07 Electricity costs & Texas grid policy 52:31 Early voting & Talarico discussion 1:07:40 Hour 2 begins 1:16:18 Talarico, Omar & Greenspoint Mall recap 1:28:42 Caller Chris weighs in 1:42:11 Bennett recap & Tom Oliverson preview 1:55:26 Final election discussion & show close Chris X Radio | KSEV AM 700 | The Voice of Texas #ChrisXRadio #DaveBennett #JamesTalarico #IlhanOmar #TexasPolitics #Houston #KSEV 🎙️ ChrisXradio airs Monday–Thursday on KSEV 700 AM — The Voice of Texas in Houston. Follow ChrisXradio for more politics, Texas talk, caller debates, culture, and the conversations that don’t always fit neatly into the headlines. Listen. Share. Join the conversation.