Joe Rogan and James Talarico Talk Faith and Politics

Texas State Representative James Talarico joined The Joe Rogan Experience for a wide-ranging conversation about politics, purpose, and the role of faith in public life. A former middle school teacher, now both a legislator and a seminary student, Talarico brought a grounded presence to the interview, one shaped less by ideology than by personal experience and spiritual formation.

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At the center of that formation is a memory: his mother, packing their belongings late at night and driving them to the hotel where she worked after fleeing a dangerous home. They stayed in one of the rooms temporarily, while she worked double shifts to make ends meet. Moments like these, he said, shaped his understanding of love, not just as sentiment, but as sacrifice, responsibility, and courage. That same ethic carries through his work in the legislature.

The conversation with Rogan ranged from church and state to childhood trauma, from healthcare policy to masculinity, but it circled continually back to a core conviction: that public service, when guided by faith, should begin with humility and a commitment to love one's neighbor. Talarico didn't present faith as a political weapon or personal brand. He approached it as a way of seeing, especially those who are often unseen.

That lens became clear in his reflections on a controversial Texas law requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in every public school classroom. Though a devout Christian and seminary student, Talarico opposed the bill, on constitutional and spiritual grounds. “If we have to force people to put up a poster,”he said, “that means we have a dead religion.”

He expressed concern for students of other faiths—or no faith—who might feel alienated or unwelcome. “We have churches on every corner,” he said. “We don’t need the government to preach. That’s not its job.”

The discussion also explored the challenges and hopes of public education. Talarico shared the story of a student he taught in San Antonio, bright, troubled, and making real progress with the help of school counseling, until funding cuts ended that support. The student spiraled. It was a moment that made politics personal, and it remains a touchstone for Talarico’s work in office.

That kind of moral clarity shaped the rest of the conversation, even as it turned toward more contentious topics. Rather than lean into polarization, Talarico spoke about what can happen when people lead with trust. He recalled a working relationship with a conservative colleague that began with disagreement but ultimately led to two bipartisan bills, one allowing homeschooled students access to public extracurriculars, and another reducing prescription drug costs. The friendship didn't erase their differences, but it opened space for shared values to shape better outcomes.

Talarico made it clear that he sees public service as more than policy or party. It’s an extension of formation, a way of loving God by loving neighbors, especially the most vulnerable. He didn’t frame faith as a platform, but as a quiet, persistent influence that informs how he listens, how he serves, and how he tries to live out what he believes.

Rogan, who is often skeptical of institutional religion and a past Trump supporter, seemed genuinely moved by Talarico’s depth and integrity, telling him, “You need to run for president. We need someone who’s actually a good person.”