Fastrack · Report: Talarico Was Treated at Ohio Mental Health Hospital

Nick Sortor and Rhein Amacher released audio Sunday of a woman they say works at Ohio's Lindner Center of Hope. She appeared to say a James Talarico had just been discharged.

Sept. 30: Talarico said remotely that a Dallas urgent care diagnosed him with flu.
Talarico reappeared Friday at the Austin City Limits music festival.
The woman in the recording has not been identified or verified.
The Lindner Center says it does not confirm or deny who its patients are.

Why it matters: Talarico was off the campaign trail for about two weeks in a close Senate race. The campaign's explanation is now under public challenge from Republicans.

Campaign spokesman JT Ennis called the claim "a lie designed to promote a pathetic conspiracy theory."
Trump said at a Tennessee rally, "I don't think it was the flu either."

How 21 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

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Mixed

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Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 21 sources

21 sources · 32 articles · 62% Right coverage

Where they split: The dispute is whether an unverified phone recording and flight-tracking data outweigh the campaign's account that Talarico had the flu.

Center2 sources

Newsweek6hJames Talarico’s chances edge up in Texas Senate race despite absence The Hill1hChair of Texas Democratic Party says ‘we’re full steam ahead’ after Talarico’s flu recovery

Left6 sources

Raw Story4h'Whoa': MAGA influencer's secret Talarico call sparks outrage and HIPAA warnings AlterNet2hConservative outlet busts right-wing lie about candidate in mental hospital CNN2h‘I had the flu’: Talarico returns to campaign trail and dismisses theories about absence Mediaite55mTalarico Spox Rages After MAGA Influencers Promote Utterly Bizarre Conspiracy Theory That He Was Locked In ...MSNBC3h‘Silly season’: James Talarico tackles GOP conspiracies on his flu absence Political Wire2hTalarico Tackles GOP Conspiracies On His Flu Absence

Right coverage, 13 sources: The right sees evidence that the campaign misled voters about Talarico's absence, though some outlets stress the claim remains unverified.

Townhall9hIt Appears James Talarico Didn't Have the Flu. He Was at a Mental Health Facility.The Daily Wire22hTrump Mocks Talarico's 'Longest Flu Ever Recorded'Just the News23hTalarico campaign says claim in newly-released audio is false RedState10hBREAKING: Mystery of 'Missing' Talarico May Be Solved After Journalist 'Confirms' Whereabouts Twitchy8h‘This Is a Lie’: Talarico Campaign Calls Mental Health Facility a ‘Pathetic Conspiracy Theory’PJ Media9hBombshell Audio CONFIRMS Talarico's Stay at Mental Health Facility. Here Are the Details.The Gateway Pundit6hBREAKING: James Talarico Was in Ohio Mental Health Hospital During Mysterious Disappearance (AUDIO) * The Gateway Pundit * by Jordan Conradson The Western Journal10hBreaking: Viral Recording Appears to Place Talarico at Ohio Psych Facility During Long Absence Despite Denial Power Line4hTalarico Turns Up The Post Millennial5hBREAKING: Ohio mental hospital says it recently discharged James Talarico: report The Right Scoop4hBREAKING: It's been CONFIRMED that James Talarico was admitted to out-of-state Mental Institution WND4h‘The flu thing was a BIG FAT LIE’: James Talarico was reportedly hospitalized in mental health facility during his mysterious disappearance * WorldNetDaily * by Joe Kovacs ZeroHedge1hJames Talarico 'Disappeared' To A Mental Health Facility: Report

What’s next: Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, called on Talarico to release his medical records.

Republican Ken Paxton's campaign issued a release asking for proof of life.
Who is the woman in the recording, and does she work at the facility?
Was Talarico on the private flight between Austin and Hamilton, Ohio, that Caroline Wren cited?