President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate sparked an emphatic on-air reaction Monday from Jack Posobiec and pollster Rich Baris, who framed the decision as a sweeping victory for the MAGA movement and a direct rebuke of Senate Republican leadership.
Posobiec opened the broadcast by announcing what he described as a political classification of the Texas GOP landscape.
“This is breaking news, even to me. There is a new invasive species that has just been categorized and classified here in Texas by the Trump administration. And yes, ladies and gentlemen, that invasive species is the Texas rhino," referring to RINOs (Republican In Name Only).
He immediately tied that framing to Trump’s endorsement of Paxton, casting it as the culmination of a broader political purge effort inside the Republican Party.
“And the Texas rhino, guess what? It's just been declared open season on the Texas rhino, because they're an invasive species and they shouldn't be here.”
Posobiec criticized establishment Republicans in Texas, arguing that voters have been misled by nominal conservatives who align with Democratic priorities once in office.
“No more of this nonsense where people just walk up and say, oh, we're going to, I'm a Republican. I'm a Republican. Look at me. I've got my cowboy hat. I've got my six shooters. And then they go up to Austin, and they vote with the Democrats. They vote with corporate America. They push liberal values. I'm sick of it. We're sick of it.”
He then tied Trump’s endorsement directly to the grassroots movement behind Paxton.
“Attorney General Ken Paxton, because of the work of the MAGA movement, the grassroots of this country, the grassroots of the great state of Texas that fought with him toe to toe, brought him toe to toe with John Cornyn up against a hundred million dollars. And they couldn't stop action Paxton. They couldn't stop MAGA. They couldn't stop the people of this movement. They couldn't stop the truth from coming out.”
Posobiec emphasized the immediacy of the political stakes in Texas.
“Early voting starts today in Texas. Election day is next Tuesday.”
He framed the endorsement as a decisive break from Washington leadership and establishment Republicans.
“This is a victory, a massive victory for MAGA, for the grassroots against the establishment. And it's a rebuke, a rebuke of the Washington, D.C. insiders, a rebuke of the unit party and a rebuke of Senate GOP leadership.”
He further escalated the claim, suggesting leadership fallout could follow.
“John Thune may not be long for the Senate majority position after the events of today.”
Rich Baris, joining the program, echoed the enthusiasm and expanded on Paxton’s political significance.
“Jack, I'm having a hard time concealing my happiness. I mean, look, I got to put on my pollster hat when I go on these shows, but let me just put on my Rich Barris hat for a second.”
Baris argued that Paxton represents a uniquely strong political figure within the MAGA coalition. He added that Paxton’s record and legal battles have strengthened his standing with voters aligned to Trump.
“We've seen what they did to this man because of his stalwart support of Donald Trump. This is arguably, this man arguably is somebody, there's nobody else who deserves Donald Trump's endorsement more than Ken Paxton.”
Baris also pointed to electoral consequences if Republicans fail to nominate Paxton.
“We know if Ken Paxton is not the nominee, we will undoubtedly suffer with turnout depression in November. Republican MAGA, especially for like these, these, these people we all know are, are a little bit wobbly right now. They need these guys like Ken Paxton. Otherwise you put a corn in on the ticket and they will stay home.”
Posobiec then interjected with reporting on internal GOP reaction to Trump’s endorsement.
“Senate Republicans are livid with Trump just now. Senator Rick Wicker remained stoned face for about 20 seconds as he walked into lunch… Senator Murkowski is crying. She's melting down.”
“The real enemy that opposes Donald Trump that opposes America first, that opposes MAGA has always been in the United States Senate, has always been in leadership in the United States Senate. They are always the one who sticks the knife in your back.”
“They did it with repeal and replace who, who killed a seven-year campaign promise that cost us the house of representatives.”
The conversation turned to Senate leadership and internal GOP strategy, with Posobiec asking whether Trump’s move signals broader leadership instability.
“I did not want him to back John Thune as the Senate majority leader. I wanted Rick Scott and I figured we'd end up in positions just like this.”
“John Cornyn only was running to be reelected so he could pay back his big donors with an amnesty bill, which they were going to then try to ram down Donald Trump's throat.”
Posobiec opened the broadcast by announcing what he described as a political classification of the Texas GOP landscape.
“This is breaking news, even to me. There is a new invasive species that has just been categorized and classified here in Texas by the Trump administration. And yes, ladies and gentlemen, that invasive species is the Texas rhino," referring to RINOs (Republican In Name Only).
He immediately tied that framing to Trump’s endorsement of Paxton, casting it as the culmination of a broader political purge effort inside the Republican Party.
“And the Texas rhino, guess what? It's just been declared open season on the Texas rhino, because they're an invasive species and they shouldn't be here.”
Posobiec criticized establishment Republicans in Texas, arguing that voters have been misled by nominal conservatives who align with Democratic priorities once in office.
“No more of this nonsense where people just walk up and say, oh, we're going to, I'm a Republican. I'm a Republican. Look at me. I've got my cowboy hat. I've got my six shooters. And then they go up to Austin, and they vote with the Democrats. They vote with corporate America. They push liberal values. I'm sick of it. We're sick of it.”
He then tied Trump’s endorsement directly to the grassroots movement behind Paxton.
“Attorney General Ken Paxton, because of the work of the MAGA movement, the grassroots of this country, the grassroots of the great state of Texas that fought with him toe to toe, brought him toe to toe with John Cornyn up against a hundred million dollars. And they couldn't stop action Paxton. They couldn't stop MAGA. They couldn't stop the people of this movement. They couldn't stop the truth from coming out.”
Posobiec emphasized the immediacy of the political stakes in Texas.
“Early voting starts today in Texas. Election day is next Tuesday.”
He framed the endorsement as a decisive break from Washington leadership and establishment Republicans.
“This is a victory, a massive victory for MAGA, for the grassroots against the establishment. And it's a rebuke, a rebuke of the Washington, D.C. insiders, a rebuke of the unit party and a rebuke of Senate GOP leadership.”
He further escalated the claim, suggesting leadership fallout could follow.
“John Thune may not be long for the Senate majority position after the events of today.”
Rich Baris, joining the program, echoed the enthusiasm and expanded on Paxton’s political significance.
“Jack, I'm having a hard time concealing my happiness. I mean, look, I got to put on my pollster hat when I go on these shows, but let me just put on my Rich Barris hat for a second.”
Baris argued that Paxton represents a uniquely strong political figure within the MAGA coalition. He added that Paxton’s record and legal battles have strengthened his standing with voters aligned to Trump.
“We've seen what they did to this man because of his stalwart support of Donald Trump. This is arguably, this man arguably is somebody, there's nobody else who deserves Donald Trump's endorsement more than Ken Paxton.”
Baris also pointed to electoral consequences if Republicans fail to nominate Paxton.
“We know if Ken Paxton is not the nominee, we will undoubtedly suffer with turnout depression in November. Republican MAGA, especially for like these, these, these people we all know are, are a little bit wobbly right now. They need these guys like Ken Paxton. Otherwise you put a corn in on the ticket and they will stay home.”
Posobiec then interjected with reporting on internal GOP reaction to Trump’s endorsement.
“Senate Republicans are livid with Trump just now. Senator Rick Wicker remained stoned face for about 20 seconds as he walked into lunch… Senator Murkowski is crying. She's melting down.”
“The real enemy that opposes Donald Trump that opposes America first, that opposes MAGA has always been in the United States Senate, has always been in leadership in the United States Senate. They are always the one who sticks the knife in your back.”
“They did it with repeal and replace who, who killed a seven-year campaign promise that cost us the house of representatives.”
The conversation turned to Senate leadership and internal GOP strategy, with Posobiec asking whether Trump’s move signals broader leadership instability.
“I did not want him to back John Thune as the Senate majority leader. I wanted Rick Scott and I figured we'd end up in positions just like this.”
“John Cornyn only was running to be reelected so he could pay back his big donors with an amnesty bill, which they were going to then try to ram down Donald Trump's throat.”
