Every election cycle, the same tired dance plays out. Democratic candidates tour their home states, shake hands at diners, wrap themselves in the language of patriotism and working-class grit – then quietly jet off to Manhattan to collect oversized checks from people who wouldn’t set foot in those same diners. The fundraiser guest lists always tell a different story than the campaign ads. Funny how that works.
Voters in states like Texas and Ohio might reasonably expect that the wealthy donors bankrolling their Senate candidates share at least a passing fondness for the country those candidates hope to govern. That expectation, it turns out, could use a serious reality check.
From Fox News:
Democratic Senate candidates Sherrod Brown and James Talarico reportedly headlined a star-studded New York City fundraiser hosted by celebrity jewelry designer Alexis Bittar, whose recent public comments describe the United States as a “sh – -hole” and characterizing the American flag as “a symbol of aggression.”
The fundraiser, held Monday evening in Manhattan, featured contribution levels ranging from $500 to $27,000 and also listed actor Robert De Niro among the high-powered hosts, according to an invitation cited by the Washington Free Beacon.
Take that in for a moment. James Talarico – a man who wants to represent the great state of Texas in the United States Senate – spent his Monday evening gladhanding with someone who considers this country a dumpster and its flag a weapon. That warrants more than a raised eyebrow.
The man behind the money
Alexis Bittar is a celebrity jeweler whose designs have adorned the likes of Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Michelle Obama. Glamorous résumé. His political commentary? Considerably less polished.
In a July interview, Bittar delivered this assessment of the nation: “I have three kids, and they’re little, and they’re growing up in this sh–hole. So if we don’t do something now, we’re fu–ed.” Father of the year material, clearly.
He wasn’t finished. While promoting a documentary about “reclaiming” the American flag, Bittar told Forbes that the Stars and Stripes had morphed into “a symbol of aggression” during President Trump’s political rise – “like ‘we’re coming for you.'” Millions of veterans and Gold Star families might have a different reading of that flag, but their opinion apparently didn’t make the documentary.
Then there’s this gem. Speaking with V Magazine about a marketing campaign built around a fictional female serial killer, Bittar mused: “I am always intrigued by people who kill and I love to trace their own personal history and the trajectories that led them to become killers.” Charming dinner party host. And now, a charming fundraiser host for Democratic Senate hopefuls.
Birds of a feather
What elevates this beyond standard guilt-by-association is Talarico’s own track record. Fox News previously reported that the Texas Democrat caught heat for calling the American flag a “complicated symbol” ahead of Independence Day. When your fundraiser host brands the flag a “symbol of aggression” and you yourself have called it “complicated,” you’re not in awkward company. You’re in comfortable company.
Remember – Talarico is running for Senate in Texas. A state where the flag flies from front porches, pickup trucks, and storefronts without apology or asterisks. His Republican opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton, won’t need to manufacture a contrast here. Talarico is assembling it himself, one donor reception at a time – with contribution tiers reaching $27,000 for “champion” status.
When pressed about the fundraiser, Talarico’s campaign declined to comment. Draw your own conclusions from that deafening quiet.
A revolution, in their own words
Talarico isn’t Bittar’s only beneficiary, either. The jeweler recently co-hosted a separate fundraiser for Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. In an August Instagram video alongside El-Sayed, Bittar proclaimed that “the traditional Democrats have one foot in the grave” and that “the revolution has begun.” Not exactly subtle.
On social media, he’s been even more blunt: “Hey people … it’s voting time!!! Bringing in all the Democrat Socialists!! Let’s change America…!” Monday’s fundraiser host committee reinforced the point, featuring allies of New York City’s socialist mayor Zohran Mamdani, the Human Rights Campaign PAC, and a national board member from GLAAD.
This isn’t some lone radical latching onto mainstream candidates. It’s an organized pipeline – funded, coordinated, and proudly unashamed of its intentions.
Texas voters will face a straightforward choice. They can send a senator to Washington who views the American flag the way most Texans do – as a sacred emblem of sacrifice and liberty – or they can choose the candidate who raises money alongside people who see it as a problem in need of fixing. James Talarico has made his allegiances plain. He just banked on nobody paying attention.
Key Takeaways
- Democrat Talarico raised funds alongside a host who openly called America a “sh–hole.”
- Both Talarico and fundraiser host Bittar have publicly disparaged the American flag.
- Self-described socialist donors are quietly financing key Democratic Senate campaigns.
- Talarico’s campaign refused to comment when asked about the controversial fundraiser.
Sources: Fox News, New York Post
