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Russian operatives spread fake videos targeting Texas Senate race

Russian operatives likely spread AI-generated fake videos to meddle in the Texas Senate race between Democratic candidate James Talarico and Republican candidate Ken Paxton, according to disinformation researchers.

Where
Statewide
When
Oct. 22, 2026
Sources
Reported by 8 outlets

Taxes and money

None stated in sources.

Does this affect you?

Who's involved

  • Storm-1516Russian government-backed group accused of spreading fake videos
  • James TalaricoDemocratic U.S. Senate candidate targeted in video
  • Darren LinvillClemson University professor and head of Media Forensic Hub
  • NewsGuardCompany tracking online misinformation
  • GraphikaSocial media analytics company
  • Lead StoriesFact-checking organization
  • JT EnnisTalarico spokesperson

The facts

  • Fake video purported to show a former student accusing Talarico of sexual misconduct.2
  • X account that posted video was created in September with Romania as signup country.2
  • X suspended the account that originally posted the video.2
  • AI detection tool showed 98% likelihood the video is a deepfake.2
  • Video purported to show man claiming to be former student at Rhodes Middle School in San Antonio where Talarico taught Language Arts.2
  • Graphika said X account very likely impersonated a Facebook user by the same name who was Talarico student.2
  • The impersonated man denied being in video and denied accusing Talarico of misconduct.2

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

  • Darren Linvill, Clemson University professor Video is work of Storm-1516, same Russian group that attacked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in 2024.2
  • JT Ennis, Talarico spokesperson Powerful people are slandering Talarico with AI deepfakes and foreign bots to protect corrupt political system.2

How they headlined it

The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.

  • A social media post accuses James Talarico of sexual abuse. Researchers say it’s Russian disinformation

    Straight Arrow

  • Russian disinformation targets James Talarico with unfounded sexual assault claim

    AFP Fact Check

  • Texas Senate Campaign Gets Even More Heated As Paxton and Talarico Trade Attacks Before Midterms

    Townhall

  • James Talarico brings his Senate campaign to Beaumont in heated battle against Ken Paxton

    KFDM, fox4beaumont.com

  • Russian operatives likely spread fake videos targeting the Texas Senate race, researchers say

    NBC News

  • Russian Disinformation Group Posts AI Video on Talarico

    Newser

  • Russian group targets Talarico with fake AI-generated video

    PolitiFact

  • Covert Russian election interference group targets James Talarico with disinformation campaign

    San Antonio Current

Sources

Outlets: 1 left-leaning, 1 not rated Only left-leaning outlets reported this Who's covering Texas →

These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.

  1. Russian operatives likely spread fake videos targeting the Texas Senate race, researchers say NBC News Lean Left, October 22, 2026
  2. Russian group targets Talarico with fake AI-generated video PolitiFact Not rated, October 22, 2026

Also reported by Straight Arrow, AFP Fact Check, Townhall, KFDM, fox4beaumont.com, Newser, San Antonio Current.

This sheet was written by AI from the sources above and adds nothing they don't state. Read the originals for full context.

Spot an error on this sheet?

All corrections and updates

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