The Guardian reported Sunday that an influencer who played a key role in the hoax has a long history of social media posts favorably invoking Nazi Germany, expressing antisemitism and anti-Black racism, criticizing miscegenation, and calling for the "remigration" of refugees. Semafor also reported that CBS News' Bari Weiss tasked staff with pursuing the mental health facility theory during Talarico's October absence.
Despite the online claims drawing millions of views, prediction market Kalshi said Talarico's odds in the Texas Senate race remained stable as traders did not buy the rumor. The hoax was sparked by conservative influencers Nick Sortor and Rhein Amacher using a selectively edited call to Ohio's Lindner Center of Hope, which officially stated Talarico never received treatment there, while the New York Times confirmed through time stamped home security camera images that he was at his Austin residence from Oct. 1 to Oct. 8.