{"id":2582756,"date":"2026-03-23T07:51:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T11:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/james-talaricos-mentor-preached-about-true-jihad-at-pro-palestinian-rally\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T07:56:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T11:56:43","slug":"james-talaricos-mentor-preached-about-true-jihad-at-pro-palestinian-rally","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/james-talaricos-mentor-preached-about-true-jihad-at-pro-palestinian-rally\/","title":{"rendered":"James Talarico\u2019s mentor preached about \u2018true jihad\u2019 at pro-Palestinian rally"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjames-talaricos-mentor-preached-about-true-jihad-at-pro-palestinian-rally%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2582756&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A Washington Examiner report centers on james talarico, a Texas Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, and his longtime religious adviser, Rev. Jim Rigby, highlighting how Rigby\u2019s past activism and rhetoric at pro-Palestinian protests intersect with Talarico\u2019s political and religious background.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Rigby\u2019s 2009 pro-Palestinian speech included the phrase \u201ctrue jihad\u201d and intertwined theological language with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-cant-beat-democrats-election-industrial-complex-by-adopting-its-strategies\/\" title=\"Republicans Can\u2019t Beat Democrats\u2019 Election-Industrial Complex By Adopting Its Strategies\">left-leaning activism<\/a>, later prompting questions about antisemitism and the definition of jihad.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Protests referenced in the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >piece featured slogans<\/a> such as \u201cFrom the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,\u201d which Jewish advocacy groups say amount to calls for the elimination of Israel.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Talarico, a Presbyterian pastor-in-training who represented Texas in the stateHouse for seven years, has used Scripture from a liberal perspective to advocate left-wing causes; he studied at Austin Presbyterian theological Seminary, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/a-woke-worldview-splinters-churches-and-accommodates-sin-rev-franklin-graham\/\" title=\".... Franklin Graham believes that a woke worldview divides churches and tolerates sin.\">emphasizes social justice<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Rigby has been a key mentor and adviser to Talarico since childhood, reportedly guiding his career path and counseling him on the prophetic nature of politics; the article notes Rigby\u2019s close involvement with Talarico\u2019s early calling to ministry.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The piece describes Talarico\u2019s current sabbatical from seminary to concentrate on a competitive Senate race, with the seminary confirming he can complete his Master of divinity later, and notes his stated intention to return to church leadership after politics.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Additional context covers broader debates about jihad and antisemitism in Western discourse, including Rigby\u2019s past remarks and their reception, and the Washington Examiner\u2019s outreach for comment to Rigby and Talarico\u2019s team.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">James Talarico&rsquo;s mentor preached about &lsquo;true jihad&rsquo; at pro-Palestinian rally<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2537387\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A mentor of Democratic candidate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/James-Talarico\/\">James Talarico<\/a>, the Texas seminarian running for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Senate\/\">Senate<\/a>, previously preached about &ldquo;true jihad&rdquo; at a pro-<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/palestinian\/\">Palestinian<\/a> rally, according to a <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> review of old protest footage.<\/p>\n<p>Talarico, a Presbyterian pastor-in-training campaigning to represent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/religious-landscape-study\/state\/texas\/\">the predominantly Christian state<\/a> of Texas, has faced recent criticism for past political remarks he imbued with biblical references that traditional Christians see as skewed interpretations of the gospel.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4497975\/biden-officials-software-breached-china-microsoft\/\">Biden officials who backed Microsoft software breached by China now work for Microsoft<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4499076\/virginia-democrats-push-gambling-bill-after-taking-massive-donations\/\">Virginia Democrats push gambling bill after taking massive donations from gambling company<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4499336\/fairfax-ignored-detainer-against-illegal-immigrant-accused-of-murder-ice\/\">Fairfax County ignored 2023 detainer against illegal immigrant now accused of murder, ICE says<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>While serving in the Texas House, Talarico frequently invoked Scripture from a liberal perspective to push a wide range of left-wing causes.<\/p>\n<p>Talarico&rsquo;s longtime religious adviser, Rev. Jim Rigby, has spoken at several massive anti-Israel protests over the years in and around Austin, where he made similarly theologically questionable statements that intertwined theological discourse with leftward activism.<\/p>\n<p>In one pro-Palestinian protest in 2009, Rigby called for &ldquo;true jihad&rdquo; and questioned what it means to be denounced as antisemitic, according to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oylkpoeHvqs\">a video clip<\/a> unearthed by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>In that 2009 speech, Rigby told rallygoers, &ldquo;If there is to be hope for humankind, then we must all realize that the true jihad is the struggle for peace and justice.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>While jihad is sometimes considered <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/topekamosque.org\/jihad-a-spiritual-struggle\/\">a spiritual struggle<\/a> within oneself, in political contexts, the concept is viewed as a violent campaign waged against the enemies of Islam.<\/p>\n<p>Counterterrorism communities in the West <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/ctc.westpoint.edu\/understanding-historys-seven-stages-of-jihad\/\">treat<\/a> jihad as an instrument of war, a holy war aimed at destabilizing Christian-majority countries as well as Muslim governments that jihadists see as improper followers of Islam or following rival Islamic sects. Historically, denominational conversions of entire populations, such as in the Levant, Persia, North Africa, Spain, and parts of central Asia, have come about as the direct result of violent jihads.<\/p>\n<p>In a separate part of the 2009 speech, Rigby seemingly downplayed antisemitism by questioning its meaning.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If it&rsquo;s antisemitic to question the policies of Israel, then the prophets of Israel were antisemitic,&rdquo; Rigby said on the steps of the Texas state Capitol building.<\/p>\n<p>Rigby quoted <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=1%20Kings%2018%3A17-18&amp;version=NIV\">a passage<\/a> from <em>Kings 18:17-18<\/em> in which Ahab, the king of Israel, called the prophet Elijah &ldquo;the troubler of Israel,&rdquo; blaming him for a severe drought, but Elijah said Ahab caused the nation&rsquo;s troubles by abandoning God&rsquo;s commandments and worshiping Baal instead.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4476356\/james-talarico-democrats-vision-of-faith\/\"><strong>JAMES TALARICO OFFERS DEMOCRATS A VISION OF FAITH THAT DOESN&rsquo;T CONFLICT WITH THE LEFT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The prophets of Israel were Israelites, and they consistently identified themselves with the ancient kingdom&rsquo;s populace whose actions they nonetheless rebuked as unfaithful. Their criticism of Israel&rsquo;s leadership was characterized, by their written accounts, as internal critiques holding their own people accountable to covenantal commands.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father&rsquo;s family, have committed against you,&rdquo; Nehemiah <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Nehemiah%201-6&amp;version=NIV\">said<\/a> in <em>Nehemiah 1:6<\/em> on behalf of himself, his kin, and the people of Israel.<\/p>\n<p>Rigby spoke at another <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.texansforgaza.org\/#sched\">solidarity-styled march<\/a> in 2014, which <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/socialistworker.org\/2014\/08\/11\/day-rage-gaza\">coincided<\/a> with that year&rsquo;s &ldquo;Global Day of Rage&rdquo; for Gaza. As the activists marched on Austin City Hall, they chanted, &ldquo;From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Jewish advocacy groups consider the phrase to be an antisemitic rallying cry and an incitement to genocide against the Jewish people.<\/p>\n<p>The American Jewish Committee <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ajc.org\/translatehate\/From-the-River-to-the-Sea\">says<\/a> the slogan is fundamentally a call for the elimination of the Israeli state, as well as the ethnic cleansing of the Jews living there, replacing it with Palestinian control over the entire territory extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.<\/p>\n<p>Rigby has also touched on the territorial dispute, appearing to suggest that the Israeli people are undeserving of the land.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We must realize that the only promised land that matters is that place where peace and justice reign,&rdquo; Rigby urged at the 2009 pro-Palestine rally. &ldquo;We finally must realize that the only chosen people who deserve that title are the ones who stand for peace and justice for all of God&rsquo;s children.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to Rigby for clarification on his 2009 commentary, whether his usage of the word &ldquo;jihad&rdquo; referred to an ideological struggle, and if he is still in support of those arguments.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I am not an advisor to James&rsquo; campaign and am referring all questions to his team,&rdquo; Rigby told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m focused on my role as a minister and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/StAndrewsAustin\/posts\/pfbid02Nrnp5TqrJg1cPPg3Wz7R7pTfXh7JNsZiert3yppnPaPfnGyRyfG4T7jw1xjrn4KBl\">keeping our congregation safe<\/a>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Talarico&rsquo;s campaign declined to comment.<\/p>\n<p>Rigby, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.staopen.org\/staffandleadership\">lead pastor<\/a> of Talarico&rsquo;s home parish, St. Andrew&rsquo;s Presbyterian Church, reportedly encouraged Talarico to pursue the pastoral profession and even invited him to deliver his first sermon at their congregation.<\/p>\n<p>Talarico, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/magazine\/2023\/06\/16\/james-talarico-texas-democrats-00101231?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQKNjYyODU2ODM3OQABHmnmXmm0jBJXdm9OeMxIAKovLozwgWg09XeSS_J-NdojWS65B8o0HvetFzez_aem_HhicuMwuhlo1SrMPmfB8_g\">per<\/a> <em>Politico<\/em>, chose the subject of abortion, telling parishioners that day, &ldquo;Did they teach you in Sunday school that Jesus Christ himself was a radical feminist?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Rigby <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/archive.is\/GYfZF\">told<\/a> <em>Texas Monthly<\/em> that he had plans for Talarico, &ldquo;his prot&eacute;g&eacute;,&rdquo; to one day take over as head pastor.<\/p>\n<p>Talarico eventually enrolled at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, a liberal-leaning school that offers many ministry courses structured around <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/social-justice\/\">social justice<\/a> advocacy.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4490544\/james-talarico-seminary-social-justice\/\"><strong>JAMES TALARICO TRAINED AT SEMINARY THAT TEACHES SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVISM<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Rigby also attended Austin Seminary and received a degree in ministry in 1979, according to the school&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/austin-1811-us-central1-01.preview.finalsitecdn.com\/news-details\/~board\/facesofaustinseminary\/post\/presbyterian-church-inspires-action-in-the-public-arena\">newsletter<\/a>, <em>Faces of Austin Seminary<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Talarico has known Rigby since he was a child, taking to him at a young age. &ldquo;When I would preach, even as a little kid James would lean forward, so you could see he was taking it in,&rdquo; Rigby recalled of Talarico&rsquo;s preschool days.<\/p>\n<p>Rigby reportedly remained a close confidant, counseling Talarico later in life on his career path, including political aspirations.<\/p>\n<p>Around the time that Talarico debated becoming a state legislator, he had reservations and sought Rigby&rsquo;s counsel. Rigby didn&rsquo;t tell Talarico outright what to do, but he did say that choosing the path of a politician would not be the prophetic one.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The prophets, [Rigby] said,&rdquo; as paraphrased by <em>Texas Monthly<\/em>, &ldquo;were not fortune tellers but rather interpreters of the political situation of their time.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Talarico went on to spend seven years in the Texas legislature after winning four consecutive terms.<\/p>\n<p>He is currently taking a sabbatical from seminary school, putting his ordination on hold to focus on the highly competitive Senate race. &ldquo;This is where I&rsquo;m being called,&rdquo; Talarico <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/magazine\/2026\/03\/02\/james-talarico-profile\">told<\/a> supporters.<\/p>\n<p>With a year of studies left, Talarico is in good standing to complete the required coursework for a Master of Divinity &ldquo;at his convenience,&rdquo; an Austin Seminary spokesman confirmed to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Talarico, however, has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/uk-govt-lockdown-to-last-12-months-expect-repeated-vaccinations\/\" title=\"UK Govt: Lockdown to Last 12+ Months, Expect Repeated Vaccinations\">made clear<\/a> that he still intends to lead a church once he is through with politics.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Talarico&#8217;s mentor preached &#8216;true jihad&#8217; at rally<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3767,"featured_media":2582757,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26064069882426.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546,33651],"tags":[74279,43974,76360],"class_list":["post-2582756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","category-the-western-journal","tag-james-talarico-2","tag-mentorship","tag-true-jihad"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26064069882426.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582756","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3767"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2582756"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582756\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2582760,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582756\/revisions\/2582760"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2582757"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2582756"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2582756"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2582756"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}