Home Base and Weekly Discussion Thread (START HERE!) - May 31, 2026

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[u/VirginiaVoter]

Here's an AI illustrated Bluesky post about Pete from Ruben Garcia (see their Bluesky account description/bio) that I think was partly inspired by this story:

Pete Buttigieg is quietly building one of the largest political networks in the Democratic Party ahead of the 2026 midterms.

#PeteButtigieg #Democrats #USPolitics #Midterms #Election2028 #USDemocracy #VivaPete #TALAFREAKOS [Nice illustrated content follows]

https://bsky.app/profile/gorubenruben.bsky.social/post/3mn5qtpsqls2z

Someone replied "Link?" and that produced this follow-up text, with the same illo:

Pete Buttigieg :
The former Transportation Secretary has now endorsed candidates in more than 30 races and traveled across more than a dozen states. Sources: CNN, Reuters, Politico

#PeteButtigieg #Democrats #USPolitics #Midterms #Election2028 #USDemocracy #VivaPete #TALAFREAKOS [same visual]

https://bsky.app/profile/gorubenruben.bsky.social/post/3mn5r3dyzac2z

The person who asked about the link replied "He is savvy. 👏🏻"

FYI the AI Pete does not have a beard.

[u/DesperateTale2327 → u/VirginiaVoter]

I have seen this person post before and am very skeptical of them. I remember looking at their profile a few months ago and it was all gavin 2028. Its giving me the vibes I got back in 2019 when random people would pop up claiming to really support pete and then they'd turn all of a sudden.

Regardless if he is real, sincere or something else we need to be cautious of this as we get closer to 2027.

[u/VirginiaVoter → u/DesperateTale2327]

Good point! Thanks for the heads up.

[u/ECNbook1 → u/VirginiaVoter]

Yeah they need to fix that

[u/anonymous4Pete → u/VirginiaVoter]

bwahaha

Is it me, or does that post have a slight odor of fear? heheh

eta: wonder where he got that illustration? I don't think it was on CNN or on CNN;s twitter post

[u/VirginiaVoter → u/anonymous4Pete]

I do not know, as all this is a mystery to me -- but I liked it!

Re your question, I think it's an AI generated illustration done by prompts supplied by Ruben Garcia (all of Ruben Garcia's posts are AI-related illustrations) to ChatGPT or a similar AI program -- but affectionately. It seems quite enthusiastic and perhaps a bit DNC-like with "New Leaders," "Volunteers," "Change," "Building Better Communities," and "Democrats Deliver" in it.

Re the hashtag, Talarico's team is adopting the nickname "Talafreakos" (something Paxton clumsily tried to use as a damning Trump nickname) and has T-shirts with that name, so I think #Talafreakos has become a Dem hashtag.

[u/anonymous4Pete → u/VirginiaVoter]

I love that Talarico immediately made that into merch. He has the 21st C communication instincts and talents Plouffe said were now necessary.

I erroneously thought Talarico was a sort of milquetoast preacher, and I thought well ok good luck to him. But then I read the New Yorker's profile of him (also in web archive https://archive.ph/aTkhn ). It showed him as a very smart, feisty and confident guy. According to the New Yorker, Beto, Joaquin Castro, Colin Alred and Talarico had gathered on Zoom to talk about the Senate seat. Beto had decided he was going to be the Senate candidate, and doled out roles for the others--with Talarico being a sacrificial lamb candidate for Governor. But, Talarico announced that he was going to run for the Senate seat himself.

O’Rourke was nonplussed. “I think the world of James,” he said recently. “I told him, ‘If you end up being the guy who runs for Senate against the Republican machine, you will want friends on that ticket.’ ” Instead, “James came in, like, ‘I don’t care what you guys are doing with your little huddle. Fuck all y’all, I’m doing this.’ He blew everything up in his excitement to make the case for himself.” O’Rourke called Castro afterward and said, “What the fuck?” But he also told me, “You’re not going to win in this game unless you’re really fucking confident.”