Actor Rainn Wilson, known for his role as Dwight Schrute in "The Office," stated that Texas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico's religious beliefs are "achingly close" to Jesus Christ's teachings, particularly when contrasted with his conservative opponents.
During an episode of Wilson's podcast "Soul Boom," Wilson and New York Times journalist Ezra Klein discussed what they characterized as hypocrisy from Republican critics, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who have targeted Talarico for his progressive politics presented through a Christian lens. Klein, who is Jewish, suggested that those attacking Talarico would have also been critical of Jesus.
"Whenever I watch these attacks, I think, ‘You all would have hated Jesus Christ,’" Klein said. "You would have found him to be the most annoying, weepy, worrying about the wrong people — the outsiders, the outcasts…"
Wilson, a follower of the Bahá'í Faith, agreed, joking, "‘Grow a pair, Jesus.'"
Both Wilson and Klein emphasized that their critique was not against Christianity broadly, with Wilson describing many Christians as among the most compassionate people he has met. Klein asserted that the opposition Talarico faces stems from his specific brand of Christianity.
"His brand of Christianity, which is so, so achingly close to Jesus' brand of Christianity," Wilson stated. Klein added, "That's the point I'm at."
The discussion also touched on what Klein and Wilson perceive as a misplaced focus in contemporary Christianity, arguing it often prioritizes issues of sexuality over concerns like societal greed. Klein referenced the biblical saying about a camel passing through the eye of a needle, contrasting it with tax cuts for the wealthy and a focus on sexual matters.
Talarico has frequently highlighted his Christian background while advocating for policies such as abortion access and support for transgender rights, which have drawn criticism from some conservative groups. A resurfaced clip from 2025 showed Talarico arguing against a Texas bill that would mandate the teaching of Bible stories as historical fact in schools, calling it "propaganda" and "deeply immoral" to indoctrinate young children.
Christian author Frank Turek countered Wilson's assessment in comments to Fox News Digital. Turek argued that describing Talarico's faith as close to Jesus' represents a "war on the reality of who Jesus is." He criticized Talarico for defending abortion, referencing drag queen story hour events, and deeming the teaching of Bible stories in schools as immoral, stating that such positions are antithetical to Jesus' teachings.