Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Things Got Really Awkward for Ted Cruz When a Woman Asked Him to Address Healthcare

Things Got Really Awkward for Ted Cruz When a Woman Asked Him to Address Healthcare
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 19: (AFP OUT) Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) attends a lunch with members of Congress hosted by US President Donald J. Trump (not pictured) in the State Dining Room of the White House on July 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Michael Reynolds - Pool/Getty Images)

Ouch.

Things got rather awkward earlier this week for Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) after a female constituent confronted him and asked him if he’d take a DNA test to "prove" he is human.

The woman, Tammy Talpas, approached Cruz at a campaign event. She had a prepared statement which she read to the senator, saying she was worried about her access to healthcare due to several pre-existing conditions.


The exchange was a pertinent one: Cruz has advocated for allowing insurance companies to separate pools by high-risk and lower-risk clients, a stance which garnered significant criticism last year as Republicans in the Senate deliberated over repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act.

“If you force me into a high-risk pool, you will either bankrupt me or kill me,” Talpas said. “I take these threats of medical aggression personally and seriously, and I can assure you I’m not the only Texan who does. My question is: Will you pledge to submit to a DNA test to prove that you’re human?”

Cruz did not provide a direct answer.

“Well, ma’am, thank you for that, and one of the great things about our democratic system is we can treat each other with respect and civility,” he said finally.

"Is that a yes or a no?" Talpas replied.

“Ma’am, if you want to engage in insults, that’s your prerogative, but I’m not going to reciprocate,” he said.

Talpas later posted a video of the encounter which was first noted by a reporter at The Texas Tribune.

Talpas quickly found herself the target of attacks from Cruz's conservative base, as many comments on her video can attest.

"That woman is a typical brain-dead WHITE liberal trash," wrote one YouTube user.

Another user accused Talpas of playing into a "victim mentality" and employing "identity politics."

"Tammy is more proof that women should not be allowed to vote," wrote another user, under the moniker "Norris."

And another user, under the moniker "J.D. Elliott," said the exchange justifies what Talpas suffered as a "former victim of abuse."

Cruz, for his part, has had a rough last few weeks, and this incident is only the latest report of an embarrassing encounter with a constituent.

On March 26, Cruz made headlines when a constituent posted a photo of herself standing next to him while wearing a lanyard that mocked him.

“Texas deserves better than Cruz,” the lanyard read in big capital letters.

That Cruz never noticed the lanyard––or its message––made him the butt of jokes on social media.

Cruz has found a formidable challenger in Representative Beto O'Rourke, who has raised $6.7 million from 141,000 contributions over the first few months of this year in his bid to unseat Cruz, who enjoys significant popularity among conservatives in Texas.

More from News

Donald Trump
Mehmet Eser/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Trump Demands 'Boss Of AT&T' Fix Equipment After Failed Conference Call In Bizarre Meltdown

When most of us have technical difficulties, we contact tech support or customer service.

But if you're President of the United States, just ranting on social media—then having your White House Press Secretary post a screenshot of your post on a social media platform people actually use—is apparently the answer.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Lauren Boebert speaking to Alex Stein
Prime Time with Alex Stein/Blaze Media

Lauren Boebert Casts Doubt On Moon Landing During Wild Interview With Conspiracy Theorist

Colorado Republican Representative Lauren Boebert was criticized after she seemingly agreed with the conspiracy theory that the moon landing was faked in a wide-ranging interview with conservative conspiracy theorist Alex Stein.

The segment began with the duo casting doubt on nuclear weapons—Boebert even joked about needing "tin foil"—and moved into weirder territory when Stein praised Boebert for "vibing" with him on the topic of the moon landing. Conspiracy theorists have long alleged the moon landing was fabricated by NASA in what they claim was an elaborate hoax.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rosie O'Donnell; Oprah Winfrey
Simon Ackerman/Getty Images; Ernesto Ruscio/GC Images

Rosie O'Donnell Calls Out Oprah For Attending Jeff Bezos' Wedding In Scathing Poem

Among the various celebrity hangers-on who attended Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's Venice wedding, the one that seemed to generate the most controversy was Oprah Winfrey.

After all, a woman known for her progressive politics whose entire ethos is about teaching people how to be their best selves, attending the wedding of man who directly funded a fascist regime dismantling our country before our eyes doesn't exactly add up.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lisa Murkowski
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

Lisa Murkowski Slammed After Criticizing Massive Budget Bill She Just Voted For

Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski was slammed after she claimed that President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill is "not there yet" despite casting the deciding vote to narrowly pass it before sending it back to the House.

In a marathon voting session, the Senate narrowly passed the legislation in a 51-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote after three Republicans joined all Democrats in opposition.

Keep ReadingShow less
Woman listening to her boyfriend play guitar
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Things People Initially Found Attractive About Their Partner That Now Annoy Them

Being in a relationship can be wonderful, but it's not without its ups and downs.

In order for it to work, we have to allow it to grow and change over time rather than being locked forever into what it was when we first started dating our person.

Keep ReadingShow less