Joe Saunders
Role at the time: Story editor at The Western Journal
Response to this claim
People who say the kinds of things James Talarico has said about transgender children and drag tend to have unusual internet search histories, so Talarico's search history would be disturbing to see.
“But how "unfounded" is it, really? Even Democrats have to understand that there's something very strange about Talarico”
Commentary by Joe Saunders, a story editor at The Western Journal, published October 13, 2026. It quotes Vance's answer to reporters and argues that criticism of the remark as unfounded is overstated.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
The reference point is Vance's remarks about Talarico's internet search history and sexuality. Saunders argues that the search-history remark is not unfounded and that Talarico's own record invites it, so we labeled it Defended or excused. The closest competing label is Challenged the characterization, because he disputes the word "unfounded"; it loses because he goes on to argue that Vance's point is justified.