Comedian Ron White criticized Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) during an appearance on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast released on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. White, known for his work on the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, referred to Paxton as a "criminal" and a "piece of s**t," stating that Texas voters are ready for a change in state leadership. Paxton is the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, running against Democratic candidate James Talarico.
The remarks follow legal and political challenges for Paxton. White noted that members of Paxton’s own staff previously reported him to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which preceded a $6.6 million taxpayer-funded settlement after the whistleblowers were fired or pushed out. The Texas House of Representatives impeached him, though the Texas Senate later acquitted him. Following his acquittal, Paxton defeated Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in a primary runoff election.
During the podcast, White and host Joe Rogan discussed Paxton's standing in election polls. Rogan noted that observers are surprised that Talarico is leading Paxton, while White attributed the polling to a desire for new leadership after 30 years of Republican control in Texas. The source reports that Paxton has led in only one poll over the last three months, while Talarico holds the lead in most other surveys.
White also referenced other legal matters involving the Attorney General, including a fraud case involving three felony counts that was resolved through a pretrial agreement. Other mentioned incidents include a plea deal in a child sex abuse case and an accusation regarding the theft of a pen.
The financial scale of the controversies mentioned involves $6.6 million in public funds used to settle a whistleblower lawsuit. For Texas taxpayers, this represents an expenditure of government revenue to resolve internal employment disputes within the Attorney General's office. The political scale is also significant, as Paxton's recent primary victory over an incumbent senator demonstrated his support among the Republican base despite the impeachment proceedings, while current polling suggests a shift in the broader electorate's preference as the general election approaches.
The final determination of these issues will occur on Election Day, when Texas voters decide between Paxton and Talarico. No specific debate dates or further court deadlines were reported in the source.