**Viral News Snippet: "Texas Lawmaker James Talarico Shuts Down 'Satanic Panic' Claim with Bible in Hand – Real or Staged?"**
****Claim:**** A video circulating on social media shows Texas State Representative James Talarico holding up a Bible during a committee hearing, directly challenging a pastor who accused Democratic lawmakers of promoting "Satanic agendas" by supporting secular curriculum. In the clip, Talarico calmly asks, "Do you believe in the First Commandment?" and proceeds to quote scripture to argue that true idolatry is mixing church and state.
**The Context:** The 90-second clip has been shared over 500,000 times since Tuesday, with captions calling it "the most biblical takedown of the year." In it, Talarico, a former public school teacher and progressive Christian, is seen responding to a pastor testifying against a bill to ban "critical race theory" in classrooms. The pastor claims the bill is necessary to "protect children from Satanic lies."
**The Fact Check:**
- **REAL:** The video is authentic. It was recorded during a Texas House Public Education Committee hearing on February 27, 2023. Talarico did quote Exodus 20:3 ("You shall have no other gods before me") and argued that the state's response to "Satanic panic" is itself a form of worshiping political power.
- **MISLEADING:** However, some viral posts claim Talarico "silenced the pastor permanently" or "got him ejected from the room." **Not true.** The pastor finished his testimony and was not removed. Talarico's questions were a pointed exchange, not a parliamentary motion.
- **FALSE:** One version of the rumor claims the pastor "later resigned from his church due to embarrassment." **No evidence exists.** The pastor remains in his position.
**Verdict:**
The clip is