Vanity Fair's Joe Hagan interviews Beto O'Rourke, who explains he stepped aside from a 2026 Senate run—telling James Talarico he would run only if Talarico ran for governor—after concluding the moment called for something and someone new. O'Rourke credits Powered by People and a full Democratic slate for the Texas wave, recounts Ken Paxton's efforts to put him behind bars, calls Chuck Schumer the wrong leader for the moment, and says he remains agnostic about running for office in 2028 or 2030 while predicting a more capable demagogue than Donald Trump unless the door is closed.