Conservative commentator Steven Crowder has threatened to sue Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, CNN and digital media company Jubilee Media over the use of Talarico's "Change My Mind" slogan during a televised town hall.
Crowder said Thursday that legal action was in the works after Talarico took part in a CNN town hall on Wednesday featuring a segment using the phrase associated with Crowder’s political debate videos.
"There is no doubt about this lawsuit is in the works right now. Let me just tell you, we are suing not just CNN and Jubilee, James Talarico as well," Crowder said in a video posted to YouTube.
Newsweek contacted Talarico and Jubilee Media via online form, and CNN and Crowder via email on Friday for comment and is awaiting responses.
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Crowder Threatens Legal Action Against Talarico
In a post on X, Crowder explicitly confirmed his intention to sue all three parties. He wrote: "We're suing. Not just CNN. Jubilee and James Talarico, as well."
He pointed to the trademark registration and accused others of profiting from a concept he said he had developed. He added: "I was rejected by cable news for this exact concept. We took the risk. We paid the cost. Now everyone else swoops in with investors and donors, steals it, and profits."
Crowder hosts the conservative political commentary show Louder With Crowder. He objected to the use of what he described as his trademarked brand and format, arguing that it was being used to help Talarico appeal to right-wing voters.
"I don't want our trademarked brand logo and format which they've praised to be used for James Talarico to associate and ingratiate himself with right-wing voters," Crowder said.
He accused those involved of using the format for political purposes, "once you rip it off and you profit and you use it for propaganda. I now have a problem and I have to come for everything."
In another post on X, Crowder accused CNN of failing to credit him for the format, while saying "Change My Mind" had generated hundreds of millions of plays.
"It's a shame you didn’t give credit where credit is due," Crowder wrote. He added that the format "will not be used to help James Talarico ruin Texas."
In a separate post, Crowder said that CNN referred to the Talarico segment as "Change My Mind" at least 10 times, accusing the network of copying his format.
"C'mon. At least pretend like you aren't overtly trying to rip me off," Crowder wrote, calling those involved "Clowns."
Crowder escalated his legal threats in a repost on X, sharing his earlier message about the town hall that read: "Lawyer up." In the accompanying caption, he wrote, "We’re LIVE now going over the Talarico town hall and a lawsuit," directing followers to watch his broadcast on Rumble.
What Is the ‘Change My Mind’ Trademark?
The dispute centers on the "Change My Mind" phrase. Crowder popularized it through videos in which he sits behind a table displaying a provocative statement and invites passersby to challenge his views.
The phrase is the subject of a federal trademark registration, U.S. Registration No. 5,960,565, owned by LWC IP Assets LLC; this is the company associated with Crowder’s media brand.
The registration covers entertainment services, including online videos featuring comedy and politics, as well as entertainment news and commentary. The trademark application records December 5, 2017 as the date of first use in commerce.
A separate federal registration, No. 5,639,902, also covers the "CHANGE MY MIND" mark for clothing items including hats, hoodies and T-shirts. That registration is listed on the Supplemental Register, which is distinct from the Principal Register used for the entertainment-related mark.
However, the existence of a trademark registration does not by itself establish that its use during Talarico’s town hall infringed the mark. Any legal claim would depend on the registration’s scope and the circumstances of the use, among other factors.
Crowder’s announcement signals a potential legal dispute involving the candidate, broadcaster and production company. However, it remains unclear whether a lawsuit has been filed.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Cannon and James Debens