Democrats in Texas were called out on Friday in an Atlantic article for their “circular-firing squad behavior” in the state’s Democratic Senate primary.

“The party’s latest and most egregious circular-firing-squad behavior transpired earlier this week, when the Democrat Colin Allred, who’d previously dropped out of the Senate race, endorsed Jasmine Crockett, one of the two remaining major competitors. He gave his reason for doing so in a video he posted to social media on Monday,” Atlantic writer Jonathan Chait wrote.

The article referenced comments made by Morgan Thompson, a political influencer who posts on TikTok under the username @morga_tt, who claimed that state Rep. James Talarico, a Democrat, referred to former Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, as a “mediocre Black man.” Talarico, who is now facing off against Rep. Jasmine Crockett, allegedly told Thompson that he “signed up to run against a mediocre Black man, not a formidable, intelligent Black woman.”

Allred responded to the comments in a video on social media, and encouraged people to vote for Crockett.

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Allred dropped out of the Senate Race in December.

Chait wrote that Allred chose the most “inflammatory response” to post on TikTok.

“Allred did not have to record and share his response to Talarico, nor was he required to take the allegation at face value. He chose the most inflammatory response,” he wrote.

Allred said, “We’re tired of folks using praise for Black women to mask criticism for Black men.”

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“Everything about this episode reveals levels of pathological incompetence. Crockett and her supporters are prying open fissures that will scar whichever candidate emerges. They are expressing themselves in social-justice jargon that might be effective in a student-council race at Wesleyan but sounds completely alien to most Texans,” Chait wrote.

Chait also criticized Crockett for her plan to win over voters that have historically not been reached. The progressive firebrand has said she doesn’t need to win over voters who supported President Donald Trump. She said during an interview on CNN in December, “Our goal is to make sure that we can engage people that historically have not been talked to.”

“Crockett has suggested that she can help drive turnout of infrequent voters. The belief that there is a hidden reservoir of left-wing voters who will bother to show up at the polls only if a sufficiently progressive candidate activates their interest is a decades-old myth,” Chait argued.

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He also argued that concerns about Crockett’s electability were not racist, as she has suggested. Chait specifically referenced podcast hosts Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers telling listeners not to waste money on her campaign.

In response, Crockett said the hosts were saying the “quiet part out loud.”

“I really do think that the host said the quiet part out loud, which basically was: If a White man couldn’t do it, then why would a Black woman even have the audacity to think that she could?” Crockett said.

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“One fatal flaw of progressive identity norms, which treat women and people of color as experts on racism and sexism whose charges of bias cannot be refuted, is that they insulate bad arguments from scrutiny. The belief that swing voters in Texas are too racist and sexist to be compromised with implies that defeat is the only morally acceptable option,” he wrote.

The pastor of Nancy Guthrie’s Arizona church asked congregants to continue praying for her safe return during Sunday morning’s service, saying the church is honoring what the family has asked for during what he described as a “horrific ordeal.”

Pastor John Tittle of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church said the congregation continues “to pray and to stand with Nancy Guthrie and her family,” adding the church is seeking “to just honor the family’s privacy and their desires.”

“It was communicated to me, pray. So we’re gonna keep praying through this horrific ordeal,” Tittle said before leading the congregation in prayer.

During the service, Tittle invited worshippers to pray with him and asked for Guthrie’s safe return.

HARVEY LEVIN GIVES EXPLOSIVE UPDATE ON PURPORTED NANCY LEVIN RANSOM NOTE ON ‘HANNITY’ 

“We pray for Nancy’s rescue and her release. Bring her home safely,” he said. He also asked for guidance for law enforcement: “Lord God bless and guide the authorities in their search for Nancy. Give them wisdom along every step of the path to her.”

Tittle added, “Lord, we ask that you would soften the hearts of those who are responsible, that they might come forward and do what is humane. And what is right,” before concluding the prayer in the name of Jesus.

Nancy Guthrie, 84 — the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie — was reported missing in Arizona last week. Authorities have said they believe she was taken from her home outside Tucson, and Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has said DNA testing showed blood found on Guthrie’s front porch matched her.

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT NANCY GUTHRIE’S FAMILY AS SHERIFF SAYS ‘EVERYBODY’S STILL A SUSPECT’

Savannah Guthrie appeared in a social media video released over the weekend alongside her siblings, addressing whoever may be holding her mother and saying the family was prepared to pay for her safe return.

Flanked by her siblings, Guthrie said, “We received your message,” adding, “This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”

Guthrie’s message referenced what had been sent to Tucson-based television station KOLD. The station has declined to release details while federal authorities review the communication.

Law enforcement officials have said they are reviewing multiple tips after several media outlets reported receiving alleged ransom letters. At least one letter included monetary demands and referenced deadlines, though authorities have not confirmed the letters’ authenticity and said all information is being investigated.

Authorities have expressed growing concern about Guthrie’s health, noting she requires daily medication. She is reported to have a pacemaker and a history of high blood pressure and other heart issues.

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On Sunday, multiple marked sheriff’s vehicles were seen at Guthrie’s home around midday, and at least two individuals were observed going to the back of the residence for more than 20 minutes before leaving without comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

TUCSON, Ariz. – The alleged 5:00 p.m. Monday night deadline for a $6 million Bitcoin ransom to be paid in case of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie has now passed, with no indication that the ransom has been paid. 

Alleged ransom notes, and the Guthrie family’s response to those alleged notes, have been dominant storylines as authorities continue to search for the mother of NBC’s “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie. 

Monday night marks the second deadline of a first alleged ransom note, which was received by local news outlet KOLD last Monday, and by TMZ last Tuesday. 

That original note had two deadlines. The first was last Thursday at 5:00 p.m. The second was set for tonight. 

After the Thursday night deadline passed, TMZ reported that the note contained a separate Monday deadline, and the outlet’s founder told Sean Hannity on Fox News’ “Hannity” that the second deadline is “far more consequential.” 

On Friday, a second alleged statement from captors was received by 13 News in Tucson. Reports indicate that the alleged captors are demanding $6 million in Bitcoin. TMZ said it verified the Bitcoin address is “real,” and noted that the purported ransom note included unreleased details about her disappearance.

Despite three separate pleas from the Guthrie family, posted to Savannah’s Instagram account, the family still has not received proof that Nancy is still alive. 

Authorities continue to analyze the notes as the hunt for Nancy continues. 

“We are aware of reports circulating about possible ransom note(s) regarding the investigation into Nancy Guthrie,” officials wrote in a statement last Tuesday afternoon.

The sheriff’s office added it is taking all tips and leads “very seriously.” 

“Anything that comes in, goes directly to our detectives who are coordinating with the FBI,” officials wrote.

INVESTIGATION INTO DISAPPEARANCE OF SAVANNAH GUTHRIE’S MOTHER TAKES DARK TURN AND MORE TOP HEADLINES

On Wednesday night, Savannah, sister Annie and brother Camron spoke directly to the alleged ransomers in an emotional plea, asking them to contact the family. The alleged note reportedly does not contain any contact information from the senders. 

Savannah opened the family’s plea by thanking supporters for their prayers before describing her mother as the heart of their family and making a direct appeal for contact, stressing Nancy Guthrie’s fragile health and urgent need for medication.

“Our mom is a kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light,” Savannah Guthrie said. “She’s funny, spunky. She has grandchildren that adore her and crowd around her and cover her with kisses. She loves fun and adventure. She is a devoted friend. She is full of kindness and knowledge. Talk to her and you’ll see.”

Camron took to Savannah’s Instagram in a second video, pleading with the alleged captors to reach out to the family.

“Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you,” he said. “We haven’t heard anything directly. We need you to reach out, and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward. But first we have to know that you have our mom. We want to talk to you, and we are waiting for contact.” 

On Saturday, the family sent a third message, saying they “will pay” for the return of their mother. 

In an interview with Fox News Channel’s Bret Baier on “Special Report,” FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed federal officials are aware of a ransom note while reiterating that local police are acting as the lead investigative agency in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. 

“The local authorities notified the FBI of it, and we are working with them in any manner they choose,” Patel said. “But remember, they’re the lead right now, and we have to respect that. But we are there to help them in any way we can – on ransom notes or otherwise.”

TIMELINE: NBC HOST SAVANNAH GUTHRIE’S MOTHER DISAPPEARS AS SHERIFF SAYS SHE MAY HAVE BEEN ‘ABDUCTED’

Retired FBI special agent Jason Pack told Fox News Digital the letters will need to be authenticated, cautioning that scammers are known to take advantage of families involved in missing person cases.

‪”Scammers will do things that are very distasteful, like scamming the loved ones of people missing, but the police have to take it seriously until they can prove it’s not real,” Pack said. “And it ties up resources that could be devoted to an investigation.”

‬Guthrie, 84, was last seen at her Tucson home at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the sheriff’s office. 

While officials did not immediately elaborate on the circumstances of her disappearance, they said they believe Guthrie was either kidnapped or abducted.

A law enforcement source told Fox News Digital that there were “blood drops” leading from the entryway outside down the house’s pathway toward the driveway. 

Guthrie did not attend her Sunday church service, leading another churchgoer to notify the family, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said.

Family members went to the house at about 11 a.m. and called 911 around noon.

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE ASKS FOR PRAYER AS HER MOTHER REMAINS MISSING: ‘WE NEED YOU’

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department told Fox News Digital on Monday that officials believe Nancy Guthrie was either kidnapped or abducted.

It is unclear if she was targeted, or if the suspected kidnapping was random.

Savannah Guthrie spoke out on Instagram in a post Monday, writing “We need you.”

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“We believe in prayer. We believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. We believe in goodness. We believe in humanity. Above all, we believe in Him,” she wrote. “Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.”

Anyone with information on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie is asked to call the tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.