Julián Castro apparently sent a panic-inducing fundraising email disguised as a flight alert


Julián Castro really, really wants you to open his latest, wildly misleading fundraising email.
An email sent out on Monday night asking for donations to Castro's presidential campaign comes with the subject line "Fwd: Your flight confirmation to Los Angeles for Thursday, December 19th."
Those who quickly open it with a sense of panic thinking it's related to their holiday travel plans will be immediately frustrated to read the actual body, which is written as a hypothetical flight confirmation for the 2020 Democrat should he qualify for the next presidential debate.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Friend — that was the email that we were able to send Julián for the first 4 debates," the email reads. Other presidential candidates have sent emails with subject lines that include "Fwd:" and "Re:," which can help messages stand out in crowded inboxes.
Castro, whose campaign appears to have previously sent emails from "Julián Castro HQ," is apparently still thousands of donors away from qualifying for the next debate, meaning leaving prospective donors incredibly frazzled and ready to make liberal use of the block button is a risk he was evidently willing to take.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Today's political cartoons - April 20, 2025
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - Pam Bondi, retirement planning, and more
By The Week US
-
5 heavy-handed cartoons about ICE and deportation
Cartoons Artists take on international students, the Supreme Court, and more
By The Week US
-
Exploring the three great gardens of Japan
The Week Recommends Beautiful gardens are 'the stuff of Japanese landscape legends'
By The Week UK
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans