The Washington Post and MSNBC call Bo French's post racist; The Hill leaves the word to the students

Five reports, three ways to name one post. Bo French is the Republican nominee for Texas railroad commissioner. At the weekend he posted a photograph of University of Texas students. The Hill says many of them were South Asian.

Who was pictured. The Hill says "many of whom were South Asian". MSNBC says "students of color", then quotes the Washington Sun saying "Asian students".

What French wrote. The Hill quotes his caption: "I heard UT graduation this year looked like this." MSNBC quotes a later post: "Social media is exposing how many Americans have been displaced by foreigners."

Republicans split. MSNBC says Sen. John Cornyn condemned the post. Karl Rove says he will vote for the Democrat, Jon Rosenthal, The Hill reports. MSNBC says Rove called French a "bigot". President Trump says Rove is "so bad for the Republican Party", The Hill reports.

Not settled. - Whether French stood by the posts. Only MSNBC says so, citing the Washington Sun, which we have not read. - What the University of Texas said. We hold only The Washington Post's headline. - The rest of French's caption. The text we hold from The Hill stops mid-sentence.

What this is about. A Republican nominee for a Texas state office posted a photograph of University of Texas students at the weekend, and his own party is now split over what to call it.

How it got here. The Texas Railroad Commission does not run railroads. It is the state body that regulates Texas oil and gas — "a seat that oversees the state's oil and gas industry", as MSNBC puts it — and its commissioners are elected statewide, on the same November ballot as everything else in a midterm year. Bo French is the Republican nominee for one of those seats. Jon Rosenthal is the Democrat.

French was already contested before the weekend. MSNBC reports that Texas Monthly published a profile of him citing his willingness to peddle "fascist conspiracy theories", his eagerness to "round up" Chinese Americans and Muslim Americans, his reference to Native Americans as "third world savages", and a since-deleted poll asking his followers whether Jews or Muslims were "a bigger threat to America". Republican primary voters backed him anyway, MSNBC says. Then, at the weekend, Texas beat Ohio State at football, and French posted an image of students celebrating — "many of whom were South Asian", The Hill says.

Who the actors are. Karl Rove was George W. Bush's campaign strategist and White House adviser, and remains one of the party's best-known operatives. John Cornyn is Texas's retiring senator. Both are Republicans, and both criticised the post. President Trump, whose endorsement shapes Republican primaries, then turned on Rove rather than on French.

What is at stake. Whether a statewide Republican nomination survives the posts, and whether Rove's stated vote for the Democrat stays one man's answer or becomes the party's.

Where it stands. French has not withdrawn. MSNBC, citing the Washington Sun, says he stood by the posts; we have not read that outlet.