The verb tick off (to enumerate, as J.R. aptly suggests) was not a good choice here by the NYTimes author, as these talking heads tend to foam at the mouth when delivering their theories. Rabid dogs do not enumerate. Their attacks on Mueller are disgraceful. The verb tick off probably seemed less hackneyed than "rattle off". Conspiracy theories are typically "rattled off", a dismissive verb because it suggests a certain emptiness between the ears.

A disgruntled spouse might "tick off" a list of grievances.

The verb tick off (to enumerate, as J.R. aptly suggests) was not a good choice here by the NYTimes author, as these talking heads tend to foam at the mouth when delivering their theories. Rabid dogs do not enumerate. Their attacks on Mueller are disgraceful. Perhaps the verb tick off struck the author as less hackneyed than "rattle off". Conspiracy theories are typically "rattled off", a dismissive verb that suggests a certain emptiness between the ears.