J.D. Vance on Trump, Addiction, and Family | November 2020 Re-Release

Update: 2024-07-21

Digest

This episode of The Megan Kelly Show features a past interview with JD Vance, author of "Hillbilly Elegy," who was recently named Donald Trump's vice presidential nominee. The episode delves into the 2020 election, exploring the anger of Trump voters and the perceived hypocrisy of the establishment press and institutions towards them. Vance argues that the narrative of Trump voters as "deplorables" or "Nazis" is harmful and divisive, and that it creates a sense of submission rather than equality. He challenges the notion that Trump voters are driven by racial resentment, arguing that the way racial issues are discussed in modern "woke" politics creates a disconnect between elites and the rest of the country. Vance also discusses the language of identity politics and how it can alienate voters, pointing to the use of the term "Latinx" as an example of how elites try to impose their own language on minority groups. He highlights the surprising shift of Latino voters towards Trump, suggesting that Democrats need to reconsider their approach to these issues. Vance expresses concern about Biden's potential reversal on Trump's policies towards China, particularly regarding trade and manufacturing. He argues that a softer stance on China coupled with stricter environmental regulations on American businesses could lead to stagnation in American manufacturing and harm the working class. He also discusses the culture of hopelessness that exists in some working-class communities, particularly in the Rust Belt, arguing that the "learn to code" message often given to those who lose manufacturing jobs is unrealistic and ignores the complex factors that contribute to this hopelessness. Vance and Kelly discuss the impact of identity politics on the American Dream, with Vance arguing that the messaging from those obsessed with identity often undermines individual agency and promotes the idea that the American Dream is not possible for certain groups. He believes that this anti-American sentiment motivates many voters. They also discuss the demonization of success in American society, particularly from the left, arguing that even those who are self-made are often criticized for their wealth and accused of not paying their fair share. This creates a culture where success is seen as a problem rather than an aspiration. The episode also explores the different media and information environments of working-class Americans and elite Americans, with Vance arguing that elite institutions, such as universities and media outlets, have become increasingly pessimistic about the American experience, which has influenced the views of those who spend their lives in those environments. He believes that working-class Americans are often more optimistic about the American Dream because they have not been exposed to the same level of pessimism. Vance discusses his own journey from Appalachia to Yale Law School, sharing his upbringing, his mother's addiction, and the role his grandmother, "Mama," played in his life. He also talks about the success of his book, "Hillbilly Elegy," which has sold millions of copies. The episode concludes with a discussion about the impact of addiction on families, using Vance's own experience with his mother's addiction as an example. Vance describes how addiction can "kidnap" a loved one and create a sense of loss and despair. He also discusses the psychological complexity of addiction, arguing that it is difficult to explain using rationality. He highlights the emotional and intuitive nature of addiction and the difficulty of understanding why some people are able to overcome it while others are not.

Outlines