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Aug 5Liked by Griff Sombke

Hi Griff !! A long time follower. Both you and Jay's. Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you. Honestly, any episode is a great one... Just like this one.Thank you so much. Love, StacyO 💕

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Thank you Stacy! I really appreciate it.

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Forgive what might be some stupid questions from an ignorant Brit, but if Vance has been nationally prominent for so many years, why is it only now his weird libertarian natalism is being talked about? Why didn't the Dems go after him before? Do US senators get a free ride until they run for VP?

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There are no stupid questions, lol.

Up until 2022, Vance was a private citizen, and as recently as 2016, he was an extremely vocal "Never Trumper", even going as far as to suggest that Trump could be "America's Hitler". So the short answer is that while he has been nationally prominent since "Hillbilly Elegy" was published, his views have shifted in a completely different direction, and he's been nominated for the second highest position in the country, thus elevating him from somewhat random crank to extremely newsworthy.

Here's some additional material on the shift he made.

https://www.businessinsider.com/jd-vance-never-trump-to-vice-president-nominee-timeline-2024-7

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