Sen. JD Vance | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

Upcoming Tour and Introduction of JD Vance

• Upcoming tour dates include Colorado Springs, Casper, Billings, Missoula, Bloomington, Columbus, Champagne, Grand Rapids, Lafayette, and Bont, with tickets available at theo.vom (23s)
• The guest is JD Vance, a senator from Ohio, Yale graduate, Marine, and author of the book "Hillbilly Elegy" (43s)
• JD Vance is currently on the Republican ticket for vice president (51s)
• JD Vance is a college football fan, specifically an Ohio State fan, having attended the university and being born and raised in Ohio (3m52s)
• JD Vance recently visited Lambeau Field and is planning to attend a Packers game, which he considers a "political right of passage" (2m20s)
• JD Vance will be bringing his kids, aged 7 and 2, to the Packers game, but is unsure how they will enjoy the tailgating experience (3m5s)
• JD Vance has been invited to bring Governor Walls and Vice President Harris to the show, and is grateful for the support (32s)
• The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry is one of the biggest rivalries, and it can bring out strong emotions in fans, as seen in a story about a friend who turns into a "total animal" during the game (4m15s).
• A story is shared about a 2006 Ohio State-Michigan game where a friend encounters a crying 9-year-old Michigan fan and tells him, "Maybe next time you won't root for a team that sucks" (5m0s).
• The rivalry between Ohio State and Michigan is so intense that it can create lasting memories, both good and bad, for fans, including a 9-year-old boy who was crying after the game (5m25s).

Sports Rivalries and Fandom

• The intensity of sports rivalries can be compared to other passionate fan experiences, such as a Mexican father and son crying together when The Rock returned to WWE (5m42s).
• The rituals and traditions surrounding sports rivalries, such as watching games with family and friends, can make life more enjoyable and create lasting memories (5m57s).
• Even children can be deeply invested in sports rivalries, as seen in the story of a 7-year-old boy who cried when Michigan beat Ohio State (6m25s).
• It's unusual for children to cry when their team wins, and this might indicate parenting issues (6m32s).
• Watching sports and attending games with family can bring great joy, but it often ends in heartbreak since only one team can win the championship (6m57s).
• Fans may wonder why they put themselves through the emotional ups and downs of sports, but the excitement and camaraderie can make it worthwhile (7m3s).
• Some teams, like the Chicago Bulls in the 90s and the Patriots during the Tom Brady era, can bring happiness to their fans for extended periods, but this is not always the case (7m16s).
• The Bengals made it to the Super Bowl a few years ago, and although they lost, it was a very close game that brought a mix of joy and sadness to their fans (7m30s).
• The Bengals' loss was so intense that it brought a grown man to the verge of tears, showing the strong emotional connection people can have with sports teams (7m49s).
• A recent Vanderbilt game against Alabama resulted in a big win for Vanderbilt, but also led to an injury when an overexcited fan squeezed too hard, causing a cracked rib (8m23s).
• The fan's enthusiastic squeeze was so intense that it could be heard, and it left a lasting impact, requiring ice and rest to recover (8m49s).
• Sports rivalries can sometimes lead to intense and violent behavior, as seen in an incident where Ohio State fans threw beer bottles and cans at opposing fans, and a kid even shoved mud into someone's mouth (9m40s).
• The same rivalry led to a confrontation where a 22-year-old girl took a swing at opposing fans after her team lost for the fourth year in a row, resulting in her being tackled by a cop (10m17s).
• The intense emotions and behaviors exhibited in sports rivalries can sometimes be comparable to those seen in other intense situations, such as weddings in Appalachia (10m41s).

Appalachian Roots and Migration

• Billy Strings, a musician known for his guitar picking, has spoken about growing up in an area with high levels of addiction and how it has influenced his music (10m52s).
• Many people from Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and other states have families originating from West Virginia, East Kentucky, and East Tennessee, who moved north for factory jobs (11m16s).
• A song by Dwight Yoakam, "Readin', Rightin', Route 23," tells a story similar to that of many families, including the narrator's, who moved from Appalachia to Central or Southern Ohio for work (11m27s).
• Billy Strings, a musician, has a fascinating story of growing up in a challenging environment and finding solace in music (11m47s).
• The migration of people from Appalachia to the north was largely driven by the need for jobs, as the post-World War II era saw a surge in industrialization and factory work in areas like the Great Lakes region (12m12s).
• This migration brought together people from different backgrounds, including black people from the Deep South and white people from Appalachia, who came to work in factories and mills, contributing to the cultural fusion seen in cities like Detroit (12m55s).
• The influx of people from the Deep South also contributed to the development of blues music in cities like Chicago (13m25s).
• For many people growing up in Eastern Kentucky during the 1930s and 1940s, the only options were to work in the mines or leave, leading many to migrate to the north for better opportunities (13m46s).
• The narrator's grandfather was among those who moved north, working as a union welder at a steel mill and building a better life for himself (13m55s).

Unions and Politics

• The narrator has spoken with Sean, a union president from Boston, who has a strong Boston accent but is a cool and interesting person (14m15s).
• Many union members, such as those from the Teamsters, are shifting their support to the Republican party, with a notable 65% of Teamsters in Pennsylvania planning to vote for Trump, a significant change from 15 years ago (14m56s).
• The Teamsters have only declined to endorse a candidate twice in the past 30-50 years, and this election may be one of those instances due to the split within the union (15m5s).
• Trump's campaign strategy involves targeting seven key battleground states: Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, and North Carolina, with decisions driven by polling and staff-level strategy (15m36s).
• Trump's campaign approach is often "divide and conquer," with him and other representatives, such as JD Vance, attending separate events to maximize coverage and reach (17m25s).
• JD Vance has spent a significant amount of time in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, attending multiple events, and is attempting to get Kid Rock to join him for an event in Michigan (15m58s).
• Vance's schedule is largely driven by the campaign's needs, and he tries to be as helpful as possible, although he does have some flexibility to choose which events to attend (17m3s).
• Vance and Trump do not always appear together at events, but rather often attend separate events as part of the "divide and conquer" strategy (17m16s).
• A rally was held in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Elon was also present, and another event took place in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a week earlier, but separately. (17m50s)
• Concerns about attempts on Trump's life and safety have been present, but it's something that can't be controlled, and the focus is on doing the job and trying to win to help the country. (18m8s)
• The risk of being a target is acknowledged, but it's not something that can be controlled, and the focus is on doing the job and trying to win to help the country. (18m41s)

JD Vance's Personal Life and Background

• JD Vance's height was previously incorrectly listed as 5'7" on the internet, but it has been updated to 6'2", and there was a conspiracy theory about his height. (19m1s)
• The internet also incorrectly lists Joe Biden's height as 6 feet, which is not accurate. (19m18s)
• JD Vance's height is actually around 6'2", and he thinks that once you get better people helping you, you get more accurate information. (19m28s)
• The job of a politician can be risky, with a risk of getting shot at, similar to jobs in the military or those experiencing domestic violence. (19m52s)
• Politicians normally don't get shot at that much, but it seems to be becoming more common, which is not a good trend. (20m1s)
• JD Vance grew up in Ohio but spent a lot of time in Eastern Kentucky, where he learned to accept the risk of violence as a part of life. (20m10s)
• There is a historical plaque in Breathitt County, Kentucky, that commemorates the multiple people killed in the Breathitt County blood feuds of the early 20th century. (20m20s)
• As a country, it's desirable to move away from violence, but as an individual candidate, one has to accept the risks that come with the job. (20m35s)
• JD Vance is a person of faith, but he doesn't often discuss it publicly and is wary of those who wear their faith on their sleeve (20m49s).
• Vance believes that if he is meant to be Vice President, he will be, and if not, he won't, and he just needs to work hard and let things unfold as they may (21m1s).
• Vance's mom is approaching 10 years of sobriety, with her 10-year milestone set for January 2025 (21m17s).
• Vance's family is not very political, and at an event, his mom met Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House, but didn't know who he was and asked if he worked in politics (21m38s).
• Vance's mom struggled with addiction, primarily to non-alcohol drugs such as pills, opioids, and heroin (22m7s).
• Vance describes watching his mom get sober as "amazing" and notes that he and many of his family members are also in recovery (22m20s).
• Vance had previously doubted whether his mom would be around to meet his future children, but she is now a great-grandmother to his three kids (22m43s).
• Vance acknowledges the complex emotions that come with having a loved one struggle with addiction, including feelings of frustration, desperation, and rooting for their recovery (23m0s).
• Vance's mom has made significant progress in her recovery and is now able to enjoy events and be her "funny, quirky self" (23m28s).
• A wine bottle with a message from JD Vance's mom was a touching gesture, showing her quirky sense of humor and the blessing of her being alive and having a good relationship with her family at 40 years old (23m53s).

Addiction and Recovery

• JD Vance's mom has been to many NA meetings and is now involved with her local NA chapter, even holding a position as treasurer or secretary (24m52s).
• JD Vance has attended NA meetings with his mom, both as a kid and in recent years, and appreciates the sense of community and fellowship that comes with it, similar to church (25m5s).
• The NA community is a special one, where people share their struggles and support each other, showcasing both the good and bad sides of human nature (25m24s).
• JD Vance has noticed a disturbing trend in recent years, where people who have been sober for a short period of time often relapse and end up dead due to the increasingly deadly substances available (26m0s).
• He worries that the current poison on the streets is so dangerous that people may not get a second chance to recover, unlike his mom who was able to overcome her addiction (26m37s).
• JD Vance acknowledges that recovery is a process, and it's tough to get back on track after a relapse, but it's possible with the right support and community (27m1s).
• The current state of the fentanyl crisis is unfortunate, and it's sad that someone can't even do cocaine without risking their life due to the potential for it to be laced with fentanyl (27m7s).
• The crisis has led to situations where people's mistakes can be fatal, such as the story of a wedding that was cancelled because some groomsmen overdosed on fentanyl-laced substances the night before (28m20s).
• The fentanyl crisis has changed the way people view addiction and substance use, as what used to be a chance to "live and learn" from mistakes is now often a death sentence (28m52s).

The Fentanyl Crisis

• The fentanyl crisis is attributed to two main issues: the manufacturing of fentanyl, primarily by Chinese companies, and the wholesaling of the substance by Mexican drug cartels (29m12s).
• The fentanyl is often brought into the US through the southern border and then distributed at the street level, with the cartels making significant profits from the trade (29m45s).
• The profits from fentanyl trafficking have exploded in recent years, with estimates suggesting that the cartels will make $14 billion in 2022-2023, up from less than $1 billion a few years ago (30m10s).
• There have been cases where people have unknowingly smoked joints laced with fentanyl, resulting in severe consequences, including comas (30m27s).
• The speaker has personal connections to the crisis, having seven friends who have struggled with addiction (30m31s).
• The individual has seven friends who have overdosed and died from fentanyl, highlighting the severity of the crisis (30m44s).
• Fentanyl is often laced in other substances, such as cocaine and pills, making it a huge and unbelievable crisis (31m0s).
• To address the issue, it's suggested that the US needs to go to the heart of the problem, possibly by having a head of the DEA to help figure out a solution (31m18s).
• One approach to addressing the crisis is to use economic leverage to convince countries like China to crack down on fentanyl manufacturing, as attempted by the Trump administration (31m31s).
• The individual believes that addressing the source of the problem is the best way to tackle it (31m38s).

Sponsorships and Advertisements

• The episode is sponsored by PrizePicks, a daily fantasy sports app that offers a $50 bonus when users sign up and play $5 (32m4s).
• PrizePicks is celebrating the return of the NBA with an Anthony Edwards free square, where users can win by choosing individual players and their projected performance (32m32s).
• The app allows users to choose individual players and their projected performance, rather than teams, making it a unique and exciting way to engage with sports (32m50s).
• First-time users can download the PrizePicks app and use the code "Theo" to receive a $50 bonus on their first lineup of $5 or more (33m18s).
• The return of the TV show Yellowstone is also promoted, with the new season premiering on Sunday, November 10th on Paramount Network (33m52s).
• The individual has been wearing Tommy John underwear, which they find more relaxed and comfortable than other brands (34m39s).
• Tommy John underwear is comfortable, breathable, and suitable for travel and summer vacation, with a silky soft and cool design, and a 25% discount is available on the first order at TommyJohn.com (35m8s).

The Cartels and Border Security

• The cartels are involved in dark and dangerous activities, including sex trafficking, and are getting richer, making it essential to make them poorer and help those in need (35m57s).
• The cartels are a significant enemy, responsible for killing thousands of people, and it's crucial to take action to stop them, just as one would if someone were shooting and killing people in the country every day (36m38s).
• The cartels' actions are comparable to Mexico sending gunmen across the border and killing 70,000 Americans a year, which would lead to a major war (37m0s).
• The cartels are destabilizing Mexico, and if they become more powerful than the Mexican government, it will create a chaotic and warlike atmosphere on the US southern border (37m15s).
• The situation is comparable to the Colombian cartels in the 1970s, which were as powerful as the Colombian government, creating a narco-state (37m28s).
• It's essential to find a way to shut down the cartels, and a military response at the southern border may be necessary to control the situation and protect local law enforcement (38m4s).
• The human cost of the cartels' actions is immense, with 70,000 people dying each year, many in the prime of their life, and a significant ripple effect on their families (38m28s).

Impact of Alcoholic Mother and Family Dynamics

• Growing up with an alcoholic mother led to an unstable home environment, with frequent moves and uncertainty about the future, making it difficult to form close relationships or trust others (39m29s).
• The experience of having an alcoholic mother created a sense of division in the world, categorizing people into the helpless, the bad guys, and the strong who protect others, with the mother being seen as a victim and the grandmother as a protector (40m3s).
• The desire to be a strong person who can protect others was a driving force, but as a teenager, feelings of resentment and selfishness were also present due to the unstable and financially challenging circumstances (41m12s).
• Enlisting in the Marine Corps after high school provided a new perspective and helped to overcome feelings of resentment and selfishness (41m31s).
• The Marine Corps experience had a positive impact, transforming a previously whiny and resentful kid into someone with a cooler perspective (41m40s).
• The grandmother played a significant role in providing stability and protection, standing up for the family, especially the speaker, and serving as a positive influence (40m40s).
• The experience of growing up with an alcoholic mother has had a lasting impact, shaping attitudes towards helping others and protecting those who are vulnerable (40m56s).
• Despite the challenges, the speaker acknowledges the importance of looking out for others and being a source of protection, a value that was instilled through their experiences (40m59s).

Military Experience and Personal Growth

• The original "Zic D" phrase is attributed to the Marines, and it is considered a good phrase to use. (41m56s)
• If someone were to go back to boot camp for two months, they would likely come out with a six-pack, as boot camp is a physically demanding environment. (42m10s)
• The chain of command in the military is typically followed, with the Marines often being the ones to tell others what to do. (42m41s)
• Meeting a spouse in law school can be a life-changing experience, and it may take time to build trust with that person, especially if one's past experiences have been chaotic. (42m50s)
• Growing up in a tough environment can lead to attachment issues, as people may have disappeared or been unreliable in the past. (43m31s)
• The Marine Corps can be a transformative experience, teaching individuals discipline and responsibility, and helping them to develop a strong work ethic. (43m43s)
• Meeting people from different backgrounds in the Marine Corps can broaden one's perspective and help them to appreciate the value of hard work and perseverance. (44m17s)

Reflections on Childhood and Perspective

• Not having everything handed to you in life can be a blessing, as it forces you to work harder and appreciate the value of your accomplishments. (44m22s)
• Having a different perspective on life, shaped by one's experiences and background, can be a positive thing, allowing individuals to approach challenges with a unique outlook. (44m36s)
• Having a challenging childhood can have both negative and positive outcomes, with one of the positives being self-reliance and awareness, which can be helpful in life, especially in politics (45m6s).
• Growing up in a difficult environment can make a person more aware of their surroundings and cautious, which can be beneficial in certain situations, such as in politics (45m31s).
• In politics, many people have flaws or vices, and having a difficult past can make a person more relatable and empathetic towards others (45m55s).
• One of the benefits of having a challenging childhood is seeing people as individuals, rather than judging them based on their education, job, or credentials (46m18s).
• This perspective allows for a more genuine connection with people from different backgrounds and can be an asset in politics and life in general (47m16s).
• Having a difficult past can also make a person more appreciative of those who have worked hard to achieve their goals, rather than those who have had things handed to them (47m42s).
• Rebellion and a strong sense of self-reliance can be a natural response to feeling like others have had things handed to them, and this attitude can shape a person's perspective and behavior (48m5s).
• Many people have a family member struggling with addiction, and it's essential for young people with a parent who has alcoholism to navigate this situation carefully (48m28s).
• The first step is to ensure one's own well-being and not get into a situation where they also struggle, as they can't help their parent unless they take care of themselves first (49m8s).
• It's crucial not to become resentful and to keep an open heart, compartmentalizing the addict version of the parent from the version that has positive memories and experiences (49m31s).
• Holding on to memories that are divorced from the addiction can help in not allowing resentment to take over and affect one's life (49m57s).
• Attending NA meetings can be helpful in understanding the parent's addiction and gaining appreciation for what they're going through (50m22s).
• NA meetings also showcase human nature in all its aspects, including virtue and vice, and can be a valuable learning experience (50m40s).
• It's essential to keep one's soul intact and not let the parent's addiction destroy their life, and instead, focus on their own well-being and growth (50m12s).

Self-Improvement and Acceptance

• Focusing too much on the negative aspects of life can lead to a self-reinforcing spiral of wallowing in those emotions, which can be detrimental to mental health (52m42s).
• Dwelling on past traumas or negative experiences can be counterproductive, and sometimes it's more helpful to engage in physical activities like going for a walk to clear one's mind (53m11s).
• Constantly looking for ways to improve oneself can be positive, but it can also perpetuate the idea that there's always something wrong with oneself, creating an unachievable goal (54m23s).
• It's essential to balance self-improvement with self-acceptance, as excessive focus on the former can lead to a self-defeating cycle (54m54s).
• The self-help culture can be beneficial, but it can also create a mindset where individuals are always trying to fix something, implying that there's always something wrong with them (54m12s).
• Personal experiences, such as JD Vance's struggles with weight gain during his Senate campaign, can serve as a reminder of the importance of balancing self-improvement with self-care and acceptance (55m6s).
• A typical day's meals can include Windy's for lunch and Waffle House for dinner, but this can eventually take a toll on one's health (55m19s).
• At Waffle House, a popular meal is the All America special, which includes a sub, hash browns, and grits, but some people may swap out the grits for hash browns without extra charge (55m27s).
• When ordering toast at Waffle House, some people prefer raisin toast, while others stick with regular toast and add a lot of jam (56m3s).
• The preference for raisins or grapes may vary from person to person, with some people enjoying grapes that have been through a process, such as raisins (56m11s).
• It's essential to find a balance between being unhealthy and taking care of oneself, recognizing that it's necessary to go for a run and take care of oneself occasionally (56m36s).
• Life balance is crucial, and things don't have to be perfect; it's essential to acknowledge that imperfections are a part of life (56m51s).
• The need for perfection can stem from a desire to be accepted or seen, and this can manifest in various aspects of life, such as school, work, or physical appearance (57m3s).
• The pursuit of perfection can be a blind and unattainable goal, leading to feelings of inadequacy and frustration, as it's impossible to achieve perfection in all aspects of life (57m25s).
• Recognizing the impossibility of perfection can help individuals let go of the need for perfection and find a more balanced approach to life (58m6s).
• The individual reflects on their past thoughts and feelings, realizing they used to operate under the mindset of "I'm not enough," which they no longer believe, and acknowledges how stressful it sounds when discussing it (58m38s).
• They never attended ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics) meetings, although they think it might have been helpful, and instead participated in meetings with other kids at a long-term treatment facility their mom attended (58m57s).
• Attending these meetings made them realize that there's always someone who has it worse, which helped them develop a sense of gratitude for what they have (59m31s).
• The individual believes that feeling grateful for what they have is empowering, and it helps them maintain a better attitude, especially in difficult situations like arguments with their wife or dealing with their child's annoying behavior (59m46s).

Parenthood and Family Life

• Being a parent was scary for them, as they were taught by their childhood that many people struggle with parenting, and they feared making mistakes that could have long-lasting effects on their child (1h0m12s).
• Despite initial fears, they have found that their wife's patience and their own age and wisdom have helped them navigate parenting challenges, and although they have made mistakes, things have worked out (1h1m37s).
• Being a parent has its challenging days, but kids are more resilient than people give them credit for, and it's a learning process for parents as well (1h1m46s).
• The difference in personality and behavior between a 2-year-old and a 7-year-old is significant, and kids often have no filter in what they say (1h2m3s).
• As a public figure, one has to be careful about what they say, especially around their children, as they may pick up on certain phrases or words (1h2m22s).
• A 4-year-old child referred to photographers as "fake news" after hearing the term used, highlighting the importance of being mindful of one's words (1h2m44s).
• Being a parent is the most rewarding thing that has ever been done, and it has changed one's perspective on life (1h3m0s).
• Initially, there were fears about being a parent, but it has not been as hard as expected, and it's good to confront and overcome those fears (1h3m7s).
• Most people baby their first child, but by the third child, parents become more relaxed and realize that kids are resilient (1h3m30s).
• Having children has allowed for a stronger relationship to develop between grandparents and grandchildren, which is a rewarding experience (1h3m56s).
• It feels like a gift to be able to see one's mom play and build a relationship with their children, especially after overcoming past challenges (1h4m7s).
• Being able to rely on one's mom to take care of the children is a cool thing, especially after she has overcome addiction (1h4m37s).
• A child was born in 2017, and at that point, their mom had been clean and sober for about a year and a half, which was a significant improvement as previously, they wouldn't have trusted her to babysit due to her past struggles with addiction (1h4m49s).
• Now, with three kids, the family is more open to letting others watch them, but it's particularly special to see the kids spend time with their mom, symbolizing a sense of completion and redemption (1h5m5s).
• The power of recovery is evident in the positive changes people experience, allowing them to have a different life, which is often witnessed in support group meetings (1h5m38s).
• Meetings can be a powerful and redemptive experience, similar to attending church, where people can witness God's work through others and share their own testimonials (1h5m55s).

Business and Healthcare

• A business's online merch store has grown significantly over the years, and they've found success with the help of ShipStation, a shipping efficiency platform that integrates with various e-commerce platforms and offers discounts on shipping rates (1h6m47s).
• Flavored air devices, such as those offered by Fume, are becoming a popular alternative to vaping and smoking, providing a healthier option with a range of delicious flavors and no electronics, vapor, or combustion (1h7m52s).
• Every elected official and politician in America should prioritize advocating for prices and transparency in healthcare, as the current system is compromising every single American, with hospitals, insurance, and middlemen charging whatever they want without clear prices (1h9m11s).
• The US healthcare system is flawed, and Americans are being robbed due to the lack of price transparency, which is essential for a functioning economy (1h9m40s).
• Doing right by workers, employers, and unions requires doing right by the people they represent and the families who depend on them (1h9m55s).
• Jelly Roll, a musician, testified at a Senate Banking Committee hearing, discussing issues like fentanyl and homelessness, and his life story is an inspiration (1h10m21s).
• Jelly Roll is a genuine and real person who speaks from the heart, and his testimony at the Senate hearing was interesting and thought-provoking (1h10m50s).

The Sackler Family and the Opioid Crisis

• The Sackler family, who owned Purdue Pharma, was responsible for the devastating opioid crisis that resulted in over 500,000 deaths, and their actions were equivalent to legalized drug dealing on an industrial scale (1h11m50s).
• The Sackler family's punishment was a financial slap on the wrist, and it is questioned why they cannot be held more accountable and potentially deported from the country (1h12m25s).
• The issue of immigration and deportation is raised, with the question of why certain individuals cannot be sent back to their countries of origin if they do not have a legal right to be in the US (1h12m40s).
• The Sackler family's actions are considered egregious, as they got rich from an extraordinary amount of human misery and death, yet they only received a fine that was a tiny amount compared to the tens of billions of dollars they made (1h12m57s).
• The Sackler family's origin is from Galicia and Poland, and their ancestors were Jewish immigrants, with Isaac Sackler being from Brooklyn, New York (1h13m30s).
• The family's company, Purdue Pharma, agreed to pay $6 billion to families and states as part of an agreement to wind down the company, and in exchange, the Sackler family would be immunized from future civil liability claims (1h14m22s).
• Purdue Pharma's oxycontin was supposed to be a delayed-release oxycodone, but people figured out that crushing it would release the entire dose at once, leading to overdoses and deaths (1h15m26s).
• The Sackler family and Purdue Pharma knew about the issue with oxycontin but did not take action to stop it, as they were making a significant amount of money from the sales (1h15m43s).
• The lack of a criminal investigation into the Sackler family's actions is questioned, especially considering that individuals who sell drugs on the street can be prosecuted for related overdoses and deaths (1h13m57s).
• Personal experiences with addiction and the risks of getting hooked on prescription medication are shared, highlighting the importance of being cautious and responsible when taking prescribed medication (1h14m36s).
• The issue with oxycontin is attributed to the company's prioritization of profits over people's lives, which is considered gross and unacceptable (1h16m3s).
• The ripple effect of people dying from family members is still haunting the country, and this is where the heroin epidemic, which originated as a pill epidemic, started. (1h16m9s)
• The pill epidemic began due to overprescription, making the drugs widely available, and people would often share them with others, leading to addiction. (1h16m19s)
• The pills were often tampered with by removing the outer coating to make them easier to abuse, and this was not widely known at the time. (1h16m51s)
• The overprescription of medication led to a loss of trust in the medical system, with people questioning the value of medicine and the intentions of doctors. (1h17m10s)

Pharmaceutical Industry and Healthcare Reform

• The pharmaceutical industry's profit motive can sometimes lead to the manipulation of the health system, prioritizing profits over people's health, and this was a concern raised by the old left. (1h18m17s)
• The old left recognized that the involvement of money in health care can lead to both positive and negative outcomes, and this is a concern that conservatives should also consider. (1h18m19s)
• The pressure from pharmaceutical companies to prescribe certain medications can influence government policies and medical practices, and this is an issue that needs to be addressed. (1h18m54s)
• Some conservatives, including the speaker, are trying to raise awareness about the potential negative consequences of the pharmaceutical industry's influence on the health care system. (1h19m12s)
• Bobby Kennedy has also highlighted the issue of pharmaceutical companies prioritizing profits over people's health, and this is a concern that needs to be taken seriously. (1h19m18s)
• There is a significant debate surrounding transgender issues, particularly with regards to pharmaceutical companies making billions of dollars from hormonal therapies for kids, raising concerns about the long-term consequences and potential motives behind these treatments (1h19m33s).
• The influence of money and lobbying in the decision-making process is a concern, as those who stand to gain financially from these treatments are often the ones pushing for their use in children (1h19m57s).
• While some people may not care about an individual's gender identity, the issue at hand is the potential exploitation of children for financial gain, rather than a genuine concern for their well-being (1h20m30s).
• The importance of considering the motives of those pushing for certain treatments, particularly when it comes to children, is emphasized, and the need to think critically about the potential consequences of these actions (1h20m52s).
• The example of OIC, a weight loss medication, is used to illustrate the potential dangers of creating a market for a medication without addressing the underlying issues, and the risk of exploitation and black market sales (1h21m5s).
• The US has a significant obesity problem, and rather than simply medicating the issue, it is suggested that the underlying causes of obesity should be addressed, and personal responsibility should be taken into account (1h21m51s).
• The tendency to rely on medication to solve problems, rather than addressing the root causes, is seen as a broader societal issue, and one that can be difficult to reverse once it has become entrenched (1h22m21s).
• The struggle to balance personal responsibility with the need for support and treatment is acknowledged, particularly in the context of issues like the opioid crisis (1h22m35s).
• Pharmaceutical companies have created powerful opioids that exceed people's natural ability to fight against addiction, making personal responsibility less fair in such cases (1h22m56s).
• These opioids can fundamentally transform a person's personality, sense of ambition, and reward system, making them more like a drug than a medicine (1h24m30s).
• Some people, like the speaker's mom, have been able to refuse strong pain medications like oxy and instead opt for less potent alternatives like Advil or Tylenol (1h24m51s).
• Opioids can change not just a person's personality but also their ability to take care of themselves and others, often causing them to become less responsible and less caring (1h25m21s).
• The US healthcare system is a major bipartisan issue, with many Americans struggling to afford or access healthcare due to high costs and a lack of price transparency from hospitals and insurance companies (1h26m2s).
• Many groups, including patients, workers, companies, and taxpayers, are overpaying for healthcare, highlighting the need for reform (1h26m20s).
• Bernie Sanders has emphasized the need for change in the healthcare system, although the specifics of his proposed solutions are not mentioned in this context (1h26m28s).
• The need for healthcare price transparency is emphasized, with the example of Donald Trump's executive order and Mark Cuban's stress on the importance of transparency in the healthcare system, which would make it honest, affordable, and accessible (1h26m29s).
• Powerful people who benefit financially from the lack of transparency are a major obstacle to achieving price transparency in healthcare (1h26m59s).
• The example of buying coffee at Starbucks is used to illustrate how unusual it is that healthcare costs are not transparent, with the customer knowing exactly how much they are paying (1h27m19s).
• A personal anecdote is shared about an unexpected $115,000 medical bill due to a doctor being out of network, highlighting the problem of surprise medical billing (1h27m30s).
• Medical debt is the number one cause of bankruptcy in America, and price transparency is seen as a crucial step in addressing this issue (1h28m17s).
• Pharmaceutical companies are also resistant to price transparency, as it would reveal that Americans pay significantly more for pharmaceuticals than Europeans (1h28m40s).
• A comparison of US prices for pharmaceuticals to those in other countries shows that US prices are nearly 2.78 times as high, with brand drugs being at least 3.22 times as high (1h29m32s).
• The high cost of certain drugs in the US, such as next-generation cancer therapeutics, is highlighted, with prices being significantly lower in Europe (1h29m25s).
• The OECD countries, which include mainly European countries, the United States, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, were compared in terms of per capita spending on prescription drugs in 2019. (1h29m56s)
• The United States had the highest per capita spending on prescription drugs at $900 per person, while Sweden spent $270 per person and the United Kingdom spent $273 per person. (1h30m47s)
• The reason for the high spending in the United States is not well understood because the costs are often hidden, and companies do not want to disclose the information to avoid demands for lower prices. (1h31m11s)
• President Trump proposed reimporting drugs from Europe, where they are often cheaper, as a potential solution to high prescription drug costs in the United States. (1h31m24s)

Political Violence and Lobbying

• There have been attempts to take a swing at a person, with two separate incidents occurring within three months, but the motives behind these attempts are not well understood. (1h32m0s)
• The lack of information about the person's motives is attributed to the fact that they had foreign encrypted apps on their cell phone, making it difficult to access their data. (1h32m25s)
• Lobbyists often approach politicians, and they can be identified by their poorly fitted suits and extremely ugly ties. (1h33m17s)
• Golf is not a favorite pastime, but it may be considered in the future when there's more time to play without slowing others down (1h34m3s).
• Brooks Koepka is liked, and so is Paige Spiranac, although the latter is not publicly acknowledged due to being a married man (1h34m13s).
• John Daly is a good person and has been known to provide ambulance rides, having been at two places where Daly was present and required medical attention (1h34m45s).
• Despite knowing about the influence of lobbyists in Congress, it's challenging to stop due to the significant number of lobbyists in DC, with some estimates suggesting three times as many lobbyists as congressmen and senators (1h35m14s).
• The situation is improving compared to 10 years ago, with people becoming more aware of the issue, and politicians like Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump speaking out against the existing system (1h35m36s).
• Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign was heavily opposed by lobbyists due to his lack of ties to the existing political process and his refusal to owe anything to them (1h36m1s).
• Younger politicians are more open about the influence of lobbyists and are working to be more transparent and honest with the public about their interactions with lobbyists (1h36m14s).
• Some politicians, including the speaker, have received criticism from lobbyist groups for not being trustworthy, but this is seen as a positive sign that they are doing their job correctly (1h36m36s).
• The town's dynamics are such that if a politician doesn't always take meetings or do what lobbyists want, they will start whispering about them and try to get negative articles written (1h36m52s).
• This is why some people refer to the media as the "corporate media," as many stories are influenced by anonymous sources who may have ulterior motives (1h37m4s).
• The current system in Washington D.C. is viewed as a form of money laundering, where people are paid to offer opinions rather than having genuine ones, and this needs to be structurally fixed (1h37m20s).
• The Senate staff, including the speaker's, is composed of around 40 people, mostly young and extremely good at their jobs, but the speaker is not allowed by law to pay them higher salaries, even if they want to (1h37m35s).
• The laws governing staff salaries are set by law, and this restricts the ability of senators to control who they pay and how much they pay them (1h38m1s).
• Many important laws are complicated and lengthy, often with 800-900 pages, and the laws should be simpler, but the current system allows lobbyists to write the laws due to junior staff not knowing the town well and not making enough money (1h38m12s).
• Lobbyists often ask to make changes to draft laws and justify them, but the speaker believes that their staff should write the laws they are drafting (1h38m36s).
• Empowering senators and congressmen to hire who they want and make a bigger staff could help reduce the influence of lobbyists, as the amount of staff a congressman has is a fraction of the federal budget (1h38m53s).
• Lobbyists are often former good staffers who want to buy a nicer house, start a family, and cannot afford to do so on their current salary, so they trade in their public service for a higher-paying job as a lobbyist (1h39m27s).
• The system allows for a revolving door between public service and lobbying, which can lead to people being more focused on their future lobbying career than on doing the public good (1h40m6s).
• The speaker believes that this system needs to be fixed, and the functions of public service and lobbying need to be separated better, so that being a public servant is not just a stepping stone to becoming a lobbyist (1h40m21s).
• The goal is to keep good people in their jobs as they gain more experience and become better at their roles, despite the temptation to leave for lucrative offers, and this requires them to develop skills such as recognizing when lobbyists are trying to deceive them (1h40m40s).

Political Commentary and Media Culture

• There is a sense of optimism that things are moving in the right direction, despite potential addiction to certain vices, and this is partly due to the influence of individuals like Trump who are not beholden to moneyed interests (1h41m9s).
• Bobby Kennedy is mentioned as someone who is not beholden to moneyed interests and is a good person who genuinely cares about making people healthy, even if he is sometimes wrong in his views (1h41m25s).
• The problem with politics and media culture is that people are afraid to express unconventional thoughts or ideas, and this fear of punishment can stifle creativity and progress (1h42m19s).
• The biggest ideas often come from people who are willing to challenge conventional wisdom and think outside the box, even if this means being wrong sometimes (1h42m28s).
• Social media has created a culture where opinions can spread quickly and become accepted as conventional wisdom in a matter of minutes, leading to a "Feeding Frenzy" of attacks on those who disagree (1h43m19s).
• This social media culture can be damaging as it takes the normal human desire to be liked and makes it a public spectacle, leading to attacks on individuals and their families (1h43m45s).
• The speed at which information is disseminated and consumed is extremely fast, which can lead to a lack of critical thinking and people simply repeating what they've heard without filtering it through their own thoughts (1h43m54s).
• This phenomenon is exacerbated by social media, which turns people into "repeaters" rather than thinkers, and is exemplified by the willingness of individuals like Bobby Kennedy to think for themselves on certain topics (1h44m31s).
• The country is facing significant problems, including a terrible obesity problem, rising rates of certain types of diabetes among children, and a significant disparity in life expectancy between those with and without a college degree (1h44m39s).
• A paper by a Nobel Prize-winning economist found that individuals with a four-year college degree live an average of 7 years longer than those without one, highlighting the severity of the issue (1h45m22s).
• The disparity in life expectancy is attributed to various factors, including the type of jobs available to those without a college degree, the difficulty of making a living without one, and the resulting stress and addiction (1h45m52s).
• The campaign and presidency of Donald Trump are seen as opportunities to address these big problems, rather than just focusing on slogans or fake issues created by the media (1h46m22s).
• The country is facing significant challenges, including a historic obesity epidemic, wars breaking out around the world, and pharmaceutical companies profiting from potentially harmful therapeutics (1h46m40s).
• The willingness of Trump to tackle these issues is seen as a positive aspect of his presidency, and his unconventional approach to politics is viewed as a refreshing change (1h47m6s).

Polls and Election Predictions

• Many people feel that the system is not working for them, and this sentiment is a significant issue that needs to be addressed (1h47m33s).
• Bobby Kennedy is a caring individual who genuinely cares about people, which is one reason why he has been endorsed (1h47m48s).
• The polls have been looked at, particularly on the website and app KI, where people can bet money on various outcomes, including politics (1h48m11s).
• According to the KI betting market, Trump is currently at 57% and Kamala Harris is at 43%, with a total of $32 million and 17,000 bets placed (1h48m46s).
• The reliability of polls is questionable, as only about 1 in 30 people answer pollster questions, and the response rates vary significantly depending on factors like education level and party affiliation (1h49m45s).
• Democrats, especially those with higher education levels, are more likely to answer pollster questions, while Trump voters are less likely to respond, making it challenging to obtain an accurate sample (1h50m3s).
• This discrepancy in response rates can lead to inaccurate poll results, as seen in the past, such as in the Clinton-Trump polls (1h49m16s).
• The unreliability of polls is not just a matter of opinion, but rather a result of the changing response rates and demographics over the past decade (1h50m35s).
• Personal experience, such as in a Senate race, has shown that public polls can be inaccurate, highlighting the need for caution when interpreting poll results (1h50m37s).
• A pollster, who also works for Trump, predicted that JD Vance would win his campaign by six points, which was close to the actual seven-point win, making him more accurate than public pollsters (1h50m49s).
• The pollster's higher accuracy is attributed to the fact that he spent more money, around $60,000 to $70,000, to get a representative sample of the American people by calling thousands of people (1h51m24s).
• JD Vance believes that the polls might be wrong and that they could be wrong in a pro-Trump direction, but he still thinks that Trump has a 60% chance of winning (1h51m40s).
• JD Vance advises people not to believe the polls, as they could keep people from voting, and instead, to work hard to win the race (1h52m9s).
• JD Vance and President Trump are doing multiple events a day to secure the border, have common-sense economic policy, and to win the election (1h52m32s).
• JD Vance criticizes Kamala Harris for her views on big Pharma, foreign conflicts, and tariffs on goods imported from China, which he believes are not in the best interest of American workers (1h53m12s).
• JD Vance argues that illegal immigration undercuts the wages of American workers and that it is not the immigrants themselves, but rather Kamala Harris's policies, that he opposes (1h53m36s).
• JD Vance emphasizes the need for personal responsibility among company owners to not hire illegal immigrants and to pay their employees a solid wage (1h54m2s).
• The importance of addressing both sides of the immigration issue is emphasized, making it harder to hire illegal labor and also harder for illegal labor to enter the country in the first place (1h54m12s).
• Working people are recognizing that open borders are not beneficial to them, leading to increased support for Donald Trump and potentially a better administration that tackles big issues (1h54m26s).
• The possibility of running again in the future is uncertain, with a focus on winning the current election and fixing as much as possible, rather than thinking about future politics (1h55m4s).
• The concern is that if Kamala Harris becomes president, the country will face four more years of open borders, lack of tariffs on Chinese imports, and a foreign policy that is pro-war, putting the country in a very bad spot (1h55m59s).
• The intention is to follow through on campaign promises, unlike some politicians who say one thing on the trail and then disappear or govern differently in office (1h56m23s).
• The difference between negotiation and compromise in governance, such as modifying a tax plan to get Democratic votes, and saying something on the campaign trail that is not genuinely believed, is highlighted (1h56m46s).
• Donald Trump's honesty and willingness to say what he thinks, even if unpopular, is seen as one of the reasons people like him and will vote for him (1h57m12s).
• Donald Trump's sense of humor is also mentioned as a factor in his appeal to voters (1h57m20s).

Personal Anecdotes and Closing Remarks

• JD Vance has a person who helps him with his schedule, and he has to leave soon to have dinner with his kids at Skyline Chili in Middletown, which is a big deal for him (1h57m32s).
• Vance has had Skyline Chili before, and although he respects it, he thinks it's not the best, saying it "goes straight to the basement" (1h57m51s).
• The first time President Trump spent time with Vance's wife, he was very sweet to her, gave her a big hug, and told her she was beautiful, but did not flirt with her (1h58m19s).
• Vance's wife gave a diplomatic answer when Trump asked her about her husband being involved in politics, which led to Trump making a joke about his own wife hating his involvement in politics, breaking the ice and allowing for a more casual conversation (1h58m49s).
• Vance thinks President Trump has a very engaging personality and is easy to talk to, which is not often shown in the media (1h58m29s).
• Vance believes that the 2020 election had some problems, mainly due to big tech companies like Facebook and Twitter interfering by censoring American citizens and not facing any charges (2h0m3s).
• Vance thinks that the voting system is fair, despite some problems in the past, and is willing to discuss the topic further in the future (1h59m59s).
• Appreciation is expressed for someone's time, with a mention of feeling carefree and comparing the feeling to falling leaves, referencing a song titled "Cornerstone" (2h0m43s).
• The feeling of being carefree is contrasted with the inevitability of reaching the ground, where a personal story will be shared (2h0m56s).
• There is a sense of certainty and intuition about the upcoming event, as it can be felt in one's bones (2h1m2s).