Can J.D. Vance Stop a MAGA Civil War?

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch are joined by Reason reporter Eric Boehm to discuss Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest and the GOP coalescing around Vice President J.D. Vance as President Donald Trump’s successor. They analyze Sen. Rand Paul’s (R–Ky.) opposition to endorsing Vance as the party’s next standard-bearer, and whether this signals he will challenge Vance for the nomination in 2028. Katherine also shares what it was like attending the conference, plus her debate over marijuana legalization as the Trump administration moves to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III.

The editors then turn to the bipartisan backlash over the latest Jeffrey Epstein file release, in which more than 500 pages were completely redacted, prompting Reps. Thomas Massie (R–Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D–Calif.) to threaten charges of “inherent contempt” against Attorney General Pam Bondi. The panel also discusses the Trump administration’s seizure of additional Venezuelan oil tankers, plus the announcement of new military strikes in Syria. They dig into Minnesota’s widening welfare fraud scandal, and whether conservative media is using it to scapegoat Somali immigrants. A listener asks whether Christmas expands our “socialist bubble” of family and community and what that says about capitalism, socialism, and human nature.

0:00—Debating marijuana at Turning Point USA

4:10—J.D. Vance is the MAGA heir apparent

14:47—Massie and Khanna react to Epstein file release

25:14—U.S. foreign policy in Venezuela and Syria

38:09—Listener question on socialism and Christmas

47:59—Minnesota welfare fraud scandal

1:01:28—Weekly cultural recommendations

Mentioned in This Podcast

“Cannavictory,” by Liz Wolfe

“Trump Orders the ‘Expeditious’ Reclassification of Marijuana,” by Jacob Sullum

“Heritage Foundation Undergoes Mass Staff Exodus as Cracks Open on the New Right,” by Stephanie Slade

“Epstein Wanted To Turn His Island Into a Resort for Paying Customers,” by Matthew Petti

“Oil Tanker Seized,” by Liz Wolfe

“If the Syrian War Is Over, Why Are Americans Still Getting Killed in Syria?” by Matthew Petti

“Trump’s Somali Insults Are a Disgrace,” by Steven Greenhut

“The Real Villain in Minnesota’s $1.5 Billion Fraud Scandal Isn’t Somalis—It’s the Feds,” by Jack Nicastro

“Medicare Whac-A-Mole,” by Peter Suderman

“What We Get Wrong About the American Revolution,” by Nick Gillespie

“Avatar: Fire and Ash Is Part Spectacle, Part Retread,” by Peter Suderman

• Producer: Paul Alexander
• Video Editor: Ian Keyser