Unpacking the Role JD Vance Played on That Debate Stage

Hosted by Michelle CottleRoss Douthat and Carlos Lozada

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This week the hosts discuss what was obscured by the civility of the V.P. debate, and consider what JD Vance and Tim Walz really offer their running mates and their parties’ futures.

Plus, Michelle won’t be washing away her stresses any time soon.

(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publication in the audio player above.)

Credit…Photo Illustration by The New York Times. Photo: Ioulex for The New York Times

Recommended in this episode:

• ‘There’s a Trap Here’: Four Columnists Brace for the Vance-Walz Debate by David Brooks, Ross Douthat, Tressie McMillan Cottom and Pamela Paul

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Thoughts? Email us at matterofopinion@nytimes.com.

Follow our hosts on X: Michelle Cottle (@mcottle), Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT) and Carlos Lozada (@CarlosNYT).

“Matter of Opinion” is produced by Sophia Alvarez Boyd, Phoebe Lett and Andrea Betanzos. It is edited by Phoebe Lett and Sophia Alvarez Boyd. Mixing by Pat McCusker and Sonia Herrero. Engineering by Pat McCusker. Original music by Carole Sabouraud, Sonia Herrero, Pat McCusker, and Aman Sahota. Our fact-checking team is Kate Sinclair, Mary Marge Locker and Michelle Harris. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta and Kristina Samulewski. Our executive producer is Annie-Rose Strasser.

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