MSNBC host Rachel Maddow admitted she misjudged how Americans would react to Republican Vice President-elect JD Vance. “I thought people would be more unnerved by JD Vance,” Maddow said in an interview with Semafor, a news site compiling reflections from media figures. She added, “Less the cat lady thing and more the ‘Americans [are] going to have to get over dictatorphobia’ Mencius Moldbug’ thing,” referencing Curtis Yarvin, a blogger Vance has followed for years.
When Donald Trump chose Vance as his running mate, progressive media ridiculed the decision. Many predicted Vance would hurt the ticket. But his strong performances in combative interviews shifted perceptions. He soon gained a reputation as one of Trump’s strongest surrogates. Vance also stood out as the clear winner of his debate against Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz.
Just a few years ago, Vance was vying for the Ohio Republican Senate nomination in a crowded field. He secured the primary win, defeated Democrat Tim Ryan in the general election, and quickly became part of Trump’s White House ticket. His rise is considered one of the fastest in U.S. political history.
At 40, Vance will be the third-youngest vice president in American history when sworn in next month. With Trump constitutionally barred from seeking another term, Vance is already viewed as a leading contender for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination.
Maddow’s comments were part of a broader reflection by media personalities on what they got wrong in 2024. Semafor’s roundup included admissions about everything from Elon Musk’s influence to the power of inflation on voters. Maddow wasn’t alone in her misjudgment.
The Bulwark Podcast host Tim Miller confessed to viewing President Biden too “generously.” Others kept it brief, like Mark Cuban, who simply stated, “I was wrong about the election outcome.”
Despite the errors, Semafor noted that such reflections showed a willingness to acknowledge mistakes. They admitted, “We and others embarrassingly missed the mark on a few occasions,” but emphasized the value of learning from misconceptions.