J. D. Vance, a rising star in the 2024 campaign and political figure, joins Clare Malone and Vinson Cunningham, both New Yorker staff writers, to dissect the recent Vice-Presidential debate. They dive into Vance's strategies to soften Trumpism, addressing pressing issues like climate policy, gun control, and January 6th. With the election tightening, they ponder whether his debate performance can counteract Donald Trump’s lackluster showing. The trio also explores evolving debate styles and the GOP's shifting dynamics in a critical election year.