JD Vance, the native son of Appalachia who rose from the Rust Belt holler to become second-in-line to the highest office in the land, has been making the rounds. 

No doubt you’ve seen him out there defending the Trump White House’s policies on the Iran war, rising costs, and more. A generational political talent and brilliant mind, Vance’s thoughtful statements routinely make headlines for their clues about what the post-Trump Republican Party will look like, particularly on economic policy, as he unofficially begins his 2028 presidential run.