Maddow Reflects on Misjudging JD Vance as Media Revisits 2024 Election Takeaways

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow admitted her miscalculation about the 2024 election, specifically regarding Republican Vice President-elect JD Vance.

Speaking to the news site Semafor, which gathered retrospectives from dozens of media figures across the political spectrum, Maddow reflected on her belief that Vance would alarm more Americans due to his controversial associations.

“I thought people would be more unnerved by JD Vance,” Maddow said, referring to his long-standing engagement with Curtis Yarvin, a blogger known by the pseudonym Mencius Moldbug, who advocates authoritarian principles.

Maddow continued, “Less the cat lady thing and more the ‘Americans [are] going to have to get over dictatorphobia’ Mencius Moldbug’ thing,” expressing surprise at the public’s tolerance of Vance’s connections.

When Donald Trump selected Vance as his running mate, progressive media criticized the choice, portraying Vance as a liability to the Republican ticket. However, Vance’s adept handling of combative interviews and a commanding performance in the sole vice-presidential debate against Democratic counterpart Tim Walz quickly earned him recognition as one of Trump’s most effective surrogates.

His ascent from a Senate contender to vice president-elect marks one of the fastest political rises in modern history.

Less than three years ago, Vance, then a venture capitalist and author, was vying for the Ohio Republican Senate nomination. After winning the primary and defeating Democrat Tim Ryan, Vance joined Trump’s ticket, securing a victory in the 2024 election.

At 40, Vance will become the third-youngest vice president in U.S. history when sworn in next month. With Trump constitutionally barred from seeking another term, political analysts already view Vance as a leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028.

Maddow was one of several media figures Semafor interviewed about their misjudgments during the 2024 election and broader cultural shifts.

Media reflections ranged widely, with some underestimating Elon Musk’s influence or the continued relevance of his platform, X (formerly Twitter). Others miscalculated the impact of inflation on voters’ priorities. Tim Miller, host of The Bulwark Podcast, admitted to being too generous in judging President Biden’s decisions. Entrepreneur Mark Cuban acknowledged simply, “I was wrong about the election outcome.”

Semafor noted that, despite significant missteps by the media, including their own, a willingness to reflect on such errors was a positive takeaway.

The 2024 election challenged conventional narratives, from the power of inflation to the evolving role of media platforms, and underscored the need for adaptability in understanding shifting political dynamics.

The media’s reassessment of their role and the factors driving voter sentiment highlights the broader implications of the election. For Maddow, the unexpected acceptance of Vance by voters serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of political culture.

As Vance prepares to assume office alongside Trump, his trajectory from political outsider to vice president-elect reshapes Republican leadership and sets the stage for a highly competitive 2028 presidential race.