JD Vance sells himself to Silicon Valley

JD Vance's appearance at the All-In Summit was easily the most comfortable I've seen him, but then he was with the people he understands best: other VCs.

The All-In podcast appearance was what business leaders refer to as a display of synergy. Cohost David Sacks' and Vance's political fortunes are tied together - if Trump wins, Sacks looks like a kingmaker and has a vice president who owes him favors and will take his calls. If Vance loses, remaining close to his real community - venture capitalists - gives him a valuable network to tap into for future campaigns.

Vance has called Sacks "one of my closest confidants." (His other friends include Curtis Yarvin, an anti-democracy software developer, and VC Peter Thiel, about whom, more later.) Sacks has been shoring up influence in the Republican party, first with his flop attempt at coronating Ron DeSantis as the Republican nominee and now with Vance. Besides his fundraising activities, Sacks' All-In podcast has also hosted Donald Trump and is a place Sacks routinely rants about his take on politics. 

As far as I can tell, the purpose of Vance's appearance on All-In, which is also cohosted by fellow Trump supporter and Silicon Valley SPAC king Chamath Palihapitiya, was to explain away the anti-immigrant sentiment coming from the Republican party.

Vance's appearance was almost entirely disingenuous. According to Vance, anything bad you have heard about former President Donald Trump is because the lousy people in the American media have been busily lying about him. "The media doesn't often tell you the truth about Donald Trump," Vance says. "Donald Trump cares more about the details of public policy than almost anyone I've met in public life." If you don't believe him, Vance says, "I just encourage you to listen to what he actually says."

Yes, let's. The same day the video of the All-In interview was uploaded to YouTube, Trump debated Vice President Kamala Harris. Asked why he had killed an immigration bill, Trump said the following, "First, let me respond to the rallies. She said people start leaving. People don't go to her rallies, there's no reason to go." He went on to discuss how he had "the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics." Okay, but maybe I'm cherry-picking! Let's try another one. Asked if he had a plan for repealing Obamacare, Trump replied, "I have concepts of a plan."

So much for Trump's grasp on public policy. As much fun as I am having quoting Trump, I am less interested in fisking Vance's appearance and more interested in what he's doing on All-In in the first place.