On Wednesday, Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) didn’t just answer questions from adversarial reporters at a Michigan rally — he spun them into rallying cries against his opponents, leaving the crowd roaring with approval. At the heart of the event, a question from a New York Times reporter about the country’s current economic climate sparked a scorching response from Vance.
The reporter’s question about the latest economic data showing inflation at under 3% — the lowest since mid-2021 — was meant to be a straightforward request for comment. Instead, it became an opportunity for Vance to critique the current administration. “I wanted to ask you about the latest economic news from this morning with inflation now being under 3%, the lowest rate since mid-2021. What is your reaction to that news?” the Times reporter asked.
“Well, I think the crowd reaction says it all,” Vance began, gesturing to the energized audience’s audible boos to the question. “Look, when they say that inflation is down, they mean from a baseline where groceries are already 30% more expensive than they were when Donald Trump was president. And they’re not saying it’s coming down, they’re just saying it’s not going up as fast as