JD Vance’s grasp on abortion rights in the U.S. was so shaky that Joe Rogan found himself repeatedly correcting him during a recent podcast interview.
In the three-hour episode released Thursday, Rogan challenged the Republican vice-presidential candidate on abortion laws, noting that some states, like Texas, ban abortion after six weeks of pregnancy and may even prosecute women who leave the state for the procedure.
“That’s concerning to me,” Rogan said. “If there’s a place in the country where it’s legal to have a medical procedure, and your state can decide what you can and can’t do with your body, that’s essentially based on a religious idea.”
Vance seemed unfamiliar with these restrictions. “I don’t like the idea, to be clear. I’ve not heard of this… but I’ve not heard of somebody being arrested, and I don’t like the idea of arresting people for moving about the country,” he said.
However, many women across the country, like Kate Cox in Texas, have faced situations where they must leave their home state to get medically necessary abortions. In Texas, some cities and counties have even banned residents from traveling for abortion care, marking a new frontier in restrictions on reproductive rights.
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The conversation continued, but things didn’t improve for Vance. Rogan raised how Roe v. Wade was once considered settled law, only for the Supreme Court to reverse it. Now, “you have these religious men who are trying to dictate what women can or cannot do with their bodies,” Rogan observed.
Vance acknowledged the concern but argued that some go too far in supporting abortion rights, saying, “It becomes trying to celebrate [abortion].” Rogan countered, “I think there’s very few people who are celebrating, though.” Vance agreed but suggested that social media echo chambers create this impression.
Throughout the interview, Vance seemed to sidestep or minimize his own record on abortion. Following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe in 2022, he had celebrated the decision, even likening abortion to slavery on a conservative talk show. Just recently, he praised Donald Trump’s stance on abortion, claiming the former president would cut federal funding for Planned Parenthood if re-elected.
While Vance tried to appear measured, his comments reflected a disconnect from the real challenges women face under restrictive state laws. Will voters consider this as they head to the polls?