What to Know
While Usha Vance might not be the subject of most America’s ire, she is, to many, guilty by association because she is married to JD Vance. It’s a tough break, but that comes with the territory when it comes to being part of the Trump Administration, even by marriage. So when she posted on X (formerly Twitter) about her podcast, Storytime With the Second Lady, there were some critics ready to jump down her throat.
For many, the podcast came at the worst possible time, with the United States military in Iran and tensions at an all-time high both in the U.S. and abroad in regards to the U.S. government. But apparently the second lady’s motto is “c’est la vie.” OK, not really, but that’s the vibe some are getting after Usha released the podcast so randomly.
Usha Vance’s podcast is overshadowed by everyone’s hate for JD Vance.
OUT NOW: “Storytime with the Second Lady”, my new podcast for kids! Join me and my special guests as they read good books out loud and share why they love to read. Episodes are available on YouTube and Spotify!
— Second Lady Usha Vance (@SLOTUS) March 30, 2026
The podcast features Usha with a special guest each episode as they share their own life experiences and read a children’s story for young listeners. At its core, the podcast is pretty innocent. But that fact is sort of lost on most of those who just can’t stand anything with Vance attached to it, even if it’s not his podcast, but his wife’s.
When Vance posted about the podcast on X, to support his wife, people replied to the post to share their own thoughts on Vance, his wife, the podcast, and everything in between.
“This takes useless, state-sanctioned media to a whole new level,” one user responded to the X post.
Another wrote, “Absolutely nobody asked for this. Your wife should be, I don’t know, getting ready for your new baby, not this. Nobody even likes you guys anymore the less we see of you it’s probably better. You’re all such a disappointment.”
Even those who support Vance aren’t totally clear on why this is the best time for Usha to start a podcast.
“This would be a beautiful, welcome use of her position without the tragic contrast,” someone commented in response to the X post. “Imagine if we weren’t fighting wars, killing innocents, creating a surveillance grid, and driving the world economy off a cliff. Iranian, Lebanese, and Palestinian children could tune in to our vice president’s wife and enjoy her podcast, too. End this madness, Mr. Vice President.”
People don’t understand why she started a podcast while “soldiers are dying.”
Some people couldn’t help but point out what is going on in the world while Usha commissions guests to read to children who listen to her podcast. It all seems totally out of the blue, even if Usha needed a cause and decided that podcast bedtime stories for children would be what she focuses on as the second lady.
“Took a break from dropping bombs for dropping podcasts,” someone commented on Usha’s X post about her podcast.
Another added, “What do we do when we can’t vote our way out of a war…read our children stories about how they will be conscripted & sent to die in a war on the other side of the planet as our country falls into an economic depression? Will the children of those lobbying for this war join in?”
There are some ratings for Usha Vance’s podcast already.
Fighting for a long term solution for child literacy. 💛@SLOTUS Usha Vance announces "Storytime with the Second Lady", a podcast designed to promote reading for kids. pic.twitter.com/x8NCdnIHQj
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 30, 2026
Usha’s storytime podcast is on Spotify, so there aren’t any actual reviews that users can read. However, some have left star ratings. As of just a few hours after her podcast dropped on the platform, it had an average of 4.6 stars from 19 reviews. The idea of the podcast is seemingly steeped in literacy for children.
However, it’s hard for some people to really come to terms with that idea when children are suffering because of Donald Trump’s plans for the Department of Education and funding across the country. But sure, let’s promote child literacy with a podcast.
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