School taught JD Vance to see a divided nation — and to use that division

JD Vance, the Republican vice-presidential nominee, has built a political career around the notion of a divided America, a concept he first encountered while attending Yale Law School. Vance, a working-class kid from Ohio, found himself at odds with the liberal elite at Yale, feeling isolated and out of place. However, he quickly learned to navigate the school's social and academic circles, leveraging his experiences to gain access to power and resources. He used his time at Yale to connect with influential professors and secure prestigious internships, including one with Senator John Cornyn. Vance's experiences at Yale, combined with his upbringing in Ohio, informed his best-selling book "Hillbilly Elegy," which explored the cultural and socioeconomic divide in America. This experience further fueled his political ambitions, and he eventually became a U.S. Senator and now, Trump's running mate. Critics argue that Vance uses his privileged education to exploit national division for personal gain, while supporters maintain that he leverages his experiences to bridge the gap between working-class and elite communities. Vance's formative years at Ohio State University and Yale Law School have shaped his political ideology and propelled him to the national stage, making him a prominent figure in the ongoing debate about American identity and division.