Podcast Episode Details
Back to Podcast Episodes
The Authenticity of Fraud: The Yale Hillbilly + The Classless Aristocrat
Join Malcolm and Simone Collins as they dive deep into the fascinating dynamics of Trump's VP pick, JD Vance, and what it means for the future of conservative politics. This thought-provoking discussion explores the concept of "identity laundering," the evolution of American cultural groups, and how authenticity is perceived in modern politics. The Collins couple offers unique insights into the shifting alliances within the Republican party and the rise of tech elites in conservative circles.
Key points covered:
* The concept of "identity laundering" in politics
* JD Vance's journey from hillbilly to venture capitalist to conservative icon
* The evolution of Trump's political identity
* The alliance between tech elites and rural conservatives
* The influence of Scots-Irish culture on American politics
* The shift in conservative elite culture
* The potential impact on the 2024 election
Whether you're a political junkie, a student of American culture, or simply interested in understanding the complex dynamics of modern conservatism, this video offers valuable insights into the changing face of American politics.
Malcolm Collins: [00:00:00] Both J. D. Vance and Trump. represent a form of identity laundering and fraudulence that is extremely authentic and trustworthy. It builds trust. he grew up an actual hillbilly. Then he found out that to achieve the things that society told him were valuable, he had to adopt another identity.
He's a Princeton venture capitalist, right?
Simone Collins: Yeah.
Malcolm Collins: Your true self is who you choose to be, how you choose to see the world. Yeah, he is not somebody who accidentally became who he is.
He became who he is because he had a goal, I want to be X type of person now, and he has transformed himself
Simone Collins: all culture is a LARP. I think this ties into that. And I think you're much more authentic when you're LARPing culture than when you're just defaulting into whatever culture surrounds you because [00:01:00] you have consciously chosen it.
Therefore, you own it.
Would you like to know more?
Malcolm Collins: Hello, Simone! I am so excited to be talking to you today! We had done an episode on J. D. Vance that actually went live today, and I was, as Trump's VP pick and the writer of Hillbilly Eulogy.
Simone Collins: Eulogy. L and G.
Malcolm Collins: I'm always going to get that wrong.
Effigy is, I'm always going to say, don't say effigy. Anyway I, there was a really interesting discussion on the discord about the episode. And I'll put the interesting topic on the discord here so people can get these types of comments in real time as they're coming up. But it made me realize that this pic was fascinating.
From so many perspectives that I want to dive into, like the psychology of this pick and the psychology that's represented in Trump now having as his running mate, I think the personification of the never Trump movement. And what that [00:02:00] means for the shift that we've had culturally speaking. Both J. D. Vance and Trump. represent a form of identity laundering and fraudulence that is extremely authentic and trustworthy. It builds trust.
Simone Collins: Yeah.
Malcolm Collins: And so do you want to talk about this?
Because you were the one who first notices.
Simone Collins: Yeah. So there are particular brands and personalities. I think are comforting and trustworthy in the same way that franchises are trustworthy. And I'll explain why. So I'd said earlier that it was very fitting to me and I found it very pleasing that Trump is like
Published on 1 year, 5 months ago