--- title: "JD Vance Gets VERY Honest About Why the GOP Lost transcript | Megyn Kelly | Reclip.Me" description: "Full transcript of \"JD Vance Gets VERY Honest About Why…\" from Megyn Kelly, November 4, 2026. 12 min, 1,981 words, timestamped. 8 notable quotes and 24…" canonical: https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript --- Transcript # JD Vance Gets VERY Honest About Why the GOP Lost From [Megyn Kelly](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly) · [Episode page](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost) · [Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE0Eu6buB4s) November 4, 2026 · 12 min · 1,981 words · 16 timestamped sections This is the full, timestamped transcript of "JD Vance Gets VERY Honest About Why the GOP Lost", an episode of Megyn Kelly published November 4, 2026 (12 min, about 1,981 words). It mentions 24 people, works and ideas, including Donald Trump, Republican Party, Megan Kelly, Democratic Party, Israel. ## What this episode is about JD Vance argues that turnout was not the main issue in GOP losses; the core problem was that many Trump-2024 voters shifted to Democrats due to concerns over war involvement, inflation, economic policy, America-first priorities, and Israel policy, with those four factors driving voters away. He also notes that while turnout was generally strong, messaging on the economy and foreign policy failed to convert key voters. ## Key takeaways - Voters turned up, but many Trump 2024 supporters flipped to Democrats—turnout wasn’t the killer, alignments were. - Economic messaging was sharp enough for some; the deeper fault was the war and cost of living strain shifting loyalties. - The GOP must confront the 'amnesty' chatter versus enforcement pivot—false narratives will erode trust faster than slogans. - Trump’s Israel/ Middle East stance hurt brand loyalty; audiences fled the Trump show, craving steadier, humble leadership. - Opportunity awaits: redefine MAGA with practical growth, accountability, and a non-grifting public service ethos. ## Who speaks in this episode? - [Megan Kelly](https://reclip.me/speaker/megan-kelly) (Guest) · 1 min speaking - [J.D. Vance](https://reclip.me/speaker/j-d-vance) (Guest) · 7 min speaking - [Unidentified pollsters/unknown voices](https://reclip.me/speaker/unidentified-pollsters-unknown-voices) (Guest) · 2 min speaking - [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://reclip.me/speaker/rachel-campos-duffy) (Guest) · 1 min speaking - [Marco Rubio](https://reclip.me/speaker/marco-rubio) (Guest) · 1 min speaking - [Donald Trump](https://reclip.me/speaker/donald-trump) (Guest) · 1 min speaking ## What is discussed, and when 1. [0:00](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=0) – 3:00: [Donald Trump](https://reclip.me/person/donald-trump-8), [Democratic Party](https://reclip.me/concept/democratic-party), [J.D. Vance](https://reclip.me/person/j-d-vance), [Megan Kelly](https://reclip.me/person/megan-kelly) 2. [3:00](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=180) – 6:00: [Donald Trump](https://reclip.me/person/donald-trump-8), [Republican Party](https://reclip.me/concept/republican-party), [Israel](https://reclip.me/location/israel-3), [Middle East](https://reclip.me/location/middle-east-3) 3. [6:00](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=360) – 9:00: [Republican Party](https://reclip.me/concept/republican-party), [Donald Trump](https://reclip.me/person/donald-trump-8), [diesel](https://reclip.me/concept/diesel), [Fox News](https://reclip.me/entity/109875) 4. [9:00](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=540) – 11:58: [Birch Gold](https://reclip.me/sponsor/birch-gold), [Megan Kelly](https://reclip.me/person/megan-kelly), [Republican Party](https://reclip.me/concept/republican-party), [diesel](https://reclip.me/concept/diesel) ## Notable quotes from "JD Vance Gets VERY Honest About Why the GOP Lost" - > One of the things the data analysts on our side obsessed over was composition. *about [Megan Kelly](https://reclip.me/person/megan-kelly) · at [0:14](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=14)* - > Responses were one end the war. Two focus on the cost of living and inflation. Three, put America first. *about [Israel](https://reclip.me/location/israel-3) · at [1:30](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=90)* - > Who objected to it were promptly attacked by the president and others as anti-semmites. President Trump didn't use that word, but Mark Levvin certainly did. *about [Donald Trump](https://reclip.me/person/donald-trump-8) · at [3:31](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=211)* - > Fox News's ratings have been in the dumpster. *about [Fox News](https://reclip.me/entity/109875) · at [4:34](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=274)* - > But they need to take the good, discard the bad, and come up with a new way forward. And they're going to have to find their own new charismatic, honest, ethical leader. You can't ride. *about [MAGA](https://reclip.me/concept/maga) · at [6:58](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=418)* - > It was the gas prices, the diesel prices. Remember when Doug came on after he wrote his book, The Mysterious Case of Rudolph Diesel, which was all about Rudolph Diesel, who invented the diesel. *about [diesel](https://reclip.me/concept/diesel) · at [8:41](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=521)* - > Audience and we're in a very good place and I'm very grateful to all of you for it. But the Republican party is not in a great place. however, as I said, it's an opportunity. *about [Republican Party](https://reclip.me/concept/republican-party) · at [10:19](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=619)* - > You realized inflation is still a challenge and it's time to diversify into gold and silver. Text MK to the number 989898 today and speak with a birch gold precious metals specialist. *about [Birch Gold](https://reclip.me/sponsor/birch-gold) · at [11:20](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=680)* ## Who and what is mentioned in this episode? ### People - [Donald Trump](https://reclip.me/person/donald-trump-8) — Person · Referenced political figure · 7 mentions · first at [0:02](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=2) Central figure around whom the episode's political analysis revolves; his actions and influence are described as the cause of Republican electoral losses and voter defections. - [Megan Kelly](https://reclip.me/person/megan-kelly) — Person · Host · 3 mentions · first at [2:50](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=170) Episode host providing analysis and commentary on JD Vance's post, Republican failures, the Iran war, and voter behavior; frames the episode's narrative and conclusions. - [J.D. Vance](https://reclip.me/person/j-d-vance) — Person · Referenced political actor / source · 2 mentions · first at [0:02](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=2) Cited for his public post explaining four reasons Trump 2024 voters defected; used as authoritative evidence by the host to frame the episode's argument. One of the things the data analysts on our side obsessed over was composition. - [Rachel Campos-Duffy](https://reclip.me/person/rachel-campos-duffy) — Person · Referenced commentator · 1 mention · first at [1:55](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=115) Mentioned as having called for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict; used as an example of someone attacked for advocating a non-war approach but whose advice is defended as politically sound. Democrats. This is according to a pollster who nailed the results. While many spent Monday attacking Rachel Campos Duffy on Fox for calling for a diplomatic resolution to the… - [Marco Rubio](https://reclip.me/person/marco-rubio) — Person · Referenced politician · 1 mention · first at [3:55](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=235) Cited for admitting the U.S. action was for Israel; used to underline intra-party acknowledgment of motives behind the war and criticism of those who spoke out. Into this war. For that, President Trump is responsible. But there was a role without question. Marco Rubio admitted that right after we invaded that we did it for Israel. No, you said it. You were called an anti-semite. - [Mark Levin](https://reclip.me/person/mark-levin) — Person · Referenced commentator · 1 mention · first at [3:39](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=219) Mentioned as someone who used the term 'anti-semites' (spelled 'Levvin' in transcript) in relation to critics of the war and Israel; cited to illustrate how critics were labeled. Who objected to it were promptly attacked by the president and others as anti-semmites. President Trump didn't use that word, but Mark Levvin certainly did. - [Rudolf Diesel](https://reclip.me/person/rudolf-diesel) — Person · Referenced historical figure · 1 mention · first at [8:46](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=526) Mentioned in connection with Doug Kass's book and to illustrate the importance of diesel engines in the global economy and how fuel price spikes affect voters. He wrote his book, The Mysterious Case of Rudolph Diesel, which was all about Rudolph Diesel, who invented the diesel engine and Doug told us how many pieces of the world… - [Doug Kass](https://reclip.me/person/doug-kass) — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at [8:43](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=523) Cited for discussing the economic importance of diesel fuel (via his book) to explain how fuel price spikes from the war hurt voters. It was the gas prices, the diesel prices. Remember when Doug came on after he wrote his book, The Mysterious Case of Rudolph Diesel, which was all about Rudolph Diesel, who invented the diesel engine and Doug told us how many. ### Books & papers - [The Mysterious Case of Rudolph Diesel](https://reclip.me/book/the-mysterious-case-of-rudolph-diesel) — Book · Referenced work · 1 mention · first at [8:46](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=526) Referenced to support the claim about diesel's centrality to the global economy and how diesel price spikes affect everyday costs. It was the gas prices, the diesel prices. Remember when Doug came on after he wrote his book, The Mysterious Case of Rudolph Diesel, which was all about Rudolph Diesel, who invented the diesel engine and Doug told us how many. ### Companies & orgs - [Fox News](https://reclip.me/entity/109875) — Company · Referenced media organization · 2 mentions · first at [4:34](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=274) Referenced as suffering ratings declines and as a target of blame by Trump and others; discussed as part of the media ecosystem affected by the war and Trump's actions. - [SiriusXM](https://reclip.me/company/siriusxm) — Company · Broadcast partner · 3 mentions · first at [0:00](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=0) Platform where the show is live; mentioned in episode info promoting where to tune in. - [X (Twitter)](https://reclip.me/company/x-twitter) — Company · Platform referenced · 1 mention · first at [0:06](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=6) Disambiguates platform reference and aligns with common shorthand One of the things the data analysts on our side obsessed over was composition. ### Concepts & topics - [Republican Party](https://reclip.me/concept/republican-party) — Concept · Core topic · 6 mentions · first at [0:19](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=19) Subject of critique and analysis — discussion focuses on why the party lost significant ground, internal infighting, and the need to rebuild and realign policy priorities. - [Democratic Party](https://reclip.me/concept/democratic-party) — Concept · Referenced opposition/beneficiary · 3 mentions · first at [0:44](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=44) Described as the party that gained votes from many 2024 Trump supporters in 2026; used to contrast outcomes and voter shifts. Better on turnout, but the main problem was not turnout. The main problem is that many people who voted for Trump fans in 24 voted for Dems in 26. There will be a lot of… - [Anti-Semitism](https://reclip.me/concept/anti-semitism) — Concept · Contested accusation · 1 mention · first at [3:42](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=222) Raised as an accusation used to silence Republicans who criticized the Israel-linked decision to go to war; presented as fueling intra-party tensions and suppressing dissenting views. The people who objected to it, Republicans, right-leaning independents who objected to it were promptly attacked by the president and others as anti-semmites. President Trump didn't use that word, but Mark Levvin certainly did. - [diesel](https://reclip.me/concept/diesel) — Concept · Economic factor · 2 mentions · first at [8:41](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=521) Used to explain how the Iran war increased fuel costs (diesel > $7) and thereby caused tangible economic pain that influenced voter behavior against Republicans. - [Generic Ballot](https://reclip.me/concept/generic-ballot) — Concept · Polling metric referenced · 1 mention · first at [1:05](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=65) Referenced to indicate the magnitude of expected defeat in polling (generic ballot down by 13 points) and to support claims about voter shifts. Ballot by 13 points. I felt negative going into Tuesday, but even I was shocked by this. In his polling, he saw that a lot of Trump 2024 voters were angry and planning to vote… - [MAGA](https://reclip.me/concept/maga) — Concept · Ideological reference · 1 mention · first at [6:42](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=402) Invoked as core Republican/Trump-era ideals that the host says should be preserved in a reformed party while discarding negative aspects associated with Trump-style politics. - [Senate](https://reclip.me/concept/senate) — Concept · Institution referenced · 1 mention · first at [2:37](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=157) Referenced as an electoral prize Republicans lost for the next six years; used to measure the cost of policies like the war. The president himself said so last night. If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next six years was worth it, then do so. ### Places & events - [Israel](https://reclip.me/location/israel-3) — Place · Referenced foreign policy focal point · 3 mentions · first at [1:36](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=96) Mentioned in relation to U.S. actions in the Middle East and as a factor in Republican voter discontent and intra-party conflict over the war and U.S.-Israel policy. - [Middle East](https://reclip.me/location/middle-east-3) — Place · Geopolitical region · 2 mentions · first at [3:21](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=201) Context for the Iran war and U.S. actions discussed as driving voter sentiment and domestic economic impacts. Americans attacking other Americans for their honestly held opinions about a new Middle East war on behalf of Israel. - [Florida](https://reclip.me/entity/107013) — Place · Example electorate · 1 mention · first at [0:30](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=30) Used as an example showing electorate composition being slightly more Republican than Democrat, supporting the claim turnout wasn't the main problem. Setting that up and then says, Our voters actually did show up. They showed up last night. In Florida, for example, the electorate was nine points more Republican than… ### Media & podcasts - [American News Minute](https://reclip.me/media/american-news-minute) — Media · Audience engagement product · 3 mentions · first at [0:00](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=0) Promoted as a weekly email listeners can sign up for to receive updates from the host and show. Sign up for my 'American News Minute' weekly email. ### Sponsors - [Birch Gold](https://reclip.me/sponsor/birch-gold) — Sponsor · Sponsor · 3 mentions · first at [10:59](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=659) Episode sponsor; provided a promotional call to action encouraging viewers to text and purchase gold/silver investments with a limited-time offer. ## Full transcript with timestamps [0:00](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=0) You don't have to take my word for it. Take the word of his own vice president. JD Vance just took to X this morning and in a long post which is worth your time said the following. One of the things the data analysts on our side obsessed over was composition. Whether the electorate looked close enough to 2024 for Republicans to win. And he goes on and on and on sort of setting that up and then says, "Our voters actually did show up. They showed up last night." In Florida, for example, the electorate was nine points more Republican than Democrat, just a couple points worse than 2024. Undoubtedly, there were places we could have done better on turnout, but the main problem was not turnout. The main problem is that many people who voted for Trump fans in 24 voted for Dems in 26. There will be a lot of infighting and arguing over what happened and why that is. One of the pollsters I really respect, told [0:53](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=53) me that our economic messaging wasn't sharp enough down the stretch. I'm sure that's true. But the real reason we lost is obvious to almost everyone. Another pollster, one of the smartest people I know in politics, told me yesterday we would lose the generic B ballot by 13 points. I felt negative going into Tuesday, but even I was shocked by this. In his polling, he saw that a lot of Trump 2024 voters were angry and planning to vote for Democrats. Trump 2024 voters were planning to vote for Democrats. He asked them though those voters who had abandoned us what would cause them to come back on our team. The top four answers accounting for nearly all of the responses were one end the war. Two focus on the cost of living and inflation. Three, put America first. [1:40](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=100) Four, change our relationship to Israel. Our voters showed up and the above four reasons are why many of them voted for Democrats. This is according to a pollster who nailed the results. While many spent Monday attacking Rachel Campos Duffy on Fox for calling for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, it turns out her political advice was sound. She's also a great person. He writes, "In the next few months, there's going to be a lot of gaslighting. Expect to hear any number of establishment politicians say the solution to our woes is amnesty. I'm open to the idea that we should change enforcement by focusing more on businesses that hire illegal labor, for example. But anyone pushing amnesty is lying to you. The reason we lost is the war. [2:30](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=150) The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night. If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next six years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that's at least honest. But everyone knows why we lost. And any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there. I remain hopeful about our country. To the people who are pissed off and want to say, "I told you so." You're right. You did tell us so. Take that energy into electing Republicans who share your worldview. To the people who are just pissed at the results, you should be. [3:07](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=187) Let's take that anger and get back to the work of saving our country. what happened this past year in response to Trump's behavior in the Middle East. You know as well as I do. The people who objected to it, Republicans, right-leaning independents who objected to it were promptly attacked by the president and others as anti-semmites. President Trump didn't use that word, but Mark Levvin certainly did. anti-semites, neo-Nazis, because you can't you can't criticize Israel or its role in getting us into this war, in goating President Trump into this war. For that, President Trump is responsible. But there was a role without question. Marco Rubio admitted that right after we invaded that we did it for Israel. No, you said it. You were called an anti-semite. [4:06](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=246) You got trolled by bots unleashed on you by people registered as foreign agents for Israel here in the United States. Americans attacking other Americans for their honestly held opinions about a new Middle East war on behalf of Israel. That's what happened. And guess what happened from that point to this one? The Republican audience for all news Trump disappeared. Fox News's ratings have been in the dumpster. The right leaning podcast world had audiences disappear in the wake of that. No one had any interest or appetite in anything related to Donald Trump. It was a harbinger of things to come. [4:56](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=296) Then they showed up and voted last night and said the same to him. We We're no longer interested in the Trump show. We're over the antics, the grift, the making money off of the backs of the American people who just wanted you to help them. Not you. Not yourself. Not make your 1 billion go to 12. to surround yourself with a field of grifters who who want to make money off of the presidency as opposed to serve be actual public servants in a humble role that was never meant to make someone a million or billionaire. It's incredibly disheartening and it's such a missed opportunity. It's it's such a missed opportunity by this president who had the world a at his feet in his hands who had so many of us believing in him. I'm a registered independent. I'm more rightle leaning I think than your average independent because when we ever when we hear how the independents feel I'm always like, "Oh, wow. How are they so easily [6:05](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=365) swayed?" But I'm not a Republican. I've been a registered Democrat. I've been a registered Republican. And for the past 20 years, I've been a registered independent. And that's where I will always be because I will never put back on a team jersey for either one of these parties in whom I do not believe. But the Republicans have an opportunity here. You know how like the new woke speak in schools? If your kid is having a problem, it's they never have a problem. There's a real opportunity here. There's an opportunity for growth. [6:37](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=397) And I do believe that this is finally the chance for the Republican party to not throw away MAGA core ideals which are good, which are important, and which Trump should be credited for thrusting upon the American people who refuse to listen to him, upon the political class, which refused to listen to people like the workingclass suffering. But they need to take the good, discard the bad, and come up with a new way forward. And they they're going to have to find their own new charismatic, honest, ethical leader. You can't ride the Trump coattails anymore. [7:17](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=437) They're non-existent. He cannot save you. He would have This would not have gone differently had Trump been on the ballot because he effectively was. This was a referendum on him and his policies. So, it's a lie. It's not true. It's Trump's spin to say it would have been a landslide for Republicans had he been on the ballot. That's just not true. Everyone knows he can't handle the truth about losing. He's allergic to that word. Of course, he's blaming everyone other than himself. So far, he's blamed um Fox News. He's blamed the Republican candidates themselves. [7:48](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=468) Um he has not taken any of the blame himself, even though he spent the past three months telling everybody, "Pretend I'm on the ballot." Now that they have, he he ignores and forgets that advice. But the the bottom line is that a message was sent and there is a chance to rebuild this party. It's happened over and over and over again where a party gets crushed, absolutely devastated in one election and as short as two years later, they come back with a roar. But denying what last night was really about, the economic suffering was number one by far. By far the Iran war was huge. 74% of the people said it was a major or the critical factor in their vote. And why? Yes, because they objected to Trump launching a new war, but really it was the pain they were feeling domestically as a result of it. [8:41](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=521) It was the gas prices, the diesel prices. Remember when Doug came on after he wrote his book, The Mysterious Case of Rudolph Diesel, which was all about Rudolph Diesel, who invented the diesel engine and and Doug told us how many pieces of the world economy, and that includes ours, are linked to diesel fuel, to diesel engines, planes, trains, automobiles, the the major trucks on the roads, the major rigs on the ocean, the tractors, you name it, they all run on diesel. which has been over $7 a gallon. People cannot afford it and they saw it go up exponentially after the Iran war. [9:25](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=565) So yeah, I don't there's nobody who's independently in favor of the Iran war other than the most ardently neocon of the neocons. But regular folks who are like, I don't know what we're doing in Iran. I I don't have the time to think about it. do have the time to think about the fuel costs and they know that that caused them. So, what we need now is honesty. Radical honesty. Radical. And what radical honesty means is you tell the truth all the time and there's no filter. I don't know about you, but that's where I am. That's where I've been for a long time. And I did lose some of my audience as a result of my opinions and my forecasts on this issue, which I feel have been validated. [10:06](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=606) But that's okay. That's fine. PE people P people have the right to make the call on whose opinions they want to hear and who who they trust to tell them what's real and who they don't. We've we've settled now with our audience and we're in a very good place and I'm very grateful to all of you for it. But the Republican party is not not in a great place. Um, however, as I said, it's an opportunity. Thanks for watching this clip. If you're new here, subscribe. We got a whole lot more goodness where that came from. Would love to hear your feedback. You can email me too, meganme gynancell.com or just leave a comment below. But join the community by becoming a subscriber. [10:48](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=648) We really really value your input and your support. We may not always agree, but we are always going to talk about it and respect. No BS, no agenda, no fear. Good news. Birch Gold has extended the Veterans Day silver offer through November 11th. So act now to get a free 1oz silver coin for every $10,000 purchased. This silver coin features the American flag and the Gadson flag. And as a reminder that you saw the writing on the wall and did something about it. You realized we cannot afford the interest payments on our national debt. [11:20](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/jd-vance-gets-very-honest-about-why-the-gop-lost/transcript?t=680) You realized inflation is still a challenge and it's time to diversify into gold and silver. Text MK to the number 989898 today and speak with a birch gold precious metals specialist. They will help you convert an existing IRA or 401k into an IRA in gold and silver. And then you will receive a free 1oz silver commemorative coin for every $10,000 you spend. But this offer ends on November 11th. Diversify into gold and silver and get free silver. Text MK to the number 989898. That's MK to989898 today. ## Questions about this episode ### Who speaks in "JD Vance Gets VERY Honest About Why the GOP Lost"? Megan Kelly (Guest), J.D. Vance (Guest), Unidentified pollsters/unknown voices (Guest), Rachel Campos-Duffy (Guest), Marco Rubio (Guest), Donald Trump (Guest). ### What is "JD Vance Gets VERY Honest About Why the GOP Lost" about? JD Vance argues that turnout was not the main issue in GOP losses; the core problem was that many Trump-2024 voters shifted to Democrats due to concerns over war involvement, inflation, economic policy, America-first priorities, and Israel policy, with those four factors driving voters away. He also notes that while turnout was generally strong, messaging on the economy and foreign policy failed… ### What is mentioned in this Megyn Kelly episode? 24 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Donald Trump, Republican Party, Megan Kelly, Democratic Party, Israel, J.D. Vance. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it. ### How long is "JD Vance Gets VERY Honest About Why the GOP Lost"? The episode runs 12 min; the transcript is about 1,981 words in 16 timestamped sections. ## More from Megyn Kelly - [All analyzed episodes](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly) - [Books mentioned on Megyn Kelly](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/books) - [People mentioned on Megyn Kelly](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/guests) - [Sponsors mentioned on Megyn Kelly](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/sponsors) - [Topics mentioned on Megyn Kelly](https://reclip.me/podcast/megyn-kelly/topics) About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated November 5, 2026.