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Vance's New Book Is Interpreted as a Disguised Presidential Campaign

In a new book, US Vice President JD Vance writes about how he found his Catholic faith, American media reports. But several observers rather see the book as an attempt to position himself as the next Republican presidential candidate.

In the New York Times podcast “The Opinions,” journalist EJ Dionne says that the book tries to be several things at the same time and that it is obvious that the first draft was scrapped after he took office in the White House. In addition to the journey of faith and a milder family portrayal than in his acclaimed debut “Hillbilly Elegy,” the book wants to explain how he should be understood politically, according to Dionne.

WSJ reviewer Barton Swaim makes a similar reading, writing that many readers will assume that Vance has his sights set on 2028.

Controversial Guru May Have Influenced Gabbard's Policies

Former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard, who recently left her post as US Director of National Intelligence, received political advice for many years through a network connected to her spiritual guru. The Washington Post reports this after reviewing hundreds of internal messages and documents.

According to the newspaper, the messages were conveyed by controversial religious leader Chris Butler, founder of the Science of Identity Foundation (SIF) movement. The former Hawaii congressman grew up in the movement, which practices a form of Hinduism focused on meditation, yoga and special dietary rules. Former followers describe the movement as cult-like, something that current representatives reject.

Butler rarely appears in public but is considered by many followers to be a spiritual authority with great influence. According to the review, people close to Gabbard forwarded his instructions, including on legislative proposals and before major interviews - despite both Gabbard and Butler previously claiming that he had not influenced her political career.