Highlights:
- Usha Vance launches a children’s podcast to promote reading.
- Episodes feature guest readers and short storytelling sessions.
- Critics link the initiative to broader education policy decisions.
- Vance and JD Vance do not always agree, allowing for open discussions.
- The podcast builds on her previous nationwide Summer Reading Challenge.
Second Lady Usha Vance has launched a new podcast titled Storytime with the Second Lady, aimed at promoting reading among children and addressing the decline in literacy rates across the United States.
In a White House video, Vance explained that each episode will feature a guest reader who reads a children’s book, followed by a brief conversation to engage kids and inspire them to develop a reading habit. She described the podcast as “an advertisement for reading” and a way to “get people thinking about books again as a form of entertainment.”
The series opened with Vance herself reading The Tale of Peter Rabbit. The following episodes feature Danica Patrick reading Cars and Brent Poppen reading his book Playground Lessons. Vance designed the podcast studio with help from her three children, ages 4, 6, and 8.
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Vance said her experience teaching her own children to read inspired the project. “It’s a really long-term trend, and it’s worrisome,” she said, referring to declining literacy levels. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that 40 per cent of fourth graders performed below the basic reading level in 2024, the highest since 2002.
While the initiative has drawn praise from her husband, vice president JD Vance, who tweeted, “Very proud of my wife, Usha, for launching her podcast today!”, it has also faced criticism. Some critics connected the literacy push to broader policy decisions, particularly the dismantling of the Department of Education.
One user commented, “You know what promotes better literacy? Spending less money on forever wars and more money investing in the USA,” while another asked, “Does she feel the need to promote child literacy since you defunded the department of education?” Critics argued that systemic education support would be more effective than a media initiative alone.
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Vance also opened up about her personal life and relationship with the vice president. She acknowledged that she and JD Vance do not always agree on every issue, but emphasized that their differences allow for “open-minded” conversations. She described her views as sometimes idiosyncratic, not fitting neatly into one political side, but said this diversity of thought has strengthened their discussions.
The podcast builds on her previous literacy efforts, including the Summer Reading Challenge launched in June 2025, which saw participation from tens of thousands of children nationwide. Vance hopes her podcast encourages parents to read to their children at home, saying, “There’s just a lot that people can do in their family home without a ton of resources or effort.”
Security personnel inspect the site in the aftermath of an attack as food stall chairs lie empty in Pahalgam, about 90 kilometres (55 miles) from Srinagar on April 23, 2025. Indian security forces in Kashmir carried out a major manhunt on April 23, a day after gunmen opened fire on tourists killing 26 people in the region's deadliest attack on civilians since 2000. Getty Images
Tourists visit Betaab Valley in Pahalgam, about 112 km south of Srinagar on June 26, 2025.Getty Images
Pilgrims gather at the Baltal Base Camp near Domel, en route to the sacred Amarnath cave in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, on July 29, 2025. The annual Amarnath Yatra, which began on July 3, proceeds under heightened security following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 25 tourists and a local pony handler. Security forces have been deployed in large numbers across the pilgrimage route, with checkpoints, surveillance, and restrictions in place to safeguard the thousands of devotees undertaking the arduous journey. The Amarnath Yatra is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimages, drawing worshippers from across India to the high-altitude Himalayan shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. Despite the threat of violence and challenging terrain, pilgrims continue their spiritual trek, determined to complete the sacred journey under the shadow of grief and resilience.Getty Images
