 "US Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance. Image/Reuters")
Second lady Usha Vance has launched a new podcast titled ‘Storytime with the Second Lady,’ aimed at promoting child literacy and encouraging reading among young audiences.
In a video shared by the White House, she said each episode will feature a guest reader who will read a book, engage in a brief conversation, and motivate children to develop a habit of reading.
To address literacy challenges
Explaining her interest in the issue, Vance said her own experience as a parent led her to focus on literacy challenges.
“It’s a really long-term trend and it’s worrisome,” she said, referring to declining literacy levels.
Vance opened the series by reading The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. She was followed by racing driver Danica Patrick, who read Cars, and Paralympian Brent Poppen, who read his book Playground Lessons.
Each episode is expected to run between 10 and 15 minutes, with the first three episodes available on YouTube and Spotify.
JD Vance praises the initiative
Her husband, JD Vance, praised the initiative on X, “Very proud of my wife, Usha, for launching her podcast today!”
Critics link the literacy push to policy decisions
Several users linked the literacy push to broader policy decisions, particularly the dismantling of the Department of Education.
One user wrote, “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?”
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The National Literacy Institute reported in 2024 that 54 per cent of US adults read below a sixth-grade level. The report also highlighted a nationwide teacher shortage, retention challenges, and an ageing workforce.
The podcast is part of Vance’s broader literacy campaign. In June 2025, she launched a Summer Reading Challenge that received tens of thousands of submissions from all 50 states.
“If I was going to do anything, this would be the thing to focus on at this moment in time," Vance said. “There’s just a lot that people can do in their family home without a ton of resources or effort.”