CNN host laughs over JD Vance's 'mommy issues'— his mother is a recovering drug addict

A guest on CNN told a panel that he thought that JD Vance has "mommy issues" while appearing on a segment with host Abby Phillip and others. The comment comes after Vance appeared on Joe Rogan's podcast on Thursday and spoke about how his mother is a recovering addict. 

CNN guest Tavis Smiley told the others, "I think JD Vance has mommy issues and it's been fascinating for me to watch the way this has played out on the campaign trail. And because of those issues, he has subjected women across this country to all his bad ideas and all his bad policy." His comment was met with laughs from hosts.

"Maya Angelou once told me that processing pain without perpetuating pain is rough business. So, if you've got mommy issues and you make everybody else in the country subject to that, that's a real problem," he added. The panel did not make mention of how much Vice President Harris talks about her mother, which the Democratic nominee has become known for speaking about and coming from a "middle-class family."

Smiley also responded to a point that Phillip made, claiming that Vance was not just going after women with his policies but also "coming after the men" for suggesting that more conservative men have higher testosterone levels, a comment he made on Rogan's podcast that has been backed by research.

Vance has been very open about his childhood where he was raised for some time by his grandparents as a result of his mother's past addiction, which she has overcome now. Beverly Vance, who the Ohio Senator writes about in his book Hillbilly Elegy, struggled with addiction and began abusing drugs when Vance was just a child and exhibited erratic behavior at times. Later on he went to live with his grandparents.

During the RNC, Vance spoke in admiration for his mother at the time, saying, "Our movement is about single moms like mine, who struggled with money and addiction, but never gave up. I'm proud to say that tonight my mom is here, 10 years clean and sober. I love you mom."