It’s possible to read the headline of this newsletter—which is also the headline of Kate Andersen Brower’s juicy new story about America’s second lady—in two ways. The first: What exactly is going on inside the brain of Usha Vance, a public figure who has morphed herself into the perfect Republican politician’s wife: “present, useful, and almost invisible,” as Kate puts it? The second: What would drive a high-powered liberal lawyer like Usha toward this strange position in the first place? (In other words: What on earth is she thinking?) Kate offers a few convincing potential answers for both readings.

Elsewhere, I’ve got a dispatch from a very entertaining live recording of Amy Poehler’s podcast, and Rebecca Ford has a wide-ranging conversation with another Emmy nominee: Jason Bateman, recognized in four distinct categories this year for his work on two different shows. More tomorrow!