Last time Trump got elected the state, defence, intelligence and foreign policy establishments were pretty ready to kick his executive into line. Cabinet picks such as Rex Tillerson didn't last too long. It seems the GOP is intent on arriving with a greater degree of preparation if there's a second success.
I admit I'm surprised by how poor a "retail politician" JD Vance has looked so far. I'm not surprised he can't pull off a "mini-Trump" act, but his poor performances in interviews and at rallies are a testament to how far a career in public life can go based on tweets and sound bites.
But doesn't it seem likely the GOP will go on offence in response to the material being dredged up from Vance's murky, liberal past? That would mean something like more joint campaign appearances with Trump, and more arch-conservative rhetoric.