Yes. Naturally, she prefers not to talk about all her rich, illustrious ancestors. But I’d say that she’s definitely a left-wing trust-fund baby.
Even Wikipedia suggests as much:
Vanden Heuvel was born in New York City, the daughter of Jean Stein, an heiress, best-selling author, and editor of the literary journal Grand Street, and William vanden Heuvel, an attorney, former US ambassador, member of John F. Kennedy’s administration, businessman, and author. She has one sister and two step-siblings. Her maternal grandparents were Music Corporation of America founder Jules C. Stein and Doris Babbette Jones (originally Jonas). Through her maternal grandmother, vanden Heuvel is a distant cousin of actor and comedian George Jessel.[2]
Vanden Heuvel graduated from the Trinity School in 1977.[3] She studied politics and history at Princeton University, writing her senior thesis on McCarthyism and serving as editor-in-chief of the Nassau Weekly. She graduated summa cum laude from Princeton in 1981.[2]
George (or Georgie) Jessel is a name I haven’t heard in many years. Most people under 50 wouldn’t know him unless they are known to look at black and white silent slapstick movies. Harold Lloyd (Man hanging onto a giant clock) was another comedy action pioneer who did his own stunts.