Former Vice President Mike Pence joins to talk about "What Conservatives Believe"

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embraced, which is an agenda of a strong offense, American leadership in the world, limited government, less government, less taxes, and traditional values. Our battle for most of the decades in the last 50 years has been against a traditional liberal Democratic Party. But the first change I write about in my book is that the Democratic Party has been overtaken by the progressive left. I mean, you've covered it. quite thoroughly here on your broadcast, Tony. But, you know, we've seen the rise of socialist candidates, the open embrace of socialist and even communist ideologies within the Democratic ranks. And so that's one slide. But what I also wanted people to see, and you said at the opening of this segment, that there has been a new threat to that traditional conservative agenda that's emerged from the populist right that embraces. protectionism, isolationism, would marginalize values like the right to life. And I say that, acknowledging first and former, the new Trump administration has gotten a lot right. I think standing up to Iran as no previous president ever did, taking the fight directly to the Mullahs in Tehran, standing with Israel, extending all those tax cuts that we passed. a decade ago unleashing American energy. It's all been great progress there, but there are there are voices and forces afoot within the party that would that would want to change the Republican Party to that that populist kind of big government isolationist protectionist approach. And I wrote the book to really start a conversation that I hope continues thoroughly over the next two and a half years. You know, the very concept of protectionism, talking to the former vice president of the United States, Mike Pence, when people hear that, they say, well, you have China which manipulates its currency, right? And they make our lives difficult and the power of the dollar difficult. You do have places where we could say this is unfair trade, that this is not a proper or valuable arrangement. You could take a look at just NATO spending where the United States was spending and other nations were not. say what's wrong with a little bit of protectionism? How do you answer that? Well, number one, I say I a thousand percent agree with everything you just said. In fact, I think the Trump Mike Pence years really changed the national consensus on China. We recognize that China had been engaged in decades of trade abuses, intellectual property theft. We impose $250 billion in tariffs on China. They're there to this day. China is the exception. Trade abusers are the exception. But a year ago, when the president came out with his liberation day, broad-based tariffs against friend and foe alike, I called it. It's essentially the largest peacetime tax increase in American history. I was pleased the Supreme Court turned it back. But as you can see in the headlines, the administration has come with a whole new range of tariff proposals that ultimately American businesses and American consumers.

pay American tariffs. That's fundamental economics. It's one of the reasons why most users understand that what we make here, what we grow here, we sell to the world. And our goal should be free trade with free nations. And I make that case in my new book, what conservatives believe. Talking to the former vice president, Mike Pence, the book is What Conservatives Believe, Rediscovering the Conservative Conscience. And what people like yourself will be called, and you've heard this a million times in your life, is that you, sir, are a neocon. And if they could then hiss at you and, like, put up the Cavorka as if somehow you were walking with plague, they would. The neocon labeling, does it move anymore? Does it mean anything anymore? Is there a value to being a neocon? Well, I don't know that these labels ever had much purchase. But look, you know, when Osama bin Laden attacked the United States 25 years ago next month. from his perch in Afghanistan. We took the fight to Afghanistan. Never, never imagining that it would turn into a forever war. And I'm, I'm someone that believes that the proper use of the U.S. military is when you go to war, you go to war to win. You state your objectives, you achieve your objectives, you complete them. and you're out. And the truth is that the critics of forever wars from the president on down, and to me and my time, make a great point that we saw Afghanistan and Iraq evolve in the nation building. But that doesn't mean that you pull in the shutters and allow authoritarian regimes like Iran to menace, like Russia, to attempt to redraw international lines by force. that as the leader of the free world, I think the United States has always understood, that we have an opportunity to stand with those that are defending their freedom. And it's, I think the administration's in a better place on Ukraine right now, and I welcome that, but the stops and starts in support for Ukraine after that brutal and unprovoked invasion by Russia now more than four years ago. is again emblematic of this sentiment that says that we can't solve our problems here at home and still be leader of the free world. Do you believe that that is the issue with populism, that it leads to isolationism? It does, and even to worse. I mean, you've spoke forcefully about the way isolationism, particularly applied to Israel, drifts quickly into anti-Semitic rhetoric that has been increasingly tolerated for years on the progressive left, even among members of Congress who've engaged in anti-Semitic rhetoric.

But it's even gained some purchase on the populist right. And, you know, there's no place in America for anti-Semitism or anti-Semitic rhetoric in any form. And so I think that's where it goes. I really do. Look, I understand the frustration that people feel as they look at a $40 trillion national debt as they look at an increasingly dangerous world. But at the end of the day, I think hewing to our roots of the ideals and principles that are enshrined in our declaration are outlined and defended in the Constitution of the United States, that's still the pathway forward to a free and prosperous and secure America. Mike Pence, former vice president of the United States, The Book, What Conservatives Believe, Rediscovering the Conservative Conscience, Sir, I appreciate you taking the time. It's good to talk to you. I hope to get to do it again in the very, very near future. Thank you, sir. Tony, I'll look forward to it. And we'll be at the Indiana Historical Society Thursday. for a book signing and remarks if people want to join us this Thursday evening, 530 to 7. And if Tony Katz made a surprise appearance, that'd make my whole day. My gosh, now I'm on the clock and I'm under the gun, no pressure, no guilted like only my grandmother could, the vice president, Mike Pence, sir. It's on the calendar. It's happening Thursday. I'll talk more about it. Thank you, sir. What is Toyota affordability? It's buying smart. Right now, your local Toyota dealer has great deals available on some of the most reliable trucks on the market, like the off-road ready Tacoma, rugged, full-sized tundra, and legendary forerunner, each with the space, tech, and features to handle it all, from the work site to the trails. It means driving for less, with efficient hybrid options available, extending your overall driving range and delivering great MPGs, meaning bigger savings at the pump without sacrificing power. And it means trading for more. The Tacoma and Tundra are ranked number one and number two in resale value over all vehicles, according to Kelly Boo Book, which can mean thousands more than average right back in your pocket when it's time to trade in. That's Toyota affordability. Buy smart, drive for less, and trade for more. Shop Toyota.com or your local dealer for deals and details. Vehicles projected resale value is specific to the 2026 model year. For more information, visit Kelly Blue Books KB.com. Toyota brand average resale value is 53% versus the average vehicle at 45%. Toyota, let's go places.