WEBVTT - Former Vice President Mike Pence Talks State of the Republican Party

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<v Speaker 1>Bloomberg Audio Studios, podcasts, radio news.

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<v Speaker 2>The former US Vice President Mike Pence warning of threats

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<v Speaker 2>to the Republican Party in his latest book, What Conservatives Believe,

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<v Speaker 2>Rediscovering the Conservative Conscience, Pence writing, quote, Trump has not

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<v Speaker 2>always governed as a conservative. The result is that many

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<v Speaker 2>Americans are confused about what it means to be a conservative.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm very pleased to say the forty eighth Vice President

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<v Speaker 2>of the United States, Mike Pence, joins us now for more.

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<v Speaker 2>Mister Vice President, welcome back to Bloomberg Surveillance on Bloomberg TV.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you great to be back on. It's good to

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<v Speaker 2>see you, sir. I'll ask that question to you, what

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<v Speaker 2>does it mean to be a conservative?

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<v Speaker 3>Well, for decades, the Republican Party has really been the

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<v Speaker 3>home of conservatism in this country. It's a commitment to

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<v Speaker 3>limited government, free market economics, strong defense, American leadership in

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<v Speaker 3>the world, and traditional values has really guided the Republican

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<v Speaker 3>Party since Ronald Reagan into the White House. And it's

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<v Speaker 3>why I and millions of Americans were drawn to the

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<v Speaker 3>Republican Party over the years. Our principal contest was against

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<v Speaker 3>the Liberal Democratic Party over those decades, but as the

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<v Speaker 3>Democratic Party has been overtaken by more progressive left policies,

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<v Speaker 3>including socialist policies, not just in New York but all

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<v Speaker 3>around the country. I wrote the book because I wanted

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<v Speaker 3>Republicans to know that there's a new threat to that

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<v Speaker 3>conservative agenda within our movement from a populist right that

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<v Speaker 3>would really challenge our commitment to limited government, to free enterprise,

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<v Speaker 3>challenge America's role as leader of the free world, marginalized values.

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<v Speaker 3>And I do think, as you quoted from the book,

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<v Speaker 3>that many are confused about what it means to be

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<v Speaker 3>a conservative. So that's what inspired what conservatives believe.

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<v Speaker 4>Well, you served alongside him, of course in the first term.

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<v Speaker 4>Was he a conservative?

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<v Speaker 3>Then?

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<v Speaker 5>Well I think, Look, I say this in the book.

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<v Speaker 3>You know I know Donald Trump better than his most

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<v Speaker 3>ardent defenders. We worked together every day and spoke every

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<v Speaker 3>day for four and a half years, and in fairness

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<v Speaker 3>to the President, he's actually never said he was a conservative.

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<v Speaker 3>In fact, I lost count of the number of times

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<v Speaker 3>that I would say in conversations in the Oval office, well,

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<v Speaker 3>that position is a conservative position, and he would he

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<v Speaker 3>would wave his hand and say, what conservative, It's just

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<v Speaker 3>common sense and so.

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<v Speaker 5>But in our administration, I.

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<v Speaker 3>Will tell you I think we were very faithful in

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<v Speaker 3>most cases to the traditional conservative agenda, appointing conservative judges,

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<v Speaker 3>upholding the rule of law, and particularly in the area

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<v Speaker 3>of free market and economics and free enterprise. You know,

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<v Speaker 3>we cut taxes, rolled back regulations, unleashed American energy. But

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<v Speaker 3>on economic issues, I think it's becoming more apparent, particularly

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<v Speaker 3>in the business community across this country, with the advent

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<v Speaker 3>of broad based tariffs imposed on friend and foa like that.

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<v Speaker 3>While they were turned back by the Supreme Court, we

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<v Speaker 3>saw the news this morning of a new round of

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<v Speaker 3>tariffs attempted by the USTR. The nationalization of American businesses

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<v Speaker 3>with something we never countenance in our administration is much

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<v Speaker 3>more a part of a traditional socialists.

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<v Speaker 5>Thinking around the world.

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<v Speaker 3>Price controls on pharmaceuticals and credit cards, these are I

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<v Speaker 3>think these are policies that come out of the populous

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<v Speaker 3>right amory, and they represent a real shift. Now, can

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<v Speaker 3>I just say, I think the second Trump administration has

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<v Speaker 3>gotten a lot right, standing up to Iran, standing with Israel,

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<v Speaker 3>extending those tax cuts, securing our border. But on some

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<v Speaker 3>key issues we've seen those populous rights policies take hold,

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<v Speaker 3>and I want conservatives around the country to know that these.

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<v Speaker 4>Are ideas that you'd hear from a Senator Elizabeth Warren

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<v Speaker 4>or Senator Bernie Sanders.

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<v Speaker 5>But the issue in Washington right now.

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<v Speaker 4>Is there's not a lot of people speaking out against

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<v Speaker 4>this in Congress. Do you feel that Trump has gotten

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<v Speaker 4>a lot more carte blanche this time around?

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<v Speaker 5>Well, I think so.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, the president is the leader of the party,

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<v Speaker 3>and with majorities in the Congress, I think there's been

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<v Speaker 3>a tremendous amount.

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<v Speaker 5>Of deference to the president. But you put a fine

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<v Speaker 5>point on it.

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<v Speaker 3>In fact, in my book, I point out when the

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<v Speaker 3>president first announced a nationalization policy, it might have been

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<v Speaker 3>the golden chairs in US steel, Elizabeth Warren said memorably,

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<v Speaker 3>Donald Trump has come across an idea that I came

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<v Speaker 3>up with years ago. And John might argue whether nationalization

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<v Speaker 3>was something Elizabeth Warren came up with there might be

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<v Speaker 3>a deeper history in other.

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<v Speaker 5>Parts of the world.

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<v Speaker 3>But I honestly believe that the there's not been a

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<v Speaker 3>great deal of awareness broadly among grassroots Americans about some

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<v Speaker 3>of these shifts, but people are starting to wake up

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<v Speaker 3>to it, and I hope my book is a part

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<v Speaker 3>of that awakening, not just because I think conservative policies

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<v Speaker 3>are good for the Republican parties, because I believe freedom,

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<v Speaker 3>free market economics, commitment to limited government, and American leadership

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<v Speaker 3>in the world is good for America.

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<v Speaker 1>To build on what Amory was talking about, though, we've

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<v Speaker 1>seen recent primary elections and the people who are considered

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<v Speaker 1>a bit more populist have been the winners of the

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<v Speaker 1>Republican primary process. Those are the ones that have been

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<v Speaker 1>backed by President Trump. He still has quite a bit

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<v Speaker 1>of clout in getting those to Congress, to Washington, d C.

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<v Speaker 1>He is, in many ways the Republican Party. Do you

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<v Speaker 1>think that the Republican Party that you're talking about still exists?

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<v Speaker 5>Oh?

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<v Speaker 2>I do.

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<v Speaker 3>And don't leave out his influence in primaries in Louisiana

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<v Speaker 3>and Kentucky and Indiana, some state senate races in Indiana. Look,

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<v Speaker 3>the President enjoys tremendous support among Republican primary voters, and

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<v Speaker 3>I think it derives from the fact that from the

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<v Speaker 3>time he came down that Golden escalator here in New

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<v Speaker 3>York City, he has been willing to fight the radical left.

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<v Speaker 3>He did it during our years together he did it

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<v Speaker 3>since battled through law fair won back the White House,

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<v Speaker 3>and I think.

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<v Speaker 5>There's a great appreciation.

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<v Speaker 3>By Republican voters for his continued fight against the radical left.

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<v Speaker 3>But what I wrote the book for was just to

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<v Speaker 3>make sure that we don't conflate the loyalty to the president,

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<v Speaker 3>as some on the populous right would have an embrace

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<v Speaker 3>of a new agenda for the Republican Party. I think

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<v Speaker 3>the Republican Party has to be a party committed to

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<v Speaker 3>free market economics and limited government and all the ideals

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<v Speaker 3>and principles. I'm particularly troubled at am maried with your

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<v Speaker 3>background on foreign affairs. Particularly, I'm particularly troubled about the

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<v Speaker 3>stops and starts on American support for Ukraine.

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<v Speaker 5>It was the.

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<v Speaker 3>Populas right voices inside and outside the administration that actually

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<v Speaker 3>argued against striking Around's nuclear facilities a year ago and

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<v Speaker 3>even launching Operation Epic Fury, and even more troubling to me,

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<v Speaker 3>voices on the populist writer questioning America's support for Israel,

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<v Speaker 3>and with that rhetoric actually descending at times into the

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<v Speaker 3>dark hallways of anti Semitism. Look, that's not who conservatives

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<v Speaker 3>are in this country. It's not what conservatives believe, and

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<v Speaker 3>I try and call it out in the book.

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<v Speaker 2>Let's finish on one particular policy debate that I think

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<v Speaker 2>will be a defining policy debate for the next decade perhaps,

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<v Speaker 2>and that's Ai. I've sat here wondering at times, what

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<v Speaker 2>is the conservative position? What will the conservative position be?

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<v Speaker 2>I know what the left will do and how they respond.

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<v Speaker 2>Tax we distribute, tax we distribute. What's the conservative position

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<v Speaker 2>on that technology? What's it going to be? How evolved

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<v Speaker 2>in the next ten years?

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<v Speaker 5>We'll sun well. I encourage you to read my book, John,

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<v Speaker 5>because you'll see.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm just going to come.

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<v Speaker 5>I think there is a look.

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<v Speaker 3>A conservative view would be that technology is neutral.

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<v Speaker 5>It's neither good nor bad.

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<v Speaker 3>I greatly admire the former chairman of Intel, who's written

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<v Speaker 3>a wonderful book entitled ar Ai for Good. And I

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<v Speaker 3>think it's imperative that as we move into this, that

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<v Speaker 3>we trust the marketplace, but that also we ensure that

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<v Speaker 3>that artificial intelligence work for us in the way that

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<v Speaker 3>we want it to impact our economies, in our workplace,

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<v Speaker 3>and most importantly for conservatives is that it respects the values,

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<v Speaker 3>the universal values of the overwhelming majority of the American

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<v Speaker 3>people who believe in and and and cherish freedom and

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<v Speaker 3>cherish the importance of family. You know, when you see

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<v Speaker 3>troubling stories about the chat programs that actually assist teenagers

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<v Speaker 3>in finding ways to take their own life, it's just

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<v Speaker 3>tragic consequence. I think it's abstulutely imperative the conservative step

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<v Speaker 3>forward and say, let's create the guardrails around AI so

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<v Speaker 3>that consumers will have places to go for AI that

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<v Speaker 3>really reflects our goals, our objectives, our values, and let

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<v Speaker 3>the marketplace work.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, that's what I'm kind of getting at. I can

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<v Speaker 2>trust the market rump Limpack. I think that's a great

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<v Speaker 2>tradition of support for free markets and limited government in

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<v Speaker 2>our audience. At least, can we trust the leadership of

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<v Speaker 2>these companies?

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<v Speaker 3>Well, I think that's I think that's the real question today,

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<v Speaker 3>and what we want to do is facilitate the emergence

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<v Speaker 3>of alternatives within the market.

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<v Speaker 5>Look. I think the American people.

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<v Speaker 3>Have understandably have concerns about AI, but have given the

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<v Speaker 3>opportunity to spend their dollars and spend their business resources

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<v Speaker 3>on AI that works for us and respects those universal values.

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<v Speaker 3>I trust the American people will choose well.

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<v Speaker 4>The one thing on AI to Jonathan's earlier point about

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<v Speaker 4>what the left is going to do, Bernie Sanders says

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<v Speaker 4>he wants to tax these companies fifty percent. Steve Bannon,

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<v Speaker 4>which you know well from Trump's first term, one of

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<v Speaker 4>his key architects of his rise and how Trump would speak,

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<v Speaker 4>doesn't think Bernie Sanders goes far enough. Is that going

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<v Speaker 4>to be the Republican position, whether you agree with it

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<v Speaker 4>or not in twenty twenty eight.

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<v Speaker 3>Republicans don't raise taxes. Republicans cut taxes. And I would

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<v Speaker 3>caution you against given anybody too much credit for Donald

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<v Speaker 3>Trump's rise other than Donald Trump.

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<v Speaker 5>I meant this president.

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<v Speaker 4>From that's where the base is right now.

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<v Speaker 3>Well, you know, I honestly think that when you talk

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<v Speaker 3>about the base, which is one of my least favorite

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<v Speaker 3>terms in politics, we talk about our core voters. There's,

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<v Speaker 3>as I said to Lisa, a great, great appreciation and

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<v Speaker 3>affection for the president. It's totally understandable for the fight

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<v Speaker 3>that he's waged against the radical left the last ten years.

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<v Speaker 3>But on the populous right, there are voices that want

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<v Speaker 3>to take that loyalty and permanently change the direction of

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<v Speaker 3>the republican party to a big government party that embraces protectionism.

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<v Speaker 3>Isolationism marginalizes values, and to put a fine point on it,

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<v Speaker 3>I don't think that's what conservatives believe.

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<v Speaker 2>When did you speak to each other?

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<v Speaker 3>You know, we spoke shortly after he won re election

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<v Speaker 3>and we had a warm exchange.

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<v Speaker 5>John was what did you talk about? I just congratulated him.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, and I can tell he was moved by that,

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<v Speaker 3>as was the first lady. Look I I uh uh uh.

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<v Speaker 3>You know, President and I served together very closely. He

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<v Speaker 3>wasn't just my president, he was my friend. Our administration

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<v Speaker 3>didn't end the way I wanted it to, but I'll

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<v Speaker 3>always believe, by God's grace, I did my duty that day.

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<v Speaker 3>But you know, for me, it's I want this president

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<v Speaker 3>to succeed. I love this country, and I don't talk

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<v Speaker 3>to the president as often as I used to, but

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<v Speaker 3>I get the distinct impression that he still listens to me,

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<v Speaker 3>and so I hope he gets a chance to.

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<v Speaker 2>I listened to you as well, and I promise you

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<v Speaker 2>I'll read the book. It's coming next to the Thatcher

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<v Speaker 2>biography on the bed site table. All right, good to

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<v Speaker 2>see you, sir, Thank you the former vice president of

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<v Speaker 2>the United States.

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<v Speaker 5>Mike Pence