Staff Reports
Mike Pence stopped by the Going Big! podcast and made an argument that will have Republican dinner tables and radio shows buzzing. The former vice president told host Kevin Gentry that the GOP needs to “do a lot of soul-searching” before 2028. He framed the choice as old-school Reagan-era conservatism versus the populist direction President Donald Trump has taken the party. He also used the chat to tee up his new book, What Conservatives Believe.
Pence’s podcast pitch: policy, principle, and a book plug
On the podcast Pence dropped a few clear lines: he worries about tariffs, what he sees as mixed support for Ukraine, price controls and a drift away from pro-life commitments. He said he knows President Donald Trump better than many of his defenders and called Trump “not ideological,” noting that the president “often bristled” when Pence called a policy conservative. Those quotes are part policy critique and part preview of the themes Pence lays out in his forthcoming book.
Why this matters for the GOP heading into 2028
This isn’t just another think-piece. Pence is staking out a public lane against the populist wing that currently controls the party. By framing the choice as principle versus populism, he hopes to rally social conservatives and market-oriented Republicans who worry the GOP has wandered. That could shape primary debates on trade, foreign policy and limited government — all issues that will matter in the 2028 fight.
Don’t mistake nostalgia for a winning strategy
Here’s the blunt truth: voters don’t reward purity tests. They reward results. President Donald Trump’s approach has brought the GOP victories and put conservatives in position to make policy and fill courts. Pining for a Reagan-era playbook is quaint, but it doesn’t explain how Republicans will win swing states or keep the Senate. If Pence wants a debate, fine — but don’t expect voters to swap success for an ideological time capsule just because a book tour says so.
So what should Republicans do next?
Pence’s podcast is a reminder the GOP is not a monolith. Honest debate about direction is healthy. But the party should focus first on who can win and who can govern. If Pence offers a plan that attracts votes and moves policy, conservatives will listen. If it’s mainly nostalgia and lectures about “soul-searching,” Republican voters will tune the speaker out. The 2028 question isn’t only about who gets the nomination — it’s about which approach actually keeps America free, prosperous, and secure. Let the debate begin, but let the results decide the victor.
