Mike Pence's 'What Conservatives Believe' critiques the second Trump administration

Summary

NPR's Book of the Day: Mike Pence’s “What Conservatives Believe”

Date: July 14, 2026
Host: Alyssa Nadworny (NPR)
Guest: Mike Pence, Former Vice President
Interviewer: Steve Inskeep (NPR Morning Edition)

---

Episode Overview

This episode of NPR’s Book of the Day revolves around former Vice President Mike Pence and his new book, What Conservatives Believe. Pence discusses the core values he believes should define the Republican Party, aiming for a return to foundational conservative principles such as free markets, limited government, and equality of opportunity. The conversation covers his critiques of the Trump administration's populist turn, issues of government favoritism in business, the meaning of equality in America, conservative stances on civil rights, and reflections on historic legislative decisions.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Book’s Core Argument and Critique of Trump’s Populism

• Pence advocates for a return to fundamental conservative values, positioning himself against both big government and the recent populist direction within the Republican Party.
• Quote:

  "His book, What Conservatives Believe, supports free trade and free markets while challenging Trump's tariffs and other interventions in the economy."
  [01:03]

• Pence connects the Trump-era economic approach to historic models of government intervention—drawing a sharp contrast with conservatism’s traditional embrace of free enterprise.

2. Discussion on Economic Policy and Corporate Favoritism

• Inskeep probes Pence about government favoritism, especially through tariff waivers seemingly benefiting companies with close presidential ties.
• Pence points to the proliferation of lobbying and special waivers under Trump as examples of increasing ‘swampiness’ in Washington, undermining small businesses.
• Quote (Pence):

  "I think it's one of the the lesser reported aspects of the tariff regime...granting of waivers to large corporations means that small Business America, small business Indiana, largely gets left out of the equation."
  [02:19]

• Quote (Pence):

  "People that want to drain the swamp in Washington, D.C...there's maybe nothing more swampy than the battle over getting tariff waivers for big business."
  [02:45]

3. Equality and the Role of Women

• Inskeep challenges Pence on inclusive language—does “all men are created equal” explicitly mean women?
• Pence affirms the fundamental equality of men and women as a core principle from the Declaration of Independence and stresses the importance of first principles.
• Quote (Pence):

  "That principle...that all men and women are created equal derived from the belief among our founders that we're endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights..."
  [03:41]

• Pence dismisses recent far-right notions advocating for family-voting systems as incompatible with American democratic ideals.
• Quote (Pence):

  "It's one person, one vote in this country, and people have bled and died for that principle."
  [04:27]

4. Conservatives and Civil Rights

• Inskeep brings up Barry Goldwater (a Pence inspiration) having voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and asks Pence about the present-day conservative approach to civil rights.
• Pence acknowledges the Civil Rights Act’s importance and notes that Goldwater later regretted his opposition.
• He supports the legal foundations of recent Supreme Court decisions restricting the use of race in redistricting, emphasizing individual rather than group rights.
• Quote (Pence):

  "One of the greatest legislative accomplishments of the last century was the Civil Rights act of 1964...ensuring that we as conservatives are articulating that vision of equality of opportunity goes to the very heart of our movement."
  [05:41]

5. Redistricting, Voting Rights, and the Supreme Court

• Inskeep explores the implications of recent Supreme Court decisions on voting rights and redistricting, questioning their alignment with the spirit of the 1960s civil rights legislation.
• Pence says protections should focus on individual rights, rather than race, and admits to dislike of partisan gerrymandering but accepts it as the current system.
• Quote (Pence):

  "I'm not a big fan of partisan gerrymandering, Steve. Full disclosure, but it's the system that we have. And just ensuring that race in no aspect plays a role in the partisan gerrymandering I think is proper."
  [07:12]

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s Economic Policy:

  "The idea of government ownership of private enterprise was not [Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s] idea...that Karl Marx actually came up with."
  — Mike Pence [01:32]

• On Equality:

  "At our core...all men and women are created equal..."
  — Mike Pence [03:41]

• On ‘One Family, One Vote’:

  "It's one person, one vote in this country, and people have bled and died for that principle."
  — Mike Pence [04:27]

• On the Civil Rights Act:

  "I think one of the greatest legislative accomplishments of the last century was the Civil Rights act of 1964. Barry Goldwater...to his undying credit, he regretted [his vote against it]."
  — Mike Pence [05:41]

• On Partisan Gerrymandering:

  "I'm not a big fan of partisan gerrymandering, Steve. Full disclosure, but it's the system that we have."
  — Mike Pence [07:12]

---

Important Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------|--------------| | Introduction to Pence & Book | 01:00 | | Economic Critique of Trump Admin | 01:32 | | Corporate Favoritism & Lobbying | 02:19 | | Equality & Role of Women | 03:41 | | Discussion on Civil Rights Act | 05:41 | | Voting Rights & Gerrymandering | 07:12 | | Closing Remarks | 07:46 |

---

Summary

This episode presents Mike Pence’s call to reclaim traditional conservative values, coupled with candid critiques of the Trump administration’s economic policies and recent currents within the party. Through engaging, at times pointed discussion with Steve Inskeep, listeners get insight into Pence’s steadfast yet evolving perspective on free markets, equality, and the ongoing meaning of civil rights in America. The conversation is marked by Pence’s insistence on principles—individual rights, limited government, and “one person, one vote”—and his rejection of both new-populist innovations and government expansion, positioning his conservatism as classical but responsive to contemporary debates.

Transcript

[Alyssa Nadworny]

Hi, I'm Alyssa Nadworny, and welcome to NPR's Book of the Day. Former Vice President Mike Pence is out with a new book called what Conservatives Believe. In it, he makes his argument for what the Republican Party should be, returning to fundamental conservative ideas and rejecting big government. He talked with Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep.

[NPR Sponsor (Carvana)]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Carvana. Carvana makes car buying easy 100% online prices down to the penny delivered to your do. Why make car buying hard when it could be easy? Visit Carvana.com today. Terms may apply.

[NPR Sponsor (Mint Mobile and others)]

This message comes from Mint Mobile. If you're tired of spending hundreds on big wireless bills, bogus fees and free perks, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop [e-mail] Switch taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.

[Narrator/Producer]

For almost 20 years now, I've been following the career of Mike Pence.

[Mike Pence]

You know, Steve, we both hail from Indiana.

[Steve Inskeep]

True.

[Narrator/Producer]

He talked with NPR as a conservative House Republican, as vice president and then as the former official who had refused President Trump's demand to help overturn the 2020 election. Pence's politics remained consistent while his party changed. Pence's latest book includes a critique of the second Trump administration and what he terms the populist right. His book, what Conservatives Believe, supports free trade and free markets while challenging Trump's tariffs and other interventions in the economy.

[Mike Pence]

Well, from I think the very first instance when the new Trump administration announced that they were going to take shares in Nippon's purchase of U.S. steel, I was struck by the fact that Senator Elizabeth Warren said, and I quoted in my book, she said, I think Donald Trump has come across an idea that I came up with years ago. But honestly, Steve, you know, the idea of government ownership of private enterprise was not her idea that Karl Marx actually came up with that.

[Steve Inskeep]

Are you also concerned about what might be described as political favoritism of companies? The Ellisons, who are close supporters of the president, have received regulatory approval to create a giant media conglomerate. We could go on and on with examples, but that's one. What do you think, Steve?

[Mike Pence]

I think it's one of the the lesser reported aspects of the tariff regime that's been imposed by the administration is that the granting of waivers to large corporations of certain tariffs means that small Business America, small business Indiana, largely gets left out of the equation.

[Steve Inskeep]

And these are waivers for companies that are close to the president. Is that the connection you're making, that

[Mike Pence]

I don't think there's any question have access to the White House and are able to get some accommodation or consideration in that. You know, the foundation that I created advancing American freedom actually came up with a study about six months ago that in the first year of this administration, lobbying fees in Washington, D.C. had increased by tenfold. I mean, people that want to drain the swamp in Washington, D.C. there's maybe nothing more swampy than the battle over getting tariff waivers for big business. And I think you make a great point.

[Steve Inskeep]

I want to ask about another aspect of your argument here. In listing what conservatives believe. You say conservatives believe that all men are created equal. Of course, you're quoting the Declaration of Independence. Not very controversial. However, there is debate on the political right about the role and the future of men and women. When you say all men are created equal, do you include women?

[Mike Pence]

Oh, of course. Steve, at our core of this nation will remember in just a few weeks the signing of the declaration of independence 250 years ago. That principle that throughout mankind that all men and women are created equal derived from the belief among our founders that we're endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights of life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And I just think as we celebrate the 250th anniversary, we do well to return to first principles.

[Steve Inskeep]

There are some on the political right who have popularized the idea of one family, one vote. There's a man, there's a woman, there's children. The husband votes, the woman does not vote. You're smiling as I speak. What do you think of that idea?

[Mike Pence]

Well, it's one person, one vote in this country, and people have bled and died for that principle. When it comes to the American family, there is a move among the populist right to expand government programs deep into the family to drive certain outcomes. I can tell you, as a father of three, the grandfather of five, what American families need is an application of the kind of principles that will create higher wages, more opportunities, more jobs. And I'm confident the American family will thrive.

[Steve Inskeep]

There's another thing I want to ask about because you clearly admire Barry Goldwater. You write about him in the opening pages of the book. He was an antecedent to Ronald Reagan. And there is one part of Goldwater's record that would seem suddenly to be relevant again. He voted against the Civil Rights act of 1964 as a senator. The civil rights legislation in the 1960s is now being rejudged or re litigated before the Supreme Court. We're changing the rules as we speak for redistricting. It will affect this fall's elections. Should Conservatives stand for civil rights?

[Mike Pence]

Well, I think one of the greatest legislative accomplishments of the last century was the Civil Rights act of 1964. Barry Goldwater, in his famous book, Conscience of a Conservative, that inspired my new book, voted against it, opposed it, but to his undying credit, he regretted that. Now, the Supreme Court recently said that race cannot be taken into account when drawing congressional district lines, recognizing that the civil rights protections flow to the individual and not to drive outcomes. I support the legal foundation under that decision, but I really do believe that ensuring that we as conservatives are articulating that vision of equality of opportunity goes to the very heart of our movement.

[Steve Inskeep]

I'm thinking about that Supreme Court ruling, which had to do with another 1960s law, this 1965 Voting Rights act, and the rules under which the federal government might mandate redistricting in a state that historically had districted black people out of power. And if I can summarize the court ruling, they're saying, actually, if you try to correct that, you're the racist. If you're creating a majority black district, you may be discriminating. And the legislature in this case is entirely free to do almost anything they want, so long as they say they were purely partisan. Is that really in line with the intent of the constitutional amendments underlying all this and in line with the 1965 Act?

[Mike Pence]

Well, I think it's if you understand that civil rights flow to the individual. My reading, and I haven't read the whole opinion, but my reading and my support for that decision is that the focus is on the individual and preserving the civil rights of individuals and then allowing. I'm not a big fan of partisan gerrymandering, Steve. Full disclosure, but it's the system that we have. And just ensuring that race in no aspect plays a role in the partisan gerrymandering I think is proper.

[Steve Inskeep]

Mr. Vice President, thanks for coming by.

[Mike Pence]

Thank you, Steve. Great to see you.

[Narrator/Producer]

His new book is what Conservatives Believe.

[NPR Sponsor (Mint Mobile and others)]

This message comes from Integrative Therapeutics, makers of Cortisol Manager. Daily stressors come and go and heightened stress can affect sleep and focus. Cortisol Manager helps support a healthy response to everyday stress. Available at Amazon.com, use code STRESS2026 for 20% off. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This message comes from Capella University. That spark you feel, that's your drive for more. Capella University's flexpath learning format lets you earn your degree at your pace without putting life on pause. Learn more at capella. Edu. This message comes from the NPR Wine Club, which has generated over $1.75 million to support NPR, whether buying a few bottles or joining the club. Learn [e-mail] podcast must be 21 or older to purchase.