The former vice president seemingly lacks any self-awareness as he haughtily anoints himself the policing decider on what views and discussions are “allowed” among conservatives. Such arrogance smacks as offensive coming from any single individual, but it ascends into total cognitive dissonance when that pretend potentate is none other than “Surrender Mike” Pence.
In this regard, Pence acts like the annoying lifeguard we all encountered at the pool growing up. He was too big for his britches, some cocky teenage punk all too ready to enforce “the rules” upon well-meaning kids just trying to swim and enjoy themselves. Convinced of their own power and merit, such scolds refuse to accept the limits of their actual influence.
So, from his imaginary political lifeguard chair, Mike Pence blows his whistle and yells down to the populist Right to “stop and get out of the pool for an immediate timeout.” Lately, the target of his establishment ire is the Heritage Foundation as an institution and its leader, Kevin Roberts, as an individual.
The grievance session from Pence was delivered via CNN. Yep, CNN. You know, that paragon of intellectual honesty that produces so much valuable content for American conservatives. Wait. Scratch that. Actually, Pence went running to his new besties at CNN because he sounds a lot more like Jake Tapper these days than Ronald Reagan.
In his therapy couch interview with CNN, Pence brags openly about trying to recruit Heritage staffers to his new think tank. Notably, Pence never left D.C. after he left office in 2021, and he started that think tank as a decidedly old-school establishment GOP throwback to the era of GOP weaklings who simply managed the decline of America alongside their pals on the Democrat side of the aisle.
About these recruiting efforts, Heritage’s Andy Olivastro responded that “Mike Pence is waiting for a train back to relevance that ain’t comin’.”
But Pence insists he’s important and somehow relevant to the broader Republican base. He told CNN, “I’m convinced that while in those respects, the president has changed aspects of the Republican agenda, I don’t believe he’s changed the Republican Party.”
Pretty bold statement from Surrender Mike, as any political observer with an ounce of honesty and/or intelligence recognizes that the GOP has changed in profound ways, becoming far more populist and nationalist at the voter level. But nonetheless, let’s test Mike’s grand pronouncement with actual data.
I just polled the key battleground state of Wisconsin. This poll was overall not a kind one for President Trump, who registers another -15 percent approval rating in the Badger State, 38/53 percent. Voters remain deeply unhappy with the economy, and they increasingly blame the GOP for this predicament.
In spite of that sour macro mood, when Trump voters were asked if they regretted their 2024 ballot choice, only 9 percent said that they did. That’s it—just 9 percent, a year and a half later. Among self-identified “conservatives,” only 5 percent regretted voting for Trump. That kind of unanimity within a large population—Trump earned 81 million votes total, nationally—is difficult to find in today’s fractured political scene.
So, those pesky facts keep getting in the way of Mike’s fantasies. Trump remains overwhelmingly popular among Republicans. The party has, indeed, been completely reshaped into a populist Right party that is now geared to workers rather than to bluebloods or CEOs, even though those small groups of elites still send money to Mike Pence to fund his Beltway boondoggles.
When you’re running to CNN to complain, it’s a good rule of thumb that you are not speaking for the masses of patriotic conservatives in America. Believe me, I know. I worked on-air at CNN for two years at the request of President Trump. That entire platform is poisoned and biased from the jump. They hate not just Trump in a visceral way, but also the masses of hard-working Americans who demand national sovereignty, diffused prosperity, and a return to cultural conservatism.
Enjoy your new besties there, Surrender Mike. But you won’t order us “out of the pool.” We are moving upward and onward . . . because we have a country to save.
Steve Cortes is president of the League of American Workers and advisor to CatholicVote. He directs political campaigns on media, polling, and Hispanic outreach, including Trump 2016/2020 and Vance 2022 U.S. Senate. He is a former broadcaster for Fox News and CNN.
Crosstabs: League of American Workers Survey — Wisconsin
👉 Show & Tell 🔥 The Signals
I. Tiny Islands Could Shape Control Of Hormuz
Three small islands near the Strait of Hormuz — Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb — sit at a critical chokepoint for global oil flows. Control over them could influence military positioning and shipping routes in one of the world’s most strategic waterways.
II. Economic Freedom Still Tracks With Higher Incomes
Countries with greater economic freedom tend to show significantly higher income levels. The relationship is not linear, but the pattern is clear: more open economies cluster at the higher end of GDP per capita, while more restricted ones lag behind.
III. America’s Ultra-Wealthy Households Are Surging
The number of very wealthy U.S. households has grown sharply. About 430,000 households now have $30 million or more, over 200,000 have at least $50 million, and roughly 75,000 hold $100 million or more.
The fastest growth is at the very top, reflecting strong gains in stocks and private assets.
The TIPP Stack
Handpicked articles from TIPP Insights & beyond
1. War Abroad And Authoritarianism At Home—Ron Paul, Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity
2. Trump: Open Hormuz Strait Or Face Bombed Power Plants—Kurt Nimmo, Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity
3. When Both Sides Threaten Press Freedom—Rajkamal Rao, Substack
4. The 56% Nation—Editorial Board, TIPP Insights
5. Scarcity And The Machine: Opportunity Cost In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence—Michael Matulef, Mises Wire
6. Madness On The Hill: Lawmakers Share March Madness Brackets— Virginia Grace McKinnon, The Daily Signal
7. ‘I Made A Promise To God’: Christian Nonprofit Supports TSA Agents During Shutdown— Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell, The Daily Signal
8. Pro-Family Tech Coalition Launches To Protect Kids From AI Threats— Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell, The Daily Signal
9. The Iran War Brings More Inflation And New Strength To The Yuan— Brendan Brown, Mises Wire
10. Battered Christopher Columbus Statue Resurrected By White House— Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell, The Daily Signal
11. The Money Multiplier – Myth Or Reality?—Frank Shostak, Mises Wire
📊 Market Mood — Friday, March 27, 2026
🟩 Markets Drift as Iran Deadline Extended
U.S. futures were little changed after Trump delayed potential strikes while talks with Iran remain uncertain.
🟧 Oil Climbs as Supply Disruptions Persist
Crude prices continued rising with the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed and risks to energy infrastructure intact.
🟦 Inflation Risks Build on Prolonged Energy Shock
Elevated oil prices are reinforcing fears of higher-for-longer interest rates and slower global growth.
🟨 Geopolitical Uncertainty Keeps Investors on Edge
Conflicting signals on negotiations and ongoing strikes are sustaining market volatility.
🗓️ Key Economic Events — Friday, March 27, 2026
No Events Scheduled
editor-tippinsights@technometrica.com
