Former Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday released a 25-point policy agenda ahead of this year’s midterm elections offering a potential preview of his campaign platform should he run for president in 2024.

Pence’s lengthy platform hits on key popular conservative ideas like school choice, lower taxes, fewer government regulations, and reduced federal spending. It also includes a number of prominent culture war issues for Republicans like promoting “patriotic education” and “ensuring that sports competitions are between those who share their God-given gender.”

“The Freedom Agenda presents a bold agenda focused on the future and offers a clear and compelling choice to the American people,” Pence said in a statement. “Conservatives across the country can unite around this plan to keep America from further decline and decay brought on by President Biden and progressive policies.” Read Full Story

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Republicans are pointing to President Joe Biden’s ad-libbed remark that Russian President Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power” as the most serious example of reasons to doubt his competency.

“It’s extremely concerning that our commander in chief can’t clearly communicate the policy of the United States abroad,” said Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., adding that Biden “left our allies a bigger mess” after a trip that was “supposed to reassure support for our NATO allies.”

Biden’s remark came as U.S.-Russia relations reach a breaking point over the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, now in its second month. The administration has been delicately navigating the conflict without risking escalation by the nuclear power, but some Republicans said Biden’s off-the-cuff remark may have done just that. Read Full Story

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House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy predicts a big Republican win in November and another victory in January, when he  thinks the majority party will overwhelmingly choose him as speaker.

In an interview with The Washington Times, McCarthy said he is confident Republicans will win the net gain of more than five seats needed to push Democrat Nancy Pelosi out of the speaker’s chair when voters go to the polls in November.

“We will win the majority,” said McCarthy. “I believe I will be speaker.” Read Full Story

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