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'Last Man on Earth' Envisions A World Where Mike Pence Takes Over As President Deadline Sunday night's episode of Last Man on Earth imagines a world were Donald Trump is no longer president, and instead current vice president Mike Pence has taken on the role of commander-in-chief. In the latest episode of Will Forte's Fox comedy, titled ... 'Last Man on Earth' Imagines a Future Without TrumpHollywood Reporter all 15 news articles »

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'Last Man on Earth' Envisions A World Where Mike Pence Takes Over As President - Deadline

The role and influence of the vice president, not enshrined in any law, is determined in any administration by three things: his direct relationship with the president, his building of a personal portfolio of issues, and the effectiveness of his team. When it comes to foreign policy, Vice President Mike Pence is quietly succeeding on all three fronts.

Inside an administration that is characterized by several power centers, Pence must navigate complex internal politics while serving a president who has anunconventional view of foreign policy and the United States' role in the world. Pence, a traditional hawk influenced heavily by his Christian faith, is carefully and deliberately assuming a stance that fits within the president's agenda while respecting the prerogatives of other senior White House aides who also want to play large foreign policy roles, according to White House officials, lawmakers and experts.

But Pence's growing influence on foreign policy is increasingly evident. The vice president was deployed to Europe last month to reassure allies that the United States will stay committed to alliances such as NATO, despite President Donald Trump's calls for Europeans to pay more for common defense. During Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's recent visit, Trump announced that Pence and his Japanese counterpart would lead a new dialogue on U.S.-Japan economic cooperation.

"The vice president seems to be building on his foreign affairs experience, finding a niche in that arena," said House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, who served with Pence in Congress. "He brings a level-headed steady hand to the foreign policy of the administration. He's also building up his own team."

Inside the White House, Pence is in the room during most of the president's interactions with world leaders. He receives the presidential daily brief. As head of the transition, he was instrumental in bringing several traditionally hawkish Republicans into the top levels of the administration's national security team, including Director of National Intelligence-designate Dan Coats, CIA Director Mike Pompeo and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

Trump and Pence met with Haley last week just before the United States decided to confront Russia and the Syrian regime at the U.N. Security Council about Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's use of chemical weapons. The move seems to run counter to the White House's drive to warm relations with Moscow, but Trump decided, with Pence's support, that it was important and necessary, officials said.

Pence's national security team is also in place and humming. Just days after the inauguration, Pence announced that he had brought on Andrea Thompson as his national security adviser. A former military intelligence officer with extensive combat zone experience, she also worked for the House Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs committees. Most recently, she worked for the firm run by retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

"I wouldn't say there's an ideological bent to her, she's a professional, an excellent briefer with command of the intelligence world," said McCaul.

Thompson's deputy is Joan O'Hara, former general counsel for McCaul's committee. They lead a team of senior advisers who manage issue areas delineated by region or function, similar in organization to the National Security Council staff but on a smaller scale. Pence's national security team is mostly professionals detailed from other agencies.

Pence is seen by many in Washington as a figure who might stand up for the traditionally hawkish views he espoused while in Congress, a proxy of sorts for the GOP national security establishment. But those close to Pence say his stance is more nuanced. Pence is committed to advocating Trump's foreign policy objectives, not his own, and endeavors to stay above the fray of most internal disputes.

"He definitely brings a different perspective, but he's nuanced and subtle in how he engages," one White House official said. "He's adapted somewhat, at least in terms of not putting his views above those of the president."

Pence preserves his credibility with the president so it can be most effective when deployed. The chief example was when Pence personally spoke to Trump about removing national security adviser Michael Flynn, who had lied to him about conversations with Russian officials during the transition.

"When Flynn was in the NSA role, there was no center of gravity where traditional Republicans could come together on policy," said Bruce Jones, vice president at the Brookings Institution. "In the days since Flynn exited, Pence has occupied more of that space."

It's a tricky balancing act, but if Pence can keep the president's trust, stay above the internal politics and build out his portfolio, he will be able to continue to increase his influence on foreign policy inside the White House and on the world stage.

Washington Post

Josh Rogin is a columnist for the Global Opinions section of The Washington Post. He writes about foreign policy and national security.

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Mike Pence is quietly becoming a foreign policy power player - Chicago Tribune

Fox 59

Letterman: Mike Pence only got elected because he looks like Bobby Knight Fox 59 NEW YORK David Letterman referenced another famous Hoosier to explain how he felt about Vice President Pence during a wide-ranging interview with Vulture. Laying out his feelings about the former Indiana Governor, Letterman quipped, He only got ... David Letterman makes the most Indiana joke ever about Bob Knight and Mike PenceIndianapolis Star all 85 news articles »

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Letterman: Mike Pence only got elected because he looks like Bobby Knight - Fox 59

The Indianapolis Star Published 6:51 p.m. ET March 3, 2017 | Updated 7:17 p.m. ET March 3, 2017

Vice President Mike Pence reportedly used a private email account to conduct public business, including homeland security matters, while he was governor of Indiana. Records of the emails were obtained by IndyStar through a public records request. Dwight Adams/IndyStar

Vice President Mike Pence greets more than 200 employees at Blain's Fleet and Farm Distribution Center during a listening session March 3, 2017, with Wisconsin business leaders in Janesville, Wis. Pence also talked about The Indianapolis Star investigation into his private email account.(Photo: Rick Wood, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

INDIANAPOLIS Vice President Mike Pence made his first public comments Friday about his use of aprivate AOL email account to conduct some public business while he was Indiana's governor.

Republicans have criticized former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for discussing much higher level national security issues through a private email account.

Visiting Janesville, Wis., with other top Republicans to unite his party around a replacement of Obamacare, Pencetoured the headquarters of Blain's Farm and Fleet, which offers everything from tools and animal feed to hunting gear and fishing licenses at 36 stores in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa.

"I'm very confident we are in full compliance with all of Indiana's laws," Pence said. "And in my service as vice president, I will continue that practice."

Pence press secretary Marc Lotter said Friday that the personal-account emails Pence sent as governor are being compiled to be released under Indiana's open records law.

Related:Pence used personal email for state business and was hacked Related:Here are some of Mike Pence's AOL emails

"There's no comparison whatsoever between Hillary Clinton's practice having a private server, misusing classified information, destroying emails when they were requested by the Congress," Pence said. "We have fully complied with Indiana's laws.

"We had outside counsel review all of my previous email records to identify any that ever mentioned or referenced state business," he said.

Emails released to The Indianapolis Star in response to a public records request show that Pence communicated via his personal AOL account with top advisers on topics ranging from security gates at the governors residence to the states response to terror attacks across the globe.

Related:Indiana took months to reveal Mike Pence emails Related:Photo captures Hillary Clinton reading about Pence's emails

Cyber-security experts say the emails raise concerns about whether such sensitive information was adequately protected from hackers, given that personal accounts like Pence's are typically less secure than government email accounts.

In fact, Pence's personal AOL account was hacked this past summer.

Contributing: Jason Stein and Jacob Carpenter, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.Follow The Indianapolis Star on Twitter:@indystar

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Mike Pence: 'No comparison' between his, Hillary Clinton's email practices - USA TODAY

Vice President Pence was the highest-ranking government official in attendance Saturday night at the Gridiron dinner, an annual gathering of Washingtons top political journalists. As he has with the upcoming White House Correspondents Association dinner, President Trump declined his invitation to the Gridiron event.

In a lengthy address, Pence roasted reporters as well as politicians and staff members Democrats and Republicans who were at the white-tie affair. He lobbed a few jokes in his own direction, starting with a lighthearted quip about his attire.

I thought Id be okay wearing a black tie tonight, Pence joked, according to NPR. Then Nancy Pelosi asked me to refill her coffee.

Pence wrapped up by issuing a defense of a free press and First Amendment rights.

Below is the White House pool report of Pences remarks, with our annotations. To see an annotation, click on the highlighted text.

MIKE PENCE: Im pleased to be joined by a number of members of President Trumps Cabinet. And frankly with all of Chuck Schumers obstruction, Im just glad we had enough to fill the head table.

Its especially great that TV journalists are finally allowed to attend. I see all the major networks are represented here, which makes it easier for me because I only have to say the same thing once.

He noted that MSNBC is here. But I guess its only a matter of time before the rest of show business gets invited.

Speaking of show business, did you all see what happened at the Oscars last week? It really was something. They gave out the best picture award to the wrong film. I gotta tell you, we havent seen that many shocked Hollywood liberals since, I dont know, November the eighth?

Pence said its an honor to [be] vice president to the broad-shouldered and big-hearted Trump as he made fun of himself for repeating the line across networks on Wednesday morning.

I actually heard that Bret Baier proposed a drinking game for every time I said those two words tonight, so Brett, I hope you got a designated driver.

He joked that Trump asked him to send a message tonight and looked around for it. Be friendly no wait, thats from my wife.

Remember to pick up some milk on the way home that one is from the president, but its not the one I was looking for.

Oh, here it is, its on my phone. Mike, thanks for covering the Gridiron dinner. Have a good time. Get some rest this weekend. Next weekend theres an important ribbon-cutting in Antarctica I really need you to cover.

Not missing a beat, he added, It really is an honor to be vice president for a man like President Trump.

Razzing Sean Spicer, Pence said, Sean, I really want to apologize that you didnt get served dinner tonight. When the waiter asked you what you wanted for your entree, you shouldnt have said, Sit down, I never called on you.

Talking about the Oval Office, Pence said, I gotta tell you, every time I look at that portrait of Hamilton, I feel like theres a lecture coming on.

Back on POTUSs address to Congress: I even thought I heard Rachel Maddow start to say something nice, but then MSNBC immediately cut to commercial.

[At the Gridiron dinner, the jokes were on Trumps Russia connections]

On his email controversy: The end of the week was a little embarrassing for me. Not that I had a personal email account when I was governor. [It] really was embarrassing for me to have millions of Americans learn that Im one of the few people in the country to still have an AOL account.

My wife said it was good for my image. She said now America knows Im not stuck in the 50s Im just stuck in the 90s.

He then read some mean tweets about himself and his use of AOL. One was: This is Mike Pence, former governor of Indiana, vice president of the United States, Chilis patron, AOL user.

On the press: Its really good to be with all of you. I really, seriously, I really respect the way you do your job so does the president.

He said the media knows what the real stories are, such as when his family moved to Washington and the press kept reporting on his rabbit, Marlon Bundo.

Marlons become kind of a big deal. He got himself an Instagram account. #BOTUS.

Pence then made a joke about the bunny liking Fox News and it being a long time before he will go on BNN and Jake Hopper not being happy about it.

On House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.): Paul has his P90X, 90 minutes of aerobic workout that stresses every muscle in the body every day. And I do Jazzercise at the Y.

Joking about their matching Tuesday ties, At least I didnt go with my backup an all-white pantsuit. That would have been awkward.

To Nancy Pelosi, who was in the room, he said, The president and I hope you dont change. Seriously, were counting on it.

Pence said that he was offended that so many of his former colleagues rushed for the exits Tuesday night after the presidents speech to Congress, but that he understood why. They were racing out because they didnt want to miss some must-see TV. The dynamic message of a rising star. The future of the Democratic Party. Kentuckys own former governor, Steve Beshear.

He said Beshears remarks really were inspiring especially the part when he claimed to be a Democrat, and proud republican and mostly American.

[Pence just made clear that Trumps media cease-fire was a one-night-only thing]

Humor is a great unifier, and this lighthearted tradition is a welcome respite and be assured while we will have our differences and I promise the members of the Fourth Estate that youll almost always know when we have them President Trump and I support the freedom of the press enshrined in the First Amendment.

Ive been an advocate of the free and independent press for a long time. I worked as a commentator on the radio back in the 1990s, a kind of Rush Limbaugh on decaf.

He said he was proud ofthe federal media shield statute that passed the House of Representatives when he was a congressman. (His next line was inaudible due to clapping.)

Referencing Thomas Jefferson, he said, Given a choice between government without a free press or a free press without a government, I should choose the latter.

He also brought up the quote chiseled into the wall of the Chicago Tribune about the press being a check upon the government that no Constitution has ever been able to provide.

True words indeed, he said. But these days, and I say this with the deepest respect, it seems like in the, it seems like in this short news cycle in which we live, that too often stories will make Page One and drive news with, with just too little respect to the people who are affected or involved. So let me just say to you as, not as your vice president, but just as a neighbor and as a champion of the [inaudible] that I think, I think weve all just got to do better. And the way I think we can do better is by focusing on what unites us more often as Americans. Our commitment to truth you know we saw the unity around our highest ideals and higher belief on Tuesday night. It was a special night. And a courageous woman and her heroic husband brought a divided nation together as the president paid tribute to Navy SEAL Ryan Owens, who lost his life in the line of duty.

He added, When Carryn [Owens] stood up all of our divisions melted away. In that moment, there were no Republicans, there were no Democrats on that floor, there were just Americans. And not just in the Congress [but] all across the country. So in these divided times, I think we ought to try and do as much as we can. Actions, words and deeds that emulate Carryn and her courageous family. Take every opportunity that we have to stand up, to stand together. And take every opportunity to look up a little bit more, with grateful hearts for the privilege of servicing and live in the great nation in the history of the world.

If we do that, I believe with all of my heart, by Gods grace, these divided times will give way to unity and freedom, and America will be great again.

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The dramatic difference between Mike Pence and Donald Trump when it comes to the press - Washington Post