On Thursday afternoon, Rich Lowry spoke with Karl Rove on an exclusive, members-only NRPLUS conference call.

Rich and Karl began the call with a general discussion of the performance of the Biden administration. They analyzed Biden’s agenda and discussed whether things could get better for the president in the new year. They went on to discuss the Build Back Better plan, with Karl describing it as essentially a gigantic expansion of the welfare state. They also reviewed Senator Manchin’s situation and pondered how Republicans could stop Democrats from swaying him to vote their way.

The pair then looked to the future. They discussed the need for Republicans to have an agenda of their own in the upcoming elections, rather than just an anti-progressive agenda. In particular, Republicans need to talk about how they are going to apply conservative principles to the problems the country faces.

Rich asked Karl if Biden, Harris, and Trump would run in 2024, and if so what’s the likelihood of success for each. The pair also covered an increasingly important topic: the future of the Hispanic vote. They emphasized the importance of this demographic — which is largely religious, pro-life, pro-America, and entrepreneurial — and how it is a natural fit for the GOP.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an NRPLUS call without Rich’s standard exit question: Is Karl optimistic or pessimistic about the long-term prospects for America? Here’s a hint at his answer: There is a reason everyone in the world understands the term “the American dream.” And there is a reason why there is no Chinese dream and no German dream.

You can listen to the full recording above. Thank you to those who joined us for the call, and we look forward to seeing you all for the next one.