Steven Potter:
So what brings you out to the Republican National Convention?

Speaker Robin Vos:
So I've been to every convention since 1996. I've traveled across the country watching politics kind of from up close. This is the political epicenter for the week that it's here. I am incredibly proud that it is in Wisconsin. They have worked really hard to make this an excellent convention and if you ask, I think I've probably talked to delegates from half the country, and the thing that makes me the most proud is that, Wisconsin, nice is real. I have heard from all these delegates. They love Milwaukee. People have been friendly. The venue's been great. Weather's been spectacular, so I think that the organizers and, frankly, the party in the state has done a great job of showing the best that Wisconsin has to offer.

Steven Potter:
You've been in politics for a while. You've been in Wisconsin for a while.

Speaker Robin Vos:
Yeah.

Steven Potter:
What's it like from your view, from your seat, seeing Wisconsin evolve into this political tipping point and just really, as you mentioned, the epicenter of American politics?

Speaker Robin Vos:
So we've always been at swing state. I mean, even 20 years ago, George Bush, if you remember, only lost a state by like 4 or 5,000 votes, so it seems like almost every election is decided by 20,000 votes one way or the other. It's why Wisconsin has always been so important. We get this outsized influence on the political process. It means it's kind of normal for us to have politicians all across the state. It's normal for us to have political discussions. It's not as normal to have a big convention like this, so I think that's cool. I do think that we are the epicenter because when you look at where we are, the suburbs of Milwaukee had been Republican. They're trending a little bit more blue. I think it's going to turn around this time. We know that when Joe Biden offered his plan, we heard he say that it was supposed to be more bipartisan — try to find ways to work together. Well, the opposite has been true. It's been very partisan and if you look at what he's done, it's not been very good for the people of Wisconsin or the country. You might not love everything that Donald Trump did, but if you just look at the two and compare them against each other, when Donald Trump was president, gas prices were lower. We were more energy independent. We were actually exporting oil, not importing it. Now we're bringing it in from foreign adversaries who hate our guts and we're paying more for it. We had a border that was more secure. We now have one that's basically open, where every state, including Wisconsin, feels like a border state 'cause we have tens of millions of people coming into our country illegally, taking up everything from the benefits that we need to the housing that's become now too expensive. I think when you look at where we are around the world, you can't argue that when Donald Trump was President, we were more respected. There were no wars that were started during his presidency. Here we are with the struggle in Gaza and what's happening with Israel and on top of it, you have the war in Ukraine. So I just think on both sides, if you really take a look at the two candidates, there is no doubt that Donald Trump and JD Vance are going to be a better ticket to return us to a better time when he was President than the last four years.

Steven Potter:
Last election, Donald Trump lost Wisconsin by about 20,000 votes. Republican National Convention is here in Wisconsin this time. Do you think this is going to provide a bump for Donald Trump and and JD Vance?

Speaker Robin Vos:
I think so. I think a big chunk of it is what's happening tonight. I have no doubt whatsoever that we are going to see Donald Trump provide a unifying message. I think they've done a really good job this week. As I've watched Democrats kind of tell people what they have to think. You have to be pro-abortion. You have to be for tax increases. You have to believe all these things, but you're not really allowed to participate. Here we are in Milwaukee. We had the head of the Teamsters speak and we also had people who represent the private sector. We had folks who are pro-life. We had folks who are less pro-life. Both of them have been allowed to speak at the convention and I think that's what the Republican Party wants to stand for. You don't have to believe one thing to be a Republican. We want everybody to be inside a bigger tent. That's what Donald Trump's trying to portray. Well, at the same time, we have Democrats taking out the person that they chose as their nominee at this very time, to try to kick him off the ballot and say they're going to put somebody else in during a smoke-filled process at a convention like it used to be 50 years ago. So I think there's a lot of irony in how they're choosing to work as opposed to what the reality that we're actually seeing.

Steven Potter:
Speaking of unification, you're in the state Legislature — state Legislature and city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County leaders have not always gotten along. You've all come together for the Republican National Convention. Is this event going to mend some of that?

Speaker Robin Vos:
I think a lot of it already got mended, to their credit. You know, Chevy and the county executive both did a good job of reaching out. We had a shared revenue deal. We got a Brewer stadium deal to keep them in Milwaukee. Those are both good examples where you don't get everything you want. You might not agree on all the policy issues, but you found ways to find consensus and common ground. I think that will continue. The convention, they've done a good job of hosting — Milwaukee — and making sure that everybody feels welcome, so I think it's a good sign. I don't think it's going to get any worse 'cause they've been doing a really good job. I think it's only going to get better and better.

Steven Potter:
Thank you, Speaker Vos. Good to see you.

Speaker Robin Vos:
Thanks very much.