He’s the purest representation of right-wing principles we have seen. That’s not the same thing as conservative. A conservative position opposes all change - including change to the right. So I’d say that Pence is right.

If anything, the Democrats are the more conservative party right now, and the MAGA Republicans are trying to move the country further to the right. I still don’t think that a conservative position is good, but it’s better than a fascist position.

I think it’s because a poll showing that opinions are shifting that way gives people hope about things getting better, because the hope is that public opinion would drive politics.

It wouldn’t really be news to people who are struggling that things are bad. But it is news (and good news at that) if other people’s opinions are shifting to acknowledge that.