Tucker Carlson asked Mike Pence how he can be so distressed over Ukraine when American cities are in horrific shape. The answer Pence gave stunned most of us.

GALLAGHER: This exchange with Mike Pence is the one that got everybody talking. Let me play it for you. It is a mystery to me. He doubled down afterward. Former VP Mike Pence claiming misquoted, or mischaracterized or taken out of context. Here is the context. If you can figure it out, you are better than me.

Carlson: “I’m sorry, Mr. Vice President, have you — I know you’re running for president, you are distressed —”
Pence: “Thank you. Thank you for noticing.”
Carlson: “— you are distressed that the Ukrainians don’t have enough American tanks. Every city in the United States has become much worse over the past three years.”
Pence: “Yeah.”
Carlson: “Drive around. (Applause) There’s not one city that’s gotten better in the United States.”
Pence: “Right.”
Carlson: “And it’s visible. Our economy has degraded, the suicide rate has jumped, public filth and disorder and crime have exponentially increased.”
Pence: “Right.”
Carlson: “And yet, your concern is that the Ukrainians, a country most people can’t find on a map, who’ve received tens of billions of U.S. tax dollars don’t have enough tanks.”
Pence: “Right.”
Carlson: “I think it’s a fair question to ask like, where’s the concern for the United States in that? “
Pence: “Well, that’s not my concern. Tucker, I’ve heard that routine from you before, but that’s not my concern. I’m running for president in the United States because I think this country is in a lot of trouble. I think Joe Biden has weakened America at home and abroad.”

GALLAGHER: That was a fascinating answer. He said it twice. Arguably he wasn’t saying crime and the deterioration isn’t my concern. Surely that isn’t what VP Mike Pence meant to say.