This is John Batchel, a conversation with colleague Cliff May, the founder and president of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, about isolationism.

A poll taken by the Ronald Reagan Institute finds that an overwhelming number of Republicans and Republicans who identify themselves as MAGA Republicans are in favor of

engagement in the world, not isolationism whatsoever, not turning your back on the troubles in

Europe and Asia, but engaging. Better engaged than to wait for them to come to us is the old way

of putting it. Here's Cliff May to explain those numbers

and others that show that the isolationist talk in the Republican Party is rarefied rhetoric,

not the majority. More of this later. They certainly should. They're paying attention,

and I'm not being sure they are. I want to give credit where it's due.

It's the Ronald Reagan Institute's annual national defense survey.

It's always interesting.

It's particularly interesting this year.

People should look at it.

It's available online.

My column in the Washington Times cherry picks from it.

What we do learn is that Americans do. Most Americans do get the

concept of peace through strength. Most Americans are not isolationists. For example, the survey

asks, is it better for the U.S., quote, to be more engaged and take the lead internationally

or, quote, less engaged and react.

And guess what?

50% of the respondent said, take the lead.

And by way, included in that figure were 59% of Trump voters and really interestingly,

61% of self-identified MAGA Trump voters.

...