New Speaker Mike Johnson finds himself leading House Republicans with a majority in name only. The Louisiana lawmaker has been unable to unite his right flank and he's commanding one of the slimmest House majorities in history.

New Speaker Mike Johnson finds himself leading House Republicans with a majority in name only.

Unable to unite his unruly right flank and commanding one of the slimmest House majorities in history, Johnson is being forced to rely on Democrats for the basics of governing, including the latest bill to prevent a federal shutdown.

Approaching his first 100 days on the job, Johnson faces daunting choices ahead. He can try to corral conservatives, who are pushing rightward in endless hours of closed-door meetings, to work together as a team. Or he can keep reaching out to Democrats for a bipartisan coalition to pass compromise legislation.

So far, rather than the speaker of a dysfunctional GOP majority, Johnson, R-La., has shown he is willing to compile a rare, large supermajority of Democrats and Republicans to get things done with Democratic President Joe Biden.

  • teft
    22•9 months ago

    Why doesn’t he just pray for unity? Don’t these guys always think thoughts and prayers will change everything?

  • Atelopus-zeteki
    22•9 months ago

    LoL, I love the new political term, MINO, majority in name only. Oh no, he might actually have to work with The Other Side, make compromise, cooperate. Heavens! Daunting choices indeed. smh. and laughing my fooking ass off. Dude, just do your job.

    • The Pantser
      13•9 months ago

      Maybe it’s not a majority at all. Maybe it’s time we split the GOP up or maybe the fascists can spin off into their own party. Their mascot can be a dumbass instead of a jackass.

  • AutoTL;DRBEnglish
    3•9 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:

    Unable to unite his unruly right flank and commanding one of the slimmest House majorities in history, Johnson is being forced to rely on Democrats for the basics of governing, including the latest bill to prevent a federal shutdown.

    He’s a “movement” conservative steeped in Christian beliefs who made his way from Louisiana working in the trenches of hard-right social policy, particularly against abortion, gay rights and other issues.

    But the hard-line Republicans are watching and waiting — any single lawmaker can file a motion for a vote to oust the speaker — especially as Johnson confronts the challenges ahead on government spending, U.S. border security and wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

    More immediately, Johnson and House Republicans are warily watching Senate negotiations over an immigration and border security package designed to reduce the record flow of migrants and expedite the deportations of some of those who have already entered the United States illegally.

    Biden is considering the emerging border deal as part of his broader $110 billion national security package, which has grown urgent as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s forces need to replenish weaponry in their fight against Russia’s invasion.

    Biden hosted congressional leaders at the White House this past week, surrounding the new speaker with prominent and influential voices, including the chairmen of the national security committees, to impress on Johnson the weight of the challenges ahead.

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