U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks during a press conference on the seventh day of a partial shutdown of the federal government at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S. October 7, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura
Punchbowl News co-founder Jake Sherman was animated, speaking to MSNBC on Thursday about Republican members of the U.S. House being missing in action during the government shutdown.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has argued that there's no reason for the House to be on hand to negotiate on healthcare subsidies because the House already passed its portion of the measure that would continue to fund the government.
Johnson got a call from a Republican mom in Virginia who wagged a verbal finger at the speaker on C-SPAN, saying he has the power to bring back the House and end the shutdown.
"My kids could die!" she told him, explaining that her credit was terrible because of the medical bills she faces.
Johnson rambled about soldiers in his district, promised he cared, and said "Republicans are the ones who are delivering for you."
But Sherman explained that the issue is that "Republicans do not want to extend these Obamacare premium tax credits at all, period." So, the lawmakers returning to Washington to negotiate may not be effective because they're the ones refusing to reinstate the subsidies that weren't extended in the "Big Beautiful Bill."
Democrats "have effectively made a demand that most Republicans don't want."
MSNBC host Katy Tur mentioned the "optics of keeping the House out."
"Which is idiotic! It's absolutely idiotic!" exclaimed Sherman. "Like I cannot — and I'm sorry for interrupting you because Mike Johnson's mad, but I am mad, too, Katie. I mean, it is — it's crazy that in the middle of a now nine-day shutdown, the House is out of session. I mean, it's their job to be here. It's their job to legislate!"
He believes the shutdown might drag on longer because House members face no pressure since they're not in Washington.
Sherman speculated about the tipping point for Republicans on the Affordable Care Act subsidies, as many Americans will see premiums increase significantly.
"But the health care issue has been kryptonite for Republicans in the past," he added.