Mike Johnson brags about 'most productive Congress' after forcing 7-week hiatus

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) bragged that he had overseen the "most productive" Congress in history despite enacting a seven-week hiatus to force Democrats to agree to Republican demands during a government shutdown.

During an interview on Friday, Fox Business host Stuart Varney noted that Johnson was saddled with a "minuscule majority."

"We have one of the smallest margins in U.S. history," the speaker agreed. "And on any given day, two or three or four people may be upset or frustrated about something. They didn't get all their preferences, or they have different ideas."

"Because if we stay unified, there is absolutely nothing that we can't achieve," he continued. "But we've already demonstrated that, this Congress. We've had one of the most productive Congresses in the history of the institution."

Johnson pointed to "big legislation" like President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill that included tax cuts that largely benefited rich Americans.

He also predicted that Republicans would "flip blue seats to red because we're going to run on this extraordinary record" during the midterm elections.

"Do the Republicans have a messaging problem with affordability?" Varney wondered.

"No, it's just that we've had so many things to message," Johnson replied. "I mean, it's a blessing and a curse. The big, beautiful bill was aptly named because there was so much in it, so much policy. And there were so many things to message all at once."

"We are laser-focused on affordability, bringing down the cost of living," he added. "The president's agenda is going to be aggressive, and this Congress is going to deliver that. So as we go into the midterm cycle next year, you'll hear everything focused on that."

Johnson's remarks come as Republicans have failed to find a solution to rising health care costs.