'There's a lot of angst': CNN analyst finds freaked out Republicans heading home for Xmas

A CNN analyst revealed on Thursday that Republicans in Congress are feeling "a lot of angst" about being sent home ahead of the Christmas holiday.

On Wednesday, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced that he is closing the House of Representatives for the holiday season starting on Thursday, the day before the Department of Justice is supposed to release more of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Johnson dismissed lawmakers at a time when Republicans and Democrats have teamed up on a series of discharge petitions to force votes on federal health care subsidies and other issues.

CNN's Manu Raju texted in to the "Text Chain" on CNN's "The Arena" with Kasie Hunt that Republicans don't like Johnson's decision.

"Just caught up with a bunch of Republicans as the House left session for the year," Raju wrote. "There's a lot of angst right now about where the party is ahead of the midterms."

Democrats have won several key elections across the country by focusing their messaging on affordability. President Donald Trump, on the other hand, has described the word "affordability" as a "Democrat scam."

Trump gave a national address on Wednesday night that was billed as a speech about affordability. Instead of discussing policies that would address the rising cost of living, which is the number-one issue for many voters ahead of the midterm, Trump assailed the former administration and immigrants.

Raju asked Republicans if Trump's speech gave them any more confidence heading into the midterms.

"In short, the speech didn't change that," he wrote.