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'Nonsense, look at the facts': Mike Johnson bristles during tense CNN interview

(Screengrab via CNN)

'Nonsense, look at the facts': Mike Johnson bristles during tense CNN interview

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) bristled during an intense interview with CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins on Tuesday night in the hours leading up to a federal government shutdown.

As Johnson repeatedly accused Democrats during the tense back-and-forth of deciding not to keep the government open, Collins pressed him on whether his position is that he won't negotiate with the opposing party unless the government remains open.

"Yes, there's nothing to negotiate," he said. "There literally is nothing I can pull out of the [continuing resolution] and make it better. It is a nonpartisan CR that they already voted for."

He noted that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) previously voted for the exact same funding bill in March.

"The only thing that changed between now and then is he's in more political jeopardy," Johnson continued.

When Collins noted that President Donald Trump's marquee spending bill also passed since that vote, which included Medicaid cuts and work requirements that have become a major part of their sticking points, Johnson bristled.

"Nonsense. Look at the facts," he shot back.

Earlier in the interview, Collins pushed back on Johnson's claims that Democrats were trying to provide "free health care" for immigrants in the latest government funding bill, which has been a primary Republican talking point heading into the imminent government shutdown.

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