All posts tagged "mike johnson"

Republicans upset by gerrymandering have their own words hurled back at them

Republicans have been doing 180s to defend their position on redistricting, undermining their insistence that they're guided by moral arguments, according to a new report.

The Bulwark highlighted a series of "pirouettes" by GOP leaders by comparing their statements on gerrymandering in Texas last year to what they said on the issue in the wake of Virginia voters paving the way for more Democratic seats.

GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson was in support of partisan redistricting in Texas last year, the Bulwark noted.

“Look, we have to fight for every inch of ground in the country,” Johnson said at the time. “I’m convinced the red states will, and we will probably have a few more seats out of that. And of course, that’s good news for me.”

The Virginia vote that favored the other side, however, was "a hyperpartisan gerrymandering boondoggle,” Johnson said to reporters.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) said in August that “frankly, we could probably be even more aggressive" about gerrymandering and taking seats for his party, and last week, he told Fox News that the move was "a reasonable thing for Texas to do."

In the same interview, however, he equated Virginia's move to "a million Karens in Arlington and Alexandria represent two-thirds of the commonwealth."

The double speak mirrors Trump, who said that Republicans were "entitled to five more seats" in Texas last year because he "won Texas" in his presidential bid.

When Virginia voters shot back, Trump called it a "travesty of 'Justice'" in a Truth Social post and asked the courts to step in because "the language on the Referendum was purposefully unintelligible and deceptive."

Mike Johnson faces 'absolutely brutal week' that will determine remainder of year: report

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is poised to have an "absolutely brutal week” as a confluence of challenges is all set to fall into his lap within a matter of days, challenges that present the House GOP leader with risks of losing support and are likely to “set the tone for the rest of the legislative year,” Punchbowl News reported on Monday.

On Thursday, a law that permits national intelligence agencies to surveil Americans in some instances – one President Donald Trump has pushed Congress to extend – is set to expire, and Johnson has yet to secure adequate support for a measure to extend it. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) remains unfunded, and a temporary measure funding DHS employees expires on Thursday.

Johnson has also promised to advance the Senate’s budget resolution ahead of funding DHS, a resolution that Republicans are looking to advance using reconciliation, a process by which a proposed budget is crafted to be budget neutral, and therefore, would only require a simple majority to move forward. Punchbowl News reported that a vote for the resolution is "envisioned for Wednesday.”

And, with a slim GOP majority in the House, Johnson is expected to face a fierce uphill battle, one that may force him to compromise with House Democrats, particularly with extending the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the aforementioned mass surveillance law.

“Johnson will likely need House Democrats one way or another here,” Punchbowl News’ report reads. “There’s not enough Democratic support for passing FISA under suspension, so Johnson may turn to pro-FISA Democrats to pass a rule. Republicans could need to make concessions to get those Democratic votes. The FISA bill is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday on the floor.”

Regarding the Senate’s budget resolution, Johnson is expected to release his plans on how he’ll advocate for the spending package using reconciliation, a process that Punchbowl News described as risky.

“Johnson will release this week a number of policies he’ll try to notch in Reconciliation 3.0,” Punchbowl News reported. “There’s a risk to this approach because Reconciliation 3.0 is far from a sure thing, and it could cost Johnson votes from moderates and conservatives alike.”

GOP lawmakers blast Mike Johnson over new 'delay game' because he doesn't 'have the votes'

GOP lawmakers have slammed Speaker of the House Mike Johnson for delaying a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security.

The prolonged closure has left employees at the Transportation Security Administration and other DHS agencies without regular pay, creating significant operational challenges across the department. The core dispute centers on funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol operations.

Senate Democrats have signaled firm opposition to Republican proposals that would provide unrestricted resources to these agencies without substantive immigration reform provisions. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that a House Republican continuing resolution aimed at ending the shutdown would be "dead on arrival" in the chamber.

Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune eventually agreed to pass a bipartisan Senate funding bill that reopens the DHS agency without ICE or Border Patrol funding.

But Johnson is facing criticism from GOP figures for initially opposing a Senate plan to fund the DHS excluding ICE. A week after ridiculing the Senate funding plan, Johnson fell in line with President Donald Trump who endorsed the funding proposal.

An anonymous Republican Party member believes Johnson does not have the backing required to pass a bill that would include Immigration and Customs Enforcement funding. They told The Hill, "I don’t think Johnson has the votes. There continues to be a delay game.

"First it was Johnson said we want to see you pass the budget resolution. Now it sounds like, ‘We want to pass the whole reconciliation [package].' I don't think there's anything we can do."

Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), a member of the House Freedom Caucus, added that this would likely be the final chance to address the funding issue.

Norman said, "This will probably be the last reconciliation we do before the end of the year. We got the break coming up, and it’s just we got to address — we got to put more to it than just this."

Senate Republicans voted yesterday (April 23) to allocate as much as $140 billion to ICE. The budget resolution was passed by a 50-48 vote. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has warned that payroll funding will be exhausted by early May if the shutdown continues.

Mike Johnson claims brutal election defeat in Virginia was a 'good sign' for GOP

GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson is confident that Republicans can still add to their congressional majority in November despite failing to keep Virginia voters from approving a gerrymandered map on Tuesday that could hand Democrats four seats and a 10-1 majority in the state.

"The Republican Party is going to keep and grow this majority," Speaker Johnson told reporters at the Capitol on Wednesday. "Last night was a good sign. Many of you thought that Republicans would not turn out for that ballot initiative vote, but they did in big numbers."

Earlier in the day, Johnson called on the Virginia Supreme Court to throw out the voter-approved redistricting map, calling it a "boondoggle." Moments later, Virginia official announced that a Virginia circuit court blocked the voter-approved gerrymandering, less than a day after it passed.

NEW: Speaker Johnson "absolutely convinced" the Republicans will grow the majority in the midterms.

"Last night was a good sign. Many of you thought that Republicans would not turn out for that ballot initiative vote, and they did in big numbers." pic.twitter.com/mrFdKVMpfE
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 22, 2026

'Boondoggle': Fuming Mike Johnson demands court strike down anti-Trump redistricting

The GOP Speaker of the House said he expects the Virginia Supreme Court to overturn the redistricting that state voters approved on Tuesday, and that gives Democrats a chance to add four House seats in November.

"It's a hyper-partisan, gerrymandering boondoggle," Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters at the Capitol on Wednesday. "We raised a ton of money. We did our best, but the Democrats in charge of Virginia foisted this upon the people."

Johnson reminded reporters that the state's Supreme Court can still have the final say, adding that "we are confident and calling upon the Virginia Supreme Court to do the obvious and right result. That is to strike this thing down."

Virginia is "a divided state. It is 50-50," Johnson said, referring to the split of Democratic and Republican voters.

"A 10-1 map is not justified in that state," Johnson continued. "The people showed it again last night. The fact that it was so close demonstrates and proves what we've been saying from the beginning."

Fox News posted a clip of Johnson's comments on X on Wednesday. In the comments, X user Chuks Chukwuemeka replied, "GOP guys are scared of the midterm elections? It will be pay back time for Trump and MAGA Republicans."

Others, like Trump voter Joe Masseria, said "Ron DeSantis needs to do some redistricting in Florida" to grab back the lost four seats.

“A HYPER-PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING BOONDOGGLE”

Speaker Mike Johnson not holding back on Democrats’ extreme redistricting move in Virginia that could FLIP control of the House after this year’s midterm elections.

Johnson says he is CONFIDENT that the state’s Supreme Court will… pic.twitter.com/OiTaiFl5Yx
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 22, 2026

Staunch Trump ally may bring down embattled Republican: report

Roger Stone, who has influenced the Republican Party since Richard Nixon's presidency, has apparently pushed Republicans to remove Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL) from office.

The longtime advisor to President Donald Trump reportedly told House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) that it was time for Mills to step down, The Daytona News Journal reported. While Democrats have led calls for Mills to resign or face expulsion, Stone has now publicly called for Mills to withdraw and leave Congress.

Stone has urged Mills to end his re-election bid or be expelled amid a special House ethics subcommittee investigation over sexual violence and/or dating violence against women.

"Rep. Cory Mills told the president that there was no restraining order against him in order to secure a presidential endorsement. Unfortunately, he LIED," Stone wrote on X.

"Time to flush this turd," Stone added.

Mills drafted an expulsion resolution against Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) to preempt her from doing the same. She had previously filed a censure measure — reviving a feud that started in November, The News Journal reported.

Stone's comments could mean future challenges for Mills, especially when it comes to support from the president and the GOP.

"Stone is considered an influential confidante of Trump who calls himself an 'agent provocateur,'" according to The News Journal. "The two go way back, long before Trump's 2015 presidential campaign announcement on the Trump Tower escalator."

Trump claims GOP 'unified' on plan to bypass Dems on ICE funding: 'I will sign an order'

President Donald Trump thanked Republican congressional leaders for standing down on the funding bill that would have ended the partial government shutdown — instead moving away from the bipartisan legislation and extending the ongoing stalemate.

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune had agreed on Wednesday to move forward with the bill but had reversed their decision by early Thursday. Now, Republicans have rejected the Senate’s bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security, according to The New York Times.

He wrote the following on his Truth Social platform:

"Thank you to all of our Great Congressional Republicans, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Senate Leader John Thune, for their work this week. Republicans are UNIFIED, and moving forward on a plan that will reload funding for our FANTASTIC Border Patrol and Immigration Enforcement Officers. Because the Democrats are fully and 100% committed to the Radical Left Policy of Open Borders and Zero Immigration Enforcement (which will hopefully cost them dearly in the Midterms!), allowing Murderers and Criminals of all types into our Country, totally unchecked and unvetted, I will soon sign an order to pay ALL of the incredible employees at the Department of Homeland Security. Their families have suffered far too long at the hands of the Extreme Liberal 'Leaders,' Cryin’ Chuck Schumer and Hakeem 'High Tax' Jeffries. Nevertheless, help is on the way for our Brave and Patriotic Public Servants who have continued to work hard, and do their part to protect and defend our Country. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP"

'You are all frauds!' MAGA loses its mind as Mike Johnson surrenders on DHS funding

MAGA lawmakers and loyalists fumed Wednesday after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) caved in a standoff to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

Johnson sided with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) in a joint statement, signaling that the partial government shutdown could be over, and agreeing to pass the bipartisan Senate funding bill that reopens the agency without Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol funding.

On social media, plenty of MAGA devotees pushed back on the news. And some weren't convinced that the move would happen.

"Let’s make this simple: caving to Democrats and not paying CBP and ICE is agreeing to defund Law Enforcement and leaving our borders wide open again. If that’s the vote, I’m a NO," Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) wrote on X.

"Funding for ICE and CBP must never be separated from DHS funding. If Republicans isolate it, they’re handing our border and ICE agents straight to the radicals who will defund and dismantle them every chance they get. Fund DHS fully, or the open borders globalists win," Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) wrote on X.

"NO! Thune will f* it up. Pass the Save American Act and nuke the filibuster," user Chiron, who shares pro-Trump and anti-vaccine content, wrote on X.

"YOU ARE ALL FRAUDS. TRUMP SAID HE WON'T SIGN ANYTHING UNTIL THE SAVE AMERICA ACT IS PASSED," user Midwest Mama, who shares MAGA conspiracy theories on social media, wrote on X.

'Speaker Johnson is flailing': Dems pile on as shutdown chaos engulfs the House

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was erupting on Friday as pressure mounted to fund the Department of Homeland Security and end the government shutdown while new bipartisan legislation headed to the House.

Johnson rejected a DHS funding bill passed overnight in the Senate and called it a "joke." The legislation would exclude federal immigration enforcement agencies from the major spending bill. The vote left House Republicans fighting over the next moves just as GOP senators had left town for Easter recess. Johnson said Republicans would introduce their own funding proposal in the House and push for more funding, despite the Senate's decision, which was likely to extend the shutdown.

"Speaker Johnson is flailing," Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) told Raw Story. "And the fastest way to end the shutdown and to pay TSA workers is to take up the Senate bill."

A question remained whether House lawmakers would vote on DHS funding on Friday.

“I hope so,” House Oversight Chair Rep. James Comer (R-KY) told Raw Story.

A new bipartisan DHS funding bill backed by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) could push the issue forward.

"It's really the only practical solution right now," Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) told Raw Story. "It fully funds DHS, but it also has significant reforms. Most of the reforms you've heard talked about, so mask removal, the requiring of warrants for criminal arrests, requiring warrants for sensitive search locations, like schools, like polling locations on Election Day — that hasn't even been talked about, that's here — churches, synagogues, hospitals, so all of those are protected."

The new legislation includes some of the terms Democrats have argued for throughout the stalemate.

"[It] creates uniformity amongst all law enforcement for training, requires identification, like I said, the removal of masks, so it does all of that and it fully funds DHS," Fitzpatrick added.

Fitzpatrick argued that this legislation addresses reforms among federal immigration agencies.

"So what the Senate sent over has no reforms. What the House is considering today has no reforms, and this whole debate's been about reforms, and nobody's offered it in either chamber. So Tom and I are introducing it today, and we're prepared to push it to the floor and force a floor vote."

Raw Story asked Fitzpatrick what the reception among his colleagues has been so far.

"I'll let you know. I mean, we just put it out today," Fitzpatrick said. "You know, we'll find out."

'Astounding to watch': CNN reporter floored as Johnson and Thune now on 'collision course'

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Sen. John Thune (R-SD) were at odds Friday after the Senate passed its DHS bill overnight to try to end the ongoing partial government shutdown.

Johnson announced on Friday that he would set forward his own legislation, which does not have enough support to pass, after the Senate bill passed, and called it "a joke." He said he wouldn't support it, despite the Senate Republicans' vote to support the bill to fund all agencies under the Department of Homeland Security except for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. DHS has been unfunded since February due to disputes over ICE and CBP’s often violent operations.

CNN congressional correspondent Lauren Fox described what was next on Capitol Hill as Johnson pushed forward the new legislation.

"The reality is he probably would have enough votes if he were to get some Democrats along with him," Fox said.

"And we heard from [House Minority Leader Hakeem] Jeffries earlier today that he said Democrats were willing to do whatever is necessary in order to end TSA workers not getting paid as soon as today. So the votes likely would have been there if he would have brought this to the floor. But obviously, he is facing a lot of pressure from conservatives in his conference who were not happy with what the Senate sent over in the middle of the night."

Johnson was visibly frustrated in front of a group of reporters on Friday.

"It was really astounding to watch the Speaker of the House highlight parts of this legislation he did not like, and then accused Republicans of having not possibly read the entirety of this bill if they were truly supportive of it," Fox said. "It's just a good reminder, like you noted, this bill was passed by voice vote in the middle of the night by the Senate. That means that at some point, there was a unanimous agreement that this was the path forward. And obviously, this puts him and Majority Leader John Thune on a collision course. John Thune is the Senate majority leader. And while he tried not to call out John Thune by name, and he tried to tap dance around the fact that Thune was responsible for putting this on the floor. Thune's the majority leader. Johnson can argue that this was Chuck Schumer's master plan all along, but he doesn't have control of the Senate floor. John Thune does."

Fox pointed to the apparent division among Republicans in the House and Senate.

"Clearly, there is daylight between those two Republican leaders," she added. "And I would also point out that Johnson said he spoke to Donald Trump, the president, just before he came out. That might give you an indication of where the president is right now. If the Speaker of the House felt comfortable coming out here and making such a juxtaposition to what Senate Republican leaders did just a few hours ago, I mean, clearly, this is not a shutdown that is going to end any time soon unless there is some really radical shift in Speaker Johnson's direction, given how forceful he just was, that does not look to be the case right now."