Today, senior national political correspondent Sahil Kapur examines House Speaker Mike Johnson's make-or-break week. On day 2 of Donald Trump's hush money trial, national political correspondent Steve Kornacki discusses how Manhattan has become a Democratic voter gold mine.
Nearly six months into his term, House Speaker Mike Johnson faces the largest challenge to his gavel: Republican Party divisions over aid to U.S. allies. After months of wavering and wasting his timeouts, he's calling the play: separate votes on four bills - aid for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and a variety of Republican national security concerns.
Israel funding could pass with primarily Republican support despite leftist objections. Ukraine loan help can pass with primarily Democratic support over conservative objections. GOP opponents of helping Ukraine can vote against it, and GOP supporters of arming the country to fight Russian aggression can stop criticizing Johnson.
Johnson's Republican opposition quadrupled Tuesday when Rep. Thomas Massie co-sponsored Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's motion to oust him as speaker. Massie said he's “pretty certain” Johnson has more GOP opponents than the eight who toppled McCarthy as speaker in October, but he didn't identify names.
Mike Johnson will try to win the Triple Crown against our base. He voted for a more expensive omnibus than Pelosi. To pass FISA without warrants, he weighed in. He's about to do Ukraine without securing our border, Massie said. This will be called and he will lose the vote.”
Johnson will have a startling one-vote majority after Friday. Johnson loses after two defections unless Democrats vote against a move to vacate. Although unlikely, some centrist Democrats believe they would do it if Johnson mentions Ukraine help.
“Then he goes further in the hole with Republicans,” Massie added. His presence poisons the conference. Each Democrat who supports him results in 2-3 additional Republican losses. Democrats saving him is unsustainable.”
Johnson can't govern with his far-right rebels, but he can't keep his job without them. McCarthy couldn't handle the same situation. Johnson has a smaller majority now.
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