===mike johnson===
James Michael Johnson (born January 30, 1972) is an American politician and lawyer serving as the 56th speaker of the United States House of Representatives since October 25, 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he is in his fourth House term, having represented Louisiana's 4th congressional district since 2017. Johnson is a graduate of the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. Before entering politics, he worked as an attorney in private practice and for Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF); at ADF, he advocated for sodomy laws and criminalizing homosexuality, writing an amicus brief that opposed the eventual U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Lawrence v. Texas (2003). A young-earth creationist, Johnson sat on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention between 2004 and 2012.
Johnson's political career began when he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 2015; he served in that body until 2017. He was first elected to represent Louisiana's 4th congressional district in 2016. He has been identified as a member of the Christian right. During his time in Congress, he contested the results of the 2020 presidential election on the House floor and in court. He supported bills that would institute a nationwide ban on abortion. Johnson was chair of the Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus of conservatives in Congress, from 2019 to 2021. He was vice chair of the House Republican Conference from 2021 to 2023.
Johnson's political career began when he was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 2015; he served in that body until 2017. He was first elected to represent Louisiana's 4th congressional district in 2016. He has been identified as a member of the Christian right. During his time in Congress, he contested the results of the 2020 presidential election on the House floor and in court. He supported bills that would institute a nationwide ban on abortion. Johnson was chair of the Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus of conservatives in Congress, from 2019 to 2021. He was vice chair of the House Republican Conference from 2021 to 2023.
GOP lawmakers conflate standard FBI policies with an assassination attempt on Trump
It didn’t take long after a jury found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts in his New York hush money trial for Republicans to quickly jump to their presumptive presidential nominee’s defense. Speaker Mike Johnson, second in line to the presidency and the top Republican on Capitol Hill, called it a “shameful day in American history.” “This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one,” Johnson claimed. (NBC News 5/21/24)READ MORE>>>>>
It didn’t take long after a jury found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts in his New York hush money trial for Republicans to quickly jump to their presumptive presidential nominee’s defense. Speaker Mike Johnson, second in line to the presidency and the top Republican on Capitol Hill, called it a “shameful day in American history.” “This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one,” Johnson claimed. (NBC News 5/21/24)READ MORE>>>>>
'Shameful': Republicans quickly come to Trump's defense after his conviction
It didn’t take long after a jury found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts in his New York hush money trial for Republicans to quickly jump to their presumptive presidential nominee’s defense. Speaker Mike Johnson, second in line to the presidency and the top Republican on Capitol Hill, called it a “shameful day in American history.” “This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one,” Johnson claimed. The House leader, who also traveled to Manhattan to show his support for Trump at the courthouse earlier this month, went on to try to paint the proceeding as biased -- parroting unfounded claims from the former president himself that the justice system has been politically weaponized against him. "The American people see this as lawfare, and they know it is wrong -- and dangerous,” Johnson said. “President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdict -- and he WILL WIN!" (ABC News 5/30/24)READ MORE>>>>>
It didn’t take long after a jury found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts in his New York hush money trial for Republicans to quickly jump to their presumptive presidential nominee’s defense. Speaker Mike Johnson, second in line to the presidency and the top Republican on Capitol Hill, called it a “shameful day in American history.” “This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one,” Johnson claimed. The House leader, who also traveled to Manhattan to show his support for Trump at the courthouse earlier this month, went on to try to paint the proceeding as biased -- parroting unfounded claims from the former president himself that the justice system has been politically weaponized against him. "The American people see this as lawfare, and they know it is wrong -- and dangerous,” Johnson said. “President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdict -- and he WILL WIN!" (ABC News 5/30/24)READ MORE>>>>>
Schiff ‘flabbergasted’ at Johnson appearance outside Trump courthouse
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said he was flabbergasted that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) made an appearance at former President Trump’s hush money trial in New York this week, slamming House Republicans who showed up as greedy for power. Schiff was asked by MSNBC’s Alex Wagner on Thursday evening about his thoughts on the gaggle of Republican lawmakers who traveled to Manhattan to support the former president as he sits in court. “I have so many thoughts and let me start with the Speaker because, I have to say, I was flabbergasted that he would go and make that pilgrimage, stand outside that courthouse and lie about what was going on inside the building,” Schiff said. “It’s bad enough that he lacks the self-respect that he feels he needs to go and kiss the ring in such a public and debasing way, but also for him to denigrate the justice system, for him to make the knowingly false claim that this trial was designed to keep Trump off the campaign trial, he knows better than that,” Schiff continued. (The Hill 5/17/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said he was flabbergasted that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) made an appearance at former President Trump’s hush money trial in New York this week, slamming House Republicans who showed up as greedy for power. Schiff was asked by MSNBC’s Alex Wagner on Thursday evening about his thoughts on the gaggle of Republican lawmakers who traveled to Manhattan to support the former president as he sits in court. “I have so many thoughts and let me start with the Speaker because, I have to say, I was flabbergasted that he would go and make that pilgrimage, stand outside that courthouse and lie about what was going on inside the building,” Schiff said. “It’s bad enough that he lacks the self-respect that he feels he needs to go and kiss the ring in such a public and debasing way, but also for him to denigrate the justice system, for him to make the knowingly false claim that this trial was designed to keep Trump off the campaign trial, he knows better than that,” Schiff continued. (The Hill 5/17/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Marjorie Taylor Greene’s fire was suddenly extinguished this week. She has made herself irrelevant
Marjorie Taylor Greene made sure to milk every moment of the six weeks since she filed her motion to vacate. Inexplicably, she regularly paraded around the Hill with her boyfriend — Right Side Broadcasting Network host Brian Glenn — and was often also accompanied by her cueballed press secretary Nick Dyer. When Greene finally actually called for a vote on Wednesday night and a group of centrist Republicans gathered, Glenn and Dyer watched on. Dyer lit a cigarette. Glenn told me he supported his girlfriend “one hundred per cent.” Greene relished the fact that amid multiple important votes in Congress — including lawmakers passing legislation to keep the government open and assisting allies like Ukraine — all of the reporters huddled around her and asked for her thoughts. This happened despite the fact that she never had the votes to depose Mike Johnson. She didn’t really have anything serious to offer him, either. When she finally pulled her motion to vacate on Wednesday, she enraged Republicans and Democrats alike for the simple reason that they were all about to go home early. It was just before a final round of votes, after which the House had already decided to let everyone leave. That might have been why representatives from both sides groaned, hollered and heckled her. (The Independent 5/9/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Marjorie Taylor Greene made sure to milk every moment of the six weeks since she filed her motion to vacate. Inexplicably, she regularly paraded around the Hill with her boyfriend — Right Side Broadcasting Network host Brian Glenn — and was often also accompanied by her cueballed press secretary Nick Dyer. When Greene finally actually called for a vote on Wednesday night and a group of centrist Republicans gathered, Glenn and Dyer watched on. Dyer lit a cigarette. Glenn told me he supported his girlfriend “one hundred per cent.” Greene relished the fact that amid multiple important votes in Congress — including lawmakers passing legislation to keep the government open and assisting allies like Ukraine — all of the reporters huddled around her and asked for her thoughts. This happened despite the fact that she never had the votes to depose Mike Johnson. She didn’t really have anything serious to offer him, either. When she finally pulled her motion to vacate on Wednesday, she enraged Republicans and Democrats alike for the simple reason that they were all about to go home early. It was just before a final round of votes, after which the House had already decided to let everyone leave. That might have been why representatives from both sides groaned, hollered and heckled her. (The Independent 5/9/24) READ MORE>>>>>
DEMOCRATS MAY BLOCK MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE FROM OUSTING MIKE JOHNSON
Transcript via: MSNBC/Inside with Jen Psaki:
PSAKI: Even before then, I mean, there are members of the Republican Party who are threatening — Marjorie Taylor Greene, of course — threatening to oust Speaker Johnson. And the real possibility is that an alternative could be worse. I mean, this is a crazy time we’re living in. Would you support him, vote for him as speaker if that were up to you? Or would — do you think other Democrats would?
SCHIFF: I think what would likely happen if they go forward with this motion to try to unseat him because he brought Ukraine funding to the floor, you would have a significant enough group of Democrats who simply walk away and don’t vote, which, frankly, would probably be the right result. I don’t think it does the speaker any good to have Democrats responsible for saving him. But Republicans would essentially be voting for the speaker. It’s just that the vote threshold would be lowered, so that the votes of the crazies, the Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Gosar, et cetera, are not preventing the House from governing in any way.
(PoliticusUSA 4/29/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Transcript via: MSNBC/Inside with Jen Psaki:
PSAKI: Even before then, I mean, there are members of the Republican Party who are threatening — Marjorie Taylor Greene, of course — threatening to oust Speaker Johnson. And the real possibility is that an alternative could be worse. I mean, this is a crazy time we’re living in. Would you support him, vote for him as speaker if that were up to you? Or would — do you think other Democrats would?
SCHIFF: I think what would likely happen if they go forward with this motion to try to unseat him because he brought Ukraine funding to the floor, you would have a significant enough group of Democrats who simply walk away and don’t vote, which, frankly, would probably be the right result. I don’t think it does the speaker any good to have Democrats responsible for saving him. But Republicans would essentially be voting for the speaker. It’s just that the vote threshold would be lowered, so that the votes of the crazies, the Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Gosar, et cetera, are not preventing the House from governing in any way.
(PoliticusUSA 4/29/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Marjorie Taylor Greene Says Mike Johnson Has Turned Into A 'Mini Tyrant': 'We Need A New Speaker'
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for his alleged autocratic behavior and backroom dealings with Democrats. The tweet was posted on Tuesday. What Happened: Greene, in her tweet, accused Mike Johnson of becoming a “mini tyrant.” She alleged that he was using underhanded tactics with Democrats to alter the rules of Congress, thereby maintaining his power and pushing through the agendas of President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). (Benzinga 4/18/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for his alleged autocratic behavior and backroom dealings with Democrats. The tweet was posted on Tuesday. What Happened: Greene, in her tweet, accused Mike Johnson of becoming a “mini tyrant.” She alleged that he was using underhanded tactics with Democrats to alter the rules of Congress, thereby maintaining his power and pushing through the agendas of President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader
Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). (Benzinga 4/18/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Marjorie Taylor Green Pushes To Kick Out Speaker Mike Johnson: What Do Voters Think?
Greene has become upset with Johnson over his support for Ukraine funding, which has led to name-calling and labeling her Republican counterpart as a Democrat and someone who doesn't support Republican values. While Greene doesn't support Johnson and wants him gone, Republican voters don't appear to feel the same way.
A recent Morning Consult poll of registered Republican voters showed Johnson with higher favorable ratings than unfavorable ratings.
(Bezinga 4/9/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Greene has become upset with Johnson over his support for Ukraine funding, which has led to name-calling and labeling her Republican counterpart as a Democrat and someone who doesn't support Republican values. While Greene doesn't support Johnson and wants him gone, Republican voters don't appear to feel the same way.
A recent Morning Consult poll of registered Republican voters showed Johnson with higher favorable ratings than unfavorable ratings.
(Bezinga 4/9/24) READ MORE>>>>>
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Mike Johnson Warns GOP Can't Bank on His 'Hail Mary Passes'
House Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican representative, said that he can't "throw Hail Mary passes on every play" to help Republicans amid an evaporating House majority. Republicans hold a narrow majority in the lower chamber of Congress, with 218 seats compared to Democrats' 213. There are four vacancies, as both parties vie for House control next year. Republican Representative Ken Buck of Colorado on March 12 announced his sudden departure from his congressional seat, while Representative Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin last week announced his plan to resign on April 19 (MSN 3/30/24) READ MORE>>>>> |
Political analyst Craig Agranoff on Friday told Newsweek, "Johnson's metaphor of not being able to throw 'Hail Mary' passes to pass legislation in the face of a dwindling majority is quite telling of the current dynamics within the Republican Party." |
McCarthy to Johnson: ‘Do not be fearful of a motion to vacate’
Former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was ousted from the Speakership last year, advised Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Sunday not to be afraid of a motion to vacate. On CBS’s “Face the Nation, ” McCarthy was asked whether the “chaos” within the GOP conference is driving Republican lawmakers to retire from the House or leave their terms early. He referenced his experience being booted from the leadership position last year, saying that the motion to vacate him created “chaos.” (The Hill 3/24/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was ousted from the Speakership last year, advised Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Sunday not to be afraid of a motion to vacate. On CBS’s “Face the Nation, ” McCarthy was asked whether the “chaos” within the GOP conference is driving Republican lawmakers to retire from the House or leave their terms early. He referenced his experience being booted from the leadership position last year, saying that the motion to vacate him created “chaos.” (The Hill 3/24/24) READ MORE>>>>>
Speaker Johnson warns Senate against border deal, suggesting it will be 'dead on arrival' in House
House Speaker Mike Johnson took a strong stand Friday against a bipartisan Senate deal to pair border enforcement measures with Ukraine aid, sending a letter to colleagues that aligns him with hardline conservatives determined to sink the compromise on border and immigration policy. Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said that the legislation would have been “dead on arrival in the House” if leaked reports about the legislation were true. While the core group of senators negotiating the deal have not yet released text of the bill, it has nevertheless come under fire from Republicans, including Donald Trump, the likely presidential nominee, who eviscerated the deal this week as a political “gift” to Democrats.
(Stephen Groves/Clinton Herald 1/26/24) READ MORE>>>>>
House Speaker Mike Johnson took a strong stand Friday against a bipartisan Senate deal to pair border enforcement measures with Ukraine aid, sending a letter to colleagues that aligns him with hardline conservatives determined to sink the compromise on border and immigration policy. Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said that the legislation would have been “dead on arrival in the House” if leaked reports about the legislation were true. While the core group of senators negotiating the deal have not yet released text of the bill, it has nevertheless come under fire from Republicans, including Donald Trump, the likely presidential nominee, who eviscerated the deal this week as a political “gift” to Democrats.
(Stephen Groves/Clinton Herald 1/26/24) READ MORE>>>>>
‘Border Security’ Is the New Tool to Block Regular Business
A partial government shutdown was slated to begin this Friday at midnight until Congress—primarily the House of Representatives—got its act together. As part of the “laddered” continuing resolution passed in November, federal funding was extended at the levels of fiscal year 2023 but split into two tranches covering two different areas of government. Each funding stream was then given its own expiration date: The first was this weekend; the next fell on Friday, February 2. Those dates have now been pushed back to March 1 and March 8 after both the Senate and House today passed another stopgap measure to keep everything as it is. The next step will be the passage of the budget deal that House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed upon and announced early last week, which would fund the government through the rest of the fiscal year to the tune of $1.66 trillion (at least everyone hopes). The Republican wins in the deal include clawing back some Internal Revenue Service enforcement money and a big chunk of unspent COVID funds (about $6 billion). The Democrats’ wins include hanging on to most of the status quo and making sure the lights stay on. It could be worse. (Joe Perticone/The Bulwark 1/18/24)
READ MORE>>>>>
A partial government shutdown was slated to begin this Friday at midnight until Congress—primarily the House of Representatives—got its act together. As part of the “laddered” continuing resolution passed in November, federal funding was extended at the levels of fiscal year 2023 but split into two tranches covering two different areas of government. Each funding stream was then given its own expiration date: The first was this weekend; the next fell on Friday, February 2. Those dates have now been pushed back to March 1 and March 8 after both the Senate and House today passed another stopgap measure to keep everything as it is. The next step will be the passage of the budget deal that House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed upon and announced early last week, which would fund the government through the rest of the fiscal year to the tune of $1.66 trillion (at least everyone hopes). The Republican wins in the deal include clawing back some Internal Revenue Service enforcement money and a big chunk of unspent COVID funds (about $6 billion). The Democrats’ wins include hanging on to most of the status quo and making sure the lights stay on. It could be worse. (Joe Perticone/The Bulwark 1/18/24)
READ MORE>>>>>
House Speaker Mike Johnson knocks Biden for ‘catastrophe’ at border during Texas visit
House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized President Joe Biden on Wednesday for the “mayhem” he witnessed at the US-Mexico border, saying in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper that the Biden administration isn’t doing its job. “This catastrophe can come to an end if the Biden administration will do its job, and they refuse to do it,” he said.
(Jeremy Herb/CNN 1/3/24)
READ MORE>>>>>
House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized President Joe Biden on Wednesday for the “mayhem” he witnessed at the US-Mexico border, saying in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper that the Biden administration isn’t doing its job. “This catastrophe can come to an end if the Biden administration will do its job, and they refuse to do it,” he said.
(Jeremy Herb/CNN 1/3/24)
READ MORE>>>>>
Zorek Richards
December 7, 2023:
Mike Johnson said yesterday that the Lord told me “very clearly" to prepare to become "Moses."🙄 Of course, God never even told Moses that he was going to become Moses..or that he would part the Red Sea. As with any faux religious leader he is laying the groundwork for himself by himself. Johnson is self delusional...and people like him see criticism as attacks by "Satan" because of the special call he is claiming God put on his life. The real tragedy though is that there are American evangelicals who will believe him.
Mike Johnson said yesterday that the Lord told me “very clearly" to prepare to become "Moses."🙄 Of course, God never even told Moses that he was going to become Moses..or that he would part the Red Sea. As with any faux religious leader he is laying the groundwork for himself by himself. Johnson is self delusional...and people like him see criticism as attacks by "Satan" because of the special call he is claiming God put on his life. The real tragedy though is that there are American evangelicals who will believe him.
'Orange Jesus' and a note from George W. Bush: 5 takeaways from Republican Liz Cheney's book
Former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., is one of former President Donald Trump’s most vocal critics. But she has few kind words for other prominent Republicans in her new book. In her book “Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning,” released Tuesday, Cheney criticizes Trump and targets House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and other Republicans who have stood by the former president.
(Marina Pitofsky/USA Today 12/6/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
Former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., is one of former President Donald Trump’s most vocal critics. But she has few kind words for other prominent Republicans in her new book. In her book “Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning,” released Tuesday, Cheney criticizes Trump and targets House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and other Republicans who have stood by the former president.
(Marina Pitofsky/USA Today 12/6/23)
READ MORE>>>>>
November 6, 2023:
House Speaker Mike Johnson hasn't disclosed a bank account or asset on a financial disclosure going back to 2016: "I am a man of modest mean," he says. I have a really hard time believing that. He is hiding something. This is something Rep James Comer should jump right into and investigate...but, of course, Comer is too busy chasing unicorns and rainbows to undermine Joe Biden.
Here’s where Speaker Mike Johnson stands on the issues
No one knew that Louisiana lawyer Mike Johnson would be House speaker even a few days ago. But now that Johnson has somehow nabbed one of the most pivotal positions in Washington — after serving fewer than eight years in the House — everyone is scrambling to figure out where he stands on a slew of policies.
(Politico 10/25/23) Read More>>>>>
No one knew that Louisiana lawyer Mike Johnson would be House speaker even a few days ago. But now that Johnson has somehow nabbed one of the most pivotal positions in Washington — after serving fewer than eight years in the House — everyone is scrambling to figure out where he stands on a slew of policies.
(Politico 10/25/23) Read More>>>>>
Jan 13, 2023: The House has passed a resolution (H. Con. Res. 3), sponsored by Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., to condemn recent attacks on pro-life groups and facilities and ask the Biden administration to deploy law enforcement agencies to combat such attacks. Johnson said: “We condemn violence, property damage, threats, and intimidation tactics, and these clear violations of federal and state laws must be prosecuted.” The vote, on Jan. 11, was 222 yeas to 209 nays. (Clinton Herald)