Shifting Power: The Rise of Mike Johnson

Warning: this episode contains strong language.

After 21 days without a leader, and after cycling through four nominees, House Republicans have finally elected a speaker. They chose Representative Mike Johnson of Louisiana, a hard-right conservative best known for leading congressional efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Luke Broadwater, a congressional reporter for The Times, was at the capitol when it happened.

Guest: Luke Broadwater, a congressional correspondent for The New York Times.

Background reading: 

• The House elected Mike Johnson as speaker, embracing a hard-right conservative.
• Speaker Johnson previously played a leading role in the effort to overturn the 2020 election results.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.