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Slate News

What Next: How Extremists Won the Speaker Fight

Oct 26, 2023
Tim Miller, political consultant and writer, discusses the unexpected rise of Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House and his erosion of trust. They also explore the evolution of Republican identity, the rise of Maggah Republicans, and key issues driving the party.
25:06

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Quick takeaways

  • Mike Johnson's election as Speaker of the House highlights the tension between his words about trust and self-governance and his promotion of election denialism and conspiracy theories.
  • Johnson's extremist views, including opposition to abortion rights, gay rights, and climate change denialism, may pose challenges in moderate districts and harm the party's prospects in future elections.

Deep dives

Mike Johnson Becomes Speaker of the House

Mike Johnson, a relatively unknown congressman from Louisiana, unexpectedly becomes Speaker of the House after weeks of leaderless chaos. Despite his lack of national recognition, Johnson delivers an introductory speech that offers a personal biography and emphasizes the importance of regaining institutional trust. However, critics argue that his actions, such as promoting election denialism and advancing conspiracy theories, contradict his words about trust and self-governance.

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