"The NPR Politics Podcast" features Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, and senior political editor Domenico Montanaro. They discuss the challenges faced by Speaker Johnson, including aid to Israel and Ukraine and the possibility of a government shutdown. They also analyze tightening polls in New Hampshire ahead of the primaries. The podcast delves into the influence of the Speaker of the House on public perception and explores topics such as Ron DeSantis' struggles, Biden's challenger, and the risks of discussing age in politics. Additionally, they touch on the intersection of masculinity in politics and sports.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson faces challenges in fundraising and establishing relationships with key figures, putting pressure on negotiations for bipartisan solutions.
Mike Johnson must navigate spending issues, foster bipartisanship, and maintain party unity to prevent a government shutdown.
Deep dives
Challenges Faced by New Speaker of the House
Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson, the new Speaker of the House, faces challenges in raising money for candidates and avoiding a potential government shutdown. While Johnson has the support of fellow members, fundraising success may be difficult to achieve compared to his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, who raised $500 million in the previous campaign cycle. Additionally, Johnson lacks established relationships with key figures like the Senate Majority Leader and President, which adds pressure to negotiate bipartisan solutions. A looming government shutdown further intensifies the need for effective leadership and cooperation.
The Pressure on Mike Johnson to Avoid Government Shutdown
As the government shutdown deadline approaches, new Speaker of the House Mike Johnson faces substantial pressure to navigate spending issues and foster bipartisanship. Republicans, still reeling from the prior speaker's downfall related to government spending, are reluctant to repeat that situation. To prevent a shutdown, Johnson is working towards a stopgap bill and temporarily extending government funding. However, as a relatively new figure in leadership, he lacks established relationships with key stakeholders, which adds complexity to the negotiation process. The challenge for Johnson lies in maintaining party unity, catering to both the right-wing and moderate factions, while still reaching agreements that can pass through the Senate and receive presidential approval.
Mike Johnson's Challenges in Aiding Israel and Ukraine
Beyond fundraising and avoiding a shutdown, Mike Johnson faces challenges in navigating the delicate issue of aid to Israel and Ukraine. Johnson's voting record, including a vote against aid to Ukraine, presents vulnerabilities that Democrats can exploit to portray Republicans as extremists. However, Johnson has attempted to address this by passing a bill that links aid to Israel with popular Republican priorities, such as reclaiming funding for IRS enforcement. The endgame for passing aid to both countries remains uncertain, but Johnson's ability to govern effectively and reach compromises will be key to securing bipartisan support and mitigating attacks from Democrats.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) has a lot on his agenda — aid to Israel and Ukraine, a looming government shutdown & more. He'll need bipartisan support to get things done, but how doable that is remains to be seen.
And, polls in New Hampshire are tightening ahead of January's primaries — even with a major candidate off the ballot entirely.
This episode: voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.
The podcast is edited by Casey Morell. It is produced by Elena Moore and Jeongyoon Han. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.
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