Weekly Roundup: Johnson Ouster Threat, Biden's New App
Mar 22, 2024
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House Speaker Mike Johnson faces ouster threat after relying on Democratic votes for government funding deal. Biden's campaign launches app 'Reach' to engage voters. Podcast covers political tensions, funding battles, and the impact of new apps on campaigns.
House Speaker Mike Johnson faces ouster threat for relying on Democratic votes to pass government funding, stirring discontent among House Republicans.
Biden's 'Reach' app leverages personal contacts to engage skeptical voters, highlighting the power of trusted relationships in political outreach.
Lil Nas X completes NYC half marathon untrained, showcasing unexpected physical prowess and spontaneous decision-making skills.
Deep dives
House Republicans' Opposition to Spending Bills
House Republicans express discontent with the passing of annual spending bills that include funding for programs they are against, such as Homeland Security and health services. They criticize Speaker Johnson for relying on Democratic support and funding programs like LGBTQ youth services and reproductive health, triggering a motion to vacate the speakership.
Controversy Surrounding Biden's Support for Ukraine
Speaker Johnson faces challenges in supporting Ukraine as Marjorie Taylor Greene opposes any funding efforts for Ukraine, complicating bipartisan relationships. The Biden administration expresses satisfaction with the spending bill outcome, while Republicans rally support for Israel, causing division among Democrats.
Biden Campaign's Outreach Strategy
The Biden campaign introduces the 'Reach' app aiming to engage voters via personal contacts to counter political disengagement. The app utilizes volunteers' contacts to target potential voters who are skeptical of traditional political engagement, emphasizing the role of trusted personal connections in political messaging.
Bonus: Lil Nas X's Impromptu Half Marathon
Young rapper Lil Nas X surprises by completing the New York City half marathon without prior training, opting for fashion sneakers instead of running shoes, highlighting his impressive physical feat and spur-of-the-moment decision-making abilities.
Bonus: Email Blunder in Campaign Concession Announcement
A campaign staffer mistakenly sends out a concession email prematurely, creating an awkward political moment promptly rectified with another email retracting the premature concession. The incident sheds light on the campaign's preparedness and communication protocols during election events.
The House of Representatives reached a deal on government funding, but Speaker Mike Johnson again had to rely on Democratic votes to pass the bill. Now, he's facing an ouster threat.
And the Biden campaign is trying a new approach to engage hard-to-reach voters as some Americans are trying to tune out politics: an app called Reach, which helps to turn volunteers into trusted influencers of their friends and loved ones.
This episode: political correspondent Susan Davis, senior white House correspondent Tamara Keith, and congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh.
Our producers are Jeongyoon Han, Casey Morell & Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.
Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.