THE DAILY BLAST with Greg Sargent Mike Johnson Rattled by New Revolt as MAGA-GOP Fury Boils: “Bullshit!”
Dec 18, 2025
Grace Seegers, a staff writer for The New Republic focusing on Congress and policy, joins to dissect the rising tensions within the GOP. The discussion highlights a revolt among House Republicans against Speaker Mike Johnson over Affordable Care Act subsidies, with tempers flaring on both sides. Seegers provides insight into the electoral motives behind the dissenters, the potential fallout from expiring subsidies, and the broader implications for health care access. It's a deep dive into a party at odds and the human costs of political strife.
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Discharge Petition Is Largely Symbolic
- Four House Republicans filed a discharge petition to force a 2026 House vote to extend expiring ACA subsidies.
- Even if passed in the House, the subsidies will likely remain expired by then and face Senate and filibuster barriers.
Moderates Publicly Break With Leadership
- Vulnerable Republicans like Mike Lawler publicly blasted Speaker Mike Johnson for blocking the vote, calling it "absolute bullshit."
- These members hope signaling support will protect them electorally in 2026 despite limited policy impact.
Ideology Drives Leadership Resistance
- Mike Johnson resists the vote largely for ideological reasons and to placate the conservative flank that opposes ACA spending.
- His razor-thin House majority and factional tensions make controlling the floor difficult.