Former President Donald Trump is currently on trial in New York on charges of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made before the 2016 election [160a424a]. The jury selection process was completed quickly, and now twelve jurors and six alternates are sitting in judgment of the former president. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing increasing pressure from multiple sources regarding the question of aid to Ukraine. On one side, he is being threatened by angry Republicans who oppose providing further funding, while on the other side, he is receiving calls from Democrats and global leaders demanding action. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has even threatened to move forward with a motion to oust Johnson if he brings up an aid package [d14ba087]. Additionally, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron has called on Johnson to push through an aid package and has urged his European counterparts to do the same [160a424a]. Democrats are also adding to the pressure by demanding that other humanitarian assistance be bundled into a foreign aid bill. Given the deep divisions among Republicans, Democrats may have leverage over the details of the aid package as their support will be needed to pass it in the House. However, Republicans are likely to oppose any additional humanitarian funds. Johnson is now faced with making decisions and addressing challenges if he wants to meet the urgent calls for more aid to Ukraine. It is uncertain whether a Ukraine aid bill will come to the floor next week when lawmakers return from their recess, but it is more likely to happen the following week [160a424a].
In a new development, House Speaker Johnson has announced plans to offer an aid bill for Israel in the coming days. This move comes in response to Iran's weekend attack and aims to advance war-time aid to Israel. However, Johnson did not clarify whether Ukraine funding would be part of the package. The American assistance for both nations has been caught up in political bickering in Congress, with Johnson previously blocking a $95 billion aid package sought by President Joe Biden for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. Johnson is considering structuring the aid to Ukraine as a loan, as suggested by former President Donald Trump. President Biden has participated in a call with congressional leaders to address the 'urgent need' for the House to approve the bipartisan aid package that was passed by the Senate. Some House conservatives are pushing for stricter US migration policies to be added to any security aid package [160a424a].
In a recent update, House Speaker Johnson has outlined a $95 billion foreign aid package after intense discussions with ultra-conservatives. He expects to bring it to a vote on Saturday. The package will be split, allowing separate votes on assistance for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan [382d583f].
The pressure on House Speaker Johnson continues to mount as he navigates the complex dynamics surrounding aid to Ukraine and the new plans for an aid bill for Israel. The decisions he makes will have significant implications for both countries and will test his ability to navigate the political challenges within Congress. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has been running a spirited presidential campaign, traveling to various locations to push his economic populism. However, his economic pitch may be a hard sell to Americans feeling the impact of inflation and housing market challenges. The International Monetary Fund has expressed concerns about the US economy overheating compared to other countries. Despite these challenges, Biden remains committed to securing another term as president [160a424a].
House Speaker Johnson has defied his caucus and passed an aid package for Ukraine with mostly Democratic votes. The bill was passed after Johnson prayed and felt that helping Ukraine was the right thing to do. The nutter GOP rump caucus, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, is calling for Johnson's resignation. Johnson made a deal with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to bring the Ukraine bill to the floor in exchange for Democrats voting to keep him in the Speaker's chair. Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude to the United States House of Representatives for their decision. Johnson's actions are seen as a bare minimum of decency and commitment to democracy. Johnson gained access to more security briefings as Speaker of the House, which may have influenced his decision to help Ukraine [ee730f64].
Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has announced that she will force a vote next week to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson. Greene criticized Johnson for abandoning conservative principles and fully funding President Joe Biden's agenda. She argued that her fight against Johnson is about helping Donald Trump and ensuring Republicans control the House when the 2017 tax cuts expire. Representative Thomas Massie supported Greene's motion and called on Johnson to resign. Johnson responded by saying the motion is wrong for the Republican Conference and the country. Once Greene formally calls for a vote, House Republican leaders will schedule a vote within two days, but they'll likely table the motion [d14ba087].
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and his allies defeated an effort by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to oust him from power. The vote to kill Greene's motion to vacate the speaker's chair was 359-43. Just 10 Republicans voted with Greene, while a majority of Democrats voted to save Johnson. Johnson expressed appreciation for the support and called for an end to personality politics. Greene's campaign lacked momentum among her colleagues, and her resolution to oust Johnson did not gain much support. The vote saves Johnson's job temporarily, but another vote on his fate could be forced in the future. The 10 Republicans who voted against tabling the motion were Warren Davidson, Alex Mooney, Barry Moore, Victoria Spartz, Chip Roy, Eric Burlison, Paul Gosar, Eli Crane, and Andy Biggs. Johnson's allies criticized Greene's actions and emphasized the need for unity within the party. Former President Donald Trump expressed support for Greene but called for party unity and requested Republicans to vote to table her motion. Johnson sought out Greene and Massie after the vote to discuss their actions. [283bbaeb]
Hardline Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene failed to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson in a vote of 359-43. This rejection does not guarantee an end to the GOP chaos. Johnson's leadership was criticized as 'pathetic, weak, and unacceptable'. The vote shows the limits of Johnson's hold on the gavel and the risks ahead for any Republican trying to lead the GOP. Without Democratic help, Johnson would have faced a more dismal outcome. However, relying on Democratic backing risks inciting criticism that he is insufficiently loyal to the party. The threat of ousting the speaker still lingers. Trump provided support for Johnson but it's not guaranteed going forward. Greene's effort to oust Johnson cooled in recent days, but she pressed ahead with the vote. Democrats helped save Johnson's job for now but have made it clear their help was for this moment alone. Greene's move poses political risks for her and puts her colleagues in an uncomfortable position. If Republicans keep pushing to oust the speaker, failure is expected. Last year, chaos ensued when Republicans voted to remove McCarthy from the speaker's office. The vote would have ended differently for Johnson if Democrats had not helped. [50ab82da]
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has survived an attempt to remove him from his position, but his future as leader of the Republican caucus remains uncertain. Johnson, who became speaker in October, faced an ouster attempt by Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, but was able to retain his position with the support of his party's majority and from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. However, Johnson's chances of remaining Republican House leader next year are diminished due to opposition from party hardliners. Despite this, Johnson has gained positive reviews for his performance on spending bills and aid to U.S. allies. He has also relied on Democrats to help him avoid government shutdowns and safeguard U.S. efforts against terrorism. Johnson's open-door strategy and willingness to work with members from both parties have drawn criticism from some Republicans, who view his support from Democrats as a negative. Johnson's conservative credentials and support for overturning the 2020 presidential election have also drawn criticism from progressive Democrats. [b0fe8ad2]
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana, has expressed support for House Speaker Mike Johnson, praising his efforts to get things done for the country. Cassidy commended Johnson for his leadership and stated that he is doing 'a fantastic job' [6564e7eb]. Cassidy also discussed the Social Security and Medicare trust funds' annual report, which predicts insolvency by 2033 and 2036 respectively. He criticized the Biden administration for not having a plan to address the issue and proposed his own plan called 'The Big Idea,' which involves investing $1.5 trillion over five years into a separate investment fund. Cassidy plans to repeal certain programs and make minor tweaks to ensure the debt is paid off. President Biden opposes Republican proposals to cut Social Security and Medicare [6564e7eb].