On ninth day of government shutdown, Johnson says Democrats are performing ‘political theater’
As the government shutdown enters its ninth day, Mike Johnson continued to blame Democratic lawmakers for the lapse in funding.
“It’s political theater to them. They’ve reduced Americans pain to a political problem,” Johnson said, while chiding Chuck Schumer, the Senate’s top Democrat, for a remark he made in an interview with Punchbowl News. “He says, quote, ‘every day of the shutdown gets better for us’. What the heck is he talking about?”
Johnson noted that he spoke to Donald Trump on Wednesday night, following the news of the first phase of the peace deal in Gaza: “He and I both lament, we all do, this terrible situation that we’re in while we’re working to do all these positive things for the people and even settle conflicts around the world.”
Key events
Trump announces former housing secretary will receive presidential medal of freedom
Donald Trump announced that Dr Ben Carson, the former neurosurgeon who served as the president’s secretary for housing and urban development (HUD) during his first administration, will receive a presidential medal of freedom.
“He [Carson] is a true American Patriot who cares deeply for the people of our Country, and never stops working to protect and strengthen Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, for all,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Carson, who was recently sworn in as the national nutrition adviser at the Department of Agriculture (USDA), is now working closely with health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, and agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins, in his new role.
Turning Point USA announces Super Bowl half-time show counter programming
Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the conservative nonprofit founded by the late right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, announced that it will air the “All American Halftime Show” – counter programming to the main event, where Bad Bunny will perform.
TPUSA hasn’t yet confirmed the details or performers, or where viewers will be able to watch their alternative to the Super Bowl half-time show. The organization has published a form asking supporters to list their preferences for music genres.
The options begin with “anything in English”, a pointed remark at Bad Bunny, who performs in Spanish, and has angered many Republicans after he was selected to be the performer for the widely watched half-time show.
This week, House speaker Mike Johnson told reporters that it was “a terrible decision” to choose Bad Bunny, despite admitting to not knowing who he is.
“In my view you would have someone like Lee Greenwood, or role models doing it,” Johnson said, referring to the country singer best known for his song ‘God Bless the USA’.
Soon, we’ll hear from Donald Trump at his eighth cabinet meeting since he returned to office. We’ll bring you the latest lines as they come through.
Per my last post, members of the military stand to miss their next paycheck on 15 October if a funding bill isn’t passed, or lawmakers don’t pass a stand alone bill to ensure service members are paid during the shutdown.
Johnson sidesteps question about stand alone bill to keep military paid, blaming Democrats
When asked about passing a stand alone bill to keep members of the military paid, Johnson was evasive today, suggesting it was off the table. He added that separate legislation wouldn’t be needed if Senate Democrats advance the House-passed funding bill.
“We sent a totally clean document over there, because we’re operating in good faith,” Johnson said. “We put that bill on the floor, and the Republicans voted to pay the troops. TSA, agent, border patrol, air traffic control, everybody else. The Democrats voted no.”
On ninth day of government shutdown, Johnson says Democrats are performing ‘political theater’
As the government shutdown enters its ninth day, Mike Johnson continued to blame Democratic lawmakers for the lapse in funding.
“It’s political theater to them. They’ve reduced Americans pain to a political problem,” Johnson said, while chiding Chuck Schumer, the Senate’s top Democrat, for a remark he made in an interview with Punchbowl News. “He says, quote, ‘every day of the shutdown gets better for us’. What the heck is he talking about?”
Johnson noted that he spoke to Donald Trump on Wednesday night, following the news of the first phase of the peace deal in Gaza: “He and I both lament, we all do, this terrible situation that we’re in while we’re working to do all these positive things for the people and even settle conflicts around the world.”
Johnson says initial phase of Gaza deal ‘will achieve incredible results’
House speaker Mike Johnson is speaking at a press conference at the US Capitol, and spent his opening remarks praising the Trump administration for brokering the first phase of the Israel-Hamas peace deal, which includes the release of all Israeli hostages, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the withdrawal of Israel’s military from the territory.
“He’s going to bring peace and security back to Israel and truly lay the foundation for a lasting peace in the Middle East,” Johnson said. “This is a goal and an objective that’s been stated by presidents and politicians and policymakers and people around the globe for generations. President Trump has the strength and the vision and the resolve to do it.”
Andrew Roth
For Donald Trump, a peace deal – or even a durable ceasefire between Israel and Hamas – could be the biggest diplomatic achievement of his presidency.
The details and sequencing of a deal to end Israel’s war in Gaza remain murky but the statement of purpose by both Israel and Hamas is meaningful. In agreeing to a deal with political backing from Arab states and other regional powers, this is the best chance for an end to the war since a ceasefire broke down in March, returning Gaza to a grinding war that has left nearly 68,000 people dead, most of them civilians.
Since March there have been rumblings of a deal but nothing that has come this close. The first phase of the peace plan, as Trump called it in a Truth Social post on Wednesday, is straightforward: the return of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a limited withdrawal by the Israeli military. But finding all the hostages, and managing an Israeli withdrawal, could be complicated.
In keeping with the tone of Trump’s presidency, hopes are expressed in hyperbole, with the president saying: “ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly!”
There is so much left to be discussed. The 20-point peace plan proposed by the administration attempts to thread the needle between creating the conditions for a ceasefire and negotiating a lasting end to the war; the hard questions of Hamas’s future and whether the militant group will disarm, along with Israel’s vision for the future of Gaza, remain to be hammered out.
Read more of Andrew’s analysis here.
On that note, in a short while we’ll hear from Republican speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. He’ll hold a press conference at the Capitol at 10am EST on the ongoing shutdown.
As shutdown enters ninth day, top House Democrat says that party is ‘totally aligned’
In an interview with CNN today, Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, said that “House and Senate Democrats have been completely aligned, and Senate Democrats continue to hold the line in a strong and principled way on behalf of the American people”.
The GOP-written stopgap funding bill failed for the sixth time to clear the upper chamber on Wednesday, while both parties continue to blame the other for the government shutdown.
Democrats have been resolute that health care provisions – including the extension of ACA subsidies – must be part of any short-term funding patch, while Republicans want to pass a “clean” bill that keeps the government funded, as is, until 21 November.
“Isn’t it reasonable for working-class Americans, for middle class Americans, for everyday Americans who are facing the possibility of dramatically increased premiums, co-pays and deductibles. We’re talking about thousands of dollars per year in additional health care costs. Isn’t it reasonable for them to have a similar level of certainty in their lives,” Jeffries added.
