The precarious power of Speaker Mike Johnson
Post Reports
The Washington Post
4.4 • 5.1K Ratings
🗓️ 1 May 2024
⏱️ 35 minutes
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Summary
Six months after becoming speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson’s job is on the line. Today on “Post Reports,” we explore Johnson’s rise to power and his potential ouster at the hands of his Republican colleagues.
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Mike Johnson became House speaker following the historic ouster of Kevin McCarthy in October. After three weeks of infighting among Republicans, Johnson emerged as the only viable candidate, in part because Johnson was relatively unknown. Before becoming speaker, Johnson was best known for leading the charge to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 election.
Johnson’s short tenure has been tumultuous. Last week, Johnson helped pass a bill that provides billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, over the objections of Republican colleagues. Now, in response, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has vowed to introduce a motion that could see Johnson kicked out of the speakership. The House will probably take up the motion once she reintroduces it next week.
Congressional reporter Marianna Sotomayor joins “Post Reports” to talk about Johnson’s politics, how he has changed since becoming speaker and the chances that Johnson could soon lose the speakership.
Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan. It was edited by Ted Muldoon and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks to Rachel Van Dongen.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Good morning everyone and thank you for taking the time to come out this morning. |
| 0:07.0 | Today Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green held a press conference to share her thoughts about the leader of |
| 0:14.8 | her party in the House, Speaker Mike Johnson. |
| 0:17.8 | We have a speaker, Mike Johnson, that we all, by the way I elected him. I voted for that man. |
| 0:23.6 | So I have every right to be standing here. |
| 0:26.2 | It wasn't a choice of America. |
| 0:28.8 | Green is not happy. |
| 0:30.7 | Because last month, Johnson helped pass a bill that sent an additional 61 billion dollars |
| 0:35.8 | in aid to Ukraine. |
| 0:37.8 | And that, in green size, was a betrayal to the Republican Party. |
| 0:42.4 | Now she is planning to introduce what's called a motion to vacate. |
| 0:47.1 | Essentially, she's trying to kick Mike Johnson out of his job as Speaker. |
| 0:51.8 | And I voted for Mike Johnson because his voting record before he became Speaker was conservative. He voted against |
| 0:59.6 | funding Ukraine. He was solidly pro-life. He voted to secure the border. He voted to fight |
| 1:07.8 | against Democrats. Fight against the witch hunt against President Trump. But once he became speaker he has become a man that none of us recognize. A man that none of us recognize. A man that none of us recognize. A man that none of us recognize. A lot of Johnson's allies would disagree with that, but it does speak to something strange |
| 1:26.2 | that's been happening over the past six months since Johnson was chosen as Speaker. |
| 1:31.2 | This ultra-conservative Magger Republican suddenly has some support from House Democrats. |
| 1:38.0 | Specifically, Democrats have vowed publicly to go to bat for Johnson and give him the votes that he needs to |
| 1:44.6 | remain speaker even if some of his fellow Republicans turn against him. |
| 1:48.4 | And the story of how that happened, it says a lot about Johnson, his political savvy, and how he's |
| 1:56.9 | navigated this moment. As I've said many times I don't walk around this building |
| 2:01.9 | being worried about a motion to vacate. I have to do my job. |
... |
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