The Signal in the Noise: Speaker Mike Johnson on Elon, the Big Beautiful Bill, and “Our Chance to Save Our Country” | Hoover Institution

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🗓️ 6 June 2025

⏱️ 46 minutes

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Summary

Peter Robinson interviews Speaker of the House Mike Johnson about the contentious passage of the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping budget reconciliation measure crafted to implement core elements of the Trump agenda. Johnson defends the bill against criticism from Elon Musk and others, arguing it delivers historic tax cuts, $1.6 trillion in savings, and crucial investments in border security and national defense. The conversation delves into the arcane rules of Congress, the realities of leading a narrow majority, and the significance of the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) effort—driven in part by Musk—to root out waste and fraud. Johnson positions the legislation not only as fiscally responsible but also as a turning point in restoring constitutional governance and federal oversight. Recorded on June 5, 2025.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Axios, he has few enemies. Commentary magazine. Perhaps his most important strength is his likability.
0:08.0	New York Magazine, the nice guy who finished first. But all that was before Elon Musk put up a certain post on X.
0:18.0	The 56 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Mike Johnson,
0:23.6	on Uncommon Knowledge. I'm Peter Robinson. A native of Shreveport, Louisiana,
0:40.3	James Michael Johnson earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from Louisiana State University,
0:46.3	then worked for the Alliance Defense Fund, an organization devoted to defending religious freedom,
0:52.3	free speech, and the sanctity of life, marriage,
0:56.1	and the family. In 2017, Mr. Johnson was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives.
1:01.9	Two years later, Louisiana's fourth congressional district, located in the northwest part of the state,
1:08.1	sent Mr. Johnson to the U.S. House of Representatives, and in late
1:12.0	2023, Mr. Johnson's fellow Republicans elected him Speaker of the House. He has held the
1:18.5	gavel ever since. Mr. Speaker, thank you for preventing us to join you here in your chamber.
1:25.6	Chambers. By the way, I should note that I was here once before,
1:30.3	half a century ago, when I met Carl Albert.
1:35.3	Wow.
1:36.3	I was in the high school program, Carl Albert, of Bug Tustle, Oklahoma.
1:40.3	I believe that was his hometown.
1:42.3	All right, thank you for making the time.
1:45.0	The 119th Congress, Republicans hold 220 seats in the House to the Democrats' 2012.
1:52.0	I think that's the current count.
1:54.0	People, the Democrats, a couple have died.
1:57.0	Yes.
	...

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