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☆ Michael Cohen resumes Trump trial testimony with House Speaker Johnson watching
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Trump will be joined at his criminal trial by House Speaker Mike Johnson, and several other Republican politicians, NBC reported. On Monday, Trump's former lawyer and fixer told jurors that Trump had complained, "This is a disaster!" Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) hold a press conference at Mr. Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate on April 12, 2024, in Palm Beach, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty ImagesCohen testified that Trump told him to, "Just do it," to keep Daniels quiet. "Fantastic," Trump said after being told that effort had succeeded, keeping another woman quiet about claims that could harm his 2016 campaign, Cohen testified.

Persons: Michael Cohen, Susan Hoffinger, Donald Trump's, Stormy Daniels, Jane Rosenberg, Donald Trump, Trump, Mike Johnson, Trump's, Cohen, Joe Raedle, Daniels, Allen Weisselberg, Weisselberg, Karen McDougal, reimbursements Organizations: NBC, Trump, Daniels, Mr, Getty, Trump Organization, National Enquirer Locations: Manhattan, New York City, U.S, Louisiana, Lago, Palm Beach , Florida

At issue is a map drawn by state lawmakers that included a second majority African American district in Louisiana’s six-district congressional plan. The Supreme Court’s intervention, the groups argued Wednesday, “is needed to ensure that harm is not repeated.”The Supreme Court could allow the newly drawn congressional districts to be used in this year’s election. Throughout the process, Republican lawmakers suggested in public statements that a primary motivation was to adhere to court orders and draw a second majority Black district. The Supreme Court is already weighing a separate equal protection challenge over South Carolina’s congressional maps. Given the delay in the Supreme Court issuing its decision, the lower court has ruled that the 2024 elections can proceed under the map it previously deemed unconstitutional.

Persons: “, ”, –, Allen, Milligan, Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise, doesn’t, Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Taiwan Scott Organizations: CNN, Civil, Court, White, Republicans, African American, ”, GOP, Supreme, Supreme Court, Republican, South, South Carolina State Conference of, NAACP, American Locations: Black, Louisiana, Louisiana’s, Alabama, Shreveport, Baton Rouge, Taiwan, South Carolina

☆ This is 2024’s new political normal six months from the election
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

It’s just another normal week in American politics as unpredictable forces rock both parties and augur a tense run to an election — now six months less one day away — that could fundamentally change the nation. Prosecutors argue he attempted a cover-up to mislead voters in 2016 in an early act of election interference. She also said that Trump felt it was better to deal with the story after the election than beforehand. Last week, in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Trump refused to guarantee he’d accept the result of the next election. “We have to understand that this is a defining moment for this generation, similar to anti-Vietnam protests, anti-apartheid protests, anti-Iraq War protests,” he said.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, Mike Johnson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, It’s, —, Trump, Story Daniels, Hope Hicks, Hicks, Michael Cohen, Daniels, Emil Bove, Cohen, Trump’s, Biden, James Singer, “ Trump, ” Singer, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mitch Landrieu, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Lyndon Johnson, Landrieu, Democratic Sen, John Fetterman of, ”, Ro Khanna, “, ” Johnson, Johnson, Greene, don’t, Kevin McCarthy Organizations: CNN, Trump, Republican, Georgia Rep, Prosecutors, White House, Nazi Secret Police, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Israel, Republicans, Union, Biden campaign’s, Independent, Democratic, CBS, Hamas, GOP Locations: Gestapo, New York, Gaza, Manhattan, Trump, “ State, Vietnam, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Michigan, California, Iraq, America, Ukraine, Louisiana

The Deep South state is exploring adding the newest execution technique of oxygen deprivation using nitrogen gas, which was used in Alabama last month, and bringing back electrocution. However, between a new conservative governor and the nation’s first execution using nitrogen gas, there has been a renewed push to find alternatives to lethal injection. Photos You Should See View All 22 ImagesThe idea of using of nitrogen gas for executions is gaining traction elsewhere in the country. While exploring the use of nitrogen gas has come as no shock to political experts Louisiana, reinstating electrocution has surprised some. Today, only eight states allow for electrocution — however, seven of them have lethal injection as primary method, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

Persons: —, ” —, Nicholas Muscarello, ”, Jeff Landry, Landry Organizations: Republican, Civil, Republican Gov, Democrat Locations: Louisiana, Alabama, United States, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, States, Georgia

☆ Louisiana lawmakers approve a congressional map with a second Black-majority district
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Louisiana lawmakers on Friday approved a new congressional map that gives the state a second Black-majority US House district and likely puts at risk a Republican-controlled seat. The new map creates a second majority-Black district, slicing through the middle of the state, in a district currently held by Republican Rep. Garret Graves. And, in drawing the new lines, Louisiana’s GOP lawmakers rebuffed a public entreaty from House Speaker Mike Johnson, a fellow Louisiana Republican, to continue fighting the court order. Republican state lawmakers and Landry this week warned that if legislators failed to draw the map themselves, they would hand over the power to a federal judge. The new maps approved Friday protect Johnson’s seat, along with that of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, another Louisiana GOP congressman.

Persons: Jeff Landry, “, ” Ashley Shelton, Justice –, Eric Holder, Black, Troy Carter –, –, Garret Graves, Graves, Mike Johnson, Johnson, ” Graves, Landry, ” Landry, Shelly Dick, Barack Obama, Steve Scalise Organizations: CNN, Republican, Democrats, Louisiana’s Republican, Louisiana’s Black, Republicans, Representatives, Gov, Black, Power Coalition for Equity, Justice, US, National Democratic, Republican Rep, Louisiana Republican, Louisiana GOP Locations: Louisiana, Washington, , Louisiana, Black, Congress

☆ Louisiana Lawmakers Approve Map That Empowers More Black Voters
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Emily Cochrane | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Louisiana lawmakers on Friday approved a new congressional map that would create a second district with a majority of Black voters, after a federal court found that the existing map appeared to illegally undercut the power of Black voters in the state. Given that Black voters often back Democratic candidates in the state, the new map also increases the possibility of Democrats’ taking control of a second congressional seat in Louisiana. “It’s a powerful moment for Black voters in this state and it’s a powerful moment for history,” said Ashley K. Shelton, president of the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice and one of the plaintiffs who had challenged the map. Lawmakers in Baton Rouge also agreed to tighten the state’s raucous “jungle primary” system for federal elections and State Supreme Court races beginning in 2026, though they stopped far short of the statewide overhaul sought by Gov. Jeff Landry, the newly inaugurated Republican governor.

Persons: “, ”, Ashley K, Shelton, Jeff Landry Organizations: Democratic, Power Coalition for Equity, Justice, Gov Locations: Louisiana, Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge-based U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick issued a two-week extension Thursday afternoon, giving lawmakers extra time to construct a congressional map, the American Civil Liberties Union confirmed to The Associated Press. Louisiana is among the list of states still wrangling over congressional districts after the U.S. Supreme Court in June ruled that Alabama had violated the Voting Rights Act. Republicans say the map is fair and argue that Black populations in the state are too dispersed to be united into a second majority Black district. Another mostly Black district could deliver a second congressional seat to Democrats. In June 2022, Dick struck down Louisiana’s map for violating the Voting Rights Act.

Persons: Shelly Dick, John Bel Edwards, Eric Holl, Jeff Landry, Edwards, Dick, ” Dick, Obama, Landry, Landry won’t, “ Organizations: GOP, Capitol, American Civil Liberties Union, Associated Press, ACLU, Democratic Gov, Republican, U.S, Supreme, Black, Republicans, U.S ., Appeals, Fifth District Locations: BATON ROUGE, La, Louisiana, Baton Rouge, Alabama, Black, New Orleans

☆ US House Speaker Johnson's 'honeymoon' ends as hardline Republicans rebel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 14, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - A group of hardline Republicans has put new U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson on notice that he can no longer count on their support for legislation, signaling a possible early end to his "honeymoon" period. "We want the message to be clear," said Representative Scott Perry, chairman of the hardline conservative House Freedom Caucus. The bill passed the House with support from 209 Democrats but only 127 Republicans - a troubling sign for the new speaker. He had also angered hardliners by suspending House rules to circumvent their hopes of blocking debate on the measure.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Elizabeth Frantz, Scott Perry, We're, Nick LaLota, Johnson, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Anna Paulina Luna, David Morgan, Scott Malone, Deepa Babington Organizations: Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Republicans, ., Louisiana lawmaker, Caucus, Freedom Caucus, Republican, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Louisiana, America, Mexico, New York

That's our goal and we hope to have an agreement very soon," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, said on the Senate floor. Leaders from both parties have said they support a stopgap spending bill that passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives by a wide bipartisan margin on Tuesday. 2 Republican, said a vote on the House bill later in the day was possible. More significantly, it would avoid a partial shutdown that would disrupt a wide array of government services and furlough hundreds of thousands of federal workers. Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Scott Malone, Lisa Shumaker and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kevin Wurm, Chuck Schumer, Joe Biden, John Thune, Rand Paul, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone, Lisa Shumaker, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic, Republican, U.S . Senate, Food and Drug Administration, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Louisiana

REUTERS/Kevin Wurm/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said on Wednesday he would try to quickly pass legislation to keep the government funded, preventing a partial shutdown that would otherwise begin this weekend. That's our goal and we hope to have an agreement very soon," Schumer said on the Senate floor. Both chambers of Congress need to pass spending legislation and send it to Democratic President Joe Biden to sign into law before then in order to avoid disruption. Schumer said he will have to work out an agreement with the chamber's top Republican, Mitch McConnell, for a quick vote. Tuesday's House vote was a victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who faced down opposition from some of his fellow Republicans who had pushed for deep spending cuts.

Persons: Kevin Wurm, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Tuesday's, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone, Lisa Shumaker, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Senate Democratic, Democratic, Republican, Food and Drug Administration, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Louisiana

☆ US Senate takes up bill to avert partial government shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Kevin Wurm/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday prepared to take up a stopgap spending bill that would avert a partial government shutdown, with little time remaining before funding runs out on Friday. Both chambers of Congress need to pass spending legislation and send it to President Joe Biden to sign into law before then in order to avoid disruption. More significantly, it would avoid a partial shutdown that would disrupt a wide array of government services and furlough hundreds of thousands of federal workers. Tuesday's House vote was a victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who faced down opposition from some of his fellow Republicans who had pushed for deep spending cuts. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday said he supported the bill and vowed to bring it up for a vote as quickly as possible.

Persons: Kevin Wurm, Joe Biden, Tuesday's, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Senate, Democratic, Republican, Food and Drug Administration, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Louisiana

☆ Hardline Republicans push back on US House speaker's plan to avert shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The bill is intended to pressure the House and Senate to agree on spending bills for fiscal 2024 by the assigned dates. Johnson warned Democrats that House Republicans would impose a full-year CR for 2024 "with appropriate adjustments to meet our national security priorities" if Congress fails to reach agreement on full-year spending. Democrats had worried that Republicans would put defense and other party priorities in the first tranche and then let the remaining programs shut down. Failure to hit that benchmark led to McCarthy's ouster, but some House Republicans suggested Johnson deserved more time. The brutal infighting among Republicans this year, including the party's own rejection of three seasoned nominees for House speaker, coincides with falling federal revenues and mounting costs for interest, health and pension outlays.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Elizabeth Frantz, Johnson, Bob Good, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, Johnson's, centrists, Good, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Warren Davidson, Scott Perry, Andrew Clyde, Chip Roy, Republican George Santos, Perry, Chris Murphy, Biden, McCarthy, David Morgan, Scott Malone, Andrea Ricci, Richard Chang Organizations: U.S . House, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, . House, Republican, Democratic, Senate, Food and Drug Administration, House, White, Caucus, White House, NBC, Republicans, Social Security, Total U.S, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Washington, Louisiana

☆ New US House speaker tries to muster his Republicans to avert government shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( David Morgan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/2] Newly elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) addresses the U.S. House of Representatives after he was elected to be the new Speaker at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., October 25, 2023. Johnson also warned Democrats that House Republicans would impose a full-year CR for 2024 "with appropriate adjustments to meet our national security priorities" if Congress fails to reach agreement. House Republicans are aiming for a Tuesday vote. Failure to hit that benchmark led to McCarthy's ouster, but some House Republicans suggested Johnson deserved more time. The brutal infighting that has characterized Republicans this year, including the party's own rejection of three seasoned nominees for House speaker, coincides with falling federal revenues and mounting costs for interest, health and pension outlays.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Elizabeth Frantz, Johnson's, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, Johnson, centrists, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Warren Davidson, Chris Murphy, Murphy, Tom Cole, Biden, McCarthy, Ken Buck, David Morgan, Scott Malone, Andrea Ricci Organizations: U.S . House, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, . House, Republican, Democratic, Senate, Food and Drug Administration, House, White, Firebrand, NBC, Republicans, Social Security, Total U.S, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Washington, Louisiana

☆ A GOP lawmaker frustrated by Nancy Mace's opposition to a recent spending bill texted colleagues a link to a video entitled 'How to talk to a Narcissist'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A GOP lawmaker texted colleagues a video he said described his feelings about her, WaPo reported. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . A GOP lawmaker was so frustrated with Mace during the process that the individual sent out a link in a group text to a video entitled, "How to talk to a Narcissist," according to The Washington Post. AdvertisementAdvertisementAnother House GOP lawmaker who was included in the text thread told The Post that the linked video encapsulated his feelings about the high-profile lawmaker. "I think he meant he supported the same policy ideas as David Duke, but he wasn't David Duke, that he didn't have the same feelings about certain people as David Duke did," Grace told the newspaper at the time.

Persons: Nancy Mace, texted, WaPo, —, Kevin McCarthy of, Mace, McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan of, Tom Emmer, Minnesota —, David Duke, Stephanie Grace, Scalise, Grace, Mike Johnson's, We've Organizations: GOP, Service, South Carolina Republican, The Washington, Post, Republicans, CNN, New York Times, American Unity and Rights Organization Locations: Kevin McCarthy of California, Louisiana, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Minnesota, Scalise, American

(AP) — The Louisiana Legislature has until Jan. 15 to enact a new congressional map after a lower court last year ruled that the current political boundaries dilute the power of the state’s Black voters, a federal New Orleans appeals court said Friday. Louisiana is among states still wrangling over congressional districts after the U.S. Supreme Court in June ruled that Alabama had violated the Voting Rights Act. They argue that Black populations in the state are too dispersed to be united into a second majority Black district. Lawmakers now have until mid-January to draw and pass a new map, which would have to be done through a special session. However, in the appeals court’s order it does say that the district court will have discretion to grant “limited additional time” if requested.

Persons: John Bel Edwards, Jeff Landry, “, Edwards, Shelly Dick, ” Dick, ” Edwards, Troy Carter, ”, Carter, Landry, Landry won’t Organizations: The Louisiana Legislature, Democratic Gov, Republican Gov, U.S ., Appeals, Fifth District, Louisiana’s GOP, U.S, Supreme, Republicans, Black, Lawmakers, Senate, U.S . Rep, Democratic Locations: BATON ROUGE, La, The Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana’s, Louisiana, Alabama, Black, “

☆ Now-Speaker Mike Johnson worked with a Louisiana college to minimize the fallout over his resignation as the dean of a Christian law school that never opened, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Mike Johnson worked with a Louisiana college to minimize fallout over his resignation as a law school dean, per WaPo. The planned law school was touted by its boosters as one that would "unashamedly embrace" a "biblical worldview." (Louisiana College was renamed Louisiana Christian University in 2021.) AdvertisementAdvertisement"He speaks from an internal moral compass that is true north and everyone should know that 'Mike Johnson cannot be bought,'" Aguillard said. "In short, America is in the best of hands under Speaker Mike Johnson's leadership," he added.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, —, Joe Aguillard, Heath Veuleman, Aguillard, Mike, Mike Johnson's Organizations: Paul Pressler School of Law, Service, Louisiana College, Southern Baptist, Louisiana Christian University, The Washington, The, The Post Locations: Louisiana, Southern, Pineville —, America

☆ Analysis: Israel aid drama is the latest failure of American governance
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

House GOP leaders said they plan to hold a vote on the package on Thursday but such is the uncertainty in the party’s chaotic majority that no timetable is ever certain. But House GOP Whip Tom Emmer and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise both said they expect to pass the package later in the day. For years, a vote on aid to Israel might have been one of the least controversial measures to come up in the House all year. But Johnson defended his decision on Thursday to link Israel aid to cuts in IRS funding. But the last few weeks have shown there’s a vast difference between what a GOP speaker wants to do and what he can do.

Persons: Tom Emmer, Steve Scalise, Mike Johnson’s, Johnson, “, that’s, Joe Biden, McCarthy, Kevin McCarthy, Biden, –, Mitch McConnell, ” McConnell, ” —, McConnell, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Ukraine’s, Oklahoma Sen, Markwayne Mullin, Carolina Sen, Lindsey Graham, —, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Jessica Rosenberg, ” Biden Organizations: CNN, GOP, Internal Revenue Service, Johnson’s, Hamas, Louisiana Republican, Democratic, White, Senate, Republican Party, Wednesday, Fox News, Putin, Oklahoma, House Republicans, Republican, United Locations: Israel, America, Washington, Ukraine, China, Russia, Louisiana, United States, Kremlin, Kyiv, Carolina, Gaza, Minnesota, Michigan

WASHINGTON (AP) — Before House Speaker Mike Johnson was elected to public office, he was the dean of a small Baptist law school that didn't exist. “The law school deal was really an anomaly. As dean of the proposed law school, Johnson embarked on a major fundraising campaign and described a big-dollar event in Houston with former Arkansas Gov. Bobby Jindal and Pressler, according to an account Johnson wrote in a 2011 alumni magazine. Meanwhile, the historic former federal courthouse in Shreveport that was selected as the law school’s campus required at least $20 million in renovations.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, It's, “, ”, Gene Mills, Johnson's, ” J, Michael Johnson, Southern Baptist Convention luminary, Tony Perkins, Jerry Falwell, “ I’m, Joe Aguillard, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, Aguillard, “ Mike, Gilbert Little, ” Johnson, Perkins, Little, Barack, Kelly, Kelly Johnson, Louis “ Woody ” Jenkins, Jenkins, Democrat Mary Landrieu, Moon Griffin, Eugene Mills, Mills, ” Mills, Johnson’s, George W, Bush’s, it’s, Lamar White Jr, Lamar, Richard Lardner, Trenton Daniel Organizations: WASHINGTON, Paul Pressler School of Law, Louisiana College, Louisiana Christian University, Republican House, Southern Baptist Convention, Family Research, Southern Poverty Law, Liberty University, Daily, ”, Arkansas Gov, Louisiana Gov, Freedom Guard, Southern Baptist Conference, Shreveport Times, ABC News, Louisiana State University, Democrat, Louisiana Family, Alliance Defense Fund, Alliance Defending, ADF, CNN, Democratic, Civil, Associated Press Locations: Louisiana, Washington, Alexandria , Louisiana, Houston, Pressler, Africa, Shreveport, Shreveport , Louisiana, everyone’s, America, New Orleans, Texas, Orleans Parish, Trump’s, Baton Rouge, New York

☆ Mike Johnson is the first Republican House speaker from the South since Newt Gingrich, putting the region back in the driver's seat of GOP politics
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Rep. Mike Johnson's ascent to the House speakership last week took most in the GOP by surprise. He's now the first House speaker from the South since Newt Gingrich held the gavel in the 1990s. "This happened sort of suddenly," the Louisiana Republican said last Wednesday after succeeding Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California as speaker and as the new leader of the House GOP conference. Rep. Mike Johnson takes the oath of office to become the next House speaker on October 25, 2023. Challenges to Republican-drawn congressional districts across the South could give Democrats a significant opening to flip the House in 2024.

Persons: Mike Johnson's, He's, Newt Gingrich, —, couldn't, Kevin McCarthy of, Johnson, Bill Clinton, Sen, Mitch McConnell, Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, Alex Brandon Cue McConnell, Steve Scalise, Gingrich —, Drew Angerer, Gingrich, Donald Trump, Kim Chandler, McCarthy Organizations: GOP, Service, Louisiana Republican, Southern Republican, Republican, White House, House Republicans, AP, Democratic, Kentucky Locations: Washington, Louisiana, Kevin McCarthy of California, Georgia, Kentucky, Southern, Ukraine, New York, Chicago, Denver, Johnson's, Kim Chandler In Alabama, Black, Alabama's, Florida, Arkansas, South Carolina , Tennessee

☆ Conservatives Won the Fight for House Speaker. Did They Also Put the GOP Majority at Risk?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Aaron Zitner | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

House Republicans have elected the most conservative speaker of the last century, by some measures, the first to identify so forcefully as both a budget hawk and champion of right-leaning social values. Now the question is whether a party this far to the right, with a speaker to match, can keep control of its House majority in a competitive election year. As soon as GOP lawmakers voted unanimously on Wednesday to give Rep. Mike Johnson the speaker’s gavel, Republicans in political swing districts, who need independent and Democratic votes for re-election, began defining the little-known Louisiana lawmaker as someone broadly acceptable to Americans—an old-style Republican devoted to familiar conservative causes, such as fiscal restraint and national security.

Persons: Mike Johnson Organizations: Republicans, Democratic Locations: Louisiana

TRUMP ELECTION FIGHTFollowing Trump's defeat, Johnson crafted a legal brief, signed by 125 other House Republicans, that sought to persuade the Supreme Court to reject election results from several contested states Trump had lost to Biden. Johnson stuck with those arguments even after the Supreme Court rejected the case. Hours later, Johnson and 138 other House Republicans voted against certifying Biden's victory. Foley said a House speaker could, in theory, refuse to follow the law or even declare themselves acting president. A House speaker also would have the ability to influence proceedings if it had to declare a winner if no candidate won a majority of electoral votes.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Elizabeth Frantz, Donald Trump's, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Trump, Biden, Edward Foley, Johnson, Michael Thorning, Foley, Jan, Andy Sullivan, Andrew Goudesward, Alistair Bell Organizations: U.S . House, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, . House, Republican, Democratic, Senate Democratic, Electoral, Senate, Ohio State University . Democratic, Supreme, TRUMP, Republicans, Biden, Trump, Congress, Center, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, New, Louisiana, Kentucky

CNN —Rep. Mike Johnson is set to take his fight for the speakership to the House floor on Wednesday, a pivotal moment for House Republicans that comes amid uncertainty over whether the Louisiana lawmaker can secure the 217 votes needed to win the gavel. Johnson, who serves as the House GOP conference vice chairman, secured the nomination for the speakership late Tuesday evening. The day ended with a vote to elect a new nominee – this time, Johnson won out. The GOP conference is under increasing pressure as the House remains paralyzed without a speaker. Following the nomination vote, House Republicans took another vote to gauge the nominee’s support within the conference.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Tom Emmer, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, ” Johnson, ” Emmer, Jim Jordan of, Steve Scalise, Emmer, Trump, ” Organizations: CNN —, House Republicans, GOP, Republicans, Minnesota, Republican, Trump, Social Locations: Louisiana, Jim Jordan of Ohio

☆ US House Republicans eye Scalise, Jordan for possible next speaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

2 House Republican and was long considered to be next in line after McCarthy. POSSIBLE: PATRICK MCHENRYRepresentative Patrick McHenry was named to step in as speaker pro tempore following McCarthy's ouster. Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, McHenry is a McCarthy ally who spoke in support of McCarthy before the ouster vote. POSSIBLE: KEVIN MCCARTHYThe former speaker has sent conflicting signals on whether he would seek a return, should Scalise and Jordan fail to capture support from 218 lawmakers. OUT: KEVIN HERNKevin Hern is chairman of the Republican Study Committee, a group of conservative Republicans.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, STEVE SCALISE, Steve Scalise, McCarthy, JIM JORDAN, Jim Jordan, Jordan, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Jordan's, PATRICK MCHENRY, Patrick McHenry, McHenry, KEVIN MCCARTHY, KEVIN HERN Kevin Hern, Makini Brice, Moira Warburton, Scott Malone, Howard Goller, David Gregorio, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S . House, Republican, Democrat, Financial Services, Committee, Republicans, Thomson Locations: U.S, Louisiana, Ohio, North Carolina

Jordan is a leading defender of former President Donald Trump, who remains a major figure in the Republican party. Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, endorsed Jordan for House speaker on Friday. As of Friday, both Scalise and Jordan had secured roughly two dozen endorsements from among the 221 Republicans in the House. Scalise returned to the Capitol in September and has said that he is healthy enough to serve as speaker. Jordan, 59, is an outsider to party leadership.

Persons: Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, Stefani Reynolds, Kevin McCarthy, Jordan, Donald Trump, Trump's, McCarthy's, Kevin Hern, Patrick McHenry, Joe Biden, Scalise, David Duke, Biden, Democrat Joe Biden, John Boehner, McCarthy, Makini Brice, Moira Warburton, Susan Heavey, Andy Sullivan, Rami Ayyub Organizations: U.S, U.S . Rep, Capitol, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Republican, U.S . House, Representatives, Trump, Republicans, Ku Klux Klan, Democrat, Freedom Caucus, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Louisiana, House, Ukraine, Jordan, Ohio

☆ Who will be the next U.S. House speaker? A look at top candidates so far
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks to reporters after he was ousted from the position of Speaker by a vote of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. October 3, 2023. Jordan faces a challenge from Representative Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican long considered to be McCarthy's heir apparent. IN: STEVE SCALISERepresentative Matt Gaetz, the lawmaker who spearheaded the push to oust McCarthy, has said he would support Steve Scalise taking over the role. Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, McHenry is a McCarthy ally who spoke in support of McCarthy before the ouster vote.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Jonathan Ernst, Donald Trump, Jim Jordan, Jordan, Steve Scalise, JIM JORDAN, McCarthy, Joe Biden, Trump, STEVE SCALISE, Matt Gaetz, Scalise, David Duke, KEVIN HERN Kevin Hern, PATRICK MCHENRY, Patrick McHenry, McHenry, Makini Brice, Scott Malone, Howard Goller Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Republican, Ku Klux Klan, Committee, Republicans, Financial Services, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Ohio, Louisiana, Oklahoma, North Carolina

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