DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ House Speaker Mike Johnson blamed the fall of the Roman Empire on its embrace of gayness — a totally baseless claim
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

House Speaker Mike Johnson once blamed the fall of the Roman Empire on "homosexual behavior." AdvertisementAdvertisementHouse Speaker Mike Johnson, a devout Christian, once blamed the fall of the Roman Empire on "homosexual behavior." The claim that homosexual behavior brought down the Roman Empire is not supported by historical evidence. Most historians agree that same-sex sexual activity was tolerated and even accepted during the Roman Empire, although there were still some taboos. Johnson did not elaborate on why he believed homosexuality hastened the fall of Rome.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, —, Hadrian Organizations: Service, CNN, Rome, Exodus Locations: Roman, Rome, Italian

☆ A GOP congressman says Speaker Mike Johnson has brought a 'sense of peace' to the House Republican Conference: 'He's shown you can be conservative and kind'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Speaker Mike Johnson is being lauded by House Republicans for uniting the conference after weeks of turmoil. "There's a real sense of peace that came over the whole conference," Rep. Warren Davidson told NBC News. Republicans will face a series of tests as they continue to navigate a slim 221-212 House majority. "There's a real sense of peace that came over the whole conference," Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio told NBC News. Rep. Gary Palmer of Alabama, the chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, had high praise for Johnson.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Warren Davidson, —, Kevin McCarthy of, upended, Mike Johnson of, Steve Scalise, Tom Emmer, Johnson, Warren Davidson of, Lyndon, Lyndon B, McCarthy, Rep, Gary Palmer of Organizations: House Republicans, NBC News, Republicans, Service, GOP, Warren Davidson of Ohio, NBC, House Republican, Committee Locations: Kevin McCarthy of California, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Texas, Gary Palmer of Alabama

☆ Here’s why Social Security and Medicare advocates fear Mike Johnson’s speakership
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Here’s what’s not up for debate: Social Security and Medicare are in financial trouble, and the nation’s debt is on an unsustainable trajectory. Spending on Social Security and Medicare is projected to soar as the nation ages, putting more pressure on Congress to address the programs. Advocates’ concernsAdvocates, however, argue that lawmakers can hide behind the debt commission and avoid taking individual blame for agreeing to benefit cuts. “The new speaker has made it clear he’s not a friend to seniors, Social Security or Medicare,” said Max Richtman, CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. “So if you want to keep Social Security solid, you have to do all that stuff and a lot more.”This story has been updated with additional information.

Persons: Mike Johnson, shivers, Johnson, Here’s what’s, ”, That’ll, it’s, Max Richtman, “, Joe Biden, Biden, Charles Blahous, ” Blahous Organizations: CNN, Social Security, Republican, Medicare, Congressional, Office, American Enterprise Institute, National Committee, Preserve Social Security, George Mason University, Committee, RSC

☆ 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

☆ Speaker Mike Johnson's 'adopted' Black son said he would 'probably be in prison' if not for him
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

House Speaker Mike Johnson's "adopted" Black son has spoken publicly about him for the first time. Michael Tirrell James told DailyMail.com he would "probably be in prison" if it wasn't for Johnson. AdvertisementAdvertisementRepublican House Speaker Mike Johnson's "adopted" Black son has spoken publicly about him for the first time, following reports questioning why he has stayed out of the spotlight. I would probably be in prison, or I might not have made it at all," James told the outlet. "I always felt loved like I was a part of their family," James told DailyMail.com.

Persons: Mike Johnson's, Michael Tirrell James, DailyMail.com, Johnson, —, James, didn't, Michael, Kelly, he's, Corinne Day, Sandra Bullock Organizations: Service, The New York Times, Newsweek Locations: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

☆ Trump’s efforts to overshadow DeSantis in Florida take center stage
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Steve Contorno | Kristen Holmes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —A Florida Republican lawmaker, after flipping his support to former President Donald Trump, is now publicly questioning Gov. Ron DeSantis’ support for the Jewish community. In the tug of war for home-state supremacy, Trump has gained the upper hand in part by exploiting rifts between DeSantis and Florida Republicans. Upstaging the governorThe personal vendettas help explain the lengths that Trump and his allies have traveled to upstage the Florida governor. “I think Ron DeSantis has been a good governor of Florida,” he told CNN.

Persons: Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Trump, Florida Sen, Rick Scott, Randy Fine, hasn’t, Scott, Fine, Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz, ’, Trump’s, Nikki Haley, Sen, Joe Gruters, Gruters, ” Gruters, “, Paul Renner, ” Renner, ” DeSantis, Andrew Romeo, ” “, ” Romeo, —, Susie Wiles, Wiles, Justin Caporale, James Blair, Jennifer Locetta, Brian Hughes, DeSantis ’, “ He’s, Generra Peck, Marc Reichelderfer, Ken Cuccinelli, Matt Wolking, Erin Perrine, Kathleen Passidomo, ”, Stephen Cheung, Crooked Joe Biden, ” Cheung, Upstaging, Greg Steube, –, bagman, Caporale Organizations: CNN, Florida Republican, Trump, Florida Republicans, Republicans, DeSantis, GOP, Republican, Republican Party, Mar, Iran, Hamas, Sunshine State, Florida gubernatorial, South, Sunshine, “, White, Trump’s Department of Homeland Security, Capitol, Politico, Fair, Florida, House Locations: Florida, DeSantis, Orlando, Tallahassee, Miami, Hialeah, Israel, Iowa, South Carolina, ”, Washington, Lago

☆ Where does Speaker Mike Johnson sleep when he's in DC? Most likely in his Capitol Hill office
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Bryan Metzger | Jack Newsham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Speaker Mike Johnson is less wealthy than most lawmakers and doesn't appear to have a DC residence. But where does the man who just recently ascended to the next spot in the line of succession sleep when he's in Washington, DC? Most likely in his small congressional office on the unglamorous, fluorescent-lit fifth floor of the Cannon House Office Building, according to several lawmakers and a long-time friend of Rep. Mike Johnson, the new speaker of the House. There are likely dozens of lawmakers sleeping in their offices each night, and some well-known former House members have been known to do it, including Florida Gov. Meanwhile, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — one of the richest members of Congress — has a residence in Washington, DC's Georgetown neighborhood.

Persons: Mike Johnson, —, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Johnson, it's, Ross Barrett —, Johnson's —, Barrett, Ron DeSantis, Kristi Noem, Kevin McCarthy, Paul Ryan, Ryan, NBC's, John Boehner, Tucker Carlson, Frank Luntz's, McCarthy, Nancy Pelosi —, Jackie Speier, Bennie Thompson, aren't, hasn't Organizations: Service, House, Naval, Cannon, Florida Gov, South Dakota Gov, CNN, Press, Fox News, GOP, Daily, Democratic, NPR, Mississippi, POLITICO, Republicans Locations: Washington, Louisiana, Longworth, Georgetown, California, Johnson's

Details of how Japan is paring back military procurement due to currency fluctuations have not been previously reported. China, which has not ruled out using military force to bring Taiwan under its control, has expressed concern about Japan's military spending plans, accusing it of displaying a "Cold War mentality." In December, defence ministry officials discussed an order for 34 twin-rotor Chinook transport helicopters at roughly 15 billion yen per aircraft, two of the sources said. She declined to comment on whether the defence ministry had dropped an order for the seaplane. A ministry spokesperson confirmed the companies delivered a letter on Oct 25 to Defence Minister Minoru Kihara urging the government to proceed with the defence procurement as planned.

Persons: Tomohiro, Fumio Kishida, Christopher Johnstone, Johnstone, Biden, Kishida, outlays, spender, Nancy Pelosi's, Yoji Koda, Lockheed Martin, Minoru Kihara, Kevin Maher, Nobuhiro Kubo, Takaya Yamaguchi, Tim Kelly, Yoshifumi Takemoto, Katerina Ang Organizations: Defense Force, East Fuji Maneuver, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Reuters, Bank of Japan, Center for Strategic, International Studies, National Security, East, Japan's Ministry of Defence, Embassy, Pentagon, Russian, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Boeing Co, Kawasaki, Industries, Maritime Self Defense Force, Raytheon, Lockheed, Japan Business Federation, NMV Consulting, U.S . State Department's Office, Japan Affairs, Thomson Locations: Japan, Gotemba, Shizuoka, Taiwan, Tokyo, Washington, Beijing, East Asia, U.S, East China, Ukraine, China, U.S .

☆ Weak yen forces Japan to shrink historic military spending plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Since the plan was unveiled in December, the yen has lost 10% of its value against the dollar, forcing Tokyo to reduce its ambitious defense procurement plan, which was then-calculated to cost $320 billion, the sources said. Details of how Japan is paring back military procurement due to currency fluctuations have not been previously reported. China, which has not ruled out using military force to bring Taiwan under its control, has expressed concern about Japan's military spending plans, accusing it of displaying a "Cold War mentality." Chinooks and seaplanesWith the cuts in its spending power, Japan decided to prioritize spending on advanced U.S.-made frontline weapons such as missiles that could halt advancing Chinese forces, the eight people said. About half that increase was due to the weak yen, said one of the government sources, who was directly involved in those discussions.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Kiyoshi Ota, Christopher Johnstone, Johnstone, Biden, Kishida, spender, Nancy Pelosi's, Yoji Koda Organizations: Japan's, Defense Force, Getty, Reuters, Bank of Japan, Center for Strategic, International Studies, National Security, East, Japan's Ministry of Defense, Embassy, Pentagon, Russian, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Boeing Co, Kawasaki, ShinMaywa Industries, Industry, Maritime Self Defense Force Locations: Tokyo, AFP, Japan, Taiwan, Washington, Beijing, East Asia, U.S, East China, Ukraine, China

☆ 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

☆ MTG clashes with conservative Republican over Tlaib censure vote, calling him 'Colonel Sanders,' and drags Lauren Boebert into it by bringing up her 'vaping groping' incident
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Greene is angry that Rep. Chip Roy of Texas opposed her effort to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) November 1, 2023Twenty-three Republicans, including Roy, voted against the resolution moving forward. Her conduct is unbecoming of a member of Congress and certainly worthy of condemnation - if not censure," Roy said in a statement after his vote. "However, tonight's feckless resolution to censure Tlaib was deeply flawed and made legally and factually unverified claims, including the claim of leading an 'insurrection'." Talib said Greene's resolution was "deeply Islamophobic" and made clear she would not change her approach.

Persons: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, Chip Roy, Texas, Rashida Tlaib, Roy, Colonel Sanders, —, Republican Sen, Ted Cruz's, Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 ( Organizations: Republican, Unity Party, Service, Democratic, Republicans, Congress, — Locations: Georgia, Texas, California

☆ Opinion | Seeing the Big Picture in Two Big Wars
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Thomas L. Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Step back far enough, and you can see exactly what is driving so much geopolitics today: Ukraine is trying to join the West. Or they would have agreed to Lend-Lease assistance for the allies only if President Franklin Roosevelt would eliminate the I.R.S. That’s why today America must help Israel and Ukraine to blunt the Russia-Iran axis in their theaters. But the morning after their wars, Israel and Ukraine are going to have to face some very hard choices. Because while we may write big checks to both today, they will not be blank checks.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Biden, Johnson, Franklin Roosevelt, G.O.P, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Leon Aron, Vladimir Putin’s, “, ”, gunning, ” Aron, Israel, Donald Trump, —, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Internal Revenue, Lease, Fox News, NATO, European, Palestinian Authority, “, West Bank, Hamas, Putin, Iran’s, U.S, Patriot, Republicans, Palestinian, European Union Locations: Ukraine, West, Israel, Russia, Iran, cheaters, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Tehran, Moscow, Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Belarus, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Gaza, It’s, Kyiv, Gaza City, U.S, Ramallah, America

☆ 12 House Democrats break with Biden and vote for GOP-led Israel aid package that cuts IRS funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

While support for Israel is traditionally bipartisan, Democrats were largely aghast over the bill. AdvertisementAdvertisementSome key Democrats announced before the vote that they would oppose the bill while stressing that they still wanted to support Israel. "I strongly support Israel. House Speaker Mike Johnson defied Biden and Senate Democrats' aim to combine aid for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and border security into a massive $105 billion bill. Here are the 12 Democrats who voted for the GOP-led Israel aid bill:

Persons: —, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie of, Chuck Schumer, Joe Biden, Jake Auchincloss, Lois Frankel, Frankel, Dan Goldman, Goldman, Mike Johnson, Biden Organizations: Republicans, Service, dodgers, Israel, Senate, American, Management, Massachusetts Democrat, Florida Democrat, Democrats, Office, GOP Locations: Israel, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Massachusetts, Florida, Europe, New York, Ukraine, Taiwan

☆ Opinion | It Isn’t Easy to Be Mitt Romney
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Carlos Lozada | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Coppins depicts Ann Romney as the pivotal influence in her husband’s life; he is always trying to win and preserve her approval. A close second is his father, George Romney, the governor of Michigan, Republican presidential candidate and Housing and Urban Development secretary in the Nixon administration. The controversy surrounding his use of that term finally derailed George Romney’s presidential aspirations. “The one question Romney would struggle to answer — even a decade later — was whether he had been true to himself in his pursuit of the presidency,” Coppins writes. Did it allow Romney to make a statement rather than a difference, in that his isolated vote could not produce Trump’s conviction?

Persons: Ann Romney, George Romney, Nixon, “ He’s, ” Coppins, Barry Goldwater, George Floyd, Mitt, Richard Nixon peddled, Romney, —, ”, George, Coppins, “ It’s, “ Romney, he’d, Trump, marginalize, Paul Ryan, ” Romney Organizations: Republican, Housing, Urban, Trump, Senate, Republican Party Locations: Michigan, Vietnam

Twelve Democrats voted with 214 Republicans for the bill, and two Republicans joined 194 Democrats in objecting. Republicans have a 221-212 majority in the House, but Biden's fellow Democrats control the Senate 51-49. To become law, the bill would have to pass both the House and Senate and be signed by Biden. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office on Wednesday said the IRS cuts and Israel aid in the House bill would add nearly $30 billion to the U.S. budget deficit, currently estimated at $1.7 trillion. After the vote, Johnson urged the Senate and White House to quickly approve the bill.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Biden, Schumer, Kay Granger, Nathan Howard, Rosa DeLauro, Johnson, Patricia Zengerle, Makini Brice, Scott Malone, Mark Porter, Alistair Bell, Chris Reese Organizations: U.S . House, Republican, Internal Revenue, Republicans, Israel, Internal Revenue Service, Democratic, Senate, U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, White, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Israel, Iran, Ukraine, Taiwan, Washington , U.S, Gaza City, Kyiv, U.S, Mexico

☆ These 24 House Republicans voted for the failed resolution to kick George Santos out of Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The New York Republicans' effort to expel George Santos went unexpectedly poorly for them. 46 House Democrats voted "present" or against the expulsion resolution, and it failed 179-213These 24 Republicans voted to expel their scandal-plagued colleague. But while many House members — including a number of Republicans — voted for the resolution, it failed to garner the two-thirds majority necessary for the expulsion to take place. More Democrats voted against expelling Santos (31) than Republicans voted to expel him (24). Here are the Republicans who voted to expel Santos:

Persons: George Santos, —, he's, Santos, It's, Kevin McCarthy, Anthony D'Esposito, He's, Mike Johnson, Jim Traficant Organizations: New York Republicans, Service, New York Republican, Republican, New York, Rep, Republicans, Democratic, Democrat, Fox News, Democratic Rep Locations: George Santos . Plenty, New York, Santos, Ohio

☆ House gears up to vote on $14.3 billion in Israel aid, setting up showdown with Senate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Clare Foran | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called the House GOP bill a “deeply flawed proposal” that the Senate will not take it up. Democrats have called for aid to Israel to be paired with additional security assistance for Ukraine in its war against Russia. In the Senate, there is bipartisan support for aid to Israel and further aid to Ukraine. But in the House, many Republicans are opposed to sending more aid to Ukraine, putting the two chambers at odds. In an attempt to offset the cost of the $14.3 billion in Israel aid, the House bill would rescind $14.3 billion in funding for the Internal Revenue Service.

Persons: Hamas –, Mike Johnson, Chuck Schumer, ” Schumer, Schumer, ” Johnson, that’s, you’ve, “ we’re, they’re, CNN’s Haley Talbot, Kristin Wilson, Mel Zanona Organizations: Hamas, Democratic, GOP, Internal Revenue Service, Ukraine, IRS Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Russia, Gaza, Washington, “ Ukraine

☆ House to vote on bid to expel indicted GOP Rep. George Santos
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Rep. George Santos (R-NY) looks on as the House of Representatives holds a vote on a new Speaker of the House at the US Capitol on October 18, 2023 in Washington, DC. The House is expected to vote Wednesday on a resolution to expel Republican Rep. George Santos of New York over his campaign lies and criminal charges, a move that could further imperil the GOP's slim majority in the chamber. Kicking him out will require a vote from two-thirds of the House, meaning many Republicans will have to vote to expel one of their own members. "We have no margin for error," newly anointed House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a Fox News interview last week. "And so, George Santos is due due process, right?"

Persons: George Santos, Mike Johnson Organizations: Representatives, Capitol, Republican, Santos, Congress, GOP, Fox Locations: Washington ,, George Santos of New York

☆ Opinion | Here’s What Doesn’t Happen After a Mass Shooting
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Gail Collins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A few things you can bet on when there’s been a terrible mass shooting in this country. POP QUIZAfter an assault-rifle-brandishing madman killed 18 people and injured 13 more in Maine, the new House speaker, Mike Johnson, was asked what to do about mass shootings. What shooting?”C. “Hey, I thought you said you were going to ask about impeaching Biden.”D. “The problem is the human heart, not guns.”Did you guess it was D, people? Perhaps we should avoid complaining until we see if Speaker Johnson proposes new legislation requiring the police to stop and search all human hearts. Gun control — or, as its proponents prefer, gun safety — always becomes a big topic of conversation after a horrific shooting.

Persons: there’s, Mike Johnson, impeaching Biden, ”, Johnson Locations: Maine

☆ Tuberville says Republicans should hold off aid to Israel until the US-Mexico border is addressed: 'If we don't do something, you don't get anything'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Congress is currently debating whether it should tie funding for Israel and Ukraine into one bill. Sen. Tommy Tuberville said he wants Congress to withhold Israel funding for now. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementGOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville said he thinks Republicans should withhold any funding for Israel until "something" is done by Congress to address the US-Mexico border. Congress is currently split over whether or not to package funding for Israel and Ukraine together or in standalone bills.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, —, Tuberville, Laura Ingraham, Biden, We've, Mike Johnson, Ingraham, hasn't, Chuck Schumer, Schumer Organizations: Service, Israel, Fox News, Marine Corps, Air Force's Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Mexico, Gaza

☆ House Speaker Mike Johnson partnered with anti-gay conversion therapy group before he became a politician
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Andrew Kaczynski | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Speaker of the House Mike Johnson closely collaborated with a group in the mid-to-late 2000s that promoted “conversion therapy,” a discredited practice that asserted it could change the sexual orientation of gay and lesbian individuals. Founded in 1976, Exodus International was a leader in the so-called “ex-gay” movement, which aimed to make gay individuals straight through conversion therapy programs using religious and counseling methods. Exodus International connected ministries across the world using these controversial approaches. At the time, Johnson worked as an attorney for the socially conservative legal advocacy group, Alliance Defense Fund (ADF). The Day of Truth sought to counter that silence by distributing information about what Johnson described as the “dangerous” gay lifestyle.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, ”, Exodus, Truth, ” Johnson, “, God, ” Wayne Besen, ” Randy Scobey, Scobey, ” Scobey Organizations: CNN, International, Alliance Defense Fund, ADF, Lesbian Straight Education Network, Louisiana Republican, ADF’s, Exodus, Alliance Defense, Alliance Defending Locations: Louisiana, Roman, Rome

☆ House Speaker Mike Johnson Is Not a Serious Person - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( David Firestone | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

But then he imposed a condition on the Israel money: Mr. Biden must agree to cut the same amount out of the money the Internal Revenue Service uses to chase down high-income tax cheats. Earlier this year, Republicans forced Mr. Biden to cut $20 billion from the I.R.S. cut isn’t really going to happen, as House Republicans know, because Mr. Johnson’s bill will die in the Senate, where many leading Republicans already oppose it. cut, he gets to show the same extremists who deposed his predecessor that he can play rough with the White House. If Mr. Johnson has substantive objections to helping Ukraine and Israel that justify the legislative impediments he is constructing, he should state what they are.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson’s, he’s, Biden, Mr, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham of, ” Mr, Graham, “, Mitt Romney, Joe Wilson of, He’s, Ritchie Torres, Axios, Johnson, Thomas Friedman Organizations: Republican House, Internal Revenue Service, Israel, Republican, Republicans, Treasury, Congressional Budget, National Bureau of Economic Research, Senate, Ukraine, Hamas, White, Democrats, Democrat, West Bank, Palestinian Authority Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, U.S, Nottingham, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Moscow, Utah, Joe Wilson of South Carolina, New York, Gaza, West

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — U.S. Rep. Kay Granger of Texas, the Republican chairwoman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, said Wednesday she will not seek reelection in 2024 after nearly three decades in Congress. Granger, 80, is the nation's longest-serving GOP congresswoman and was first elected in 1996. Her decision ends a barrier-breaking career that included serving as Fort Worth's first female mayor and Texas' first GOP congresswoman. Granger was among the Republicans who opposed Rep. Jim Jordan's bid to become House speaker. She said she will work with new Speaker Mike Johnson “to advance our conservative agenda" for the remainder of her term.

Persons: Kay Granger, Granger, ” Granger, Worth's, Lockheed Martin, Jim Jordan's, Mike Johnson “ Organizations: — U.S . Rep, GOP, Lockheed Locations: Texas, Kay Granger of Texas, Fort Worth

☆ Republican Reps. Kay Granger, Ken Buck announce they won't seek reelection
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., talks with reporters before a procedural vote on the debt limit bill in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. Republican Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado on Wednesday announced he will not seek reelection next year, saying he was "disappointed" in his party, and disillusioned by political gridlock in Congress. Buck's announcement came just hours after another veteran House Republican, Rep. Kay Granger of Texas, the powerful chair of the House Appropriations Committee, confirmed she would not seek reelection next year either. Buck, 64, said he was leaving Congress in large part because he was frustrated with the direction he saw the Republican Party moving in. "Too many Republican leaders are lying to America," he said in a video announcing his retirement.

Persons: Ken Buck, Ken Buck of Colorado, gridlock, Kay Granger, Granger Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Republican, Wednesday, Republicans, Republican Party Locations: Ken Buck of, Congress, Kay Granger of Texas, Fort Worth, Buck, America

☆ Mike Johnson tests his new power with risky gambit on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —New House Speaker Mike Johnson is already tying Washington in new partisan knots. Johnson surprises by picking Israel funding as his first test of credibilityJohnson’s hard ball play on Israel funding came as a surprise given that some of the urgency for ending the speakership impasse last week was to swiftly clear a funding package following the Hamas attacks. The Biden administration on Tuesday formally threatened to veto the House GOP’s standalone Israel aid bill. The inclusion of the offsets could indicate that Johnson needs to placate his most hardline members even to pass a measure as popular as Israel funding. Some other Senate conservatives are also at odds with their leader, backing the decoupling of Israel and Ukraine aid.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden’s, Mitch McConnell, McCarthy, McConnell, Johnson, ” Beth Sanner, “, Biden, ” Sanner, Johnson’s, ’, Jared Moskowitz, ”, “ I’m, Marjorie Taylor Greene of, Rashida, Greene, George Santos, McConnell –, Donald Trump, –, Vladimir Putin, don’t, Rand Paul, he’s, ” Paul, CNN’s Manu Raju, Chuck Schumer, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Putin, ‘ I’m Organizations: CNN, New, Washington, Republican, Republicans, stoke, Internal Revenue, GOP, Louisiana Republican, Democratic, Senate, National Intelligence, Central ”, White, Israel, National Republican, Extreme, Democrats, Jewish Democrat, “, GOP Rep, Democratic Rep, Democrat, New York Rep, titans, Taiwan, New York Democrat, US, NATO Locations: Israel, Louisiana, Ukraine, China, Russia, Washington, Gaza, Florida, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Palestinian American, Michigan, Kyiv, Kentucky, United States, Moscow, Iran, Tehran, Baltic

Search resuls for: "House Speaker"

25 mentions found