Mike Johnson's speakership hangs in the balance as Trump tanks CR



Mike Johnson's speakership may be in jeopardy after President-elect Donald Trump and his political allies quickly tanked Johnson's funding bill.

After several delays, Johnson's continuing resolution was made public Tuesday night just days before the December 20 funding deadline. The 1,547-page CR quickly became the center of criticism, with political heavyweights like Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Vice President-elect JD Vance, and even Trump weighing in on the funding fiasco.

'DOGE can only truly be accomplished by reigning in Congress to enact real government efficiency. The establishment needs to be shattered just like it was yesterday.'

Trump added fuel to the fire and demanded that the debt ceiling, which is set to expire in June, also be negotiated before he enters office. Trump further threatened to primary Republicans who failed to do so.

"If Republicans try to pass a clean Continuing Resolution without all of the Democrat 'bells and whistles' that will be so destructive to our Country, all it will do, after January 20th, is bring the mess of the Debt Limit into the Trump Administration, rather than allowing it to take place in the Biden Administration," Trump added. "Any Republican that would be so stupid as to do this should, and will, be Primaried."

"Increasing the debt ceiling is not great, but we’d rather do it on Biden’s watch," Trump said in a joint statement with Vice President-elect JD Vance on Wednesday. "If Democrats won’t cooperate on the debt ceiling now, what makes anyone think they would do it in June during our administration? Let’s have this debate now. And we should pass a streamlined spending bill that doesn’t give Chuck Schumer and the Democrats everything they want."

In fewer than 24 hours, the CR was scrapped, and Johnson went back to the drawing board. Confidence in Johnson's speakership has subsequently wavered.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

When Trump was asked whether he still had confidence in Johnson, he pointed to the CR as evidence of failure.

“We'll see," Trump said. "What they had yesterday was unacceptable. In many ways it was unacceptable. It’s a Democrat trap."

Other lawmakers called Johnson's speakership into question and even floated alternative candidates for the role.

"The Speaker of the House need not be a member of Congress..." Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said in a Thursday post on X. "Nothing would disrupt the swamp more than electing Elon Musk... think about it... nothing's impossible. (not to mention the joy at seeing the collective establishment, aka 'uniparty,' lose their ever-lovin' minds)."

"I'd be open to supporting Elon Musk for Speaker of the House," Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia said in response to Paul's post. "DOGE can only truly be accomplished by reigning in Congress to enact real government efficiency. The establishment needs to be shattered just like it was yesterday. This could be the way."

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Musk, Ramaswamy meet with lawmakers to discuss the DOGE's plans to cut government waste



Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy headed to Capitol Hill on Thursday to meet with lawmakers about President-elect Donald Trump's incoming Department of Government Efficiency.

While walking through the Capitol with one of his children, 4-year-old X, perched on his shoulders, Musk told reporters, "I think we should be spending the public's money wisely."

'A serious mandate from the American people.'

Musk has stated that he aims to eliminate at least $2 trillion in wasteful government spending.

On Thursday morning, Musk took a brief meeting with incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) ahead of a bicameral meeting hosted by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana).

Musk and Ramaswamy are slated to speak to Republican lawmakers during the event, which Johnson described as a "brainstorming session" intended to gain a clearer understanding of the DOGE's plans.

Johnson stated that he intends to discuss "major reform ideas" to "achieve regulatory rescissions, administrative reductions, and cost savings." He said he hopes to revive "the principle of limited government."

Musk previously stated that he plans to cut the total number of government agencies from 428 to 99. During an interview with Fox News, Johnson was asked whether he believes the DOGE will be able to accomplish that mission.

"We certainly hope so," Johnson responded. "We have the ingredients; we have the conditions right now to actually be able to make really dramatic change."

Ramaswamy replied to Johnson's comments, stating, "The time for action is now."

In addition to its goal to reduce three-letter agency bureaucracy, the DOGE also appears to be setting its sights on ending lenient remote work policies for federal employees. Billions in taxpayer funds have been squandered to maintain and power buildings that are either partially empty or entirely vacant.

In a Thursday post on X, Musk stated, "If you exclude security guards & maintenance personnel, the number of government workers who show up in person and do 40 hours of work a week is closer to 1%!"

"Almost no one," Musk remarked.

Johnson replied, "Unbelievable. This is EXACTLY why we need the Department of Government Efficiency."

Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) declared her intent to introduce legislation that aligns with the waste reduction objectives of the DOGE.

"My DOGE Act will freeze federal hiring, begin the process to relocate agencies out of the D.C. swamp, and establish a merit-based salary system for the federal workforce," Blackburn said.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia), who is slated to chair a DOGE subcommittee, said she anticipates there will be "some friction" in implementing the department's cost-cutting measures.

"But I honestly think that there's been a serious mandate from the American people, and I think that will give, hopefully our side of the aisle, tremendous courage to do the right thing," she stated.

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Josh Shapiro torched for signing artillery shell in photo op: 'You cannot overstate how evil and insane these people are'



Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro — a Democrat — was bashed for autographing an artillery shell that could potentially be used to kill people in the Russia-Ukraine War.

As Blaze News reported, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy toured the battleground state of Pennsylvania with Democratic candidates as well as a Kamala Harris campaign surrogate. One of the Zelenskyy's stops was an ammunition factory in Scranton.

'Democrats are now the party of war and they're proud of it.'

The Scranton Army Ammunition Plant is one of the few facilities in the country to manufacture 155mm artillery shells and has increased production over the past year to supply Ukraine in its war against Russia, according to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The United States has reportedly sent more than 3 million 155mm artillery shells to Ukraine.

Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.) was in attendance at the factory and said Zelenskyy has a message: “Thank you. And we need more.”

Also in attendance at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant was Shapiro.

Shapiro shared a video of him signing an artillery shell on the X social media platform with the caption: "We must all do our part in the fight for freedom — from the workers in Scranton who make Pennsylvania the arsenal of democracy to the brave Ukrainian soldiers protecting their country. We stand with Ukraine in their just defense of their homeland in the face of Russian aggression."

— (@)

Shapiro was blasted online for signing the weapon of war.

Blaze Media writer Peachy Keenan: "These people are intolerable and when World War 3 starts will point fingers at everyone but themselves. Give peace a chance."

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.): "I am 100% against this and so are most Americans. The U.S. is funding the Ukraine Gov at $1 billion/month to keep it running and funding most of the war by providing weapons, ammo, and equipment. The U.S. should be negotiating peace not fueling war."

Independent journalist Glenn Greenwald: "Democrats are running on a platform of producing and sending more weapons to keep a horrific war fueled forever, claiming it's to 'fight for freedom': pure neocon rhetoric. In case you're will wondering why Dick Cheney, neocons, CIA, and the war machine all support Kamala."

Political commentator Tucker Carlson: "I was disgusted by it, actually, I was enraged by it."

Vermont Republican Party Chair Paul Dame: "What happened to Democrats? In 2004 they were the anti-war party. Now, their best presidential hope for 2028 is autographing BOMBS? Can you imagine the outrage if Bush had ever done this?"

Author David J Harris Jr.: "Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Pennsylvania democrat Governor Josh Shapiro signed artillery shells to be used in war. This was at a munitions factory in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Democrats are now the party of war and they're proud of it. Sad."

Author Dr. Naomi Wolf: "This is a Satanic scene. These people seem unaware or unconcerned that they are signing missiles that will kill human beings."

Comedian and libertarian advocate Dave Smith: "You cannot overstate how evil and insane these people are."

Former running mate of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Nicole Shanahan: "How could it be that the Democratic Party I grew up with — the Blue Dog Democrats who believed in hard work, the middle class, family, and standing up against the war machine — has turned into this? I declared my independence this year because I refuse to support a party that flies in a foreign leader to promote the production of artillery and the use of bombs. Our country deserves better. We want de-escalation through diplomacy, not a march toward World War III."

Libertarian activist Liam McCollum: "The people signing bombs that will undoubtedly be used to kill people are considered centrists and call you an extremist if you oppose this."

Libertarian commentator Tom Woods: "This is sick and psychotic."

Journalist Max Blumenthal: "There’s Gov. Josh Shapiro with Zelenskyy signing artillery shells at a weapons plant in Scranton, PA For those unfamiliar, Shapiro is the guy who said Palestinians are too 'battle-minded' to make peace."

Author Dave Benner: "This is a worship ritual for those who view the military-industrial complex as their God."

Former U.S. Army Special Forces officer Joe Kent: "Pictured – the only winners in this foolish war, politicians & defense contractors. Not pictured – a generation of dead Ukrainian men & the rest of the world being led off to WW3. Make peace, stop the killing, prioritize America."

Far-left writer Wyatt Reed: "When did all our politicians start treating weapons of war like sports memorabilia? Why do they find killing people so amusing?"

Several online commentators noted that Shapiro was busy signing an artillery shell for a photo op with Zelenskyy in the same weekend that chaos erupted in Philadelphia.

As Blaze News previously reported, there were hundreds of cars involved in nearly a dozen street takeovers over the weekend in Philadelphia.

Earlier this year, former Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley was criticized for signing an artillery shell during a visit to Israel. On the ordnance, Haley wrote "Finish Them!"

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