House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) leaves the West Wing of the White House after meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, and Congressional leadership earlier this week. Time is running out to get a funding deal. Johnson has to find a way to hold his caucus together and work with democrats on a funding deal.
Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images
hide caption
toggle caption
Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) leaves the West Wing of the White House after meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, and Congressional leadership earlier this week. Time is running out to get a funding deal. Johnson has to find a way to hold his caucus together and work with democrats on a funding deal.
Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images
Despite a last minute agreement to push a deadline for a shutdown, Congress and the White House have to agree on how to fund the government. So far, all they’ve been able to do is kick the can down the road.
And conditions for making a political deal are only getting worse. Republicans can only lose two votes. And there’s skepticism all around.
Finding a way out largely depends on Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana. But Johnson has a fractious caucus, is relatively inexperienced, and shutdowns have become the political weapon of choice.
If the House leader can’t find a path to a deal, the entire country could pay the price.
For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
This episode was produced by Megan Lim. It was edited by Kelsey Snell and Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
