Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Thursday faced the most serious threat to his position since 163 Democrats voted to save his gavel back in May.
Johnson’s 1,547-page year-end spending deal, released Tuesday night after days of extended deadlines, fell apart in less than 24 hours as Republicans of all ideological stripes turned on the bill over its contents and Johnson’s mishandling of negotiations and the rollout.
Conservatives, moderates, loyal rank-and-file Republicans, and even a committee chairman savaged the bill for giving far too much to Democrats.