“Speaker” Mike Johnson caves to House Democrats, faces motion to vacate backlash

| 5:54 pm EST January 18, 2024
Dear Palmer Report readers, we all understand the difficult era we're heading into. Major media outlets are caving to Trump already. Even the internet itself and publishing platforms may be at risk. But Palmer Report is nonetheless going to lead the fight. We're funding our 2025 operating expenses now, so we can keep publishing no matter what happens. I'm asking you to contribute if you can, because the stakes are just so high. You can donate here.

To the surprise of no one who has been paying proper attention, Speaker Mike Johnson caved on the budget today in a way that ensures the government will remain open until at least March. This was easy to see coming because House Republicans in tossup districts are clearly afraid that a shutdown would cost them their seats in November. They quietly refused to let the last Speaker shut the government down, and now they’re refusing to let this Speaker shut the government down.

But what about those House Republicans in far right districts who desperately wanted a government shutdown? They got rid of Kevin McCarthy for refusing to do it. and now that Mike Johnson has refused to shut the government down, they’re threatening to oust him too.

There is so much buzz about this right now that the phrase “motion to vacate“ is trending on Twitter and social media. Of course if the Republicans get rid of Mike Johnson, there’s a very good chance that it would allow the Democrats to pick the next Speaker of the House – particularly with how the Republican majority keeps becoming more narrow, due to expulsions and early retirements and such. So we’ll see if Republicans want to roll the dice on ousting Mike Johnson. It’s their move.

Dear Palmer Report readers, we all understand the difficult era we're heading into. Major media outlets are caving to Trump already. Even the internet itself and publishing platforms may be at risk. But Palmer Report is nonetheless going to lead the fight. We're funding our 2025 operating expenses now, so we can keep publishing no matter what happens. I'm asking you to contribute if you can, because the stakes are just so high. You can donate here.