From 35m ago
Talks could end impasse over vote for Johnson’s removal
A lunchtime summit Tuesday could finally offer clarity on whether Marjorie Taylor Greene still intends to press ahead with her drive to oust the House speaker, Mike Johnson, or accept a face-saving alternative that would give the impression of a win.
The extremist Georgia congresswoman is scheduled to meet Johnson for a second successive day to discuss her promise to call a motion to vacate, the procedure that could lead to a vote for his removal, over his collusion with Democrats to pass US funding for Ukraine.
Politico reported this morning that Monday’s talks, also attended by Greene’s new ally, the Kentucky congressman Thomas Massie, were cordial, if not entirely fruitful. The outlet said Johnson told reporters afterwards that they had made a promise to “keep this team together”.
But it’s not platitudes Greene is seeking, it’s concessions. Politico listed four demands of the Greene-Massie alliance, most prominently a pledge from Johnson there will be no more US aid for Ukraine as it battles a Russian invasion.
They also want implementation of the so-called Hastert rule (named for former speaker Dennis Hastert), in which legislation is only brought for a floor vote if a majority of Republicans support it; defunding of special counsel investigations into former president Donald Trump; and adoption of the “Massie rule” that automatically cuts government funding when no agreement is reached by a certain deadline.
With substantial Ukraine funding already passed, and likely to last until beyond November’s election, that demand might not be the hurdle it seems. And Johnson will be keen to avoid the embarrassment of having to rely on Democratic support in any vote to remove him.
He certainly has nothing to lose by extending the talks today, and several political analysts see the frozen Greene-Johnson relationship beginning to thaw.
We’ll be watching for developments.
<gu-island name="KeyEventsCarousel" priority="feature" deferuntil="visible" props="{"keyEvents":[{"id":"663a2c418f08a6dfd8346cbd","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
A lunchtime summit Tuesday could finally offer clarity on whether Marjorie Taylor Greene still intends to press ahead with her drive to oust the House speaker, Mike Johnson, or accept a face-saving alternative that would give the impression of a win.
","elementId":"c846f087-6013-4321-9422-d6cb64aa1f71"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
The extremist Georgia congresswoman is scheduled to meet Johnson for a second successive day to discuss her promise to call a motion to vacate, the procedure that could lead to a vote for his removal, over his collusion with Democrats to pass US funding for Ukraine.
","elementId":"ebdc6948-8b8b-4c46-9bee-31c36e16608a"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
Politico reported this morning that Monday’s talks, also attended by Greene’s new ally, the Kentucky congressman Thomas Massie, were cordial, if not entirely fruitful. The outlet said Johnson told reporters afterwards that they had made a promise to “keep this team together”.
","elementId":"7e9746e5-6b65-4a0b-a87a-b1b551a041ec"},{"displayCredit":true,"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement","role":"thumbnail","media":{"allImages":[{"index":0,"fields":{"height":"1418","width":"1134"},"mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/1134.jpg"},{"index":1,"fields":{"isMaster":"true","height":"1418","width":"1134"},"mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg"},{"index":2,"fields":{"height":"1000","width":"800"},"mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/800.jpg"},{"index":3,"fields":{"height":"500","width":"400"},"mediaType":"Image","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://media.guim.co.uk/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/400.jpg"}]},"elementId":"d0640742-2a31-465c-9b51-fd72af656797","imageSources":[{"weighting":"inline","srcSet":[{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2201faff72933fa1e5017e9c47b46b5c","width":620},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=de7ca1a7421e40ce8f73e2a886af9f28","width":1240},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9ffcd000f9769c23f2626303d4be56be","width":605},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8bae100f25c31189d4aba94b541e239f","width":1210},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=796cae55a7ad1ab17a07576c98eb9ee0","width":445},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e2c28d266deba5007f64ec3e096c81b1","width":890}]},{"weighting":"thumbnail","srcSet":[{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c4eaf84ccafff023ed63250216d33791","width":140},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e1e3e38bd35f3907c3a9a3b3369645c3","width":280},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=120&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b80830368113ea703c9fb0ba0bec97d9","width":120},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=120&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=fcab28869d78700ac28aa5f0a334d5f7","width":240}]},{"weighting":"supporting","srcSet":[{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=380&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e63f94cdd9746c66f8500fa9eda7aec7","width":380},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=380&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=6afeeda9c42aadba4cca4b432851983c","width":760},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6a5a61a3161a532773573d3bca97d3bb","width":300},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=9fc32fdcadcc86e2ef2e2408b83803a2","width":600},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2201faff72933fa1e5017e9c47b46b5c","width":620},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=de7ca1a7421e40ce8f73e2a886af9f28","width":1240},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9ffcd000f9769c23f2626303d4be56be","width":605},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8bae100f25c31189d4aba94b541e239f","width":1210},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=796cae55a7ad1ab17a07576c98eb9ee0","width":445},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e2c28d266deba5007f64ec3e096c81b1","width":890}]},{"weighting":"showcase","srcSet":[{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=860&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=48055f4f10102897fab914451cd6c0ab","width":860},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=860&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=84b279df179a624e512010744d765c33","width":1720},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=780&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9f4158f96603bee3a10ce994de59cdba","width":780},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=780&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=28fc006255d80625e251ab982251aee5","width":1560},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2201faff72933fa1e5017e9c47b46b5c","width":620},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=de7ca1a7421e40ce8f73e2a886af9f28","width":1240},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9ffcd000f9769c23f2626303d4be56be","width":605},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8bae100f25c31189d4aba94b541e239f","width":1210},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=796cae55a7ad1ab17a07576c98eb9ee0","width":445},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e2c28d266deba5007f64ec3e096c81b1","width":890}]},{"weighting":"halfwidth","srcSet":[{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=620&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2201faff72933fa1e5017e9c47b46b5c","width":620},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=620&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=de7ca1a7421e40ce8f73e2a886af9f28","width":1240},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=605&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=9ffcd000f9769c23f2626303d4be56be","width":605},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=605&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=8bae100f25c31189d4aba94b541e239f","width":1210},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=445&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=796cae55a7ad1ab17a07576c98eb9ee0","width":445},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=445&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=e2c28d266deba5007f64ec3e096c81b1","width":890}]},{"weighting":"immersive","srcSet":[{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=1900&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3f7442a1c407d755e207d5c7b076e6d0","width":1900},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=1900&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0ec5c9850f188ffb9fbf27d34c54b668","width":3800},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=1300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=654632a24d00986a4c67f6471985a251","width":1300},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=1300&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=71e425895ff3378dea16b2bb53d01178","width":2600},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=1140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=1d764e891fca7604fe6ba64bf3501689","width":1140},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=1140&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=0b65e4198b9c6c6a7fb57adcd05ab295","width":2280},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=980&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=0325e067b152702e5c296b04f50a16cd","width":980},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=980&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=fb6a779b5c0408a36a8e3a4dc11998fb","width":1960},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=740&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=6de2d5ebd613a1e02c15bc2bd3ef3a15","width":740},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=740&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=5d9c3bc2402e0b4a0d39ee7a76de9a6a","width":1480},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=660&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=bf246fbabbec83f8fc59145de3bb9c0f","width":660},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=660&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=225031508498d2493bc10267e0fa5955","width":1320},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=480&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=f0d2fc07d2f03b5126c4569086e32b5c","width":480},{"src":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/f872ff18124b6c0e29f777106284badd00d6839d/1685_183_1134_1418/master/1134.jpg?width=480&quality=45&auto=format&fit=max&dpr=2&s=a3019db1a5e27b9abf5ee3eab66de22c","width":960}]}],"data":{"alt":"Thomas Massie.","caption":"Thomas Massie.","credit":"Photograph: Aaron Schwartz/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock"}},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
But it’s not platitudes Greene is seeking, it’s concessions. Politico listed four demands of the Greene-Massie alliance, most prominently a pledge from Johnson there will be no more US aid for Ukraine as it battles a Russian invasion.
","elementId":"f0cf89d1-6928-4caa-b0dc-87573677e988"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
They also want implementation of the so-called Hastert rule (named for former speaker Dennis Hastert), in which legislation is only brought for a floor vote if a majority of Republicans support it; defunding of special counsel investigations into former president Donald Trump; and adoption of the “Massie rule” that automatically cuts government funding when no agreement is reached by a certain deadline.
","elementId":"b28e6cf1-1348-4afd-9b8d-28b1cb6829c4"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
With substantial Ukraine funding already passed, and likely to last until beyond November’s election, that demand might not be the hurdle it seems. And Johnson will be keen to avoid the embarrassment of having to rely on Democratic support in any vote to remove him.
","elementId":"d42fcc67-6dac-46d5-bc62-8fad85000013"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
He certainly has nothing to lose by extending the talks today, and several political analysts see the frozen Greene-Johnson relationship beginning to thaw.
","elementId":"c00d89d9-b14f-4481-a94e-31131e16360f"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
We’ll be watching for developments.
","elementId":"df7295f7-f610-4b5b-b52c-90667e39d256"}],"attributes":{"pinned":true,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1715088449000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"14.27 BST","blockLastUpdated":1715090262000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"14.57 BST","blockFirstPublished":1715088816000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"14.33 BST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"14.33","title":"Talks could end impasse over vote for Johnson’s removal","contributors":[],"primaryDateLine":"Tue 7 May 2024 15.05 BST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Tue 7 May 2024 14.10 BST"},{"id":"663a20128f08de1164c892bb","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
Good morning, US politics blog readers.
","elementId":"203c58cd-514b-41b2-b2a4-e66d55993fd7"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
The never ending story, also known as the Republican speaker saga, continues today with a scheduled next round of talks between firebrand extremist Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Johnson, the leader she has promised to unseat.
","elementId":"101678ae-88dd-42d1-bb32-799191ed7bc2"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
The pair met for several hours on Monday, with some observers suggesting the Georgia congresswoman is looking for an off-ramp, knowing that Democrats have already promised to keep Johnson in place in any House vote to oust him.
","elementId":"6c777387-7d32-4084-85f7-0f0f12af530d"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
But it’s not an olive branch that Greene, and her new close ally Thomas Massie of Kentucky, are seeking. They want a block on further US funding for Ukraine, which caused her outrage in the first place, and a host of other political concessions we’ll look at in the blog shortly.
","elementId":"ee1629a7-ce11-4f6c-81ba-fa7a71d6eddd"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
As things stand, Greene, Johnson and probably Massie are set to converse again at lunchtime. Whether Greene can be talked out of pressing ahead with a potentially embarrassing “motion to vacate”, the vote that could see Johnson booted, remains to be seen.
","elementId":"5a2d3f0f-bd17-4075-88a1-037597a6b10f"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
Here’s what else we’re watching today:
","elementId":"8e8fb113-b27c-4695-aaf3-9a86c3d7d763"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
- \n
-
Texas Democratic congressman Henry Cuellar is fighting for his political life days after he and his wife were indicted for bribery, fraud and money laundering over their links to Azerbaijan. Democratic leadership issued a lukewarm message of support, and Cuellar’s chief of staff Jake Hochberg quit Monday, with other staff said to be planning to join him.
-
Johnson has a busy day, aside from his meeting with Greene and Massie. He’ll be hosting a press conference with Republican leadership this morning, and meeting King Abdullah of Jordan in Washington DC this afternoon.
-
Joe Biden will deliver remarks at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Days of Remembrance ceremony this morning and meet the Romanian president, Klaus Iohannis, at the White House this afternoon.
-
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s daily media briefing is scheduled for 2pm ET.
\n
\n
\n
\n
","elementId":"076b52e7-1b56-4d5c-bb84-7f93f0b6adf3"}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1715087415000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"14.10 BST","blockLastUpdated":1715089201000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"14.40 BST","blockFirstPublished":1715087415000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"14.10 BST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"14.10","title":"Standoff between Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Johnson continues with ouster vote looming","contributors":[],"primaryDateLine":"Tue 7 May 2024 15.05 BST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Tue 7 May 2024 14.10 BST"}],"filterKeyEvents":false,"id":"key-events-carousel-mobile"}” config=”{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false,"assetOrigin":"https://assets.guim.co.uk/"}”>
Key events
Speaker Mike Johnson is about to address reporters at a news conference with Republican leadership in Washington DC.
We’re watching to see if he has anything to say about his talks with Marjorie Taylor Greene and her ongoing pledge to oust him.
You can watch the press conference here.
Donald Trump’s hush-money trial in New York, and today’s development that adult movie star Stormy Daniels is set to testify, is soaking up much of the oxygen surrounding the former president. But as Peter Stone reports, his constant attacks on the US justice system is fueling threats of violence and undermining the rule of law:
Donald Trump’s verbal assaults on judges, prosecutors, witnesses, jurors and the broader US justice system, are undermining the rule of law and American democracy while fueling threats and potential violence against individuals involved with the legal cases against him and egging on his extremist allies, former federal prosecutors and judges say.
In his campaign to win the presidency again, and in the midst of various criminal and civil trials, Trump has launched multiple attacks on the American legal system on his Truth Social platform to counter the 88 federal and state criminal charges he faces.
Trump, the all but certain Republican presidential nominee for 2024, has accelerated glorifying the insurgents who attacked the Capitol on 6 January 2021. He has called them “patriots” and “hostages”, while promising that if he wins, he will free those convicted of crimes as one of his “first acts” in office.
Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly cast doubt on the electoral system. He has refused to say he will accept the results of the 2024 elections, a ploy similar to what he did in 2020 before falsely claiming the election was rigged – a claim he still maintains.
“If everything’s honest, I’ll gladly accept the results,” Trump told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week. “If it’s not, you have to fight for the right of the country.”
Darkly, Trump has also warned that if he loses the election there will be “bedlam” and a “bloodbath for the country”. These words referred, in part, to the fallout Trump predicted for the auto industry, but have distinct echoes of his false charges that he lost to Joe Biden in 2020 due to fraud.
Read the full story:
Talks could end impasse over vote for Johnson’s removal
A lunchtime summit Tuesday could finally offer clarity on whether Marjorie Taylor Greene still intends to press ahead with her drive to oust the House speaker, Mike Johnson, or accept a face-saving alternative that would give the impression of a win.
The extremist Georgia congresswoman is scheduled to meet Johnson for a second successive day to discuss her promise to call a motion to vacate, the procedure that could lead to a vote for his removal, over his collusion with Democrats to pass US funding for Ukraine.
Politico reported this morning that Monday’s talks, also attended by Greene’s new ally, the Kentucky congressman Thomas Massie, were cordial, if not entirely fruitful. The outlet said Johnson told reporters afterwards that they had made a promise to “keep this team together”.
But it’s not platitudes Greene is seeking, it’s concessions. Politico listed four demands of the Greene-Massie alliance, most prominently a pledge from Johnson there will be no more US aid for Ukraine as it battles a Russian invasion.
They also want implementation of the so-called Hastert rule (named for former speaker Dennis Hastert), in which legislation is only brought for a floor vote if a majority of Republicans support it; defunding of special counsel investigations into former president Donald Trump; and adoption of the “Massie rule” that automatically cuts government funding when no agreement is reached by a certain deadline.
With substantial Ukraine funding already passed, and likely to last until beyond November’s election, that demand might not be the hurdle it seems. And Johnson will be keen to avoid the embarrassment of having to rely on Democratic support in any vote to remove him.
He certainly has nothing to lose by extending the talks today, and several political analysts see the frozen Greene-Johnson relationship beginning to thaw.
We’ll be watching for developments.
Standoff between Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Johnson continues with ouster vote looming
Good morning, US politics blog readers.
The never ending story, also known as the Republican speaker saga, continues today with a scheduled next round of talks between firebrand extremist Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Johnson, the leader she has promised to unseat.
The pair met for several hours on Monday, with some observers suggesting the Georgia congresswoman is looking for an off-ramp, knowing that Democrats have already promised to keep Johnson in place in any House vote to oust him.
But it’s not an olive branch that Greene, and her new close ally Thomas Massie of Kentucky, are seeking. They want a block on further US funding for Ukraine, which caused her outrage in the first place, and a host of other political concessions we’ll look at in the blog shortly.
As things stand, Greene, Johnson and probably Massie are set to converse again at lunchtime. Whether Greene can be talked out of pressing ahead with a potentially embarrassing “motion to vacate”, the vote that could see Johnson booted, remains to be seen.
Here’s what else we’re watching today:
-
Texas Democratic congressman Henry Cuellar is fighting for his political life days after he and his wife were indicted for bribery, fraud and money laundering over their links to Azerbaijan. Democratic leadership issued a lukewarm message of support, and Cuellar’s chief of staff Jake Hochberg quit Monday, with other staff said to be planning to join him.
-
Johnson has a busy day, aside from his meeting with Greene and Massie. He’ll be hosting a press conference with Republican leadership this morning, and meeting King Abdullah of Jordan in Washington DC this afternoon.
-
Joe Biden will deliver remarks at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Days of Remembrance ceremony this morning and meet the Romanian president, Klaus Iohannis, at the White House this afternoon.
-
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s daily media briefing is scheduled for 2pm ET.