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Government shutdown looms as new speaker struggles to control hardliners

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Summary

House Speaker Mike Johnson is struggling to pass a two-tiered plan to temporarily fund the government before Friday's funding deadline, a difficult task facing intense opposition from the hard right wing of the Republican party. The plan, which has been referred to as a "laddered CR", would avoid a wild ride of shutdown brinkmanship, but the chances of it passing seem very low. The House Rules Committee will consider the plan Monday, and if it fails, the country could be facing two government shutdowns. The political and geopolitical costs of this mess are growing, with Israel waiting for an aid package and Ukraine's hopes of receiving US aid fading. The White House has warned against the plan, and former President Trump's influence on far-right Republicans could further complicate things. Johnson is pleading for a break from his hardliners, but with little time left and the Senate likely to pass a clean extension bill, it may be too late.

Q&As

What is the current risk of a government shutdown?
There is a risk of a government shutdown due to extreme GOP lawmakers who either cannot or don't want to help run the country.

What is the House Speaker Mike Johnson's plan to temporarily fund the government?
House Speaker Mike Johnson's plan is to temporarily fund the government with a pair of deadlines in January and February for the passage of permanent department budgets.

What implications does House Republicans' failure to govern have?
The House's failure to govern means Israel is still waiting for an aid package as it battles Hamas in Gaza, and Ukraine's hopes of receiving another massive US aid package are receding.

How has the White House and former President Donald Trump responded to the House Speaker's plan?
The White House issued a searing response to the proposal, calling it "a recipe for more Republican chaos and more shutdowns – full stop." Former President Donald Trump has also complicated things for Johnson by targeting special counsel Jack Smith and his family, and one of Trump's most prominent acolytes, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, has blasted Johnson's plan as a "clean CR."

What risks do Democrats face if they do not support the House Speaker's plan?
Democrats could face their own political blowback if they do not back the House Speaker's plan, since a government shutdown could have broad impacts, including the eventual delay of pay to the military.

AI Comments

👍 This article provides an interesting and detailed look into the current political dynamics in the House and the potential consequences of a government shutdown.

👎 This article paints a bleak picture of the US government's future and shows how hard it is to reach a compromise in the House.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the potential for a government shutdown due to a clash between new Speaker Mike Johnson and the hard-right lawmakers in the Republican majority. Johnson has proposed a two-tiered plan to temporarily fund the government, but it's not clear whether it will pass. There's a lot of political and geopolitical implications if the government does shut down.

Friend: Wow, that's a lot to take in. What kind of implications are we talking about?

Me: Well, if the government shuts down, it would be a huge embarrassment for the US abroad. It could also cause a delay in pay for military personnel and could delay the aid package for Israel, as well as Ukraine's hopes of receiving US aid. Plus, it could backfire on the Democrats if they don't support Johnson's plan, as they would get blamed for the shutdown. It's really a tricky situation for both parties.

Action items

Reach out to your local representatives and urge them to support a clean continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown.
Educate yourself on the potential impacts of a government shutdown and share this information with your friends and family.
Sign up for email alerts from news outlets to stay up to date on the latest developments in the government shutdown debate.

Technical terms

Government Shutdown: A government shutdown occurs when Congress and the President fail to pass legislation to fund government operations and agencies. This can lead to a partial or complete shutdown of the federal government.
Hardliners: Hardliners are individuals who take a very strict and uncompromising stance on an issue. In this case, hardliners are members of the Republican majority in the House of Representatives who are unwilling to compromise on government funding.
Continuing Resolution (CR): A continuing resolution is a type of legislation that allows the government to continue to operate at current spending levels until a more permanent solution can be reached.
Laddered CR: A laddered CR is a two-tiered approach to funding the government, with a pair of deadlines in January and February for the passage of permanent department budgets.
Extreme Republican Shutdown: An extreme Republican shutdown is a term used to describe a potential government shutdown caused by extreme GOP lawmakers who either cannot or don’t want to help run the country.
Impeachment Inquiry: An impeachment inquiry is an investigation into whether a public official has committed a crime or violated the law. In this case, it refers to the GOP's attempt to impeach President Joe Biden.