ICYMI: GOP bets on extremist Johnson as speaker, risking 2024 prospects

The House has a speaker

After three weeks of futility, Republicans finally got themselves a speaker—full-on MAGA acolyte Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana. The unanimous vote spoke to the GOP’s hard reality: If they hadn’t chosen Johnson, the only other path forward was working with Democrats on a power-sharing agreement, and no Republican, not even moderates in districts that Joe Biden won in 2020, could stomach that. Instead, Republicans now have to defend a virulently anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-democracy, election-denying insurgent. What were the two issues that drove dramatic Democratic victories in 2022? Abortion and democracy. Along with Donald Trump, Republicans sure do know how to double down on the things America most hates about them.

That’s not all. Johnson is god-awful on just about every single issue, so check out this story for all the gory details. Chaos agents Steve Bannon and Rep. Matt Gaetz are, understandably, excited. Still, Republicans are in no mood to defend Johnson’s record, literally booing when the press asked questions about his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election … at a press conference.