'Internal debacle': GOP lawmakers furious that Mike Johnson 'got outplayed' by Democrats

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Raw Story

December 19, 2025 6:58AM ET


Democrats repeatedly outmaneuvered Republican leadership and stalled the GOP agenda to close out the legislative year, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is facing heat.

Under House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democrats shifted the congressional agenda toward their priorities while exposing fractures within the GOP majority, and the centerpiece of Democratic success was a deliberate September strategy to frame the government shutdown around healthcare rather than President Donald Trump's federal spending cuts, reported Politico.

"The party knew well that health care was a minefield for Republicans — one that many in both parties blamed for the GOP’s massive House losses in the 2018 midterms," Politico reported. "Ultimately, the shutdown ended after 43 days when a handful of Democratic senators decided the standoff had run its course," the report added. "But House Democrats strategized to keep health care center stage, with Jeffries filing a discharge petition seeking a vote on a straight three-year extension of the expiring tax credits before moderate Republicans started filing their own discharge petitions."

Although Democrats failed to secure an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, they achieved their broader objective: forcing Republicans to debate Democratic priorities instead of their own agenda. Johnson ultimately kept the House out of session roughly one-fifth of the year to secure the shutdown deal, inadvertently fueling GOP frustration. "I think the House as a whole has not been nearly as proactive as we should have been in recent months," complained Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA).

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/mike-johnson-discharge-petition-1/

[underpants]

1. MTG is supposedly working on a plan to unseat him as Speaker as her last act

They changed to rules again I think. It’s not just one vote (that ousted McCarthy) anymore, I think I read it’s 7. MTG said she’s working on getting the votes needed and initiating it when they reconvene in January. Apparently female GOP’ers are pissed because Moses Mike hasn’t promoted any women up the line of power in committees specifically

[ananda]

17. Well, she retires Jan 6th, and they're shut down through this year.

So.. does she have time?

[Lovie777]

2. It's more important to the House Republicans that they supposedly got outsmarted ...........................

by the Democrats than any concerns about the healthcare of their constituents?

Yep.

[bronxiteforever]

3. K&R. Again & again we see the GOP can't govern

It can only destroy and bully and kowtow.
Let’s face it,; they are just grocery clerks collecting for their billionaire masters.

[AllaN01Bear]

9. cant. dont know how . wont , never will . ( my late mom said that.

[travelingthrulife]

4. Do these monsters ever even consider doing the right thing?

[Pluvious]

6. Only when there might be something for them to benefit from

"We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace - business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering.

They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob".

-Franklin Delano Roosevelt

[AllaN01Bear]

10. NO !!!!!!

[MarineCombatEngineer]

5. I love this image in the comments section:

And this one:

[AllaN01Bear]

11. ding !!!!!!!! this .

[Beartracks]

20. LOL Bunjeezus!

[wolfie001]

7. rePUKE pearl-clutching to cover their stale, white asses

Total projection. Most are vile racist haters and are quite fine with screwing over anyone who isn't a wealthy contributor to their campaigns or The Heritage Fund. Sick f6cks.

[Hieronymus Phact]

8. Liking Jeffries more and more. -nt

[azureblue]

12. and once again

Party over country. Nevermind their refusal to renew ACA will cause people to die. Nevermind that peopel will go bankrupt over medical bills. It's all about oneupmanship over the Democrats.
Absolutely sickening, and proving why the GOP should be disbanded forever

[Dulcinea]

13. The sooner Tiny Johnson has to give up the speaker's gavel the better.

He's a worthless little wanker whose job is to protect the Fascist Felon at all costs. I'd love to know the kompromat on him.

[Skittles]

19. "Tiny Johnson"

OH NO YOU DIDN'T

[Wonder Why]

14. Outwitting Mike is like taking candy from a baby - easy!

[twodogsbarking]

15. He has the right face for a punching bag.

[BaronChocula]

16. I'm old enough to remember

all the criticism of Democratic leadership including Leader Jeffries during an impossible year in the minority. Most spectators just watch the ball. People with responsibility have to see the entire field. This is a lot of kudos for Dems coming from Politico.

[DFW]

22. Especially when you consider who owns Politico

Politico is owned by Germany’s Axel Springer Group, a right wing media conglomerate whose flagship rag is the “Bild Zeitung,” the German version of the National Inquirer.

[Skittles]

18. ....."Democratic priorities instead of their own agenda"

absolute proof ONLY ONE PARTY CARES ABOUT HEALTH CARE

[Beartracks]

21. And what was Republicans' agenda, praytell? More trickledown? More MAGA BS?

More Project 2025?

For anyone who might think that Democrats can't achieve anything when in the minority, take some comfort in this at least: avoiding a negative IS a positive!

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