House Republicans are struggling with the same battles over government funding that led to the chaotic unseating of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), seemingly cutting any honeymoon short for new Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). GOP leadership this week yanked two spending bills from the floor amid disputes on spending and other controversial policy items. With a government funding deadline less than a week away, the conference seems hopelessly divided on how to avert a shutdown.
They’re threading a very fine needle. They sank a bill last week that had a lot of abortion restrictions. The moderates are basically stuck between pissing off their base and losing a primary, or pissing off the general electorate and losing the general. They’re screwed either way.