🗞️ #056 | Could the House GOP's $95 Billion Power Play Result in Another Speaker Vote?

All of the above the fold 📰 stories of the week to keep you in the know

Meseidy

Apr 19, 2024

∙ Paid

Upgrade to paid to play voiceover

Texas Democrats open to saving U.S. Speaker Mike Johnson | The Texas Tribune

Get 30% off for 1 year

It’s FRIDAY, April 19! Let’s check the news.

Scanning the headlines

🌟 Feature Story: Could the House GOP's $95 Billion Power Play Result in Another Speaker Vote?🌟

This week, House Republicans, spearheaded by Speaker Mike Johnson, are making waves with a massive $95 billion foreign aid bill aimed at bolstering allies like Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan amid global tensions. As the vote this Saturday looms, Johnson is playing both coach and referee, attempting to unite a party showing signs of fracture. The drama intensified as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced a motion to vacate, threatening Johnson's leadership and potentially triggering another vote for Speaker. Some Republicans echo "America First" and call for new leadership, while others see the need for global stability. Meanwhile, Democrats and President Biden are all for the bill, urging its quick passage. With high stakes on Capitol Hill, Johnson’s mantle as "wartime speaker" faces a critical test, balancing intense internal dynamics and significant global policy impacts. This weekend could be a defining moment for U.S. foreign policy and the direction of GOP leadership. 🌍🎖️🗳️

🔍 More Stories to Scan 🔍

Trump’s Trial, a Political and Media Circus: Former President Donald Trump is on trial over a 2016 payment, facing 34 big charges. Selecting a jury? It’s more like a political minefield. Two jurors were excused Thursday morning —one had her privacy invaded, and the other had some legal skeletons. But by Thursday afternoon, 12 jurors were selected, and 6 alternates remained to be chosen. Jurors are getting grilled on everything they watch and scroll through, from Fox News to Facebook, making sure no biases slip through. Trump’s not staying quiet, though. He’s shouting “witch hunt” on Truth Social, turning his trial into a battleground not just for justice but for his political legacy.

Turncoat Tactics? House Speaker’s 180 on Spy Powers Sparks GOP Showdown: The House just green-lit the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act, rolling over Section 702 powers until 2026, amidst a sharply divided vote. The drama? Rep. Andy Biggs wanted to add a twist — requiring warrants to peek at Americans' data. But his plan ended in a 212-212 cliffhanger, highlighting the deep rifts over how much the government should be allowed to snoop. Flip-flop alert: Speaker Mike Johnson, who used to side against these powers, did a 180 and pushed the bill through without those extra privacy checks. Now, it's off to the Senate, stirring up the age-old tussle between keeping things safe and keeping them private. Let's see how this plays out.

Senate Says "No Thanks" to Mayorkas Impeachment: Senate Democrats quickly shut down impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, brushing off House Republicans' claims that he failed at border security and misled Congress. As border issues heat up, the drama's not just about Mayorkas—it's adding fuel to former President Trump's campaign fire. On the flip side, Senate Republicans are raising red flags, worried that skipping a full trial could set a bad precedent. With immigration still a hot topic and elections looming, this political showdown could leave lasting scars on public trust and bipartisan vibes.

Mid-East Heat Up - Israeli Strikes Against Iran: Last night, Israel hit back with targeted strikes on Iran, responding to a massive missile and drone attack on its territory. The strikes avoided Iran's nuke sites but shook military bases, prompting commercial flight detours. As global leaders urge calm, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio praised Israel's strategic reach, highlighting their ability to strike without breaching Iranian airspace. With the international community on edge, both nations are playing it cool to avoid a full-scale conflict.

SCOTUS Questions Legal Stretch in January 6 Prosecutions: The Supreme Court is knee-deep in the debate over whether a law crafted for Enron-era white-collar crimes should apply to the January 6 Capitol rioters. The conservative justices are raising eyebrows, questioning if this could unfairly target everyday protestors with serious charges meant for big-time fraudsters. On the other side, liberal justices are pushing for a broad application, saying Congress wanted this law to cover more than just financial misdeeds. This isn't just a legal squabble—it could affect hundreds, including former President Trump, and shape how we handle protests and presidential powers in the future.

Also this…

Google fires 28 workers after 10-hour sit-in.

This courtroom rendering of Trump.

Who doesn’t want pretentious jam?

No, Caitlin Clark should not be paid more.

Trump visits Harlem bodega after court.

Biden struggles with geography…again.

Germany excited about potential WWIII?

🇺🇸 Don't just scan the surface of today's news 👀 📰—dive deeper with Above the Fold!

But here's the deal: While anyone can catch a scan, only paid subscribers get the full story along with snarky comments, detailed analysis, and content like links, videos, and social media posts.

Want in? Subscribe today!

🗞️ Big Money, Big Problems: Johnson Confronts Party Rifts with $95 Billion Aid Package at Stake

This week, as House Republicans gear up to vote on a massive $100 billion foreign aid package aimed at strengthening ties with key allies like Israel, Ukraine, and Indo-Pacific nations, there's an added layer of internal drama unfolding. Speaker Mike Johnson is steering this major legislative push amid turbulent waters, facing not only global challenges but also internal party conflicts, including a motion to vacate his position led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. This motion could force a shake-up in leadership and potentially lead to another vote for Speaker. 🌎💰

Here's the Tea on the Aid:

For Israel: In response to recent threats from Iran, $26 billion is earmarked to bolster Israel's defenses.
For Ukraine: Amid its ongoing tussle with Russia, Ukraine could see $61 billion, including funds to square up past economic supports.
For Indo-Pacific Allies: About $8 billion is directed towards enhancing military strength, with Taiwan getting a significant focus.

Mixing It Up with the REPO Act:

Amid the hefty foreign aid talk, there's buzz about the REPO Act. This proposed legislation would enable the feds t to seize and sell assets worth more than $2 million from sanctioned Russian oligarchs or foreigners linked to the Russian government and enhance U.S. policy oversight. These assets would be sold “only for the benefit of the people of Ukraine.” It also includes tough new sanctions on our biggest challengers: Russia, China, and Iran.

Not All Cheers:

The House Freedom Caucus is making waves, with Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) at the forefront, voicing strong disapproval over the prioritization of foreign aid. Greene's push for a motion to vacate Speaker Johnson's position underscores a significant rift within the GOP. This motion, if successful, could lead to a leadership vote, putting Johnson's role as Speaker on thin ice. Are the American People ready for another round of Speaker drama?

Greene argues that the focus should shift back to America-first policies, suggesting that the party needs a leader who can effectively champion these priorities at a critical time. She is supported by the party's most conservative voices like Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) and Thomas Massie (R-KY).

The Republicans hold a slim majority in the House. Should any GOP members vote nope, they would need Democratic support to pass legislation.

Across the Aisle:

Democrats and President Biden are on board, pushing for a quick green light. They're all in for tossing in some humanitarian help, too, which is a bit of a sticky point with some Republicans. The primary concern is that the humanitarian aid will be confiscated by Hamas and not reach the Palestinian people who are suffering.

"Look, we are in. We are in unprecedented times. Okay. We're in dangerous times. This has been articulated here around the world and here at home. We need steady leadership. We need steady hands at the wheel. Look, I regard myself as a as a wartime speaker,"

Johnson's Tightrope:

Labeling himself as a "wartime speaker," Johnson sees his role as critical in these turbulent times, drawing comparisons to the Civil War for the scale of challenges he's facing. Despite calls from within his party to step down, he's committed to steering through this storm with a bipartisan approach, relying even on Democratic support to maintain his position.

What's the Big Deal?

Come Saturday, it's not just about the dollars. It's a test of Johnson's grip on the gavel and the GOP's roadmap. With global eyes watching, the stakes are high both abroad and in the aisles of Congress.

As the clock ticks down, Capitol Hill is where the action's at, with outcomes likely to ripple out, touching everything from global alliances to the next news cycle. Stay tuned! 🍿🌍

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to It's Meseidy to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.