As shutdown becomes 2nd longest ever, Johnson hints at changes to GOP's strategy [View all]
Source: ABC News
October 22, 2025, 6:12 PM
On Day 22 of the government shutdown on Wednesday, even as House Speaker Mike Johnson rehashed talking points he’s repeated for a month – putting the onus on Democrats to reopen the government -- he acknowledged the GOP’s messaging is getting "old" and a change in strategy might be necessary.
"This is now the second-longest government shutdown of any kind ever in the history of our country, and it's just shameful. Democrats keep making history, but they're doing it for all the wrong reasons,” Johnson told reporters at the daily news conference he's been holding in the Capitol.
Johnson was pressed on Texas Republican Rep. Beth Van Duyne’s remarks on a earlier GOP conference call, during which she reportedly requested that Johnson call the House back to Washington. "No, that's not what she said ...," Johnson argued. "She said, 'The message is feeling old,' and I said, 'You know what, Beth? You're right' -- because we come out here and say the same thing over and over every day."
Nevertheless, the speaker said House Republicans are "almost 100% -- probably 99.8%" united on the strategy of refusing to negotiate with Democrats until the government gets funded -- even, Johnson said, as they’re "anxious to get back to work."
Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/speaker-johnson-hints-gop-strategy-shutdown-drags/story?id=126770777
Then convene the damn House and stop the "vacation" because your loon GOP members aren't even having town halls. The power of the purse resides IN THE HOUSE. Start voting on the individual appropriations bills and any that pass, send them to the Senate. THAT is how bills become law. The appropriations process is NOT "all or nothing". You look like an sniveling idiot.
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