Inauguration Day with the Speaker of the House

Honestly with Bari Weiss

The Free Press

News, Society & Culture

4.6 • 7.8K Ratings

🗓️ 20 January 2025

⏱️ 60 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Being the Republican House leader is a little like marrying Henry VIII. At some point, you’re getting your head cut off. But for now, Mike Johnson remains not just physically intact—but in a position of incredible power. Two weeks ago, Johnson was reelected Speaker of the House on the first ballot. Despite having only the narrowest of House majorities—the Republicans control the House by four votes, 219 vs. 215 Democrats—Mike Johnson was able to unite the Republican Party’s warring factions—moderates, the Freedom Caucus, the Raw Milk caucus, libertarians, hawks, doves, and whatever Lauren Boebert is—behind him. It was tough to pull off, as it would’ve taken only a couple of No votes to send him off to that Republican Valhalla where John Boehner chain-smokes and chugs merlot, Paul Ryan does push-ups, and Kevin McCarthy throws darts at a photo of Matt Gaetz. Now, Donald Trump will become president of the United States and Mike Johnson will have the task of shepherding his agenda through Congress. And because the Republicans control the House by only four seats, the Speaker might have to get very close to some moderate Democrats—particularly those with constituents itching for a tax cut. Today on Honestly, Speaker Johnson breaks down this challenge. He talks about how the party moves forward with two different visions for America; why he thinks Biden was “the worst president ever”; he recalls an eerie experience with Biden in the Oval Office; and he even gives us a taste of his uncanny Trump impression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	It's winter, and you can get anything you need delivered with Uber Eats. Well, almost almost anything.
0:07.1	No, you can't get icicles on Uber Eats, but ice coffee, ice cream, or iceberg lettuce? Yes, we deliver those.
0:14.5	Snowballs, that's a no, but mozzarella balls, definitely yes. A maple tree? No, but maple syrup for your pancakes, yes, because those are
0:24.1	groceries, and Uber Eats delivers those too, along with your favorite restaurant food, alcohol,
0:29.7	and everyday essentials like toilet paper and shampoo. Order Uber Eats now.
0:35.8	From the free press, live in D.C., this is honestly, and I'm Barry Weiss.
0:42.5	Being Republican House speaker is a little bit like marrying Henry the 8th.
0:46.9	At some point, your head will be chopped off. But for now, Mike Johnson looks physically intact
0:52.3	and also is in a position of incredible power.
0:55.7	Two weeks ago, Johnson was re-elected Speaker of the House on the first ballot, which is saying
1:00.2	something. Despite having only the narrowest of House majorities, he was able to unite the various
1:06.2	factions of the warring Republican Party. The moderates, the Freedom Caucus, the Raw Milk
1:11.4	Caucus, the Libertarians, the Hawks, the Doves, and whatever we call Lauren Bobert.
1:15.9	It was a tough thing to pull off, and it would only have taken a couple no votes to send him to that Republican Valhalla
1:22.1	where John Boehner chained smokes and chugs Merleau, Paul Ryan does his push-ups, and Kevin McCarthy throws
1:28.2	darts at a photo of Matt Gates. Now, Donald Trump will become President of the United
1:33.4	States very shortly, and Mike Johnson, you will have the thinkless task, arguably, of shepherding
1:40.2	his agenda through Congress. And because the Republicans control the House by only four seats,
1:46.0	you're going to have to get close, I think, to some moderate Democrats,
1:49.0	particularly those with constituents looking for a tax cut.
1:53.0	So Speaker Johnson, officially, thanks for joining me on honestly,
1:56.0	and thanks for making the time on this busy weekend.
	...

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