Plenty of House Democrats are unhappy with the Senate’s deal to fund shuttered government agencies. Plenty of House conservatives dislike it, too. And somehow, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has to navigate competing factions — on different votes — and get the bill passed to reopen the majority of government as soon as possible. Thus far, Johnson’s strategy — leaning on President Donald Trump to pressure reluctant conservatives on a procedural vote, then relying on a combination of Republican and Democratic support to pass the underlying bill — appears to be working. Just getting to this point, however, has required Johnson to float major concessions to conservatives, including the longshot idea of changing the Senate filibuster. Play House looks to end partial government shutdown February 2, 2026 / 07:47 The Senate deal to fund the government — a package that includes the remaining five full-year funding bills plus a two-week stopgap for the Department of Homeland Security — has drawn complaints from both parties. But Johnson, now facing a one-vote margin after he swore in the new Texas Democratic Rep. Christian Menefee on Monday, has begun to secure support from hardline conservatives who swear their party is getting a raw deal. That support could just be enough to end the partial government shutdown, which has currently left roughly four-fifths of federal agencies with a funding lapse. On Monday night, Trump convinced Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., a top holdout against the funding deal, by assuring her that Senate Majority Leader John…

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Plenty of House Democrats are unhappy with the Senate’s deal to fund shuttered government agencies. Plenty of House conservatives dislike it, too. And somehow, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has to navigate competing factions — on different votes — and get the bill passed to reopen the majority of government as soon as possible. Thus far, Johnson’s strategy — leaning on President Donald Trump to pressure reluctant conservatives on a procedural vote, then relying on a combination of Republican and Democratic support to pass the underlying bill — appears to be working. Just getting to this point, however, has required Johnson to float major concessions to conservatives, including the longshot idea of changing the Senate filibuster. Play House looks to end partial government shutdown February 2, 2026 / 07:47 The Senate deal to fund the government — a package that includes the remaining five full-year funding bills plus a two-week stopgap for the Department of Homeland Security — has drawn complaints from both parties. But Johnson, now facing a one-vote margin after he swore in the new Texas Democratic Rep. Christian Menefee on Monday, has begun to secure support from hardline conservatives who swear their party is getting a raw deal. That support could just be enough to end the partial government shutdown, which has currently left roughly four-fifths of federal agencies with a funding lapse. On Monday night, Trump convinced Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., a top holdout against the funding deal, by assuring her that Senate Majority Leader John…

Continue reading →

Plenty of House Democrats are unhappy with the Senate’s deal to fund shuttered government agencies. Plenty of House conservatives dislike it, too. And somehow, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has to navigate competing factions — on different votes — and get the bill passed to reopen the majority of government as soon as possible. Thus far, Johnson’s strategy — leaning on President Donald Trump to pressure reluctant conservatives on a procedural vote, then relying on a combination of Republican and Democratic support to pass the underlying bill — appears to be working. Just getting to this point, however, has required Johnson to float major concessions to conservatives, including the longshot idea of changing the Senate filibuster. Play House looks to end partial government shutdown February 2, 2026 / 07:47 The Senate deal to fund the government — a package that includes the remaining five full-year funding bills plus a two-week stopgap for the Department of Homeland Security — has drawn complaints from both parties. But Johnson, now facing a one-vote margin after he swore in the new Texas Democratic Rep. Christian Menefee on Monday, has begun to secure support from hardline conservatives who swear their party is getting a raw deal. That support could just be enough to end the partial government shutdown, which has currently left roughly four-fifths of federal agencies with a funding lapse. On Monday night, Trump convinced Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., a top holdout against the funding deal, by assuring her that Senate Majority Leader John…

Continue reading →