Mike Johnson ends GOP chaos as 56th House Speaker

NBC News, by Scott Wong, Ali Vitali, Rebecca Kaplan and Kyle Stewart, on Oct. 25, 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/mike-johnson-elected-new-speaker-house-vote-rcna122151

The Non-Prophets, Episode 22.45.3 featuring Kelley Laughlin, Cindy Plaza, Jimmy Jr. and Aaron Jensen

Cindy led us through the shocking twists that allowed Mike Johnson's surprising elevation to the 56th Speaker of the House. She highlighted Johnson's extremism, particularly his vocal opposition to LGBTQ rights and leading role in GOP efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Kelley underscored the perception of Johnson as the "least objectionable person" amidst GOP disarray. Despite Johnson's extremist views and role in challenging the 2020 election, his charisma and conservative stance played a vital role in uniting the party. Johnson's lack of enemies within the GOP was a key factor in his success.

Aaron joined, highlighting Johnson's alignment with the MAGA crowd and inclination toward ideological warfare. Predicting consequences in upcoming elections due to GOP dysfunction, Aaron criticized Congress members prioritizing personal beliefs over governance, labeling them as traitorous.

Jimmy Jr. expressed concern about Johnson's alignment with the religious right. He criticized the thinning line between government and religion, noting Johnson's public prayer on the House floor. He also cautioned against the encroachment of religious and MAGA ideologies into legislative decisions.

Cindy described the events leading to Johnson's speakership as laughable, particularly the GOP the influence of the "orange man." She expressed horror at Johnson's positions, linking aid conditions to Israel and Ukraine with controversial issues like the border wall and reducing IRS funding.

The conversation shifted to Johnson's challenges as Speaker, including the looming government shutdown and GOP internal strife. Kelley raised concerns about Johnson's potential need for another stopgap measure, citing the party's dislike for supporting a Democratic proposal. The panelists speculated and questioned his control over House members.

Aaron voiced dissatisfaction with prioritizing party over country, calling for fundamental changes. He proposed multi-representational districts and ranked-choice voting for collaboration, compromise, and diverse party representation.

The discussion touched on Johnson's problematic attributes, with Aaron and Jimmy condemning his attempt to overturn election results. The panelists debated whether self-interest might lead Johnson to forsake theocracy for power, considering potential allegiance to Trump.

Cindy expressed skepticism about Johnson's pro-Trump stance, believing his commitment to theocracy might supersede allegiance. The discussion concluded with Aaron advocating for a shift from party-centric politics, emphasizing a larger House, smaller districts, and publicly funded elections.

In summary, the panelists provided a nuanced analysis of Johnson's ascent, expressing concerns about extremism, GOP struggles, and calling for democratic system changes. The discussion reflected a thoughtful exploration of challenges surrounding Johnson's leadership.