Newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, has been making headlines with his early moves in office. Johnson, a low-profile conservative, was first elected to Congress in 2016 and had come into the post with scant political leadership experience.
One of his notable actions includes his insistence on separating aid to Israel for its war against Hamas from support for Ukraine. This stance faced opposition from Democratic lawmakers and some House Republicans. Johnson also pitched, and the GOP-controlled House passed, legislation that conditioned $14.3 billion in aid to Israel on cuts to the IRS's ability to audit corporations and high-income earners.
Johnson's ascent is celebrated by conservative Christians, particularly Southern Baptists, due to his long history of work against abortion and gay rights. His election as speaker is seen as a triumph for conservative evangelicals, despite concerns from some observers about the fusion of traditional social conservatism and authoritarian instincts.
However, Johnson's past has also been under scrutiny. He was once the dean of a Christian law school, The Judge Paul Pressler School of Law, part of Louisiana College, which never opened due to internal conflicts, accusations of financial impropriety, and difficulty obtaining accreditation.
Johnson's first week in office was marked by measures that drove a wedge between liberals and conservatives, and between the House and Senate. He floated a 'laddered' plan to fund individual agencies and federal programs with separate rolling deadlines, setting up frequent showdowns until larger spending bills become law.
Despite the controversies, Johnson's supporters believe he is the right person for the job of Speaker of the House, arguing that he must lead House Republicans in supporting Israel, confronting the border crisis, addressing economic hardships, and treating the weaponization of government agencies as a serious threat.