While the White House works on reducing the prospects of an expanded war in the Middle East, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has the weight of U.S. allies’ futures — and his job — on his shoulders.
He’s expected to make a decision this week on how he will address the crises in Israel, Gaza, Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific.
He’ll host a Republican conference meeting tonight to discuss it, one person familiar with the meeting said. But frustrated Republicans who think it’s past time to fund Ukraine and Israel hope his decision is imminent.
Johnson and his staff spent yesterday discussing options.
President Biden convened a call with Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) to discuss Iran’s Saturday night attack on Israel. The president encouraged Johnson to pass the Senate’s $95 billion funding bill for Ukraine, Israel, Gaza humanitarian aid and Taiwan, according to a readout from the White House.
This week was long expected to be crunchtime for Johnson on national security funding, after he promised to tackle the issue once the House passed a FISA reauthorization and funded the government — two priorities with deadlines. But after Iran launched more than 300 missiles and drones toward Israel over the weekend, pressure on Johnson to act has only increased.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/04/15/its-make-or-break-time-israel-ukraine-aid-johnson/
So lame. Just go fly a kite