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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced Tuesday that he is taking matters into his own hands to end the historic government shutdown, declaring that he will \u201cgo above the heads\u201d of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Democratic leadership to appeal directly to senators willing to \u201cdo the right thing\u201d for the American people.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Speaking from the Capitol, Johnson accused Senate Democrats of prolonging the crisis for political gain, blasting what he described as a \u201csickening\u201d display of partisanship as millions of Americans continue to feel the effects of the shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvidence speaks for itself,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cSo we\u2019re going above the heads of the so-called leadership, and we are appealing to the consciences of a handful of people in the Senate who want to do the right thing and just stop the pain\u2014stop the pain for the American people.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Speaker\u2019s comments mark a significant escalation in his standoff with Schumer, who has repeatedly refused to bring Johnson\u2019s House-passed continuing resolution (CR) to the Senate floor. Johnson said his goal now is to rally moderate Democrats and Republicans in the Senate to force Schumer\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt may be that the longest shutdown in history is something they can claim as some sort of success,\u201d he continued. \u201cBut it\u2019s sickening. It\u2019s sickening to see a political game being played. We\u2019re not playing a game here. We never were.\u201d Johnson reminded reporters that the House passed a \u201cclean, nonpartisan CR\u201d back on September 19\u2014weeks before the shutdown began.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 24 pages in length and had not a single Republican priority on it,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cWhy? Because we did it in good faith, because we didn\u2019t want this eventuality to occur. We knew it would be too painful for the people.\u201d<\/p>\n
WATCH:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Speaker\u2019s remarks come as the government shutdown enters its 35th day, tying the record for the longest in U.S. history. Federal workers remain furloughed, small businesses have lost access to key federal loans, and food-assistance programs face growing strain.<\/p>\n Johnson\u2019s new strategy appears to be a direct appeal to individual senators rather than through Schumer\u2019s office, effectively sidelining the Senate Majority Leader. The Louisiana Republican has signaled that he no longer believes negotiations with Schumer can lead to progress, describing the Senate\u2019s posture as deliberate obstruction. Republicans say the House has done its part by passing a funding measure that includes no partisan riders\u2014only to watch Schumer stall it for leverage.<\/p>\n Still, Johnson\u2019s decision to directly challenge Schumer reflects growing frustration across Washington, where the political impasse has reached a boiling point. The Speaker framed his approach as an act of conscience, not confrontation. With pressure mounting from federal employees, state governments, and the White House, Johnson\u2019s gamble could either break the logjam\u2014or deepen partisan divisions.<\/p>\n In an escalating political battle, President Donald Trump on Thursday formally joined the chorus of Republican lawmakers calling for the expulsion of U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from Congress.His remarks followed a storm of controversy triggered by an interview Omar gave to far-left commentator Mehdi Hasan, in which she appeared to defend the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk.In the interview, Omar described Kirk as a radical, suggesting that his inflammatory rhetoric may have contributed to the violent act. Omar’s comments were perceived by many as an endorsement of violence, or at the very least, a downplaying of the severity of the tragedy.The interview has sparked widespread condemnation from Republicans, who now say<\/p>\n that Omar\u2019s actions warrant expulsion from Congress, while Democrats are rallying to her defense, citing her right to free speech and the controversial nature of the political debate at hand.<\/p>\n Omar\u2019s appearance on Hasan\u2019s show, which aired on the far-left network MSNBC, quickly became a lightning rod for criticism. During the conversation, Omar pointed to Kirk\u2019s history of inflammatory remarks, including comments made about school shootings and racial justice.She said, \u201cBut what I do know for sure is that Charlie Kirk was someone who once said, \u2018Guns save lives\u2019 after a school shooting.\u201d She also referenced Kirk\u2019s downplaying of George Floyd\u2019s murder by Minneapolis police, as well as his dismissive stance on slavery and Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S.Omar\u2019s comments, however, were widely criticized for taking Kirk\u2019s words out of context. She claimed Kirk had belittled important civil rights issues, but critics argued that her characterization was misleading and unfairly distorted Kirk\u2019s views.\u00a0<\/p>\n At one point during the interview, Omar disagreed with Hasan\u2019s characterization of Kirk as merely someone seeking \u201ca civil debate.\u201d Omar dismissed this idea as \u201ca complete rewriting of history,\u201d adding, \u201cYeah, there\u2019s nothing more effed up than to completely pretend that his words and actions have not been recorded and in existence for the last decade or so.\u201d<\/p>\n For many on the right, these words were seen as an endorsement of violence. They pointed out that Omar had effectively demonized Kirk in such a way that it was easy to see why a radical might target him.Omar’s lack of clear condemnation for the assassination, combined with her incendiary comments about Kirk\u2019s views, set off a wave of criticism from conservatives.President Trump wasted no time in weighing in on the matter. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump condemned Omar’s comments and called for her immediate expulsion from Congress.\u201cI think she should be impeached. I think she\u2019s terrible,\u201d Trump declared. \u201cIs she originally from Somalia? So how are they doing it? How\u2019s their government? Do they have a president? Do they have a council? Do they have anything? Do they have police?\u201d<\/p>\n Trump went on to criticize Omar\u2019s background, citing her Somali origins as evidence of her supposed unfitness to influence U.S. policy. \u201cI love these people that come from a place with nothing, nothing, no anything, and then they tell us how to run our country,\u201d Trump remarked, doubling down on his belief that Omar\u2019s immigrant background made her ill-suited to offer advice on American governance.Trump\u2019s remarks were swiftly amplified on social media, particularly through his Truth Social platform. There, he once again lashed out at Omar\u2019s home country, Somalia, highlighting its ongoing struggles with terrorism, poverty, and political instability. In a post, Trump wrote:\u201cIlhan Omar\u2019s Country of Somalia is plagued by a lack of central Government control, persistent Poverty, Hunger, Resurgent Terrorism, Piracy, decades of Civil War, Corruption, and pervasive Violence.70% of the population lives in extreme Poverty, and widespread Food Insecurity. Somalia is consistently ranked among the World\u2019s Most Corrupt Countries, including Bribery, Embezzlement, and a Dysfunctional Government.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump’s use of Omar\u2019s background in his critique drew backlash from her supporters, who accused him of xenophobia and racism.For many Democrats, this line of attack was nothing more than a distraction from the real issues at hand\u2014namely, Omar\u2019s comments about Kirk and the role of inflammatory rhetoric in fueling violence.Trump, however, was undeterred in his criticism, reinforcing his claim that Omar was unqualified to serve in Congress because of her immigrant status.Trump\u2019s calls for Omar\u2019s removal from Congress reflect a broader Republican push to expel the Minnesota congresswoman over her controversial remarks.Republican lawmakers have expressed growing frustration with Omar\u2019s vocal progressive views, especially her criticism of U.S. foreign policy, her stance on Israel, and her outspoken remarks on racial justice.<\/p>\n For Republicans, the issue at hand is not just Omar\u2019s recent interview, but a broader pattern of behavior they view as radical and un-American. Many Republican lawmakers argue that Omar\u2019s rhetoric, especially on social media, has consistently crossed the line from political discourse into incitement, and that her actions have endangered national security and the safety of U.S. citizens.\u201cWe cannot allow a member of Congress to openly defend or justify the murder of a fellow American citizen,\u201d said Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who has been a vocal critic of Omar for years. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just about free speech, it\u2019s about accountability. She should be expelled immediately.\u201dSome Republican leaders are now pushing for a formal resolution to expel Omar from the House, following similar efforts in recent years to remove other controversial members.<\/p>\n While the push to expel Omar is unlikely to gain traction in a Democratic-controlled chamber, it is emblematic of the growing sense of frustration on the right over what they see as a lack of accountability for members of the progressive left.On the other side of the aisle, Democrats have rallied behind Omar, with many pointing to her comments as part of a broader political debate about the role of free speech and the dangers of political polarization.For Omar\u2019s supporters, the attacks against her are rooted in racism and an attempt to silence marginalized voices in Congress.Omar herself has remained defiant, refusing to back down from her earlier comments. In a series of interviews, she argued that her remarks about Kirk were valid criticisms of his extremist views and that she was merely speaking out against the normalization of hate and bigotry in American politics.\u201cThis is about holding people accountable for their words and actions,\u201d Omar said in an interview following the controversy. \u201cCharlie Kirk is not a victim here. He is someone who has spread dangerous rhetoric that has incited violence and division in our country.\u201dDemocrats also pointed out the hypocrisy in the GOP\u2019s push to expel Omar, highlighting the fact that several Republican lawmakers have engaged in controversial behavior without facing similar calls for removal.They argued that the focus on Omar was a distraction from the real issues facing the country, such as healthcare, climate change, and income inequality.The ongoing clash over Omar\u2019s remarks is not just a battle over her fate in Congress, but a larger struggle for the soul of the Democratic Party. The controversy has exposed rifts between moderates and progressives, with some Democrats arguing that Omar\u2019s confrontational style and rhetoric undermine the party\u2019s ability to build a broad coalition.<\/p>\n A report published on Monday revealed what former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica Aber, 43, who was found dead over the weekend, had been investigating and prosecuting.<\/p>\n According to the New York Post, Aber \u201chad been in charge of some of the biggest cases targeting leaks in the CIA and Russian nationals carrying out fraud in America.\u201d<\/p>\n Authorities are investigating Aber\u2019s cause of death, other reports noted. She was found unresponsive at her home by Alexandria police just before 9:20 a.m. on Saturday.<\/p>\n Before stepping down in January following President Donald Trump\u2019s inauguration, the Biden-nominated attorney secured one of her most high-profile courtroom victories when former CIA analyst Asif Rahman, 34, pleaded guilty to leaking top-secret documents detailing Israel\u2019s plan to strike Iran last year.<\/p>\n The high-profile case involved Rahman posting classified documents on Telegram that revealed details of Israel\u2019s planned October strike, ultimately forcing the Israeli government to delay its retaliatory attack on Tehran.<\/p>\n Aber shredded Rahman\u2019s actions as a \u201cviolation of his oath, his responsibility, and the law,\u201d as she said the leak \u201cplaced lives at risk, undermined U.S. foreign relations, and compromised our ability to collect vital intelligence in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Aber also led the prosecution against Eleview International Inc., a Virginia-based company whose two top executives were accused of orchestrating \u201cthree separate schemes to illegally transship sensitive U.S. technology to Russia,\u201d according to the Department of Justice.<\/p>\n In November, executives Oleg Nayandin, 54, and Vitaliy Borisenko, 39, were charged with illegally exporting over $6 million worth of goods\u2014including telecommunications equipment\u2014to Russia. Prosecutors say the shipments were routed through ports in Turkey, Finland, and Kazakhstan to circumvent U.S. sanctions imposed on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine, The Post reported.<\/p>\n The case came just two months after Aber secured indictments against two Russian nationals on charges of fraud and money laundering, said the outlet.<\/p>\n Sergey Ivanov and Timur Shakhmametov, whom the government had placed a $10 million reward, were allegedly involved in one the most extensive money laundering operations online that \u201ccatered to major cybercrime marketplaces and ransomware groups, and to prolific hackers responsible for some of the largest data breaches targeting critical U.S. financial infrastructure,\u201d according to the Secret Service.<\/p>\n In addition to handling high-profile fraud and leak cases, Aber played a key role in the Justice Department\u2019s unprecedented indictment of four Russian soldiers accused of committing war crimes against an American citizen in Ukraine.<\/p>\n According to the DOJ, the unnamed victim was abducted from his home in the Kherson region, where he was brutally beaten, tortured, and subjected to a mock execution, The Post noted further.<\/p>\n The defendants include commanding officers Suren Seiranovich Mkrtchyan, 45, and Dmitry Budnik, along with two lower-ranking soldiers identified in the indictment only by their first names, Valerii and Nazar, the outlet reported.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are proud to be at the forefront of the Justice Department\u2019s effort to hold perpetrators of war crimes violations accountable in Ukraine and will continue to pursue them,\u201d Aber said at the time.<\/p>\n Alexandria authorities said Saturday that the cause and manner of Jessica Aber\u2019s death will be determined by the medical examiner. However, a family friend told NBC News that police believe she died from a longstanding medical condition.<\/p>\n Two former senior Justice Department officials familiar with the situation also told the outlet that investigators have found no indication of foul play.<\/p>\n Born and raised in Virginia, Aber graduated from the University of Richmond in 2003 and went on to earn her law degree from William & Mary Law School in 2006.<\/p>\n Before being appointed U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA), she served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the same district beginning in 2009.<\/p>\n From 2015 to 2016, she also served as counsel to the assistant attorney general for the DOJ\u2019s Criminal Division, The Post noted.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced Tuesday that he is taking matters into his own hands to end the historic government shutdown, declaring that he will \u201cgo above the heads\u201d of Senate…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2588,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t