Johnson backed into corner as conservatives put speaker on notice

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is quickly discovering what his predecessor learned before him: appeasing all corners of his party is no small task.

Less than three months after Johnson secured the speaker’s gavel, the Louisiana Republican has overseen several consequential votes that have threatened to split the GOP conference. The speaker has sought to keep all members of his party happy by avoiding tough decisions that could spark their ire, pushing Johnson into a corner as he must now lead his party into negotiations with Democrats on several issues.