- MAGA hardliners publicly blasted Speaker Johnson for keeping the House in recess and lacking a clear plan during a prolonged government shutdown.
- Marjorie Taylor Greene led calls to "nuke the filibuster" and demanded concrete GOP healthcare proposals to replace ACA subsidies.
- Johnson admitted he had "no strategy," fueling party distrust, polls blaming Republicans, and whispers of potential leadership consequences.
WASHINGTON—As the federal government shutdown dragged into its 28th day on Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson found himself on the defensive during a private strategy call with fellow Republicans, where frustration boiled over into open criticism from some of the party’s most vocal MAGA loyalists.
What was meant to be a huddle on tactics to pressure Senate Democrats into accepting a GOP funding bill instead exposed deepening fissures within the Republican conference, with lawmakers airing grievances over the prolonged recess, stalled healthcare reforms, and a perceived lack of bold action.
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The call, held amid mounting public backlash over furloughed workers and delayed services, highlighted how Johnson’s high-stakes gamble—keeping the House out of session to force concessions on Affordable Care Act subsidies—has alienated even some of his staunchest allies.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Georgia firebrand and early Trump supporter, led the charge, unleashing a torrent of complaints that left Johnson scrambling to defend his approach.
“You left out that I said I have no respect for the House not being in session passing our bills and the President’s executive orders,” Greene wrote on X shortly after the call, responding to initial reports of the exchange.
“And I demanded to know from Speaker Johnson what the Republican plan for healthcare is to build the off-ramp off Obamacare and the ACA tax credits to make health insurance affordable for Americans…
He refused to give one policy proposal to our GOP conference on our own conference call.”
Nuke the Filibuster!
Greene’s outburst wasn’t isolated. She had already been breaking ranks publicly, demanding Republicans “nuke the filibuster and push the funding bill through with a simple majority vote”—a nuclear option the party has long avoided for fear of Democratic retaliation if they regain Senate control.
Her comments during the call echoed weeks of simmering discontent, where she accused Johnson of having “no policy plan” to address the fallout from letting ACA subsidies expire, a move that could strip coverage from millions and exacerbate what she called an “unaffordable health insurance crisis.”
The tension peaked when Johnson pushed back, reportedly whining that Greene’s online criticisms weren’t helping the cause.
“How does that help us, Marjorie?” he asked, according to multiple sources on the call.
He insisted his team had been working “day and night” on healthcare solutions and blamed Democrats for the impasse, pointing to their insistence on extending the subsidies as the roadblock.
Johnson also noted that President Trump’s poll numbers were rising amid the fight, framing the shutdown as a Democratic misstep.
Texas Leaders Step Up
But the speaker’s defenses did little to quell the unrest. Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas voiced concerns about the lost legislative time, questioning how the House could catch up after weeks in recess.
California Rep. Kevin Kiley piled on, calling it “embarrassing” that the chamber remained shuttered while Americans suffered.
“The government is shut down, Americans are losing access to critical services, workers are being furloughed and the House isn’t even in Washington,” Kiley said in an earlier interview that captured the growing mood.
Even moderates like Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon, who has advocated for compromise, weighed in post-call, telling reporters that Republicans should negotiate on the ACA tax credits to break the deadlock.
“I do think we should be negotiating the ACA tax credits and have that compromise to put in the Approps bills,” Bacon said.
Senior GOP sources emphasized that the dissent wasn’t yet a full revolt—most members still backed Johnson’s stonewalling—but the cracks were unmistakable.
This isn’t the first time Johnson’s tactics have sparked internal pushback during the shutdown, which kicked off after Congress missed a September 30 deadline for a spending package.
The House passed a GOP stopgap in late September, but Senate Democrats rejected it over the lack of ACA extensions, leading to the stalemate.
Johnson Admitted ‘No Strategy’
Early on, Johnson admitted to reporters that he had “no strategy” for resolution when pressed by CNN’s Manu Raju, a slip that drew immediate mockery from critics and amplified MAGA frustrations.
“It’s a great question. Manu asked, ‘Why don’t I change my strategy?’ I don’t have any strategy,” Johnson replied on October 14, as the shutdown hit its 14th day.
Polls have only fueled the fire. A recent survey showed a majority of voters, including self-identified MAGA supporters, blaming Trump and Republicans for the crisis and urging renewal of the healthcare subsidies.
On Newsmax, a conservative outlet, Johnson faced tough questions about the numbers, resorting to a boilerplate response that did little to reassure skeptics.
The revolt has roots in broader GOP discontent with Johnson’s leadership style, which some conservatives see as too conciliatory.
Community Reactions and Moving Forward
On X, users like @TrueMaga_ have lambasted him for not pushing harder on spending cuts, border security, or transparency pledges like releasing January 6 footage—commitments that have languished.
One post detailed his AIPAC donations totaling over $1.5 million, questioning external influences on his decisions.
“Johnson’s tenure has disappointed many in the conservative base who anticipated a staunch advocate for… fiscal restraint,” the user wrote, echoing a sentiment rippling through MAGA circles.
Democrats, meanwhile, have seized on the disarray. Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester penned an open letter to Johnson on October 10, urging him to “roll up our sleeves and deliver results” by reconvening the House.
“Extending these necessary health care subsidies is a very simple task, but MAGA Republican leadership chose to walk away instead of working to fix this,” she wrote, emphasizing the human cost for families facing higher premiums and lost access to care.
As the shutdown stretches toward a potential record—surpassing the 35 days from Trump’s first term—the pressure on Johnson mounts.
Senior Republicans insist the strategy retains broad support, but with Trump’s international focus pulling him away from domestic fights, the speaker’s grip looks shakier than ever.
One GOP lawmaker, speaking anonymously, warned of “consequences” if the impasse drags on, hinting at whispers of a leadership challenge.
For now, Johnson shows no signs of budging. In a weekend video update, he rallied the base by highlighting Trump’s Oval Office warnings to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, framing the shutdown as their fault.
But with military paychecks delayed until mid-October and essential programs limping along on temporary fixes, the human toll is mounting—and so is the chorus of doubt from within his own party.
The big question: Can Johnson thread this needle, or will the MAGA wing’s impatience force a course correction?
In a divided Washington, that pain might just be the catalyst for change.
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