Tonight, a civil war on Capitol Hill.
That's what
Marjorie Taylor Greene,
the congresswoman from Georgia,
says has erupted
in the House of Representatives
after more Democrats than Republicans
voted to advance
a Ukraine aid bill brought to the floor
by Republican Speaker Mike Johnson.
An outrage.
Greene is now urging other Republicans
to join her effort to oust Johnson
from office,
accusing the speaker
of making a secret deal with Democrats.
What has Mike Johnson made a deal to do?
What has he promised
he will give them in the future?
And this is why we have to remove
Mike Johnson from the speakership.
Melanie Zanona is OUTFRONT
on Capitol Hill.
So there's now another House
conservative, Congressman
Paul Gosar,
who is joining
Marjorie Taylor Greene's
effort to remove Johnson.
Where do things stand tonight?
Yeah, well, Speaker
Mike Johnson's job is in real jeopardy,
and that is
because he has had to rely on Democrats
throughout every step of this process
to advance
these foreign aid bills,
including on key
procedural votes,
which are almost always done along
party lines.
So that has really sparked
a revolt on the right.
And it also fueled new calls
to oust him from the speakership
as you
mentioned, a third Republican
has now officially signed on
to a motion to vacate the speakership.
And meanwhile,
other hard line
conservatives are not yet
willing to go that route,
but they are making their anger at the
speaker known. Take a listen.
It's tough to defend them right now.
You know,
and that's
that's that's hard to say,
but it's just a reality.
I mean, for five months,
we've done
nothing but advance things
with more Democrat votes
than Republican votes.
I don't defend
the performance of the speaker.
I don't defend the actions
that have been taken, including today.
I think this is a terrible mistake.
Now, the House has already adjourned
for the day.
So the earliest that Marjorie Taylor
Greene could potentially force
a floor vote on this motion
to vacate is tomorrow.
That is also
when the House is expected to vote
and pass
that package of foreign aid bills
before they send them over to the Senate.
But just given the simple math here,
given that there's
three Republicans on this resolution
and that at this point,
Johnson can only afford to lose
to Republicans on party line votes,
that means that he is going
to have to rely on Democrats
to potentially bail him out
and save his speakership.
Now, Democrats have not made
any commitments just yet,
but they have signaled
some willingness to save him,
and that is
because they appreciate the fact
that he was willing to defy his
right flank,
put this package of foreign
aid bills on the floor,
a package that does closely mirror
the Senate passed version.
And there's also just
some general concern,
not just among Democrats,
but also among Republicans,
about the chaos
of a potential motion to vacate.
But, of course, around here
in this Congress, nothing is guaranteed.
So it's certainly something
we're going to be watching out for
in the coming days.
In some ways,
it feels like
the chaos is guaranteed, though,
in this Congress.
But maybe that's just me.
Melody, appreciate it. Thank you.
OUTFRONT now,
former Republican Congressman
Ken Buck of Colorado,
who knows quite well
about all of the chaos.
He just retired, of course, from Congress
before his term was over,
saying the dysfunction was worse
than he had ever seen in his more
than nine years in Washington.
Nice to have you back
with us tonight, sir.
Speaker Johnson
relying on a majority of Democrats
to help advance this Ukraine aid,
the bipartisan coalition there.
Does that strengthen or weaken him?
Well, I think, one,
this package of bills is popular
with the American public.
I think
Mike Johnson's
on the right side of history.
And I think that Republicans
and Democrats will rally around
someone who is showing
leadership on Capitol Hill.
It is a rare commodity on Capitol Hill.
Mike has the backbone to move forward
with very important
and controversial legislation.
The vote should be two to vote for
or against this package.
Not to vote for against the speaker.
If you don't like this package.
That is
not something that should be happening.
And I think Mike survives.
So you think he survives?
And what about this coalition itself?
Democrats Marjorie
Taylor Greene, as you just
heard, are saying,
oh, there must be some deal
with Democrats here.
What did he give up for them?
They may be expecting
something in return.
We know some Republicans
want to punish Johnson,
as we just heard,
for reaching across the aisle.
What about this bipartisan dynamic?
Could it last?
Well, you know, more than 180
Democrats signed a discharge petition
trying to move this bill to the floor.
These bills to the floor.
So I'm not surprised at all
about the coalition.
I think the coalitions are based
on the particular legislation
that's going to the floor
and not necessarily
a standing coalition
that that some Republicans
have with some Democrats.
I think that bipartisanship
used to be something
that people celebrated.
Now, it's evidently a sign of weakness
or some backroom deal.
If Marjorie knows about a backroom deal.
She should bring forth the evidence
if she has a recording
or she was present
when the deal was made,
or there's another witness present.
It's all nonsense.
And it's all designed
to get
the American people
riled up about something that isn't true.
Well, to that point,
is it wishful thinking, then,
that some of this bipartisanship,
perhaps even some cooperation,
which is also becoming a dirty word,
it seems in Washington,
could start to become more the norm?
Could we actually see some legislation
from this Congress?
Well, you're seeing legislation now.
You're seeing grouping right
beyond the Pacific Rim.
Yeah, I think before this
you saw legislation,
you saw the appropriations bills
pass this.
The government hasn't shut down
as a result of Republicans
having a very small majority again,
because Mike has shown leadership.
I wouldn't have voted
for the appropriations bills
because I think
we need to reduce spending
and those bills increase spending.
But Mike had the skill to bring together
a coalition on that particular
spending package
and get it passed,
just as he's done with this foreign
aid package.
So, as you said,
you don't think he's going to be ousted
from office.
We're going to watch for that.
I'm curious.
You were on this show. You called.
You called Greene Moscow, Marjorie.
The nickname seems to have
really taken off.
And her anti Ukraine
rhetoric is also getting
a lot of attention on Russian state TV.
I'm not sure
how much of this you've seen,
but I want to show you a little bit now
from Steve Johnson.
The congressman recorded me
speaking of Johnson.
The issue is now with Johnson.
Speaker Johnson is not the one
who's running Congress.
Marjorie Taylor
Greene is running Congress.
Everyone is afraid of her
with this alliance
that divides Congresswoman
Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Congresswoman Marjorie
Taylor Greene is proposing for the U.S.
to withdraw from NAITO.
She believes that Americans should help
Putin win.
It's not quite the same.
It's there on Russian state TV.
What do you make of that?
Well, Moscow,
Marjorie, has as reached a new low.
You know,
during the Russian Revolution,
Lenin talked
about American journalists
who are writing
glowing reports about Russia at the time
as useful idiots.
And I don't even think
that Marjorie reaches
that level of being a useful idiot here.
She is just
mouthing the Russian propaganda
and really hurting American
foreign policy in the process.
She's acting completely irresponsibly
and and
and again,
when history looks
at this period of time.
Russia invaded Ukraine.
Ukraine is fighting for its freedom
and we should be with
the freedom fighters in this war.
Congressman Ken Buck,
appreciate your time tonight. Thank you.