Rep. Mark Green’s last day in office was Sunday, leaving four vacancies in the House of Representatives. Green, a Republican from Tennessee, announced his retirement last month, citing an opportunity in the private sector. His departure leaves the House with 219 Republicans and 212 Democrats. Green has endorsed Matt Van Epps to replace him, and several other Republican candidates have announced their campaigns as well.
Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) announced his resignation from Congress, effective July 20th, which will further diminish the already slim Republican majority in the House. Green, who chairs the Homeland Security Committee, cited a return to the private sector to launch a business focused on competing with the Chinese Communist Party as his reason for leaving. This departure presents a challenge for Speaker Mike Johnson, particularly as he navigates the passage of significant legislation. Green’s departure comes after being elected to Congress in 2018.
The Senate successfully passed President Trump’s megabill after extensive negotiations and a lengthy amendment process, culminating in a tie-breaking vote from Vice President J.D. Vance. Despite Republican defections from Senators Tillis, Paul, and Collins, the bill narrowly passed the upper chamber. However, the legislation faces an uncertain future in the House, where it must overcome significant GOP opposition and address substantial Senate amendments. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will significantly increase the federal deficit over the next decade.
Representative Mary Miller (R-Ill.) issued a since-deleted social media post expressing disapproval of a Sikh chaplain’s prayer in the House, initially misidentifying him as Muslim. Her statement drew immediate bipartisan condemnation, with Republicans and Democrats alike criticizing her remarks as discriminatory and inconsistent with American values of religious freedom. The guest chaplain, Giani Surinder Singh, offered a prayer for peace and unity. Historically, the House has invited guest chaplains from diverse faiths, reflecting the nation’s religious pluralism.
The photograph depicts U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert attending a joint session of Congress addressed by President Donald Trump on March 4, 2025. Boebert, a Republican representing Windsor, is shown arriving at the House chamber in Washington, D.C. The image captures a moment preceding the President’s address. This event took place at the U.S. Capitol.
Ten House Democrats faced criticism from progressives for voting with Republicans to censure Representative Al Green for disrupting President Trump’s speech. The censure, introduced by Representative Dan Newhouse, passed 224-198, with Green and one other Democrat voting present. The Democrats’ actions drew condemnation from figures like Nina Turner and Qasim Rashid, who criticized their lack of support for Green’s protest against Trump’s policies. Conversely, while some Democrats showed solidarity with Green during the censure, the incident highlighted divisions within the Democratic caucus.
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Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) announced he will not support Mike Johnson for Speaker of the House, citing concerns that Johnson mirrors the leadership style of former Speaker Paul Ryan, whom Massie criticized for increased spending and insufficient conservative action. Massie’s opposition, coupled with potential defections from Representatives Biggs and Spartz, could prevent Johnson from securing the necessary votes, creating another contentious Speaker election. This is particularly relevant given the narrow Republican majority in the upcoming Congress. The situation highlights the fragility of Republican unity and the potential for significant internal divisions.
Speaker Mike Johnson’s tenuous hold on his position is further weakened by a failed spending bill negotiation, jeopardizing his relationship with President-elect Trump. This failure, coupled with a slim Republican majority in the House (potentially as low as 218-215), leaves Johnson vulnerable to a challenge in the upcoming speaker election. Securing enough Republican votes requires navigating Trump’s demands for a stopgap spending bill without concessions to Democrats. Johnson’s ability to manage this tightrope walk, and ultimately retain the speakership, remains highly uncertain.
The House rejected President-elect Trump’s revised government funding plan, which included disaster relief and a debt ceiling suspension until January 30, 2027, by a vote of 174-235. This new proposal, championed by Trump and Speaker Johnson, significantly reduced the original bill’s size and eliminated provisions such as a congressional pay raise, following pressure from Elon Musk. The rejection constitutes a major setback for Trump and Johnson, who faced intense pressure from Trump to pass a revised bill before the government shutdown deadline of midnight Friday. The failure to pass the bill leaves the government facing a shutdown.
John Q. Hosedrinker