By — Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-speaker-johnson-holds-news-conference-as-shutdown-stretches-into-2nd-day Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Johnson says Democratic bill ‘wild list of partisan priorities’ as shutdown stretches into 2nd day Politics Updated on Oct 2, 2025 12:03 PM EDT — Published on Oct 2, 2025 9:26 AM EDT House Speaker Mike Johnson cast a Democratic funding bill as a “wild” and “partisan” on Thursday. Watch Johnson’s full news conference in our video player above. Johnson was speaking at the Capitol and urged Senate Democrats to reverse course and support a Republican bill to reopen government mostly at current spending levels. WATCH: Congressional leaders and White House refuse to compromise on first day of shutdown Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, called a funding bill put forward by Democrats a “wild list of partisan priorities” and said it would reverse many of the actions Congress has taken since Republicans took majorities in the House and Senate this year. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. While Democrats have put forward the alternative legislation, they are not seriously demanding that Congress pass it. Instead, they mostly want Republicans to negotiate a deal to extend tax credits for health plans offered under the Affordable Care Act. Johnson says the shutdown hands ‘the keys of the kingdom’ to Trump Johnson also said the government shutdown gives Trump and his budget director vast power over the federal government. WATCH: With government shuttered, Leavitt says Trump’s layoffs likely ‘in the thousands’ The White House is preparing to unleash mass layoffs and funding cuts during the shutdown, and Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, agreed the president has the constitutional power to make those decisions. Blaming Democrats, he said “they have effectively turned off the legislative branch” and “handed it over to the president.” Still, Johnson said Trump and the White House budget director Russ Vought take “no pleasure in this.” Johnson’s advice on Trump’s video attacks: ‘Just ignore it’ Johnson had a bit of advice for his Democratic counterpart when President Trump posts doctored videos of him in a sombrero. “Just ignore it.” Trump’s decision to post the videos of House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has become a bit of a subplot in the government shutdown fight. Jeffries, a New York Democrat, has called the videos “racist” and challenged Trump to address him in person. But Johnson’s advice shows how he’s balancing both his loyalty to Trump and the necessity of working with Jeffries to keep the House functioning. Johnson, a mild-mannered Louisiana Republican, has also consistently urged lawmakers to tone down their rhetoric when debates become heated. WATCH: Jeffries says GOP uninterested in negotiating because ‘they apparently wanted’ a shutdown “These are all things that the Trump administration has been doing since January 20th,” said House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, referring to the president’s first day in office. “The cruelty is the point.” Find more of our government shutdown coverage WATCH: Congressional leaders and White House refuse to compromise on first day of shutdown READ MORE: What happens now that a government shutdown is underway WATCH: Jeffries says GOP uninterested in negotiating because ‘they apparently wanted’ a shutdown READ MORE: Are Democrats or Republicans to blame for the looming government shutdown? Here’s what our poll found WATCH: Democrats’ demands are a ‘ransom note,’ GOP Rep. Haridopolos says A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press
House Speaker Mike Johnson cast a Democratic funding bill as a “wild” and “partisan” on Thursday. Watch Johnson’s full news conference in our video player above. Johnson was speaking at the Capitol and urged Senate Democrats to reverse course and support a Republican bill to reopen government mostly at current spending levels. WATCH: Congressional leaders and White House refuse to compromise on first day of shutdown Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, called a funding bill put forward by Democrats a “wild list of partisan priorities” and said it would reverse many of the actions Congress has taken since Republicans took majorities in the House and Senate this year. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. While Democrats have put forward the alternative legislation, they are not seriously demanding that Congress pass it. Instead, they mostly want Republicans to negotiate a deal to extend tax credits for health plans offered under the Affordable Care Act. Johnson says the shutdown hands ‘the keys of the kingdom’ to Trump Johnson also said the government shutdown gives Trump and his budget director vast power over the federal government. WATCH: With government shuttered, Leavitt says Trump’s layoffs likely ‘in the thousands’ The White House is preparing to unleash mass layoffs and funding cuts during the shutdown, and Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, agreed the president has the constitutional power to make those decisions. Blaming Democrats, he said “they have effectively turned off the legislative branch” and “handed it over to the president.” Still, Johnson said Trump and the White House budget director Russ Vought take “no pleasure in this.” Johnson’s advice on Trump’s video attacks: ‘Just ignore it’ Johnson had a bit of advice for his Democratic counterpart when President Trump posts doctored videos of him in a sombrero. “Just ignore it.” Trump’s decision to post the videos of House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has become a bit of a subplot in the government shutdown fight. Jeffries, a New York Democrat, has called the videos “racist” and challenged Trump to address him in person. But Johnson’s advice shows how he’s balancing both his loyalty to Trump and the necessity of working with Jeffries to keep the House functioning. Johnson, a mild-mannered Louisiana Republican, has also consistently urged lawmakers to tone down their rhetoric when debates become heated. WATCH: Jeffries says GOP uninterested in negotiating because ‘they apparently wanted’ a shutdown “These are all things that the Trump administration has been doing since January 20th,” said House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, referring to the president’s first day in office. “The cruelty is the point.” Find more of our government shutdown coverage WATCH: Congressional leaders and White House refuse to compromise on first day of shutdown READ MORE: What happens now that a government shutdown is underway WATCH: Jeffries says GOP uninterested in negotiating because ‘they apparently wanted’ a shutdown READ MORE: Are Democrats or Republicans to blame for the looming government shutdown? Here’s what our poll found WATCH: Democrats’ demands are a ‘ransom note,’ GOP Rep. Haridopolos says A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now