Overview
- Speaker Mike Johnson urged Republicans to air complaints privately rather than on social media after a tumultuous week that included open infighting and a faltering leadership-backed bill.
- Matt Van Epps was sworn in less than 48 hours after his Tennessee special-election win, putting the House at 220–213, though Marjorie Taylor Greene’s January resignation will drop Republicans to 219.
- House GOP leader Elise Stefanik accused Johnson of telling “lies” and said he would not win a roll-call vote for speaker, intensifying a feud tied to a defense bill dispute.
- Members are increasingly bypassing leadership: a petition to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files cleared 218 signatures, and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna launched a new petition to ban congressional stock trading; Rep. Nancy Mace signed both and denied plans to exit early.
- The swift seating of Van Epps drew comparisons to Johnson’s roughly 50-day delay in swearing in Democrat Adelita Grijalva, prompting criticism tied to the Epstein petition, a motive Johnson denies.