Culture Society, Identity and Belonging
Another day dawns; another nominee rises for US House speaker. Three weeks after Kevin McCarthy was kicked out by hard-right rebels, Republicans nominated Mike Johnson of Louisiana in a closed-door vote, after Tom Emmer dropped out within hours of being selected. Divided Republicans have already passed over Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Jim Jordan of Ohio; Emmer withdrew after being criticised by Donald Trump on social media as a “Globalist Rino” (Republican in name only). Joe Biden has asked Congress for $106 billion to help Israel and Ukraine, as well as funding US border security, but no legislation can move through the House without a speaker. Johnson, described as “ultraconservative and low-profile”, said he would call a full floor vote on Wednesday at noon.