MAGA Mike: Biden charts path forward with speaker who is ‘all in’ for Trump
Can President Joe Biden negotiate with a man whose nickname is “MAGA Mike”?
Biden is currently in San Francisco for a series of meetings this week as Congress works to avoid a government shutdown on Friday. While a continuing resolution through at least January is looking like a likely solution, at some point, Biden will have to find points of agreement with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).
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“House Republicans had an opportunity to engage in a productive, bipartisan appropriations process, but instead are wasting time with partisan bills that cut domestic spending to levels well below the Fiscal Responsibility Act agreement and endanger critical services for the American people,” Biden’s Office of Management and Budget said in threatening to veto a pair of GOP-led appropriations bills.
Funding the government via regular appropriations bills rather than massive end-of-year omnibus legislation is a top priority for hard-line House Republicans. Johnson, still in his first month as speaker, needed the help of Democrats on Tuesday to pass a two-part continuing resolution to fund certain parts of the government until Jan. 19 and the rest until Feb. 2, at which point he’ll press the appropriations issue in the presidential election year.
Johnson has been called “MAGA Mike” by everyone from former President Donald Trump and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) to former Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Donna Brazile and Biden’s 2024 reelection campaign. The Biden White House loves to use “MAGA” as a pejorative, unleashing the term “ultra-MAGA” for the 2022 midterm elections following a six-month study by Democratic messaging guru Anita Dunn.
For his part, Johnson is leaning into his loyalty to the GOP front-runner, saying he’s “all in” for Trump in 2024.
“I have endorsed him wholeheartedly,” Johnson said on CNBC.
Johnson described himself as one of Trump’s closest allies and added that “we have to make Biden a one-term president.”
So how can the two cooperate?
Assuming a continuing resolution passes this week, things will get rocky next year, argues Colby College professor emeritus Sandy Maisel.
“There’s going to be a showdown in January, and it won’t just be between Biden and Johnson. It’s between Johnson and the right wing of the Republican Party,” Maisel said. “If Johnson gives in the same way that [former Speaker Kevin] McCarthy [R-CA] gave in to making a compromise, he could lose his speakership. So that’s what he’s facing.”
A key factor, Maisel adds, is that Johnson is an unknown, having been a “backbencher” with few enemies before. Things will be much different when he’s steering the ship early next year.
“Recent history shows that when the government shuts down over cutting government expenditures, the party that causes it to shut down is the one that suffers,” he said. “I think Biden sees that too, and he’s going to hold out [in January]. He’s not going to give in to the Republicans on this.”
If Johnson pushes hard for appropriations bills when 2024 arrives, the White House should have its talking points sharpened from previous funding showdowns, such as the late spring debt ceiling battle when both parties worked to blame the other for any problems before they happened. McCarthy ended up being jettisoned over the last shutdown battle, leaving Johnson as a fresh combatant entering the ring.
Democratic strategist Stefan Hankin says Biden is buttressed by the fact that any spending bills would need to get through the Democratic-controlled Senate before reaching his desk, making it easier to issue early veto threats and ensuring that anything he does sign enjoys a measure of bipartisan support.
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“The veto threats are much more about setting some guardrails, knowing full well that any appropriations bills that did pass the House wouldn’t get through the Senate,” Hankin said.
The optics of actually closing large portions of the government would be overwhelmingly negative for each side, Hankin says, which may provide hope that Biden and “MAGA Mike” can work out their differences now and next year.
How can President Biden and Congressman Johnson find a compromise on infrastructure spending and prioritize specific projects?
E Republican party,” Maisel said. “Johnson is going to have to find a way to keep his conservative base happy while also working with Biden to avoid a government shutdown. It’s a delicate balance, and it remains to be seen if he can pull it off.”
One potential area of collaboration between Biden and Johnson is infrastructure. Both have expressed support for investing in infrastructure as a way to stimulate the economy and create jobs. In fact, Biden has made infrastructure a centerpiece of his agenda, proposing a $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan earlier this year. Johnson, on the other hand, has called for a more targeted approach to infrastructure spending, focusing on traditional projects like roads and bridges.
“There’s common ground there,” Maisel said. “Both Biden and Johnson agree that investing in infrastructure is important. The challenge will be finding a compromise on how much to spend and what specific projects to prioritize.”
Another issue that may bring Biden and Johnson together is criminal justice reform. Both have spoken out about the need to address systemic issues in the criminal justice system, such as over-policing and mass incarceration. While their approaches may differ, there is potential for collaboration in this area.
“Criminal justice reform is an area where Democrats and Republicans can find common ground,” Maisel said. “Many conservatives are starting to recognize the need for reform, and Biden has been a longtime advocate for criminal justice reform. If they can find common ground on this issue, it could be a significant accomplishment.”
However, there are also significant obstacles to cooperation between Biden and Johnson. Their political ideologies and policy priorities differ greatly, and both face pressure from their respective bases to stand firm on key issues.
“Both Biden and Johnson have to navigate a difficult political landscape,” Maisel said. “Biden has to contend with progressive Democrats who are pushing for bold, progressive policies, while Johnson has to appease the conservative base of the Republican party. It’s a challenging balancing act for both of them.”
Additionally, the partisan divide in Congress makes bipartisan cooperation challenging. Many Republicans remain staunchly opposed to Biden’s agenda, viewing it as too far to the left. This could make it difficult for Johnson to find common ground with Biden on key issues.
Despite these obstacles, it is not impossible for Biden and Johnson to negotiate and find areas of agreement. Both have expressed a willingness to work across the aisle, and there is a shared recognition of the need for bipartisan cooperation in order to govern effectively.
“Negotiation and compromise are essential to getting things done in politics,” Maisel said. “While there may be significant differences between Biden and Johnson, they both have a responsibility to the American people to find common ground and work together.”
Ultimately, whether Biden can negotiate with “MAGA Mike” will depend on the willingness of both parties to set aside their differences and prioritize the needs of the American people. It will require political skill, strategic maneuvering, and a commitment to finding common ground. Only time will tell if they can overcome the challenges and work together for the benefit of the nation.
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