The Shutdown – Day 28: House & Senate Republicans Provide Updates

C-SPAN: “Republicans are not demanding anything, literally nothing. All we want is to reopen the government,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) during a news conference from Capitol Hill on day 28 of a federal government shutdown. He went on to say, “it is profound fear” from Democrats that is “driving this shutdown.” When asked about a potential third term for President Trump, Speaker Johnson said, “I don’t see the path for that,” as he acknowledged it took about 10 years to amend the Constitution. The speaker was also asked about President Biden’s use of an autopen while in office, asserting the pardons signed by President Biden with the autopen were “invalid on their face.”

C-SPAN: Following the weekly Senate Republican caucus lunch and on the 28th day of a government shutdown, Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) told reporters that “It’s not very often that I get a chance to say this, but I agree with the AFGE … largest government employees union who said earlier this week that the Democrats need to reopen the government, and start getting federal employees paid again.” He went on to speak on the state of the shutdown, saying, “this is going to get worse as the week goes on, as time goes on.” Moreover, Leader Thune said, “we need some courageous Democrats with a backbone who are willing to walk out there and deliver the five votes that are necessary to get the government back open.”