House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) announced Tuesday that he is taking matters into his own hands to end the historic government shutdown, declaring that he will “go above the heads” of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Democratic leadership to appeal directly to senators willing to “do the right thing” for the American people. 

Speaking from the Capitol, Johnson accused Senate Democrats of prolonging the crisis for political gain, blasting what he described as a “sickening” display of partisanship as millions of Americans continue to feel the effects of the shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history.

“Evidence speaks for itself,” Johnson said. “So we’re going above the heads of the so-called leadership, and we are appealing to the consciences of a handful of people in the Senate who want to do the right thing and just stop the pain—stop the pain for the American people.”

The Speaker’s comments mark a significant escalation in his standoff with Schumer, who has repeatedly refused to bring Johnson’s House-passed continuing resolution (CR) to the Senate floor. Johnson said his goal now is to rally moderate Democrats and Republicans in the Senate to force Schumer’s hand.

“It may be that the longest shutdown in history is something they can claim as some sort of success,” he continued. “But it’s sickening. It’s sickening to see a political game being played. We’re not playing a game here. We never were.” Johnson reminded reporters that the House passed a “clean, nonpartisan CR” back on September 19—weeks before the shutdown began.

“It’s 24 pages in length and had not a single Republican priority on it,” Johnson said. “Why? Because we did it in good faith, because we didn’t want this eventuality to occur. We knew it would be too painful for the people.”

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The Speaker’s remarks come as the government shutdown enters its 35th day, tying the record for the longest in U.S. history. Federal workers remain furloughed, small businesses have lost access to key federal loans, and food-assistance programs face growing strain.

Johnson’s new strategy appears to be a direct appeal to individual senators rather than through Schumer’s office, effectively sidelining the Senate Majority Leader. The Louisiana Republican has signaled that he no longer believes negotiations with Schumer can lead to progress, describing the Senate’s posture as deliberate obstruction. Republicans say the House has done its part by passing a funding measure that includes no partisan riders—only to watch Schumer stall it for leverage.

Privately, GOP aides say Johnson has been working behind the scenes with several Senate Republicans and a few centrist Democrats to chart a way forward that bypasses Schumer. While the details are still developing, the plan could involve introducing a companion resolution in the Senate identical to the House’s clean CR, allowing individual senators to file discharge petitions or procedural motions to force a vote.

Still, Johnson’s decision to directly challenge Schumer reflects growing frustration across Washington, where the political impasse has reached a boiling point. The Speaker framed his approach as an act of conscience, not confrontation. With pressure mounting from federal employees, state governments, and the White House, Johnson’s gamble could either break the logjam—or deepen partisan divisions.

Harris Claims Biden Threatened Her Before Debate in New Memoir

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has made explosive claims in her upcoming memoir, alleging that President Joe Biden personally confronted her and issued a veiled threat in the heat of the 2020 campaign.

The revelations came to light after Fox News host Jesse Watters shared excerpts from Harris’s book on his Thursday night broadcast. According to Harris, the tense exchange occurred just days before her vice-presidential debate against Donald Trump, an event she described as a pivotal moment in the race.

The Call From Biden

Harris writes that Biden phoned her after speaking with his brother, James Biden, who allegedly told him that Harris had been privately critical of the campaign. Rumors of her comments reportedly circulated in Philadelphia, causing Democratic donors there to threaten pulling financial support.

“I just couldn’t understand why he would call me right now and make it all about himself, distracting me with worry about hostile power brokers in the biggest city in the most important swing state,” Harris recalled in the book.

She went on to say that the timing of Biden’s call added unnecessary stress at a critical point in the campaign.

Harris’s View on Biden’s Reelection Run

In another striking passage, Harris wrote that she believed it was “reckless” for Biden to seek reelection, questioning whether he had the stamina to serve another term. Still, she admitted that she maintained a public front of support to avoid undermining the Democratic ticket.

Watters summarized it bluntly: “She thought he was unfit, but she smiled for the cameras anyway.”

Frustrations With Biden’s Staff

Harris also used her memoir to criticize Biden’s communications team, arguing they failed to defend her against relentless attacks.

“They had a huge comms team. They had Karine Jean-Pierre briefing in the pressroom every day. But getting anything positive said about my work or any defense against untrue attacks was almost impossible,” Harris wrote.

She noted that media outlets frequently mocked her laugh, her speaking style, and even her dating history — while the White House did little to counter those narratives.

Fallout From the Book

The memoir has already sparked pushback from Biden’s allies, many of whom accuse Harris of rewriting history to serve her own political future. Some Democrats worry the book could deepen internal divisions at a time when party unity is seen as crucial heading into the next election cycle.

Watters, for his part, suggested the former vice president was deliberately “throwing her friends under the bus” in an effort to boost book sales.

“Juicy gossip — that’s the only way,” Watters said. “Because the press tour so far is uninspiring.”

A Party Divided?

Harris’s memoir is set for release later this fall, but even the early excerpts paint a picture of a Democratic Party struggling with internal fractures. By portraying Biden as both insecure and reckless, she risks alienating longtime Democratic power brokers while potentially appealing to voters seeking a fresh start.

The book comes at a critical time: Biden allies have already been defending him after other excerpts accused Democrats of being “reckless” in leaving the party’s nomination to the now-former president.

Whether Harris’s memoir cements her as a truth-teller or a political opportunist remains to be seen — but the fallout has only just begun.