Johnson makes slow progress to avoid government shutdown in first full week as speaker

Just nine days into his speakership, Mike Johnson (R-LA) is establishing himself as a staunchly conservative leader who is willing to advance the GOP’s priorities while also juggling a number of legislative deadlines to keep the government open past Nov. 17.
The House passed a number of bills during its three-day work week, including two of its must-pass spending bills and a stand-alone funding bill for Israel — a top priority for Johnson after he claimed the speaker’s gavel last week. However, the newly elected leader still faces a mounting to-do list as the government nears a shutdown this month, which has become more complicated as Johnson continues to butt heads with his Democratic counterpart …