What to Know in Washington: Johnson Depends on Democrats

Billions of dollars of Ukraine aid depend on a man who six months ago was best known for his deep social conservatism, his evangelical Christian faith, and his fierce defense of Donald Trump after the former president lost the 2020 election.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will resolve this weekend to push through a complex foreign assistance plan, which also includes help for Israel and a provision forcing China-based Bytedance to divest its popular TikTok social media platform.

Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

Speaker House Mike Johnson (R-La.) returns to his office at the Capitol yesterday.

That will involve the type of complicated political maneuvers and deal-making with Democrats that roil many rank-and-file Republicans.

Ever since Johnson leapfrogged over more senior Republicans to become speaker, he has faced the threat of overthrow. So it’s no surprise. But what is surprising is that his salvation may come from Democrats. Read More from Billy House

Johnson nixed the idea of changing a House rule that would make it harder to oust him amid criticism from the hard right.

The speaker posted on X yesterday that the House will not change its motion to vacate rules since a majority of the House would not support it. “Since the beginning of the 118th Congress, the House rule allowing a Motion to Vacate from a single member has harmed this office and our House majority,” he wrote, but added that the House will continue under its current rules. Read More from Maeve Sheehey and House

The House Rules Committee advanced a rule yesterday to consider the foreign aid package, leaning on Democratic support to set the stage for a Saturday vote. Read More from Jack Fitzpatrick

BIDEN’S AGENDA

• The president will deliver remarks around noon at the IBEW Construction and Maintenance Conference in Washington.
• He’ll return to the White House around 1:30 p.m. and head to Wilmington, Del., after 5 p.m., where he’s expected to arrive after 6 p.m.
• Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre will hold a briefing around 1:30 p.m.

CONGRESS’ SCHEDULE

• The House is back at 9 a.m. to take up border legislation.
• Senators will convene at 11 a.m. to resume consideration of reforming the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
• For the full detailed agenda read BGOV’s Congress Tracker.

People, Power, and Politics

Donald Trump speaking to reporters in New York yesterday. Photo by Jabin Botsford/Pool/Getty Images

TWELVE JURORS jurors and one alternate have been selected for Donald Trump’s first criminal trial in New York, where the former president is accused of falsifying business records to conceal a sex scandal.

• On the third day of proceedings, Judge Juan Merchan and attorneys for both sides interviewed dozens of prospective jurors who are among almost 200 brought in since Monday.
• Another 100 are being called today to fill the five remaining slots for alternates. Opening arguments may start in the case as soon as Monday. Read More

Lisa Blatt isn’t afraid to tell a SUPREME COURT justice they’re making stuff up, inject herself in her own hypotheticals, or talk like she’s debating friends at a bar. Next week, the Williams & Connolly litigator will become the first woman to argue her the 50th case before the high court. Read More

Defense & Foreign Affairs

Photographer: Ahmad Salem/Bloomberg

Displaced Palestinians ride a cart as they flee Nuseirat camp, central Gaza, on April 12.

The US vetoed a bid to make PALESTINE a full-fledged member of the United Nations, rebuffing a push by Palestinian officials to gain broader international recognition.

• Though the Palestinian Authority got enough support to have its bid referred to the General Assembly for confirmation, the “no” vote from the US—which wields veto power—was enough to block it. Read More
• Israel launched a missile strike on Iran less than a week after Tehran’s rocket and drone barrage, according to two US officials. Read More

As UKRAINE’s ammunition stocks dwindle, some of the country’s biggest allies are expressing concern that Kyiv may not be able to defend itself for much longer against Vladimir Putin’s forces. Read More

Continued expert monitoring of NORTH KOREA’S nuclear arms development by pushing through a United Nations General Assembly vote would require a “tremendous” effort and it’s unclear where funds would be found to have think tanks take up the role, the US Ambassador to the UN said. Read More

What Else We’re Watching

The Biden administration has finalized a plan to prevent OIL DEVELOPMENT across 13 million acres of the 23-million-acre National Petroleum Reserve Alaska and set the stage to block road construction essential to opening a copper mine in the state. Read More

A Biden rule imposing stricter TAILPIPE EMISSION standards on automakers for new vehicles survived a Senate vote on a measure that would have gutted it. Read More

BANKING regulators are asking a federal appeals court to overturn a Texas federal judge’s order putting their overhaul of anti-redlining rules on hold. Read More

The US is eyeing ways to support the market for CRITICAL MATERIALS such as copper, nickel, silicon, and electrical steel, as the industry faces price pressures from China. Read More

New York City police arrested more than 100 students in a Pro-Palestinian protest on Columbia University’s campus, the day after Columbia President Nemat Shafik’s congressional testimony over antisemitism on college campuses. Read More

BEIJING needs to be clearer on how it’s PROTECTING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY and address new forms of infringement, US commerce official Kathi Vidal said as trade tensions loom in an US election year. Read More

To contact the reporters on this story: Brandon Lee in Washington at blee@bgov.com; Jeannie Baumann in Washington at jbaumann@bloombergindustry.com

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Kayla Sharpe at ksharpe@bloombergindustry.com; Giuseppe Macri at gmacri@bgov.com