You may not know the name Steve Berger, but the archconservative evangelical pastor has influence in Washington, D.C. — so much so that several Republican party lawmakers live at his nonprofit organization’s headquarters. Berger has said his goal is to “disciple” members of Congress so what “they learn is then translated into policy.” Past and present residents of his townhouse — described by @ProPublica as “what amounts to a group house for conservative lawmakers” include Speaker Mike Johnson, Trump ally Rep. Andy Ogles and Dan Bishop, a former Congressman.

https://www.propublica.org/article/roommates-steve-berger-mike-johnson-andy-ogles-right-wing-influence-townhouse

Meanwhile in the #US…

#Republican #House Speaker #MikeJohnson defended #Trump’s & #JDVance’s conduct during the Oval Office meeting on Friday, saying that President Volodymyr #Zelensky of #Ukraine “acted so inappropriately” & should have “shown more gratitude.”

“For him to act as he did was rather shocking to everyone,” Johnson said of Zelensky, speaking to CNN. “Instead of showing gratitude, he interrupted & berated his hosts at a very perilous time for his country.”

Later in Dec, a TV report cited the editor’s note & labeled the 6% number as “false.” At about the same time, PolitiFact looked at #MikeJohnson’s claim that only 1% of #FederalWorkers show up to work each day & labeled it “pants on fire,” the fact-checking site’s lowest rating for a statement that is “not accurate & makes a ridiculous claim.”

That should have ended the conversation. But it didn’t.

The claim was immediately picked up by The #NewYorkPost, commentator #SeanHannity & other #Trump allies. Hannity tweeted “JOB FOR DOGE: Only 6% of Federal Employees work from an Office Full-time, Some not working at All: Audit.”

The Post followed up hours later w/an editorial that derided #FederalWorkers for their “privilege” & asked, “How many does the nation actually need?” #House Speaker #MikeJohnson told reporters, “That is absurd, & it’s not something the American people will stand for.”

@realTuckFrumper
Courts should enforce the law.
#musk should follow the law or be arrested

That is how a democracy works

#trump doesn’t want democracy and #MikeJohnson has no spine

…There was a hefty dose of lawmaker support at the party, all from the #Republican side of the aisle. #House Speaker #MikeJohnson was there, along w/Senators #MarshaBlackburn, #TedCruz & #CynthiaLummis. Fmr House members French Hill & Patrick McHenry arrived to show their support.

#Cleanspark CEO #ZachBradford, who has been meeting w/ #Trump in private roundtables to discuss #bitcoin mining, said he spoke w/ #HowardLutnick, Trump’s pick to be Secy of #Commerce, at the event.

/3 U.S. House votes to ban trans girls from women’s sports in schools
https://19thnews.org/2025/01/transgender-womens-sports-house-vote-title-ix

* if passed into law, legislation would change Title IX
* revoke federal funding for schools that allow trans girls in women’s sports

#Trump2 #GOP #MAGA #fascism #MikeJohnson #NancyMace
#ChristianRight #Project2025 #antiLGBT #whiteSupremacism #transphobia
#ParentalRightsMovement #censorship #vililantism
#Christofascism #Catholicism #transgenocide

@SeanCasten

Here we go

The #Republicans do not govern

The entire party are bomb-throwers of one sort or another

All they do is destroy

#Trump -- and #Musk -- will go berserk

“Your elected representatives” [or, you know, whatever, some greedy #billionaires who for the time being share your interests] “have heard you & now the *terrible* bill is dead,” #ElonMusk boasted on #X, the #SocialMedia site he owns [& thru which he spreads #propaganda] after he spent the day blasting the #legislation. “The *voice of the people*” [aka some rich fucks] “has triumphed!”