Let's Get Ready to Rumble

The no-holds-barred battle for House Speaker is reminiscent of a WWE event. That's no coincidence considering the number of connections between today's GOP and pro wrestling.

Friday, January 3, 2025 is a day to watch.

Mike Johnson has been the toadiest of toadies, bowing to virtually every whim of Donald Trump and advancing the MAGA agenda unquestioningly. He has attempted to justify horrific policy positions with a robotic tone befitting one of those voice response systems you’re forced to interact with when you call an airline or a credit card company. During his time as Speaker, he has been the perfect little water carrier for Trump’s shadow presidency.

Yet somehow, that unflinching loyalty is still not enough for some of the most extreme Republicans. There has been chatter for several weeks about whether Johnson has enough support within his own party to hold onto his speakership. The mere fact that Johnson barely managed to eke out a deal to keep the government functioning apparently rubbed some of the destructionist chaos agents the wrong way.

Trump’s trademark lack of clarity, his inarticulateness poorly disguised as approachability, and his freque…