Staff Reports
House Speaker Mike Johnson has taken on the role of the quarterback for the Republican team, with the ever-charismatic Donald Trump as the head coach, or as some might say, the ringleader. As the GOP gears up to take control of Washington once again, a crucial question looms: what happens when the play-calling coach decides to change the game plan? With Trump set to huddle with GOP senators, conservatives are left wondering if they’re up for a touchdown or a fumble.
It appears Trump has been playing a round of legislative ping-pong lately. The former president has fluctuated between a streamlined one-bill approach or a more complicated two-bill slog when it comes to advancing the party’s agenda. The stakes are high, folks—tax cuts, bolstered border security, serious immigration action, and a solid push for oil and gas production are all on the table. In perfect Republican fashion, House Republicans are pushing hard for one big, glorious package to sweep it all through like a high-speed train, while Senate leaders seem to prefer a more piecemeal strategy, effectively saying they’ll take the scenic route.
Just last weekend, Trump professed his love for one robust bill to solve the laundry list of conservative priorities. Yet, he didn’t waste time in keeping everyone guessing, showing up the next day with a half-hearted endorsement of a two-bill approach that would let Congress address immigration earlier. It seems Trump is laying down the gauntlet—he wants it all, but he’s willing to negotiate the delivery. With his inauguration fast approaching, GOP stalwarts are scurrying to iron out their differences before the clock runs out on their political capital.
As the clock ticks to January 20, Republicans are gathered like a football team in the locker room, strategizing how best to come out swinging during the first 100 days of Trump’s presidency. They’ve been meeting behind closed doors, likely consuming copious amounts of coffee and doughnuts, trying to finalize a game plan that will deliver results. Meanwhile, Trump, holding court at his Mar-a-Lago estate, is doing his own legwork, meeting with various senators and members of Congress to ensure alignment, even as some want to break off the legislative plays into a more convenient two-part strategy.
Speaker Mike Johnson says Trump is the coach calling plays. But what if coach changes his mind?https://t.co/gWSjwJziYH pic.twitter.com/ZOJrMdzBqA
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) January 9, 2025
Democrats, on the other hand, are already sharpening their claws, ready to claw back any proposals that resemble tax cuts or budget cuts. They love to scream about the evils of a tax giveaway to the rich as if the middle class has something other than a charity case to gain from tax relief. The irony isn’t lost on conservatives—after years of the Democrats bickering and using reconciliation to pass their own dreams, they now seem to be whining like a toddler denied their favorite candy when it comes to the Republicans taking advantage of the same rules.
So, the ball is in the GOP’s court. With the legislative playbook still in flux and a tight majority hangover from the last election, Republicans have their work cut out for them. Some favor a quick win with a single, holistic bill, while others treat it like a game of chess, asserting that two separate bills will allow for faster implementation of border security measures and energy initiatives. Ultimately, as Trump prepares to meet with House Republicans down in sunny Florida, it’s clear that whatever strategy they choose, the stakes are high and the political landscape is flooded with challenges. Still, Trump’s knack for shuffling priorities could either shine a light on their ambitions or leave them fumbling in the dark.
