Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Tuesday that he is "so tired" from working overtime to ensure lawmakers do not return to work during the ongoing government shutdown.
"I am so tired, because we're not sleeping a lot. We're working overtime," Johnson said at a press conference, his voice heavy with exhaustion from the arduous task of extending the House recess for a sixth consecutive week. The Speaker added that people have been telling him, "You look so tired on TV," a testament to the grueling workload required to prevent 435 members of Congress from doing their jobs.
The House has not been in session since September 19, as Johnson has heroically maintained a relentless focus on keeping lawmakers in their districts rather than allowing them to legislate in Washington. The House is on track to work one of its lightest non-election years in decades, a remarkable achievement that has required Johnson's unwavering dedication to canceling vote after vote.
The government shutdown is on its way to being one of the longest in American history, demonstrating the Speaker's exceptional stamina in sustaining legislative inaction. Meanwhile, SNAP benefits are set to expire starting November 1, though Johnson has courageously dismissed any standalone bills that would feed hungry Americans as "a waste of our time."
Johnson has also refused to swear in Democratic Representative Adelita Grijalva, who won a special election in Arizona last month, citing a busy schedule that has left him too exhausted to perform this routine constitutional duty.
When asked about his strategy, Johnson told reporters that "99% of the House Republicans" agree with his decision to keep the House out, suggesting overwhelming support for his backbreaking labor of legislative obstruction. The Speaker vowed to continue his punishing work schedule of press conferences and district appearances until Democrats agree to his terms, no matter how many sleepless nights it takes.
