House GOP frustrated by self-inflicted distractions from Biden woes

• "Why does the timing now have to happen before the convention and while the Democrats are lighting themselves on fire in the public square?" Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) told Axios.
• "Strategically it makes more sense to just let the Democrats have this moment in the sun and let them melt," Huizenga added.

The big picture: The days since President Biden's disastrous June 27 debate performance have left House Democrats deeply and publicly divided, a welcome turnabout for Johnson (R-La.), whose conference is usually the focus of the chamber's intra-party drama.

• Johnson this week implored fellow Republicans in a closed-door meeting to let Democrats "implode without any interference" as they struggle with whether Biden can remain at the top of the ticket, sources in the room told Axios.
• But Republicans briefly fumbled that effort Thursday: A resolution fining Attorney General Merrick Garland for flouting a congressional subpoena and a spending bill to fund Congress' own operations both went down amid GOP absences.
• Opposition from fiscal conservatives to a lawmaker pay raise provision also helped bring down the spending bill.

Zoom in: Members were particularly frustrated with Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) precipitating what many saw as an unforced error by pushing for a vote on the Garland resolution, only to have it fail.

• One member lamented that Luna dug in, despite the poor timing, after former President Trump publicly backed the measure Wednesday, noting that, after that, "There was no turning her back."

The bottom line: While less than ideal, Thursday's hiccups are unlikely to draw much attention away from Democrats' struggles, especially with Biden's next public test — an evening press conference after a full day of meetings with NATO allies — moments away.