Mike Johnson faces 11th-hour blowup on Trump's big bill

• "I think, actually, we're further away from a deal because that SALT cap increase upset a lot of conservatives," House Freedom Caucus chair Andy Harris (R-Md.) said in a Newsmax interview.
• Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), another GOP holdout, told Axios in a text message: "THINGS ARE NOT LOOKING GOOD!!"

State of play: Johnson and a group of House Republicans from New York, California and New Jersey were close to a deal on SALT as of Tuesday night, Axios' Hans Nichols reported.

• The deal would have raised the SALT cap to $40,000 a year for those making up to $500,000.
• The income phaseout would grow by 1% for 10 years, and then the deduction would become permanent.

Yes, but: Johnson's right flank has long been skeptical of the SALT cap, which would increase the deficit and disproportionately benefit taxpayers in high-tax Democratic states.

• Some conservative hardliners also feel the bill doesn't go far enough in cutting Medicaid and nutrition assistance spending.

• "This bill actually got worse overnight. There is no way it passes today," Harris said on Newsmax.

What they're saying: Johnson said in a CNN interview that "no one is delighted" with the SALT cap deal, but that right-wingers "understand the necessity of our handling this issue and keeping the majority."

• As for timing, Johnson — who has hoped to hold a vote on the bill as early as Wednesday — said "we plan to do it tonight. That's my plan."
• Harris has other ideas: "We may need a couple of weeks to iron everything out, but it's not going anywhere today."