1 big thing: McCarthy pulls it off

2. 👀 Dem skeptics hold off on Biden endorsement

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, pose with President Biden first lady Jill Biden before a  State Dinner at the White House on April 26, 2023.

3. 📺 Tale of two ads

4. 🪄 Disney sues DeSantis

McCarthy in the halls of Congress. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Sneak Peek

The back of a propped up cardboard cut-out of the U.S. Capitol.

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Axios Sneak Peek

1 big thing — McCarthy: Don't underestimate me

2. 🏈 Tuberville under fire

3. 🇺🇦 Zelensky's NATO anger

4. ⚖️ AP investigation supercharges SCOTUS ethics push

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National

Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie are expecting blowback after their failed motion to vacate was greeted with jeers, boos and taunts from their own colleagues. 

Why it matters: The pair have zero regrets over their failed attempt to oust Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), arguing he is now the "Democrats' speaker." 

Loud boos could be heard on the floor, coming largely from Republicans, as Greene introduced her resolution.

"This is the uni-party, for the American people watching," Greene said as the heckling rained down in her direction. "Uni-party" is often used as a conservative insult for bipartisan dealmaking. 

After the vote, House Republicans said they hope Greene faces blowback.

Rep. Carlos Jimenez yelled "you're not the Republican Party" at Massie and Greene as the two spoke with reporters.

"I thought she was going to wisely withdraw ... but she went through it and ... got her a** kicked. So there should be a blowback," Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) told Axios.

"My hope is that her voice is limited and that she loses some power and influence," Rep Max Miller (R-Ohio) said. "[T]hat was a huge smackdown that she just got, and if she doesn't see it that way, then she needs to get help."

"I don't know why she did it — everyone knew she didn't have the votes. I guess she'll use it in fundraising tonight," a House Republican told Axios.

The other side: Greene and Massie argued it is their Republican colleagues who will face backlash over the vote. 

"[T]hey're gonna go home and take an a** whipping from their base because they voted wrong on this," Massie said. 

Massie told reporters "we can't promise we'll never bring it up again. But you can take next week off," sparking further frustrations from his GOP colleagues.

"Yeah, they probably want to kick me off committees, they probably want a primary us — go ahead," Greene added. 

The intrigue: Former President Trump publicly encouraged members not to vote for the  motion to vacate, arguing it would "show disunity" and "negatively affect everything," but refrained from taking aim at Greene on social media. 

But one Trump ally said that "she's off the rails and Trump and his team, they all know that." 

Zoom out: Multiple GOP lawmakers called the vote an "embarrassment" for those leading the effort. But Greene argued that it had more GOP support than the effort to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

"[E]ight Republicans voted with all the Democrats to oust Kevin McCarthy. We had 11 Republicans voting no to the motion to table — that should speak loudly for everyone," Greene said. 

Reality check: Greene is comparing apples and oranges. Not all members who voted with Greene on the procedural vote were committed to supporting Johnson's ouster.

Greene and Massie welcome GOP haters after overwhelming ouster vote

"That was a huge smackdown that she just got."

Photo: Allison Robbert/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Marjorie Taylor Greene

Politics & Policy

House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is making stealthy, aggressive moves to position himself to replace Speaker Mike Johnson as party leader in 2025.

Why it matters: Many GOP members doubt Johnson will keep the top job, whether or not the party holds the majority. Jordan is a top ally of former President Trump who would help keep the conference full-on MAGA.

Jordan privately told colleagues what he would be doing differently than Johnson during the recent fight over foreign aid funding, multiple sources told Axios.

The Ohio Republican has been noticed handing out more campaign checks to colleagues, multiple lawmakers told Axios.

👀 One GOP lawmaker told Axios that Jordan previously said it was "not his job" to help vulnerable members. His shift has raised his peers' eyebrows.

Zoom in: Jordan is working to build relationships with moderate Republicans who would be a critical bloc of support.

Jordan has hit the trail for a bevy of Republicans in recent months, including vulnerable Republicans and top allies of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

😎 The fundraising and campaigning for members outside his conservative bubble is a key olive branch from Jordan.

Cash helps court support from members, and many are still skeptical of Jordan's leadership bona fides.

What's next: Many of Jordan's fellow Republicans think he's angling for the minority leader position as a stepping-stone to another future speaker bid.

Jordan's speaker campaign fell flat last fall. 25 Republicans refused to vote for him on the House floor on his final ballot. 

At the time, Jordan sparked fury from moderates who said he actively worked to undermine House Majority Leader Steve Scalise's (R-La.) own speaker bid.

Many of those defectors now think Jordan is undermining Johnson and are vowing to oppose him in future leadership races, sources told Axios.

Jordan spokesperson Russell Dye told Axios that his boss is "focused on the important work he is doing as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, growing the majority and supporting Mike Johnson as the leader of our conference."

Jim Jordan’s quiet power play for 2025

One GOP lawmaker told Axios that Jordan previously said it was "not his job" to help vulnerable members.

Jim Jordan

House Judiciary Chair <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jim Jordan" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/17/jim-jordan-bio-house-speaker-vote" data-vars-content-id="22c678d4-5260-47d2-806a-6aadbcc48bd8" data-vars-headline="Jim Jordan’s quiet power play for 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/17/jim-jordan-bio-house-speaker-vote" target="_self">Jim Jordan</a> (R-Ohio) is making stealthy, aggressive moves to position himself to replace Speaker <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mike Johnson" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/08/mike-johnson-motion-to-vacate-marjorie-taylor-greene" data-vars-content-id="22c678d4-5260-47d2-806a-6aadbcc48bd8" data-vars-headline="Jim Jordan’s quiet power play for 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/08/mike-johnson-motion-to-vacate-marjorie-taylor-greene" target="_self">Mike Johnson</a> as party leader in 2025.Why it matters: Many GOP members doubt Johnson will keep the top job, whether or not the party holds the majority. Jordan is a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="top ally of former President Trump" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/06/trump-endorses-jim-jordan-house-speaker" data-vars-content-id="22c678d4-5260-47d2-806a-6aadbcc48bd8" data-vars-headline="Jim Jordan’s quiet power play for 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/06/trump-endorses-jim-jordan-house-speaker" target="_self">top ally of former President Trump</a> who would help keep the conference full-on MAGA.

After all that noise, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene didn't even get a proper vote.

Why it matters: Greene chose a climatic confrontation Wednesday by calling a motion to vacate against Speaker Mike Johnson, and was almost instantly blocked by an overwhelming 359-43 procedural motion.

Just 10 Republicans took her side. Some said they wouldn't actually have voted to remove Johnson (R-La.).

The gavel was repeatedly banged to restore order as members booed Greene (R-Ga.) during her speech.

Many of those boos came from her fellow Republicans.

Between the lines: Greene's team didn't give Johnson a heads-up about calling a vote, a source familiar told Axios.

The two spent hours in closed-door meetings this week, without resolution.

Zoom in: By far the longest part of the process was Greene reading her resolution, and the clerk reading it into the record.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) unsuccessfully tried to call for unanimous consent to save the chamber from hearing the same speech twice.

Zoom in: Greene will say the result proves her point — that Republicans don't really have a majority that wants to fight for Republican legislation.

"I'm proud of myself because I'm doing everything I promised my district," Greene told reporters.

But the biggest obstacle to Republicans fighting for party-line legislation has been the voluntary surrender of power from GOP leadership to their backbenchers.

After the vote, Johnson defended his conservative credentials.

"Hopefully this is the end of the personality politics and the character assassination that has defined 118th — it's regrettable," he told reporters.

House overwhelmingly unites against Marjorie Taylor Greene

Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) exit the U.S. Capitol today. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

After all that noise, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene didn&#x27;t even get a proper vote.Why it matters: Greene chose a climatic confrontation Wednesday by calling a motion to vacate against Speaker <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mike Johnson" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/03/mike-johnson-motion-to-vacate-mtg-rules" data-vars-content-id="6df4794e-a3a7-4037-bb9e-57a35a6d58e6" data-vars-headline="House overwhelmingly unites against Marjorie Taylor Greene" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/03/mike-johnson-motion-to-vacate-mtg-rules" target="_self">Mike Johnson</a>, and was almost instantly blocked by an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="overwhelming 359-43 procedural motion." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/08/mike-johnson-motion-to-vacate-marjorie-taylor-greene" data-vars-content-id="6df4794e-a3a7-4037-bb9e-57a35a6d58e6" data-vars-headline="House overwhelmingly unites against Marjorie Taylor Greene" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/08/mike-johnson-motion-to-vacate-marjorie-taylor-greene" target="_self">overwhelming 359-43 procedural motion.</a>

House Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) gavel was saved on Wednesday with the help of Democrats after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) failed to grow her ouster campaign beyond a handful of votes.

Why it matters: Johnson avoided becoming the second speaker ousted this Congress. He became a midsession speaker in October after the historic ouster of Kevin McCarthy. 

Greene introduced her resolution on Wednesday evening after two days of closed-door conversations this week with Johnson.

Her motion was quickly blocked, as House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) moved to table the motion, passing with an overwhelming majority.

Zoom in: Republican hardliners brought the motion after Johnson passed a $95 billion aid package that included military, humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine.

Democrats largely praised the move and said they didn't want to punish Johnson for doing the right thing and working across the aisle.

Another key factor Democrats cited: They view Johnson as a more honest broker than McCarthy, who they unanimously voted to oust last fall.

"The motion to vacate does not offer a recipe for conservative policy— it's a recipe for chaos. And I think obviously the vast majority of our of our colleagues understand that very well," Johnson recently told Axios. 

Between the lines: Johnson's GOP defectors alleged that Democrats bailing him out on the floor indicates he is owned by the other party, with even some of his supporters questioning how the rest of the Congress can function. 

Congress only has a handful of significant priorities that need to be passed before the end of the 118th Congress, with government funding and FAA reauthorization expected to be addressed before the election. 

Greene's efforts to oust him was met with pushback from the majority of the House GOP, with some fearing that it will hinder their ability to hold the majority or pick up seats in November. 

Johnson as a more honest broker than McCarthy

Mike Johnson easily survives ouster attempt from Marjorie Taylor Greene

House Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) gavel was saved with the help of Democrats.

(Photo by Julia Nikhinson / AFP) (Photo by JULIA NIKHINSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Photo: Julia Nikhinson / AFP via Getty Images

Mike Johnson

House Speaker Mike Johnson&#x27;s (R-La.) gavel was saved on Wednesday with the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="help of Democrats" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/30/hakeem-jeffries-mike-johnson-motion-to-vacate-mtg" data-vars-content-id="92cbb910-87fd-49d3-9382-24e3bc6741b2" data-vars-headline="Mike Johnson easily survives ouster attempt from Marjorie Taylor Greene" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/04/30/hakeem-jeffries-mike-johnson-motion-to-vacate-mtg" target="_self">help of Democrats</a> after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) failed to grow her ouster campaign beyond a handful of votes.Why it matters: Johnson avoided becoming the second speaker ousted this Congress. He became a midsession speaker in October after the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="historic ouster of Kevin McCarthy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/03/house-republicans-remove-speaker-kevin-mccarthy" data-vars-content-id="92cbb910-87fd-49d3-9382-24e3bc6741b2" data-vars-headline="Mike Johnson easily survives ouster attempt from Marjorie Taylor Greene" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/03/house-republicans-remove-speaker-kevin-mccarthy" target="_self">historic ouster of Kevin McCarthy</a>.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is expected to attend the Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday for former President Trump's ongoing New York criminal trial, the latest high-profile GOP lawmaker to flock to New York.

Why it matters: The courtroom has become the new venue for displays of Trump loyalty, as well as the high-profile audition to be Trump's running mate. 

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a Trump VP contender, is also expected in court on Tuesday, Axios has learned.

So is fellow VP contender Vivek Ramaswamy, his spokesperson confirmed to Axios on Monday.

Driving the news: Johnson, who has been taking on a more visible role as one of Trump's leading defenders, argued Tuesday that it was a "sham trial" designed to keep Trump off the campaign trail.

The Louisiana Republican alleged that the hush-money trial was being conducted by partisans and asserted that congressional Republicans were taking action to "rein in" Special Counsel Jack Smith in the classified documents case.

The speaker did not take questions from reporters. 

The big picture: A steady stream of loyalists have gone to the New York courthouse in recent weeks to show their support for the indicted former president and presumptive GOP nominee.

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) attended Trump's New York criminal trial Monday, the first high-profile potential running mate to show up at the courthouse.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to add Johnson's comments.

President Trump's ongoing New York criminal trial

Mike Johnson defends Trump outside N.Y. criminal trial

A steady stream of Trump loyalists have flocked to the New York courthouse in recent weeks.

 Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to members of the press after Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-GA) introduced a motion to vacate on the floor of the House of Representatives seeking to remove Johnson from his leadership position

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to members of the press on May 8. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Donald Trump

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is expected to attend the Manhattan courthouse on Tuesday for former <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="President Trump&#x27;s ongoing New York criminal trial" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/13/michael-cohen-new-york-criminal-trial-2024" data-vars-content-id="9e3ddedd-1401-4e60-862c-b4fc569c0a45" data-vars-headline="Mike Johnson defends Trump outside N.Y. criminal trial" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/13/michael-cohen-new-york-criminal-trial-2024" target="_self">President Trump&#x27;s ongoing New York criminal trial</a>, the latest high-profile GOP lawmaker to flock to New York.Why it matters: The courtroom has become the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new venue for displays of Trump loyalty" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/13/trump-loyalty-test-2024-new-york-court-vp" data-vars-content-id="9e3ddedd-1401-4e60-862c-b4fc569c0a45" data-vars-headline="Mike Johnson defends Trump outside N.Y. criminal trial" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/05/13/trump-loyalty-test-2024-new-york-court-vp" target="_self">new venue for displays of Trump loyalty</a>, as well as the high-profile audition to be Trump&#x27;s running mate.

Juliegrace Brufke

Stories

Mike Johnson defends Trump outside N.Y. criminal trial

Jim Jordan’s quiet power play for 2025

Greene and Massie welcome GOP haters after overwhelming ouster vote

House overwhelmingly unites against Marjorie Taylor Greene

Mike Johnson easily survives ouster attempt from Marjorie Taylor Greene

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