House Speaker Johnson Declares Democratic Party's End Amid Shutdown, NY Mayor Endorsement

House Speaker Mike Johnson declared that the Democratic Party is effectively finished, citing House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' endorsement of Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, as a sign of the party's shift toward the far left and away from moderates. Johnson criticized Democrats for embracing what he called a "radical insurgent movement," warning that this shift would have significant consequences for America, particularly in New York City where Mamdani is poised to become mayor. Johnson also condemned Democrats for holding the government hostage during the ongoing shutdown, highlighting the impact on millions of Americans, including military families and essential workers like air traffic controllers. Mamdani responded by urging Johnson to focus on his legislative duties instead of attacking a mayoral campaign, accusing Republicans of using the shutdown as a political distraction from their failure to reduce living costs. Meanwhile, critics accuse Johnson of deliberately prolonging the shutdown for political gain and blocking actions such as swearing in a new Democratic representative to prevent a vote on sensitive matters. This conflict underscores deep divisions in Washington, with Republicans blaming Democrats for the shutdown while Democrats resist funding bills lacking key provisions, such as continued Obamacare subsidies.