"The Talk of the Town"
(WASHINGTON) — Immigrations and Customs Enforcement has arrested over 32,000 migrants who are living in the United States without legal status since Jan. 21, according to Department of Homeland Security officials.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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(WASHINGTON) — The House of Representatives on Friday votes to elect a speaker for the new Congress.
Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican who ascended to the leadership post in 2023 after the historic ouster of Kevin McCarthy, has secured President-elect Donald Trump’s support as he seeks reelection.
But Johnson’s handling of the government funding fight just before Christmas angered some of the GOP’s right flank. Depending on attendance, Johnson may only be able to lose one Republican vote.
Democrats cheer as Nancy Pelosi returns to Capitol after hip surgery
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who just underwent a hip surgery after falling during a congressional delegation trip abroad, is present for Friday’s vote.
Democrats clapped and cheered when she briefly walked into the chamber.
Pelosi was seen on the House floor without crutches.
In a social media post, Pelosi said she was “proud” to return the Capitol to support Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, for speaker.
Johnson brushes off possibly losing on 1st round
Johnson told ABC News’ Jay O’Brien if he loses on the first ballot, it says “nothing.”
“It’s a part of the process but I expect that we will get it done,” Johnson said before entering the House chamber for the speaker’s vote.
Johnson said he believes he will gain the votes today to win, trying to project confidence while walking with a swarm of reporters.
“We have to get this job done and unify the conference,” Johnson said, adding “And I’m here for the long haul.”
House kicks off opening day of 119th Congress
The House has gaveled in for the official start of the new Congress.
After a call to order and opening prayer, the House will begin an electronic vote to establish a quorum. Attendance is a critical factor for Johnson, who is navigating a historically tight House majority as he seeks another term as speaker.
Speaker vote also a test for Trump
Trump appears to be working the phones ahead of the high-stakes vote.
In an interview with CNN, Trump confirmed he’s been in touch with Republican holdouts.
ABC News previously reported Trump and his team were working to strike a deal with Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, an influential member of the House Freedom Caucus who remains undecided on Johnson.
“Chip Roy will do what’s right for the country,” Trump said during a phone interview with CNN.
What happens if the House can’t elect a speaker
The House can’t conduct any business without a speaker, including swearing in members.
If the chamber can’t come to an agreement before Monday, the certification of Trump’s 2024 election victory could be thrown into chaos.
The House and Senate will convene on Jan. 6 for a joint session of Congress for a finalization of the results of the presidential race, a constitutionally mandated responsibility for lawmakers.
Johnson insists he’s not making deals for the gavel
Despite days of closed-door meetings with Republican holdouts, Johnson insists he’s not cutting any deals to win them over.
“My simple message to my colleagues is make suggestions about process and improvements. We are open to that at all times. But I don’t make deals with anyone,” he said.
“There’s no quid pro quo here,” Johnson added. “I don’t do anything in exchange for a vote other than commit to make this institution work as effectively and efficiently as possible.”
In the previous Congress, McCarthy was forced to meet Republican hardliner demands to be elected speaker after a four-day voting process. One of those demands — a lower threshold to bring a motion to vacate — led to his downfall just seven months later when he was forced out of leadership by a small group of GOP members.
Johnson’s message to GOP: ‘We don’t have time for drama’
Johnson had a simple message for his conference ahead of the vote.
“We don’t have time for drama,” Johnson told reporters.
Johnson said he was speaking with members and urging them to be unified so they can quickly get to work on Trump’s agenda.
“This election is not just about one person. It’s about moving forward with the America First agenda. A mandate was given by the American people — the electorate — President Trump got 77 million votes. The House Republicans got almost 75 million. Thats a record number. They are expecting us to get to work,” Johnson added.
What Johnson is thinking
Johnson expressed confidence in winning the speaker vote as he entered the Capitol on Friday.
Asked by ABC News if he will be successful in the first round, he replied: “I think so.”
But privately, House leadership sources say they’re also preparing for the very real possibility of a bruising floor fight, going multiple rounds of voting.
In 2023, it took McCarthy 15 rounds of voting and several concessions to be elected speaker.
Johnson has been adamant he won’t make any backroom deals to keep his job. And moderate Republicans have been publicly cautioning Johnson against giving too much away to the further-right undecided votes.
-ABC News’ Jay O’Brien
Trump wishes Johnson luck
Trump is doubling down on his support for Johnson, and said a victory for Johnson would be a “big win for the Republican Party.”
“Good luck today for Speaker Mike Johnson, a fine man of great ability, who is very close to having 100% support,” Trump wrote in an early morning post on his social media platform.
“A win for Mike today will be a big win for the Republican Party, and yet another acknowledgment of our 129 year most consequential Presidential Election!! – A BIG AFFIRMATION, INDEED. MAGA!”
How the House speaker vote works
The House will meet at 11:00 a.m. for legislative business and then officially convene for the start of the 119th Congress at 12:00 p.m.
At noon, there will be a quorum call to determine how many members are present and voting. With the GOP’s razor-thin majority in the House, Johnson needs almost every Republican vote to win.
The election for speaker is expected to take place between 12:45 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Read more about what will happen on the first day of the new Congress here.
Johnson’s future uncertain as he fights for reelection
Johnson has publicly expressed confidence that he will retain the speaker’s gavel, but spent the final day before the vote on Capitol Hill meeting with Republican holdouts.
Several House Freedom Caucus members were spotted at his office, many leaving the hourslong meeting dodging questions from reporters. The few who did speak said they thought they were making progress but none had committed to voting for Johnson.
Meanwhile, Trump’s team and the president-elect himself were working behind the scenes this week to strike a deal with one GOP hardliner in particular — Rep. Chip Roy of Texas — sources told ABC News.
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(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday will give his last Oval Office address as he prepares to hand over power to President-elect Donald Trump and exit politics after a decadeslong career.
Biden is delivering his farewell address to the nation in prime time. He is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET.
Biden is leaving the White House after four years with a complex legacy bookended by Trump’s historic return to Washington.
The speech comes just five days before Trump’s inauguration. Biden will be in attendance as his successor is sworn in, resuming a tradition of American democracy that Trump himself sidestepped in 2021.
In a letter released Wednesday morning, Biden reflected on where his administration started in the shadows of COVID and the Jan. 6 attack by a pro-Trump mob on the U.S. Capitol.
“I ran for president because I believed that the soul of America was at stake. The very nature of who we are was at stake. And, that’s still the case,” he said as he reflected his time in office.
Biden has been taking time in the final weeks of his administration to try to cement his legacy.
On Monday, in remarks delivered at the State Department, Biden asserted the U.S. was better positioned on the world stage and with its key partners now than during Trump’s first term.
“A new challenge will certainly emerge in the months and years ahead, ” Biden said. “But even so, it’s clear my administration is leaving the next administration with a very strong hand to play, and we’re leaving them and America with more friends and stronger alliances whose adversaries are weaker and under pressure.”
Biden specifically touted his administration’s support for Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion and steps taken to diminish Iran. He also defended the removal of troops from Afghanistan, though the chaos that accompanied the withdrawal cast a pall on his presidency.
Last Friday, after closing out his presidency with another positive jobs report, Biden said he believed he was leaving behind an economy that is “stronger than ever.”
Biden also spoke about his cornerstone legislation he credited with helping the economy rebound: the American Rescue Plan, a coronavirus relief bill that provided stimulus checks to Americans and billions in aid for small businesses; the Inflation Reduction Act, a massive climate, health and tax law; and the CHIPS Act, a multibillion-dollar law to boost domestic computer chip manufacturing.
But record high inflation earlier in his term, paired with high interest rates, contributed to deep economic discontent that plagued his own reelection bid and later Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 campaign against Trump.
Biden was questioned during the event if he regretted his decision to drop out of the race.
“I think I would have beaten Trump, could have beaten Trump, and I think that Kamala could have beaten Trump,” Biden said, adding the choice to step aside was made to help unify the Democratic Party.
In fact, the last time Biden spoke to Americans from behind the Resolute desk was in July 2024 on ending his bid for a second term. Then, he was surrounded by family members as he said being commander in chief was the honor of his life but that it was time to “pass the torch” to the next generation.
Biden, 82, is departing Washington after arriving on the scene in 1972 as one of the nation’s youngest senators. After 36 years on Capitol Hill, he became vice president of the United States when Americans elected Barack Obama in 2008.
Then in 2020, Biden reached the pinnacle of American political power when he clinched the Democratic nomination for president after two previous failed attempts and went on to trounce Trump in the general election.
When asked recently about what to expect from him after his presidency comes to a close, Biden smiled and indicated he wouldn’t be going quiet.
“I’m not going to be out of sight or out of mind,” Biden said.
ABC News’ Michelle Stoddart and Molly Nagle contributed to this report.
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(WASHINGTON) — Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday that “there should probably be conditions” on aid to help California deal with devastating wildfires when asked if he’s open to sending funding, signaling a possible political battle over helping the traditionally Democratic state.
“I think there should probably be conditions on that aid. That’s my personal view. We’ll see what the consensus is. I haven’t had a chance to socialize that with any of the members over the weekend because we’ve all been very busy, but it’ll be part of the discussion,” Johnson said.
He did not offer specifics and ABC News has asked his office to clarify.
Johnson said the House Republican Conference will have a “serious discussion” about aid and blamed leadership in California who he said, “were derelict in their duty,” echoing claims made by President-elect Donald Trump about the state’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, and Karen Bass, the Democratic mayor of Los Angeles.
“Obviously, there has been water resource management, forest management, mistakes, all sorts of problems, and it does come down to leadership, and it appears to us that state and local leaders were derelict in their duty, and in many respects. So, that’s something that has to be factored in,” he said.
Johnson said, “there’s some discussion” within GOP conference to tie the debt limit increase to aid to California but cautioned “we will see how it goes.”
After natural disasters, additional funding to help rebuild is usually approved with few if any conditions and typically receives bipartisan support.
Johnson’s initial stance could mean a partisan fight in Congress over disaster relief for California in the coming days and weeks.
Given the slim margin Republicans hold in the House, the speaker will likely need Democrats to ultimately back any final proposal.
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