MAGA Extremists: All Tricks, No Treats

Need a scare? MAGA extremist Mike Johnson is now speaker of the House. Problems viewing this email? [View it in your browser]( [Center for American Progress]( InProgress from the Center for American Progress MAGA Mike Johnson Is Speaker of the House U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson glances to the side as he talks to Speaker Pro Tempore Rep. Patrick McHenry, whose back is turned from the camera. After weeks of uncertainty, House Republicans have elected MAGA extremist Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Now, it is abundantly clear that far-right extremists are leading the majority in the House. Johnson's alignment with the extreme right is striking, and his history is rife with controversial positions. He has crafted a budget plan that proposed substantial [cuts to Medicare and Social Security]( spearheaded efforts to overturn the [2020 election results]( advocated for the [exclusion of LGBTQI+ people]( from public life, and consistently advocated for [anti-abortion measures]( in Congress. Johnson does not have a history of having the American people’s best interests at heart. He effectively voted to shut down the government by voting against a continuing resolution a few weeks ago. Johnson and his allies failed for three weeks to elect a speaker, all while an international crisis in the Middle East escalated to the point at which a war broke out. In order to win the speakership, far-right factions in the House made demands for their support of Johnson. This included calls to impeach President Joe Biden [without reason]( defund the U.S. Department of Justice and special counsel Jack Smith's [investigations]( into former President Donald Trump, [cut defense funding to Ukraine]( restrict health care access for transgender youth, and make deep cuts to programs that [many Americans rely upon](. In his remarks at the 2023 CAP IDEAS Conference, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) called for an [end to the dysfunction]( under House Republican leadership and pledged to defend his values against extremism by the majority. Jeffries said his party would try to find common ground with the House majority “whenever and wherever possible, while at the same time making clear that we’re going to defend our values, we’re going to defend democracy, and we’re going to push back against their extremism whenever necessary.” The American people want their representatives to help make their lives better—not stir up chaos and uncertainty. Unfortunately, this is what we can expect from Mike Johnson, a speaker of the House who appears to be more focused on his own extremist agenda than on passing legislation that delivers for all Americans. Automakers Meet the United Auto Workers' Demands This week, news outlets reported that the United Auto Workers (UAW) union reached a tentative deal with General Motors (GM), following tentative deals with Stellantis and Ford. In response, [Patrick Gaspard]( president and CEO at the Center for American Progress, released the following [statement]( What a huge day for American workers. Details of the GM deal are still emerging, especially in regard to standards for workers at electric vehicle plants; but if the deal is similar to those with Stellantis and Ford, the UAW workers will have gotten back several of the concessions autoworkers made to save the industry during the Great Recession—notably, boosting salaries, fixing inequities in the tiered wage system, and creating a path to ensure quality jobs in the future. What is clear is that the UAW has sent a message not just to the auto industry but to big corporations everywhere: Your workers are essential to your profitability. Never underestimate the solidarity or the tenacity of American workers. Rep. Jeffries: Progress in the Face of Chaos [Rep Hakeem Jeffries seated onstage at the CAP IDEAS Conference, next to Ari Melber of MSNBC.]( Last week, CAP welcomed some of the nation’s key elected leaders to discuss the most pressing issues of our time at the 2023 CAP IDEAS Conference. House Democratic Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries told us that in the face of extremism, he’s prioritizing unity, productivity, and progress. [Share Now]( Progress in Action: Access to Medication Abortion Saved My Life The decision to undergo an abortion is an intensely personal journey, marked by unique circumstances and profound emotions. Victoria Schiano and her husband had been actively trying to conceive for years. The joy she felt upon seeing that positive pregnancy test was immeasurable. However, 16 weeks into her pregnancy, medical experts delivered the heartbreaking news that the fetus was nonviable and posed grave risks to her health if the pregnancy continued. At 17 weeks, Victoria made the deeply challenging choice to have a medication abortion. This took place in 2014, before the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision overturned the constitutional right to abortion. Today, 21 states have enacted laws restricting abortion access, and mifepristone, a crucial component in medication abortions, is under legislative scrutiny. Those who oppose abortion rarely acknowledge the experiences of women like Victoria who have faced pregnancy complications and made profoundly difficult choices. In this op-ed, Victoria [explains her deep gratitude for having the right to decide]( right that every person who becomes pregnant deserves, regardless of their circumstances. Abortion is essential. Ensuring access to accurate health care information and legal abortion is a matter of preserving women's lives and well-being. Victoria Schiano knows firsthand how crucial it is to fight for better laws—and she believes personal stories are a powerful tool in this fight. “I had an abortion. And because of it, I survived my pregnancy and later became a mother to my wonderful son.” [Read Victoria's Story]( Celebrating Neera Tanden [Neera Tanden holding a bouquet of flowers onstage at the CAP IDEAS Conference, standing next to CAP President Patrick Gaspard. ]( At the 2023 CAP IDEAS Conference we also celebrated Neera Tanden, former CAP president and current White House domestic policy adviser. CAP President and CEO Patrick Gaspard presented flowers to honor her monumental career and her immeasurable impact on progressive policy nationwide. [Share Now]( John Legend Uplifts Grassroots Efforts [John Legend seated in front of a white wall with a neutral piece of art centered behind him. ]( John Legend, a renowned performer and grassroots advocate, congratulated CAP on 20 amazing years of making real change. We’re excited for the future that we’ll build together too, John. 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