Speaker of the House, Republican Mike Johnson fell short in his bid to retain the top post in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday.
With voting still ongoing, at least three Republicans voted against Johnson, likely leaving the incumbent House speaker short of the majority he needs to remain in the job.
Republicans control the chamber by a razor-thin 219-215 majority. According to the "time-freezing" rules of the American Congress, members still had a chance to change their vote or to cast a vote if they had abstained.
House Republicans have been defined by internal divisions over the last two years. Johnson was elevated to speaker after the party ousted Kevin McCarthy mid-term.
The House went through 15 rounds of voting over four days in 2023 before finally electing McCarthy speaker.
The conservative Christian lawyer Louisiana representative emerged as a consensus pick, but has since struggled to keep his party unified
Ahead of the vote, Johnson - arguiably the most conservative Speaker of the House in modern American history - said he would keep trying if he fell short on the first round of balloting. .So far, no other Republican has publicly hinted at challenging Johnson for the role.
Johnson has sought to build a close relationship with President-elect Donald Trump, who endorsed him on Monday following weeks of uncertainty.
"A win for Mike today will be a big win for the Republican Party," Trump posted online on Friday. Trump returns to the White House on Inauguration Day, January 20th.
President scheduled to speak before full Congress on Tuesday at 9 pm EST
California Governor Gavin Newsom is asking Congress for nearly $40 billion in disaster funding to help Los Angeles recover and rebuild areas scorched by last month's devastating wildfires, the Washington Post reported on Friday citing a letter.
U.S. Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus co-chairs honour the 35th anniversary of January 20, reflecting on its impact as a pivotal moment in Azerbaijan's fight for independence.
Federal prosecutors are seeking a 15-year prison sentence for former Senator Bob Menendez, convicted of corruption charges, including taking bribes and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt while leading the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The world’s leading banking climate coalition is reassessing its membership rules following the departure of major banks and slower-than-expected progress on climate goals, its chair told Reuters.
Ukraine’s acceptance of a U.S. ceasefire proposal has salvaged its strained ties with Washington, securing the resumption of military aid and intelligence sharing. However, fundamental issues in the conflict with Russia remain unresolved.
Researchers say the remains belong to an adult member of an extinct species that lived up to 1.4 million years ago.
President Donald Trump is preparing a new travel ban that could block entry for people from Afghanistan and Pakistan as early as next week. The move is part of an intensified immigration crackdown.
Italy’s League party urges the government to favour Starlink over French-led Eutelsat for satellite communication systems, citing Starlink's technological edge. The push comes amid delays in the EU’s IRIS² program, as Italy seeks secure communication solutions for officials.
XPeng Motors plans to mass-produce flying cars by 2026, becoming the first company globally to do so. CEO He Xiaopeng also highlighted advancements in autonomous driving and humanoid robotics as part of the company’s future tech initiatives.
World leaders welcomed the 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine has agreed to, calling it a step toward ending the conflict with Russia.
The U.S. budget deficit reached $307 billion during President Donald Trump’s first full month in office, marking a 4% increase—an additional $11 billion—over the same period last year, according to the Treasury Department.
The European Commission’s plan to impose additional duties on up to 26 billion euros ($28 billion) of U.S. imports could significantly disrupt Europe’s livestock sector, which heavily relies on imported grains for animal feed, according to industry association FEFAC.
Ukraine’s acceptance of a U.S. ceasefire proposal has salvaged its strained ties with Washington, securing the resumption of military aid and intelligence sharing. However, fundamental issues in the conflict with Russia remain unresolved.
The world’s leading banking climate coalition is reassessing its membership rules following the departure of major banks and slower-than-expected progress on climate goals, its chair told Reuters.
Ukraine’s acceptance of a U.S. ceasefire proposal has salvaged its strained ties with Washington, securing the resumption of military aid and intelligence sharing. However, fundamental issues in the conflict with Russia remain unresolved.
Researchers say the remains belong to an adult member of an extinct species that lived up to 1.4 million years ago.
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