"Speaker Mike Johnson: A Thorn in Biden's Side"

The rapid rise of Rep. Mike Johnson to the House speakership has presented a challenge for the Biden administration, as they now have to work with a man who refused to acknowledge President Joe Biden's election victory. The White House is uncertain about how to approach Johnson, as they have no personal or political connection with him. The administration hopes to rely on bipartisan coalitions and the urgency of pending deadlines to secure funding for Israel and Ukraine and pass a federal budget. Johnson's election has generated anxiety over whether Congress can deliver on major year-end priorities. The White House is wasting no time in trying to make an impression on the new speaker, but there is little expectation that the process will be easy, given Johnson's conservative base and the limited room he has to stray from it.