"Speaker Mike Johnson Stands Firm on Spending Deal Amid Pressure to Avoid Government Shutdown"
Speaker Mike Johnson reaffirms commitment to the topline spending deal with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, despite pressure from hardline conservatives to walk away. The agreement, which sets spending at close to $1.66 trillion overall, aims to keep bipartisan efforts to fund the government on track. Johnson's position is precarious as he navigates between competing factions within his own conference, and while the next steps to avert a shutdown remain unclear, he defends the deal as a significant achievement in achieving a strong topline agreement.