Capitol drama has reached a fever pitch as House Republicans tackle a packed legislative agenda with looming deadlines. Speaker Mike Johnson and his team are navigating a complex web of bills, including the National Defense Authorization Act and several cryptocurrency measures, all under pressure to move quickly. A nine-hour stalemate earlier in the week over a controversial inclusion of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) ban in the Defense bill has intensified the urgency, leaving lawmakers racing against the clock to finalize key legislation before the fiscal 2026 spending deadlines and the September 30 shutdown.