Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan disrupted Speaker Mike Johnson’s press conference on Wednesday, sparking chaos at the third week of the government shutdown. The event, which was a regularly scheduled GOP press conference, quickly descended into an impromptu exchange as Houlahan interrupted Johnson, demanding he meet with her caucus to end the shutdown.
Johnson told Houlahan, ‘You should respect free speech,’ to which she responded, ‘You should respect free speech.’ Houlahan continued to press Johnson, demanding that he be open to a conversation with the other side. Johnson attempted to take a question from a reporter but was repeatedly interrupted by Houlahan’s shouting.
Meanwhile, House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain, R-Mich., erupted back, ‘You have an obligation!’ as the tension escalated. Johnson accused Houlahan of having ‘regret’ for her vote. ‘No, sir, I do not regret anything,’ Houlahan responded.
Johnson also addressed the broader context of the shutdown, saying that the situation was unprecedented and that the current spending bill was a clean, non-partisan CR that every Democrat, including Houlahan, had voted no on. Houlahan shot back, accusing Johnson of misrepresenting history and dividing the American people.
Tensions are running high on Day 36 of the government shutdown, now the longest such standoff in U.S. history. Johnson’s press conference came after his party’s sweeping victories in the recent elections in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City, which appeared to embolden some Democrats as well.
The House passed a short-term federal funding bill on Sept. 19 aimed at giving lawmakers until Nov. 21 to strike a deal on fiscal year (FY) 2026 spending levels. However, some Democrats are needed to advance the legislation in the Senate, where it has failed 14 times due to the left’s demand that any funding deal be paired with an extension of COVID-19 pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies that are set to expire at the end of this year.
Republicans have contended that federal funding and healthcare are issues that must be considered separately. Johnson’s press conference highlighted the deepening divide between the parties as they struggle to find a resolution to the funding crisis.