"Fractures within the GOP intensify amid the looming possibility of Mike Johnson's removal."

"Tensions among House Republicans reached a boiling point on Tuesday when Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) endorsed a push to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.)."

"Why it's significant: This development adds to the challenges facing a Republican majority already grappling with internal conflicts, making it harder to achieve policy victories."

• "One House Republican expressed, 'There's a prevailing sense of frustration and anger among people.'"
• Another GOP legislator suggested that the party's steering committee ought to consider "removing certain individuals from committee assignments."
• In a development highlighted during Tuesday morning's closed-door conference meeting, Massie revealed his co-sponsorship of a motion to vacate introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
• The House Republican, speaking anonymously, noted that Massie's announcement was greeted with "booing."
• • "Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pa.) remarked, 'People were simply shaking their heads.'"
  • Greene has hinted that she might initiate the vote to remove Johnson if the House proceeds with its scheduled vote on aid to Ukraine.

  Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) stated, "Many of us are becoming weary of the motion to vacate drama, seeing it as a futile exercise of time and trust."

  • Meuser emphasized that Republicans face "weighty decisions" regarding foreign aid and described the motion to vacate as "disruptive" and "unproductive" in that context.
  • "I'm feeling frustrated. There's so much going on globally, and we have a lot of tasks to tackle here... To bring up such a threat without a clear way forward is, at best, foolishness, and at worst, it's undermining our country," remarked Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.).
  • Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.) conveyed to Axios that such actions are "not a way to stand behind your leader, who's part of your team. That's the source of frustration."

  Focus in: Many legislators expressed surprise at Massie's decision, given his past as a critic of leadership, although he had shown increased cooperation during former Speaker Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) tenure.

  • Duarte informed Axios, "I understand he's a staunch libertarian... but I was taken aback by that level of extremism."
  • "Massie's actions came as a surprise," remarked Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), labeling it a "distraction" and an "unforced error."

  On the contrary: "It's not solely the right wing of the conference that's discontent with [Johnson]. We've descended into chaos akin to 'Lord of the Flies.' There's a lack of order. The rules are being disregarded. There are no consequences," Massie stated.

  • Massie expressed doubt regarding whether Johnson's "life experiences have adequately prepared him for this role," suggesting that there are "probably a dozen individuals whose life experiences have better equipped them, and with whom I could be comfortable."
  • Regarding the possibility of Democrats coming to Johnson's rescue, Massie remarked, "That wouldn't hold for long, I believe, because constituents back home would become displeased."

  In summary, Duarte emphasized a "genuine concern" about Johnson's potential removal, highlighting that when individuals engage in somewhat irrational actions, it raises uncertainty about whether they might escalate to more significant irrational behavior.