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Speaker Mike Johnson adopts an unsubtle media strategy
Speaker Mike Johnson appears less interested in introducing himself to the public, and more interested in reaching out to a narrower partisan constituency.
On Wednesday, Oct. 25, following three weeks of chaos and head-spinning melodrama, House Republicans finally managed to elect a House speaker. Louisiana’s Mike Johnson took the gavel and ended the GOP’s nightmare.
The next day, the congressman — largely unknown to the public and even many Republicans on Capitol Hill — decided it was time to introduce himself to those who have no idea who he is. To that end, Johnson sat down for a one-on-interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity.
Speaker Mike Johnson dismisses gun control: "The problem is the human heart. It's not guns … this is not the time to talk about legislation." pic.twitter.com/b1ti28zETl
Two days later, Congress’ top Republican mixed things up a bit and sat down, not with Fox News, but with Fox Business.
The border crisis is a direct result of failed policy decisions by the Biden Admin – not a lack of funding.
HR 2 would:
-Finish the wall -End catch and release -End abuse of parole authority -Reform the broken asylum system -Restart Remain in Mexico pic.twitter.com/8XZdqJih5x
Two days later, the House speaker appeared on a Sunday show. If you’re thinking it might’ve been “Fox News Sunday,” you’re right.
Wow. Mike Johnson on Fox News Sunday doesn't rule out voting against access to contraception but then says "I really don't remember any of those measures" when asked about his past votes against reproductive health care pic.twitter.com/4pDl3BGGD3
As media strategies go, this one is lacking in subtlety.
At face value, it’s likely that none of this seems especially surprising. Johnson is a conservative Republican; he’s become Congress’ top GOP official; so it stands to reason that he’d appear on a media outlet aligned with the party.
But Johnson’s media choices also shed light on his broader perspective. The new House speaker appears less interested in introducing himself to the public in general, and more interested in reaching out to a narrower partisan constituency.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) November 3, 2023
