If the behavior of Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House, left any doubt before that he was 100% following Putin's wishes, this last closure of the House ... in the face of a discharge petition (with enough support best we can tell) to allow a vote on a Ukraine bill that his own caucus wants, and that of course the overall House wants - that doubt, if it existed before, must be gone.
The House leadership is willing to go against the majority of the House, and likely the majority of his own caucus, to continue to starve Ukraine of needed equipment.
I would not have said that with such certainty even a week ago, although signs pointed that way, but closing the House immediately to avoid a House vote on the standalone foreign aid package ... I just don't see any other way to interpret this.
MAGA Republican House leadership is now acting directly in line with Putin's wishes, against the interests of the United States, European allies, and democracy in general.
I know this post is political but this topic is now very much about the future of Ukraine, who even now seem to be in the process of being squeezed out of Avdiivka ... Russian advances there started to make progress as our aid trickled to a halt.
I'm aware the EU is stepping up, and they are significant ... but the USA was 50% or more at times of aid, and from what I read, much of the equipment in use in the fighting ONLY comes from the USA. Losing that pipeline makes major problems for stretched Ukrainian defense lines.
What a gift the MAGA folks are to Vladimir Putin, and to the anti-democratic forces everywhere. What a true gift. The mask is clearly off now - I hope it matters to folks paying any attention at all. Some please tell me voters are paying attention.
