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“VOX POPULI, VOX DEI,” Elon Musk declared after the Continuing Resolution (CR) he spent Wednesday denouncing collapsed. Translation: The voice of the people has spoken.
But now what, Elon? What’s the legislative strategy from here?
President-elect Donald Trump’s advisors should be focusing on the agenda for Jan. 20 and beyond to steer the country back on track. Was sinking this CR part of that agenda?
There’s no doubt the bill was deeply flawed, but Speaker Mike Johnson appears to be crafting a cleaner version, including the debt-limit extension that Trump recently demanded. The big question: Can it pass the House—and the Democratic-controlled Senate?
After all, it was Senate Democrats who loaded up the original bill with wasteful spending and political carve-outs.
As for concerns about a government shutdown, let’s be real: Essential services will continue running even if a resolution takes weeks. The bigger issue is that a prolonged standoff could disrupt the early days of the new Trump administration, derailing crucial legislative initiatives.
The immediate priority for Trump’s team at Mar-a-Lago should be securing strong leadership to hit the ground running with reforms, growth-focused economic policies, and strategies to counter the inflationary damage left by Biden’s administration.
Despite the GOP’s razor-thin House majority, Republicans now have an opportunity to deliver for the American people before the 2026 midterm elections. Success in these next two years could increase their numbers in the House, stymieing any Democratic attempt to retake control.
This moment requires consistent, firm leadership—not grenade-throwing or grandstanding about the legislative process. Speaker Johnson has shown impressive skill managing the fractious Republican caucus. Herding votes, particularly with influential members like Marjorie Taylor Greene, has been no small feat.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer played his cards to divide Republicans and cram a bloated CR down Congress’s throat just days before Christmas.
It worked this time, but it shouldn’t become the norm. Johnson doesn’t deserve blame for any breakdown in coordination. The responsibility now lies with Team Trump to focus on unity and action to deliver results.
Their mission is nothing less than a new American dawn.
And sometimes, that might mean Elon Musk should keep his theatrics in check for the greater good.
