John Pudner kicked off the New Year with radio interviews on Fox News across the country on January 2, emphasizing that it is crucial for Speaker Johnson to be approved within hours Friday.

If Thomas Massie and just one other Republican, along with all Democrats, vote against Speaker Johnson, the vote will end in a 217-217 tie, preventing the House from confirming Trump’s election victory on Monday.

A vote against Johnson on Friday is essentially a vote against implementing the agenda voters approved, an agenda outlined by Faith and Freedom Coalition Chairman Ralph Reed and long-time pollster Glen Bolger at their post-election press conference. Link to press conference.

Pudner, who successfully ran a Speaker of the House race for William J. Howell in Virginia, likened these races to class president elections, but with the power to determine an entire state or national agenda. Below is a transcript from one of his interviews on Fox News radio, which aired Thursday, the day before the vote, on WHO 1040 in Iowa with Jeff Angelo.

Click here for the radio interview audio. Below is a lightly edited transcript of that interview.

Jeff Angelo – Preview and Weather:
Next, we take you back to D.C. for the top political story of the week: Donald Trump endorsing current House Speaker Mike Johnson. The House Republicans are about to gather in D.C. to determine the next Speaker of the House. Does Trump’s endorsement matter? We’ll tackle that question next on News Radio 1040.

Well, the National Weather Service advises that if you live along I-35 between Ames, Des Moines, and Indianola and need to travel west this morning, consider delaying your departure until at least 8 a.m. A band of intense snow is moving towards I-35. It will dump one to three inches, maybe up to four in some areas, quickly, so road crews may struggle to clear it during the morning commute.

Jeff Angelo begins interview with John Pudner:
We’ll keep you updated on the WHO Morning Show. My name is Jeff Angelo. Now, let’s go back to Washington, D.C., where there’s a lot of talk about who the next House Speaker will be. Donald Trump has endorsed Mike Johnson. Trump says he offers his full and total endorsement, but there are still questions about whether there will be a fight among Republicans for the speakership. John Pudner, Senior Advisor to the Faith and Freedom Coalition, is back on the Davidson Family Dentistry Newsmaker Line. John, welcome back to WHO Radio. Good morning.

John Pudner:
Good morning. The issue is that it only takes one more vote to stop Johnson from being Speaker. The problem this time is that the House must convene on Monday to confirm Trump’s win. This isn’t like past fights that dragged on for days. If they don’t vote for Johnson, they won’t have a House Monday to confirm Trump’s win. It’s almost like an impeachment vote. There will be pressure to ensure this doesn’t happen.

The math is tricky. If Thomas Massie and one other Republican vote against him, the vote will be tied 217-217, and Johnson fails. Any other Republican no votes could stop him.

Jeff Angelo:
This seems like an ideological versus practical fight. Some, like Massie, want to make an ideological point, but could this cause real chaos in D.C. next week? Should we settle this and move on, or have the fight now? What do you think, John?

John Pudner:
I’m hoping that members voicing concerns—like the one from Indiana who wants assurances that Johnson won’t “sell out” to the swamp—will realize they have the power for 24 hours to make their points, secure commitments from Speaker Johnson, and move forward. However, actually voting no at noon on Friday would be a disaster. I understand the desire to use this as leverage, but an actual no vote would be a nuclear option.

Jeff Angelo:
I agree with you, John. You’re being very practical. My sense is that once Speaker Johnson got Trump’s endorsement, he immediately committed to enacting the Trump agenda. That seems to be the big issue in Washington—Republicans want to hear that the agenda will move forward. Is that your take?

John Pudner:
Yes, I think that’s right. The vote Friday is essentially whether to allow a Monday vote to confirm Trump will become President in a couple of weeks. If people understand this simple logic, they’ll see that we need to move on and not drag this out. I also think it helps that there isn’t the distraction of Matt Gaetz. His resignation after the initial AG nomination removed some of the drama. Gaetz has been backing Massie, but hasn’t directly told people to vote no. Gaetz no longer being in the House gives one less way to prevent Johnson from getting there with 218 votes.

Jeff Angelo:
People want to see the Trump agenda enacted. What’s your top priority as Republicans move forward?

John Pudner:
A few key issues motivated voters: immigration, particularly getting criminals and criminal gangs out of the country. We have serious problems with illegal immigration. These mobs have taken over certain areas, and they need to be cleared out immediately. Secondly, social issues like transgender athletes in sports have garnered significant attention. The idea of youth undergoing gender surgeries or the military focusing on transgender officers while facing terrorist threats is absurd. These issues are critical. Lastly, the economy, and foreign challenges in the Middle East, and ending “Bidenomics,” are top priorities. These things need to happen right away.

John Pudner. President
Wisconsin Faith & Freedom Coalition
www.wisconsinffc.com

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