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MIKE JOHNSON: We've had one of the most productive Congresses in the history of the institution.
AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:
That's House Speaker Mike Johnson on Fox Business Friday.
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JOHNSON: Now, remember, in previous years, speakers had 25-, 30-, 40-seat majorities. I have a razor-thin majority. I have to get every single Republican on most days. And so takes a lot of work, but we're going to get there.
RASCOE: But the big question is where there is, and it's a question being asked increasingly among House Republicans. Liam Donovan joins us now. He's a veteran political operative who now heads up Targeted Victory, a Republican consulting and public affairs firm. Good morning.
LIAM DONOVAN: Good morning.
RASCOE: So productive is in the eye of the beholder. But what odds do you give that Republican and Republican-leaning voters will see what the GOP-led Congress has done so far as productive in November?
DONOVAN: Well, I think the productivity has been so front-loaded, which is leading to some of the frustrations late in this year, particularly coming out of the shutdown. But that's going to be the challenge of Republicans over this next year. And I think they understand that. I think Mike Johnson is aware of that, but they need to take the accomplishments of the first half of the year, particularly around the extension of the previous Trump tax cuts and the expansion on those, especially with respect to the provisions that people really do like. And they - and as they learn heading into next year, remember, things like no tax on overtime, no tax on tips - those sorts of provisions don't go into effect until next year. So as Americans start to feel the effects of those cuts, of those policies, and Republicans go out and run on those things, I think that's the best thing they have going for them. But remember, they benefited from the affordability conversation under Joe Biden.
RASCOE: And now they're...
DONOVAN: Now that things have...
RASCOE: Now - they're suffering...
DONOVAN: Exactly.
RASCOE: ...From it now. But there is the issue of the Affordable Care Act subsidies, which is - seems to be a thorn for the GOP right now. Is there a deal that would be able to appeal to Speaker Johnson, pass the House and also pass the Senate?
DONOVAN: Look, this is a fraught issue that has really bedeviled Republicans for the last 15 years. And I think particularly if you think back to the first Trump administration, it was the first issue out of the gate that kind of - that President Trump watched and, I think, recognized that this is something that is a little bit snakebitten for Republicans. So I think it takes some presidential leadership to be able to step up and give cover to Republicans to go do this. I think - whatever the president decides, I think that will help...
RASCOE: But...
DONOVAN: ...Kind of lay the path.
RASCOE: Are you worried, though? Because it does seem like whoever touches health care - they kind of get the - they face the repercussions. They face the wrath 'cause it's a very complicated issue, and it's hard to make everybody happy. So if you're the party making the changes, you may have to face the consequences.
DONOVAN: Well, and I think that's right because this is - remember, this is a provision that is - was set to expire by the previous Democratic Congress. And so the question for Republicans is, do they own this? Do they decide to extend it when they are now in power? I think where this is heading, it certainly seems like they're more willing to begin to get into the political game of, whose fault is it that it expires? Who set up the system that is leading to these increases in prices? But it doesn't look like there's going to be a deal. And so the question becomes, how does this next few weeks play out in a way that allows people to go run races and try to win elections on it in the next year?
RASCOE: Do you think the president's successful push to redistrict House seats in Texas, Missouri and North Carolina and the continued push for seats in Indiana, Florida and Kansas - do you think that's a surefire way for Republicans to keep the House?
DONOVAN: Well, I think it depends on that last bit, those remaining states. I think whether this effort was worth it will depend on how much that advantage stretches out as we go into Florida, as we go into Indiana. As it stands right now, I think it's mostly a wash and ends up being a lot of money and a lot of heartburn over very little structural advantage. I think at the end of the day, we look back at those election results in November, that special election in Tennessee. You're not going to be able to draw your way into a majority position. You need to improve your standing. The president needs to be a little bit more popular. You need to get the mood of the country a little bit better around this economy. They have a year to do that.
RASCOE: Well, I have to ask you, though, because the president is saying that affordability is a Democrat con job. How is that? You know, what are the Republicans who are running for office next year - how are they feeling about those sorts of comments?
DONOVAN: I can tell you, I don't think that'll end up in the ads that Republicans are running. I think that's - you know, the president is, you know, frustrated by the turnabout that we just talked about. But I think Republicans will have to run their races. They'll have to tout the things that I mentioned - the things that they've done well in Congress and the things that really will help or help Americans in their pocketbook, particularly as we head into tax season.
RASCOE: I need to preface this one with an acknowledgment that you've worked closely with Texas Senator John Cornyn, who's up for reelection next year. There are three Republicans running in the primary, which is just over 12 weeks away. The polls are very tight between Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Does that mean that Cornyn is out of step with Texas Republicans?
DONOVAN: No. I think this is just a continuation of what the Republican Party has gone through the last 10 or 15 years. I think the primary will play itself out, but I think the best thing that Republicans have going for them is the potential for an interesting primary on the Democratic side. As Jasmine Crockett comes in, I think every Republican in Texas and around the country will welcome that addition to the race. And I think this will stay Republican in the end, no matter what, and it'll just be a distraction, I think, in the meantime.
RASCOE: That's Republican strategist Liam Donovan. Thank you so much for joining us this morning.
DONOVAN: Thanks for having me.
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