Source: New York Times
by Julian E Zelizer
“During the tense leadership vote on Jan. 3 over who would lead the 119th Congress, Speaker Mike Johnson pulled aside two members of the Freedom Caucus who were refusing to back him — Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Keith Self of Texas — and ushered them into the anteroom off the floor of the House, where Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina turned on her speakerphone: The president-elect was on the line. Having interrupted his golf game for this conversation, Donald Trump told both legislators in no uncertain terms that Mr. Johnson was the best man for the job. Minutes later, they returned to the chamber and switched their votes. The phone call was a revealing window into how Mr. Trump wields political power.” (01/27/25)