U.S. House Republicans have got themselves into a pickle.

Drastic cuts to food stamps and health care were always central to Project 2025. They were written into the BBB that was passed last summer. But they weren’t supposed to surface until AFTER the 2026 midterms.

The shutdown has caused the cuts to surface well ahead of schedule at great inconvenience to the GOP. Americans are starting to feel the pain and demanding action.

Mike Johnson is loath to call Congress back into session after what is now a 6-week recess. He doesn’t want to call attention to the realities of hungry children and sky-rocketing health care costs caused by the reconciliation bill. And, as important, he would be forced to swear in the newest member of Congress triggering a vote to release the Epstein files.

It’s a pickle of his own making as Paul Krugman points out.

https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/too-cruel-too-soon