Deadline Poet / March 12, 2024

Mike Johnson as Speaker So Far

Calvin Trillin
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, speaks during a news conference at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., on February 14, 2024.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, speaks during a news conference at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., on February 14, 2024.(Graeme Sloan / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Commissioned by the hard-right crew,
’Twas said Mike knew just what to do.
With Congress nearly comatose, he
Could learn some lessons from Pelosi.

Calvin Trillin

Calvin Trillin is The Nation’s “deadline poet.”

More from The Nation

President-elect Donald Trump speaks to members of the media during a press conference at the Mar-a-Lago Club on January 7, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida.

A Trump L’Oeil and More Signs of What’s to Come A Trump L’Oeil and More Signs of What’s to Come

Taking the president-elect at his word, it will only get worse from here.

Sasha Abramsky

Coming Soon

Coming Soon Coming Soon

Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China, which will affect prices for consumers.

OppArt / Judy Polstra

Donald Trump visits a cryptocurrency-themed bar called Pubkey in the West Village on September 18, 2024 in New York City.

Trump and His Crypto Cronies Have Big Plans. Be Afraid. Trump and His Crypto Cronies Have Big Plans. Be Afraid.

The incoming president and his Bitcoin-loving acolytes want to turn the government into their personal ATM.

Sam Gustin

President William McKinley and Vice President Theodore Roosevelt.

Donald Trump Is Building a Bridge to 1896 Donald Trump Is Building a Bridge to 1896

The president-elect promises to rule with robber baron tactics and imperial belligerence—just like his role model, William McKinley.

Chris Lehmann

Donald Trump at night, in front of Air Force One, wearing a USA baseball cap.

Our Future Copresidents Wage Garbage Wars on LA Fires Our Future Copresidents Wage Garbage Wars on LA Fires

Racist, stupid crap—that’s not unexpected. What we need is a tough local and national Democratic response. To everything.

Joan Walsh

Junior at the dawn of revelation.