
A thrill records of “Today with George Stephanopoulos” broadcasting on Sunday, October 12, 2025 on ABC Information is listed below. This duplicate might not remain in its last kind, might be upgraded and might include small transcription mistakes. For previous program records, check out the “Today” records archive
JONATHAN KARL, ABC “TODAY” CO-ANCHOR: Our many thanks to Matt Gutman.
I’m signed up with currently by the audio speaker of your home, Mike Johnson, right below in the workshop.
Audio speaker Johnson, thanks for joining us.
AUDIO SPEAKER OF YOUR HOME REP. MIKE JOHNSON, (R) LOUISIANA: Glad to be with you. Many thanks.
KARL: So, allow’s begin with the No Kings rallies. You called these hate America rallies. What do you suggest by that?
JOHNSON: Well, that collection of people that I noted were definitely component of it. We praise them on an evidently violent-free, totally free speech workout. I was a First Modification legal representative for twenty years. We protect that right.
However the paradox of the message is quite clear for everybody. If Head of state Trump was a king, the federal government would certainly be open today. If Head of state Trump was a king, they would certainly not have actually had the ability to participate in that totally free speech workout out on The Shopping center, incidentally, which was open due to the fact that Head of state Trump hasn’t shut it. In the last closure, 2013 age, Head of state Obama shut The National Shopping center, shut all the national forests, really did not enable individuals to participate in all this.
So, I suggest, it’s– they required a feat. They required a program. Chuck Schumer has– requires cover today. He’s shut the federal government down due to the fact that he requires political cover, and this belonged of it.
KARL: And we’ll reach the closure. However simply on this concept that these are hate America rallies. And you not just spoke about anarchists, Antifa supporters, pro-Hamas wing. And you stated this is the modern-day Democratic Event.
However I bear in mind not that lengthy ago what you stated after the– the murder of Charlie Kirk, when you stated that we need to see fellow Americans not as our opponents yet– yet as our fellow compatriots.
JOHNSON: Yes. I have actually never ever called any person an opponent. However we call out–
KARL: Hate America rally or, you understand, Antifa, pro-Hamas, that seems– those are opponents.
JOHNSON: Well, there were a great deal of despiteful messages the other day. I suggest, we have video clip and pictures of quite terrible unsupported claims, calling out the head of state, stating fascists need to pass away and all the remainder. I suggest, I do not believe that’s caring speech. I do not believe that gets along speech. And I do not believe it’s pro-American to state those examples.
So, it’s not concerning individuals, it has to do with the message. It has to do with the belief. And I will certainly stand below every Sunday and speak with you concerning the risks of Marxism and socialism and just how it’s brought about the– the actual fatality of 10s of numerous individuals in the 20th century alone. It is an unsafe belief, and it is anti-American. It breaks every little thing that we represent.
KARL: However you’re not stating this is every one of the Democratic Event. It’s not every one of individuals that were around. I suggest, it type of advises me of what Hillary Clinton stated, described Trump advocates, or fifty percent of them, as the “basket of the deplorables.”
JOHNSON: I have actually never ever stated that. I never ever called out– I never ever stated it was the entire Democratic Event. However you and I need to recognize the fact–
KARL: Well, the–
JOHNSON: Wait a min.
KARL: So, this is the modern-day Democratic Event.
JOHNSON: It is. Since check out the proof. Consider what’s occurring in New york city. They will choose an open socialist Marxist as the mayor of America’s biggest city. There’s a surge of Marxism in the Democratic Event. It’s an unbiased reality. And no person can reject it.
We lament that. We decry it. We’re attempting to call it out due to the fact that I intend to make certain the future generation of Americans recognizes, that is an unsafe roadway to decrease. That becomes part of our– our calls. I believe component of our obligation as– as chosen slaves of individuals.
KARL: So, allow’s reach the closure. You have actually condemned the Democrats. And– and to be clear, you did pass a supposed clear, tidy–
JOHNSON: No so-called. Absolutely tidy.
KARL: You understand– maintain the federal government moneyed for 7 months. They declined to choose that, a lot of them, due to the fact that they intend to claim, you understand, for the Obamacare aids–
JOHNSON: Well, no, they flied it– we submitted a tidy CR, 24-pages in size to maintain the lights on.
KARL: Yes.
JOHNSON: They submitted a filthy CR. What remains in it? They intend to renew totally free healthcare, spent for by taxpayers, to prohibited aliens. That’s $200 billion as component of it. They intend to– they intend to provide refund to the Firm for Public Broadcasting. They intend to take a fifty percent a billion bucks from country health centers and they intend to participate in all kind of investing on international jobs around the world. That’s–
KARL: So–
JOHNSON: That is in fact theoretically. That’s their type of proposition. We can not do that.
KARL: OK, so– so, the Democrats did not choose the tidy financing costs. They have actually selected to close the federal government to defend the healthcare and the various other things you discussed.
However allow me ask you, why, as this is taking place, why is your home not in session?
JOHNSON: Well, to start with, we’re defending healthcare too. Not simply in word, yet in action. We placed it in the one large, stunning costs, the functioning households tax obligation cut, actual reforms to Medicaid to make it function much better to protect the program due to the fact that we had prohibited aliens getting advantages, we had young able-bodied males that were not functioning. They do not have dependents. They were riding the wagon. We clean up that up in our costs.
In their counterproposal, what Chuck Schumer is saying for– is he intends to turn around those reforms, which would certainly be a dreadful plan choice for individuals.
KARL: However I’m in fact asking a various concern. I stated, why is your home not in session?
I suggest, I covered everyday those previous closures, consisting of the one you discussed in 2013. I remember, there were Home hearings throughout that closure concerning just how Head of state Obama was managing the closure.
JOHNSON: Yeah.
KARL: Why is your home not in session? That’s–
JOHNSON: Your House did its work. It’s specifically a month ago today, on September 19th, we passed the tidy resolution.
The ongoing resolution would certainly maintain the lights on, maintain the federal government benefiting individuals. Incidentally, maintain Boundary Patrol representatives paid, our soldiers paid, you understand, air web traffic controllers, all the remainder, all the solutions that most likely to professionals and girls that require nourishment help for the babies.
The Democrats, each and every single among them have actually currently elected 11 times, with the exception of 3 Democrats in the Us senate. They elected 11 times to close down the federal government and stop and stop every one of those solutions and programs.
KARL: However I’m still recognizing why is your home not in session? You passed a seven-week short-term financing costs. Is that the whole of the Republican program? Why are you–
JOHNSON: No, it is not. No, it is not. However I decline to enable us ahead back and participate in anything till the federal government’s resumed, when the Democrats do the appropriate point for individuals. They’re playing national politics, and we need to make use of every ounce of take advantage of we need to make certain they do the appropriate point.
They have actually actually selected– this is a real declaration. You consider it. Consider their ballots and their activities. They have actually selected recovering advantages by taxpayers to prohibited aliens over paying our soldiers and our boundary patrol representatives and TSA, and all the remainder.
It’s–
( CROSSTALK)
KARL: I suggest, as you understand, neither Medicaid neither the Obamacare aids can most likely to undocumented–
JOHNSON: You understand why? Since we obtained it authorized right into legislation July fourth.
KARL: OK–
JOHNSON: And they’re attempting to rescind it, Jonathan. That’s the entire factor. It’s the entire factor.
KARL: However you were doing this seven-week expansion to provide you time to pass financing for the remainder of the year.
JOHNSON: That’s right. That’s right.
KARL: Why aren’t you dealing with that currently?
JOHNSON: We are dealing with that. We do not need to get on your home flooring to do it.
KARL: I suggest (ph)–
JOHNSON: Our appropriators are functioning all the time. They have actually been. They’re bargaining not simply in our event, yet throughout the aisle to obtain the following set of appropriations costs all set to go.
It’s a fantastic factor. All we did was a basic C.R. There’s not a solitary Republican plan–
( CROSSTALK)
KARL: However there are no– yet there are no board hearings on these– on these budget plan costs. There are no ballots on these budget plan costs–
( CROSSTALK)
JOHNSON: Currently, it’s really crucial. Really crucial. Your house has actually currently passed the 12 appropriations costs via board. They do not require a board hearing to do that. We require to obtain them off the flooring.
However it’s been come by the Democrats in the Us senate. And why? Due To The Fact That Chuck Schumer hesitates that of these Marxists is mosting likely to run versus him in his following re-elect, and he needs to obtain political cover.
When he did the appropriate point in March and he elected the virtually similar C.R., he took huge warmth from the much left. A lot of the teams that are around opposing the other day, he can not encounter them once more. This is simply and merely an egocentric choice on his component.
KARL: There’s likewise no oversight taking place. No oversight hearings. I intend to ask–
JOHNSON: Oh, there’s– wait. There is oversight taking place.
KARL: Well, there are no board hearings taking place. There’s no–
JOHNSON: Jonathan, simply 2 days back on Friday–
KARL: Yeah.
JOHNSON: — your home Oversight Board launched the 3rd set of Epstein documents.
KARL: Yeah, this is–
JOHNSON: The records from the Epstein estate that consists of, incidentally, his individual phone logs, his traveling logs, his monetary records, and also his everyday schedule. That things is occurring today. We do not require to be on the Home flooring to do that.
KARL: So, Steve Bannon compared the Congress to the Russian Duma, which, naturally, is simply a stamp for Vladimir Putin. Just how do you reply to that?
JOHNSON: I believe this is an unreasonable concept. We have actually combined federal government. The American individuals place Republican politicians accountable of the White Home, the Us senate, and your home. We are supplying for individuals.
You can make a disagreement, the initial 9 months of this Congress and this management were one of the most effective, efficient in background.
We– think about it. Consider the split display what’s occurring today. Head Of State Trump and Republicans lowered tax obligations, lowered guidelines to obtain the economic climate going once more, finished the– finishing the criminal activity situation, finished the boundary situation.
He’s solving battles and disputes around the world.
What have Democrats done? They closed the federal government down.
KARL: However oversight, I suggest, I never ever actually hear you increase crucial inquiries of anything that Head of state Trump is doing. Do you, a minimum of secretive, increase concerns with–
JOHNSON: Yes. This is what– this is what– this is what combined federal government resembles. The head of state and I–
( CROSSTALK)
KARL: A unified federal government indicates done in lock action– I suggest, Congress is still an examine the– on the executive branch.
JOHNSON: Congress is greater than an examine the executive branch. We’re the Post One body in the Constitution.
KARL: Yeah.
JOHNSON: We have a leading obligation. And I take that seriously. A long-lasting constitutional lawyer and someone that’s been a zealous supporter of it.
The head of state and I chatted constantly concerning plans and choices and all of that. We do that behind shut doors since that’s what event leaders do when you remain in the very same event. It’s called unified federal government.
The factor we have actually been so efficient is due to the fact that we do that so well, and we’re supplying for the American individuals.
KARL: When are you mosting likely to vow in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva?
JOHNSON: As quickly as we return to legal session, when Chuck Schumer enables us to transform the lights back on.
KARL: Why have not you done it currently?
JOHNSON: Due To The Fact That this is the means the establishment functions. To– I’m complying with the Pelosi criterion, incidentally. When my bosom friend from Louisiana, Julia Letlow, was chosen to load the seat of her dead spouse as a result of COVID, Nancy Pelosi took days to vow her in. Incidentally–
( CROSSTALK)
KARL: Are you stating– allow me quit you. Are you stating that Nancy Pelosi declined to vow her in earlier?
JOHNSON: No, I’m stating– that’s– my really factor is, this is the regular procedure–
KARL: Since my understanding is that was the day that in fact the representative-elect, Letlow (ph), at the time asked for. That she had clearly– her– her–
JOHNSON: No. OK, below’s some even more instances, OK.
KARL: No, no, yet wait a min, you discussed the Pelosi criterion. However Pelosi really did not postpone that. She– she provided the day that–
JOHNSON: No, no, allow me provide you even more of the Pelosi criterion, OK?
KARL: And what concerning the Johnson criterion? I suggest, you vowed in 2 Republicans the day after their political election (INAUDIBLE).
JOHNSON: I enjoy to address. I enjoy to address.
KARL: OK.
JOHNSON: Pelosi criterion. Rub Ryan, Joe Sempolinski. They were chosen throughout an August recess. So, 21 days later on, when your home went back to routine legal session, they were provided the vow. That’s what we’re doing. We’re not in session today. Rep. Grijalva was chosen after your home ran out success. As quickly as we go back to legal session, as quickly as the Democrats determine to transform the lights back on so we can all come back below, I will provide the vow of–
KARL: You could vow her in tomorrow, right? I suggest–
JOHNSON: No, not tomorrow. No, we– we could not. We would not. There was an exemption for 2 Floridians previously in this Congress.
KARL: Yes.
JOHNSON: However the factor was, they were properly chosen. They had a day collection. They flew in all their loved ones and your home headed out of session all of a sudden.
KARL: So– so, if she flies in loved ones, after that you would certainly–
JOHNSON: We do not have a day collection. She was chosen after we headed out of session.
KARL: OK. OK.
Allow me ask you concerning the head of state’s excuse of George Santos. What do you make from that?
JOHNSON: The head of state has the right under the Constitution for excuse and commutation, naturally.
KARL: Without a doubt.
JOHNSON: Our company believe in redemption. This is an individual idea of mine. And– and I– you understand, I wish Mr. Santos takes advantage of his 2nd possibility. I suggest–
KARL: However just how concerning the reality that the head of state, in providing the excuse, or it’s clemency, I’m sorry, the clemency, he stated, “a minimum of Santos had the nerve, sentence, and knowledge to constantly elect Republican politician.”
I browsed this. There have currently, I believe, we have a– a checklist of them, 10 previous Republican politician participants of Congress that the head of state has actually either absolved or released clemency for. 10.
JOHNSON: OK, you intend to speak about what Joe Biden finished with that power?
KARL: No, I intend to speak about what–
JOHNSON: He absolved his very own family members. The only point he authorized, incidentally, with his very own pen. Every little thing else was autopen.
KARL: Yes, yet–
JOHNSON: However groups of hard crooks that they simply launched from jail. At the very least Head of state Trump is completely clear. He heads out and clarifies his reasonable to the–
KARL: Is it alright for him to state the– basically I’m absolving someone due to the fact that they constantly had the nerve–
JOHNSON: That’s not the factor he absolved him.
KARL: Sentence and knowledge to constantly elect Republican politician. I suggest, he stated that.
JOHNSON: That’s one declaration (ph) of what he stated amongst lots of aspects of George Santos and various other–
KARL: However should that be a consider absolving someone, that they elected Republican politician, or clemency?
JOHNSON: No, and I do not believe it– I do not believe it was. No, I do not believe it was. I simply believe he’s speaking about this specific and– and his past. And a minimum of he’s open and clear concerning it. Joe Biden never ever informed us anything. And, honestly, we’re not also certain he understood that he was absolving on any one of those points.
KARL: I– among the important things that drove a great deal of individuals out opposing the other day was what’s occurring in regards to the mass expulsions. I intend to play something for you that Joe Rogan lately stated just how this is being embarked on.
Take a pay attention.
( BEGIN VIDEO)
JOE ROGAN, HOST, “THE JOE ROGAN EXPERIENCE”: The means it looks is dreadful. It looks– it– when you’re simply apprehending individuals before their children and simply typical routine individuals that have actually been below for twenty years–
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Yes.
ROGAN: That– everyone that has a heart can not quadrate that.
( END VIDEO)
KARL: Do you– do you fret that these ICE raids are going as well much, or a minimum of– or could go as well much?
JOHNSON: I believe everyone understands the optics. However I do count on the policy of legislation. And I think the American individuals were startled that the– the– the boundary was broad open for 4 years. And by lots of quotes, as lots of as 20 million prohibited aliens entered the nation, a lot of them set, harmful crooks from–
KARL: However you’re seeing individuals that have actually remained in the nation twenty years or even more with– that have households, you understand, that have American residents as youngsters, as partners, that are encountering, you understand, these quite harsh expulsions.
JOHNSON: Yes, and no person takes any type of satisfaction because in all. What ICE has actually focused on is the harmful, hard crooks initially. And there was most likely a couple of countless those, OK? So, they have actually been attempting to round them up and send them back home, with excellent success.
And incidentally, the boundary is completely secured currently. Nearly absolutely no prohibited crossings over the last 4 months. Nearly absolutely no. Which shows once more the factor that Head of state Biden might have done that at any moment. He did not intend to make use of that authority. They desired the wide-open boundary.
So currently all of us need to take care of the after effects of that. With 10s of numerous illegals right into the nation, ICE has an extremely hard work, an extremely uphill struggle. And they’re– they require to be– they require to be effective and effective in the means they do this. However they need to make certain that we have the policy of legislation. If you do not have a sovereign boundary, you do not have a sovereign nation.
KARL: We run out time, yet I simply need to ask you what’s occurred at the Government. Do you have a feeling for why the assistant of Protection appears to be terrified to connect with reporters that cover him? I suggest–
JOHNSON: I decline the facility. There’s absolutely nothing– there’s–
KARL: I suggest, the person– the person–
JOHNSON: Far is not component of the assistant of battle’s cosmetics, OK?
KARL: Well, I suggest, the person’s just had 2 rundowns because he was– came to be assistant of Protection. And– and– and–
JOHNSON: He’s– he’s– he’s really clear.
KARL: And they have actually primarily required the– the Government extract of the structure unless they would certainly consent to– to– to authorize a promise that would certainly make it difficult to– to be independent reporters.
JOHNSON: I– I can not bear in mind, and I do not believe you can either, an assistant of protection that has actually been so clear, exposed, speaking about top priorities, concepts and points.
KARL: Oh, I can. I covered the structure and– and I circumnavigated the globe with assistants of protection. I interviewed them. I examined them in the Rundown Area. Various other press reporters did too.
JOHNSON: However did all those assistants–
KARL: That does not with this one.
JOHNSON:– appeared and do public speeches as typically as Hegseth does? To be anywhere constantly amongst the soldiers?
KARL: Well, public speeches where he summons– yet I suggest, addressing inquiries.
JOHNSON: He’s recovering–
KARL: And naturally, I suggest, you people have not brought him approximately inquire about what’s occurring in Venezuela.
JOHNSON: Yes. We’re not in session due to the fact that Chuck Schumer closed the federal government down. OK? We have a great deal of points to do. However I would certainly inform you this concerning the assistant of battle. We are winning, we are recovering tranquility via toughness, that is among our core concepts.
KARL: Do not you have inquiries concerning Venezuela?
JOHNSON: What concerning it?
KARL: Would certainly you have inquiries concerning what is occurring in Venezuela? We have this accumulation around Venezuela. We have the targeting of these watercrafts. I suggest, you must a minimum of have inquiries concerning it?
JOHNSON: Targeting of the watercrafts?
KARL: I understand we have inquiries.
JOHNSON: You have medication cartels generating fentanyl and tons of it that would certainly eliminate possibly numerous hundreds of Americans? What we’re doing is reel saving–
KARL: You have no doubt concerning just how they’re doing it?
JOHNSON: No, I count on tranquility via toughness. I believe that the head of state and the commander-in-charge of making certain nationwide safety and the security of the American individuals. And I believe most realistic Americans check out that and state give thanks to benefits. You get one watercraft packed with fentanyl, you conserve numerous hundreds of American lives.
It was the leading reason of fatality for Americans aged 18 to 49 throughout the Biden management. We are repairing that. Which’s why the American individuals placed a solid commander-in-chief back in the workplace.
KARL: All right. Audio speaker of your home Mike Johnson, many thanks a great deal for being below today.
JOHNSON: Thanks, my pal. Excellent seeing you.