Watch CNBC's full interview with House Speaker Mike Johnson

Government Shutdown Standoff - The potential government shutdown is attributed to political maneuvering by Chuck Schumer and Hakee Jeffries, allegedly to appease the far-left base of their party [1][2] - A clean continuing resolution (CR) of 24 pages, passed by the House, is currently stalled in the Senate [1] - Democrats are accused of demanding the restoration of taxpayer-funded benefits to illegal immigrants and opposing previously approved funds for rural hospitals [2] - The speaker emphasizes the importance of adhering to the regular appropriations process to ensure responsible use of taxpayer resources [2] - A potential government shutdown could rattle markets and delay the release of the BLS jobs report [2] - Critical services such as troop payments, TSA agent salaries, WIC program benefits, and FEMA services could be delayed [2] ACA and Policy Debates - Democrats are using the upcoming expiration of certain ACA provisions on December 31st as leverage, despite it not being an immediate issue [3] - Republicans are calling for reforms to the ACA, arguing that it is a flawed system that subsidizes insurance companies and leads to rising premiums [2] - Discussions regarding potential changes to the ACA, such as income caps for eligibility, are expected to continue throughout October and November [2] Medicaid and Fiscal Responsibility - Changes made to Medicaid are reported to have reduced premiums and eliminated fraud, waste, and abuse, saving $185 billion [5] - The reforms aimed to strengthen the Medicaid program for its intended beneficiaries, such as low-income single mothers, persons with disabilities, and the elderly [5][6] Lawfare and DOJ Corruption - Allegations of lawfare and corruption within the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Biden administration are raised, referencing the "dirty Russian dossier" and events from the 2016 election [16] - Former FBI Director James Comey is accused of lying to Congress, leading to his indictment by a grand jury [16][17]