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.”

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