In October, the U.S. government suspended non-essential services, coinciding with House Speaker Mike Johnson's apparent disengagement from critical political matters. Johnson has been notably unresponsive to calls for the Pentagon to release footage of a military strike on a vessel suspected of drug trafficking. When questioned about the legality of the strikes, he stated he would not prejudge the situation and claimed to be too busy to follow the news.

Johnson's lack of knowledge became evident during press conferences addressing the so-called "Democrat Shutdown." He often answered questions despite admitting ignorance, which shifted the focus away from pressing issues. For instance, he failed to comment on the shooting of a Presbyterian minister by federal immigration agents during a protest, despite having been asked about it previously. He dismissed concerns about the Trump administration's immigration policies, including a report of unlawful detentions by ICE involving U.S. citizens and children.

Additionally, Johnson's responses to incidents of extremist behavior within his party, such as a group chat among Young Republican leaders expressing admiration for Hitler, were similarly vague. He claimed ignorance of these events, despite their prominence in political discourse.

When asked about threats against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Johnson expressed surprise at the news, denouncing political violence but failing to follow up with any communication to his counterpart. His claims of unawareness extended to matters involving former President Donald Trump, including financial requests and controversial pardons.

Johnson's approach to governance, characterized by a lack of engagement with significant issues, raises concerns about accountability and oversight within the House of Representatives. This detachment may enable continued state aggression and militaristic policies without adequate scrutiny.