“Two Titans Clash: Speaker Johnson and Mitch McConnell Faceoff!

The United States Congress is currently in a tense standoff as Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are on an inevitable collision course. Both Democratic and Republican political positions have caused a dramatic gridlock in the legislative branch, with no clear sign of resolution in sight. Since mid-November, President Trump has refused to sign any legislation regulating the coronavirus pandemic unless it includes language to prevent President-elect Joe Biden from canceling his planned border wall construction. This strategy put forth by the President has essentially held the American people as collateral, a move that has angered the Speaker. In response, Pelosi has been unrelenting in her negotiations with McConnell and has argued that the government needs to pass a comprehensive COVID-19 relief bill that is not attached to the president’s demands. However, McConnell has claimed that the president has already agreed to allow some coronavirus assistance measures to not include his controversial border wall language. He insists that the rest of the relief bill should be completed soon and praised Pelosi for being more willing to negotiate than during the last stimulus talks. The fine line of compromise appears to have been crossed between the two political leaders, as McConnell has grown increasingly frustrated with Pelosi’s delay tactics. The Senate Majority Leader is now calling for both the Democratic and Republican lawmakers to work together to reach a consensus and pass a legislative solution. Both Congressional leaders will have to find a way to reach a compromise in order for the American people to receive their desperately needed aid. The fact that Pelosi and McConnell are stuck on two separate political paths does not bode well for a swift resolution; however, if both sides can come together to cooperate, then a resolution can be achieved.