Speaker Johnson says entitlement programs must be adjusted

House Speaker Mike Johnson has ignited a political firestorm by stating that major federal entitlement programs must be "adjusted and fixed," prompting accusations from Democrats of a secret plan to cut benefits and a forceful denial from the Speaker himself. The controversy stems from a radio interview Johnson gave on June 8, during which he framed the nation's debt as a crisis driven by mandatory spending.

In an appearance on "The Moon Griffon Show," Johnson said that over 74 percent of federal spending is on autopilot, specifically naming Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. "They have to be adjusted and fixed. We have a plan to do that next year, and it's critical because we're at $40 trillion plus in debt," Johnson stated. He added, "At some point, you get into a hole so deep you can't climb out of it, so desperate times call for desperate measures."

Democrats seized on the remarks as an admission of intent to cut the popular programs. Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin posted on social media that Johnson was announcing a plan "to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid," framing it as part of a Republican agenda of "higher costs, less healthcare"...