House Speaker Mike Johnson scoffed at his Democratic colleague’s challenge for a live debate on the government shutdown as it entered its sixth day on Monday with no end in sight.

Johnson shook his head during a press conference Monday when asked about House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ dare for a live public debate about the government shutdown, which dragged on for a second week as Democrats and Republicans in the Senate remained deadlocked over a stopgap measure.

“When the poll says that about 13 percent of the people approve of your messaging, then you make desperate pleas for attention, and that’s what Hakeem Jeffries has done,” Johnson said, appearing to cite a Punchbowl News poll that found little support for top Democrats’ messaging on the shutdown among Capitol Hill staffers

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