A series of events in the past few weeks has undercut what little power Johnson ever had among his fellow Republicans in the House. GOP representatives – the group that he theoretically leads – are so angry that they publicly call him names. Republicans are using parliamentary procedures to get votes on bills that Johnson doesn’t want to bring to the floor.

Incumbents panicking over the potential to lose their seats, in a Democratic landslide, are blaming Johnson for their problems. He has to make promises he must know he can’t keep to get bills passed. And Donald Trump is doing nothing to help Johnson in his time of need.