SPEAKER JOHNSON KEEPS THE HOUSE AWAY AS HE FIGHTS TO END THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

WA S H INGTON (AP) — House members' absence during the government shutdown is creating a political dilemma for Republican Speaker Mike Johnson and is testing his leadership. The Louisiana congressman sent members home three weeks ago, and they haven’t been back in working session since. In the intervening weeks, the government has shut down. President Donald Trump threatened a mass firing of feder…