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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson defended Republicans' handling of the government shutdown and squarely blamed Democrats for what he described as a "terribly selfish decision" during an interview with "Special Report."

"We were simply trying to buy time," Johnson said . "Working through the process, we ran out of time. We need seven more weeks."

Johnson claimed House Democrats blocked the GOP’s continuing resolution (CR) — a short-term funding measure meant to keep the government open — and instead pushed forward a "dirty CR" championed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

WHITE HOUSE DECLARES IMMINENT GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AFTER SENATE FAILS TO PASS FUNDING BILL

"We put a clean CR on the table, assuming tha

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