Budget battles were inevitable with the GOP gaining control of the House. However, the Freedom Caucus’ influence has been inexplicably diminished and holding the chamber hostage to win concessions is not in the playbook. Speaker Johnson is certainly a far right extremist but has an eye towards public perception outside the hard right base and that translates into keeping the government open. For some in the GOP that is too much to ask, particularity because the far right wants to remove the government from public life.