Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
"This whole episode of removing speakers and threatening speakers does nobody any good except the Democrat Party," Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., said on Fox Business.
This internecine fighting is partly what prompted some Republicans to quit early as Johnson tries to mend the threadbare GOP majority.
"We've got to unify when you have such a small majority," Johnson implored on Fox. "I think people feel the gravity and the weight of this. The importance of it."
But as the House Republican majority dwindles to a single vote, it wouldn’t take much for things to go haywire. Especially if Greene is intent on forcing her colleagues to vote on removing Johnson.
"The majority is so narrow that if a couple of Republicans don't show up or decide not to vote, you could end up with the Democrats in charge of the House," said Cohen.
Former Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., left two weeks ago before his term expired in January.
Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., planned to retire in January, but he’s out the door by mid-month.
If more GOP members make Irish exits, Johnson concedes a flip of power for the House of Representatives before the election isn’t out of the question. That would potentially earn House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., a promotion.
Rep. Chip Roy is unveiling a new bill aimed at allowing people to sue over COVID-19 vaccine side effects (Getty Images)
"Why the hell are you in Congress? We're actually supposed to be more important than the president of the United States. That's why we're Article One (of the Constitution). But we're too chicken to use the power," Roy excoriated during a floor speech.
Roy’s not the only one perturbed about the House. Buck departed early because he was also incensed with his colleagues. But for different reasons.
"I'm not comfortable with how this institution is structured," said Buck.
Buck was one of three House Republicans who bucked their party on the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Their resistance sunk impeachment on the first try. However, the GOP-controlled House took a mulligan and impeached Mayorkas a week later after House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., returned from cancer treatments.
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Buck argued that Republicans abused impeachment. He’s suspicious about the motives of his former colleagues.
"A lot of them are here because they got here by throwing bombs. And they're going to stay by throwing bombs," said Buck.
Like Buck, Gallagher also opposed impeaching Mayorkas.
"It's getting harder to get stuff done," said Gallagher. "I think you see a lot of members frustrated with that."
Gallagher says there’s one thing he won’t miss.
Speaker Mike Johnson (AP/J. Scott Applewhite)
It’s possible that Johnson survives – with the help of Democrats. Democrats either use Ukraine as leverage. Or as a way to secure some buy-in.
"He's going to need to rely on Democrats for support," said Cohen. "He's going to have to cut some deals."
Democrats didn’t help McCarthy survive last fall. But the calculus could be different for Johnson. Especially if Ukraine is involved.
If the House votes to remove the speaker, who knows who Republicans would tap to succeed him? Republicans burned through three other speaker candidates after they sidelined McCarthy. The tumult of another speaker vacancy would bubble over in the House. That means more members could bolt. That would spark an unprecedented level of chaos.
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-California, speaks to reporters outside the Speakers Balcony at the U.S. Capitol Building July 25. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
And you thought things were bad before.
It all hinges on Ukraine.
And despite Greene’s efforts, she might fall short on both of her goals.
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It’s about the math.
Johnson might have the votes to stay. And the House likely has more than 300 votes to approve a bill to assist Ukraine.
But the House may need to wade through another round of bedlam first.
Chad Pergram currently serves as a senior congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.
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