The House of Representatives approved a funding package to keep the government running through September 2025 — a major win for Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who has historically relied on bipartisan support to avert shutdowns. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it needs 60 votes to pass.

Republicans hold 53 Senate seats, but Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., opposes the funding bill. To reach the 60-vote threshold and send it to President Trump’s desk, at least eight Democrats must vote in favor.

Watch the above video as Straight Arrow News contributor Newt Gingrich analyzes the situation, praising House Speaker Johnson, but warning that Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., faces a tough uphill battle.

The following is an excerpt from the above video:

But in order to avoid a government shutdown, it has to go through in a form that the Senate can adopt. And the Senate has a different set of problems. This requires 60 votes, and I suspect the Senate is going to have to find some way to accommodate some Democrats.

At that point, the question would be, if it came back — having been more spending or whatever the Democrats cost, will they be able to get votes in the House — these kind of sort of cliffhanger events, almost like the old-fashioned Saturday morning shorts where people wondered whether or not the heroine would be saved or what’s going to happen, will the hero arrive in time — that’s kind of what they’re going through.

And Mike Johnson, who has shown just enormous endurance, is back once again. He wins one vote, turns around, and 24 hours later, he’s working on the next vote. Hopefully in a few weeks, they’ll have special elections in Florida. They’ll pick up two Republican seats, and at that point his majority will be a little bit bigger, but to go from three to five, that’s really a narrow, difficult challenge.