House Republicans sweat Iran’s costs as they struggle to push economic agenda | CNN Politics

Speaker Mike Johnson and his leadership team have been struggling to find consensus behind an election-year agenda to address Americans’ chief concerns over affordability and their cost-of-living. But now they have a new problem: Rising gas prices. After hammering Democrats relentlessly over $5-per-gallon gasoline, a threshold that was crossed when Joe Biden was president, Republicans are confronting a similar dilemma in the wake of President Donald Trump’s decision to wage war against Iran. Gas prices are threatening to spike indefinitely with the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint where roughly 20% of crude oil shipments pass through, virtually shut down as a result of the conflict. Republicans are left with this message: Just hope that the war ends soon and crude oil prices settle in time for November. “Snapshot in time,” said Rep. Lisa McClain, the No. 4 House Republican. “Short-term volatility,” said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York. Others – like Rep. Mark Alford of Missouri – said Republicans need to convince voters to stomach the pain. “I think it’s our job to help bring people along to them and explain what’s at stake,” Alford said. “I’m