Podcast Summary: Republican Senator Ron Johnson Talks Russian Sanctions, Federal Employee Pay

Podcast: Bloomberg Talks
Host: Bloomberg
Date: October 23, 2025
Guest: Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI)

Overview

In this episode, Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin joins Bloomberg TV & Radio from Capitol Hill to discuss the U.S. government's approach to Russian sanctions in light of the Ukraine conflict, perspectives on ending the government shutdown, and his legislative efforts around federal employee pay during shutdowns. The conversation offers insight into current congressional gridlock and Johnson’s proposals for more “common-sense” solutions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Russian Sanctions and U.S. Strategy

[00:00–02:43]

• White House Stance on Secondary Sanctions

  • Senator Johnson emphasizes that whether to proceed with secondary sanctions on Russia is ultimately up to the President:

    “When he wants that as a backstop to put pressure on Putin, I think that’s when we’ll act.” — Johnson [00:54]

• Johnson’s View on President’s Tactics with Russia

  • Praises the President’s (Trump) focus on pursuing peace, not conflict:

    "This president wants peace... He's not a wartime president. He wants peace. Now, he used to achieve peace through strength. But in the end he wants peace and he's doggedly pursuing it." — Johnson [01:16]

• Cancellation of Trump-Putin Meeting & Situation in Ukraine

  • Johnson blames Putin’s missile attacks (including civilian targets) for collapsed diplomacy:

    “That meeting is canceled because Vladimir Putin keeps lobbying missiles… apparently hit a kindergarten earlier today… Vladimir Putin’s a war criminal.” — Johnson [02:08]

  • Despite strong criticism, Johnson asserts the war will only end in negotiation:

    “He’s not going to lose this war, though. You’ve got to recognize that reality. The only way this war ends is through a negotiated settlement. We’re not going to like the terms of that.” — Johnson [02:08]

  • Highlights the cost of stalemate:

    “Even worse…the bloody stalemate… where we’re losing thousands of people on both sides a week. It’s just untenable.” — Johnson [02:08]

2. Government Shutdown and Continuing Resolutions

[02:43–06:59]

• Reaction to Full-Year Continuing Resolution (CR) Proposal

  • Discusses the suggestion of a one-year CR extending into December 2026:

    “What would be a much [better] idea would be just pass my Eliminate Shutdowns Act…sets up automatic rolling 14 day continuing appropriations…That’d be a far more common sense approach than a one year continuing resolution for all of government.” — Johnson [03:35]

  • Critiques the shortfalls of the current process and calls for legislative reform:

    “This vaunted appropriation process, which is clearly broken, fails 96.7% of the time…the Eliminate Shutdowns Act does not undermine that process; it just gives us all the time.” — Johnson [04:31]

• The Shutdown Showdown

  • Paints ongoing shutdown as a manufactured crisis:

    “We could have been working with each other, we could have been negotiating. But instead we’ve got this shutdown show and showdown with literally no end in sight.” — Johnson [04:31]

3. Federal Employee Pay and the "Shutdown Fairness Act"

[05:40–06:59]

• Support for Paying Essential Federal Workers

  • Johnson advocates for immediate pay for essential federal employees affected by the shutdown via his "Shutdown Fairness Act":

    “Let’s not make federal workers who are being forced to [work] pay for our dysfun[ction]…Even the National Active and Retired Federal Employees association…completely supports this piece of legislation.” — Johnson [05:57]

  • Cites stories of workers struggling to get by during shutdowns:

    “So pay them in time so they don’t have to go to food banks. They don’t have to drive doordash to pay for their daughter’s tuition…That’s unconscionable.” — Johnson [05:57]

• Broader Dysfunction in Government Appropriations

  • Criticism of the so-called "uniparty appropriators":

    “Right now we’re being held hostage by quite honestly the uniparty appropriators…This is a very well-honed process…Drop a multi-thousand page appropriation bill on our desk. Take it or leave it or you’re not going to see Christmas. That has to end.” — Johnson [07:11]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He’s [Putin] not going to lose this war... The only way this war ends is through a negotiated settlement. We’re not going to like the terms of that.” — Ron Johnson [02:08]
• “This vaunted appropriation process... fails 96.7% of the time.” — Ron Johnson [04:31]
• “Let’s not make federal workers who are being forced to [work] pay for our dysfun[ction]…That’s unconscionable.” — Ron Johnson [05:57]
• “This is a very well-honed process…Take it or leave it or you’re not going to see Christmas. That has to end.” — Ron Johnson [07:11]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–02:43: Russian sanctions and Ukraine war, canceled Trump-Putin meeting
• 02:43–06:59: Shutdown politics, Eliminate Shutdowns Act, federal employee pay debates
• 07:11: Critique of the appropriations process, broader government dysfunction

Tone & Closing

Senator Johnson’s tone throughout was pointedly critical of both Russian aggression and the dysfunction within Congress over government funding. He presents himself as a proponent of so-called “common sense” bipartisan solutions, with a focus on legislative pragmatism and compassion for essential federal employees.

Useful for listeners who want:

• A concise understanding of current Republican views on Russia policy and government budgeting
• Insight into the intricacies and frustrations of Washington’s shutdown standoffs
• Highlights of major legislative proposals aimed at changing the budgeting and appropriations process