In the corridors of American legislative power, the calendar itself has become a weapon — and a shield. House Speaker Mike Johnson sent lawmakers home early this week, officially citing completed work, but Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie contends the move was designed to let a 48-hour impeachment window against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expire without a vote. It is an old story in democratic governance: the rules that empower the minority to demand accountability are often met by the majority's quiet manipulation of time. The episode, unfolding in Washington in September 2026, reminds u