WASHINGTON D.C. (WLUK) — A potential government shutdown, concerns over artificial intelligence and the need to secure the border between the U.S. and Mexico were a few of the issues Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) discussed Wednesday in a Connect to Congress interview.

Sen. Johnson praised newly-elected Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) for garnering bipartisan support to pass a funding bill that averted a government shutdown.

From my standpoint, I agree with the Speaker, I agree with House conservatives. We want to be fiscally responsible, we want to start reducing the size and scope and cost of government. Unfortunately, we’re in this mess right now. Speaker Johnson didn’t put us in this mess; it’s been building for literally decades. And I think he recognizes, as I do, that government shutdowns don’t solve anything.

When asked why he opposed sending U.S. Special Forces into Mexico to fight drug cartels, Sen. Johnson said he believes securing the border is a better solution.

“I’ve always thought that the President of the United States’ primary function was to address clear and present dangers, but in this case, he caused it. It’s his policies that have opened up the border, allowing a flood of illegal immigrants as well as deadly drugs,” Sen. Johnson said. “Unfortunately, we’re not getting any help from the president or Democrats to do so.”

Sen. Johnson also talked about the the double-edged sword of artificial intelligence (AI).

“It’s always concerning when you have new technologies supplanting labor, but the goal ought to be — and what has generally happened — is better paying jobs open up as a result. We can’t really predict that with AI, which is why a lot of people are concerned about it, why we hold hearings on it, to just try and grapple with what the implications might be.”

Other topics discussed in the Connect to Congress interview include U.S. strikes on Iranian-backed militias and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s presidential bid as an Independent.