The speaker highlights that the current financial issue, which involves potentially adding $5 trillion to the national debt, is a result of actions taken by Congressional Republicans. The responsibility to resolve this issue lies with them, not the president. The speaker criticizes the Republicans for their decisions, which include cuts to programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Head Start, while benefiting billionaires. Despite the situation, there is still time for Republicans to uphold their part of a bipartisan agreement to prevent a government shutdown. The focus remains on keeping the government open and ensuring a smooth transition, but this depends on the actions of Republicans in Congress.