THE SHOW NOTES: The Speaker Fight Is Worse Than You Think
Welcome! The McCarthy team wants to delay the fourth vote for speaker until Thursday but may not have the votes to do so.
HEADLINE: Damar Hamlin appears to be making progress - NY Post
NEW: Nonprofit financed by billionaire George Soros quietly donated $140 million to political causes in 2021 - CNBC
OUTRAGE: Glenn Youngkin asks Virginia AG to investigate prestigious school that reportedly withheld merit awards from students - TheDailyBS
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Clip of the day:
BREAKING:
The Speaker Problem
Kevin McCarthy failed to secure the minimum votes needed to become Speaker of the House on three separate ballots yesterday afternoon thanks to 19 - then 20 -Republicans who refused to back the presumed front-runner. The 20 Republicans backed Jim Jordan on the third ballot who himself backed McCarthy.
Why this matters: The house is essentially paralyzed until after the speaker election. The families of new House members who traveled to DC to witness their swearing-in ceremony will continue to wait until after a successful election.
Has any progress been made? None. Matt Gaetz, Chip Roy, and Scott Perry presumably had an unsuccessful multi-hour meeting with McCarthy allies late last night per Politico.
What about the Democrats: Every House Democrat voted for Hakeem Jefferies on all three ballots.
What happens next: The fourth ballot will take place today shortly after 12 PM EST if the McCarthy team is unable to delay the vote.
The paragraph that matters from Politico:
After centrist Rep. DON BACON (R-Neb.) was quoted referring to the hard-right faction as the “Taliban 20,” Rep. MATT GAETZ (R-Fla.) shot back on Twitter: “Well….as hurtful and false as that is….I too am prepared for an extended battle that I will ultimately win.”
Other McCarthy headlines:
Axios: Cash can't buy McCarthy speakership
POLITICO: After Another Failed Vote, McCarthy’s Speaker Bid Is Starting to Look Pathetic
POLITICO: 3 strikes for McCarthy — but he's not out yet
POLITICO: Meet the 20 rebels bucking McCarthy’s bid
Washington Examiner: Karl Rove: House speaker saga is an 'unmitigated disaster' for Republicans
Business Insider: Matt Gaetz is accusing Kevin McCarthy of squatting in the speaker's office before he's even got the job
Trump doubled down on McCarthy this morning:
