EMBARRASSING First Week of 2023 for Republicans

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We hope your new year started better than Kevin McCarthy’s. This week, the 118th United States Congress tried to begin session, with Congressional Representatives and Senators new and old returning to Washington, supposedly to be sworn in and go through orientation. While Senators were able to begin their session without issue by electing Senator Chuck Schumer as Senate Majority Leader, it was a much different story in the other chamber.

In the House, voting for the Speaker is the first thing you do, and nothing really begins until that piece is out of the way. Once a Speaker is chosen, they will then create rules for that Congress, and then the levers of Congressional power begin moving. This Congress was different. Instead of electing Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R), who had been the House Minority Leader, as Majority Leader, 19 Republicans defected and voted for other candidates. Then, on vote number three on Monday evening, 20 Republicans defected and voted against McCarthy.

As of Wednesday night, the House has voted six times for Speaker. Each time, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D), received 212 votes, and McCarthy remained more than a dozen votes away from victory. It’s not totally clear what will happen during the rest of the week, but we could see a different Republican selected as a compromise candidate, McCarthy could cave to all the demands and be elected, moderate Republicans (if they exist) could choose a compromise candidate with Democrats to keep the extremists out of power, or Democrats (!) could end up with the gavel (it’s complicated but indeed possible). Regardless of what happens, it’s been fun to watch.

Chloé Hilliard is a comedian, TV writer, and awardwinning author. Her latest book is F*ck Your DietFollow her on Twitter

Naveed Shah is the Political Director of Common Defense, the nation's largest grassroots membership organization of Progressive Veterans. Follow Naveed on Twitter

Recorded January 3rd, 2023

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Thanks to Paige Omek, Alexandra Ornes, and Max Inhoff

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