House Republican Update

House Republicans are still meeting in private but it’s increasingly clear from their public comments that they can’t pass any plan to let Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) be a temporary acting Speaker with just Republican votes.

CNN reports things are getting heated. At one point, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was told to sit down by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and refused, then Rep. Michael Bost (R-IL) “got all emotional” and “was cussing at him” and “telling him it’s all his fault.”

Other Republicans stood up and expressed fury over Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) for backing the empowering McHenry resolution, and suggested it was a self-serving move. Some members encouraged him to drop out of speaker’s race.

Playbook: “On Day 17 without an elected speaker, House Republicans appear to be no closer to figuring things out. In fact, they appear to be exploring entirely new frontiers of dysfunction.”