The GOP's divisions are now on full display after Democrats won control of the Senate in a midterm election that didn't produce a predicted red wave. In the Republican conference, speaking truth to power means challenging Republican leadership and showing that you're willing to sort of fight the leadership to the last for the issues that you care about. So if the defense bill passes without the amendments, as we hear, it's likely to. It's not necessarily a big loss or an embarrassment for Republicans who pushed for them.
The defense bill is the latest piece of legislation to be weaponized by the far-right Freedom Caucus. It’s also the latest test for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
This episode was produced by Miles Bryan and Jon Ehrens, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard with help from Serena Solin, engineered by Patrick Boyd with help from Michael Raphael, and hosted by Noel King.
Transcript at vox.com/todayexplained
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