The Nation Podcasts
The GOP Congressional Clown Show | Time of Monsters with Jeet Heer
Oct 8, 2023
Chris Lehmann, D.C. Bureau Chief for The Nation, discusses the history of GOP's empowering extremists in congress, focusing on Newt Gingrich and the Tea Party. The podcast also explores recent events in Congress, including Kevin McCarthy's downfall as House Speaker and the Republican Party's shifting foreign policy. It delves into the challenges faced by Republican caucus leaders and the dynamics between Republican and Democratic leadership in Washington DC.
23:56
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Quick takeaways
- Kevin McCarthy's downfall as Speaker of the House was the result of appeasing the hard-right faction, which backfired and resulted in him losing support from his own caucus.
- The chaos within the Republican caucus highlights the party's inability to effectively govern, especially with regards to budget showdowns, shutdowns, and foreign policy decisions, raising concerns about their ability to address important issues like funding for Ukraine.
Deep dives
The Downfall of Kevin McCarthy's Speakership
Kevin McCarthy's downfall as Speaker of the House was the result of seeds planted in his rise to power. McCarthy had to appease the hard-right forces in his own caucus to secure the speakership, giving them concessions including the restoration of the motion to vacate the speakership. In a surprising turn of events, Matt Gaetz, one of the ringleaders of the revolt against McCarthy, proceeded to call a vote to vacate McCarthy's speakership. McCarthy's attempts to appease the hard-right faction backfired, and he was unable to corral his own caucus, resulting in the motion to vacate receiving bipartisan support.
