Martin Luther nailed his theses to a church door. Matt Gaetz displayed his in the men’s room.
Specifically, the congressman (or somebody) left a draft of his “Motion to Vacate” on a baby changing table in a restroom downstairs from the House chamber, where it was found by journalist Matt Laslo. “H. Res. __,” it began. “Resolved, that the Office of Speaker of the House of Representatives is hereby declared to be vacant.”
But Gaetz (R-Fla.) doesn’t need a resolution to “vacate the chair,” as a motion to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker is called. For all practical purposes, the chair is already vacant.
It should have been obvious to all this week, if it wasn’t already, that McCarthy (R-Calif.) is speaker in name only, as his leaderless Republican caucus stumbles toward a government shutdown. Review some of the labels House Republicans hurled at each other over the last few days:
“Clown show.” “Clowns.” “Foolishness.” “Weak.” “Terribly misguided.” “Selective amnesia.” “Stupidity.” “Failure to lead.” “Lunatics.” “Disgraceful.” “New low.” “Enabling Chairman Xi.” “People that have serious issues.” “Pathetic.”
Amid the epithets, Republicans brought the House to another standstill. For the second time in as many weeks, hard-liners blocked the House from even considering a bill to fund the troops. Two days later, they blocked it for a third time. They also forced party leaders to pull from the floor their plan to avert a shutdown — a plan that would do nothing to avert a shutdown even if it passed.
Walking into yet another grievance-airing session among House Republicans this week in the House basement, first-term Rep. Richard McCormick (Ga.) remarked to a colleague: “I think we should call this the Dance of the Dragons.” That was a “Game of Thrones” reference to a civil war in which (spoiler alert) both of the aspirants to the Targaryen throne died, along with several of their children and most of the dragons. McCormick later developed the metaphor for me: “We have a lot of powerful people in one room who are ferocious,” he explained in part, and “it’s going to get even uglier.”
McCarthy allies put their best gloss on the chaos in their caucus. “It’s a bottom-up approach,” Rep. Patrick McHenry (N.C.) explained to a group of reporters. “It’s messy from time to time, out in the public a lot. That’s what this Congress has shown us.”
The speaker tried to resolve the latest standoff with another of his trademark surrenders to the far right’s demands — accepting spending levels that renege on the deal he negotiated with President Biden just months ago while also blocking disaster relief funds and military aid to Ukraine. Even if this somehow clears the House, the Senate would, on a bipartisan basis, restore spending to the previously agreed levels while adding the disaster and Ukraine funds.
House Republicans would then again be deadlocked, just days before an Oct. 1 shutdown. At that point, McCarthy would face a choice: Cut a deal with Democrats to keep the government running — and thereby risk a motion to vacate the chair. Or give the far-right saboteurs the shutdown they desire — and thereby prove beyond a doubt that the speakership is already vacant.
Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) spoke of McCarthy with pity: “We’re pulling for the speaker and hoping we can move forward.”
The week began with hopes that a compromise brokered by far-right and moderate Republicans (McCarthy, with his “bottom-up” leadership style, sat out the negotiations). But that deal, announced on Sunday night, was dead by Tuesday morning, after several hard-liners rejected it.
Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) took direct aim at the “weak speaker,” posting on social media: “Unfortunately, real leadership takes courage and willingness to fight for the country, not for power and a picture on the wall.”
McCarthy offered a petty response, criticizing Spartz for “quitting” and not seeking reelection.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for him to go personal like that,” Spartz told a few of us, joking that she might change her mind about retiring to spite McCarthy.
Gaetz condemned McCarthy’s “disgraceful” remark about Spartz, saying “Kevin would never understand subjugating ambition for anything, or anyone.”
Asked by reporters about Gaetz’s attacks, McCarthy responded with ridicule: “Oh my God, I’m going to lose the speakership because somebody tweeted about me.”
Outside the Republican caucus meeting on Tuesday, right-wingers were squabbling with one another.
Gaetz said he was building “a large enough coalition to defeat the Donalds continuing resolution,” a bid by Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) to keep the government open at a reduced spending level — but not reduced enough for Gaetz.
Donalds, who like Gaetz is considering a 2026 run for Florida governor, responded, “I don’t care about that foolishness.”
Gaetz said his “friend” Donalds was “terribly misguided” and called the Donalds plan a “surrender” to Biden.
Specifically, the congressman (or somebody) left a draft of his “Motion to Vacate” on a baby changing table in a restroom downstairs from the House chamber, where it was found by journalist Matt Laslo. “H. Res. __,” it began. “Resolved, that the Office of Speaker of the House of Representatives is hereby declared to be vacant.”
But Gaetz (R-Fla.) doesn’t need a resolution to “vacate the chair,” as a motion to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker is called. For all practical purposes, the chair is already vacant.
It should have been obvious to all this week, if it wasn’t already, that McCarthy (R-Calif.) is speaker in name only, as his leaderless Republican caucus stumbles toward a government shutdown. Review some of the labels House Republicans hurled at each other over the last few days:
“Clown show.” “Clowns.” “Foolishness.” “Weak.” “Terribly misguided.” “Selective amnesia.” “Stupidity.” “Failure to lead.” “Lunatics.” “Disgraceful.” “New low.” “Enabling Chairman Xi.” “People that have serious issues.” “Pathetic.”
Amid the epithets, Republicans brought the House to another standstill. For the second time in as many weeks, hard-liners blocked the House from even considering a bill to fund the troops. Two days later, they blocked it for a third time. They also forced party leaders to pull from the floor their plan to avert a shutdown — a plan that would do nothing to avert a shutdown even if it passed.
Walking into yet another grievance-airing session among House Republicans this week in the House basement, first-term Rep. Richard McCormick (Ga.) remarked to a colleague: “I think we should call this the Dance of the Dragons.” That was a “Game of Thrones” reference to a civil war in which (spoiler alert) both of the aspirants to the Targaryen throne died, along with several of their children and most of the dragons. McCormick later developed the metaphor for me: “We have a lot of powerful people in one room who are ferocious,” he explained in part, and “it’s going to get even uglier.”
McCarthy allies put their best gloss on the chaos in their caucus. “It’s a bottom-up approach,” Rep. Patrick McHenry (N.C.) explained to a group of reporters. “It’s messy from time to time, out in the public a lot. That’s what this Congress has shown us.”
The speaker tried to resolve the latest standoff with another of his trademark surrenders to the far right’s demands — accepting spending levels that renege on the deal he negotiated with President Biden just months ago while also blocking disaster relief funds and military aid to Ukraine. Even if this somehow clears the House, the Senate would, on a bipartisan basis, restore spending to the previously agreed levels while adding the disaster and Ukraine funds.
House Republicans would then again be deadlocked, just days before an Oct. 1 shutdown. At that point, McCarthy would face a choice: Cut a deal with Democrats to keep the government running — and thereby risk a motion to vacate the chair. Or give the far-right saboteurs the shutdown they desire — and thereby prove beyond a doubt that the speakership is already vacant.
Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) spoke of McCarthy with pity: “We’re pulling for the speaker and hoping we can move forward.”
The week began with hopes that a compromise brokered by far-right and moderate Republicans (McCarthy, with his “bottom-up” leadership style, sat out the negotiations). But that deal, announced on Sunday night, was dead by Tuesday morning, after several hard-liners rejected it.
Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) took direct aim at the “weak speaker,” posting on social media: “Unfortunately, real leadership takes courage and willingness to fight for the country, not for power and a picture on the wall.”
McCarthy offered a petty response, criticizing Spartz for “quitting” and not seeking reelection.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for him to go personal like that,” Spartz told a few of us, joking that she might change her mind about retiring to spite McCarthy.
Gaetz condemned McCarthy’s “disgraceful” remark about Spartz, saying “Kevin would never understand subjugating ambition for anything, or anyone.”
Asked by reporters about Gaetz’s attacks, McCarthy responded with ridicule: “Oh my God, I’m going to lose the speakership because somebody tweeted about me.”
Outside the Republican caucus meeting on Tuesday, right-wingers were squabbling with one another.
Gaetz said he was building “a large enough coalition to defeat the Donalds continuing resolution,” a bid by Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) to keep the government open at a reduced spending level — but not reduced enough for Gaetz.
Donalds, who like Gaetz is considering a 2026 run for Florida governor, responded, “I don’t care about that foolishness.”
Gaetz said his “friend” Donalds was “terribly misguided” and called the Donalds plan a “surrender” to Biden.