House Minority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kevin-mccarthy">Kevin McCarthy</a> (R-CA) vowed again on Sunday to remove Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) from the House Intelligence Committee if he once again becomes Speaker of the House.
McCarthy shared the remarks during an interview on Fox News&#8217; &#8220;Sunday Morning Futures&#8221; with Maria Bartiromo.
&#8220;Another change you’re going to get, Adam Schiff will no longer be on the Intel Committee when I become speaker. I promised that more than two years ago,” McCarthy <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6316569692112" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.
“[Democrats] also used the intel community as well to lie to the American public. Should those people keep their clearances? Should those people still be allowed to have information? If they’re going to be political individuals, then, no, they should not. And this is just the tip of the iceberg of what we need to investigate going forward,” he added.
McCarthy has called for Schiff to leave his role as the Chairman of the Intelligence Committee since 2019 over his involvement in pushing evidence of former President Donald Trump&#8217;s alleged collisions with a Russian bank.
In addition to Schiff, the Republican leader has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/if-gop-wins-house-kevin-mccarthy-has-a-list-of-democrats-hell-axe-from-committees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> he&#8217;ll remove Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from their committee posts.
McCarthy attempted to first remove Swalwell from committee leadership last year over the congressman&#8217;s &#8220;years-long relationship with a suspected Chinese spy. The resolution failed along party lines.
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I have filed a resolution to remove Rep. Eric Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee.
Swalwell engaged in a years-long relationship with a suspected Chinese spy, and his conduct makes clear he has no place serving on the committee in charge of America&#39;s top secrets. <a href="https://t.co/8Tb9TOh976">pic.twitter.com/8Tb9TOh976</a>
&mdash; Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPLeader/status/1372535072650358788?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The Minority Leader&#8217;s criticism of Omar focused on her ongoing antisemitism and anti-American views. Omar pushed back on McCarthy&#8217;s comments last month over her role.
“From the moment I was elected, the Republican Party has made it their mission to use fear, xenophobia, Islamophobia and racism to target me on the House Floor and through millions of dollars of campaign ads,” Omar said in a <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/politics/omar-fires-back-after-mccarthy-vows-to-remove-her-from-committees/ar-AA14mXZu?rc=1&amp;ocid=winp1taskbar&amp;cvid=b8ab5041ddc54e0a9c4a9e47c9bcedc4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
“Whether it is Marjorie Taylor Greene holding a gun next to my head in campaign ads or Donald Trump threatening to ‘send me back’ to my country (despite the fact that I have been a proud citizen of the United States for more than 20 years), this constant stream of hate has led to hundreds of death threats and credible plots against me and my family,” she added.
McCarthy also addressed the ongoing controversy about the military&#8217;s Covid-19 vaccine mandate during Sunday&#8217;s interview.
&#8220;The vaccine mandate for the military will be lifted in the NDAA. Otherwise, the bill will not move. I&#8217;ve been very clear with the President on this,&#8221; he said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/GOPLeader?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GOPLeader</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/MariaBartiromo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MariaBartiromo</a> this morning on <a href="https://twitter.com/SundayFutures?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SundayFutures</a> : 
&quot;The vaccine mandate for the military will be lifted in the NDAA. Otherwise, the bill will not move. I&#39;ve been very clear with the President on this.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/7qCMni2C6V">pic.twitter.com/7qCMni2C6V</a>
&mdash; SundayMorningFutures (@SundayFutures) <a href="https://twitter.com/SundayFutures/status/1599451327053975552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Despite McCarthy&#8217;s promises, he must first be reelected as Speaker of the House. He won his party&#8217;s nomination, but 31 Republicans opposed him in the vote.
The former Majority Leader will need at least 218 votes when the House returns in January. With the slim Republican advantage, it&#8217;s not yet certain he will return to his role held during the Trump administration.
At least five GOP House leaders have stated they will publicly oppose his return to the role, including Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs, who recently launched his own challenge to become the next House Speaker.

Kevin McCarthy

Kevin McCarthy Vows To Remove Adam Schiff From Intel Committee

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) spoke out against former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Donald Trump&#8217;s</a> recent meeting with known anti-Semites, including one who is a Holocaust denier.
The remarks from the two leaders come after Trump hosted rapper Kanye &#8220;Ye&#8221; West, who has gone on multiple anti-Semitic tirades in recent months, last week for dinner at Mar-a-Lago. West brought <a href="https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1196604409607794688" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1196604409607794688&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1669487223000000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3G1yjarbpmc95ag2rvj4O9">white supremacist and Holocaust denier</a> Nick Fuentes to the meeting and, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-meets-with-white-supremacist-and-holocaust-denier-nick-fuentes-trump-denies-knowing-him" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to West</a>, Trump was “really impressed with Nick Fuentes.”
Trump has since issued several statements on the matter, claiming that he did not know who Fuentes was at the time, but he did not condemn Fuentes&#8217; views, which the media has asked Republicans about in recent days.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t think anybody should be spending any time with Nick Fuentes,&#8221; McCarthy said in giving a forceful denouncement of Fuentes. &#8220;He has no place in this Republican Party.&#8221;
McCarthy noted the multiple statements that Trump has released on the matter and mistakenly said that Trump had condemned Fuentes&#8217; views.
When a reporter had pointed out that Trump has not condemned Fuentes&#8217; views, McCarthy responded, &#8220;Well I condemn his ideology, it has no place in society at all.&#8221;
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“I don’t think anybody should be spending any time with Nick Fuentes. He has no place in this Republican Party…I condemn his ideology,” House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy says after former Pres. Trump’s dinner with the white nationalist. <a href="https://t.co/fh40NHXrBU">https://t.co/fh40NHXrBU</a> <a href="https://t.co/kvcfVsp0CM">pic.twitter.com/kvcfVsp0CM</a>
&mdash; ABC News (@ABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1597639842472534018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
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McConnell responded to the dinner by telling the media Tuesday afternoon, &#8220;There is no room in the Republican Party for antisemitism or white supremacy.&#8221;
&#8220;And anyone meeting with people advocating that point of view, in my judgment, are highly unlikely to ever be elected president of the United States,&#8221; McConnell added.
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McConnell also wouldn&#39;t say whether he would support Donald Trump if the former president wins the Republican nomination in 2024. <a href="https://t.co/chpNbAZMn4">https://t.co/chpNbAZMn4</a>
&mdash; POLITICO (@politico) <a href="https://twitter.com/politico/status/1597711737897172992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Trump responded to McConnell&#8217;s remarks in an interview with Fox News by calling him &#8220;a loser for our nation and for the Republican Party.&#8221;
&#8220;I had never heard of the man — I had no idea what his views were, and they weren’t expressed at the table in our very quick dinner, or it wouldn&#8217;t have been accepted,&#8221; Trump said.
Trump said Democrats should &#8220;condemn Antifa.&#8221;
While Trump <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-fires-back-loser-mcconnell-says-fuentes-views-werent-expressed-wouldnt-have-been-accepted" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that he wouldn&#8217;t have &#8220;accepted&#8221; Fuentes&#8217; views, he did not explicitly condemn his views anywhere in the article and it&#8217;s not clear based on the article whether he was even asked if he condemned Fuentes&#8217; views.
Trump did, however, tout his strong pro-Israel policies during his time as president.
&#8220;Nobody has to prove or be defensive of me and Israel,&#8221; Trump told said. &#8220;They have acknowledged that I’m the best friend and president to Israel. I gave them the embassy in Jerusalem.&#8221;
&#8220;From the historic Abraham Accords bringing peace to the Middle East, withdrawal from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal, appointing a special envoy to combat the scourge of antisemitism, moving the American embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing Israeli sovereignty in the Golan Heights, President Trump always has been and continues to be the closest friend and ally to the Jewish people and the state of Israel,&#8221; a Trump adviser added.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pence-calls-on-trump-to-apologize-for-dining-with-holocaust-denier-at-mar-a-lago" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pence Calls On Trump To ‘Apologize For’ Dining With Holocaust Denier At Mar-A-Lago</a>

US-POLITICS-CONGRESS-BIDEN

Top Republican Party Leaders Speak Out About Trump’s Meeting With Holocaust Denier

Top Republican Party Leaders Speak Out About Trump's Meeting With Holocaust Denier

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Politics

This article is a companion piece to today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
Biden Calls On Congress
On Tuesday, Congressional Democrats and Republicans <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/union-allies-turn-on-pro-labor-biden-for-trying-to-prevent-looming-rail-strike" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pledged</a> to pass legislation to avoid a nationwide rail strike at the behest of President Biden. A strike would disrupt shipping and would likely lead to delays in Christmas gift delivery. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) vowed to move quickly, saying, “Tomorrow morning we will have a bill on the floor.&#8221;
McCarthy Makes Demands
President Biden met with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Tuesday at the White House to discuss his plans for the remainder of the year, as well as to go over upcoming government funding legislation. McCarthy explained to the press what was discussed.
&#8220;What I explained to all of them is that I can work with anyone who&#8217;s willing to work to get our spending under control, to work to make America energy independent, to secure our borders&#8230;&#8221; McCarthy said.
&#8220;If they don&#8217;t want to work with us, we can get this work done in January,&#8221; he added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/GOPLeader?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GOPLeader</a> on meeting with President Biden: &quot;What I explained to all of them is that I can work with anyone who&#39;s willing to work to get our spending under control, to work to make America energy independent, to secure our borders.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/vAhmfVF6Yf">pic.twitter.com/vAhmfVF6Yf</a>
&mdash; The Hill (@thehill) <a href="https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1597700930274631680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Chinese Protests Continue
As an update to our Tuesday Morning Wire podcast, Chinese universities sent students home and police took preventative steps to curb protests Tuesday after crowds angered by severe anti-virus restrictions called for leader Xi Jinping to resign.
A new <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pornography-escort-service-advertisement-bots-flood-twitter-feeds-preventing-chinese-citizens-from-accessing-covid-protest-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> indicates that search results of current widespread protests opposing oppressive COVID lockdown measures in major cities across China have been drowned out by Chinese bots advertising pornography, escort services, and gambling.
Record Voting In Georgia Continues
Georgia broke another voting <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/georgia-sets-new-single-day-early-voting-record-in-senate-runoff" target="_blank" rel="noopener">record Monday</a>, as more than 239,000 early voters came out to the polls in a single day to cast their ballots in the 2022 Senate runoff election between incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and GOP challenger Herschel Walker. The previous early voting record was just over 233,000 votes in 2018.
“Father Stu” Returns To Theaters
Hollywood actor and producer Mark Wahlberg and Sony studios <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mark-wahlberg-sony-re-releasing-pg-13-version-of-father-stu-in-theaters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">are re-releasing in theaters a new PG-13 version</a> of Father Stu, a film about an ex-boxer turned Catholic priest after a horrendous auto injury. The film premiered earlier this year with an R-rating. Wahlberg recently explained why it will be re-released.
&#8220;Well, given the nature of the R-Rated movie, lots of families didn’t feel comfortable with their children seeing it, but they really wanted them to get the message,&#8221; Wahlberg told Fox News. &#8220;So because the Archbishop Thomas of Nevada — who actually ordained Father Stu in Helena, Montana, came to me and said, &#8216;Mark, I understand why the language is there but it would be a sin and a shame for young people not to see this movie and to really understand the importance of this story.’”
&#8220;So we wanted to make sure that we would share that with children of all ages,&#8221; he added.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Mark Wahlberg: I want this movie to help people regain their faith" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-gz0N4tbhwc?start=234&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The Netherlands Plan To Buy And Shut Down Farms 
In international news, the government of The Netherlands <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/energy-environment/netherlands-buy-out-and-close-farms-meet-climate-goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> it could soon buy and close down nearly 3,000 farms in Holland in order to comply with European environmental regulations. The Netherlands is attempting to cut down its nitrogen pollution and will push ahead with compulsory purchases if not enough farms take up the offer voluntarily.
Biden&#8217;s Non-Binary Nuke Officer Charged With Felony Theft
Sam Brinton, a Deputy Assistant Secretary for a division of the U.S. Department of Energy, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gender-fluid-biden-admin-employee-charged-with-stealing-womans-luggage-at-minneapolis-airport-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly charged</a> with a felony last month after allegedly stealing a woman’s suitcase from the baggage claim area at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Surveillance video shows Brinton removing the luggage tag from a navy blue Vera Bradley suitcase bag, dropping it into a handbag, and then leaving the area “at a quick pace” on September 16, 2022, according to a criminal complaint. Brinton made headlines for being one of the Energy Department’s first self-identified non-binary employees.
Rep. Donald McEachin (D-VA) Dies
Rep. Donald McEachin (D-VA) died Monday night after battling cancer for many years, according to a statement from his office. He was 61.
To listen to the audio version of this podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.

TUESDAY

Tuesday Afternoon Update: Biden Calls On Congress To Prevent Rail Strike, ‘Father Stu’ Returns, And More

Tuesday Afternoon Update: Biden Calls On Congress To Prevent Rail Strike, 'Father Stu' Returns, And More

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Although the 2022 midterm elections were weeks ago, the makeup of the U.S. House is still not fully set. Republicans have won at least 220 seats &#8212; enough to gain control of the chamber &#8212; while Democrats have won 213. Two races have yet to be called, but some politicos think the final makeup will be 222-213.
Whatever it is in the end, the extremely small margin for the GOP will mean various coalitions and caucuses and cliques will have expanded power to make their voices heard &#8212; and to kill bills they don&#8217;t like. Already, there is much jockeying among the groups.
The conservative House Freedom Caucus has made numerous moves to be a central power broker among the GOP. The caucus, made up of 30-40 Republicans, earlier this week sent potential new members a 55-page &#8220;Road Map&#8221; for the party, with a slew of proposed rule changes, many of which sought to reduce the power of party leaders.
But Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who appears set to take over as Speaker of the House, is not a caucus member and apparently not much of a fan. Last week, the House Republican leadership shot down six of the eight rule changes that have been proposed.
&#8220;The amendments that failed included a requirement that spending bills must pass before the fiscal year officially begins on Oct. 1,&#8221; Just The News <a href="https://justthenews.com/government/congress/house-gop-leadership-rejects-6-out-8-rules-changes-sought-conservatives-more-be?utm_source=daily&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter?utm_source=referral&amp;utm_medium=offthepress&amp;utm_campaign=home">reported</a>. &#8220;If not, other legislation would not be able to be considered on the floor. An amendment that would ensure all members of the Republican Conference are able to participate in conference meetings was rejected.&#8221;
Another rule that didn&#8217;t pass muster with House GOP leadership was an amendment that would have allowed committee members to elect their own chairmen rather than leadership appointing them.
Other cliques are also looking for their share of the pie. One, known as the Problem Solvers&#8217; Caucus, pledges to be a centrist band that can help the GOP win battles in the House but will look for bipartisan support from Democrats.
&#8220;Last week, the co-leaders of the Problem Solvers’ caucus, Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), met for dinner to talk about changes that could unify and empower the 50 or so members of their group,&#8221; Politico <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/huddle/2022/11/21/moderates-plot-power-moves-00069686">reported</a>. &#8220;One option on the table: only endorsing bills that have both Republican and Democratic co-sponsors when introduced.&#8221;
“We just want to make the group more accountable &#8230; I mean, the whole point of our group is to stick together on the floor when we endorse bills,” Fitzpatrick told the liberal political site.
Already, the Problem Solvers are turning heads, with members of the Freedom Caucus and even Senate Democrats looking to make friends.
Then there&#8217;s the Main Street Caucus, which touts itself on Twitter as &#8220;the 2nd largest Caucus of Republicans in the House,&#8221; adding that its top priorities are &#8220;implementing pro-growth policies for small business owners, fostering economic and individual prosperity [and] delivering results for the American people.&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;s time we flex our muscles,&#8221; Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), co-leader of the Main Street Caucus, said, <a href="https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/republicans-factions-centrists/2022/11/21/id/1097412/">according</a> to Newsmax.
McCarthy will likely need support from the groups to be effective &#8212; and he knows it.
&#8220;Kevin’s not stupid,&#8221; said Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH), who leads another centrist caucus, the Republican Governance Group. &#8220;He’s trying to add to his numbers, not destroy his base. And so I count on his political acumen to know what&#8217;s acceptable to the rank and file inside the conference.&#8221;
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
Joseph Curl has covered politics for 35 years, including 12 years as White House correspondent for a national newspaper. He was also the a.m. editor of the Drudge Report for four years. Send tips to josephcurl@dailywire.com and follow him on Twitter @josephcurl.

Caucuses Within GOP Scramble To Get Their Share Of Power In House Takeover

Caucuses Within Republican Party Scramble To Get Their Share Of Power In House Takeover

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Freedom Caucus

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Politico

This article is a companion piece to today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire/wednesday-afternoon-update-11-23-22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
Colorado Shooting Suspect Identifies As &#8220;Nonbinary,&#8221; Attorneys Say
The lawyers for the suspect in the mass shooting at a Colorado Springs LGBT nightclub <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/colorado-shooter-identifies-as-non-binary-uses-they-them-pronouns-court-documents" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claim</a> the suspect is nonbinary and uses the pronouns “they/them.” In a court filing Tuesday, the suspect’s public defenders specified their client’s nonbinary status and used the plural pronouns throughout the document.
Walmart Mass Shooting In Chesapeake, VA
In another tragic incident, a disgruntled Walmart employee <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breakroom-bloodbath-virginia-walmart-manager-guns-down-6-in-late-night-rampage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">opened fire</a> on his colleagues in the break room on Tuesday evening in Chesapeake, Virginia, killing six people before turning the gun on himself, according to police.
Rail Workers Strike Looming
Rail worker unions are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rail-strike-threat-returns-as-union-group-rejects-latest-offer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatening</a> to strike again, in a move that could trigger a shutdown that would cost the U.S. economy an estimated $2 billion per day.
In a statement earlier this month, the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way employees said, “This is the railroads’ last chance to do the right thing by voluntarily agreeing to provide paid sick leave to all employees.”
The union is requesting one penny on every dollar of profit to be directed toward paid sick leave for workers. If the demand is not met, the statement warns that the railroads “will be responsible for the imposition of a shutdown of their operations and the economic harms to its customers, the country’s economic supply chain, and the entire U.S. economy.”
Republicans Call On Biden&#8217;s DHS Chief To Resign
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dereliction-of-duty-mccarthy-threatens-dhs-chief-with-investigations-potential-impeachment-if-he-doesnt-resign" target="_blank" rel="noopener">calling</a> on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to resign or face Congressional investigations over his mishandling of the border crisis. McCarthy made the threat Tuesday from El Paso, one of the cities most directly impacted by the border crisis.
“His actions have produced the great wave of illegal immigration in recorded history,&#8221; McCarthy said. &#8220;This is why today I am calling on the secretary to resign. He cannot and must not remain in that position. If Secretary Mayorkas does not resign, House Republicans will investigate every order, every action, and every failure to determine whether we can begin an impeachment inquiry. The American public deserves more, deserves better, and expects more within their government. Enough is enough. We will do whatever it takes.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Kevin McCarthy Calls for Resignation of Secretary Mayorkas" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xou3C1WTVbo?start=435&#038;feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
San Francisco Elections Commissioner Allegedly Loses Job For Being White
The San Francisco Elections commission decided not to renew 20-year director John Arntz as director reportedly because he is white. In an email sent to Arntz Monday, the commission’s president <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/san-francisco-boot-election-director-183901405.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>, “Our decision wasn’t about your performance, but after twenty years we wanted to take action on the City’s racial equity plan and give people an opportunity to compete for a leadership position.”
The move reportedly sparked “astonishment and criticism” from Arntz and Mayor London Breed, who herself has pushed for “racial equity” policies.
Apple Workers Protest In China
A protest broke out at Apple Inc.’s main iPhone-production plant in China early <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/violent-protests-take-place-iphone-factory-china-rcna58559" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wednesday morning</a>. Hundreds of workers reportedly upset over unpaid wages and COVID policies at the plant pushed through barricades and passed security guards, who in turn reportedly beat the protesters. Anti-riot police converged on the scene and several of the workers were injured.
TD Bank Gave $500,000 For Childhood Sex Change Surgeries
Canadian financial corporation TD Bank <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/td-bank-quietly-donated-500000-to-gender-affirming-procedures-for-minors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">donated</a> half a million dollars through Canada’s Children’s Hospital Foundations to support “gender transitions” for children through the McMaster Pediatric Gender Diversity Program. The program provides medical and mental health services for “trans and gender diverse youth” at the McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario.
Balenciaga Apologizes For Teddy Bear Bondage Photo Shoot
French fashion brand Balenciaga <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/balenciaga-apologizes-for-advertisement-showcasing-minors-holding-bdsm-teddy-bear-purses" target="_blank" rel="noopener">apologized</a> Tuesday after facing backlash over a recent advertisement that featured young children holding teddy bear purses dressed in bondage attire. In response to the blowback, Balenciaga said, “We sincerely apologize for any offense our holiday campaign may have caused. Our plush bear bags should not have been featured with children in this campaign. We have immediately removed the campaign from all platforms.”
Scotland&#8217;s Independence Struck Down In Court
Scotland’s <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/scottish-independence-after-supreme-court-defeat-can-sturgeon-hold-new-2022-11-23/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest attempt</a> to break away from the United Kingdom was struck down in court on Wednesday. The U.K. Supreme Court ruled that Scotland would need to obtain consent from the British government in order to hold a new referendum on independence.
Majority Of Recent COVID Deaths Have Been Vaccinated Or Boosted, Report Claims
According to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-vaccinated-now-make-up-majority-of-covid-deaths" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Washington Post</a>, 58% of coronavirus deaths in August were people who were vaccinated or boosted. The data marks the first time that more vaccinated people than unvaccinated have died from the virus — highlighting that the COVID jabs lose efficacy over time.
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Wednesday Afternoon Update: Pandemic Of The Vaccinated?, Potential Rail Strike, Fashion Company Apologizes For Teddy Bear Bondage

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House Minority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kevin-mccarthy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kevin McCarthy</a> (R-CA) said Tuesday that the incoming GOP House majority will investigate and potentially impeach Homeland Security Secretary <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/alejandro-mayorkas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alejandro Mayorkas</a> over his handling of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/southern-border" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. southern border</a>.
McCarthy made the pledge in a press conference after leading a contingent of Republican House members in a visit to the U.S. southern border near El Paso, Texas. McCarthy is expected to become House speaker next year provided he can overcome internal resistance from conservative members of the House.
“[Mayorkas’s] actions have produced the greatest wave of illegal immigration in recorded history. Our country may never recover from Secretary Mayorkas’ dereliction of duty,” McCarthy said. “This is why, today, I am calling on the secretary to resign. He cannot and must not remain in that position.”
“If Secretary Mayorkas does not resign, House Republicans will investigate every order, every action, and every failure will determine whether we can begin impeachment inquiry,” he continued. “If secretary Mayorkas was in charge of any company, he would have been fired by now for the failures of what he has caused.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Live: McCarthy visits with Border Patrol personnel" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iAn5cJBWR2U?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
President Joe Biden’s administration <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-border-commissioner-resigns-following-termination-threats-from-biden-officials" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forced out</a> U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Chris Magnus earlier this month over the unprecedented crisis at the southern border. Illegal immigration across the U.S. southern border has set multiple records since Biden took office nearly two years ago.
Immigration authorities have recorded record-shattering numbers of migrant encounters along the U.S. southern border the past two years. In fiscal year 2021, the Department of Homeland Security <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mayorkas-maintains-dhs-plan-title-42-end-despite-fears-new-migrant-wave-southern-border" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recorded</a> about 1.7 million migrant encounters. In fiscal year 2022, that number increased to 2.3 million encounters. Those numbers do not include hundreds of thousands of “gotaways,” migrants who were observed crossing, but could not be apprehended, who entered the U.S. since Biden took office.
In addition to total migration numbers, immigration authorities have also seen a jump in known and suspected terrorists attempting to enter the U.S. In fiscal year 2022, authorities <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/nearly-100-fbi-terror-watch-list-suspects-caught-southern-border" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested</a> 98 people on the FBI’s terror watch list attempting to enter the U.S. through its southern border. Two years ago in fiscal year 2019, that number was zero.
Communities along the border have also faced a constant humanitarian crisis as shelters, cities, and federal authorities attempt to process and house the flood of people entering the U.S. A recent court order forcing the Biden administration to scrap Title 42 in roughly a month has raised concerns that the humanitarian crisis may worsen. Title 42 allows CBP agents to expel migrants back to Mexico without processing over COVID concerns.

‘Dereliction Of Duty’: McCarthy Threatens DHS Chief With Investigations, Potential Impeachment If He Doesn’t Resign

Alejandro Mayorkas

Department of Homeland Security

Executive

Immigration

Southern Border

Texas

Former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/newt-gingrich-nancy-pelosi-set-precedent-top-dems-booted-committees">praised</a> Kevin McCarthy, who has the inside track to follow in his footsteps, for announcing his plan to oust hard-core leftist Democrats from key House committees if he wields the gavel next year.
Gingrich, the onetime Georgia congressman who ran the House from 1995-1999, told Fox News Monday that current Speaker Nancy Pelosi was the first to purge committees of lawmakers perceived as extreme. By declaring Ilhan Omar, D-MN, and California Democrats Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell unfit for committee roles, McCarthy is just following her lead, Gingrich said.
&#8220;I think Nancy Pelosi set the precedent,” said Gingrich, whose 1994 Contract with America led the GOP to a 54-seat gain and its first house majority in 40 years. “She did something that had never been done before and reached into the minority party to decide who could and could not serve on some committees.
&#8220;I think Kevin McCarthy is following her precedent,&#8221; Gingrich said. &#8220;So the Democrats have nothing to complain about because they started this dance and frankly, the three people he&#8217;s picked so totally deserve being kicked off committees.”
Pelosi and fellow House Democrats last year voted to remove Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, (R-GA), from the Education and Budget committees because of her prior statements on conspiracy theories including QAnon. Eleven Republicans went along with the vote, although other Republicans said Greene&#8217;s objectionable statements had preceded her election.
McCarthy, the current House Minority Leader, is poised to become Speaker after Republicans took a majority of House seats in last week&#8217;s midterm elections. He told Fox News on Sunday that he would bar Schiff, who spread disinformation about the Trump-Russia collusion hoax, and Swalwell, who allegedly had an affair with a Chinese spy, from serving on the House Intelligence Committee.
“Eric Swalwell cannot get a security clearance in the public sector. Why would we ever give him a security clearance in the secrets to America? So I will not allow him to be on Intel,” McCarthy said. “You have Adam Schiff, who had lied to the American public time and again. We will not allow him to be on the Intel Committee either.”
A day earlier, McCarthy had reiterated a previous vow not to allow Omar to serve on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, citing her past anti-Semitic statements in which she <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/ilhan-omar-us-unspeakable-atrocities-hamas-taliban" target="_blank" rel="noopener">compared the U.S. and Israel to the Taliban</a>.
&#8220;You know I made another promise to you last time,&#8221; said McCarthy, who spoke at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s 2022 leadership meeting in Las Vegas. &#8220;There was this congresswoman, Ilhan Omar. I remember what she said about me. I remember what she said about Israel. I remember what she said about the [U.S.-Israel] relationship. I remembered it so much, I promised you last year she would no longer be on foreign affairs. I’m keeping that promise.”
Gingrich said McCarthy is on solid ground keeping Democrats he considers untrustworthy off of key committees.
“Adam Schiff made a career out of lying to the American people while serving as chairman of the Intelligence Committee without any question, just plain, flat-out lying,&#8221; Gingrich said. &#8220;Swalwell has had a relationship with a Chinese communist; that&#8217;s unimaginable for somebody who&#8217;s going to have security clearance. And of course, Omar is a viciously anti-Israel, anti-Semitic orator who has consistently violated the norms of civilized behavior.”
“So I think those are three pretty good targets. And I commend Speaker-designate McCarthy for taking them head-on,” Gingrich added.

US-POLITICS-TRUMP

‘Three Pretty Good Targets’: Gingrich Champions McCarthy’s Planned Ouster Of Hard-Left Dems On House Committees

Gingrich Champions Ouster Of Hard-Left Dems On House Committees

House Democrats

Newt Gingrich

Republicans on Tuesday gained control of the House of Representatives, with <a href="https://results.decisiondeskhq.com/national/2022-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DecisionDeskHQ</a> ticking them up to the 218 mark that makes up a bare majority. The Senate will remain controlled by Democrats. But even without the Senate, House control means that conservatives can stop many of the excesses of Joe Biden’s administration — if they are willing to use their power, according to Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX).
Congress controls the “power of the purse” — the ability to allocate how much money the executive branch gets — and Democrats cannot enact their agenda without funding. “The border crisis, vaccine mandates, the 87,000 new IRS agents, the war on reliable energy, inflation — Republicans can frankly stop all of that if they’re willing to use the power of the purse,” Roy told The Daily Wire.
Each chamber produces its own budget, and if the House&#8217;s and Senate’s proposals are different, they are reconciled in a budget conference. But the Senate’s version is vulnerable to a filibuster if it doesn’t have 60 votes. On top of that, the president can veto bills, including budget bills, and those vetoes can only be overridden with a two-thirds majority of both the House and Senate.
All of that means that with a divided Congress, the outcome will come down to either negotiations or a game of chicken. If no compromise is reached, the agencies get no funding at all, triggering a government shutdown on October 1.
In the past, Republicans have compromised with Democrats to avoid such an outcome, afraid of the media blaming them for causing a government shutdown. But if Republicans want to win in 2024, a Republican-controlled House must insist on a conservative way of governing so that Americans can see the difference, Roy said. They should say, “we’ve proposed a full government funding &#8230; if you don’t want to sign that, Mr. President, then you are shutting down the government, not me,&#8221; he said.
In addition to controlling top-line budgets, appropriations can give money to agencies only on the condition that it be used for certain purposes. For example, when funding the Department of Homeland Security, Republicans could say the agency can only use its money for an approach that includes turning away or detaining every person it catches breaking the law, Roy added.
As a first order of business, Republicans will need to choose who will occupy key leadership slots. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), who previously challenged Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from the right for minority leader, said shortly before election night that this time, he was behind McCarthy. &#8220;The coach who gets you to the Super Bowl gets to coach the game,&#8221; he told The Daily Wire.
On Tuesday, McCarthy <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kevin-mccarthy-wins-gop-nomination-for-house-speaker-over-conservative-protests" target="_blank" rel="noopener">received</a> the votes, 188-31, from the House Republican conference to be nominated for speaker. Roy nominated Andy Biggs (R-Arizona) as an alternative.
The second order of business will be rolling back changes to the operations of the House of Representatives itself. Democrat Speaker Nancy Pelosi locked down the House buildings after the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/different-from-any-other-jail-in-america-a-january-6-prisoner-speaks-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener">January 6</a>, 2021 riot — blocking visitors unless they were escorted by staff, requiring congressmen to go through metal detectors, and replacing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/capitol-police-seek-to-hire-their-own-prosecutor-overseeing-allegations-against-congressmen-and-trespassers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Capitol Police</a> leadership with officials accused of overseeing the politicization of the agency. &#8220;Leader McCarthy has already indicated that the metal detectors are coming down, proxy voting is gone. It’s the people’s house,&#8221; Jordan said.
Republicans controlling the House also means they chair its committees, providing the ability to conduct oversight investigations complete with subpoena power. While in the minority, &#8220;We’ve written hundreds of letters &#8230; they give us the finger most of the time,&#8221; Jordan, a member of the House Oversight Committee who is expected to chair the House Judiciary Committee, told The Daily Wire.
Now, &#8220;we’re going to do our oversight in a way that’s consistent with the Constitution, but we’re going to be as aggressive as we possibly can because that’s what’s warranted in light of what we’ve discovered,&#8221; he said. He pointed to the politicization of law enforcement, including the FBI <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-issues-subpoenas-or-paid-visits-to-multiple-republican-lawmakers-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seizing the cell phone</a> of Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA). Rep. James Comer (R-KY) is expected to lead the House Oversight Committee, which could pursue investigations into Hunter Biden, among others. 
Before all that, Republicans need to ensure that House Democrats don’t slip through any surprises on their way out the door, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/border-airports-among-fastest-growing-in-u-s-could-suggest-scale-of-migrant-flights-in-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rep. Dan Bishop</a> (R-NC) said. “We also need to ensure that the outgoing Democrat Congress won’t be able to pass one final spending bill in this lame-duck session jammed with billions for their liberal priorities. Voters elected us to put a stop to the madness, and I’ll be fighting tooth and nail to stop this spending spree,” he told The Daily Wire.

House Minority Leader McCarthy Holds Weekly Press Conference

With Divided Congress, Game Of Chicken For How Aggressively Republicans Wield Power Of The Purse

With Divided Congress, Game Of Chicken Begins For How Aggressively Republicans Wield Power Of The Purse

2022 Election

2022 Midterms

Elections

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

House Minority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kevin-mccarthy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kevin McCarthy</a> won the GOP nomination to be the next speaker of the House on Tuesday, though a concerted effort by House conservatives to block McCarthy may force him to appeal to Democrats or bow out of the contest.
Texas Republican Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/chip-roy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chip Roy</a> nominated Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs, who chairs the House Freedom Caucus, to challenge McCarthy as head of the House <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/republican-party" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Republican</a> caucus. McCarthy <a href="https://twitter.com/emilybrooksnews/status/1592597453450383360">won</a> the contest in a 188-31 vote. McCarthy will need to secure at least 218 votes in January to become the next speaker of the House.
Biggs and Roy orchestrated the challenge as conservatives in the House tried to unseat McCarthy over the direction of the caucus and the results of the 2022 midterm election. The election results in which Republicans appear set to eke out a slim majority of about 220 seats disappointed and frustrated many Republicans. McCarthy has argued that Republicans need unity to solidify their likely small majority.
“It’s going to be a tight majority so everyone is going to have to work together,” McCarthy <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2022-11-15/mccarthy-taking-first-step-to-house-speaker-but-grind-ahead" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> late Monday after a meeting with House Republicans. “We’ll be successful as a team and we’ll be defeated as an individual if we don’t all work together.”
Despite losing, a Biggs&#8217; spokesman told The Daily Wire that the vote accomplished what the congressman and other House conservatives wanted. &#8220;We have leverage. Today showed McCarthy does not have enough GOP votes to win speaker still. Not even close,&#8221; Biggs spokesman Matthew Tragesser said.
Biggs first announced that he would challenge McCarthy for the top spot on Monday during an appearance on <a href="https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/andy-biggs-kevin-mccarthy-house/2022/11/14/id/1096384/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Newsmax</a>.
“I think the country wants a different direction from the House of Representatives,” Biggs said. “And it’s a new world, and, yes, I’m going to be nominated [Tuesday] for the position of speaker of the House.”
McCarthy aims to become the next speaker of the House with the expected Republican majority. Biggs&#8217; longshot challenge may spoil that, however, if his supporters refuse to back McCarthy. McCarthy has pledged not to seek additional votes from Democrats.
“Kevin has raised a lot of money and done a lot of things, but this is not just about Kevin,” Biggs continued. “I think it&#8217;s about institutional direction and trajectory.”
Roy <a href="https://twitter.com/chiproytx/status/1592228964759650306" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in a post on social media Monday: “Americans are demanding transformative change but Congress is too broken to provide that change. Our Speaker, whoever that is … must a) reject the status quo, lead on issues that matter to Americans, &amp; empower House members to fight for those issues.  4) No member currently has 218 &amp; there’ll be an alternative presented. This is bigger than any individual &#8211; it’s about the country.”
Allies of McCarthy have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-kevin-mccarthy-made-failed-bid-to-recruit-texas-dem-as-gop-tries-to-grab-slim-house-majority" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> been trying to recruit at least one moderate Democrat, Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar, to switch parties. Cuellar&#8217;s switch would strengthen Republicans&#8217; likely slim hold on the House. McCarthy has denied that those requests to Cuellar came at McCarthy&#8217;s behest.
“Anyone suggesting this is simply exercising in fan fiction,” McCarthy spokesman Mark Bednar said. “Leader McCarthy is going to be elected speaker by the current and newly-elected members of the House Republican Conference. Our efforts are exclusively focused on bringing our conference together and saving the country.”

Kevin McCarthy Wins GOP Nomination For House Speaker Over Conservative Protests

Andy Biggs

Chip Roy

Republicans

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) announced late Monday that he would challenge House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to become the next Speaker of the House.
The Arizona congressman shared his plan to seek the top House position during an interview on Newsmax.
“We have a new paradigm here, and I think the country wants a different direction from the House of Representatives. And it’s a new world, and, yes, I’m going to be nominated tomorrow to — to the position of Speaker of the House,” Biggs said during the <a href="https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/andy-biggs-kevin-mccarthy-house/2022/11/14/id/1096384/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a>.
“We’ll see if we can get the job done and the votes,” Biggs added. “It’s going to be tough. I mean, Kevin — Kevin has raised a lot of money and done a lot of things. But this is not just about Kevin. I think it’s about the institutional direction and trajectory.&#8221;
Biggs, the former chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, launched the bid following a lackluster performance by the GOP during last week&#8217;s midterm elections. The House is still expected to tip toward Republicans, but not with the sweeping &#8220;red wave&#8221; predicted by some ahead of Election Day.
The Daily Wire reached out to the office of Rep. Biggs on Tuesday. No formal statement has yet been released beyond the congressman&#8217;s interview, according to spokesman Matthew Tragesser.
The Senate remains in the hands of Democrats, with 50 seats already projected to the GOP&#8217;s 49. One seat will be decided in Georgia&#8217;s December 6 runoff between Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock and Republican hopeful Herschel Walker, as neither reached the necessary 50% of votes needed according to state law.
The disappointing results have led to resistance from some Republican leaders regarding who should lead the party in both the House and Senate. In the House, Louisiana&#8217;s Steve Scalise is also seeking the majority leader position.
To become speaker, McCarthy would need a majority of his party&#8217;s support in a secret-ballot vote on Tuesday. If he moves forward, he&#8217;ll then need at least 218 votes to secure a majority when the new Congress arrives in January.
In the Senate, some Republicans have also stated their concerns regarding Minority Leader Mitch McConnell continuing as their leader. The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republican-lawmakers-push-for-change-in-congressional-leadership-after-lackluster-midterms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that several high-profile lawmakers, including Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), have circulated a <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/11/gop-senators-call-for-postponing-leadership-elections-00066532" target="_blank" rel="noopener">letter</a> asking their colleagues to postpone leadership elections.
Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio also urged a delay to the scheduled vote.
&#8220;We should not have a Senate GOP leadership vote until we have a clear explanation for why our 2022 campaign efforts failed AND until we have a clear understanding of the political &amp; policy direction for the GOP Senate moving forward,&#8221; he tweeted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
We should not have a Senate GOP leadership vote until we have a clear explanation for why our 2022 campaign efforts failed AND until we have a clear understanding of the political &amp; policy direction for the GOP Senate moving forward
&mdash; Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) <a href="https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1592222254448148480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;First we need to make sure that those who want to lead us are genuinely committed to fighting for the priorities &amp; values of the working Americans (of every background) who gave us big wins in states like #Florida,&#8221; he added in another <a href="https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1591112183945269251" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post</a>.

Andy Biggs To Challenge Kevin McCarthy In Bid To Become House Speaker

When Rep. Schuyler Colfax (R-IN) served as speaker of the House for two terms during the Civil War, he said upon taking the gavel he would &#8220;come to this chair to administer rules, but not as a partisan.&#8221;
Sadly, that sentiment is laughable today. Now, speakers are highly partisan players who push their own agenda and, with the aptly named aides known as &#8220;whips,&#8221; keep party opponents in line through force (or sometimes bribery).
Often, the speaker speaks softly and carries a big gavel. Think Republican Reps. John Boehner of Ohio and Denny Hastert of Illinois. Others, though, have been larger-than-life figures, like Democratic Rep. Thomas &#8220;Tip&#8221; O&#8217;Neill of Massachusetts and Republican Rep. Newt Gingrich of Georgia.
Usually when the House changes hands, the minority leader from the previous Congress is elected speaker. But the last time the GOP had the opportunity to man the position, when Boehner stepped down, they elected Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.
Needless to say, that did not work out well.
&#8220;People really don’t like Paul Ryan. But why?&#8221; CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2017/04/17/politics/paul-ryan-donald-trump-poll">wrote</a> in April 2017. That was just a few months after he took the position, making him the third in line of presidential succession.
&#8220;Ryan’s approval rating of 29% is lower than the approval ratings for John Boehner (36%), Nancy Pelosi (35%) and Newt Gingrich (43%), measured shortly after each of their terms as Speaker of the House began,&#8221; a Pew Research poll <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2017/04/17/3-views-of-congress/">found</a>.
The clear frontrunner for the position ought to be Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), the current minority leader in the House. But all that changed when the expected red wave turned out to be a pink trickle.
“Look, we were told we were going to have an incredible, incredible wave,” Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), a leader of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, <a href="https://www.foxbangor.com/national-news/freedom-caucus-rep-andy-biggs-says-not-so-fast-to-mccarthy-speakership-after-disappointing-election-results/">said</a> last week on an online streaming show.
“If that would have been the case, you would say, &#8216;Well, OK, Kevin is the presumptive Republican nominee for speaker. But I think we need to have a serious discussion,'&#8221; he said.
McCarthy has been on the cusp of holding the gavel before. He was poised to take the slot in 2015 until there was backlash from the party’s conservative flank and Ryan slipped in.
He might face the same headwinds this time around &#8212; plus, he has to juggle the alliances of members loyal to Donald Trump, who lost big in the midterm elections, and those who want to move away from the unpopular former president.
“Earning the majority is only the beginning,” McCarthy wrote Wednesday in a letter to colleagues, in which he asked for their support. He promised to be a &#8220;listener&#8221; and to strive to &#8220;build consensus from the bottom-up rather than commanding the agenda from the top-down.&#8221;
&#8220;We have ended one-party Democrat rule in Washington by effectively prosecuting the case against their failed policies while detailing our plan for a new direction with the Commitment to America,&#8221; McCarthy wrote. &#8220;Even so, I trust you know that earning the majority is only the beginning. Now, we will be measured by what we do with our majority. Now, the real work begins.&#8221;
At a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill on Monday night, McCarthy got a standing ovation, CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/14/politics/kevin-mccarthy-trump-support/index.html">reported</a>. But he then &#8220;faced tough questions and complaints from his members who were disappointed in Republicans’ performance in this year’s midterms.&#8221;
Biggs, who was endorsed by Trump, on Monday announced he would challenge McCarthy.
“We have a new paradigm here, and I think the country wants a different direction from the House of Representatives. And it’s a new world, and, yes, I’m going to be nominated tomorrow to — to the position of Speaker of the House,” Biggs <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3735560-rep-andy-biggs-to-challenge-mccarthy-for-speaker/">said</a> on Newsmax on Monday night.
He said on the conservative streaming program “The Absolute Truth with Emerald Robinson” that the GOP caucus should have a “good discussion” on whether McCarthy is worthy.
“I don’t understand why this is just a foregone conclusion,” Briggs said. “I think we need to have a real discussion and see how people respond to the ultimate results of this election and get a feel for his agenda and what he thinks he’s going to accomplish.”
Another Freedom Caucus member, Rep. Bob Good of Virginia, was blunt: &#8220;I have personally stated that Kevin McCarthy has not done anything to earn my vote.&#8221;
“There’s many times where we have come to … the minority leader over the last two years and asked him to fight on various opportunities and various issues and I have not seen the demonstrated fight that we’re looking for, for those who would aspire to lead us,&#8221; Good <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/kevin-mccarthys-bid-house-speaker-jeopardy-rcna56647">said</a> on NBC last week. &#8220;And so I expect there would be a challenge to him as a speaker candidate.”
But yet another Freedom Caucus member, Texas Rep. Troy Nehls, says it&#8217;s all over but the shouting.
&#8220;Kevin McCarthy will be the speaker of the House. It’s done. It’s a done deal,&#8221; Nehls <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/11/14/mccarthy-house-speaker-republican-midterm-election/10661804002/">told</a> USA Today. &#8220;Let’s just move forward.”
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.
Joseph Curl has covered politics for 35 years, including 12 years as White House correspondent for a national newspaper. He was also the a.m. editor of the Drudge Report for four years. Send tips to josephcurl@dailywire.com and follow him on Twitter @josephcurl.

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McCarthy Gets A Challenge For Speaker, But Gavel Is His To Lose

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy Gets A Challenge For Speaker, But Gavel Is His To Lose

speaker

Rep. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/henry-cuellar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Henry Cuellar</a> (D-TX) reportedly rejected a request from allies of House Minority Leader <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kevin-mccarthy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kevin McCarthy</a> (R-CA) to join the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/republicans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GOP</a> over the weekend.
McCarthy allies tried to recruit the moderate Democrat in multiple phone calls over the weekend, five people familiar with the outreach told <a href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/midterm-elections-congress-house-results/card/democrat-henry-cuellar-rejected-request-from-allies-of-gop-leader-kevin-mccarthy-to-switch-parties-WDnp8Y1qVOcNAbNtcvAg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Wall Street Journal</a>. McCarthy could become the next speaker of the House if Republicans can secure at least 218 seats in the chamber and if he can fend off a potential bid for his leadership position.
The outcomes of over a dozen House races are still unknown. The GOP is favored to win a slight majority with 219 seats, according to NBC News’ <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2022-elections/house-results?icid=election_nav" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Decision Desk</a>.
Cuellar is a moderate Democrat from a district in southern Texas that runs along the U.S. border with Mexico. Cuellar’s district has been hit heavily with illegal immigration over the past two years, and the Texas congressman has been one of the most vocal critics of President Joe Biden from within the Democratic Party. Cuellar has made repeated appearances on Fox News to criticize Biden’s border policies.
A McCarthy spokesman told WSJ that the Republican leader did not request the calls.
“Anyone suggesting this is simply exercising in fan fiction,” McCarthy spokesman Mark Bednar said. “Leader McCarthy is going to be elected speaker by the current and newly-elected members of the House Republican Conference. Our efforts are exclusively focused on bringing our conference together and saving the country.”
The results of the 2022 midterms, underwhelming to many Republicans, have led many in the House GOP caucus to question McCarthy’s leadership heading into the new Congress. The GOP leader is <a href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/midterm-elections-congress-house-results/card/conservative-andy-biggs-to-challenge-kevin-mccarthy-for-house-speaker-8YmJ9ptlkPVl5rlNdvbP" target="_blank" rel="noopener">facing</a> a potential challenge from his right from Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus.
McCarthy oversaw a closed-door House Republican Conference meeting on Monday. Virginia Rep. Bob Good, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, reportedly told McCarthy that Republicans “got rolled” in midterms, according to <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2022/11/14/bob-good-republicans-rolled-midterms-kevin-mccarthy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Caller</a>. The meeting overall <a href="https://twitter.com/JakeSherman/status/1592280764690972677" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> featured mostly muted frustration with McCarthy, however, and nobody spoke in direct challenge to McCarthy for the potential speaker’s gavel.
Florida Rep. Greg Steube, also a member of the Freedom Caucus, reportedly <a href="https://twitter.com/emrwilkins/status/1592303622117019648" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noted</a> the lack of opposition McCarthy faced at the meeting. “When you have such a slim majority, I think it&#8217;s gonna be difficult to find somebody else that could get to to 218,” he said, according to Bloomberg reporter Emily Wilkins.
Editor&#8217;s Note: A previous headline incorrectly stated that Kevin McCarthy attempted to recruit a Texas Democrat to join the Republican Party when, in fact, it was McCarthy&#8217;s allies.

Report: Kevin McCarthy Allies Made Failed Bid To Recruit Texas Dem As GOP Tries To Grab Slim House Majority

Henry Cuellar

Washington D.C.

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