House Republicans have stripped Kevin McCarthy of the speaker's gavel after a deal to keep the government open, following a demand from Rep. Matt Gaetz, a 2020 election denier and defender of the Jan. 6 insurrection. Gaetz is known for his conservative bent and his belief that the federal government is corrupt. At McCarthy's first press conference after the decision, he was free to speak his mind, and the implications of this move remain to be seen.
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San Francisco Residents Gather to Honor the Late Sen. Dianne Feinstein at City Hall Memorial Service
San Francisco Residents Gather to Honor the Late Sen. Dianne Feinstein at City Hall Memorial Service
San Francisco residents gathered Wednesday to pay their respects to the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who passed away last week at the age of 87. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was among those who paid their respects, hugging the casket of the late Sen. Feinstein. The memorial service for Sen. Feinstein is open to the public outside of San Francisco City Hall at 1 p.m. local time, allowing the public to pay their respects and remember her legacy.
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted to oust Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his position as Speaker of the House, triggered by a motion from Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and supported by seven other Republicans and 208 House Democrats. Representatives Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) had differing opinions on the ouster, while Representative Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) suggested that the House Democrats should have provided McCarthy with votes to keep the Speakership, contrary to conventional wisdom.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has announced his bid to become the next House Speaker, with current Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan as his only competition. Scalise has cited his love for the country and desire to solve the immense challenges we face as his motivation for wanting the position. Both candidates will have to demonstrate their ability to bring together a diverse group of Republicans in order to win the speakership.
Today, the Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments in Acheson Hotels LLC v. Laufer, a case that could have major implications for the rights of disabled individuals. Deborah Laufer, a disabled Florida resident, filed a lawsuit against Acheson Hotels LLC in 2020 for failing to provide sufficient accessibility information on their website or reservation system. The Supreme Court is now considering whether a disability rights campaigner can sue hotels for failing to disclose accessibility information if she doesn't plan to actually book a room.
Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio has declared his candidacy for speaker of the House, citing strong support from fellow House Republicans and a desire to unite the fractured GOP conference. He has also criticized federal spending and the alleged persecution of former President Donald Trump. Other lawmakers, such as Rep. Steve Scalise, have also signaled they will seek the speaker's gavel, and the House Republican Conference is expected to meet on Thursday to discuss the election.
House Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry has ordered the eviction of former Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer from their offices in the Capitol, sparking criticism from both sides of the aisle. This move comes after the ouster of Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as House Speaker, which was caused by months of GOP infighting led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.). Despite the criticism, many are hoping that the new Republican Leadership can now focus on more pressing matters.
Kevin McCarthy, Speaker of the House, announced his resignation after a 216-210 vote in the chamber, citing the need to do the right thing and his desire to find compromise. He thanked everyone for their support and said that the country was "too great for small visions". It is still unknown what the future holds for McCarthy.