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The McCarthy Mystery & G.O.P. Family Therapy

After losing out on their defining opportunity to hold Kevin McCarthy over a barrel—the global economy and America’s credit rating, be damned—the House conservatives are pissed… at everyone: the speaker, the Democrats, and themselves, too.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Photo: Mandel via AFP
Tina Nguyen
June 8, 2023

Among the many plot twists and all the made-for-television drama surrounding the multi-day speakership election of Kevin McCarthy, perhaps the greatest drama has been the enduring mystery of what the dexterous Republican promised to the 20ish conservative members who repeatedly blocked his path to acquiring the House gavel. Indeed, the private handshake deal that led to their acceptance of his speakership was so secretive that it was never committed to paper. Even members of McCarthy’s own leadership team remain in the dark.