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McCarthyism & The Red Scare

News and notes on McCarthy’s Speakership vote whipping, the power of M.T.G. in the new Congress, and the MAGA’s unchecked nuclear options on Biden’s cabinet members and family.

kevin mccarthy
Kevin McCarthy has just enough support to taste the Speakership—but enough enemies and antagonists that he might have to sell a piece of his soul to get there. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
Tara Palmeri
&
Tina Nguyen
November 22, 2022

This week, MAGA whisperer Tina Nguyen and I exchanged notes about the dynamics in Congress as Republicans claw their way back to House leadership. Only she can uniquely explain what the Freedom Caucus really wants, and I’m trying to decipher what other pounds of flesh the rest of the caucus will take from Kevin McCarthy as he vies to become Speaker. Could the moderates make a play with moderate Democrats to pick their own speaker? Could McCarthy make a last ditch deal with Democrats? We’re in for a wild few weeks.