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McCarthy’s Chaos Caucus

Beneath the façade of a unified opposition to the compromise G.O.P. spending plan, the hardline bloc is really a confederation of “caucuses of one,” as a House Republican insider put it, each with their own individual incentives, which McCarthy could use to break them apart—if they don’t get rid of him first.

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 25: U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks to reporters outside the Speakers Balcony at the U.S. Capitol Building on July 25, 2023 in Washington, DC. McCarthy held the media availability with reporters to discuss a potential impeachment inquiry against U.S. President Joe Biden that would focus on the Biden family's alleged financial misconduct. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Kevin McCarthy, it appears, may have underestimated the dedication of the holdout faction—a loose, informal confederation of Freedom Caucus members, MAGA warriors, and pissed-off rank-and-filers—which even its most powerful members can’t control. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
Tina Nguyen
September 21, 2023

As recently as last week, there appeared to be a hope, however misplaced and however ephemeral, that Kevin McCarthy might avoid a government shutdown. Freedom Caucus leaders, including some of McCarthy’s staunchest critics, came together with Main Street Caucus “pragmatists” to negotiate a 30-day continuing resolution that would keep the money flowing, albeit at reduced levels, and harden the border, among other things. Alas, the bill was dead on arrival, given that Democrats control the Senate and the White House. Worse, the compromise didn’t actually have the buy-in of every Freedom Caucus member, depriving McCarthy of a majority vote in a single chamber of Congress.