GOP plots next steps in Speaker race

by Emily Martin - 10/09/23 6:03 PM ET

Evening Report

Monday, October 9

Republicans debate path ahead for Speaker

House Republicans’ search for their next Speaker after the historic ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from the role is being further complicated by the war in Israel.

Lawmakers from both parties have called for Congress to stand with Israel as it responds to the surprise attack launched by the militant group Hamas over the weekend, but the lack of a Speaker has paralyzed the House.

The House cannot vote on or advance any legislation without an elected Speaker, so the U.S. is unable to contemplate any aid for Israel.
Lawmakers want to also pass a measure expressing bipartisan support for Israel and condemning the attack launched by Hamas on Saturday.

Republicans were set to gather Monday evening behind closed doors as they attempt to chart a path forward to end the paralysis.

Earlier in the day, McCarthy opened the door to returning to the Speakership if no other Republican is able to get enough support to win the gavel.

“You have 96 percent of the conference in one place and you’re allowing 4 percent, with the Democrats playing politics, that now have putting the doubt inside this body,” McCarthy said during a news conference. “That is wrong.”

Lawmakers have started lining up behind Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), though some moderate Republicans have pushed for McCarthy to be reinstated as Speaker amid the crisis in Israel.

“We have one of our strongest allies in the world under attack, and we are dilly-dallying around with a leadership struggle in the House that should never have occurred,” Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.) said in a Fox News interview Monday.

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NEW THIS AFTERNOON

Hamas threatens to kill hostages after Gaza strike

The militant group Hamas has vowed to kill a civilian hostage anytime Israeli armed forces target civilians in Gaza “without prior warning.” This threat comes from an audio message from Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida.

Hamas, which has been declared a terrorist group by the U.S., launched a series of surprise airstrikes on Israel on Saturday as gunmen rolled through numerous locations outside the Gaza Strip.
Hundreds of Israelis were immediately killed on Saturday, and around 100 people have been taken hostage. Israel has launched retaliatory strikes in Gaza. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen warned Hamas that if they hurt any Israeli hostages, the “war crime will not be forgiven.”
The death toll including both killed Israelis and Palestinians has topped 1,500.

RFK Jr. switches parties

Presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr., hoping to bolster his long-shot 2024 White House bid, formally announced Monday his switch from Democrat to independent.

“I’m here to declare myself an independent candidate,” Kennedy said at a rally in Philadelphia. “I must declare my own independence. Independence from the Democratic Party. And from all other political parties.”

As a Democrat, Kennedy made little progress in terms of popularity, despite hailing from one of the most famous, Democratic political families in U.S. history.
He has sought to distance himself from that image, frequently criticizing the Democratic National Committee, expressing skepticism toward vaccines and espousing conspiracy theories.

The Hill’s Hanna Trudo has more here.

More coverage:

Haley’s hefty fundraising haul

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and current GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley brought in more than $11 million across three of her political committees in third-quarter fundraising, according to her campaign.

Nearly 40,000 new donors contributed in the third quarter, leaving Haley with $11.6 million in the bank. About $9 million of her campaign funds can be used in the primary race, according to her campaign.

This fundraising haul comes as Haley rises through the ranks in the GOP field. While she closely trails Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is in second place behind former President Trump, in most polls, a RealClearPolitics poll show her in second place in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

DOJ fighting Trump effort to push trial to after 2024 election

The Justice Department (DOJ) is pushing back on an effort by former President Trump to delay his documents trial until after the 2024 election.

President Trump’s legal team seeks to delay the trial via a law governing how classified records are handled in court. But special counsel Jack Smith said in a Monday court filing that Trump’s motion “was but a precursor to a motion to continue the trial date… [and] none of the issues raised in the defendants’ motion warrants the continuance they request.”

The former president’s lawyers argue they have not been given sufficient access to all the documents and that their workload is substantial given Trump’s many indictments in other cases.

The Hill’s Rebecca Beistch has more here.

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Newsom signs emissions, climate disclosure bills

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed into law a pair of rules requiring large corporations operating in the state to disclose data regarding their climate-related risks, as well as direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions.