The past month has marked multiple political events that will make history books. From tragic conflict abroad to internal political disputes, it seems to many the world is falling apart.
Looking specifically at Congress, Representative Kevin McCarthy has been the first sitting speaker in American history to be ousted from office with a 216-210 decision.
Essentially, a decision McCarthy made with democrats in May to avoid an economic crisis, with both parties facing concessions to reach an agreement, created skepticism in the GOP, particularly Matt Gaetz, regarding his willingness for bipartisanship.
The avoidance of a government shutdown was seen as a win by many, but to the Gaetz and the GOP it was a surrender, allowing the barriers of political divide to weaken.
“It’s always fun to watch political infighting. I don’t know what’s going to happen. Whatever it is it’s not going to be an easy solution,” junior Stanley Port said.
The House has spent a little over two weeks without a speaker and republican Jim Jordan (Ohio) is to be voted on again to take the vacant position.
“The republicans built their base on being more unified in their actions and goals than the democrats but now they’re breaking up into smaller factions which is going to break them,” Port said.
On Tuesday, republican representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota was nominated but dropped out after failing to reach the 217 vote requirement.
As of yesterday, Louisiana representative Mike Johnson, the fourth republican nominated over the course of the last few weeks, has been sworn in as the Speaker of the House. The election of the 56th Speaker concludes the lack of leadership in the House for the past three weeks. He was voted unanimously by the GOP.
With McCarthy ousted and Johnson taking his place, the previously avoided government shutdown is coming back into play, potentially beginning on November 17 when government funding expires.
