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What's next after MTG fails in bid to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson
Implications for US House as GOP fails to oust Speaker Johnson | GZERO US Politics

What's next after MTG fails in bid to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson

Jon Lieber, head of Eurasia Group's coverage of political and policy developments in Washington, DC, shares his perspective on US politics.

This is what we're watching in US Politics this week: More turmoil in the House.

Georgia member Marjorie Taylor Greene, who's made quite a name for herself as an outspoken opponent of Republican leadership and a prolific fundraiser online, this week triggered another motion to vacate the speaker. The second this year. Only this time it was against Mike Johnson, the speaker who replaced Kevin McCarthy after he was removed during a motion to vacate earlier in the year.

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Israel's global image wanes further after killing of aid workers
Israel's global image wanes after killing of aid workers | Ian Bremmer | World In :60

Israel's global image wanes further after killing of aid workers

Ian Bremmer shares his insights on global politics this week on World In :60.

Is Netanyahu losing the PR battle amid public outrage over the IDF strike killing seven aid workers?

I think Israel is losing the information war around the world, not just with the Global South, which was certainly true a few months ago, but increasingly even with Israel's closest allies. I'm hearing from the Germans, from the French, you know, from the Canadians, from the United States, that there is really a lot of upset with the unwillingness to take far greater care about civilian casualties while the Israelis are engaging in massive airstrikes still across Gaza. And of course, especially if we see strikes into Rafah, where well over a million Palestinians are trying to shelter. It's a big problem for the Israelis. It's a big problem for Netanyahu, but no end in sight, right now. And the potential for the war to escalate continues to be very, very real.

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Mayorkas impeachment: Reps. Lofgren & Spartz on House vote on DHS secretary
Mayorkas impeachment: Reps. Lofgren & Spartz on House vote on DHS secretary | GZERO World

Mayorkas impeachment: Reps. Lofgren & Spartz on House vote on DHS secretary

The US House of Representatives is voting on a Republican-led resolution to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the immigration crisis on the southern border. On GZERO World, Ian Bremmer sat down with Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN), who both sit on the House Immigration subcommittee, moments before the vote took place for their thoughts on the first impeachment of a cabinet secretary in modern history.

“[The impeachment] has nothing to do with meeting the constitutional standards,” Lofgren, former chair of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, tells Bremmer, “It’s a complete waste of time.”

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Meet Mike Johnson, US House Speaker & DC's most Googled person
Meet Mike Johnson, US House Speaker & DC's most Googled person | US Politics In: 60 | GZERO Media

Meet Mike Johnson, US House Speaker & DC's most Googled person

Jon Lieber, head of Eurasia Group's coverage of political and policy developments in Washington, DC, shares his perspective on US politics.

Who is Mike Johnson?

Mike Johnson became the most commonly Googled person in Washington, DC, this week when he won a surprising bid for the House speakership after Republicans failed to rally around multiple nominations from across their caucus once they removed former speaker Kevin McCarthy from his seat several weeks ago.

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Speakerless House shows weakness to US adversaries, says Rep. Mike Waltz
Speakerless House shows weakness to US adversaries, says Rep. Mike Waltz | GZERO World

Speakerless House shows weakness to US adversaries, says Rep. Mike Waltz

It's not a particularly comfortable moment to be a House Republican on Capitol Hill. Unable to agree on a Speaker, the House remains paralyzed and unable to do crucial work on a wide array of domestic and foreign policy priorities. Israel, of course, is at the top of that list. Republican Congressman Mike Waltz worries that the paralysis on Capitol Hill is playing right into the hands of America's adversaries.

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Paralyzed US House is an “absolute nightmare” - Sen. Chris Murphy
Paralyzed US House is an “absolute nightmare” - Sen. Chris Murphy | GZERO World

Paralyzed US House is an “absolute nightmare” - Sen. Chris Murphy

A House (of bickering Republicans) divided against itself, cannot stand. Forgive the redux of Abraham Lincoln's famous quote, but it seems particularly relevant in light of another week of total paralysis on Capitol Hill. Namely, within the House Republican caucus.

According to Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, who sat down with Ian Bremmer for an interview on GZERO World, the chaos in the House chamber due to Republicans' inability to nominate a House speaker may, in fact, be a feature, not a bug. "The House is just an absolute nightmare, and it's a really bad look for the United States. It weakens President Biden's credibility abroad."

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What's next after Kevin McCarthy's ouster?
What's next after Kevin McCarthy's ouster? | US Politics In :60 | GZERO Media

What's next after Kevin McCarthy's ouster?

Jon Lieber, head of Eurasia Group's coverage of political and policy developments in Washington, DC shares his perspective on US politics.

Kevin McCarthy' is out. What's next?

So Kevin McCarthy today became the first speaker in American history to be removed from his job involuntarily, and the House is now going to be plunged into a period of uncertainty, with American governance losing the leader of one of its most important branches.

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U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy

REUTERS

McCarthy’s promise to Trump could split House Republicans

Republican Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy needs to decide whether to keep his promise to Donald Trump about calling for a vote to expunge the former president's two impeachments, the second of which was for his actions during the Jan. 6 riots.

Such a vote would force GOP House members to publicly denounce Trump or condone his actions – just as Trump is facing possible indictment for allegedly inciting the Jan. 6 riots. But McCarthy made a deal, and Trump is coming to collect.

Here’s the background. Last month, McCarthy found himself in the doghouse after suggesting on TV that Trump may not be the strongest GOP presidential candidate. Trump – who was pivotal in McCarthy’s rise to power – demanded the speaker endorse his campaign. But McCarthy, not ready to tie himself to Trump, stalled by promising to call the vote before Congress adjourns in August.

You’ll recall that McCarthy won the speakership by making the concession that only one GOP member is needed to call for his resignation, giving Trump’s allies in the house – who have threatened to oust McCarthy before – outsized power to hold the speaker to his word.

Many GOP House members, particularly those in Biden-won districts, aren’t keen to revisit the impeachments, especially the one regarding Jan. 6. Polling shows that most Americans disapprove of Trump’s actions during the insurrection. Meanwhile, constitutionally minded conservatives are questioning whether the House has the authority to erase an impeachment.

Jon Leiber, head of Eurasia Group’s US practice, says that “there is no constitutional process for expungement of an impeachment vote,” which gives Republicans a procedural scapegoat.

But regardless of whether McCarthy makes good on his promise, Trump won’t be satisfied until McCarthy endorses his candidacy, and he will continue to use his allies in the House to apply pressure if McCarthy waits too long.

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