The House GOP’s First Order Of Business Was Removing The Metal Detectors

Posted on by David Kurtz

A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPM’s Morning Memo.

Everything You Need To Know

While it couldn’t manage to elect a speaker, the new GOP majority in the House did manage to remove immediately the magnetometers installed at the entrances to the chamber after the Jan. 6 attack:

What’s Next?

After he failed on three separate votes to win the speakership yesterday, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) will try again today when the House reconvenes at noon.

McCarthy did not consolidate support Tuesday. Punchbowl has a good rundown of the behind the scenes action.

We’re going to sidestep most of the inscrutable internal machinations because frankly there’s not much evidence that what’s happening behind closed doors is any more meaningful or less comical than what’s happening in public.

It’s So Bad That MTG Comes Off As Reasonable

Never thought I’d see the day:

  • Joshua Green: “Here’s how screwed up things are in the Republican race for House speaker: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is a voice of reason.”
  • MTG herself: “Republicans are the party of ‘never,’ and it’s always ‘never’ when they don’t like somebody and that’s how we failed the country.”
  • Vanity Fair: “Greene, Boebert, Gaetz: The Worst People You Know Are Having A Fight”

AOC Lip-Reading Fun

Two different shots of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) chatting on the House floor with extremist Republicans caught of a lot of attention during the speaker vote:

  • TPM’s Hunter Walker nailed down the details of AOC’s convo with Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ).
  • Jomboy, a baseball nerd with a knack for lip-reading players and umps, even got in on the action:

Did You Know?

A fun little bit of insider knowledge about how AOC’s convos were captured on camera:

What Was Trump Up To All Day?

The former president scored a trifecta:

  • declined to re-up his endorsement of Kevin McCarthy
  • attacked Georgia election worker Ruby Freeman all day on his fake Twitter platform
  • mocked Mitch McConnell, air-quoted Elaine Chao as McConnell’s “wife,” and re-used his favorite old racist tropes against Chao.

House Dems Gloating

They couldn’t help themselves and who can blame them. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) with the flavor of the day from the Democratic side:

This once-in-a-century humiliation of a party’s nominee for Speaker is chickens coming home to roost for McCarthy, who whitewashed right-wing insurrectionism on the House floor. Nobody’s getting killed now, but the House GOP now sleeps in the bed they made with Trump and Bannon.

Gaetz Trolls McCarthy

Everyone Got In On The Trolling

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), who became the Senate first female president pro tempore, a role that is third in the line of presidential succession: “Well, today I’m second, because Kevin McCarthy’s not speaker.”

On A More Serious Note

Your occasional reminder that the House GOP majority’s inability and unwillingness to govern has real consequences:

Not Going As Planned

A Day In The Life Of George Santos

On any other first day of Congress, George Santos would have been the lead story. But as Kevin McCarthy foundered, Santos struggled to break through:

  • The NYT more or less followed Santos around all day.
  • So did the WaPo.

Still Poring Through The Jan. 6 Committee’s Work

As journalists continue to process the extraordinary volume of material released by the Jan. 6 committee, some more highlights:

  • Donald Trump called Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) six times on the day before the Capitol attack.
  • Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) suggested that the GOP-controlled state legislature could choose presidential electors.
  • Former Michigan GOP chair slammed fake elector plan as ‘insane.’ 
  • Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, deplored how the military was dragged into partisan fights during the Trump years.
  • The most intriguing revelations from Jan. 6 transcripts
  • 5 examples of how militant, conspiratorial movements have gained a toehold in mainstream GOP politics
  • The best (meaning worst) of Sidney Powell

Jan. 6 Anniversary Approaches

Sweeping up a few related tidbits:

Crickets On Mar-A-Lago Case

The lack of any overt developments in the Mar-a-Lago documents case continues to heighten the suspense. The only new news is that Special Counsel Jack Smith has returned to the U.S. from the Hague.

ICYMI

Nicholas Confessore on the invention of Elise Stefanik.

A Quick Check In On Dobbs Fallout

A couple of developments to flag:

  • TPM alum Alice Ollstein: “The FDA on Tuesday updated a rule allowing brick-and-mortar pharmacies to dispense the abortion pill mifepristone — expanding access to the drug amid a wave of state efforts last year to impose restrictions.”
  • Alice again: The Justice Department has cleared the U.S. Postal Service to deliver abortion drugs to states that have strict limits on terminating pregnancy, and has offered limited assurances that a federal law addressing the issue won’t be used to prosecute people criminally over such mailings.
  • Texas Tribune: “Texas teens will now need their parents’ permission to get birth control at federally funded clinics, following a court ruling late last month.”

Arrests Made In Substation Attacks

Two men were arrested on federal criminal charges arising from the Christmas Day attacks on four power substations in Washington State.

If You Know, You Know

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After Hours Of Voting, House Adjourns Til Tomorrow With GOP Failing To Elect Speaker

Republicans officially take over the House Tuesday with a razor-thin majority. Members will vote on the House speaker and — if a speaker is elected — new and re-elected representatives will be sworn in. There is still a lot unknown about how the speakership vote will go but it is expected to be long and chaotic.

Continue reading “After Hours Of Voting, House Adjourns Til Tomorrow With GOP Failing To Elect Speaker” →

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Helped Soothe Paul Gosar’s Fears About The House Speaker Vote

Posted on by Hunter Walker

An interesting scene played out on the House floor as roll call voting was underway in the speaker’s race on Tuesday afternoon. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) were spotted by cameras having a friendly conversation. 

Continue reading “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Helped Soothe Paul Gosar’s Fears About The House Speaker Vote” →

Round Two

Posted on by Josh Marshall

2:46 PM: I’m realizing that putting Jordan into nomination was a bit different. It was clear that the plan was already to consolidate behind Jordan. That I think is because even though Jordan is a toxic figure on the national scene (founder of the Freedom Caucus) he seems like someone who more members might actually see as an alternative to McCarthy. Biggs is not going to be speaker. No one thinks he’s a potential speaker. But Jordan likely looks to more than 19 Republicans as an actual possible speaker. That said, it seems impossible to think Jordan ever gets 218 votes.

2:39 PM: The line has been that McCarthy and his allies are planning to simply grind the opposition down. Two votes. Ten votes. Twenty votes. However long they want to go, etc. But I think we’re already seeing that that is much easier said than done. People get tired very quickly. The mood sours quickly.

2:31 PM: Seemed significant to me that Biggs didn’t have his name put in nomination a second time. Gaetz’s speech was impromptu and disjointed, nominating Jim Jordan. But at least so far I haven’t heard any Never Kevins (how are we using this absurd phrase) switching. So maybe not that significant.

Watching it Unfold

Posted on by Josh Marshall

1:30 PM: At the risk of stating the obvious, this is going worse for McCarthy than the GOP leadership thought it would even at the start of the vote. We’re currently at 17 Republicans voting against McCarthy. Hard to figure it doesn’t get to at least 20 votes.

1:22 PM: One of the core dynamics here is that McCarthy’s strategy was to give the radicals anything and everything. Because that was the case, he had nothing really left to give. That’s not the only dynamic here, but it’s an important part of this. He enabled them. They want to make trouble. And the only trouble left to make was to destroy McCarthy himself.

1:07 PM: McCarthy now losing 7 votes, and given that we’re only at F and you’ve got a number of holdouts to go that must get to at least 10, probably a few more.

12:58 PM: No surprise but with four non-McCarthy votes and a number of the top crazies still to be called, McCarthy certainly loses this first vote. Again, expected going in.

12:52 PM: Some vibrant imagery there in the nominating speeches. The arch-toady Elise Stefanik nominates McCarthy amidst a grim mood. Democrats are giddy and boisterous in nominating Hakeem Jeffries despite losing the House.

Guesswork

Posted on by Josh Marshall

On the big vote, my best guess is that through some set of machinations Kevin McCarthy becomes speaker today — likely a mix of abstentions and votes secured through desperate promises. I say that for only two reasons, both flimsy and thin. One is what I’d call metaphorical body language from the top Freedom Caucus arsonists. They say they’re unmovable and yet they’re still sitting at the table holding their cards like they are. The second is that political parties usually find ways to make things work at pivotal moments — the half time entertainer at the Super Bowl never forgets their lyrics. As I said, these are both pretty thin reasons. But they’re why that is my assumption going in.

Continue reading “Guesswork” →

Brazilian Authorities Will Revive Santos Fraud Case After Not Knowing His Whereabouts For 14 Years

Posted on by Kaila Philo

As he’s sworn-in as a lawmaker Tuesday, Representative-elect George Santos (R-NY) will have the attention of international authorities: Brazilian law enforcement has been searching for the incoming congressman for years with an embezzlement charge. They intend to revive the case after he’s sworn-in with a formal request to the DOJ, the New York Times reported. 

Continue reading “Brazilian Authorities Will Revive Santos Fraud Case After Not Knowing His Whereabouts For 14 Years” →

The Arsonists Plan To Investigate The Firefighters

Posted on by David Kurtz

A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPM’s Morning Memo.

Happy New Year!

Welcome back from the holiday break. Three stories dominated the holiday period: (i) Kevin McCarthy’s shambolic campaign for the House speakership, (ii) the public release of the Jan. 6 committee’s historic work product, and (iii) the unraveling of the serial fabulist George Santos.

The three stories overlap and interweave amongst themselves in various interesting ways, so let’s get to it.

Hold Onto Your Hats!

Republicans officially take over the House today. It’s going to be a zoo on the House side for the next two years.

You can’t overstate what a destructive menace this House majority represents. And yet … don’t lose sight of the fact that with a Democratic Senate and White House, the House GOP has very limited power.

What’s fascinating about the new House majority, what makes it a great story, is how it embodies all the worst elements of what the Republican Party and conservative movement have become: anti-democratic, corrupt, unmoored from principle, ungovernable, uninterested in governing, cruel, and destructive — while also being comically absurd.

But keep in mind the outrageous and transgressive conduct that the House GOP campaigned on, is promising to continue, and in fact revels in is its only real political currency. That is its appeal to its supporters. That is the point. It is performative, especially with Democrats controlling the White House and Senate.

A sophisticated approach to understanding and covering the House GOP requires not launching into a cycle of outrage and indignation over its transgressions.

McCarthy Doesn’t Have The Votes Yet

The new House is sworn in today with a great deal of suspense over McCarthy’s prospects of securing the speakership.

What Price The Speakership?

McCarthy is prepared to give up almost anything to win the speakership, including the ability to be an effective speaker.

The Arsonists Plan To Investigate The Firefighters

It’s painful to watch the coverage of the change of power in the House covered in the same traditional, low key way — as if Jan. 6 hadn’t happened, as if the insurrectionists themselves aren’t returning to power, and as if a principle aim of the insurrectionists isn’t to thwart and undermine any investigations of the insurrection. But here we are.

The rush by the Jan. 6 committee to dump its work product into the public domain is best seen as an effort to protect the committee’s work from the incoming House GOP majority.

As one of its last acts, the committee warned the Biden White House in a Dec. 30 letter that with the new incoming House leadership it could no longer assure the anonymity of cooperating witnesses.

The Jan. 6 Committee’s Final Flourish

The enormous volume of material released over the past two weeks by the Jan. 6 committee challenges the capacity of reporters and observers to fully process and absorb all the new evidence. If you’re a mere news consumer trying to enjoy the holidays, it was overwhelming. But here are a few of the highlights and best efforts to summarize the new revelations:

NYT: Trying to Trademark ‘Rigged Election,’ and Other Revelations From the Jan. 6 Transcripts

CNN: Trump wanted to trademark ‘Rigged Election!’ and other key findings from the Jan. 6 panel’s latest release

Politico: Notable moments from Jan. 6 panel interviews

Politico: Inside the Jan. 6 committee’s massive new evidence trove

AP: Final revelations from investigation

Some Of My Personal Faves From The Jan. 6 Committee

Vice: Mark Meadows Threw Documents Into White House Fireplace, Ex-Aide Testified

Robert Costa: An extraordinary moment in American history

The Guardian: Hope Hicks texted ‘we look like domestic terrorists’ on January 6

Politico: Jan. 6 committee interview sheds light on origins of Proud Boys ‘1776 returns’ document

Lost In the Shuffle

I don’t disagree with the Jan. 6 committee’s decision to focus its efforts largely on Trump and the conspiracy to the subvert the 2020 election rather than emphasize the security and intelligence failures that enabled the storming of the Capitol. But those failures remain worth understanding and examining. Ryan Reilly has been on the case.

Proud Boys Jury Selection Is Tough In DC

It’s a lot to keep track of, but the criminal justice side of the accountability for Jan. 6 continues apace, with jury selection in DC for the seditious conspiracy trial of the Proud Boys grinding on into a second week.

Whitmer Kidnap Plot Sentences

Two of the leaders of the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer received long prison sentences.

Santos Embodies The Absurdity

Nothing quite captures the new House GOP majority like incoming Rep. George Santos (R-NY).

Under investigation at home and abroad, with no real defenses to his serial lies, Santos will be sworn in today and immediately become a critical vote for McCarthy for speaker.

The Associated Press describes Santos as a “distraction” for the incoming GOP majority during its moment of triumph. He is so much more than that.

The Hits Keep Coming For Santos

NYT: Brazilian Authorities Will Revive Fraud Case Against George Santos

TPM: Santos Once Boasted About Being ‘Head Guy For New York City’ At Alleged Ponzi Scheme

Politico: Where George Santos’ many scandals stand

WABC: Queens District Attorney is third prosecutor’s office looking into George Santos

NYT: George Santos Comes to Washington. It Could Be Awkward.

NYT: As His Life of Fantasy Comes Into Focus, George Santos Goes to Washington

Good Reads

Politico: How Justice Kagan lost her battle as a consensus builder

Vox: The Trumpiest court in America

NYT: A Charity Tied to the Supreme Court Offers Donors Access to the Justices

Remember Kris Kobach?

The longtime scourge of voting rights and immigrants is now the incoming attorney general in Kansas – and he’s facing a $30,000 FEC fine for campaign finance violations during his 2020 run for U.S. Senate.

Meadows Won’t Face Voter Fraud Charges

The North Carolina Department of Justice has declined to pursue charges against Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows or his wife for allegedly illegally registering to vote in the state.

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Dem Votes Won’t Save McCarthy or Any Other GOP Speaker

Posted on by Josh Marshall

It’s all coming down to the final showdown in Kevin McCarthy’s seven-year effort to recover the job he thought was his in 2015. We discussed some of these issues yesterday. Given the difficulty of coming up with any plausible explanation of how McCarthy can get 218 votes, you’re now going to hear lots of fantastical proposals about how McCarthy’s failure to get 218 votes might set the stage for a “bipartisan” speakership vote in which some number of Democrats cross the aisle to vote for McCarthy or some “moderate” alternative.

This is not going to happen. For many of you that’s probably obvious. But I thought it might be worth running through the insurmountable obstacles in the way of such an outcome.

Continue reading “Dem Votes Won’t Save McCarthy or Any Other GOP Speaker” →

Porn, Piracy, Fraud: What Lurks Inside Google’s Black Box Ad Empire

Posted on by Nicole LaFond

This article was originally published at ProPublica, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom.

In late 2021, the right-wing site Conservative Beaver published a story falsely claiming the FBI had arrested Pfizer’s CEO for fraud.

Continue reading “Porn, Piracy, Fraud: What Lurks Inside Google’s Black Box Ad Empire” →