OnPolitics: Will GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy be the next House Speaker? – USA TODAY
Happy hump day, OnPolitics readers.
More on the two suspects accused of impersonating law enforcement agents: A federal magistrate Tuesday rejected prosecutors' request to detainArian Taherzadeh and Haider Ali, who were arrested last week for offering personal gifts, including rent-free apartments, to at least two members of the Secret Service.
The two allegedly posed as federal law enforcement agents to gain access to the agency, butU.S. Magistrate G.Michael Harvey questioned theirability to follow through on the lavish gifts.
Harvey also said there is no evidence thatTaherzadeh, 40, and Ali, 35, tried to infiltrate the Secret Service or posed a risk to national security.
"There has been no showing that national security information has been compromised," he ruled.
The suspects were scheduled for releaseWednesday morning forproper placement in home confinement with family members.Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Rothstein said the government would possibly appeal Harvey's ruling.
Defense lawyers argued for release of alleged impersonators: Attorneys representingTaherzadeh and Ali said prosecutors had spun"the wildestconspiracy theories imaginable"bygrossly exaggeratingclaims against their clients.
It's Amy and Chelsey with today's top stories out of Washington.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is treading a thin line between the moderate and far right wings of his party in an attempt to climb the ladder to House speaker, a role currently occupied by political opponent and fellow representative fromCalifornia, Democrat Nancy Pelosi.
But maintaining a balance between the conservatives who attend white nationalist rallies, the traditionalists weary of RINOaccusations ("Republicans In Name Only") and the few House Republicans who have publicly denounced former President Donald Trump will prove tricky.
A GOP House majority could ensure McCarthy the role he's openly coveted for so long, but heavy opposition from one Republican faction toward another could hurt the party's chances during the November midterm elections.
"If he tries to silence the crazies, they will turn against him, possibly denying him a majority in the House vote on the speakership," said Jack Pitney, a government professor at Claremont McKenna College in California. "If he doesn't try to silence the crazies, the party will suffer reputational damage, and non-crazy Republicans will start looking for another leader."
If Republicans triumph in November, experts say McCarthy has a good chance at the speaker role.
"McCarthy has strong support because he is a prolific fundraiser and has tremendous depth on policy," said Alice Stewart, who served as the chief spokeswoman for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabees 2016 presidential campaign. "The wildcard is the new incoming GOP member class, who could be campaigning on an anti-establishment, non-vote for McCarthy, platform. If that were to happen, anything's possible."
Want this news roundup in your inbox every night?Sign up for/the OnPolitics newsletterhere.
President Joe Biden called Russia's attack on Ukraine a "genocide" on Tuesday while talking with reporters before heading back to the White House from Iowa.
The statement comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin said peace talks had reached a "dead end" and Russian troops will not leave Ukraine until the Kremlin's goals are accomplished.
Its become clearer and clearer that Putin is trying to wipe out the idea of being Ukrainian, Biden said.
Death count rises: Over 10,000 civilians have been killed in city of Mariupol since the beginning of the invasion in February, Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko said Monday.That number could reach more than 20,000 in Mariupol alone, according to Boychenko.
How do you prove genocide? Harold Hongju Koh, an international law professor at Yale Law School, told USA TODAY that in order to prove genocide, there has to be a high level of intent.
"The tricky part of it which is relevant to the President's statement yesterday is if I kill one person, that's homicide," he said. "If I kill that person with the intent to destroy every person of that persons ethnic group, then it could be a part of genocide, but you don't know."
Leading the league: San Francisco Giants' Alyssa Nakken becomes the first female coach on the field for a Major League Baseball game. Check out more coverage of this seasonfrom USA TODAY's Sports team.-- Amy and Chelsey
View post:
OnPolitics: Will GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy be the next House Speaker? - USA TODAY
- Inside Turning Points effort to take over Arizonas Republican Party - Politico - December 22nd, 2025 [December 22nd, 2025]
- Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on a fractured Republican Party - PBS - December 22nd, 2025 [December 22nd, 2025]
- Turning Point USA's conference exposes underlying rifts in the Republican Party - NPR - December 22nd, 2025 [December 22nd, 2025]
- Column | Republican women shrinking their ranks in Congress - The Washington Post - December 22nd, 2025 [December 22nd, 2025]
- Sex offenders who are homeless would have to wear GPS monitors under Republican bill - WPR - December 22nd, 2025 [December 22nd, 2025]
- Republican critics fear incomplete disclosure of Epstein files will loom over midterms - Reuters - December 22nd, 2025 [December 22nd, 2025]
- Republican Elise Stefanik ends New York governor bid and will leave Congress - BBC - December 22nd, 2025 [December 22nd, 2025]
- Top Republican suddenly emerges as White House threat to JD Vance in 2028 - Yahoo - December 22nd, 2025 [December 22nd, 2025]
- Ending straight-ticket voting was once a Republican priority. Independents are pushing for it now. - Axios - December 22nd, 2025 [December 22nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump Jr. Admits His Dad Has Destroyed the Republican Party - The Daily Beast - December 22nd, 2025 [December 22nd, 2025]
- How Trump Is Making the Federal Judiciary Younger, Whiter, and More Republican - Talking Points Memo - December 22nd, 2025 [December 22nd, 2025]
- Esopus appoints Republican Geuss to incoming Democratic-dominated board - Daily Freeman - December 22nd, 2025 [December 22nd, 2025]
- Lawmakers need to act on what mayors are saying about the high cost of living (The Republican Editorials) - MassLive - December 22nd, 2025 [December 22nd, 2025]
- Opinion | Republican Women Suddenly Realize Theyre Surrounded by Misogynists - The New York Times - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- Opinion | Nancy Mace: Why The Republican House Isnt Working - The New York Times - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- US Senate to vote Thursday on Republican and Democratic healthcare plans - Reuters - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- LISTEN: Supreme Court appears to back Republican appeal to end limits on party spending in federal elections - PBS - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- Miami has had Republican mayors for decades, but the office is up for grabs today - NBC News - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- House Republican majority unveils Jobs First Opportunity Everywhere agenda - News and Sentinel - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- Senate to vote Thursday on Republican health care plan - KSL.com - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- Republican senators sound the alarm on health care costs - CNN - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- Democrats Just Flipped Another Republican-Held Office in Georgia - Newsweek - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- Senate Republican leader wont commit to vote on a GOP health care proposal with key Obamacare subsidies set to expire - CNN - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- Republican Governor Calls Out Trump Over Cuts to Wind Energy Projects - NOTUS News of the United States - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- US Senate To Hold Vote Thursday on Republican Healthcare Plan - GV Wire - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- A Miami Republican stood for immigrants targeted by Trump. Where are the others? | Opinion - Miami Herald - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- 6 Republican Voters on U.S. Strikes on Boats Suspected of Smuggling Drugs - The New York Times - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Want to be hotter? Try this one weird Republican trick | Arwa Mahdawi - The Guardian - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Republican candidate for governor Mike Minogue goes 'On the Record' - WCVB - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Opinion | The Republican Clock Is Ticking - The Wall Street Journal - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- The Revolt of the Republican Women - The Nation - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- A Somali Republican in Minnesota who backed Trump is disappointed by the president - Axios - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Vance denies rising antisemitism in Republican ranks, expresses admiration for Mamdani - The Times of Israel - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Supreme Court Clears the Way for Republican-Friendly Texas Voting Maps - The New York Times - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Comments - New Republican voters are much less MAGA. That will hurt the party in 2026. - Strength In Numbers | G. Elliott Morris - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Caribbean attacks shred rule of law (Letters to The Republican) - MassLive.com - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Republican Party of New Mexico reopens headquarters to the public months after fire shut its doors - KRQE - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Bob Kustra: Its time to rebuild the Republican Party, not rename it - Chicago Tribune - December 7th, 2025 [December 7th, 2025]
- Trump's Republican Party insists there's no affordability crisis and dismisses election losses - abcnews.go.com - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Why Republican economists overestimate GDP growth when their party occupies the White House - Milwaukee Independent - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- House Republican Appropriators Stood United to End the Longest Shutdown in U.S. History - House Committee on Appropriations (.gov) - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Trumps Republican Party insists theres no affordability crisis and dismisses election losses - AccessWdun - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- SV band members participate in ceremony for veterans - Pottsville Republican Herald - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Video House Republican Greg Steube on why he voted against ending the government shutdown - abcnews.go.com - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Trump's Republican Party insists there's no affordability crisis and dismisses election losses - Temple Daily Telegram - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- House Republican Alleges Epstein Had Thousands of Hours of Tapes of Bedrooms and From Private Island - Yahoo - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Pump Up the Numbers: Republican Student Claims Credit for ICE Raid on Car Wash That Led to 9 Arrests - Time Magazine - November 16th, 2025 [November 16th, 2025]
- Video Republican lawmaker predicts House vote to reopen the government will pass Wednesday - abcnews.go.com - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- Republican Rep. from North Texas says his vote on new government funding bill will be the same - CBS News - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- Oregon's lone Republican member of Congress, Cliff Bentz, looks forward to a shutdown-ending vote - KGW - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- Republican Blasted With Boos and Heckles in Trainwreck Town Hall - The Daily Beast - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- LEADER JEFFRIES: WERE NOT GOING TO SUPPORT A PARTISAN REPUBLICAN SPENDING BILL THAT CONTINUES TO GUT THE HEALTHCARE OFTHE AMERICAN PEOPLE Congressman... - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- Trump Pardons the Husband of a Republican Congressional Ally - The New York Times - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- Tony Hudson Republican on a mission to put things right - Bitterroot Star - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- US Supreme Court to hear Republican bid to limit counting of mail-in ballots - Reuters - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- Trump pardons the husband of Republican supporter Rep. Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee - WBBJ TV - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- A Republican lawmaker is riding his motorcycle back to Washington, DC, because flights are too unreliable - Business Insider - November 11th, 2025 [November 11th, 2025]
- Republican voter registration is up in CT, especially in the cities - CT Mirror - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Marjorie Taylor Greene calls it 'an embarrassment' the Republican-led House isn't in session during the shutdown - NBC News - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Kentucky Republican hopes to ban distracted driving with 2026 legislation - Kentucky Lantern - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Democrat Mikie Sherrill prevails over Republican Jack Ciattarelli and wins the race for governor of New Jersey - WHYY - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Why this Republican lawmaker is still showing up to work during the shutdown - NPR - October 28th, 2025 [October 28th, 2025]
- The Republican Plan to Reform the Census Could Put Everyones Privacy at Risk - WIRED - October 28th, 2025 [October 28th, 2025]
- Republican candidates to visit the Shore today - Shore Daily News - October 28th, 2025 [October 28th, 2025]
- LEADER JEFFRIES ON CNN: WE ARE DEMANDING THAT OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES SIT BACK DOWN AT THE TABLE Congressman Hakeem Jeffries - Congressman Hakeem... - October 28th, 2025 [October 28th, 2025]
- Democrats could draw maps to put every Virginia Republican representative in a blue district. Here's how. - Cardinal News - October 28th, 2025 [October 28th, 2025]
- First Michigan Republican governor debate set for this week without John James - MLive.com - October 28th, 2025 [October 28th, 2025]
- Head of the Alamos historic site resigns after top Texas Republican criticized her views - PBS - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- What one Texas Republican Congressman tells his constituents about the shutdown - NPR - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Rep. Carter Statement on the Republican Houses Failure to Uphold Constitutional Responsibilities - Representative Troy Carter | (.gov) - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Trump's redistricting push hits roadblocks in Indiana and Kansas as Republican lawmakers resist - The Pantagraph - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Republican members of Redistricting Commission are disrespecting Ohio voters | Letters - AOL.com - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Republican Minn. gov candidate blasts Tim Walz on election integrity: fraud capital of the country - New York Post - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- The Republican Party's selective outrage - Daily Kos - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Zohran Mamdani Slams Trumps Republican Party: Only Agenda Is Cruelty and Punishment Towards Muslims and Minorities - Yahoo - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- The CEO of the Alamo's historic site has resigned after a top Texas Republican criticized her - Yahoo - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Republican tensions rise over Kevin McCarthys faltering push to fight California redistricting - CNN - October 24th, 2025 [October 24th, 2025]
- The CEO of the Alamo's historic site has resigned after a top Texas Republican criticized her - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - October 24th, 2025 [October 24th, 2025]
- LEADER JEFFRIES: DONALD TRUMP AND REPUBLICAN POLICIES ARE MAKING LIFE TOO EXPENSIVE - Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (.gov) - October 24th, 2025 [October 24th, 2025]
- DAY 24 OF THE TRUMP-REPUBLICAN SHUTDOWN: Congresswoman Maxine Waters Shares Resources and Information for Consumers Impacted by the Shutdown - U.S.... - October 24th, 2025 [October 24th, 2025]