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The McCarthy-Scalise Detente

Sure, Kevin McCarthy needs to tame and indulge his saboteurs. But he also needs to continue to ensure that his No. 2 doesn’t get any of his own ideas…

mccarthy and scalise
Steve Scalise, McCarthy’s outwardly loyal deputy, has taken on a more complex role in this negotiation since one of the saboteurs signaled they’d happily support him as speaker. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Tara Palmeri
January 7, 2023

To the extent that he’s had a defined strategy at all during this past week of chaotic voting, repeated humiliation, private fuming, and fevered deal-cutting, Kevin McCarthy has been trying to stall for time. All the B.S. about progress and the enduring dialogue between all sides, not to mention all those press leaks, is a thinly veiled attempt to persuade his allies that he can hold on for another vote, another day, all while silencing internal critics and allies, alike, who might be growing impatient or pondering their own career opportunities.