Two Republicans huddled with Ocasio-Cortez — and revealed what McCarthy boasted behind closed doors: 'Would never do that'



Two Republican lawmakers — Reps. Paul Gosar (Ariz.) and Matt Gaetz (Fla.) — were seen conversing with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday, unusual meetings considering the ideological chasm diving the lawmakers.

Reporters later learned the Republicans had huddled with Ocasio-Cortez to ensure that Democrats would not help Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) win the speakership

What are the details?

Gosar reportedly told Ocasio-Cortez that McCarthy boasted in private meetings with Republicans that even if some GOP members refused to support his speakership bid, Democrats would eventually help him by not showing up to vote.

But Ocasio-Cortez told ABC News reporter Gabe Ferris that she confirmed with Gosar that Democrats "would never do that."

Current House procedure dictates that a candidate for speaker must earn a majority of roll-call votes to win the speakership. But if some members vote "present" or do not show up for the roll-call vote, then a speaker candidate may win by earning a plurality of votes, so long as there is a quorum of members present.

\u201cOn her floor convo with Rep. Gosar earlier, AOC tells me that McCarthy made claims within the GOP conf. that some Ds would walk away to lower the threshold. Gosar was asking AOC for clarification \u2014 would she walk away? \u201cWe would never do that,\u201d AOC told me. Jeffries all the way.\u201d
— Gabe Ferris (@Gabe Ferris) 1672779538

Ocasio-Cortez later revealed that Gaetz had relayed the same message — that McCarthy said Democrats would walk away from the vote to lower the number of votes he needs to become speaker — and she similarly denied it.

The Intercept reported:

Gaetz told Ocasio-Cortez that McCarthy has been telling Republicans that he’ll be able to cut a deal with Democrats to vote present, enabling him to win a majority of those present and voting, according to Ocasio-Cortez. She told Gaetz that wasn’t happening, and also double-checked with Democratic party leadership, confirming there’d be no side deal.

"McCarthy was suggesting he could get Dems to walk away to lower his threshold,” Ocasio-Cortez told The Intercept of her conversation with Gaetz on McCarthy’s failed ploy. “And I fact checked and said absolutely not.”
\u201cWhat happened here? Can anyone read lips?\u201d
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) 1672771893

What is the problem?

A faction of about 20 Republicans are blocking McCarthy's bid for the speaker because they believe his leadership will empower the status quo of Washington.

The House will reconvene on Wednesday for more rounds of voting. The last time a speaker was not elected on the first roll-call vote happened in 1923, when it required nine ballots to elect a speaker. It remains unclear whether McCarthy can shore up enough support to prevent endless voting.

'I am not okay with the state of this country': San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler announces that he will stop observing the national anthem



In the wake of the deadly shooting that took place at a school in Uvalde, Texas, earlier this week, San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler announced on Friday that he will stop observing the national anthem until his sentiments about the direction of the nation shift.

During remarks on Friday, he said, "I don't plan on coming out for, for the anthem going forward, until ... I feel better about the direction of our country."

\u201cGabe Kapler explains why he won\u2019t be coming out for the anthem:\u201d
— Alex Pavlovic (@Alex Pavlovic) 1653689049

Kapler published a post on Friday in which he said that as a child, his father instructed him to stand for the pledge of allegiance if he thought that the nation is doing a good job representing people, but to remain seated if that was not the case.

"I don't believe it is representing us well right now," he wrote.

"We aren’t free when politicians decide that the lobbyist and gun industries are more important than our children’s freedom to go to school without needing bulletproof backpacks and active shooter drills," he declared.

Kapler explained that he regretted observing the national anthem earlier this week.

"Every time I place my hand over my heart and remove my hat, I’m participating in a self congratulatory glorification of the ONLY country where these mass shootings take place. On Wednesday, I walked out onto the field, I listened to the announcement as we honored the victims in Uvalde. I bowed my head. I stood for the national anthem," Kapler wrote.

"My brain said drop to a knee; my body didn’t listen. I wanted to walk back inside; instead I froze. I felt like a coward. I didn’t want to call attention to myself. I didn’t want to take away from the victims or their families. There was a baseball game, a rock band, the lights, the pageantry. I knew that thousands of people were using this game to escape the horrors of the world for just a little bit. I knew that thousands more wouldn’t understand the gesture and would take it as an offense to the military, to veterans, to themselves," he wrote. "But I am not okay with the state of this country. I wish I hadn’t let my discomfort compromise my integrity."

\u201cWe\u2019re not the land of the free nor the home of the brave right now. https://t.co/XilHsz4s0W\u201d
— gabe kapler (@gabe kapler) 1653676275

Biden calls rising costs 'necessities' — while standing behind 'lowering costs for families' sign



During a speech in Culpeper County, Virginia, on Thursday, President Joe Biden called rising costs "necessities" and told Americans we should all "have peace of mind" amid record inflation, all while standing on a stage ironically arrayed with signs that said, "Build Back Better: Lowering Costs for Families."

"Look, the fact is that we’re in a situation now where, you know, you should have peace of mind. I know food prices are up, and we’re working to bring them down. As I said, I grew up in a family where the price at the pump went up, you felt it. And I understand. But these things are necessities," Biden said.

Admittedly, it was hard to make sense of what he was actually saying, so here's the video so you can try for yourself:


Biden amid record inflation:\n\n"We're in a situation now where you should have peace of mind."pic.twitter.com/UvSErP15Zg
— TheBlaze (@TheBlaze) 1644517261


Now, it's hard to say whether the irony of the situation was lost on the president or if the president was simply lost, but the ever-attentive folks on Twitter didn't miss a beat.

Prices going up daily and he's standing behind signs that say they are lowering costs for families. I guess he didn't say when.
— Lauren Jessop (@Lauren Jessop) 1644518349
\u201cLowering costs for families\u201d
— Jencie31-on-GETTR (@Jencie31-on-GETTR) 1644518118


Just like the sign says, "Lowering Costs for Families"\n#BuildBackBroker
— Bill is Right (@Bill is Right) 1644518514



7.5 % more than it used to
— gabe (@gabe) 1644518102


These are the same people who said inflation was transitory.
— Robert John (@Robert John) 1644533208


See! You should be happy to pay twice as much for everything!
— Lisa Benfield (@Lisa Benfield) 1644521390


pic.twitter.com/0CkbRjgsWT
— Blank182 (@Blank182) 1644517394