I am liking Leader Jeffries a lot so far.

Not a surprise - I wanted him as Nancy's successor.

But he's been masterful on messaging.

And more signs that #TFG's backing for Kevin may not move the crazies like he assumes it will.

It wouldn't be the first time cultists put the cult ahead of him. Take vaccines and boosters.

#TFG's post endorsing Kevin is being described as "a full throated endorsement"... but is it?

Most of it is a feeble rant trying to smear Nancy as a historically weak loser - from a guy who's lost 3 straight election cycles.

And his faith in Kevin seems less than impressive.

So after sounding far from sure he'd keep backing McCarthy yesterday, #TFG called the holdouts to "whip votes" for Kevin and put out a petulant "Truth" telling them all to stop making a mess and vote for him.

It'll be a big test of his power over the party whether anything changes.

It would certainly be ironic if after his disastrous impact on their midterm prospects they again let him rule them by social media post.

How about if they resign en masse and give the House back to the Ds?

If - and it remains a big if - Kevin can stumble across the finish line by such a scenario, he would be so disastrously weakened I don't see how he could possibly manage such a tiny majority.

Do Rs think governing with a 9 seat lead is easy because Pelosi made it look easy?

Good one. And so close to being plausible.

.

A lot of truth in this analysis. A very great deal.

The Bard subtweets (or subposts) Kevin.

So the defectors asked to be bribed, and Kevin said no.

Presumably he realized putting these lunatics into senior positions would make his life hell and the Congress massively unpopular - and what he *wants* to do is plenty bad enough.

So what happens now? Does he cave to their demands? Would that be enough to get 16 of the 20 back?

ETTD.

TFG doesn't stick with losers... except himself, of course.

There's talk of a motion to adjourn, but Kevin opposes it. He wants to keep voting. Apparently he thinks doing it a few more times today will wear down his opponents and make them love him.

Yup, 20 against Kevin in round 3... the same 19 as the first two rounds plus one more.

They should really stop voting for today and try to actually agree on something.

It's worthwhile to note that Trump backed McCarthy... a fact McCarthy hasn't been shy about pointing out to the defectors.

It's another sign that the "MAGA" craziness is becoming more important to the cult than Trump personally.

Yeah, I don't think Ds are going to bail Kevin out by walking away.

McCarthy loses again on the 3rd ballot.

Now, again, the wait to see if he gets more or fewer or the same votes as in the first 2 rounds.

JFC. They Rs can't budge the anti-McCarthy holdouts... so now they're threatening them with FOX NEWS HOSTS!

What an admission about where the real power on the MAGA right lies.

Word.

Analysts see Scalise (self-described as "David Duke without the baggage") as the most likely "compromise candidate."

That's not how I'd define "compromise."