Note, e.g., the deference to prosecutors from the Trump-appointed judges on the 11th Circuit. The exemption of ongoing criminal investigations from Congressional interference is settled law.

In yet another sign that Rs have no ideas except peddling the same MAGA BS that already cost them the midterm cycle, Kevin announced a "select subcommittee on the weaponization of the federal government" - with an explicit mandate to expose ongoing criminal investigations.

That's a) moronic, because it will anger far more voters than it excites, and b) not going to work, because courts won't let Congress interfere in active criminal inquiries.

Kevin triumphantly becomes the most damaged, weak, disrespected Speaker in memory.

That's JUST what a fractious caucus with a tiny majority needs, right?

So Kevin will finally stagger home.

But that failed 14th ballot a) made him look weaker and less in control than ever, and b) suggests he gave some EXTRA promise to buy off Gaetz, which will further anger the non-MAGA Rs and further divide the caucus.

An absolute shitshow.

ASSUMING it's true that Gaetz made "a deal" and will now vote Kevin in, this chaos has made things even worse for the Rs.

Kevin looks weaker and less in control than ever. And Gaetz must have gotten some promise that Kevin had previously avoided - which means it will further piss off the non-MAGA Rs who already thought Kevin had given up too much.

An absolute shitshow, which won't be solved by naming that joke Speaker.

Multiple reports now that they "cut a deal" with Gaetz and will anoint the savaged corpse of Kevin - hence the last minute rejection of adjournment.

What did he promise Gaetz now? Gaetz gets the actual gavel and Kevin gets a squeaky clown hammer?

So now the word is that Rs stopped the adjournment at the last minute and that Kevin must have secured the votes.

How many times does he "have the votes" before it actually happens?

Even if he gets it now, they managed to totally humiliate themselves in the process. Again.

So close.

A *key* failure for a Speaker is to botch the vote count and think you've sewn it up when you haven't.

That just happened to Kevin while trying to BECOME Speaker.

I just can't believe this mess.

I really didn't think the Rs could fail to meet my already incredibly low expectations for the most basic competence.

But they did.

Rs are an absolute, incompetent shitshow of a party.

That is all.

They're pleading with Gaetz to change his vote.

WTF is he even doing? Does he plan to relent at the last second and thinks that'll make him into the party hero/savior? (It wouldn't. It would make everyone hate him even more and trust him even less.)

Good lord, they're almost brawling on the floor.

Okay, WTF is even going on now? Gaetz and Boebert were both just on Fox saying admitting it would be spineless Kevin and saying they expected it to end on this ballot.

Was that a lie? A setup for some pointless theatrics? Huh?

What a pathetic spectacle. Rs pretending to fully support someone they hate, the caucus barely papering over its massive internal rifts, making someone "leader" whom none of them respect and whose authority is already trashed...

It's not deeply surprising it took them 14 acrimonious ballots to do the most basic first step of a new majority.

The 14th ballot is barely even trending on twitter.

The Rs really are ducking Kevin in when no one is looking.

Promises a really effective Speakership, right?

Few predicted *just* how weakly Kevin would "lead" his caucus.

Boebert and Gaetz admit they've given up, so yes Kevin's bloodied form will limp to the finish line shortly.

But this nails the core reality:

How fitting that the Rs look to finally edge Kevin across the line late on a Friday evening when no one is paying attention anymore.

Almost like they're not proud of their choice or something.

They really should. He certainly has no balls left.