Topic: Mccarthy Speaker Vote

Kevin McCarthy fell two votes short of the Speakership in his 12th attempt, despite reaching a new high of 213 votes. Thirteen former holdouts flipped to McCarthy, though several members were absent for reasons including funerals and medical emergencies. The narrow loss left McCarthy visibly frustrated as the House moved toward further deliberations.

During the 13th House Speaker vote, Byron Donalds reportedly did not cast a vote, and the threshold for McCarthy's victory shifted to approximately 215. Simultaneously, news broke that Ashli Babbitt's mother was arrested in Washington, D.C., on the anniversary of her daughter's death. The arrest is characterized as a "sick" act by the D.C. establishment.