🚨 Axios PM: INSIDE McCARTHY'S FALL

Plus: Nationwide emergency alert | Tuesday, October 03, 2023

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Meta   Axios PM By Mike Allen · Oct 03, 2023 👋 Happy Tuesday! Today's PM — edited by Noah Bressner — is 596 words, a 2-min. read. Thanks to Sheryl Miller for the copy edit.     1 big thing: Inside McCarthy's fall Speaker Kevin McCarthy, surrounded by police and the press, walks to the House chamber. Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP The House made history by voting to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his post, setting up another grueling speaker election without a clear successor. No speaker before McCarthy had ever been removed. Why it matters: The 216-210 vote could create an unprecedented stalemate in the House, Axios' Juliegrace Brufke writes. McCarthy's election in January took the most ballots of any speaker election since before the Civil War. Since then, Republicans have struggled to maintain a functioning majority for moving legislation. 🔎 Zoom in: Conservative firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) introduced the motion to vacate yesterday, with eight Republicans joining him in his efforts to fire McCarthy. Democrats opted against saving the speaker. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said it's "now the responsibility of the GOP members to end the House Republican Civil War." Screenshot: CNN Gaetz, who has long had a contentious relationship with McCarthy, threatened to introduce the motion for weeks if the California Republican allowed a continuing resolution to stop a government shutdown to come to the floor. Gaetz argued McCarthy broke the terms of the agreement he struck with conservatives in January to obtain the gavel. Only a handful of Republicans were needed to successfully remove McCarthy due to the GOP's narrow majority. Flashback: A motion to vacate has only been attempted one other time in the chamber's history. Speaker Joseph Cannon, a Republican from Illinois, defeated a vote against him in 1910. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) speaks on the House floor in favor of his motion to oust McCarthy today. Photo: House TV/C-SPAN via Reuters 🔮 What's next: House business will essentially come to a halt until Republicans gather enough votes to elect a speaker. McCarthy told reporters today that he has no plans to step aside, signaling he might run again. Other names floated include House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), and Reps. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.), Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) and Mike Johnson (R-La.). Share this story.     2. ⚖️ Judge gags Trump Former President Trump returns to court for the second day of his civil fraud trial in New York. Photo: Seth Wenig/AP The New York judge overseeing former President Trump's civil fraud trial imposed a limited gag order against him, Axios' Erin Doherty writes. Trump publicly attacked the judge's law clerk on Truth Social today. "Personal attacks on members of my court staff are unacceptable, inappropriate and I won't tolerate it," Judge Arthur Engoron said. Trump's post has been deleted. Between the lines: Federal prosecutors have also called for a gag order on Trump for his 2020 election interference case in D.C. Keep reading.     A message from Meta The future of training is happening today, in the metaverse     Thanks to a VR training tool created by ForgeFX, students across the country can gain virtual hands-on experience from the Tulsa Welding School. What this means: More aspiring welders have access to quality training, and more open jobs can be filled by skilled workers. Explore the impact.     3. Catch me up Hunter Biden arrives today for a court appearance in Wilmington, Del. Photo: Matt Rourke/AP 🏛️ Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty to three counts related to his alleged illegal possession of a firearm, Axios' Erin Doherty and Alex Thompson write. 🗳️ Laphonza Butler was sworn in as California's newest senator, becoming the third Black woman to serve in the Senate, Axios' April Rubin writes. 🪙 The trial of former FTX chief Sam Bankman-Fried kicked off this morning. Prosecutors said there were no discussions of a plea deal and that no such offers have been given, Axios' Crystal Kim writes from the courthouse.     4. ⚠️ "THIS IS A TEST" Illustration: Allie Carl   A test of the nation's emergency alert system is scheduled to ping cellphones across the U.S. tomorrow and send alerts to radios and TVs. The alert starts at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET, Axios' Sareen Habeshian and Kelly Tyko write. 🖼️ The big picture: It's the third nationwide test of the wireless emergency alert system but only the second for all cellphones. The message that appears on the phones will read: "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed." Keep reading.     A message from Meta "Virtual welding increased my skills and opportunities"     Zoë Hocker is a professional welder who uses the metaverse to practice his craft and advance his career. Here's how: A virtual reality platform, created by ForgeFX, that lets him gain as much hands-on training as he wants — in a safe and immersive environment. Discover other stories.   📬 Thanks for reading. Please invite your friends to join. Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. 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