The MAGA Speaker
Gaming out Jordan, McHenry, and the speaker's race.
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1. Game Theory
I was always bearish on the prospect of Steve Scalise as speaker. Unless Gaetz and his crew were satisfied with McCarthy’s scalp and wanted to try to reintegrate themselves with the caucus, why would they support Scalise?1
Jim Jordan makes a lot more sense. He brings many (most?) of the MAGA hardliners onboard and his big weakness is TeamNormal Republicans, who worry that he’s (a) not fit for the job and (b) a huge liability for the party.
But if you’re being clear-eyed about it, I don’t think either of those concerns matters. Let me explain.