On Tuesday, a group of conservatives led by Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz ousted House Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy (CA) over what they describe as broken promises made during McCarthy’s election as speaker. Later that evening, all three evening news networks pounded their chests in rage and shock over McCarthy’s ouster.
“Tonight, for the first time in U.S. history, the House has voted to oust the speaker. Kevin McCarthy brought down by a handful of hard-right members of his own party who were furious with McCarthy for working with moderate Republicans and the Democrats to keep the government open,” ABC’s World News Tonight anchor David Muir huffed.
Has Muir ever referred to the radical leftists of the “Squad” as hard-left members of the Democrat Party? Not to our knowledge.
Muir made sure to pour salt in the wounds of McCarthy and his allies by blustering: “The ousted Speaker McCarthy leaving the chamber after the stunning rebuke.”
“House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries calling on Republicans to break from the extremists and end the chaos,” Muir dutifully proclaimed. “Instead, the Speaker ousted. The House halted. Another shutdown now looming. And the search for a new Speaker now begins.”
Over on CBS Evening News, anchor Norah O’Donnell was just as petulant during her opening monologue about the news:
For the first time in the history of American democracy, and the first Congress of 1789, the Speaker of the House has been removed from his position as the leader of the chamber by a vote of 216-210, lawmakers booted Speaker Kevin McCarthy, throwing the House into chaos and into unprecedented territory. McCarthy, seen here walking away from the chamber in bitter defeat after facing an uprising from the far-right faction of his own party. Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz a longtime critic and thorn in the side of McCarthy, led the revolt. After the now-former Speaker worked with Democrats on a funding bill to avoid a government shutdown. Only eight Republicans voted to vacate the chair. But 208 Democrats refused to come to McCarthy’s rescue and save his speakership.
Meanwhile, on NBC Nightly News, anchor Lester Holt in his usual bluster reported: “Breaking tonight, Kevin McCarthy’s short and rocky run as speaker of the House of Representatives has come to an end. The California Republican who until a few hours ago was second in line to the presidency was voted out of the speakership this afternoon, nine months after he was elected to the job.”
“His ouster came after key members of the narrow Republican majority he presided over, turned on him in a dramatic statement of no confidence,” Holt added. “A final vote, 216-210 with Democrats overwhelmingly joining dissatisfied Republicans in voting against him.”
Apparently just reporting the news without spin was no longer an option for the networks.
The transcripts are below. Click “expand” to read:
ABC’s World News Tonight
10/3/2023
6:33:07 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: Tonight, for the first time in U.S. History, the House has voted to oust the Speaker. Kevin McCarthy brought down by a handful of hard-right members of his own party who were furious with McCarthy for working with moderate Republicans and the Democrats to keep the government open. And tonight, the House now grinding to a halt until Republicans can agree on a new speaker. With yet another government shutdown now looming all over again. The ousted Speaker McCarthy leaving the chamber after the stunning rebuke. You’ll recall the chaos in getting him elected Speaker in the first place. It took 15 votes over five days.
McCarthy made concessions at the time to win that vote. One of those concessions was a new rule allowing just one member to call for the Speaker’s removal. Tonight, Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz doing just that. Democrats insisting today, this is up to Republicans to get in order. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries calling on Republicans to break from the extremists and end the chaos. Instead, the Speaker ousted. The House halted. Another shutdown now looming. And the search for a new Speaker now begins.
CBS Evening News
10/3/2023
6:32:33 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: For the first time in the history of American democracy, and the first Congress of 1789, the Speaker of the House has been removed from his position as the leader of the chamber by a vote of 216-210, lawmakers booted Speaker Kevin McCarthy, throwing the House into chaos and into unprecedented territory. McCarthy, seen here walking away from the chamber in bitter defeat after facing an uprising from the far-right faction of his own party. Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz a longtime critic and thorn in the side of McCarthy, led the revolt. After the now-former Speaker worked with Democrats on a funding bill to avoid a government shutdown. Only eight Republicans voted to vacate the chair. But 208 Democrats refused to come to McCarthy’s rescue and save his speakership.
NBC Nightly News
10/3/2023
6:31:50 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: Breaking tonight, Kevin McCarthy’s short and rocky run as Speaker of the House of Representatives has come to an end. The California Republican who until a few hours ago was second in line to the presidency was voted out of the speakership this afternoon, nine months after he was elected to the job. His ouster came after key members of the narrow Republican majority he presided over, turned on him in a dramatic statement of no confidence. A final vote, 216-210 with Democrats overwhelmingly joining dissatisfied Republicans in voting against him. The call for McCarthy’s removal was instigated by Congressman Matt Gaetz just days after McCarthy made a deal with Democrats to keep the government open without deep spending cuts some Republicans wanted.