The remarks, confirmed to NBC News by two sources in a closed-door meeting, reflect renewed tension within the House Republican ranks as a government shutdown looms.

Frustration boiled over in a closed-door House GOP meeting Thursday morning when Speaker Kevin McCarthy all but dared his detractors to file the “motion to vacate” the speaker’s chair and try to remove him.

In the meeting, McCarthy told House Republicans, “If you want to file a motion to vacate, then file the f—ing motion,” according to two sources in the room who confirmed the comments to NBC News.

It was a nod to members including Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and others who are threatening to force him out of the speakership if he doesn’t comply with their demands, like putting certain bills on the floor and not passing a stopgap bill to prevent a government shutdown at the end of the month.

    • Cethin
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      1 year ago

      Me too, but also this is going to fuck a lot of people over if the government goes unfunded, and it doesn’t look like they’re going to figure it out. The only reasonable option currently seems to be any decent Republicans left side with democrats. I don’t really see that happening, but who knows at this point?

      • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        At this point, I just assume the GOP will just do the most harmful thing possible. Sometimes I’m pleasantly surprised; otherwise, I’m prepared for the inevitable.

        I don’t think they’re going to stop until they break something important enough that normal people start calling for blood.

      • Taako_Tuesday@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        The frogs have been boiled for too long for there to be any chance of that happening. If they wouldn’t side with democrats and remove trump from office after Jan 6, they’re not going to switch sides now, when doing so would tank their party for ages

    • paddirn@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Their goal is to weaken government, to make it as ineffectual as they believe it to already be. The circus is just part of their act, it’s a feature of the GOP, not a bug.

    • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
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      1 year ago

      Right wing parties in general have a tendency to ultimately self-destruct under the groaning weight of their own ineptitude. It’s just that in America they do it with so much more passion than anywhere else.

    • TwoGems@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      But don’t get complacent. Their idiots still vote them into office regularly and we got Trump before. We are still at great risk no matter how funny it is.