1 big thing: McCarthy pulls it off

2. 👀 Dem skeptics hold off on Biden endorsement

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, pose with President Biden first lady Jill Biden before a  State Dinner at the White House on April 26, 2023.

3. 📺 Tale of two ads

4. 🪄 Disney sues DeSantis

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Take a look at both ends of Penn Ave — and our best scoops

Axios Sneak Peek

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1 big thing — McCarthy: Don't underestimate me

2. 🏈 Tuberville under fire

3. 🇺🇦 Zelensky's NATO anger

4. ⚖️ AP investigation supercharges SCOTUS ethics push

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⚡ Situational awareness: The Georgia grand jury expected to consider charges related to former President Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election was sworn in today, CNN reports.

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National

House Republican hardliners are starting to crank up the pressure on their hand-picked Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), warning that anything less than an aggressive push to the right means caving to Democrats.

Why it matters: Hopes that Johnson's election would calm the underlying tensions that triggered former Speaker Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) ouster are quickly dissipating.

Driving the news: Conservatives say Republicans need to fight harder — even by risking a government shutdown in the new year — to force the Senate and White House's hand on spending.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), an influential member of the right-wing Freedom Caucus, recently used a fiery floor speech to accuse Republicans of failing to pass anything meaningful with their majority.

Roy dismissed the notion that conservatives are pushing for unachievable goals, telling Axios: "As I've said from the very beginning, we have to pick a fight and mean it. That's it. This is not that freaking hard."

Zoom in: Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) recently laid out a list of demands to Johnson during a meeting on supplemental funding for Israel and Ukraine, two sources familiar with the conversation told Axios and Rosendale confirmed.

In what the sources described as a confrontational exchange packed with "ultimatums," the Montana Republican called for foreign aid and border funding bills to be passed separately.

Multiple conservative members say they've made it known to Johnson that they were displeased with the passage of the two-step stopgap spending bill that kept previous government funding levels in place.

"I don't know what's gotten more conservative" since McCarthy's ouster, said one lawmaker who supports Johnson but is not in the Freedom Caucus. "I think Kevin might have actually been able to extract some more conservative wins in the negotiations with the Senate."

The intrigue: In a conference meeting Tuesday, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) called for the release of all Capitol surveillance footage from Jan. 6 and the creation of what one source described as a "Jan. 6 revenge committee."

Johnson said the footage was in the process of being released with the faces of individuals blurred to protect their identities — an answer that did not satisfy Greene and has sparked public confusion.

As he works to alleviate tensions within the conference, Johnson also signaled Tuesday that the House will vote next week to formalize the impeachment inquiry into President Biden.

The other side: A range of House Republicans told Axios that the Freedom Caucus needs to tamp down expectations due to the current political climate. 

Two sources said Johnson called on members to unify in Tuesday's conference meeting, saying they won't be able to accomplish anything if fractures continue. 

A leadership source pointed to the impeachment inquiry, the Jan. 6 footage and Johnson's strides toward avoiding a massive omnibus spending bill as examples of his success.

Between the lines: Republicans had been pushing for a cap of $1.471 trillion in discretionary spending, which is now looking more like the $1.59 trillion agreed to in May's debt ceiling deal.

"It's not a change in our positioning, it's just going through the process of figuring out how to get the right numbers," Roy said. 

What to watch: As Congress gears up for the new year, GOP lawmakers have just a handful of major pieces of legislation they can attempt to leverage for policy wins as election season heats up. 

That includes funding the government, passing the annual National Defense Authorization Act and acting on Biden's request for additional aid to Israel and Ukraine.

The bottom line: Conservative pressure tactics and GOP infighting have been the stories of the 118th Congress. Don't expect that to end any time soon.

House GOP hardliners push Mike Johnson to go full throttle

Conservatives say Republicans need to fight harder to force Senate and White House's hand on spending.

House Republicans

Politics & Policy

The Senate unanimously confirmed over 400 military promotions on Tuesday just hours after Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) partially lifted his one-man blockade that held the advancements up for months.

Why it matters: The Alabama Republican's boycott, which he initiated in protest of a Pentagon abortion policy, drew bipartisan criticism for jeopardizing military readiness.

Tuberville said he will continue to block the promotion of all senior military positions that are four stars or higher.

Yes, but: Maintaining the boycott for senior positions will leave several top roles in limbo, including the heads of U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Cyber Command and the Missile Defense Agency.

What they're saying: After Tuberville announced his partial lift, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he would immediately move forward with promotions that were previously held up.

"Senator Tuberville held out for months, hurt national security and military families, and didn't get anything he wanted," Schumer said on social media.

Tuberville said he has so far gained no political concessions from the blockade and had no regrets for initiating it, according to PunchBowl News.

Catch up quick: Tuberville opposes a Defense Department policy that reimburses service members for certain abortion-related expenses incurred by them or their family members.

The policy was announced after the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which Pentagon officials said negatively affected its readiness and its ability to recruit and retain service members.

The big picture: Because of his boycott, senior roles — including the highest-ranking positions in the Marine Corps, the Army and the Navy — within most branches of the armed forces were only filled by acting officials, according to the Department of Defense.

It was the first time in decades that any branch of the military was led by an acting service chief, and the first time ever that the Marines, Army and Navy simultaneously operated without leaders confirmed by the Senate.

His boycott was opposed by many of his Republican colleagues, the Biden administration, congressional Democrats, the Pentagon and hundreds of spouses to active-duty members of the military. 

Tuberville maintained his stance even as U.S. soldiers in the Middle East have faced repeated attacks since the Israel-Hamas war began in October.

Go deeper: U.S. warship responds to Houthi-claimed attacks on commercial ships in Red Sea

Editor's note: This story was updated with additional information.

U.S. warship responds to Houthi-claimed attacks on commercial ships in Red Sea

Senate confirms military promotions hours after Tuberville ends blockade

 Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) in Congress in November 2023.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) in Congress in November 2023. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Senate

Policymaking

The Senate unanimously confirmed over 400 military promotions on Tuesday just hours after Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) partially lifted his <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="one-man blockade" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/08/tuberville-military-blockade-gop" data-vars-content-id="22d55d1f-f993-412f-8bf9-fd7d6aed208a" data-vars-headline="Senate confirms military promotions hours after Tuberville ends blockade" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/08/tuberville-military-blockade-gop" target="_self">one-man blockade</a> that held the advancements up for months.Why it matters: The Alabama Republican&#x27;s boycott, which he initiated in protest of a Pentagon abortion policy, drew <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="bipartisan criticism" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/02/tommy-tuberville-block-nominations-military" data-vars-content-id="22d55d1f-f993-412f-8bf9-fd7d6aed208a" data-vars-headline="Senate confirms military promotions hours after Tuberville ends blockade" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/02/tommy-tuberville-block-nominations-military" target="_self">bipartisan criticism</a> for jeopardizing military readiness.

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) announced Wednesday he will step down from Congress at the end of the year, leaving the House GOP with an even slimmer majority until a special election to fill his seat can be held. 

Why it matters: McCarthy's exit comes in the wake of a group of conservative hardliners successfully ousted him from his leadership position in a historic vote in October, placing the California Republican in an awkward position within his conference. 

What they're saying: "No matter the odds, or personal cost, we did the right thing. That may seem out of fashion in Washington these days, but delivering results for the American people is still celebrated across the country," McCarthy wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed about his time leading House Republicans.

"It is in this spirit that I have decided to depart the House at the end of this year to serve America in new ways. I know my work is only getting started."

"I will continue to recruit our country's best and brightest to run for elected office. The Republican Party is expanding every day, and I am committed to lending my experience to support the next generation of leaders."

The big picture: The announcement is a pivot from his previous rhetoric in which he asserted he would remain in Congress. 

Speculation began to grow that he would step down in November, with GOP sources noting he posted a photo on Instagram where his district office appeared to be in the process of being packed.

McCarthy — who first came to Congress in 2007 — swiftly climbed the leadership ladder, facing an unsuccessful attempt to get the gavel in 2015 before becoming House minority leader and later speaker after a tumultuous 15-round speaker vote. 

Eight conservative hardliners argued that McCarthy broke the terms of their agreement made during the initial speaker race by passing a clean stop-gap spending bill and forced a motion to vacate, which Democrats ultimately backed. 

The intrigue: Tensions between McCarthy and his critics have been evident since the motion to vacate, took place with some members stating that the sympathy he garnered following the leadership ouster waned due to his handling of speaker’s race to replace him. 

Multiple lawmakers said they were not surprised by his decision to leave, noting that it can’t be easy to lose influence after being replaced. 

McCarthy has repeatedly taken aim at the eight Republicans that voted to oust him, with some members speculating he will spend heavily in primaries and elections to unseat them. 

What to watch: After the expulsion of former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) and Rep. Bill Johnson’s (R-Ohio) expected early exit, some Republicans have voiced concerns about their razor-thin majority shrinking further. 

“Pretty soon we won’t be able to have two Republicans in the same car,” one GOP lawmaker quipped. 

This story is breaking news. Please check back for updates.

Kevin McCarthy to resign from Congress at end of December

He made history as the first House speaker to be ousted.

Congress

Former Speaker <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kevin McCarthy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/30/kevin-mccarthy-speaker-might-leave-congress-gop" data-vars-content-id="5f47d1cd-ed0c-4355-8144-b334c52505c3" data-vars-headline="Kevin McCarthy to resign from Congress at end of December" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/30/kevin-mccarthy-speaker-might-leave-congress-gop" target="_self">Kevin McCarthy</a> (R-Calif.) announced Wednesday he will step down from Congress at the end of the year, leaving the House GOP with an even slimmer majority until a special election to fill his seat can be held. Why it matters: McCarthy&#x27;s exit comes in the wake of a group of conservative hardliners <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="successfully ousted him" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/04/how-trump-shadowed-mccarthys-doomed-speakership" data-vars-content-id="5f47d1cd-ed0c-4355-8144-b334c52505c3" data-vars-headline="Kevin McCarthy to resign from Congress at end of December" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/04/how-trump-shadowed-mccarthys-doomed-speakership" target="_self">successfully ousted him</a> from his leadership position in a historic vote in October, placing the California Republican in an awkward position within his conference.

House Financial Services Chairman Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) is slated to announce he will not seek re-election, three GOP lawmakers confirmed to Axios. 

Why it matters: The North Carolina Republican — who was first elected to his seat in 2004 — played an influential role in policy decisions and conference leadership.

McHenry served three weeks as interim speaker as lawmakers struggled to tap a replacement for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif) — a close ally — following his ouster from in leadership in October.

McHenry played a leading role in negotiating key pieces of legislation, including the debt ceiling deal earlier this year.

He has also served as House Majority Leader Steve Scalise’s chief deputy whip, having overseen much of the whip’s duties while the Louisiana Republican recovered from injuries incurred at the 2017 congressional baseball shooting. 

Of note: McHenry was slated to term out of his chairmanship at the end of this term.

Multiple lawmakers speculated he was likely to exit, noting that he is likely to receive multiple lucrative job offers due to his position on the committee. 

The big picture: Retirements have been a concern for some within the Republican party in terms of their ability to retain the majority. 

And McHenry's exit is expected to tee up a race for the coveted gavel. 

Go deeper: Lawmakers are ditching Congress at a record pace

Lawmakers are ditching Congress at a record pace

Republican Rep. McHenry slated to retire at end of term

The North Carolina Republican has played an influential role in policy and leadership.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) arrives at a House Republican Conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol on November 2, 2023 in Washington, DC. 

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) arrives at a House Republican Conference meeting at the U.S. Capitol on November 2, 2023 in Washington, DC. Photo : Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images

House Financial Services Chairman <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Patrick McHenry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/18/patrick-mchenry-temporary-house-speaker-bio" data-vars-content-id="c091a2c4-37f7-4b57-8529-74b4480b4efe" data-vars-headline="Republican Rep. McHenry slated to retire at end of term" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/18/patrick-mchenry-temporary-house-speaker-bio" target="_self">Patrick McHenry</a> (R-N.C.) is slated to announce he will not seek re-election, three GOP lawmakers confirmed to Axios. Why it matters: The North Carolina Republican — who was <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first elected" data-vars-click-url="https://mchenry.house.gov/biography/#:~:text=Prior%20to%20being%20elected%20to,Bush." data-vars-content-id="c091a2c4-37f7-4b57-8529-74b4480b4efe" data-vars-headline="Republican Rep. McHenry slated to retire at end of term" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mchenry.house.gov/biography/#:~:text=Prior%20to%20being%20elected%20to,Bush." target="_blank">first elected</a> to his seat in 2004 — played an influential role in policy decisions and conference leadership.

House Republican leadership is facing some internal backlash over their last-minute opposition to expelling former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from Congress.

Why it matters: The historic vote to expel Santos was prompted by a report from the bipartisan House Ethics Committee which alleged a "complex web" of wrongdoing by the embattled Long Islander.

Beyond the Ethics Committee, Santos has also been twice criminally indicted. He pleaded not guilty and maintains that he is innocent. 

Driving the news: The House voted 311-114 on Friday to pass a resolution expelling Santos from Congress.

Republicans split almost evenly, with 105 voting for expulsion and 112 voting against – compared to just two Democrats who voted against expulsion and another two who voted "present."

The push to rescue Santos gained 11th hour momentum when Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other members of leadership came out against expulsion the morning of the vote.

Santos' removal winnows the House GOP majority to a three-vote margin, while also giving Democrats an opportunity to pick up Santos' seat.

What we're hearing: Ethics Committee members Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) and John Rutherford (R-Fla.) both floated to colleagues the idea of resigning from the panel if the vote failed, according to two lawmakers and an aide familiar with the discussions.

Garbarino told Politico, which first reported on his conversation: "People were frustrated with how leadership handled this entire thing. ... If this was not the standard to remove someone, why even have an Ethics Committee?"

The resolution to expel Santos was introduced by Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest (R-Miss.) following the release of the report.

What they're saying: Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio), who has been vocally critical of Johnson, said ahead of the vote that leadership's opposition to expulsion was a "shameful" addition to his critiques.

"The speaker and everyone in leadership knows this man is a crook," Miller said.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), in a nod to the political downsides for leadership of backing expulsion, told Axios: "This was a vote of the conscience. Truth and morals don't change based on the margin we have for the majority."

One House Republican, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said of GOP leadership: "I wish they would have voted yes on the resolution because we all know it was the right thing to do."

"It would have sent the message to the country that we don't want criminals in Congress," the lawmaker said. "They shouldn't have announced how they planned on voting either. That was very disappointing given they asked Guest to author the bill."

The other side: Another GOP lawmaker pointed out that Johnson repeatedly told members in closed-door meetings to vote their conscience.

"When Johnson said vote your conscience that was the death sentence for Santos. Leadership was just being leadership," the Republican said. "We all have a role to play in this act."

report from the bipartisan House Ethics Committee

GOP tensions run high after House vote to expel George Santos

Several Republican members of the House Ethics Committee floated resigning in protest.

Former Rep. George Santos. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images.

House Republican leadership is facing some internal backlash over their last-minute opposition to expelling former Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="George Santos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/12/01/george-santos-house-expulsion-vote" data-vars-content-id="c39f768f-c8cd-4f8f-b7ed-5a4b55f974e6" data-vars-headline="GOP tensions run high after House vote to expel George Santos" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/12/01/george-santos-house-expulsion-vote" target="_self">George Santos</a> (R-N.Y.) from Congress.Why it matters: The historic vote to expel Santos was prompted by a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report from the bipartisan House Ethics Committee" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/16/house-ethics-committee-report-george-santos" data-vars-content-id="c39f768f-c8cd-4f8f-b7ed-5a4b55f974e6" data-vars-headline="GOP tensions run high after House vote to expel George Santos" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/16/house-ethics-committee-report-george-santos" target="_self">report from the bipartisan House Ethics Committee</a> which alleged a &quot;complex web&quot; of wrongdoing by the embattled Long Islander.

Juliegrace Brufke

Stories

Kevin McCarthy to resign from Congress at end of December

House GOP hardliners push Mike Johnson to go full throttle

Senate confirms military promotions hours after Tuberville ends blockade

Republican Rep. McHenry slated to retire at end of term

GOP tensions run high after House vote to expel George Santos

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