Morning Briefing: Far Right MAGA Caucus Controls Republican Votes for Speaker of the House
Morning Briefing: Far Right MAGA Caucus Controls Republican Votes for Speaker of the House
Twenty far right members of GOP have effectively brought the U.S. House to a standstill, events that 'foreshadow turmoil, frustration and a potential breakdown' in for years to come.
Morning Briefing: There remains no elected Speaker of the House, as a group of twenty far right members of the Republican Party demand rule changes that would “would shift the balance of power in the House to a small but powerful faction of far-right members,” and this has left the “House with no official members, rules or committees,” which are developments that “foreshadow turmoil, frustration and a potential breakdown in governing in the coming two years.”
Must Reads
Chrissy Stroop writes that “looking forward from 2022, it is difficult to see a clear path to a functional democratic American future. Racism, misogyny and anti-LGBTIQ hostility continue to animate a political right characterised by a willingness to hold on to power by any means available. There remains an acute danger of more hate-fuelled violence against members of marginalised groups and high-profile political targets. That said, surviving – itself a powerful act of defiance – and resisting injustice are long-term endeavours. There are more decent Americans than there are hateful ones, and at some point the latter’s dominance of so many of our institutions must become unsustainable. One way or another, as the late great singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen put it, ‘Democracy is coming to the USA’.” [openDemocracy]
Hannah Beckler reports that “at Club Q, the cruelty of that rhetoric is painfully real. A community memorial now decorates the low-slung building. Photos of the five people who were killed hang across its stone facade: Daniel Aston, 28, a Club Q bartender, performer, and self-proclaimed "master of silly business"; Derrick Rump, 38, whose warmth behind the bar, regulars said, "made Club Q"; Kelly Loving, 40, described by friends as "authentic and unapologetic," and who, a witness said, shielded another patron from the shooter; Raymond Green Vance, 22, who was celebrating a birthday that night with his girlfriend and her family; and Ashley Paugh, 35, mother to an 11-year-old daughter, who came to Club Q that night with a friend. The pavement around the club's entrance is piled high with flowers, candles, and notes of support.” [Insider]
Annika Brockschmidt writes that “democracy can never be taken for granted—especially not during a period of economic hardship, looming climate change, and a lingering pandemic. Remember: Fascism offers a seemingly easy solution for crises both real and imaginary. And we might be a mere crisis or two from fascists gaining ground in what already is a perilous situation for democracy. Solidarity, compassion, and knowledge will be needed—in 2023 perhaps more than ever. The continued resolution for the new year for me and many of my colleagues is to keep up the work we do—to analyze, explain and contextualize. To give people the tools and knowledge to not only diagnose the threat facing our democracy but to treat it as well. So please stay vigilant and stay safe—and we’ll see you in the new year.” [Religion Dispatches]
This Week in Extremism: Far Right Extremism in 2023 and January 6th
A discussion about what to expect from the far right during 2023 and thoughts on the anniversary of the January 6th Insurrection with guest speakers Jared Holt, Will Sommer, and Sarah Posner. Join the discussion Friday, January 6th at 12:00pm EST (11:00am CST / 9:00am PST).
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What to expect from Radical Reports: Morning Briefing provides a daily round-up of reporting on the Radical Right; Extremist Links offers a weekly round-up of extremists activities including the white supremacist and militia movements; Narratives of the Right delivers weekly analysis of the current narratives in far right online spaces and promoted by right-wing media; and Research Desk provides monthly highlights research and analysis from academia on the Radical Right.
