Good morning, everyone! I’m here today with the latest installment of the Wake Up To Politics Book Club.
This morning, I’m sharing my interview with Annie Karni, a congressional correspondent for The New York Times and co-author of the new book “Mad House,” an informative, entertaining, and more-than-a-little-dispiriting look back at the 118th Congress.
The 118th Congress, for those of you who don’t remember, was the Congress of the 15 chaotic ballots to elect Kevin McCarthy as House speaker. And the unprecedented vote to remove McCarthy as speaker. And the four ballots that eventually led to Mike Johnson, a relative unknown, becoming speaker. And it was the Congress of George Santos. And of a high-stakes debt ceiling showdown. And, as if those domestic partisan battles weren’t enough, two actual wars were taking place throughout.
It was, as Annie told me, the Congress that “really broke” the institution as a whole.
In the interview, Annie and I discuss:
Donald Trump’s ability to keep congressional Republicans in line
Whether anything could happen that would cause the GOP to break with Trump
How much the chaos of the last Congress still hangs over the Hill today
Whether Democrats are about to face a Tea Party moment
How long Mike Johnson will remain as speaker
Steve Bannon’s continuing influence over Republican politics
How members of Congress feel about Congress
What in the world Jamie Raskin and Lauren Boebert text about
And more!
Annie also shares her picks for most compelling members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, and dishes on how many Republicans are true MAGA believers vs. how many are just playing along.
I really enjoyed talking with Annie, and the book is a great read as well. I hope you’ll check out both. Here’s another link to “Mad House.” The video above includes a preview for everyone, but the full thing is available exclusively for paid subscribers.
