So I Go Out For Dinner…

Happy Fourteenth Speaker Vote to those who celebrate 🤓 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/hwIFRCdlIu

— Sarah Rumpf (@rumpfshaker) January 7, 2023

...with McCarthy’s prediction he might win this evening making me half-expect a headline by now.

One leadership aide tells me leadership’s strategy for passing rules tonight is to essentially tell members the plan is to get McCarthy the gavel and argue that w/o the rules, they can’t govern.

Basically swallow this pill and fight another day on things like defense spending

— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) January 7, 2023

They got a bit ahead of themselves, too.

Do the new House rules say the Freedom Caucus gets to keep Kevin's jewels in a jar?

— Don Lewis (@DonLew87) January 7, 2023

Doesn’t that go without saying?

@ABABankers - how is this going to work out for you? https://t.co/NxwtEKL8Hf

— Reed Galen (@reedgalen) January 6, 2023

And there are more players in this game than those on the floor of the House. (McCarthy can negotiate the vote on the rules, but what does he give up then? And he can’t do multiple ballots on the same package.)

Kevin McCarthy may become Speaker tonight, but it wasn't supposed to be this difficult. Trump bears a lot of responsibility for the GOP's House majority being so small & unruly, and as a result his efforts to influence the Speaker vote were farcical. (1/2) https://t.co/9bHqj2kNZf

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 6, 2023

Apparently more blame than that:

2/ The key aim is to get McCarthy to agree to allow the Freedom Caucus to control all key power levers in the House.

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 7, 2023

So it doesn’t really matter what Gaetz says about Trump? 

Chaos on the House floor: After losing the 14th ballot for Speaker, Kevin McCarthy appeared to plead with Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) to change his vote from present to McCarthy.

Then, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) had to be held back from going at Gaetz. pic.twitter.com/foyCRVYrw1

— The Recount (@therecount) January 7, 2023

Reports are Gaetz is pissed because McCarthy didn’t do enough when Gaetz was accused of sex trafficking. How much good will is Gaetz generating now?

Here's what just happened: It's a 216-216 tie

McCarthy walked over to Gaetz to try to flip him from PRESENT to YES, but to no avail

— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) January 7, 2023

Pulling Mike Rogers away from screaming at Gaetz pic.twitter.com/8aZDajfeaN

— Helen Kennedy 🌻 (@HelenKennedy) January 7, 2023

As others have noted, the weirdest part is that House GOPers stood and clapped Gaetz when he cast his present vote as if they were completely unaware that he'd just pulled the entire rug out from under them. so bizarre.

— Sam Stein (@samstein) January 7, 2023

McHenry Introduces Motion To Adjourn https://t.co/juNRnuYDMX

— Talking Points Memo (@TPM) January 7, 2023

It's fun to watch Kevin McCarthy lose 13 straight votes because the loons are essentially right about him: He doesn't believe in anything, and he'll do anything to be speaker. The holdouts aren't interested in governing, but they've shown he isn't either. https://t.co/cjzOTXPdf4

— Jack Holmes (@jackholmes0) January 6, 2023

Or 14; or maybe 15...16...What are the predictions Gaetz will fold?

Hard to see this happening without a deal on the next ballot BUT ... https://t.co/GeSGdxSVR0

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) January 7, 2023

Well; never say "never."

Lol Dems Ask For Six GOPers To Join Vote For Jeffries Bc Why Not https://t.co/0Oi8WzqQgO

— Talking Points Memo (@TPM) January 7, 2023

Oh, and the king-maker:

As that commotion was just playing out on the House floor, I am told former President Trump spoke with Andy Biggs and Matt Gaetz, placing the calls as it appeared McCarthy was not going to secure the speakership tonight and the House was going to adjourn until Monday.

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) January 7, 2023

DT. https://t.co/k20gI4Ijdo

— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) January 7, 2023