Barring something genuinely surprising, the federal government will shut
down in a little more than 24 hours’ time, as House Republicans show no
sign of being able to pass the appropriations bills that have vexed them
for weeks. Now, as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy takes the blame, there
are growing whispers that conservative hard-liners will launch an
audacious gambit to oust him and replace him with Majority Whip Tom
Emmer. Playbook co-author Rachael Bade walks us through the state of
play behind the scenes — including the central role played by Trumpy
Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz.