Jan. 31, 2023: The House GOP’s growing pains

POLITICO Playbook Daily Briefing

One month into the House Republican majority, a clear picture is emerging of the problems Speaker Kevin McCarthy will face managing his slim, five-seat majority. (That is, if the chaotic speaker election didn’t make things clear enough.)

Already, Republicans are scrambling to salvage red-meat proposals they’ve been talking about for months, whether it’s cracking down on the southwest border or targeting Omar’s committee seat. Yes, it’s early going, but the new majority’s struggles in passing messaging bills does not bode well for the more consequential legislation that will have to clear the House later on.

“Nothing in a majority this narrow is going to be easy,” Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) said, in what we might call the understatement of the year.

Two key dynamics we’re watching this week...

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