Good morning. It's Wednesday, Oct. 4. Here's what you need to know to start your day.
- House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted
- Laphonza Butler was sworn in as California's newest U.S. senator
- 11 California hikes to see spectacular fall foliage
- And here's today's e-newspaper
The tragedy of McCarthy
Kevin McCarthy made history, but not in a way he'd like. On Tuesday the Republican from Bakersfield became the first speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives to be voted out of his seat.
The historic revolt came from a contingent of Republicans, orchestrated by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who voted with Democrats 216-210. Gaetz said McCarthy had betrayed the GOP by making a deal with Democrats over the weekend that averted a government shutdown.
"McCarthy's defeat sends a clear signal to whoever replaces him that the far right of the Republican Party will not tolerate compromise," Times reporter Erin B. Logan and freelance journalist Cameron Joseph wrote.
But there are a couple ironies you can spot from space: the Republicans who would not abide McCarthy's aisle-crossing punished him by siding with Democrats to give him the boot.
Here's another, as Erin and Cameron explained: "To win the speaker's gavel in January, McCarthy restored rules that made it easy for any member of the House to move to overthrow him — the same rules that led to his defeat Tuesday."
Rep. Patrick T. McHenry (R-N.C.) was tapped to serve as acting speaker until a new speaker is elected. But with GOP in-fighting at an evidently historic level, it's unclear who could secure enough votes to succeed McCarthy in a job one Republic strategist equated to "being mayor of hell."
It was the final act of a tragedy some felt would be worthy of Shakespeare's quill, and one a long time in the making. McCarthy spent years charting his path to the speakership. As Times reporter Jeffrey Fleishman and former correspondent Melanie Mason wrote in January:
"Every wrinkle and twist of his career — from a young California assemblyman to minority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives — telegraphed his ambition. Some found him earnest, others calculating and duplicitous."
And what does this D.C. drama mean for California? Erin and Cameron called McCarthy's ousting "the latest blow to the power and reach of California's congressional delegation."
It follows former Speaker Nancy Pelosi's decision to step away from House leadership and the death of longtime Sen. Dianne Feinstein last week. (Gov. Gavin Newsom's appointee to serve out Feinstein's term, Laphonza Butler, was sworn in on the Senate floor Tuesday.)
Prominent Democrats seemed mostly unfazed by the power vacuum created by Tuesday's vote. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), who is running to represent California in the Senate next term, told The Times that McCarthy "hasn't really fought for California to begin with."
Then there's the awkward fact that McCarthy still works in the building. Who among us would enjoy showing up to work after being demoted, knowing all the colleagues who voted to strip away our dream job?
Shakespearean? Maybe, but this type of drama would also be at home on Bravo.
More on McCarthy
Today's top stories
Vice President Kamala Harris, right, and Laphonza Butler reenact Butler's swearing-in on Capitol Hill in Washington as California's new U.S. senator with Butler's wife, Neneki Lee, holding a book. (Stephanie Scarbrough / Associated Press)
California's new senator
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(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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For your downtime
(Clayton Peoples)
Going out
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And finally ... a great photo
Show us your favorite place in California! Send us photos you have taken of spots in California that are special — natural or human-made — and tell us why they're important to you.
(Kelley White)
Today's great photo is from Kelley White of São Paulo, Brazil: The Transatlantic Pyramid in San Francisco. White writes: "It stands out on the skyline and to me is a constant reminder that I am in the city that I love so dearly."
Have a great day, from the Essential California team
Ryan Fonseca, reporter
Elvia Limón, multiplatform editor
Laura Blasey, assistant editor
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters
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