- “The pro-McCarthy side, there’s anger out there right now,” Don Bacon (R-Neb.) told reporters after the first handful of votes.
- “There’s the chaos caucus, the Taliban 19, Taliban 20 … There’s anger because we negotiated in good faith and gave a lot more than we ever wanted,” Bacon sizzled.
- A former House leadership aide involved in anti-McCarthy maneuvering told The Post the plan was to continue to block McCarthy and House Majority Whip-designate Steve Scalise (R-La.) from becoming speaker until both men removed themselves from consideration for the post.
- At that point, the floor would be thrown open to nominations until a compromise conservative candidate emerged.