McCarthy fails in speakership bid for 11th time | First Thing

Impasse over choosing House speaker continues as Republican falls short of votes held up by his detractors. Plus, an expert's tips for better sleep

Good morning.

Despite House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy entering the third day of voting for House speaker with fresh momentum for his candidacy, the 118th Congress made history again yesterday, as he failed to win for the 11th time after eight hours of voting.

Who are the hardline House members voting against McCarthy? A group of about 20 hardline Republicans have brought Washington to a standstill. They include Pennsylvania's Scott Perry, who is the chair of the caucus, Florida's Byron Donalds, Texas Republican Chip Roy and Lauren Boebert, who has expressed support for the QAnon conspiracy theory.

What did Bowers Bowers tell the House committee investigating the January 6 insurrection? He said that shortly after the November 2020 election he had received a phone call personally from Trump, who asked him to take the state's 11 electoral college votes away from Biden and hand them to him. Bowers replied: Look, you're asking me to do something that is counter to my oath ... I will not do it."