Episode Details

The ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, instigated by a coterie of far-right Republicans, has left the U.S. House leaderless. Although McCarthy's demise was unprecedented as the first Speaker to be removed during his term, it was not unexpected. Is his case another example of the turmoil afflicting American democracy, or is this simply the messy infighting of a political party in transition? In this episode, historian Jeremi Suri discusses the meaning of McCarthy's downfall at a time when few Americans trust that government institutions will act on their behalf.