(DUBAI, United Arab Emirates) — A 21-year-old New York City college student has been sentenced to prison time in the United Arab Emirates over an altercation at a Dubai airport, an advocacy group said.
Elizabeth Polanco De Los Santos, a student at Lehman College in the Bronx, was sentenced to one year in prison after being accused of “assaulting and insulting” Dubai International Airport customs officials, according to Detained in Dubai, an advocacy organization that supports foreign nationals who have been detained and prosecuted in the United Arab Emirates.
De Los Santos was traveling back to New York from a trip to Istanbul with a friend when she had a 10-hour layover in Dubai on July 14, according to Detained in Dubai. While going through security, a security officer asked the student, who recently had surgery, to remove a medical waist trainer suit she wears around her waist, stomach and upper chest, the group said.
De Los Santos complied and repeatedly asked the female customs officers for help to put the compressor back on to no avail, according to Detained in Dubai. While calling out to her friend for help, she “gently touched” the arm of one of the female officers “to guide her out of the way” of the security curtain, De Los Santos told Detained in Dubai.
De Los Santos was detained for touching the female customs office, signed paperwork in Arabic and was allowed to leave the airport, according to Detained in Dubai. Upon returning for her flight to the U.S., she was told she had a travel ban issued against her, the group said.
On Aug. 24, judges ordered her to pay a fine of 10,000 dirhams (about $2,700) but customs officials appealed the sentence, according to Detained in Dubai. She was sentenced to a year in prison, the advocacy group said on Monday.
“They either want her in jail or they want to pressure her into making a compensatory payment to them,” Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, claimed in a statement last month. “The government of Dubai should stop this type of corruption by banning government employees from being able to accept out-of-court settlements for criminal complaints,” but does not mention the risk of detention.
The State Department said they are “aware of the sentencing” of De Los Santos.
“The department is in communication with her and her family and we’re going to continue to monitor her case and be involved,” State Department principal deputy spokesperson Verdant Patel said at a press briefing Tuesday.
ABC News did not immediately receive a response from Dubai authorities seeking comment on the matter.
According to Detained in Dubai, the appeals process could take months. Detained in Dubai is calling for De Los Santos’ immediate release, as well as urging the State Department to revise its travel warnings to “include the risk of false allegations and extortion scams.” Currently the State Department’s advisory warns Americans to “exercise increased caution in the United Arab Emirates due to the threat of missile or drone attacks and terrorism.”
De Los Santos’ mother contacted Detained in Dubai after learning about Tierra Allen’s case, the group said. The Texas resident was charged in Dubai for allegedly verbally accosting a rental car agent in April and was issued a travel ban while awaiting trial, according to Detained in Dubai. Her criminal charges were ultimately dropped and the travel ban lifted, and she was able to return to the U.S. in August, according to Detained in Dubai.
The U.K.-based auction house Propstore is putting another slew of Hollywood treasure up on the block in an event running November 9 – 12, and the items — and their prices — are likely to make any movie fan’s jaw drop.
Among the 1,800 items up for grabs is a light-up, screen-used head of the protocol droid C-3PO from 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. The item comes from the personal collection of the actor who played him in every movie in the saga, Anthony Daniels. It’s estimated to fetch anywhere from $575,000 – $1,150,000, but as in nearly every auction, it’s likely this and other items will go for more when the hammer drops.
In fact, Prop Store estimates the haul in this collection could fetch more than $14 million.
Other items include Harrison Ford‘s bullwhip from 1984’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, estimated to go for anywhere from $115,000-$230,000 — the same estimate goes for Leonardo DiCaprio‘s costume as Jack Dawson in 1997’s Titanic.
Other big-ticket items include Ursula Andress‘ Honey Rider bathrobe from 1962’s first official James Bond movie Dr. No ($80,500 – $161,000); Chris Evans‘ shield from 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger ($57,500 – $115,000), and Jennifer Lawrence‘s Katniss Everdeen bow and quiver from 2013’s The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ($23,000 – $46,000).
Check out the full listing at Prop Store’s website. Who knows, there’s a huge Powerball drawing between now and then, so might as well window-shop now.
The celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary continues with the Grammy Museum’s new exhibit.
Presented by Google Pixel, Hip-Hop America: The Mixtape Exhibit, will explore “the profound impact and influence of hip-hop culture” via an immersive, expansive and interactive experience, featuring artifacts from some of the genre’s biggest stars.
Included in the exhibit are The Notorious B.I.G.’s iconic red leather pea jacket, Lil Wayne‘s Best Rap Album Grammy, custom sets of Saweetie‘s acrylic nails and more, as well as interviews with the likes of MC Lyte and Cordae, who discuss their creative process.
There will also be an interactive photo experience and a five-station Sonic Playground that allows visitors to DJ, rap and sample, and includes The Rap City Experience. Like the old BET show, Rap City: The Basement, that station will feature former host Darian “Big Tigger” Morgan and give visitors the opportunity to freestyle over beats.
The exhibit is open from Saturday, October 7, to September 4, 2024, with a special opening event preceding the launch on October 6 at 8 p.m. PT. Tickets are available on universe.com.
The Grammy Museum, in partnership with The Debut Live, will also launch a multi-part event series highlighting iconic hip-hop albums. The conversations with Billboard’s Deputy Director Carl Lamarre and artists including DJ Khaled, Joey Bada$$, Rick Ross and T.I will be available to stream October 6, exclusively on the GRAMMY Museum’s streaming platform COLLECTION:live™.
BET and Mass Appeal will then screen the first two episodes of the upcoming Welcome to Rap City documentary on October 9.
Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters is set to promote the release of his upcoming album, The Dark Side of the Moon Redux, with live shows at The London Palladium October 8 and 9, and he’s giving fans a preview of what to expect.
The rocker has shared some clips from rehearsals on Instagram, including footage of him performing “Us and Them” and “Money.” There’s also a clip of Waters giving his band some direction, and he appears to be pleased.
“Sounds great,” he says. “You guys have done a lot of proper homework.”
The Dark Side of the Moon Redux isWaters’ reimagining of Pink Floyd’s classic 1973 album, The Dark Side of the Moon. It drops October 6 and is available for preorder now. Anyone who presaves the release on Spotify or Apple Music will be entered into a sweepstakes to win a signed test pressing of the album.
Vivica A. Fox in Sworn Justice: Taken Before Christmas – BET+
BET’s streaming network BET+ is giving fans a lot for the holidays.
On Tuesday, the streaming network revealed 12 projects, including holiday films, a festive installment of The Ms. Pat Show directed by legend Debbie Allen and TV specials timed for the season.
The slate runs from November 2 to December 21 on BET+.
Among the other projects, Vivica A. Fox appears in the suspense thriller Sworn Justice: Taken Before Christmas. Robin Givens wrote, executive produced and stars in the romantic comedy Christmas Rescue, and she also directed the faith-based drama Favorite Son Christmas.
Tichina Arnold and Jackée Harry will star in So Fly Christmas. Singer and actress Macy Gray will topline Never Alone for Christmas, and Christmas Angel will star Tamar Braxton, Skyh Black and actor/recording artist Romeo Miller.
Here’s the full schedule:
November 2
A Wesley Christmas Wedding
Heart for the Holidays
November 9
Christmas Angel
November 16
Sworn Justice: Taken Before Christmas
November 23
The Ms. Pat Show Holiday Episode “Father Christmas”
(WASHINGTON) — A showdown is unfolding Tuesday to determine House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s fate as leader of the chamber’s Republican majority.
Hard-line Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida is leading the charge against McCarthy. He introduced a so-called motion to vacate late Monday after criticizing how McCarthy has handled spending and budget issues since Republicans retook majority control of the chamber and claiming McCarthy can’t be trusted.
McCarthy has defended his record, including most recently in averting a partial federal government shutdown with Democratic support — calling himself “the adult in the room.”
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Oct 03, 4:54 PM EDT
The Republicans who voted to remove McCarthy
Eight Republicans voted to take away McCarthy’s gavel.
In addition to Gaetz, who introduced the motion to vacate, the following Republicans voted to oust McCarthy: Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ken Buck of Colorado, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Eli Crane of Arizona, Bob Good of Virginia, Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Matt Rosendale of Arizona.
Every Democrat present also supported the motion to vacate.
Oct 03, 4:53 PM EDT
McHenry named interim speaker pro tempore
In the minutes after the motion to vacate against McCarthy, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., was named as speaker pro tempore, an interim role to lead the chamber until another speaker is elected at a future point.
McHenry is a top McCarthy ally and chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.
He recessed the House for caucus meetings.
Oct 03, 4:51 PM EDT
House votes to remove McCarthy as speaker — a historic first
In a 45-minute roll call vote, the House moved to oust McCarthy as speaker.
The final vote was 216 to 210 in favor of Gaetz’s motion to vacate, with eight Republicans joining Democrats.
“The office of speaker of the House of the United States House of Representatives is hereby declared vacant,” said presiding officer Rep. Steve Womack.
It is the first time in U.S. history that the speaker of the House has been booted from the post, putting the chamber in unprecedented territory.
Oct 03, 4:42 PM EDT
Republican rebels appear to have the votes to remove McCarthy
Republican rebels appear to have enough votes to remove McCarthy as speaker, given that Democrats joined them, though the vote is ongoing.
Oct 03, 4:20 PM EDT
What happens if Gaetz wins — and McCarthy loses?
The House would be in uncharted waters if McCarthy is removed as speaker: A motion to vacate has never been used successfully.
But the chamber wouldn’t be as paralyzed and chaotic as it was in January amid McCarthy’s five-day, 15-ballot vote to win the gavel.
As part of a rule change after 9/11 to support the continuity of government, the speaker is required to deliver to the House clerk an ordered list of members who can act as speaker pro tempore in the event of a vacancy.
The person at the top of McCarthy’s list will serve as interim speaker until a new one is elected.
If the motion to vacate is successful, the chamber could go right to another speaker vote — and McCarthy’s allies could put him forward again to reclaim his post.
But unlike in January, it’s possible that the House could take up other business in the meantime: The chamber has a rules package, and the speaker pro tempore would have the authority to act as speaker until a new one is elected.
Oct 03, 4:06 PM EDT
Vote begins on motion to vacate
A roll call vote is underway on the motion to vacate, which will decide whether McCarthy will keep his gavel.
If successful, it will be a historic moment. The motion to vacate has only been used once before — more than a century ago — and failed.
It would take as few as five Republican defections to oust McCarthy as speaker, if all Democrats vote against him.
Oct 03, 3:55 PM EDT
Scalise, whom Gaetz floated as possible successor, backs McCarthy
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise also stood up to support McCarthy during the debate on the motion to vacate, saying now isn’t the time to stop the progress House Republicans have made.
“When we go back to January, as many people have, we knew that it was going to be a narrow majority,” Scalise said. “We also knew it wasn’t going to be easy. How many of us came here because we thought this job was going to be easy?”
Scalise continued, “One thing we did know is that if we were going to finally start confronting the problems that had been ignored for years and years and years, we had to change the way this place worked. And one thing Speaker McCarthy embraced from Day 1 is to start making those kind of changes to this institution — opening up the process, allowing members to be more engaged, having amendments come to the floor, single-subject bills, doing appropriations bills.”
“Speaker McCarthy has been leading at the top of the level to make sure we have the tools to do our jobs,” he added.
Gaetz said earlier this week he’d support Scalise for speaker and believed other Republicans would, too, telling reporters he thinks “very highly” of the No. 2 House Republican.
Oct 03, 3:38 PM EDT
Jim Jordan calls McCarthy ‘rock solid’
With debate continuing between those backing McCarthy and the minority in the GOP who have joined Gaetz, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said McCarthy deserves to keep his job — calling him “rock solid” on several promises Republicans made when they retook majority control of the chamber.
Jordan pointed to several bills that were passed by the House, including border security legislation and rescinding funding for the IRS. Jordan also touted House oversight activities and defended McCarthy’s actions to keep the government open and operational for 45 more days.
“I think the speaker has kept his word,” he said. “I know my colleagues and friends are saying different. I think he has kept his word … I think we should keep him as speaker.”
Oct 03, 3:34 PM EDT
Gaetz personally responding to pro-McCarthy speeches
During the debate, after initially introducing speeches from a few other Republicans who are backing his motion, including Andy Biggs and Bob Good, Gaetz has since used his time to personally respond to each of the pro-McCarthy speeches being made by other lawmakers.
Those responses have sometimes been as brief as simply disputing the common refrain from McCarthy’s backers: that moving to oust him is a short-sighted and punitive act that won’t help the conference accomplish its goals.
Not so, Gaetz has continually said as he repeats his argument: McCarthy must go.
-ABC News’ Adam Carlson
Oct 03, 3:29 PM EDT
Gaetz shooed away from Republican microphones
Right before debate began on the motion to vacate, Gaetz was seen trying to use the microphones on the Republican side of the chamber.
But he was blocked by McCarthy allies and aides, who shooed him to the Democratic side of the chamber.
McCarthy is sitting in the second row on the Republican side of the chamber as debate continues.
Oct 03, 3:21 PM EDT
Gaetz: ‘Chaos is Speaker McCarthy’
Gaetz took aim at Cole’s comments as he also slammed McCarthy and criticized Capitol Hill’s approach to spending.
“Chaos is Speaker McCarthy,” Gaetz said, rebuffing how Cole argued that the motion to vacate would create needless disruption in the chamber.
“Chaos is somebody that we cannot trust with their word. The one thing that the White House, House Democrats and many of us on the conservative side of the Republican caucus would argue is that the thing we have in common: Kevin McCarthy said something to all of us at one point that he didn’t really mean and never intended to live up to.”
Gaetz went on to lambast the size of national debt and deficit as well as the lack of single-subject spending bills — something McCarthy has said he is also focused on enacting.
Oct 03, 3:11 PM EDT
Cole defends McCarthy’s record and urges Dems to think twice
After Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., delivered a speech castigating McCarthy and explaining why he was joining Gaetz in the motion to vacate, Republican Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma spoke out in support of McCarthy and warned of “chaos” should the conference’s breakaway faction succeed in removing him.
“They’re willing to plunge this body into chaos, and this country into uncertainty, for reasons only they understand,” Cole said. To the Democrats who are expected to vote against McCarthy as well, Cole said, “Think long and hard before you plunge us into chaos.”
Cole also celebrated how McCarthy had navigated the differences in the closely divided House — and Washington more broadly — to notch spending cuts in the debt limit fight earlier this year, pushing back on criticism from Gaetz and others that McCarthy hadn’t done enough to curb the federal budget.
Cole also suggested McCarthy had proven himself capable of making sure the House would continue to accomplish Republican priorities.
“I’m very proud of this speaker. I’m very proud to stand behind him. Tomorrow morning, whether I win or lose, I’m going to be pretty proud of the people I fought with and I’m going to be pretty proud of the person I fought for,” Cole said.
-ABC News’ Adam Carlson
Oct 03, 3:08 PM EDT
As debate begins ahead of vote, Rep. Good outlines his case against McCarthy
Debate began Tuesday afternoon on the motion to vacate ahead of the vote on it. Gaetz ceded the floor to Virginia Republican Rep. Bob Good.
“Like so many others, I deeply regret that we are here in a totally avoidable situation,” Good said as he began his remarks, which largely targeted McCarthy’s actions on spending to date. “I must take you back to January, however, which for many of us was about not repeating the failures of the past and letting Republican voters across the country down once again.”
Good continued, “Back in January, I expressed my concern that the previous two years during my first term here in this House, we had not used every tool at our disposal to fight against the harmful, radical, Democratic agenda that is destroying the country, bankrupting the country and under which the American people are suffering.”
Oct 03, 3:04 PM EDT
McCarthy presides over opening prayer, possibly for last time
McCarthy presided over the House opening prayer — with his head bowed, eyes closed and hands clasped — possibly for the final time as his speakership hangs in the balance.
“On this day, may we sacrifice our inclination for contempt and instead initiate kindness,” Chaplain Margaret Kibben said as she offered the prayer.
“Loosen our grip on judgment and instead may we grab hold of a generosity of spirit. May we foreswear our grudges and commit instead to exercise forbearance. Hold us accountable that our arguments will hold forth your righteousness and not ring hallow in our rightness.”
Oct 03, 3:03 PM EDT
What Democrats said about McCarthy behind closed doors
Sources in the room shared with ABC News some of what was said during the hourslong Democratic caucus meeting earlier Tuesday.
Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin specifically raised McCarthy’s conduct surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack, slamming his about-face on Trump after initially blaming him for the riot.
New York’s Dan Goldman told members he received a call from former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney encouraging Democrats to “get rid” of McCarthy.
California Rep. Adam Schiff, a movie buff, quoted “The Big Lebowski” in reference to Gaetz and their agreement over removing McCarthy: “You’re not wrong, Walter. You’re just an a——.”
Oct 03, 2:57 PM EDT
Republicans fail to block motion to vacate
The motion to table Gaetz’s own motion to vacate — which would have effectively killed his request before it received a vote — has failed, 208-218.
Eleven Republicans joined all Democrats in voting it down — setting up a key vote on the motion to vacate.
The failure of the motion to table suggests McCarthy’s speakership is in real jeopardy as he would need a majority of support of the chamber to back him in order to keep his role.
A vote on the motion to vacate is expected shortly. After the vote, McCarthy slumped in his chair in the second row.
-ABC News’ Adam Carlson
Oct 03, 2:35 PM EDT
House voting on motion to table Gaetz’s call to remove McCarthy
McCarthy ally Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., introduced a motion to table — or effectively kill — Gaetz’s effort to oust McCarthy.
Democrats then requested a voice vote on the motion, which is ongoing. It is a 15-minute vote.
Oct 03, 2:27 PM EDT
Ahead of vote, McCarthy and Gaetz spotted on the House floor
Speaker McCarthy and Rep. Gaetz are sitting just rows away from each other on the packed House floor ahead of votes on the motion to vacate.
Oct 03, 2:03 PM EDT
6 Republicans now support motion to vacate
Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., just announced his support for the motion to oust McCarthy.
“I have kept my promise to the people of Montana by voting to make us energy-dominant again, secure our border, cut spending, and to put an end to the social experiment being inflicted on our military,” Rosendale wrote in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Unfortunately, Kevin McCarthy violated his promise to the American people and the Republican Conference by working against them repeatedly and supporting ploys to aid the Left. This demonstration of failed leadership is exactly why I plan on supporting the motion to vacate this afternoon,” Rosendale added.
The five other Republicans who’ve said they want McCarthy removed are Rep. Matt Gaetz, Rep. Bob Good of Virginia, Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona and Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee.
-ABC News’ Katherine Faulders
Oct 03, 1:26 PM EDT
Democrats don’t plan to save McCarthy’s speakership
During a more than two-hour caucus meeting, Democrats were strongly encouraged to vote to not support Speaker McCarthy as he fights for his job, sources tell ABC News.
“It is now the responsibility of the GOP members to end the House Republican Civil War,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement. “Given their unwillingness to break from MAGA extremism in an authentic and comprehensive manner, House Democratic leadership will vote yes on the pending Republican Motion to Vacate the Chair.”
Several Democrats said they don’t plan to bail McCarthy out.
“We’re not voting in any way that would help save speaker McCarthy,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said.
Vice Chair of House Democratic caucus Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., said, “the leadership put out the facts and the caucus heard from a lot of members… we need a functioning government and speaker McCarthy has shown he cannot govern.”
Oct 03, 1:20 PM EDT
Has an effort to remove a House speaker ever succeeded?
A motion to vacate has only ever been voted on once, in 1910, in an effort to boot then-Speaker Joseph Cannon. The effort failed.
In 2015, then-Rep. Mark Meadows filed a resolution to force a vote on then-Speaker John Boehner’s leadership. But because Meadows didn’t introduce it on the House floor, it wasn’t taken up for consideration.
While history shows previous such efforts over the years have always failed — it’s possible this one could succeed.
(WASHINGTON) — The White House on Tuesday expressed confidence that regardless of developments on Capitol Hill, the U.S. would ultimately provide more assistance for Ukraine — but warned, absent progress, current funding could run out in “a couple of months.”
Despite Congress’ failure to approve additional aid for Ukraine in government funding passed over the weekend — and with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s job hanging in the balance — White House national security spokesman John Kirby said he remained hopeful.
“All of the House leadership is supportive of continuing to help Ukraine, and the vast majority of House members on the Republican side are in support of continuing to help Ukraine,” Kirby said. “There’s a small number of very vocal — a small minority of vocal members who are pushing back on that, but they don’t represent their party, they don’t represent their leadership.”
But without additional aid from Congress, the U.S. could continue to provide funding for Ukraine at the current levels for just “a couple of months or so, roughly,” he said.
The exact length of time depended on developments on the battlefield in the coming weeks and how Ukraine’s needs evolve, he added.
On Monday, the White House said only that it could sustain Ukraine’s battlefield needs “for a bit longer.”
“I need a little bit of breathing room on what ‘a bit’ means,” Kirby said Tuesday. “But — but you know, in coming weeks — and a couple of months or so is roughly about right.”
President Joe Biden called allies Tuesday morning to update them on developments on Capitol Hill and tell them he was “confident that we’re going to continue to have bipartisan and bicameral support up on Capitol Hill and that the United States will continue to meet our commitments” to Ukraine, according to Kirby.
“None of the foreign leaders expressed concerns about continued U.S. support,” Kirby said. “They understand what’s going on up on Capitol Hill. They understand that this is a small minority of extreme Republicans that are holding this up, and that, and they understand that the bulk of Republican leadership, House and the Senate, all support Ukraine.”
Support for funding for Ukraine has been a key sticking point in Rep. Matt Gaetz’s bid to oust McCarthy, with the Florida Republican accusing McCarthy of making a “side deal” with Biden on Ukraine funding to get Democratic support to avoid a government shutdown. McCarthy, now the subject of Gaetz’s motion to vacate, has denied this claim.
Biden, who has emphasized the importance of funding Ukraine, was asked by a reporter on Sunday if he was “going to be able to trust Speaker McCarthy when the next deal comes around.”
“We just made one about Ukraine,” Biden replied. “So, we’ll find out.”
The White House has since declined to clarify what deal Biden had been referring to, or even say if Biden and McCarthy had actually made a deal at all. Rather, officials have pointed to McCarthy’s public support for military aid to Kyiv.
Kirby told ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Selina Wang on Tuesday that reduced U.S. support would mean Ukraine would not be able to still defend itself — and that Russia would be able to retake the initiative in its invasion.
“We know that the counteroffensive has not gone as far or as fast as even the Ukrainian wanted to,” Kirby said, noting that there were only six to eight more weeks before winter weather would make Ukraine’s counteroffensive more challenging.
“Time is not our friend,” he said.
Kirby warned that it was “imperative” to help Ukraine “take advantage of every single day” — and to send a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“A lapse in support for even a short period of time can make all the difference on the battlefield,” Kirby said. “Just as critically, such a lapse in support will make Putin believe that he can out — he can wait us out.”
Check out the Reba at Dillard’s fall collection now at dillards.com.
Coming up, Reba will release her new lifestyle book, Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots, and its companion album, Not That Fancy, on October 10 and October 6, respectively.
Both the book and album are available for preorder now at NotThatFancy.com.
(WASHINGTON) — A showdown is unfolding Tuesday to determine House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s fate as leader of the chamber’s Republican majority.
Hard-line Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida is leading the charge against McCarthy. He introduced a so-called motion to vacate late Monday after criticizing how McCarthy has handled spending and budget issues since Republicans retook majority control of the chamber and claiming McCarthy can’t be trusted.
McCarthy has defended his record, including most recently in averting a partial federal government shutdown with Democratic support — calling himself “the adult in the room.”
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Oct 03, 4:06 PM EDT
Vote begins on motion to vacate
A roll call vote is underway on the motion to vacate, which will decide whether McCarthy will keep his gavel.
If successful, it will be a historic moment. The motion to vacate has only been used once before — more than a century ago — and failed.
It would take as few as five Republican defections to oust McCarthy as speaker, if all Democrats vote against him.
Oct 03, 3:55 PM EDT
Scalise, whom Gaetz floated as possible successor, backs McCarthy
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise also stood up to support McCarthy during the debate on the motion to vacate, saying now isn’t the time to stop the progress House Republicans have made.
“When we go back to January, as many people have, we knew that it was going to be a narrow majority,” Scalise said. “We also knew it wasn’t going to be easy. How many of us came here because we thought this job was going to be easy?”
Scalise continued, “One thing we did know is that if we were going to finally start confronting the problems that had been ignored for years and years and years, we had to change the way this place worked. And one thing Speaker McCarthy embraced from Day 1 is to start making those kind of changes to this institution — opening up the process, allowing members to be more engaged, having amendments come to the floor, single-subject bills, doing appropriations bills.”
“Speaker McCarthy has been leading at the top of the level to make sure we have the tools to do our jobs,” he added.
Gaetz said earlier this week he’d support Scalise for speaker and believed other Republicans would, too, telling reporters he thinks “very highly” of the No. 2 House Republican.
Oct 03, 3:38 PM EDT
Jim Jordan calls McCarthy ‘rock solid’
With debate continuing between those backing McCarthy and the minority in the GOP who have joined Gaetz, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said McCarthy deserves to keep his job — calling him “rock solid” on several promises Republicans made when they retook majority control of the chamber.
Jordan pointed to several bills that were passed by the House, including border security legislation and rescinding funding for the IRS. Jordan also touted House oversight activities and defended McCarthy’s actions to keep the government open and operational for 45 more days.
“I think the speaker has kept his word,” he said. “I know my colleagues and friends are saying different. I think he has kept his word … I think we should keep him as speaker.”
Oct 03, 3:34 PM EDT
Gaetz personally responding to pro-McCarthy speeches
During the debate, after initially introducing speeches from a few other Republicans who are backing his motion, including Andy Biggs and Bob Good, Gaetz has since used his time to personally respond to each of the pro-McCarthy speeches being made by other lawmakers.
Those responses have sometimes been as brief as simply disputing the common refrain from McCarthy’s backers: that moving to oust him is a short-sighted and punitive act that won’t help the conference accomplish its goals.
Not so, Gaetz has continually said as he repeats his argument: McCarthy must go.
-ABC News’ Adam Carlson
Oct 03, 3:29 PM EDT
Gaetz shooed away from Republican microphones
Right before debate began on the motion to vacate, Gaetz was seen trying to use the microphones on the Republican side of the chamber.
But he was blocked by McCarthy allies and aides, who shooed him to the Democratic side of the chamber.
McCarthy is sitting in the second row on the Republican side of the chamber as debate continues.
Oct 03, 3:21 PM EDT
Gaetz: ‘Chaos is Speaker McCarthy’
Gaetz took aim at Cole’s comments as he also slammed McCarthy and criticized Capitol Hill’s approach to spending.
“Chaos is Speaker McCarthy,” Gaetz said, rebuffing how Cole argued that the motion to vacate would create needless disruption in the chamber.
“Chaos is somebody that we cannot trust with their word. The one thing that the White House, House Democrats and many of us on the conservative side of the Republican caucus would argue is that the thing we have in common: Kevin McCarthy said something to all of us at one point that he didn’t really mean and never intended to live up to.”
Gaetz went on to lambast the size of national debt and deficit as well as the lack of single-subject spending bills — something McCarthy has said he is also focused on enacting.
Oct 03, 3:11 PM EDT
Cole defends McCarthy’s record and urges Dems to think twice
After Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., delivered a speech castigating McCarthy and explaining why he was joining Gaetz in the motion to vacate, Republican Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma spoke out in support of McCarthy and warned of “chaos” should the conference’s breakaway faction succeed in removing him.
“They’re willing to plunge this body into chaos, and this country into uncertainty, for reasons only they understand,” Cole said. To the Democrats who are expected to vote against McCarthy as well, Cole said, “Think long and hard before you plunge us into chaos.”
Cole also celebrated how McCarthy had navigated the differences in the closely divided House — and Washington more broadly — to notch spending cuts in the debt limit fight earlier this year, pushing back on criticism from Gaetz and others that McCarthy hadn’t done enough to curb the federal budget.
Cole also suggested McCarthy had proven himself capable of making sure the House would continue to accomplish Republican priorities.
“I’m very proud of this speaker. I’m very proud to stand behind him. Tomorrow morning, whether I win or lose, I’m going to be pretty proud of the people I fought with and I’m going to be pretty proud of the person I fought for,” Cole said.
-ABC News’ Adam Carlson
Oct 03, 3:08 PM EDT
As debate begins ahead of vote, Rep. Good outlines his case against McCarthy
Debate began Tuesday afternoon on the motion to vacate ahead of the vote on it. Gaetz ceded the floor to Virginia Republican Rep. Bob Good.
“Like so many others, I deeply regret that we are here in a totally avoidable situation,” Good said as he began his remarks, which largely targeted McCarthy’s actions on spending to date. “I must take you back to January, however, which for many of us was about not repeating the failures of the past and letting Republican voters across the country down once again.”
Good continued, “Back in January, I expressed my concern that the previous two years during my first term here in this House, we had not used every tool at our disposal to fight against the harmful, radical, Democratic agenda that is destroying the country, bankrupting the country and under which the American people are suffering.”
Oct 03, 3:04 PM EDT
McCarthy presides over opening prayer, possibly for last time
McCarthy presided over the House opening prayer — with his head bowed, eyes closed and hands clasped — possibly for the final time as his speakership hangs in the balance.
“On this day, may we sacrifice our inclination for contempt and instead initiate kindness,” Chaplain Margaret Kibben said as she offered the prayer.
“Loosen our grip on judgment and instead may we grab hold of a generosity of spirit. May we foreswear our grudges and commit instead to exercise forbearance. Hold us accountable that our arguments will hold forth your righteousness and not ring hallow in our rightness.”
Oct 03, 3:03 PM EDT
What Democrats said about McCarthy behind closed doors
Sources in the room shared with ABC News some of what was said during the hourslong Democratic caucus meeting earlier Tuesday.
Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin specifically raised McCarthy’s conduct surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack, slamming his about-face on Trump after initially blaming him for the riot.
New York’s Dan Goldman told members he received a call from former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney encouraging Democrats to “get rid” of McCarthy.
California Rep. Adam Schiff, a movie buff, quoted “The Big Lebowski” in reference to Gaetz and their agreement over removing McCarthy: “You’re not wrong, Walter. You’re just an a——.”
Oct 03, 2:57 PM EDT
Republicans fail to block motion to vacate
The motion to table Gaetz’s own motion to vacate — which would have effectively killed his request before it received a vote — has failed, 208-218.
Eleven Republicans joined all Democrats in voting it down — setting up a key vote on the motion to vacate.
The failure of the motion to table suggests McCarthy’s speakership is in real jeopardy as he would need a majority of support of the chamber to back him in order to keep his role.
A vote on the motion to vacate is expected shortly. After the vote, McCarthy slumped in his chair in the second row.
-ABC News’ Adam Carlson
Oct 03, 2:35 PM EDT
House voting on motion to table Gaetz’s call to remove McCarthy
McCarthy ally Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., introduced a motion to table — or effectively kill — Gaetz’s effort to oust McCarthy.
Democrats then requested a voice vote on the motion, which is ongoing. It is a 15-minute vote.
Oct 03, 2:27 PM EDT
Ahead of vote, McCarthy and Gaetz spotted on the House floor
Speaker McCarthy and Rep. Gaetz are sitting just rows away from each other on the packed House floor ahead of votes on the motion to vacate.
Oct 03, 2:03 PM EDT
6 Republicans now support motion to vacate
Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., just announced his support for the motion to oust McCarthy.
“I have kept my promise to the people of Montana by voting to make us energy-dominant again, secure our border, cut spending, and to put an end to the social experiment being inflicted on our military,” Rosendale wrote in a post to X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Unfortunately, Kevin McCarthy violated his promise to the American people and the Republican Conference by working against them repeatedly and supporting ploys to aid the Left. This demonstration of failed leadership is exactly why I plan on supporting the motion to vacate this afternoon,” Rosendale added.
The five other Republicans who’ve said they want McCarthy removed are Rep. Matt Gaetz, Rep. Bob Good of Virginia, Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona and Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee.
-ABC News’ Katherine Faulders
Oct 03, 1:26 PM EDT
Democrats don’t plan to save McCarthy’s speakership
During a more than two-hour caucus meeting, Democrats were strongly encouraged to vote to not support Speaker McCarthy as he fights for his job, sources tell ABC News.
“It is now the responsibility of the GOP members to end the House Republican Civil War,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement. “Given their unwillingness to break from MAGA extremism in an authentic and comprehensive manner, House Democratic leadership will vote yes on the pending Republican Motion to Vacate the Chair.”
Several Democrats said they don’t plan to bail McCarthy out.
“We’re not voting in any way that would help save speaker McCarthy,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said.
Vice Chair of House Democratic caucus Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., said, “the leadership put out the facts and the caucus heard from a lot of members… we need a functioning government and speaker McCarthy has shown he cannot govern.”
Oct 03, 1:20 PM EDT
Has an effort to remove a House speaker ever succeeded?
A motion to vacate has only ever been voted on once, in 1910, in an effort to boot then-Speaker Joseph Cannon. The effort failed.
In 2015, then-Rep. Mark Meadows filed a resolution to force a vote on then-Speaker John Boehner’s leadership. But because Meadows didn’t introduce it on the House floor, it wasn’t taken up for consideration.
While history shows previous such efforts over the years have always failed — it’s possible this one could succeed.
ZZ Top‘s Billy F. Gibbons, Heart‘s Nancy Wilson and The Black Crowes‘ Chris Robinson are among the guests featured on the upcoming second season of Power Hour, AXS TV’s rock-themed news and interview show.
Others set to appear include Metallica‘s Lars Ulrich, Foo Fighters‘ Chris Shiflett, Green Day, Guns N’ Roses‘ Duff McKagan, Iron Maiden‘s Bruce Dickinson and Wolfgang Van Halen, as well as members of Blondie, Sex Pistols, Megadeth and more.
“The lineup of Rock & Roll legends we have for Season 2 of the Power Hour is comprised of some of the biggest names in music history,” says Power Hour co-host Matt Pinfield. “Many of these artists I have known for years and consider friends, but being able to have them join the show with [co-hosts] Josh [Bernstein] and Caity [Babs] is a new career highlight for me. We’re just as excited to turn viewers on to all of the new bands we’ve been discovering and premiering, who are the future of Rock music.”
Season 2 of Power Hour premieres Thursday, October 5, at 11 p.m. ET.
