can someone explain it like I'm 5 what the fuck is going on in congress?

Nothing! They’re doing absolutely nothing! It’s very upsetting.

The house has to elect a Speaker, and it is not just the top vote getter, it has to be a majority of the members-elect who vote. So if all members-elect vote, that person has to receive 218 votes.

several members of the freedom caucus are throwing a wrench in the works by voting for someone other than McCarthy, keeping him from getting over the 218 vote threshold.

I am sure what they're wanting is to use their tiny bloc to gain total control over this decision but it would amuse me to no end if the moderate/slightly responsible Rs would work with the Ds instead and throw it all on its head and f the lot of them

I would not let those annoying toddlers win this but I'm sure they will

He can only afford to lose 4 (maybe 5?) from the R side, and there are 20 ish not voting for himm.

Until a speaker is elected, they are all members-elect, no one is sworn in, there are no rules, and they can't do any other business.

So, we keep voting until someone gets a majority. It is a clown show at this point. The inmates are running the asylum.

Dovelove : That's exactly it. I would love to see 6 R members vote present or 'get stuck in traffic' returning to the floor and miss the vote. But that won't happen. They are all dug in at this point.

Gabs : succinct

thank you for explaining it so easy to understand.