MSNBC's Steve Kornacki has arrived to explain the ongoing fight for House speaker


As the in-fighting to select a new speaker of the House continues among the Republican Party, MSNBC is once again bringing out the nation's most beloved political journalist, Steve Kornacki, to help break everything down.
Kornacki, who has become a fan favorite following his tireless efforts to track the results of the 2020 presidential election, appeared on the network on Wednesday after Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) lost an unprecedented fourth round of voting to become speaker.
Standing by, as always, at MSNBC's "big board," Kornacki explained the course of the House votes.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"It's mathematically impossible for McCarthy now unless somehow, for some reason, a bunch of Democrats later in this vote, abstain, vote present, something like that," Kornacki said. "This is a list of all of the 20 votes who were against McCarthy on the third ballot yesterday ... the first six [Republican] names to be called all have voted for Rep. Byron Donalds [R-Fla.]."
Kornacki noted that the "bloc of opposition" was holding against McCarthy. "Everyone who had voted against [McCarthy] on the third ballot is so far still voting against him," adding that the Democrats were continuing to rally behind Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y).
Kornacki's analysis comes as McCarthy continues to lick his wounds after becoming the first speaker candidate in a century to not be elected on the first ballot. While he was at one point considered a shoo-in for speaker if the GOP took back the House, the race to be the next gavel-holder has clearly been blown wide open.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
Laurence Leamer's 6 favorite books that took courage to write
Feature The author recommends works by George Orwell, Truman Capote and more
-
Today's political cartoons - May 7, 2025
Cartoons Wednesday's cartoons - film industry tariffs, self-deportation, and more
-
Weer at Soho Theatre Walthamstow: a 'silly, seductive, slapstick joy'
The Week Recommends Natalie Palamides' 'tear-inducingly funny' one-woman show opens London's newest venue
-
Hollywood confounded by Trump's film tariff idea
speed read President Trump proposed a '100% tariff' on movies 'produced in foreign lands'
-
Trump offers migrants $1,000 to 'self-deport'
speed read The Department of Homeland Security says undocumented immigrants can leave the US in a more 'dignified way'
-
Trump is not sure he must follow the Constitution
speed read When asked about due process for migrants in a TV interview, President Trump said he didn't know whether he had to uphold the Fifth Amendment
-
Trump judge bars deportations under 1798 law
speed read A Trump appointee has ruled that the president's use of a wartime act for deportations is illegal
-
Trump ousts Waltz as NSA, taps him for UN role
speed read President Donald Trump removed Mike Waltz as national security adviser and nominated him as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations
-
Trump blames Biden for tariffs-linked contraction
speed read The US economy shrank 0.3% in the first three months of 2025, the Commerce Department reported
-
Trump says he could bring back Ábrego García but won't
Speed Read At a rally to mark his 100th day in office, the president doubled down on his unpopular immigration and economic policies
-
Canada's Liberals, Carney win national election
Speed Read The party of Prime Minister Mark Carney beat Conservative Pierre Poilievre thanks in part to Trump's trade war