Liz Cheney's relationship with GOP leadership may be at a 'breaking point'

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and House GOP leadership do not appear to have mended fences as the party tries to put on a unified front. In fact, the relationship is "very near a breaking point," Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman writes, adding that in all his years covering the House "this is about as bad as it's gotten."

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) appeared to suggest in a recent Politico interview that Cheney, the GOP conference chair who has remained vocal in her criticism of former President Donald Trump in the wake of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, should try to be more of a team player, and he also said he's approached her about toning down some of her remarks. When asked whether he believes she's followed his advice, he said only: "You be the judge."

On Monday, the two publicly split on the scope of a commission investigating the Capitol riot, with Cheney advocating for a narrowly focused probe and McCarthy favoring a broader one that "explores all kinds of political violence, including the protests that erupted last summer in response to police brutality," Politico reports.

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Sherman reached his conclusion about the state of things after asking McCarthy if he thought Cheney was still a good fit for his leadership team, a question the congressman dodged twice, rarely an encouraging sign. Tim O'Donnell