The scramble to become the next speaker of the House runs through “Fox and Friends.” In Trump’s America, the direction of one of the two parties of power could be determined, in large part, by a variety talk show on cable television.
Expect candidates interested in taking over for Paul Ryan, R-Wis., to book as many appearances as possible on that program this summer. It’s President Trump’s favorite show after all.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., did a Wednesday interview followed by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on Thursday. Neither said anything too remarkable. Both applauded Paul Ryan, bashed Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and generally praised the president. And that’s by design.
Scalise and McCarthy weren’t trying to sell complicated policy items like the current speaker does. They were making personal pitches, because getting on that 6:00-9:00 a.m. slot is about face time with the White House.
Right now McCarthy is the obvious front-runner. Despite a failed bid for speaker in 2015, the majority leader has seniority and a slight edge due in large part to presidential favoritism. McCarthy grew close to Trump during the election and then during the Obamacare repeal debate, eventually earning the affectionate if not belittling nickname “my Kevin.”
That’s enough for McCarthy to get the go ahead from the conference. But if he gets torpedoed by the cantankerous House Freedom Caucus, if someone blocks his pass, then Scalise will be the favorite.
In either scenario, regular appearances on “Fox and Friends” solidify their chances. For McCarthy, the show keeps him in the spotlight and the president’s favor. For Scalise, the programming helps prevent an upstart challenger emerging from the backbenches should McCarthy stumble.
No one should underestimate “Fox and Friends.” Trump starts his morning there and studies show Trump does most of his tweeting during the programming block. That power was on full display recently when one recent segment about the $1.3 trillion omnibus literally inspired a veto and shutdown threat from Trump.
Apply that power to the speaker scramble and that makes the bookers for the show low-key kingmakers and the producers behind-the-scenes powerbrokers. They directly influence the psyche of the president. Staying on their good side is key for whoever wants to become the next leader of House Republicans.
