Turns out our earlier report on Fox’s Bret Baier hosting a closed-door debate between House GOP speaker candidates Jim Jordan and Steve Scalise was based on some faulty information, and according to CNN’s Melanie Zanona’s reporting on the Republican caucus’s reaction. The fuckup – if you can believe it – was not actually on us this time as we sourced from Punchbowl News, who printed, emphasis ours: “Fox News’ Bret Baier will host a closed debate and discussion between the GOP candidates for speaker Monday night, according to a source involved with the planning.”
Anyway some rank-and-file members are not happy at all with the plan, with one telling Zanona it’s “insanity” and “people are pissed.” Another said the “circus” would probably not end up happening because of the pushback it’s already getting from the caucus. Congressman Carlos Giminez sounds like he won’t vote for either of them, saying “If both of them thought this was a good idea, then maybe they don’t have a pulse of the conference. I’m having serious problems.”