This is Brian Lair's Daily Politics podcast from WNYC Studios. It's Monday, May 10th.

I'm Bridget Bergen from the WNYC and Gothamist Newsroom, filling in for Brian Laird, the leadership battle among House Republicans.

This week, the party is expected to oust its number three in the conference, Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney.

She is one of the most conservative members of the party, but also someone who has been an outspoken critic of former president Donald Trump.

She voted in favor of his second impeachment, calls out his false claims that the election was stolen

and blames him for stoking the violence that led to the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol

and what could come in its aftermath. Said to replace her is upstate Congress member Elise

Stefanik, one of only four members of New York's congressional delegation who refused to

certify the results of the presidential election. She represents the North Country and most of the

Adirondacks. Stefanik was once seen as a rising star of a more moderate brand of republicanism. That changed when she came out

as a key Trump defender during his first impeachment trial. Joining me now to talk about the

state of play within the GOP, what it means for Republicans now, and crucially in 2022, is Jacqueline

Alamani, Washington Post congressional correspondent and Power Up Anchor.

Jacqueline, welcome back to WNYC.

Hey, thanks so much for having me.

Now, let's take a step back and talk about how Congresswoman Liz Cheney, daughter of former

Vice President Dick Cheney, arrived at this moment, including her recent editorial

in your paper just last week.

Yeah, well, actually, this goes even farther back.

You know, the vote to oust her this week actually will be the second one.

Her leadership post was saved all the way back in February when her peers were upset

with her pro-impeachment vote against Donald Trump and thought it was a reason to oust her

...