The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (10/04/2023):

3:05pm- On Tuesday, Representatives Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Matt Rosendale (R-MT), Nancy Mace (R-SC), Bob Good (R-VA), Eli Crane (R-AZ), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Ken Buck (R-CO) and Andy Biggs (R-AZ) joined Democrats in a vote to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House—the first time a speakership has been ended on a no-confidence vote. The final vote was 216 to 210 in favor of vacating the speakership. According to reports, on Tuesday night House Republicans held a closed-door meeting at 6:30pm to determine what steps to take next. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), who is now serving as temporary speaker, has adjourned the House and is expected to hold a vote to fill the speakership early next week.

3:15pm- Representatives Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Steve Scalise (R-LA) have both announced their intention to openly contend for Speaker of the House.

3:30pm- According to Audrey Fahlberg of National Review, Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) may be the next Speaker of the House. Fahlberg writes: “With the House speakership hanging in limbo after Kevin McCarthy’s ouster Monday evening, allies of the former speaker say House Majority Leader Steve Scalise currently has the clearest path to the speakership as he continues to gauge support for his newly announced bid. But the race is early, and there is widespread concern among different House GOP factions about his health…with a host of House Republican sources cautioning that Scalise’s blood cancer diagnosis is causing many McCarthy allies to keep their powder dry, even if his health issues aren’t necessarily disqualifying.” You can read the full article here: https://www.nationalreview.com/news/mccarthy-allies-say-steve-scalise-has-clearest-path-to-speakership-but-point-to-concerns-about-his-health/

3:40pm- Speaking from a New York City courthouse, Donald Trump told reporters that he would consider accepting the House speakership position if Republicans thought it would be in their best interest. Although Trump is obviously not a member of Congress, that isn’t a prerequisite for holding the position of speaker.

3:45pm- Speaking with reporters outside of the U.S. Capitol following a vote which vacated the House speakership, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said America is the biggest winner now that Kevin McCarthy isn’t serving as speaker. Gaetz seemingly endorsed Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) to fill the vacancy.

4:05pm- Rich speaks with listeners about the decision to oust Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. Will changing Republican leadership in the House have an impact on the quality of legislation passed? Or do institutional checks make it impossible?

4:15pm- While appearing on Fox News, Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel condemned the House’s decision to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker. She explained, “we cannot do this and win” in 2024.

4:40pm- Who should serve as the next Speaker of the House? Jim Jordan? Steve Scalise? Donald Trump? Or maybe even…Rich Zeoli!?!? One listener hilariously calls for Rich to be nominated.

4:50pm- In one of his first acts serving as temporary speaker, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) evicted Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) from her Congressional office. Pelosi had been granted an abnormally large office space following the end of her speakership.

5:00pm- Sam Peak—Senior Policy Analyst at Americans for Prosperity—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss his editorial at The New York Post, “Biden’s H2 Visa Rules Are Hurting Migrants, Small Businesses.” Peak writes, “Biden’s most recent migrant policies have been a master class in how to worsen the multiple problems behind his dismal polling numbers. Burrowed among them is the White House’s recent sabotage of the H-2A and H-2B visa programs—which help employers legally recruit seasonal workers, such as farm-hands and landscapers.” You can read the full article: https://nypost.com/2023/09/30/bidens-visa-rules-hurting-migrants-small-businesses/

5:15pm- Speaking with Fox 29, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner was asked about the wide-spread looting that plagued the city last week. He said that looters will be judged on a case-by-case basis—“we will look carefully to see if this is a one-off situation and if they’re fundamentally law-abiding people.”

5:20pm- Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) being carjacked in Washington D.C.—would President Joe Biden feel safe parking his Corvette Stingray in D.C.?

5:30pm- While appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Jets Quarterback Aaron Rodgers referred to Travis Kelce as “Mr. Pfizer”—referencing Kelce’s recent appearance in a COVID-19 vaccine commercial. Rich reveals that he doesn’t care for Taylor Swift’s music—is he even allowed to say that?

5:40pm- On Tuesday, New York Judge Arthur F. Engoron placed a gag order on Donald Trump. According to Jonah E. Bromwich of The New York Times, the order arose because Trump mocked a court clerk on social media on Monday. He explains Trump mocked “the clerk, Allison Greenfield, shortly before noon on his Truth Social site. His post was a picture of Ms. Greenfield with Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic majority leader. Mr. Trump mocked Ms. Greenfield as ‘Schumer’s girlfriend’ and said that the case against him should be dismissed.” Is Trump receiving a fair trial? You can read more here: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/03/nyregion/trump-gag-order-fraud-trial.html

5:45pm- In a video that has recently resurfaced, New York Judge Arthur F. Engoron—the judge overseeing the civil fraud case involving Donald Trump—can be heard exclaiming: “I’m going to say something controversial…juries get it wrong a lot.”

6:05pm- Representatives Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Steve Scalise (R-LA) have both announced their intention to openly contend for Speaker of the House.

6:10pm- According to William M. Arkin of Newsweek, “The federal government believes that the threat of violence and major civil disturbances around the 2024 U.S. presidential election is so great that it has quietly created a new category of extremists that it seeks to track and counter: Donald Trump's army of MAGA followers. The challenge for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the primary federal agency charged with law enforcement, is to pursue and prevent what it calls domestic terrorism without direct reference to political parties or affiliations—even though the vast majority of its current ‘anti-government’ investigations are of Trump supporters, according to classified data obtained by Newsweek.” You can read the full article here: https://www.newsweek.com/2023/10/13/exclusive-fbi-targets-trump-followers-2024-election-nears-1831836.html

6:50pm- Rich is joined by 1210 WPHT producers Anthony and Dan who are at Citizen Bank Park ahead of tonight’s game 2 playoff matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins