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Good Thursday morning. I'm Nirmal Malichael, and welcome to your Politico Playbook audio briefing.

Here's what's driving the day in D.C. Let's start with two numbers, 56 and 82.

56 is New York Representative Elise Stefonik's last rating from the Heritage Action

scorecard. Now, that's a failing grade. 82 is Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney's score from the

same group, a solid B-minus, nothing to sneeze at. Once upon a time, a low rating from that group could scare the

hell out of Republicans who strayed from the organization's policy choices. But now,

many House Republicans are coalescing around the person who scored a 56, Stefanik. She seems

to have a good shot at replacing Cheney as the GOP conference chair.

Why?

Well, here's what we know.

At least two important Republicans aren't pleased with Cheney.

First, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Here he is caught unaware on a hot mic during a Fox interview earlier this week talking about Cheney.

That's courtesy of tape provided by Axios.

I think she's got real problems.

I've had it with, I've had it with it.

It's, you know, I've lost confidence.

Well, someone just has to bring a motion, but I assume that would probably take that.

The big test, though, for Cheney, former president Donald Trump doesn't support her and instead supports Stefonic.

And that's pretty much all that matters.

Why?

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