Welcome to the media press now.

I'm Chuck Todd in Washington, where the House of Representatives voted to elect a speaker again.

And Republican leader Kevin McCarthy failed to win a majority of the chamber again,

even after giving his critics even more concessions again. At this moment, we're now on the ninth

ballot, which McCarthy is already on track to lose officially. It will be the third failed vote of the

day as House Republicans continue to navigate the massive rupture that's long been band-aided over in their party.

So campers, rise and shine.

And don't forget your booties because this day of legislative branch limbo may continue to repeat itself and repeat itself and repeat itself.

Just like yesterday, 21 House Republicans broke with McCarthy in the 7th and 8th ballot.

As a reminder, he can only afford four defections if everyone in the chamber votes.

Today's failed votes come after McCarthy offered his critics a number of concessions,

including one that would make him a variable sitting duck as speaker if he ever got there

by allowing any one member to call for a vote to fire him at any time.

When all the votes were tallied, once again, Democrat Akeem Jeffries was the leading vote getter

overall, 212 again.

More importantly, McCarthy and his allies right now seem to be waging a battle to simply

buy themselves time, and they may have made some progress, at least on that front today.

Because so far, no one within McCarthy's camp has floated an alternative,

and no alternative is quietly trying to whip votes. That's important. No one else is

defected on the floor, at least not yet. Earlier today, McCarthy made it pretty clear that

time is what he needs the most right now. I think everybody of the members I've thought to have been very productive,

they're productive in their discussions, their ideas, and I just feel in these meetings,

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