There is a world where like, I don't know, Kevin McCarthy becomes speaker again.

I mean, that's likelier than several other people on this list.

Probably likelier than say Dan Muser becoming speaker.

Not as likely as Brittany Spears, though. Hello and welcome to the 538 Politics Podcast. I'm Galen Druke.

The House of Representatives has now officially been without a permanent speaker for 20 days.

Two nominations for the position have fallen apart, Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan, and

and Republicans are, as of Monday morning, back at square one.

Republicans interested in the speakership had until Sunday night to make their

intentions clear and nine candidates stepped forward.

The current plan is that House Republicans will hold a candidate forum Monday night and another leadership election on Tuesday.

Whether the next nominee can get a majority on the House floor, 217 votes if all lawmakers are in attendance, remains to be seen.

This is of course all happening as the war in Israel and Gaza continues to play out and

President Biden has asked for a 106 billion dollar package to aid Ukraine and Israel

and address U.S. border security. Given the depth of the candidate field and the degree of uncertainty surrounding what happens next,

we have been left with no other option than to hold our first ever House Speaker draft.

Who is most likely to get the job if anyone may be fair to ask that at this

point? And here with me to participate is senior election analyst Jeffrey Skelly.

Hello Jeff.

Good morning, Galen.

This is a fun one.

It is, it is.

Also here with us is politics reporter Leah Escariname.

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