presented by BP.

Good morning. I'm Playbook co-author Rachel Bade. It's Friday, September 29th.

Big scoop in the Washington Post overnight. Hardline conservatives are eyeing House

Majority Whip Tom Emmer to replace Kevin McCarthy as speaker. And they're apparently discussing a motion to vacate as soon as

next week. Could this be an empty threat? Maybe, but we wouldn't bet on that. Tom Emmer, who is he?

He's the House's number three Republican and the top ally of McCarthy. He's also been the person

who's been in the room with conservatives trying to haggle out spending

agreements and other key legislation throughout the year.

He actually has a pretty good relationship with some of those conservatives who frankly hate

McCarthy, people like Andy Biggs and Matt Gates.

This is big news because Emmer actually has a real shot at winning the speakers' gavel.

He's not some pie in the sky dream

for conservatives like a Jim Jordan, which probably wouldn't fly with a lot of members at the conference,

but Emmer is well liked by moderate Republicans, traditional Republicans, as well as conservative

Republicans, apparently. And speaking of a motion to vacate, today's playbook top goes deep on McCarthy's

relationship with Matt Gates, asking the question, what does Matt Gates really want? Gates has been

railing against continuing resolutions, saying they're bad for the government. He's been talking

about how they need to bring back regular order and pass all 12 appropriations bills one at a time.

But those who know Gates the most say his grievances aren't about policy or even process,

at least not mostly.

As one Gates ally told me, quote, he wants Kevin.

That's it.

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