McCarthy’s 'stark dilemma': He’s caught between a government shutdown and being 'ousted' as speaker

With the threat of a federal government less than a week away, Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) scrambled to get funding bills passed in the U.S. House of Representatives. But he has encountered stubborn resistance from members of the far-right House Freedom Caucus.

On one hand, McCarthy is trying to avoid alienating MAGA members of his caucus. On the other hand, pundits have been warning that a shutdown will hurt non-MAGA Republicans who are seeking reelection in swing districts in 2024.

Reporters Scott Wong and Sahil Kapur describe the pressure McCarthy is facing in an article published by NBC News' website on September 26.

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"Kevin McCarthy faces an unenviable choice this week: keep his job as speaker, or team up with Democrats to keep the government from shutting down," Wong and Kapur explain. "Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and other conservative hardliners are threatening to overthrow McCarthy, R-Calif., if he works with Democrats to pass a short-term, stopgap measure to keep the government open."

The journalists add, "But McCarthy may have to do just that, putting a continuing resolution, or CR, on the floor in the coming days if he wants to stave off a highly disruptive shutdown when money for the federal government runs out at midnight Saturday."

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tennessee) told CNN he will "look strongly at" pushing for McCarthy to be ousted as speaker if he supports a bill that is reliant on Democrats in the House.

Meanwhile, Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-North Carolina) told NBC News that McCarthy is "not going to be able to fund the government if he's working with the likes of Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene."

READ MORE:House Republicans pile on 'dead dog' Kevin McCarthy as shutdown draws closer

Wong and Kapur report, "McCarthy, in short, faces a stark dilemma: shut down the government and keep it closed, or risk losing his speakership — the pinnacle of a two-decade career in elected politics — by striking a deal that Democrats can support…. Working with Democrats to fund the government, however, would almost certainly trigger a motion to vacate, which would force a vote on whether to oust McCarthy as speaker."

READ MORE:'Generalized gripes': Dem rep slams McCarthy's 'Hail Mary pass' to prevent shutdown and keep job

Read NBC News' full report at this link.