Mitchell reports, House Republican leader Kevin Mccarthy 24 hours from the biggest moment of his political career and still no closer to securing the votes he needs to become the next speaker of the house. Also this hour, i will speak to dr. Zeke emanuel about a tough holiday flu season along with new concerns about a new strain of covid19 in the u. S. And we will have a live report from rome as catholics travel to the vatican to Pope Emeritus Benedict during the three days he will lie in state ahead of thursdays funeral mass. Good day, im andrea in mitchell. Happy new year, everyone. Well, the pressure is on republican leader in this in you year, Kevin Mccarthy has to win over the hard line House Conservatives that he needs to become the next speaker of the house. Tomorrow the new Congress Returns to washington with the speaker vote as the top item on the agenda. But at this hour no one knows how long its going to take for republicans to secure the Majority Vote needed to appoint a le
mitchell reports, house republican leader kevin mccarthy 24 hours from the biggest moment of his political career and still no closer to securing the votes he needs to become the next speaker of the house. also this hour, i will speak to dr. zeke emanuel about a tough holiday flu season along with new concerns about a new strain of covid-19 in the u.s. and we will have a live report from rome as catholics travel to the vatican to pope emeritus benedict during the three days he will lie in state ahead of thursday s funeral mass. good day, i m andrea in mitchell. happy new year, everyone. well, the pressure is on republican leader in this in you year, kevin mccarthy has to win over the hard line house conservatives that he needs to become the next speaker of the house. tomorrow the new congress returns to washington with the speaker vote as the top item on the agenda. but at this hour no one knows how long it s going to take for republicans to secure the majority vote
republicans to secure the majority vote needed to appoint a leader. or who that leader will be. remember, they have a slim majority. joining me now nbc washington correspondent yamiche alcindor, nbc s senior capitol hill respondent, garrett haake, phil rucker and matthew dowd former chief strategist to george w. bush. well, thanks to all of you, happy new year. welcome. garrett, to you the action is on the hill. kevin mccarthy is running out of time to avoid a public political mess tomorrow, real car wreck. where do things stand at this hour? reporter: andrea, running out of time and he seems to be running backwards at the moment. if every member shows up tomorrow and votes, mccarthy can afford four republican votes against him for speaker. the problem is right now he s got about 14. there s that group of five hardliners who have said they are never mccarthy votes. in addition to them we had a letter come out last night from nine additional republicans who are sort of soft no s who s