Kevin McCarthy takes swing at Freedom Caucus for 'locking in Democratic Pelosi policies'

Now that he's no longer in the House of Representatives, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) isn't holding back on criticizing his former colleagues.

In an interview with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo, the host asked McCarthy to give his thoughts on members of the House "reportedly plotting revenge" against House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) for his recent work with Democrats to avoid a government shutdown.

Rather than pile on Johnson, the former speaker laid the blame for the GOP majority's failure to enact conservative policies at the feet of the most far-right members of his party.

"You really should be asking the Freedom Caucus. They are the ones who have stopped the Republicans from being able to govern," McCarthy said. "They continue to stymie this majority to be able to do anything."

McCarthy was the first House speaker to be removed from his position by his own party last October, when he struck a deal with Democrats to raise the debt ceiling in order to keep the U.S.' debt service payments on schedule.

Members of the Freedom Caucus led the effort that ultimately resulted in the motion to vacate McCarthy as speaker.

Bartiromo pointed out to McCarthy that that the far-right rebellion against Johnson was "deja vu with what you dealt with."

However, the former speaker stood by his work to keep the government open and satisfying its creditors, saying, "It's the only thing Congress has done" since Republicans took back the House majority in 2022.

He argued that by failing to play ball with Johnson, obstinate Republicans were assuring that continuing resolutions — which maintain current government funding levels with little changes in actual spending amounts — would be the only option for Johnson.

"What they're doing is doing nothing, but it locks in Democratic Pelosi policies," McCarthy said of the Freedom Caucus. "I would sit in the room and start negotiating [with Democrats]. Because if you don't, you're locking in Pelosi's policies. And that's what the Freedom Caucus is doing."

"If you're going to have the majority, lead," he added.

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