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On a cold and snowy Christmas morning in 2023, Kevin McCarthy awoke to the bitter reality of his situation. Trump was long gone from office, and the GOP was a shambles of its former self. With the party languishing in a disarray, McCarthy had done little to nothing to endear himself to the Republican base. He had been soundly defeated in the 2023 special election, and his prospects of ever achieving political success were dim.
As he began the long trek back to his home in Washington, D.C, he reflected on the events of the past few years. After a tumultuous start to his tenure as the leader of the GOP, McCarthy had been both reviled and celebrated within the party. His loyalty to Donald Trump had earned him the support of some, but it had also cost him the admiration of others. He thought about all the broken promises and controversial decisions that had occurred in the wake of the Republican Party’s chaotic shift away from Trump.
He arrived home late that night, feeling ashamed and exhausted. As he entered his home, all he could think was that it had been the least merry Christmas of his life.
