"Government Shutdown Looms as GOP Struggles to Elect New Speaker"

The failure of House Republicans to elect a new speaker is increasing the likelihood of a government shutdown next month, as the party's internal dysfunction hampers the passage of vital legislation. The House has been mostly closed since October 3, when far-right rebels ousted then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Republicans have been unable to coalesce around a replacement, causing policy discussions to grind to a halt and potentially delaying the approval of a deal to fund the government. With the clock ticking, the GOP risks bearing the blame for a shutdown, while the Democratic-controlled Senate continues to negotiate spending bills.