McCarthy's surprising success in passing debt deal despite opposition.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy successfully navigated deep divisions within the Republican Party to pass a bipartisan debt deal, with the help of conservative allies like Jim Jordan. McCarthy's strategy involved cutting a deal with Democrats that would win over a clutch of conservatives with Freedom Caucus credibility, while hoping the remaining critics lacked the collective willpower to tank the agreement. While some Republicans remain upset over the debt deal, few are seriously considering a threat to McCarthy's speakership. McCarthy will likely need to lean on conservative allies repeatedly heading into a packed fall schedule.