California Rep. Kevin McCarthy Under Fire for Benghazi Comments as He Pursues House Speakership

As Republican House Speaker John Boehner readies to leave his post, a battle is forming over who will take over the party’s top spots in the House. California’s Kevin McCarthy remains the front-runner for the speakership, although he came under sharp rebuke Wednesday by Democrats who say he admitted that the House Benghazi investigation was created to discredit Hillary Clinton. If McCarthy becomes the House speaker, the race for majority leader remains open, as reports emerged that Boehner encouraged Rep. Trey Rowdy to announce his candidacy. We discuss Boehner’s political and legislative agenda in his final month on the job and what a McCarthy-led House could look like.

• More: House To Vote On New Speaker Next Week (NPR)