Wednesday morning news: January 4, 2023

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kent Covington. 

Speaker drama » Members of House cast their votes on Tuesday for the next speaker …

AUDIO: The honorable Kevin McCarthy of the state of California has received 202.

But he failed to win the 218 votes he needed as some Republicans threw their support behind a different leader.

AUDIO: The honorable Jim Jordan of the state of Ohio has received 20.

Through multiple rounds of voting, some members of the party’s most conservative wing did not budge in their opposition to McCarthy. It was the first time in a century that a majority party’s nominee for speaker failed to claim the gavel on the first vote.

That means the House adjourned on Tuesday without a speaker. Voting will resume today.

Senate opening day » But in the Senate, day one of the 118th Congress was uneventful. Democrats added one seat to their slim majority, now 51 to 49. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer:

SCHUMER: Today I have the great honor of becoming the longest-serving senator from New York, the first New Yorker ever elected to the Senate five times.

The chamber’s GOP leader remains in place as well. Senate Republicans reelected Mitch McConnell in November as Minority Leader for another two years.

MCCONNELL: The greatest honor of my career is representing the Commonwealth of Kentucky in this chamber and fighting for my fellow Kentuckians.

McConnell was elected to the Senate in 1985. He’s served as the GOP’s Senate leader since 2007.

DeSantis sworn in » Meantime, in Florida …

AUDIO: I Ron DeSantis — I Ron DeSantis — Do solemnly swear — Do solemnly swear …

The Republican governor took the oath of office once again, sworn in for a second term. DeSantis vowed to work for tax cuts and to continue fighting the culture war against what he called “woke” activists.

DESANTIS: We will defend our children against those who seek to rob them of their innocence.

DeSantis won another four years by a landslide in November’s election.

But many of his supporters hope he only serves another two, recent polls suggest he’s the GOP’s 2024 presidential frontrunner.

Mexican prison break » In Mexico, members of a violent gang tied to a drug cartel escaped from a prison near the Texas border this week. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN, REPORTER: Gunmen in armored vehicles assaulted Mexico's Ciudad Juarez state prison, just across the border from El Paso, Texas. The attackers opened fire on guards, killing 17 people.

The brazen prison break appeared to be aimed at freeing members of a gang associated with the Caborca Cartel.

Twenty-five inmates escaped.

Authorities retook control of the prison and found 10 “VIP” cells outfitted with televisions and other comforts.

One even had a safe filled with cash.

They also found cocaine, methamphetamine, and other drugs inside the prison.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Hamlin update » The family of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin thanked fans for their outpouring of support on Tuesday. Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field during a game against the Bengals Monday night.

He was listed in critical condition in an intensive care unit at a Cincinnati hospital.

Fans gathered outside the hospital to pray for him, and millions of dollars poured into a charity started by Hamlin.

His family tweeted, “Your generosity and compassion has meant the world to us.”

China denounces other nations’ COVID restrictions » The Chinese government is blasting other nations for imposing new COVID-19 testing requirements for travelers from China. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has that story.

JOSH SCHUMACHER, REPORTER: Australia and Canada this week joined a growing list of countries, including the U.S. that are requiring air travelers from China to take a COVID test prior to boarding.

Cases are surging in China after the communist government began relaxing strict lockdown measures.

Chinese officials said some of the new measures—quote—“lack scientific basis.”

And they threatened unspecified countermeasures against nations that are taking extra precautions.

For WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

I'm Kent Covington. For more news, features, and analysis, visit us at wng.org. 

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