As Republicans split over who will be House speaker, McCarthy positions himself as a de facto leader

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans have no clear idea who to elect U.S. House speaker, leaving an unprecedented power vacuum in Congress and severely limiting America's ability to quickly respond to the crisis in Israel — or any number of other problems at home or abroad.

On Monday, the ousted former speaker, Kevin McCarthy, quickly jumped into the void, bitterly criticizing President Joe Biden's administration over the strength of its defense of Israel and positioning himself as a de facto Republican leader even though his colleagues toppled him from power.

“Whether I'm speaker or not... I can lead in any position I’m in,” McCarthy, R-Calif., said at the Capitol.