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The Facts
Republican Leader in the US House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) revealed on Sunday that he would form a select committee on China to tackle an alleged lack of international scrutiny by the Biden administration. McCarthy said he would implement this if he becomes Speaker of the House.
He branded the PRC as the main nation responsible for "intellectual property theft." He vowed to no longer allow the Biden administration to "sit back" and let Beijing "do what they are doing to America."
The Spin
Democratic narrative
McCarthy has telegraphed that his potential speakership will be politically volatile. Although he's favored to be the next Speaker of the House, with only a weak Republican majority, this is not a done deal yet. McCarthy is struggling for support and will have to bend to the will of outlandish hard-right conservatives if he's to land the job.
Republican narrative
With a microscopic majority in the House, McCarthy's potential first job as Speaker must be to temper expectations. The GOP's most important achievement — removing Nancy Pelosi from the role — has already been achieved. With realism, subtlety, and creativity, House Republicans can now attempt to pass legislation to show a solution-oriented agenda.
