After a bruising week in congress, Republican leader Kevin McCarthy finally was confirmed as speaker after being voted down 14 times, a record not equalled since the Civil War.

The Trump legacy of forcing dubious candidates into winnable seats meant that McCarthy did not have a House majority without the rump of right-wing Trumpists. This has allowed them disproportionate power, which will skew much of the Republican agenda.

In a show of breathtaking hubris, Trump took to social media to claim credit for getting Kevin McCarthy over the line.

USSC non-resident senior fellow Bruce Wolpe spoke to radio 2ser about these developments in US politics.