The US Capitol has been a hub of activity as Republicans work to select a new House speaker following the ousting of Kevin McCarthy. However, after a marathon of meetings, Jim Jordan and

Steve Scalise, the two candidates vying for the role, still don't have a guaranteed path to success. The ongoing uncertainty has caused further chaos in Congress, hampering legislative progress at a critical time.

The motion to vacate McCarthy's position was filed by Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, backed by seven other hard-right Republicans. A round of secret voting for the new speaker is scheduled for Wednesday morning, but with the Democrats expected to vote against any Republican candidate in the House, the future remains unclear.

The situation has intensified due to the recent Hamas attacks on Israel and a declaration of war, which puts pressure on US international policy. With Congress unable to act until a new speaker is elected, the US's ability to make a strong response is limited.

The countdown is on, with the stopgap spending bill set to expire on November 17. The outcome of the speaker election remains uncertain, as Republicans want to avoid a repeat of the 15-round voting debacle seen last January. They have altered the rules to require 217 votes for a candidate to be considered.

The two candidates, Jordan and Scalise, represent a shift to the right compared to McCarthy. Jordan enjoys the public support of former President Donald Trump, further emphasizing the influence the former president still holds over the party.

While the race for House speaker unfolds, the US grapples with challenges in Congress, affecting vital issues like aid to Ukraine and broader legislative decisions.