GOP/PAUL RYAN/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “The speakership is Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s to lose. But there is one person who could help him out. It’s been years in the making, but McCarthy’s early openness to Trump and his continued and steady relationship with President Donald Trump could be one of his best assets in his race for Speaker, a job he failed to clinch just years ago in part because of conservative mistrust. So far, Trump has remained mum on the race but the President — who prizes loyalty — has never been afraid to wade into the fray and pick sides within his own party leaving plenty of room for Trump to make his mark on the House’s leadership race. A race for speaker is still months away. Speaker Paul Ryan has vowed to stay in office until January, giving McCarthy — who has yet to formally announce his candidacy — plenty of time to shore up support. Members are also still feeling their way around the news. Members who have spoken with CNN often say they have hardly made up their mind who they would support.”
–Lauren Fox, “McCarthy’s relationship to Trump looms over speaker race,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, April 18, 2018 6:16 am