Set Free The C-SPAN!

Rep. Kevin McCarthy on C-SPAN during the multiple votes for Speaker of the House.

If you’ve been watching the Kevin McCarthy for Speaker mess over in the U.S. House of Representatives on C-SPAN (and who among us hasn’t been riveted on C-SPAN that last four days?), you can’t help but notice that the video has been much more engaging than their typical coverage of the house.

Part of that is certainly because what could be more exciting than a once-in-a-century struggle of the majority party to elect a speaker and start the session of Congress?

But the real reason is closely related.

Under normal circumstances, the Speaker of the House sets the rules for how the cameras can be used for C-SPAN broadcasts. But since there currently isn’t a speaker, the C-SPAN camera operators and directors can focus on whatever they want to, which means we can see all the groups of people getting together to negotiate, commiserate, or just congregate on the house floor.

We’ve seen some amazing things here.

Consider this conversation between Freedom Caucus Republican Paul Gossar and Squad-member Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). What makes this particularly interesting is that Gossar had previously posted a social media video that had a cartoon version of himself murdering a cartoon AOC.

Another favorite of mine was the arial look down at Congress that echos the view of the Library of Congress from the movie All The President’s Men.

But, really, it’s just the amazing looks at the House in action.

Perhaps the greatest moment of coverage came Thursday night when the whole House gave a standing ovation to Clerk of the House Cheryl Johnson, who is running things absent absent a speaker.

Seriously, whoever is elected Speaker, please set free C-SPAN to be it’s best self!