Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is raising serious concerns about California’s prolonged vote-counting process, arguing that the state’s election system is eroding public confidence as voters wait days—and in some cases weeks—for final results.

Speaking on WABC 770 AM’s “Cats & Cosby” program with hosts John Catsimatidis and Rita Cosby, the California Republican criticized the state’s handling of election results and echoed concerns that many voters have expressed regarding transparency and efficiency.

“In my years of growing up in California, this is the worst I’ve ever seen it,” McCarthy said on the “Cats & Cosby” show, voicing frustration with the delay in counting ballots.

The former speaker questioned why one of the nation’s largest states remains unable to provide timely election results nearly a week after voters cast their ballots.

“We just had an election, and you can’t tell me who won?” McCarthy added later. “It was on Tuesday, and they’re telling me it’s going to be another three weeks.”

California election officials maintain that the delays are the result of state laws governing mail-in ballots. Under current rules, ballots postmarked by Election Day can still be counted if they arrive at county election offices up to a week later. Supporters of the system argue that it ensures every eligible vote is counted, while critics contend that the lengthy process undermines public confidence and creates unnecessary uncertainty.

Several major races remain unresolved as officials continue counting ballots. The state’s gubernatorial contest and the Los Angeles mayoral race are among the highest-profile elections still awaiting final outcomes.

In the governor’s race, former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has already secured a spot in the general election. The battle for the second runoff position remains highly competitive between Trump-backed commentator Steve Hilton and billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass is still awaiting confirmation of her opponent. Republican Spencer Pratt appeared to hold a strong position on election night before progressive city council member Nithya Raman surged ahead as additional ballots were counted in the days that followed.

The extended counting process has once again reignited debate over California’s election procedures and the state’s unique “jungle primary” system, where all candidates compete on the same ballot regardless of party affiliation and the top two finishers advance to the general election.

At the same time, California Democrats are facing another challenge: a congressional redistricting effort that may not be delivering the political gains they anticipated.

Following Texas Republicans’ efforts to strengthen their congressional majority through redistricting, California Democrats unveiled new district maps designed to flip several Republican-held seats. The goal was to reduce GOP representation in California’s congressional delegation even further.

Instead, one of the most closely watched races produced an unexpected result for Republicans.

In California’s 40th Congressional District, two Republican incumbents emerged as the top vote-getters, guaranteeing that the seat will remain in Republican hands regardless of who wins in November.

According to Decision Desk HQ results, Representative Ken Calvert led the field with 35.68 percent of the vote, while Representative Young Kim secured second place with 21.12 percent. The outcome effectively shut Democrats out of the race and ensured a Republican victory months before the general election.

The unusual matchup occurred after California’s redistricting process placed both Republican incumbents within the same district boundaries, forcing them into a head-to-head contest.

For Republicans, the result represents a rare bright spot in a state where statewide victories have become increasingly difficult. For Democrats, it serves as a reminder that even carefully crafted political maps do not always produce the intended outcome.

As California continues counting ballots and determining the final outcomes of several key races, criticism over the state’s election system is unlikely to fade. With voter confidence increasingly becoming a national issue, McCarthy’s warnings are likely to resonate with many Californians who simply want timely and transparent election results.

President Donald Trump’s influence over the Republican Party remains stronger than ever, according to a new report detailing the president’s active role in helping House Republicans maintain unity and advance key legislative priorities.

The report highlights what many supporters see as one of Trump’s greatest political strengths: his ability to rally lawmakers behind a common agenda even when divisions emerge within the Republican conference.

According to accounts from recent closed-door meetings, Trump joked about the extent of his involvement in House affairs while meeting with Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican leaders at the White House.

“I have two jobs: being president and being speaker,” Trump joked in front of Johnson and conservative leaders in the Oval Office.

The comment reportedly drew attention because of Trump’s continued efforts to help Johnson navigate the challenges of leading a narrowly divided Republican majority in the House of Representatives. With only a slim margin separating Republicans from Democrats, House leadership has frequently relied on Trump’s popularity and influence to help secure crucial votes.

Over the past two years, Johnson has repeatedly turned to Trump to help unify members and build support for key pieces of legislation. Republicans familiar with the discussions acknowledged that Trump’s involvement has often proven decisive when difficult votes arise.

“[Trump’s] the one getting everyone in line,” a House Republican told NOTUS.

The report claims Johnson has encouraged lawmakers to coordinate closely with the White House before advancing major legislative proposals, reflecting the administration’s central role in shaping Republican priorities.

Trump has also been known to personally engage with lawmakers during critical votes. According to multiple accounts, the president frequently contacts members directly when important legislation is on the line, working to persuade undecided lawmakers to support Republican-backed measures.

Not everyone within the conference is comfortable with that level of involvement.

“It is a total shirking of responsibilities to the White House,” another House Republican complained to NOTUS.

The lawmaker continued by expressing frustration that many legislative decisions are closely coordinated with the administration.

“Everything has to be preordained and pre-blessed, and there’s very little that we’re able to have our own will on. We should be empowered to pass our own priorities, not just follow what the mandate of the day is.”

Still, Trump’s supporters argue that his direct involvement has helped Republicans avoid internal fractures that could threaten the party’s agenda.

One example occurred during a contentious budget vote last year when Trump reportedly worked the phones to persuade Republican holdouts to change their positions while votes were actively being cast on the House floor.

During those discussions, Representative Victoria Spartz of Indiana reportedly became emotional while speaking with the president. According to the report, after the call concluded, Trump remained on speakerphone and remarked:

“I have no fucking idea what she just said.”

The report also revisits the dramatic leadership battle that unfolded when Mike Johnson was fighting to retain the Speaker’s gavel. At the time, Trump personally contacted members who had voted against Johnson and successfully convinced several lawmakers to switch their votes, helping secure Johnson’s position.

Johnson’s office did not dispute the substance of the report but emphasized the productive relationship between congressional Republicans and the White House.

“Speaker Johnson is proud to have a strong and productive working relationship with the President that has delivered countless positive legislative results for the American people,” Johnson’s spokesperson added.

Some Republicans have openly acknowledged the extraordinary level of influence Trump now holds within the party.

“In my adult lifetime, I have not seen an executive branch with as much input and influence over the chamber than this one has,” said Representative Steve Womack, a conservative Republican lawmaker.

For Trump supporters, however, that influence reflects the confidence Republican voters continue to place in the president. As the administration advances its agenda on issues ranging from spending and border security to government reform, Trump’s ability to unite lawmakers behind those priorities remains one of the defining forces shaping Washington today.

President Donald Trump abruptly ended an interview with NBC’s *Meet The Press* host Kristen Welker on Sunday after a series of tense exchanges that highlighted the growing divide between the president and members of the corporate media.

The interview took place during Trump’s campaign stop in Wisconsin, where the president has been drawing large crowds while continuing to push his America First agenda ahead of the upcoming election. During the discussion, Trump addressed a wide range of issues, including inflation, foreign policy, election integrity, and his proposal to create a fund aimed at compensating Americans who were targeted by what he has described as politically motivated prosecutions during the Biden administration.

The conversation became increasingly contentious as Trump defended the idea of providing relief to citizens who he believes suffered under what many conservatives have called the weaponization of federal law enforcement agencies.

Trump argued that countless Americans were unfairly targeted while violent left-wing activists often avoided similar scrutiny. He pointed to what many Republicans view as a two-tiered justice system that treated conservatives and Trump supporters differently than progressive activists.

The discussion soon shifted to the January 6 protests at the U.S. Capitol. Welker questioned Trump about protesters who had been accused of assaulting law enforcement officers. Trump responded by emphasizing concerns that many defendants faced enormous pressure from prosecutors and accepted plea deals out of fear of lengthy prison sentences.

“They pled guilty because they were frightened. They went down. They were ushered into a building. Many of them were arrested without even going into the building,” the president said.

Trump has long maintained that many January 6 defendants were treated unfairly and that federal authorities aggressively pursued charges against protesters while overlooking other instances of political violence around the country.

The interview became even more heated when the topic turned to California’s election system. Trump criticized the state’s lengthy vote-counting process, which often stretches on for days or even weeks after Election Day due to its extensive mail-in voting system.

Many conservatives have raised concerns about the transparency of prolonged ballot counting periods, particularly when late-counted ballots significantly alter election outcomes. Those concerns have intensified following several closely watched races in California this year.

Referencing both the 2020 presidential election and California’s current vote-counting procedures, Trump voiced his frustrations with the system.

“The election was rigged. It was a dirty election. And it’s happening again right now in California,” Trump said. “It’s four days and they aren’t even close to coming up with the — do you know why they’re doing that? Because they’re cheating on the election.”

Welker pushed back on Trump’s claims, arguing that California’s election laws and vote-by-mail procedures account for the delays. She continued pressing the president for additional evidence while defending the state’s counting process.

As the exchange continued, Trump appeared increasingly frustrated with what he viewed as a one-sided line of questioning. The president criticized the tone of the interview and suggested that Welker was more interested in challenging him than allowing him to explain his positions.

Moments later, Trump stood up, removed his microphone, and announced that the interview was over.

According to reports from the scene, Welker urged the president to remain for the remainder of the interview, noting that she had traveled to Wisconsin to conduct the conversation. Trump, however, had made his decision and walked away from the set as Welker continued attempting to persuade him to stay.

The incident quickly generated significant attention online, with many Trump supporters praising the president for refusing to participate in what they viewed as another hostile media interview. Supporters argued that the exchange reflected a broader frustration among conservatives who believe mainstream news organizations routinely subject Trump to more aggressive scrutiny than Democratic politicians.

The walkout marked yet another high-profile confrontation between President Trump and members of the national media, underscoring the continuing tensions that have defined much of his political career.