"Gaetz and McCarthy Clash in Closed Door Meeting Over Looming Shutdown"

Rep. Matt Gaetz and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy engaged in a heated exchange during a closed-door meeting, with Gaetz accusing McCarthy of funding a campaign against him online. Gaetz's accusation came after a conservative commentator claimed that a McCarthy ally was promoting negative posts about Gaetz and the government shutdown. McCarthy denied the allegations and sent a cease and desist letter to an individual believed to be behind the campaign. The tension between Gaetz and McCarthy has been escalating, with Gaetz threatening to oust McCarthy from his position as speaker. House GOP members criticized Gaetz, and Gaetz cited various reasons for his threats, including McCarthy's failure to hold votes on important issues and release full security tapes from the January 6 attack on the Capitol.