"Government Shutdown Looms as Tensions Rise in Congress"

Tensions erupted between House Republicans during a closed-door meeting as divisions and infighting continue over a plan to avert a government shutdown. GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz confronted Speaker Kevin McCarthy about allegations that his allies were paying conservative influencers to bash Gaetz on social media. McCarthy dismissed the accusation and tensions escalated, with members in the room expressing frustration towards Gaetz. House Republicans are at odds over the path forward, with McCarthy planning to have the chamber vote on a GOP stopgap bill, but lacking the votes to pass it. Meanwhile, the Senate is working on a bipartisan stopgap bill to keep the government open, but McCarthy has dismissed it. The deadline for government funding is rapidly approaching, and the impacts of a shutdown would be significant, affecting federal employees, air travel, and national security.