Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, left, and an aide wait for a final tally of votes on Tuesday, January 3. McCarthy is seeking to become the next speaker of the US House of Representatives, but as of Thursday afternoon he had yet to secure enough support to win the speakership.
The week in 31 photos
Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, left, and an aide wait for a final tally of votes on Tuesday, January 3. McCarthy is seeking to become the next speaker of the US House of Representatives, but as of Thursday afternoon he had yet to secure enough support to win the speakership.
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc./Getty Images

Published 9:24 PM EST, Thu January 5, 2023

This week, for the first time in 100 years, the election for US House speaker was not decided on the first ballot.

As of Thursday night, the Republican Party remained deadlocked over the matter. Kevin McCarthy, who has been the party's minority leader for years, has not been able to secure the support needed to win the speakership. There were three failed votes on Tuesday, three on Wednesday and five on Thursday.

The obstacle for McCarthy, who has defiantly vowed to stay in the race, is that he faces a small but determined contingent of hardline conservatives. The group is using the leverage they have in the razor-thin Republican majority to extract concessions as they threaten to deny the GOP leader critical votes.

Until a new speaker is elected, the House can't kick off the new Congress or swear in new members.

Here are some of the stories that made headlines over the past week, as well as some photos that caught our eye.

Buffalo Bills players react after teammate Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field during an NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, January 2. Hamlin was resuscitated and intubated on the field, according to Dr. William Knight IV, a professor with the University of Cincinnati's department of emergency medicine. He was still critically ill as of Thursday, but he was awake and <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/05/sport/damar-hamlin-collapse-bills-status-thursday/index.html" target="_blank">showing signs of improvement</a>, doctors said.
Buffalo Bills players react after teammate Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field during an NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, January 2. Hamlin was resuscitated and intubated on the field, according to Dr. William Knight IV, a professor with the University of Cincinnati's department of emergency medicine. He was still critically ill as of Thursday, but he was awake and showing signs of improvement, doctors said.
Sam Greene/USA Today Network
Revelers celebrate the start of the new year in New York's Times Square on Sunday, January 1. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2022/12/31/world/gallery/2023-new-year-celebrations/index.html" target="_blank">See more New Year's celebrations around the world</a>.
Revelers celebrate the start of the new year in New York's Times Square on Sunday, January 1. See more New Year's celebrations around the world.
Mark Peterson/Redux
Mourners at the Vatican pay their respects to former <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2022/12/31/europe/gallery/life-in-photos-pope-benedict-xvi/index.html" target="_blank">Pope Benedict XVI</a> as he lies in state inside St. Peter's Basilica on Tuesday, January 3. Benedict died December 31 at the age of 95. He was elected Pope in 2005, and in 2013 he became the first pontiff in almost 600 years to resign his position. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2023/01/05/world/gallery/pope-benedict-xvi-funeral/index.html" target="_blank">See photos from his funeral</a>.
Mourners at the Vatican pay their respects to former Pope Benedict XVI as he lies in state inside St. Peter's Basilica on Tuesday, January 3. Benedict died December 31 at the age of 95. He was elected Pope in 2005, and in 2013 he became the first pontiff in almost 600 years to resign his position. See photos from his funeral.
Antonio Calanni/AP
A woman transports the coffin of her son, who was killed while fighting Russian soldiers, across the Siverskyi-Donets river near Staryi Saltiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, January 4.
A woman transports the coffin of her son, who was killed while fighting Russian soldiers, across the Siverskyi-Donets river near Staryi Saltiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, January 4.
Erik Marmor/AP
Vehicles are submerged on Dillard Road in Wilton, California, on Sunday, January 1. Parts of California were hit with<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/04/us/california-storm-flooding-wednesday-drought-climate/index.html" target="_blank"> powerful storms</a> that brought hurricane-force winds and torrential rain to the region.
Vehicles are submerged on Dillard Road in Wilton, California, on Sunday, January 1. Parts of California were hit with powerful storms that brought hurricane-force winds and torrential rain to the region.
Hector Amezcua/AP
Kansas guard Kevin McCullar Jr., top, knocks the ball away from Oklahoma State guard Bryce Thompson during a college basketball game in Lawrence, Kansas, on Saturday, December 31.
Kansas guard Kevin McCullar Jr., top, knocks the ball away from Oklahoma State guard Bryce Thompson during a college basketball game in Lawrence, Kansas, on Saturday, December 31.
Charlie Riedel/AP
A construction crew removes shipping containers in Yuma County, Arizona, early on Tuesday, January 3. The state of Arizona agreed to remove the shipping containers, which were placed as a makeshift wall along its shared border with Mexico, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/22/us/border-wall-shipping-container-arizona-lawsuit/index.html" target="_blank">as part of an ongoing lawsuit</a>.
A construction crew removes shipping containers in Yuma County, Arizona, early on Tuesday, January 3. The state of Arizona agreed to remove the shipping containers, which were placed as a makeshift wall along its shared border with Mexico, as part of an ongoing lawsuit.
Thomas Machowicz/Reuters
Actor Jeremy Renner posted <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm-KZ1YPJe7/?hl=en" target="_blank" target="_blank">this selfie</a> to his Instagram account on Tuesday, January 3, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/04/entertainment/jeremy-renner-snow-plow-hospital-wednesday/index.html" target="_blank">thanking fans</a> as he continued to recover from two surgeries. Renner was injured by a snowplow machine in what officials described as a tragic accident. "Thank you all for your kind words. Im too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all," Renner wrote.
Actor Jeremy Renner posted this selfie to his Instagram account on Tuesday, January 3, thanking fans as he continued to recover from two surgeries. Renner was injured by a snowplow machine in what officials described as a tragic accident. "Thank you all for your kind words. Im too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all," Renner wrote.
From Jeremy Renner/Instagram
After being <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/01/americas/brazil-lula-da-silva-inauguration-intl/index.html" target="_blank">sworn in</a> as Brazil's new president, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2022/10/30/world/gallery/lula-career-life/index.html" target="_blank">Luiz Inácio "Lula" da Silva</a> is accompanied to the Planalto Palace by a group representing diverse segments of society on Sunday, January 1. The 76-year-old politician was returning to the presidency after a 12-year hiatus.
After being sworn in as Brazil's new president, Luiz Inácio "Lula" da Silva is accompanied to the Planalto Palace by a group representing diverse segments of society on Sunday, January 1. The 76-year-old politician was returning to the presidency after a 12-year hiatus.
Eraldo Peres/AP
TCU linebacker Ryan Quintanar celebrates amid confetti after the Horned Frogs defeated Michigan on Saturday, December 31, to advance to college football's national championship game. TCU will play Georgia on January 9.
TCU linebacker Ryan Quintanar celebrates amid confetti after the Horned Frogs defeated Michigan on Saturday, December 31, to advance to college football's national championship game. TCU will play Georgia on January 9.
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Reporters inside the House chamber of the US Capitol look at voting results after three failed speakership ballots on Wednesday, January 4. The House voted to adjourn until the next day.
Reporters inside the House chamber of the US Capitol look at voting results after three failed speakership ballots on Wednesday, January 4. The House voted to adjourn until the next day.
Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
People ski down a slope in Riezlern, Austria, on Friday, December 30. There was a lack of snow in the area following some warm weather.
People ski down a slope in Riezlern, Austria, on Friday, December 30. There was a lack of snow in the area following some warm weather.
JFK/AFP/Getty Images
A goat wears a jacket on a cold morning in New Delhi on Tuesday, January 3.
A goat wears a jacket on a cold morning in New Delhi on Tuesday, January 3.
Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters
A Ukrainian serviceman throws an empty artillery shell while firing toward Russian positions on the outskirts of Bakhmut, Ukraine, on Friday, December 30.
A Ukrainian serviceman throws an empty artillery shell while firing toward Russian positions on the outskirts of Bakhmut, Ukraine, on Friday, December 30.
Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP/Getty Images
The casket carrying <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2022/12/29/football/gallery/pele-life-in-pictures/index.html" target="_blank">soccer legend Pelé</a> is driven through a crowd of fans in Santos, Brazil, on Tuesday, January 3. Pelé, the Brazilian star who became a global icon, recently died at the age of 82.
The casket carrying soccer legend Pelé is driven through a crowd of fans in Santos, Brazil, on Tuesday, January 3. Pelé, the Brazilian star who became a global icon, recently died at the age of 82.
Amanda Perobelli/Reuters
US Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York who will become <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/04/politics/hakeem-jeffries-history-first-black-party-leader/index.html" target="_blank">the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress</a>, acknowledges applause during a House speakership vote on Tuesday, January 3.
US Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York who will become the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress, acknowledges applause during a House speakership vote on Tuesday, January 3.
Alex Brandon/AP
Performers play music, sing and dance as they take part in the Minstrel Carnival in Cape Town, South Africa, on Monday, January 2. About 20,000 performers, divided into dozens of troupes, marched in the city center. The celebration was returning after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Performers play music, sing and dance as they take part in the Minstrel Carnival in Cape Town, South Africa, on Monday, January 2. About 20,000 performers, divided into dozens of troupes, marched in the city center. The celebration was returning after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rodger Bosch/AFP/Getty Images
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Gardner Minshew passes against New Orleans on Sunday, January 1. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2022/09/12/sport/gallery/nfl-2022-season/index.html" target="_blank">See the best photos from the 2022 NFL season</a>.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Gardner Minshew passes against New Orleans on Sunday, January 1. See the best photos from the 2022 NFL season.
Matt Slocum/AP
Sam Bankman-Fried, center left, walks to a federal courthouse in New York City on Tuesday, January 3. Bankman-Fried, the founder of bankrupt crypto exchange FTX, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/03/business/sam-bankman-fried-plea/index.html" target="_blank">pleaded not guilty</a> to two counts of wire fraud and six counts of conspiracy-related charges.
Sam Bankman-Fried, center left, walks to a federal courthouse in New York City on Tuesday, January 3. Bankman-Fried, the founder of bankrupt crypto exchange FTX, pleaded not guilty to two counts of wire fraud and six counts of conspiracy-related charges.
Andrew Kelly/Reuters
Two men perform on a "Wall of Death" in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Friday, December 30. The performers put on a show by riding motorcycles and bicycles in the makeshift wooden ring.
Two men perform on a "Wall of Death" in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Friday, December 30. The performers put on a show by riding motorcycles and bicycles in the makeshift wooden ring.
Thilina Kaluthotage/NurPhoto/Getty Images
Ukrainian servicemen bid farewell to their partners at the Kramatorsk train station in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, January 3.
Ukrainian servicemen bid farewell to their partners at the Kramatorsk train station in eastern Ukraine on Tuesday, January 3.
Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP/Getty Images
Ohio State kicker Noah Ruggles misses a 50-yard field goal against Georgia at the end of the Peach Bowl on Saturday, December 31. Georgia, the defending national champion, won 42-41 to advance to the title game against TCU.
Ohio State kicker Noah Ruggles misses a 50-yard field goal against Georgia at the end of the Peach Bowl on Saturday, December 31. Georgia, the defending national champion, won 42-41 to advance to the title game against TCU.
John David Mercer/USA Today Sports
US President Joe Biden, right, shakes hands with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell after speaking under the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge in Covington, Kentucky, on Wednesday, January 4. The two men <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/04/politics/biden-kentucky-infrastructure-wednesday/index.html" target="_blank">promoted a major bipartisan legislative accomplishment</a> they achieved together: the implementation of a massive $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.
US President Joe Biden, right, shakes hands with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell after speaking under the Clay Wade Bailey Bridge in Covington, Kentucky, on Wednesday, January 4. The two men promoted a major bipartisan legislative accomplishment they achieved together: the implementation of a massive $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.
Patrick Semansky/AP
Farmers inspect sunflowers on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India, on Tuesday, January 3.
Farmers inspect sunflowers on the outskirts of Bengaluru, India, on Tuesday, January 3.
Manjunath Kiran/AFP/Getty Images
Fans react after the Boston Bruins' Jake DeBrusk scored a goal against Pittsburgh during the NHL's Winter Classic game on Monday, January 2. The annual outdoor game was played at Boston's Fenway Park this year. The Bruins won 2-1.
Fans react after the Boston Bruins' Jake DeBrusk scored a goal against Pittsburgh during the NHL's Winter Classic game on Monday, January 2. The annual outdoor game was played at Boston's Fenway Park this year. The Bruins won 2-1.
Bob DeChiara/USA Today Sports
People run into the Atlantic Ocean off New York's Coney Island as part of a New Year's Day Polar Bear Plunge.
People run into the Atlantic Ocean off New York's Coney Island as part of a New Year's Day Polar Bear Plunge.
John Lamparski/Getty Images
Activists clad in white overalls watch a fire burn in front of a bucket-wheel excavator in Lützerath, Germany, on Monday, January 2. The village is located on the edge of the still expanding Garzweiler II lignite surface. Despite heavy protests, it will soon be demolished to extract the underlying coal.
Activists clad in white overalls watch a fire burn in front of a bucket-wheel excavator in Lützerath, Germany, on Monday, January 2. The village is located on the edge of the still expanding Garzweiler II lignite surface. Despite heavy protests, it will soon be demolished to extract the underlying coal.
Bernd Lauter/Getty Images
Outgoing US House Speaker <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2022/11/17/politics/gallery/nancy-pelosi/index.html" target="_blank">Nancy Pelosi</a> holds the gavel as she calls the House to order on Tuesday, January 3.
Outgoing US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi holds the gavel as she calls the House to order on Tuesday, January 3.
Andrew Harnik/AP
Bryan Kohberger, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/04/us/idaho-killings-suspect-bryan-kohberger-wednesday/index.html" target="_blank">the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November</a>, is escorted by law enforcement after arriving at an airport in Pullman, Washington, on Thursday, January 4. Kohberger was taken back to Idaho after waiving extradition from his home state of Pennsylvania. He was booked on four counts of murder and one count of burglary, according to jail records.
Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November, is escorted by law enforcement after arriving at an airport in Pullman, Washington, on Thursday, January 4. Kohberger was taken back to Idaho after waiving extradition from his home state of Pennsylvania. He was booked on four counts of murder and one count of burglary, according to jail records.
Austin Johnson/AP
A prawn fisherman walks into the Saloum Delta ahead of a night of fishing in Simal, Senegal, on Tuesday, January 3. Prawn fishermen will spend up to three hours each night walking large distances across the delta, dragging a net to catch prawns. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2022/12/29/world/gallery/photos-this-week-december-22-december-29/index.html" target="_blank">See last week in 36 photos</a>.
A prawn fisherman walks into the Saloum Delta ahead of a night of fishing in Simal, Senegal, on Tuesday, January 3. Prawn fishermen will spend up to three hours each night walking large distances across the delta, dragging a net to catch prawns. See last week in 36 photos.
John Wessels/AFP/Getty Images