Jim and Chad cheer the news that Russia apparently no longer thinks its ships are safe at its main naval base in Sevastopol, Crimea, and is transferring them to other bases. They fume that Montana GOP congressman Matt Rosendale, one of the Gaetz Eight, boasted that he prayed for a small GOP victory in the 2022 midterms to maximize his leverage, and they marvel that Covid vaccination cards – once touted as the all-important passport to freedom from far-reaching restrictions – are being retired by the CDC.

Greg is still off on vacation, leaving Chad and Jim to break down the consequences of the House voting to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker.

Meanwhile, a new poll from Gallup shows Americans hungering for a third major party on the political landscape, and the lack of a Speaker of the House means that, at least for a little while, Washington Democratic senator Patty Murray would be president if, God forbid, something bad happened to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

GOOD: New from Gallup:

Although both parties are about equally disliked, the public chooses the Republican Party over the Democratic Party by healthy margins when asked which will better safeguard the nation’s prosperity and security.