The surprise move end to Day One shows there is no easy way out for McCarthy whose effort to claim the gavel collapsed to opposition from conservatives. Needing 218 votes in the full House, McCarthy got just 203 in two rounds less even than Democrat Hakeem Jeffries in the GOP-controlled chamber. A third ballot was even worse, with McCarthy losing 20 votes as night fell on the new House GOP majority, tensions rising as all other business came to a halt.

The House agreed to return at noon Wednesday.

McCarthy had pledged a battle on the floor for as long as it took to overcome right-flank fellow Republicans who were refusing to give him their votes. But it was not at all clear how the embattled GOP leader could rebound after becoming the first House speaker nominee in 100 years to fail to win the gavel with his party in the majority.

Without a speaker, the House cannot fully form swearing in its members, naming its committee chairmen, engaging in floor proceedings and launching investigations of the Biden administration.

We all came here to get things done, said the second-ranking Republican, Rep. Steve Scalise, in a rousing speech urging his colleagues to drop their protest.

Railing against President Joe Bidens agenda, Scalise said, We cant start fixing those problems until we elect Kevin McCarthy our next speaker.

It was a chaotic start to the new Congress and pointed to a tangled road ahead with Republicans now in control of the House. A new generation of conservative Republicans, many aligned with Donald Trumps MAGA agenda, want to upend business as usual in Washington, and were committed to stop McCarthys rise without concessions to their priorities.

The American people are watching, and its a good thing, said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who nominated fellow conservative Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio as an alternative for speaker.

It was the second time conservatives pushed forward a reluctant Jordan, the McCarthy rival-turned-ally, who earlier had risen to urge his colleagues, even those who backed him, to drop vote for McCarthy.

We have to rally around him, come together Jordan said.

Jordan got six votes in the first round, 19 in the second round and was on track to pick up a similar number in the third.

Smiling through it all, McCarthy huddled briefly with aides, then appeared intent on simply trying to wear down his colleagues. Earlier, he strode into the chamber, posed for photos, and received a standing ovation from many on his side of the aisle after being nominated by the third-ranking Republican, Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, who said the Californian from gritty Bakersfield has what it takes to lead House Republicans.

But on the first vote a challenge was quickly raised by Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., a conservative former leader of the Freedom Caucus, who was nominated by a fellow conservative as speaker. In all, 19 Republicans peeled away, denying McCarthy the majority he needs as they cast votes for Biggs, Jordan or others in protest.

The mood was tense, at least on the Republican side, as lawmakers rose from their seats, in lengthy in-person voting. Democrats were joyous as they cast their own historic votes for their leader, Rep. Jeffries of New York.

In the first-round tally, McCarthy won 203 votes, with 10 for Biggs and nine for other Republicans. In the second, it was 203 for McCarthy and 19 for Jordan. Democrat Jeffries had the most, 212 votes, but no nominee won a majority.

After a raucous private GOP meeting, a core group of conservatives led by the Freedom Caucus and aligned with Trump, were furious, calling the meeting a beat down by McCarthy allies and remaining steadfast in their opposition to the GOP leader.

Theres one person who could have changed all this, said Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., the chairman of the Freedom Caucus and a leader of Trumps effort to challenge the 2020 presidential election.

The group said McCarthy refused the groups last-ditch offer for rules changes in a meeting late Monday at the Capitol.

If you want to drain the swamp you cant put the biggest alligator in control of the exercise, said Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.

He eagerly dismissed us, said Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo.

Lawmakers convened in a new era of divided government as Democrats relinquish control of the House after midterm election losses. While the Senate remains in Democratic hands, barely, House Republicans are eager to confront President Joe Biden after two years of Democratic Party control of both houses of Congress.

Outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gaveled closed the last session, moving aside for new House leadership in her Democratic Party, to a standing ovation from colleagues on her side of the aisle.

The chaplain opened with a prayer seeking to bring the 118th Congress to life.

But first, House Republicans had to elect a speaker, second in succession to the presidency.

Even with an endorsement from former President Trump, McCarthy fell short.

Democrats enthusiastically nominated Jeffries, D-.N.Y., who is taking over as party leader, as their choice for speaker a typically symbolic gesture in the minority but one that took on new importance as Republicans were in disarray.

A Latino is nominating in this chamber a Black man for our leader for the the first time in American history, said Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, the third-ranking Democrat, in nominating his colleague.

A new generation of Trump-aligned Republicans led the opposition to McCarthy. They dont think he is conservative enough or tough enough to battle Democrats.

Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., a leader of a more pragmatic conservative group, said frustration was rising with the minority faction.

A viable challenger to McCarthy had yet to emerge.

The second-ranking House Republican, Scalise of Louisiana, could be a next choice, a conservative widely liked by his colleagues and seen by some as a hero after surviving a gunshot wound suffered during a congressional baseball game practice in 2017.

A speakers contest last went multiple rounds in 1923.

This years deadlock was in stark contrast to the other side of the Capitol, where Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell will officially become the chambers longest-serving party leader in history.

Despite being in the minority in the Senate, where Democrats hold a slim 51-49 majority, McConnell could prove to be a viable partner as Biden seeks bipartisan victories in the new era of divided government. The two men were expected to appear together later in the week in the GOP leaders home state of Kentucky to celebrate federal infrastructure investment in a vital bridge that connects Kentucky and Ohio.

Kentucky Treasurer Allison Ball put the firms on a Restricted Financial Institutions list compiled in accordance with state law, saying theyre engaged in energy company boycotts.

The legislation, which resembles actions taken by Republican-led states including West Virginia and Texas, will require state entities to divest from the blacklisted firms, with certain exceptions. 

When companies boycott fossil fuels, they intentionally choke off the lifeblood of capital to Kentuckys signature industries, Ball said in a press release on Tuesday. 

The move is the latest in the GOP fight against what Republicans perceive to be liberal-leaning financial practices. The strategy known as environmental, social and governance investing has drawn intense scrutiny as critics say its part of a broader Democratic effort to prioritize climate change and other societal issues to the detriment of the fossil-fuel industry.

Ball said in an interview that the law wont prevent banks on the list from underwriting most municipal debt in Kentucky. That has emerged as a major concern in Texas, one of the countrys largest markets for such sales. She said the Kentucky legislation is a different situation than the Texas law.

Ball also said it was too early to estimate how much money may be at risk of divestment.

JPMorgan and Citigroup were among the top financiers of the fossil fuel industry in 2021, according to a report by groups including the Sierra Club and Rainforest Action Network.

The fact is that we are among the largest financers of the U.S. traditional and renewable energy industries, including in Kentucky, where we serve some of its largest energy companies and utilities, said Trish Wexler, a spokesperson for JPMorgan, in an emailed statement. We believe our business practices are in line with Kentucky law, and we are hopeful a deeper look at these facts would lead to reconsideration.

BlackRock said the companys only agenda is to deliver the best financial results for its clients. 

On behalf of our clients, we have invested approximately $276 billion in energy companies globally, Christopher Van Es, spokesperson for BlackRock, said in an emailed statement. BlackRock does not boycott energy companies and will continue to be investors across the energy sector.

Mark Costiglio, a spokesperson for Citigroup, declined to comment.

Kentucky governmental entities have 30 days to notify both the Treasurers office and companies of any holdings. Named institutions have 90 days from that point to cease engaging in boycotts to avoid divestment, according to a notice on the Treasurers website. Listed firms will have an opportunity to clarify whether they boycott energy companies.

Governmental entities are required to sell, redeem, divest or withdraw all publicly traded securities of companies that continue boycotts within a year, though the law makes some exceptions like if divestment would result in a loss.

The full list of firms is below: 

• BlackRock, Inc.
• BNP Paribas SA
• Citigroup Inc.
• Climate First Bank
• Danske Bank A/S
• HSBC PLC
• JPMorgan Chase & Co.
• Nordea Bank ABP
• Schroders PLC
• Svenska Handelsbanken AB
• Swedbank AB

With assistance from Silla Brush.

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This reward is equal to roughly $300, which can be redeemed for a future Southwest plane ticket, gift card, or merchandise, according to the email Southwest sent out detailing the offer. While the airline claims that the points have no blackout dates, can be used on any available seat, and never expire, how many points customers need to redeem for a roundtrip flight depend on the destination, day of travel, demand, and other factors.

The offer is being extended to those whose flights were canceled or delayed more than three hours between Dec. 24, 2022 and Jan. 2, 2023. It is being given in addition to reimbursements and refunds on flights and incidental expenses.

Our Purpose has always been to connect our Customers to whats important in their lives. And this holiday season, as you made plans with us to do just that, we fell short, reads the email, which was sent in the name of Southwest CEO Robert Johnson. For that, please accept my personal apology.

Just like the refunds and reimbursements the airline has been promising customers for their canceled flights, the points arent being given out automatically. Passengers must redeem a unique code and be a Rapid Rewards member to receive them. Those who are not already signed up for the rewards program will need to do that before they can claim the offer and redeem the points.

Customers whose flights were canceled and were unable to rebook them can still request a refund directly on Southwests website. If you incurred expenses because of your delay or flight cancellationsay, you had to pay for additional days in a hotel, meals, or another form of transportationbetween Dec. 24, 2022 and Jan. 2, 2023, you can email the company and submit receipts for reimbursement.

We have a long and proud 51-year record of delivering on our customers expectations and connecting them to important moments in their lives, Chris Mainz, a spokesman for Southwest, told Fortune. But we arent perfect, and when we fall short, we aim to do the right thing.

Though many airlines were affected by late Decembers winter storms, Southwests troubles were unique and persistent; the carrier experienced a systemwide meltdown that lasted days longer than other airlines.

So many flights were canceledaround 45% from Dec. 21 to Dec. 29, according to FlightAwareand so many passengers impacted, in fact, that the federal government is investigating what happened. In total, the airline could lose hundreds of millions of dollars. An affected passenger has already filed a proposed class action lawsuit for the airlines failure to refund stranded customers.

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