Time - INT (2022-06-06)

As the leader of the House
Republicans and per-
haps the chamber’s next
Speaker, Kevin McCarthy
has among the most im-
possible jobs in Washing-
ton: guiding his party to
this fall’s midterm elec-
tions while also navigating
former President Donald
Trump’s near total hold on
the GOP.
That’s not to say his
critics don’t have valid fod-
der, starting with McCar-
thy’s complete climbdown
from initially suggesting
Trump resign in the wake
of a failed insurrection and
his subsequent supplica-
tion to the former Presi-
dent that continues to this
day. But McCarthy’s fe-
altyalty to Trumalty to TrumtoTrumpp reflects the p reflects the reflectsthe

invitation to make mean-

ingful contributions, but

driving it back to a major-

ity typically opens plenty of

opportunities. Republicans

may soon be back with gav-

elsels and asking themandaskingthemselvesselves

broader attitude inside the

current Republican Party.

As such, McCarthy is the

former President’s most

powerful proxy.

Leading a political

minorityminority is seldomisseldom an an

if McCarthy is the best

choice to run the House for

the final two years of Joe

Biden’s first term.

Elliott is a TIME senior

WashingtonWWashington correspondent ashington correspondent correspondent

In 2019, the Nobel In 2019, the Nobel

Committee awarded Committee awarded

the Peace Prize to the Peace Prize to

Ethiopia’s new Prime Ethiopia’s new Prime

Minister Abiy Ahmed Minister Abiy Ahmed

for his efforts to end for his efforts to end

his country’s decades-his country’s decades-

long conflict with long conflict with

neighboring Eritrea. neighboring Eritrea.

Abiy’s peace treaty with Abiy’s peace treaty with

Eritrean dictator Isaias Eritrean dictator Isaias

Afwerki inspired hopes Afwerki inspired hopes

for a transformed for a transformed

region, but also planted region, but also planted

the seeds for an the seeds for an

Ethiopian civil war. In Ethiopian civil war. In

November 2020, Abiy, November 2020, Abiy,

with Afwerki’s support, with Afwerki’s support,

launched a military launched a military

campaign against their campaign against their

shared enemy: lead-shared enemy: lead-

ers of the rebellious ers of the rebellious

northern Tigray region northern Tigray region

that borders Eritrea. that borders Eritrea.

The civil war, now The civil war, now

in its 19th month, in its 19th month,

has become a byword has become a byword has become a byword

for atrocities against for atrocities against

Tigrayans: Abiy’s forces Tigrayans: Abiy’s forces

have been accused have been accused

of massacres, sexual of massacres, sexual

assault, and ethnic assault, and ethnic

cleansing. Famine cleansing. Famine

looms with millions looms with millions

impacted. In March, impacted. In March,

he declared a truce he declared a truce

to allow humanitarian to allow humanitarian

access to the region, access to the region,

which had been which had been

blocked for months. blocked for months.

But like a previous But like a previous

“humanitarian truce” “humanitarian truce”

in June 2021, it in June 2021, it

appears to be largely appears to be largely

strategic, and little strategic, and little

real aid has arrived. real aid has arrived.

Abiy has started call-Abiy has started call-

ing Tigrayan rebels ing Tigrayan rebels

“weeds” in a rise in “weeds” in a rise in

hate speech. African hate speech. African

civil- civil- society groups society groups

are now pleading with are now pleading with

the U.N. to act, lest the U.N. to act, lest

Ethiopia devolve into Ethiopia devolve into

ethnic cleansing remi-ethnic cleansing remi-

niscent of Rwanda. In niscent of Rwanda. In

January, the Norwegian January, the Norwegian

Nobel Committee in Nobel Committee in

a rare move criticized a rare move criticized

Abiy, noting he has “a Abiy, noting he has “a

special responsibility special responsibility

to end the conflict and to end the conflict and

contribute to peace.” contribute to peace.”

Baker is a TIME senior Baker is a TIME senior

correspondentcorrespondent

Kevin

McCarthy

Guiding the

congressional GOP

BY PHILIP ELLIOTT

AAbiy Ahmbiy Ahmeded

Deepening conflictDeepening conflictDeepening conflict

B Y A R Y N B A K E RB Y A R Y N B A K E R

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