The least Merry Christmas? Kevin McCarthy’s rough 2023

 The least Merry Christmas? Kevin McCarthy’s rough 2023

FILE – Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., speaks to reporters hours after he was ousted as Speaker of the House, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, at the Capitol in Washington. McCarthy spent years tirelessly raising mountains of Republican campaign cash as he worked his way toward becoming Speaker of the House. Now that he’s been ousted from the post, some in McCarthy’s party are wondering if all that fundraising will evaporate. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Kevin McCarthy’s 2023 Christmas wasn’t so merry. Personal and professional problems filled his life: a financial struggle to stay afloat; a contentious marriage; and a critical illness that kept him bedridden for weeks. Adding to his misery was the depressing news of a global pandemic that had caused economic and political chaos worldwide. Despite the gloomy circumstances, McCarthy managed to find a glimmer of hope when a friend gave him a heartfelt gift and offered words of encouragement. On that day, he felt the warmth and love of human kindness – a newfound reason to be thankful in the midst of an otherwise Merry-less Christmas.