Turmoil in the US House, China’s Covid crisis: Weekend Reads

Your Balance of Power Weekend Reads highlights some of the top political stories. [View in browser]( [Bloomberg]( Two years after supporters of Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol, the House was gripped by turmoil again as a [protracted deadlock]( between establishment Republicans and hard-line conservatives to elect a new speaker took the most ballots to resolve since 1859. The chaos was a [political]( gift to President Joe Biden, who was able to draw a sharp contrast between the Republican bickering and unity within his Democratic Party. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his forces to [cease fighting]( in Ukraine for 36 hours starting yeseterday, but Kyiv quickly dismissed the move as a ploy, as the conflict heads for its second year. Washington is sending a $2.85 billion package of military hardware to Ukraine, supplying the type of [powerful weapons]( it previously withheld, as Kyiv looks to press a counteroffensive. More countries [tightened measures](for travelers from China out of concern the wave of Covid cases may spawn new variants. Delve into these and more of our top political stories in this edition of Weekend Reads. — [Karl Maier]( Representative Kat Cammack takes a video in the House on Saturday. Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg Click [here]( for this week’s most compelling political images. And if you’re enjoying this newsletter, sign up [here](. ‘Crisis and Confusion’: Four Days of GOP Barbs, Chaos and Cigars Kevin McCarthy’s torturous bid to become House speaker led to shattered records and abandoned norms. [Laura Litvan](, [Billy House]( and [Erik Wasson]( report on the four days of name-calling, late-night huddles and a near-fist fight that [defined the circus]( of the first week of the new Congress. - McCarthy’s concessions to hardliners could make agreements on [new defense spending]( impossible, at a time when the US is intent on backing Ukraine and concern is growing over China’s posture toward Taiwan. - The rebellion was fueled by [years of anger]( at the Republican Party leadership and deep suspicion of the veteran lawmaker.  - Read about 10 legislators with the expertise, political stature, and ability to [get things done]( in a divided Congress. Secret to DeSantis Success Is Ignore Trump and Attack Business Ron DeSantis has perfected the art of appealing to supporters of Trump’s populist brand of politics while removing the former president from the conversation. Now, as [Joshua Green]( writes, the Florida governor is taking aim at a new enemy that recently ranked as perhaps the Republican Party’s [greatest ally](: corporate America. DeSantis onstage at an election-night watch party at the Tampa Convention Center on Nov. 8. Photographer: Photographer: Giorgio Viera/AFP/Getty Images Bodies Pile Up in China as Covid Surge Overwhelms Crematoriums At funeral homes across China, a seemingly [endless flow]( of grieving families and exhausted workers tell the real story of Covid’s toll on the world’s second-biggest economy. Airfinity, a London-based research firm that focuses on predictive health analytics, estimates that deaths could nearly triple to as many as 25,000 per day later in January. - China said it would [retaliate](against nations that placed Covid restrictions on its travelers for “political goals.” Mourners pay their final respects inside a memorial hall at a funeral home in Shanghai on Dec. 31. Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg German Shift on Combat Vehicles Triggers Calls for Battle Tanks Domestic allies praised Chancellor Olaf Scholz for [boosting]( German military aid for Ukraine but some said the decision to ship combat vehicles should have come sooner and include battle tanks, [Michael Nienaber]( reports. France said it would send Kyiv wheeled tank destroyers, while the US and Germany announced they’ll provide Bradley and Marder fighting vehicles. - Russia raised [the death toll]( in a Ukrainian rocket attack on New Year’s Day to 89, the largest such loss it’s yet acknowledged in the war, blaming soldiers’ mobile-phone use for exposing their location. Racism Has Become Part of Everyday Life for Minorities in Sweden Gains by the right-wing Sweden Democrat party in September’s general election and [rising racism]( have left the Nordic country’s reputation as a liberal haven in tatters. [Lars Paulsson](, [Charles Daly]( and [Niclas Rolander]( spoke to migrants from nations such as Nigeria and Syria who face bigoted behavior and taunts in their everyday lives. Sunak’s UK Speech Promises Not as Straight-Talking as They Seem UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday sought to portray himself as a clear-talking, sensible politician who the British electorate can trust. But as [Alex Wickham]( explains, a closer look shows his supposedly [straight pledges]( aren’t quite what they seem. - Sunak is facing calls from senior Conservatives, including members of his own government, to get a grip [on the crisis]( in the National Health Service and improve pay offers to end strikes by nurses and ambulance drivers. Workers’ Rights Push Threatens Last of ‘Made in the USA’ Fashion Los Angeles has long been the premier US hub for garment manufacturing, churning out T-shirts, swimwear and dresses for global fashion brands. But [Olivia Rockeman]( writes that new labor legislation and rising costs are threatening the future of “Made in the USA” clothing. Best of Bloomberg Opinion this week - [Thanks for the Tanks, But Send the Big Ones Too: Andreas Kluth]( - [Gradually Then Suddenly, New Questions About China: John Authers]( - [Trump Lit the Fire Burning Down McCarthy’s House: Joshua Green]( - [Worry About Cyberattacks and New Covid in 2023: James Stavridis]( - [US Should Not Let Time Run Out for Afghan Refugees: Editorial]( Turkey Closes In on Russia-Backed Assad Deal in Blow for US Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is prepared to [reverse policy]( by publicly recognizing Bashar al-Assad’s rule over Syria and building diplomatic, security and trade ties in a Russia-backed deal, [Selcan Hacaoglu]( and [Firat Kozok]( report. In return, Turkey wants Assad to rule out allowing the US-backed Kurdish YPG forces to form an autonomous area in northern parts of the country they control. Europe Set for Warmest January in Years as Gas Crisis Eases The warmest January in years is easing an energy crunch that has hammered Europe for months. While the mild conditions are sparking concerns over climate change, [Josefine Fokuhl]( writes, they’ve been a boon for nations struggling against a crushing cost-of-living crisis that has seen [household energy bills]( and inflation surge. Visitors on a beach in Nice, France, on Jan. 3. Source: Xinhua News Agency Explainers of the week - [How a Border Surge Tests Biden’s Immigration Approach]( - [Why Croatia Sees Joining the Euro as Path to Security]( - [Oil Money Can’t Buy Progress for Gulf’s Laggard State Kuwait]( - [Why EU Graft Scandal Could Undercut Its Soft PowerÂ]( - [Four Key Questions to Ask About Climate Investment in 2023]( Iran Releases Film Star Who Was Jailed for Backing Protests Actor Taraneh Alidoosti was released on bail from a Tehran prison after she was jailed last month for [publicly criticizing]( the Islamic Republic’s suppression of anti-government protests. She was the most high-profile person to be imprisoned by the authorities since unrest erupted over the death of Mahsa Amini in September, [Arsalan Shahla]( reports. And finally … Europe’s mountain ranges offer a front-row seat to the unfolding effects of [climate change](, which is melting ancient glaciers at an unprecedented rate, [Hugo Miller]( and [Allegra Catelli]( report. That is wreaking havoc with, among other things, skiing. It’s a trend that threatens to put the already costly pursuit out of reach for those who can’t afford the prestigious high-altitude resorts. Remnants of snow on the ski slope at Germany’s Fichtelberg on Dec. 22. Source: Picture Alliance Follow Us Like getting this newsletter? [Subscribe to Bloomberg.com]( for unlimited access to trusted, data-driven journalism and subscriber-only insights. You received this message because you are subscribed to Bloomberg's Balance of Power newsletter. If a friend forwarded you this message, [sign up here]( to get it in your inbox. [Unsubscribe]( [Bloomberg.com]( [Contact Us]( Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022 [Ads Powered By Liveintent]( [Ad Choices](