Hannah Dormido and Marianna Sotomayor at WP:
The House GOP conference consists of five ideological factions ranging from moderate to ultraconservative. The key representatives from each group continue to meet with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) each week to discuss and, at times, fiercely debate legislation.
The weekly family meeting was established by Johnson’s predecessor, Kevin McCarthy (R-California), almost by accident. But the meeting and the “five families” name — a reference to the Godfather films — stuck.
While a majority of Republicans belong to at least one faction, a few have opted out. Of that group, most vote with Republicans, while lawmakers such as Reps. Thomas Massie (Kentucky) and Tim Burchett (Tennessee) are reliable holdouts and critics.
