Republicans are plotting plans for counter programming today and beyond

Republicans will hold a news conference featuring the five members that Kevin McCarthy wanted to appoint to the select committee before that official panel kicks off its first official hearing today, two sources familiar with the planning told CNN.

The presser is the beginning of what could become a sustained effort by Republicans to provide a counter narrative to Democrats’ select committee, which includes two Republicans: Reps. Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney.

After tomorrow, one source familiar with the planning told CNN the plan is then to use the seven-week recess to begin charting a course on how to most effectively challenge the select committee’s investigation.

One of the biggest challenges for Republicans is the fact that they won’t have the subpoena power nor the resources the select committee will have to engage in a sweeping investigation. Not to mention their argument that the panel is not bipartisan is undermined by the fact Cheney and Kinzinger are both serving on it.

In the meantime, as CNN’s Ryan Nobles and Melanie Zanona reported there is growing angst over whether GOP leadership should take swift steps to oust Kinzinger and Cheney from their committees. However, a source familiar with those talks says one factor in holding off on that kind of punishment is the belief that Cheney and Kinzinger will face plenty of backlash back home that could be far more damaging to their political futures than action by the Republican conference in Washington could ever be. Kicking them off committees, the source warned would be “more symbolic” than anything. 

The prevailing wisdom right now is it would be better to let Cheney and Kinzinger’s voters decide in 2022. Does that change when members return, we will see.