(The Epoch Times)—Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) on Monday filed a motion to vacate Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as House Speaker, setting up a likely showdown vote in the lower chamber in the days ahead.
Mr. Gaetz is a member of the hardline conservative GOP faction that has, for months, warned Mr. McCarthy it would introduce a motion to vacate, a procedural tool, to attempt to oust Mr. McCarthy from his office if their concerns about specific items of government overspending were not acknowledged. Those threats escalated over the weekend after Mr. McCarthy relied on Democrats to provide the necessary votes to fund the government.
Announcing his motion, Mr. Gaetz said on the House floor that he was “declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant, and resolved that the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives is hereby declared to be vacant.”
The House speaker responded to Mr. Gaetz’s motion online, writing on X, “Bring it on.”
Mr. McCarthy agreed to a change in House rules to allow just one member to move such a motion when he made a deal with the conservative faction to secure his election as the 55th House Speaker on Jan. 7.
A motion to vacate is a rare and strong procedural tool that has only been used twice in the past century against Republican speakers.
On Sunday, the day after Congressional lawmakers averted a government shutdown, Mr. Gaetz pointed to the 45-day continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government as the reason for his move to vacate Mr. McCarthy’s office.
Mr. Gaetz said on Sunday that since then, Mr. McCarthy “has been in brazen repeated material breach of that agreement.”
“This agreement he made with Democrats to really blow past a lot of the spending guardrails we had set up is a last straw,” Mr. Gaetz said on Sunday.
The Florida representative also claimed that he had learned overnight that Mr. McCarthy “had a secret deal with Democrats on Ukraine.”
Hours before filing his resolution to vacate the speaker’s office, Mr. Gaetz demanded that Mr. McCarthy disclose the details of the supposed deal the speaker is accused of making with the White House to bring forward legislation to help fund the war in Ukraine during funding negotiations.
“It is becoming increasingly clear who the speaker of the House already works for and it’s not the Republican Conference,” Mr. Gaetz said earlier.
Mr. McCarthy denied any such deal, telling reporters at the Capitol earlier in the day that there was “no side deal” on Ukraine and that he was “focused on doing the work that has to be done.” He added that he had not spoken with President Joe Biden.
On Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to explain President Biden’s remarks made over the weekend, which appeared to suggest that Democrats had reached a new deal with Mr. McCarthy on Ukraine.
When a reporter asked the president if he could trust Mr. McCarthy in future deal-making, President Biden responded: “We just made one about Ukraine. So, we’ll find out.”
Ms. Jean-Pierre declined to delve into the specifics of what the president meant and refrained from commenting on Mr. Gaetz’s remarks.
“I’ll leave Matt Gaetz to speak for himself,” she told reporters at a White House press briefing.
“When it relates to what the President said, I’m certainly not going to go beyond what he said,” Ms. Jean-Pierre added. “What we know is that there’s bipartisan support for this deal. Again, Speaker McCarthy was on the air multiple times yesterday saying that he wants to—he certainly wants to continue support for Ukraine to get the weapons that they need.”
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.