They’ve had moments of unity: They both opposed a Jan. 6 commission and Build Back Better and teamed up to push the administration for briefings on its withdrawal from Afghanistan, where they were both deeply critical.

But they’ve broken on key policy fights. McConnell encouraged and eventually supported a bipartisan infrastructure deal and helped negotiate a deal late last year on the debt ceiling with Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.). McCarthy opposed both, though he met with McConnell during the debt fight and warned him against attaching it to a massive defense bill. The plan, which had been under consideration in the Schumer-McConnell talks, was subsequently dropped.

And their biggest point of division is one that shows no signs of going away: Trump, who is flirting with a 2024 presidential run…

McCarthy views Trump’s support as crucial to his own political goals and touts his relationship with the former president. McConnell rarely refers to Trump by name and has emerged as one of the former president’s favorite targets, this week turning the president’s “Old Crow” moniker into a joke about bourbon.