Ruh-roh: Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) hasn’t yet been evicted from the House Intelligence Committee by Speaker Kevin McCarthy ― but the jockeying around the panel’s spots has already gotten messy. The centrist New Democrat Coalition assembled a letter, dated Wednesday and obtained by POLITICO, that blessed Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.) to join the committee. But it declared support for Carson to be the “ranking member,” rather than just a member. After some confusion arose, the New Dems underscored that the letter had reflected, in error, Carson’s request to be the ranking member.

Later Thursday, a New Democrats spokesperson clarified that the group had “not endorsed any Member to serve as Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,” citing the multiple members who could do the job. …

Why the top spot could open: McCarthy has vowed not to seat Schiff on the Intelligence Committee, teeing up a potential clash over the position. It would not require a full House vote to remove Schiff because the intelligence panel is technically a select committee, which gives the speaker the power to veto appointments.

[That’s an interesting point. “Select” is indeed in the official title of the committee, but it’s actually called the “House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,” which made it sound like a standing committee. It never occurred to me that this would mean that McCarthy could spike Schiff without a floor vote. That will make this even more fun. — Ed]