McCarthy threat offers dark preview of possible Republican House

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is offering a glimpse of the Donald Trump-inspired authoritarian streak likely to animate a Republican majority if the party triumphs in next year's midterm elections.

In the latest manifestation of the possible future House speaker's hard right turn, he warned telecom and social media companies could lose their right to operate on US soil if they comply with any requests by the House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection to turn over records of calls made by lawmakers.

His threat is best understood in the context of McCarthy's...