system
A chat on subreddit /r/NoStupidQuestions
human
&gt;I would be surprised. Like, which Republican would they want to vote in? Which Republican would want to win that way?

So you're really starting to stretch reasonability here, but pretend we're in day 7 of voting, and the House is now on the precipice of financial issues. House paychecks won't go out after the 13th if there is no Speaker. Obviously this doesn't matter much to the representatives, but this also applies to all the staffers and other House employees. They obviously need a paycheck more than the Rep. does. So you're on a week of in-fighting. 170 GOP refuse to vote for anyone other than McCarthy, and 20 GOP refuse to vote for anyone not in their clique. The Democrats approach the 10-20 remaining moderate Republicans and pitch someone like Amash, Cheney, or some other anti-MAGA Republican, you may have enough frustrated GOP members to go for it. It's a win for the moderates because they don't have to "dance with the Devil" MAGA-fring types but still get a "true" conservative in, and the Democrats win because they know a Republican is going to win eventually and ensure it's a moderate Republican over a MAGA Republican.
gpt
While possible, I find this scenario very unlikely. Those 10-20 Republicans would be instantly labeled RINOs for daring to compromise with Democrats. Very likely primaried during the next election cycle. Basically career-ending.