Smoke and mirrors. There are only three ways to get rid of Ryan as Speaker. The first is to primary him; that was tried and failed in 2016. The second is to dish out the dirt on him (cf. “Gingrich, Hastert, et al”), but the Democrats would have to do that, and they love him in the Speaker’s chair almost as much as having Pelosi there. The third is one that cannot be explained without criminal repercussions, and I am not suggesting it. Barring these three, Ryan is Speaker as long as he and/or the establishment want him there.
I like your euphemism.