Newsletter Archive

June 2023

National Debt Tops $32 Trillion for the First Time

Welcome to the weekend! The national debt hit another milestone today. Before we get to that, thought, a quick programming note: We will be off Monday for Juneteenth and will be back in your inbox on Tuesday.

Plus: Some may welcome a shutdown

GOP Is Pushing for a Shutdown, Dems Warn

House Republicans on Thursday set the stage for another fiscal showdown with Democrats by approving a controversial set of spending targets for the coming fiscal year that mostly fall short of the levels set in the recent deal negotiated…

Plus: Plus: What's in a new conservative budget plan

IRS Audits of the Rich Deliver Huge Returns: New Study

Good evening. The Federal Reserve hit pause on its rate hikes today. We’ve got a look at what that means and details on new research that suggests the government will lose out on a big chunk of revenue if it defunds IRS audits.

Plus: Plus: Fed pauses rate hikes but says more are coming

The Odds of a Government Shutdown Just Shot Up

Happy Tuesday! We’re guessing you’ve heard this, but former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty in a Miami courtroom today to all 37 charges he faces related to his keeping of top secret documents. Here’s what else we’re watching.

Plus: Plus: Inflation cools for 11th straight month

$400 Billion in Pandemic Aid Stolen, Wasted or Misspent: Analysis

Happy Monday! We’ve got a big week on tap. Obviously, the historic and unprecedented arraignment of former President Donald Trump on federal criminal charges Tuesday will dominate the headlines, but we’re also expecting a fair amount of…

Plus: Plus: Hardliners end House blockade … for now

House Republicans Unveil New Tax Cut Plan

The big news of the day: Former President Donald Trump has been indicted on 37 federal criminal charges related to his retention of classified documents after leaving the White House. It’s the first time a former president has ever been…

Plus: Plus: House hardliners’ blockade may go on for a while

'Chaos' in the House

Good Thursday evening! House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters that he thinks he’s making progress in resolving a revolt by 11 far-right members of his own conference, but there’s little indication yet that a resolution is near…

Plus: Plus: Deficit hits $1.2 trillion for fiscal year 2023 so far

Conservative Revolt Paralyzes House

Good evening from a smoky New York, where the sky went from gray to yellow to orange on Wednesday and the air quality was worse than it has ever been as the result of Canadian wildfires. Here’s what we’re watching through the haze.

Plus: Plus: Pence bets on fiscal conservatism

Congress Isn’t Done With Fiscal Fights This Year

Happy Monday! Former Vice President Mike Pence filed paperwork to launch a bid for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, while New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu announced he won’t be running. Here’s what else is happening.

Plus: Plus: The cost of debt limit brinkmanship

Biden Touts Debt Limit Bill: 'Crisis Averted'

Happy Friday! The United States won’t be defaulting on its debt. President Joe Biden is set to sign the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 into law as soon as tomorrow, suspending the debt limit until 2025 and ending months of tension in a…

Plus: Plus: Another blowout jobs report

Senate Scrambles to Get to Final Debt Limit Vote

Welcome to June! We could be mere hours away from an end to this latest round of debt ceiling drama, as the Senate appears poised to follow the House and pass the bipartisan deal to raise the borrowing limit, cap spending and avoid a…

Plus: Plus: Details on the Medicaid purge

May 2023

Debt Limit Deal Clears a Major Hurdle

Happy Wednesday! The House is set to pass the debt limit deal tonight, setting the stage for some Senate drama. Here’s what we’re watching while waiting to bid farewell to "Ted Lasso."

Plus: Plus: Is McCarthy blowing smoke on savings in the deal?

Republicans Revolt Against McCarthy’s Deal

Happy Tuesday! We hope you had a restful and meaningful Memorial Day holiday. Now that HBO’s “Succession” is over, we’re back to watching the drama unfolding on Capitol Hill. Here’s the latest.

Plus: Plus: What you should know about the bill

Yellen Warns Default Deadline Just 10 Days Away

Happy Friday! We’ve reached the long holiday weekend — but negotiators in Washington, D.C., have yet to reach a deal to raise the debt limit. Some significant disagreements remain, but Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced a specific…

Plus: Plus: Medicaid's post-pandemic purge

Republicans Rebuff Biden Offers as Debt Talks Bog Down

Good evening. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis just announced that he’s running for president. As the debt-limit drama continues and election season warms up, tonight we remember the 19 students and two teachers killed one year ago at the Robb…

Plus: Plus: Polls telling different stories on the debt showdown

Debt Talks ‘Nowhere Near a Deal’ as Deadline Looms

Frustrations appear to be mounting as debt-limit negotiations drag on and key players swing between saying that their talks have been productive and indicating that they’re not even close to a deal while repeating the same demands.

Plus: Plus: When Treasury will hit the danger zone

No Deal Yet but McCarthy Says Biden Meeting ‘Productive’

President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy just wrapped up a White House meeting to discuss action to avert an unprecedented default on the nation’s debt. Here’s the latest.

Plus: Plus: Yellen says early June deadline ‘highly likely’

Republicans Abruptly Hit ‘Pause’ on Debt Talks

We made it to the weekend! The same can’t be said of the debt talks on Capitol Hill, which broke down unexpectedly on Friday, dashing hopes that a deal could be reached this weekend — or at least dimming them.

Plus: Plus: Accounting error means $3 billion more for Ukraine