Newsletter Archive

February 2023

Pence Puts Social Security Cuts Back on the Table

Happy Wednesday! Members of Congress have been squabbling over House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s decision to give Fox News host Tucker Carlson access to thousands of hours of January 6 video footage. The move has been hailed by some on the…

Plus: Plus, debt default date this summer

GOP Targets ‘Woke’ Waste in Budget

Happy Tuesday – we hope you’ve had your fill of beignets on Mardi Gras! Following a surprise visit to Kyiv on Monday, President Biden spent his Shrove Tuesday holding meetings in Poland as he marked the upcoming one-year anniversary of the…

Plus: Plus, IRS fails to deliver

A New Twist in the GOP Feud Over Social Security Cuts

We hope you’ve had a good Thursday! President Biden attempted to ease fears today over the three mysterious flying objects shot down over North America in recent days, saying there was little evidence they were connected to a Chinese…

Plus: Plus, inflation flares

US Will Add $19 Trillion in Debt Over Next Decade: CBO

The U.S. will default on its obligations sometime between July and September if the federal debt limit is not raised or suspended, the Congressional Budget Office said in a new estimate published Wednesday.

Plus: Plus: Debt limit deadline as soon as July

Biden Picks New Top Economist

Happy Valentine’s Day! Budget geeks may be more excited about tomorrow, when the Congressional Budget Office is set to release its updated budget and economic outlook along with a fresh report on federal debt and the nation’s borrowing…

Plus: Plus: The $400,000 missile bringing down those balloons

Biden's Social Security Strategy

Monday’s news was dominated by talk of mysterious flying objects and a super Super Bowl. Reminder: Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. Send chocolates to the address below. As always, though, you can email us at yrosenberg@thefiscaltimes.com.

Plus: Plus: House Republicans plan new limits for earmarks

Biden Prepares Largest Military Budget in History

Happy Friday! We’re two days away from the Super Bowl, which at least on paper looks to be a close matchup — maybe the closest ever. So what’s your call? Chiefs or Eagles?

Plus: Plus: Republicans Feud Over Social Security, Medicare

Biden and Scott Clash Over Social Security, Medicare

We hit a tragic milestone on Thursday, as the death toll from the earthquake in Turkey and Syria has now topped 20,000 — and then quickly surged above 21,000, too. Here’s what else we’re watching.

Plus: Plus: Half of Americans say they are worse off financially

$191 Billion in Improper Payments

Happy Wednesday! Who predicted that Social Security and Medicare would dominate the post-State of the Union discussion? Here’s a look at the fallout from Biden’s big speech.

Plus: Plus: Biden and GOP clash over Social Security and Medicare

Biden Bets on Taxes and Health Care

Good Tuesday evening! President Joe Biden is set to give his second State of the Union address — a high-profile chance to boost mediocre poll numbers and convince Americans that his policies are working and the country is headed for better…

Plus: Plus, Powell talks rate hikes

Forget About a Recession?

A tragic day in Turkey and Syria, as thousands of people were killed by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake.

Plus: Plus: Biden's big SOTU challenge

A Shockingly Strong Jobs Report

We made it to the weekend, but there’s a suspected Chinese spy balloon flying across the central United States and a brutal cold front sweeping across the Northeastern part of the country. On the positive side, the January jobs report…

Plus: Plus: ChatGPT Explains the Debt Limit

The Least Productive Congress Ever?

Happy Groundhog Day! Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, meaning six more weeks of winter, but Staten Island Chuck did not, predicting an early spring for the eighth year in a row. Our prediction: many more weeks of occasionally frosty debt…

Plus: Plus: McCarthy's Debt-Limit Dilemma

Biden and McCarthy Dive Into Debt Talks

Welcome to February! President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy sat down for their first one-on-one meeting on Wednesday. Here’s what you should know.

Plus: Plus: The Fed slows its roll on rates

January 2023

Biden Challenges McCarthy: Show Me Your Plan

Good Tuesday evening. The White House has announced that it will be ending the coronavirus public health emergency in May, and it previewed President Joe Biden’s approach to a closely watched meeting Wednesday with House Speaker Kevin…

Plus: Plus: US Covid emergency to end in May

A Debt Ceiling Showdown This Week

Happy Monday! President Biden visited Baltimore today to discuss how funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will be used to replace the 150-year-old Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel. He will head to New York tomorrow to tout another…

Plus: Plus: $114 billion from gaming the U.S. patent system

Biden Warns GOP Agenda Would Bring Chaos

We hope you had a good Thursday. President Joe Biden on Thursday celebrated some solid economic data and lambasted “MAGA Republicans in the House of Representatives” who he said are threatening to “destroy” the progress made under his…

Plus: Plus: No recession yet, as economy grew 2.1% in 2022

McCarthy Agrees Not to Touch Social Security, Manchin Says

Good evening! On this date in 1915, the first official transcontinental phone call in the U.S. took place between Alexander Graham Bell in New York and his former assistant, Thomas Watson, in San Francisco.

Plus: Plus: Does the US need more tax revenue?

McConnell: Debt Deal Will Have to Come From the House

Happy Tuesday! Yet another shoe dropped today in the classified documents scandal as a small number of documents were found at the Indiana home of former Vice President Mike Pence. And the Oscar nominations were announced today, with …

Plus: Plus: Amazon to offer $5 generic drugs