The Fight to Raise the Debt Ceiling

On today’s episode, Brian Riedl, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, joins Sarah and Steve ...

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On today’s episode, Brian Riedl, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, joins Sarah and Steve as Congress debates lifting America’s borrowing cap. Will Democrats and Republicans come to an agreement to lift the debt limit? Are we heading toward another government shutdown? Is anyone in Washington concerned about our ballooning national debt? 

Show Notes:

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  1. William Redmond

    A lot of time was spent asking the question of what Republicans really think about such high deficit spending. I wish the question had been asked about what Democrats really think about deficits. Do they really think that Modern Monetary Theory can make all the deficits go away?

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    Black Publius

    To be honest, i'm a little worried that the strategy of forcing the Democrats to take responsibility for raising the debt ceiling relies very heavily on Manchin and Sinema and puts a huge amount of pressure on them. Right now, they can go back to their constituents to say that they think it's fiscally irresponsible to spend $3.5B on various Federal programs, but what if the alternative is not adjusting the debt ceiling and driving the country into bankruptcy?

    McConnell and the Republicans may be happy if the Democrats are forced to vote for the increased debt ceiling and pass their ridiculously large reconciliation bill because it will help the Republican party win seats during the midterm elections, but that just seems like a scenario that in which their party wins but the country loses...

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    Adicesa14

    Excellent, thank you.

    Chasing Paul Ryan was one of many major Trump blunders.

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    Ben Connelly

    Brian Riedl for Congress for Paul Ryan’s old seat!

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    NashLives

    Would've been curious to hear his opinion on 14th A, but oh well.

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    Jason Gibson

    Chester Marcol forever

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    Victor Clairmont

    We’re doomed.

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    Anne W (Raw5254)

    This entire thing is ridiculous, but it doesn’t seem as though anyone cares! Why have a budget when you can just keep raising the debt ceiling. And why have a debt ceiling when there really is no ceiling?

    I’m responsible for budgeting, and not spending more money than I have. If I borrow and default, then it’s my problem. But, government spends as though there’s no tomorrow. Both parties do it, and what on earth is going to get them to stop?

    Meanwhile, Democrats are trying to spend TRILLIONS more for a lot of extras that aren’t necessary or affordable. Not one of our leaders is willing to stand up there and tell us the truth—we can’t afford all this stuff!!!

    I hate to say it, but this is one of the main reasons I’m glad I’m older. This house of cards is going to fall at some point, and all those goodies politicians keep doling out aren’t going to be worth one cent.

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      Greenknight

      Trump racked up $7.8 trillion in 4 years.
      The reconciliation bill costs $3.5 trillion over 10 years ($350 billion/year)... which is paid for through a rollback of the Trump tax cuts on the highest earners (millionaires and billionaires).

      The reconciliation bill includes investments which will help everyone in this country, from day care to adult care improvements.

      What did we get for Trump's $7.8 trillion?

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        Anne W (Raw5254)

        Trump didn’t help things, but he’s no longer president. And, if you actually believe that all the things they say about paying for it are going to work that way (and I’m willing to bet they won’t), then we will still have a huge debt. Each party adds to the debt, and promises more things without even trying to work on reducing expenses. They just keep raising that debt ceiling.

        Where are the cuts? Where are the things that are wasteful and could be eliminated? No one gives a damn about having an actual budget. And, if you think they’re going to get money from the millionaires and billionaires who happen to be a lot of Democrats, you’re in for a surprise. I think it’s also been pointed out any number of times, that those rich people are already paying high taxes, and there aren’t enough of them to put a decent dent in paying for this.

        The middle class (or what’s left of them) is, once again, going to be paying for most of this.

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    Sad Trombone

    More than endangering our credit rating I think the most irritating aspect of this kabuki performance is that it wastes so much time. Whatever happened to the idea of the President ordering the mint to produce a few trillion dollar coins and selling them to the Federal Reserve, then demanding the legislature get back to doing some real work.

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    Kevin C. Smith

    I came for the budget talk.. I endured the Packers nonsense…. I’m still pleased.

    #ThePackersSuck

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