by Julia Rock, Jacobin
In the debt ceiling standoff, Republicans are holding the global economy hostage, demanding a ransom payment that consists of gutting the US social safety net, rapid approval of fossil fuel projects, cuts to education and national park budgets, and more.
Their strategy appears to be working. On Saturday night, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) announced he and Biden had reached a tentative “agreement in principle” to raise the debt ceiling that includes new work requirements on social programs and cuts to the federal budget. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the agreement this upcoming Wednesday.
President Joe Biden, a famously bad negotiator who has pushed for cuts to social programs in the past, has negotiated with the hostage takers. Lawmakers in his own party are reportedly “anxious” that the president has been ignoring the old adage about negotiating with terrorists. In other words, the current standoff over the debt ceiling looks like the Washington Generals (Democrats) deliberately getting pantsed and preparing to lose to the Harlem Globetrotters (Republicans).
Recent Posts
Leading Papers Call For Destroying Iran To Save It
Take Action Now The opinion pages of the New York Times and Washington Post are offering facile humanitarian arguments for the US to escalate its…
Despite Marco Rubio’s Warnings, This is the Time to Go to Cuba in Solidarity Against the Latest U.S. Aggressions
Take Action Now When visiting Cuba, one can see quickly the terrible effects of the almost seven decades of the U.S. economic blockade of Cuba.By…
“Hands Off Cuba!”: Left Groups in Europe Mobilize Against U.S. Aggression
Take Action Now Hundreds demonstrated in Belgium in solidarity with Cuba as further mobilizations against US imperialism are planned across Europe.……
Democrats Propose Minor Reforms for ICE — and Record Funding
Take Action Now Congressional Democratic leaders are asking ICE to agree to reforms, promising to vote for $11 billion in funding for the agency if…