The debt ceiling standoff is “not my fault,” Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) told reporters Wednesday, as he sent negotiators back to the White House. He said more time was needed to reach a deal (The Boston Globe).

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Civil comments are welcome from never-Trumpers and pro-MAGAs alike. 

There’s plenty of issues on which to weight in, including the shaky start to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential run, and Republicans’ refusal to expel Rep. George Santos (R-NY) from the House of Representatives. 

Also up for discussion:

•Nice guy Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) beat Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis by a few days in declaring his presidential campaign earlier this week. 

•The Consumer Price Index was up 4.9% in April, still too high for the Federal Reserve, but reflecting a slow and continuing improvement over last year. Meanwhile, the Labor Department reported a week earlier that the U.S. economy added 253,000 jobs in April, higher than most economists had predicted. This comes after the Fed indicated its latest quarter-point interest rate hike might be its last for a while. All these high numbers could be fond memories of our 2023 economy if Congress fails to pass a debt ceiling increase in coming weeks.

•A Manhattan court awarded E. Jean Carroll $5 million in her sexual abuse and defamation case against Donald J. Trump, who of course, will appeal.

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