President Joe Biden on Tuesday said he had a “productive meeting with the congressional leadership about the path forward to make sure America does not default,” as he assessed how a much-anticipated meeting on the debt ceiling went. Biden also said he’s not ruling anything out, when asked about a short-term increase for the federal borrowing limit to provide his administration and Congress with more time to come up with a long-term solution. Biden suggested he didn’t see the 14th Amendment as one way out of the current stalemate, but he said he was thinking about taking a look at that “months down the road.” In addition, the president said he would skip his trip to a G-7 summit in Japan if necessary.
Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California is en route to Washington, D.C., and expects to cast votes this week, according to multiple published reports. Feinstein, 89, has been missing votes and hearings since being hospitalized more than two months ago. She is not seeking re-election in 2024 but has faced calls to resign due to her absence. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the New York Democrat, said in a statement that he’s glad Feinstein is “back in the Senate and ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work,” adding that it’s “clear she’s back where she wants to be and ready to deliver for California.”