Debt ceiling negotiations highlight political tensions in US government.

President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy recognize the need for compromise to avert a default on the country's debt, but their largely untested relationship and public sniping pose a challenge to negotiations. The two men remain far apart on how to reach a deal, but a smaller circle of advisers has been appointed to hash out the details. Making the negotiations even more tenuous is the fact that the White House did not engage on the debt ceiling for more than three months. Despite the obstacles, there is growing optimism that the negotiators now have a relationship with the speaker.