The Political Battle Over the Debt Ceiling: McConnell, McCarthy, Biden, Ernst, and Lee Weigh In.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has aligned with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in urging President Joe Biden to negotiate with McCarthy to avoid default on the national debt. Despite their past differences, the two Republican leaders have coordinated their message ahead of a meeting with Biden and bipartisan Hill leadership. McConnell's move helps McCarthy's negotiating position and boosts his own standing within a rightward-shifting Senate Republican conference. Republicans argue that the two leaders are more alike than not, with both focused on their legacies and maintaining a close read on their party and members.