>


“We have no choice but to make hard decisions,” said Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), the leader of the Republican Study Committee, a bloc of more than 160 conservative lawmakers that endorsed raising the retirement age and other changes last year. “Everybody has to look at everything.”

I assume he means "everything" except increasing the maximum taxable limit for earnings paid into Social Security.  It simply won't do to inconvenience American's wealthy.
The Democrats better not agree to anything on this. It is better for the country to default than to give them cuts to these vital programs. The Republicans will be blamed if this happens. >

When they had best not, they inevitably will if the past is any guide. >

Based on what? When Senate Republicans pulled the same shit in 2021 Democrats didn’t back down, McConnell ended up being forced to back down and even agreed to a one time temporary filibuster exemption for the debt ceiling so that way Democrats can raise it without a single Republican vote. The only time Democrats actually gave into Republicans when it comes the debt ceiling was in 2011.