Less than two weeks stand between Congress and a fast-approaching deadline from the Treasury Department forecasting the earliest the nation could risk a federal default.
Negotiations between the White House and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) have picked up in recent days, but McCarthy told reporters this week that he thinks both parties are still “far apart” in reaching a compromise to keep the nation from defaulting on its debt.
“I think we’ve got to have a deal done by this weekend to be able to have a timeline to be able to pass it,” McCarthy said on Monday.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the country could run out of money to pay its debt as early as June 1, an estimate she reaffirmed on Monday.
Here are five things to know about the ongoing battle. McCarthy, Biden set to meet again this week
President Biden last week sat down with McCarthy, along with other congressional leaders, in the pair’s first talks on the debt ceiling since February. The Speaker said afterward that the meeting produced little movement, but that discussions would continue between staff in the days ahead before principal leaders are set to meet again.
However, he also said of the White House on Monday that it “seems like they want a default more than a deal,” underscoring the challenges both sides face in this critical stretch.
Debt ceiling talks had long been at a standstill as Republicans drew red lines against raising the debt limit without significant fiscal reforms while the White House refused to come to the bargaining table, insisting instead on a “clean” bill to raise the debt limit while pushing for bipartisan spending talks to be carried out separately.
Biden is set to meet again with leaders on Tuesday. Areas for potential compromise emerge
As discussions continue at the staff level, details have emerged about where compromise could be found.
In a pen-and-pad discussion with reporters last week, prominent House Republicans said they see new limits on federal spending, reclaiming unobligated coronavirus funding, permitting reform and changes to work requirements for public assistance programs among the top areas ripe for bipartisan agreement.
The areas were included in a package House Republicans passed last month that paired an increase in the debt limit with a host of partisan proposals to cut spending. No Democrat voted for the bill.
Some moderate Democrats have also signaled openness to changes like clawing back some coronavirus funds or even potential changes to the student loan policies implemented under the Biden administration in recent weeks.
Biden said last week that rescinding some unspent COVID-19 funding is “on the table.”
And, asked over the weekend about work requirements, the president responded, “I voted for tougher aid programs that’s in the law now, but for Medicaid, it’s a different story. And so I’m waiting to hear what their exact proposal is.”
But there is still plenty of resistance to other proposals Republicans have offered to cut spending. Democrats talking backup plans
As both sides look to put pressure on the other over the threat of a default, Democrats have talked up the prospect of potential backup plans to bypass working with McCarthy on the debt limit.
There’s been a lot of chatter in recent days around using the 14th Amendment, which says the public debt “shall not be questioned,” to potentially allow the president to issue debt. However, the idea has sparked serious legal questions and concerns from lawmakers who think it too risky.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has also said the move could lead to a “constitutional crisis,” while warning against Washington reaching “the point where we need to consider whether the president can go on issuing debt.”
Democrats have additionally looked at using a procedure known as a discharge petition in a bid to allow the party to force a vote on a bill to raise the debt limit in the lower chamber, despite opposition from the Speaker. But that plan would also require support from at least five rebel Republicans for success, and House GOP leaders are adamant the conference is largely unified in tying any increase to the debt ceiling with cuts to spending. Time is running short
Members on both sides are hopeful Congress can put a bow on the debt ceiling matter before June 1, the earliest the Treasury warns the nation risks defaulting on its debt, setting off a high-stakes race against the clock.
While there’s another meeting on the calendar between Biden and congressional leaders this week, the president is soon scheduled to head for Asia later this week for the Group of Seven (G7) summit. He also has trips to Papua New Guinea and Australia on the calendar before the end of the month.
Lawmakers are also short on legislative time, prompting questions around the fate of Memorial Day recess in the upper chamber as tensions escalate around the debt limit.
McCarthy, meanwhile, told reporters he believed leaders need to agree on a framework by this weekend to avert default.
All the while, both sides have been steadfast in rejecting a short-term extension to the debt limit to buy Congress more time. Some on both sides toughen their stances
Members on both sides aren’t expecting the final deal to look much like the proposals some have dug in their heels on in recent weeks. The Memo: Nonexistent ‘border surge’ scrambles immigration politics Michigan boy fends off alleged kidnapper by shooting him with a slingshot
Reports have surfaced that negotiators are considering a two-year deal that would involve proposals aimed at limiting spending while also raising the debt limit. But Republicans are pushing for a shorter extension, as the party presses for another debt fight ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Congressional Democrats have also come out strongly against spending caps as talks heat up, posing a potential hurdle to both sides as negotiators pursue a bipartisan deal. Many also still insist that budget conversations be handled in a two-track process, separating possible cuts from the debt ceiling.
“I’m not open to any policy concessions in the context of the debt limit. We just have to do the responsible thing and prevent everyone’s mortgages from going up,” Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said last week.
BST Hyde Park festival has cancelled its final night after Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra pulled out of the headline slot.
Lynne, 77, was due to play alongside his band on Sunday but has been forced to withdraw from the event following a “systemic infection”.
The London show was supposed to be a “final goodbye” from ELO following their farewell US tour.
Organisers said on Saturday that Lynne was “heartbroken” at being unable to perform.
A statement read: “Jeff has been battling a systemic infection and is currently in the care of a team of doctors who have advised him that performing is simply not possible at this time nor will he be able to reschedule.
“The legacy of the band and his longtime fans are foremost in Jeff’s mind today – and while he is so sorry that he cannot perform, he knows that he must focus on his health and rehabilitation at this time.”
They later confirmed the whole of Sunday’s event would be cancelled.
“Ticket holders will be refunded and contacted directly by their ticket agent with further details,” another statement said.
Stevie Wonder played the festival on Saturday – now its final event of 2025.
US rock band The Doobie Brothers and blues rock singer Steve Winwood were among those who had been due to perform to before ELO’s headline performance.
The cancellation comes after the band, best known for their hit Mr Blue Sky, pulled out of a performance due to take place at Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena on Thursday.
ELO was formed in Birmingham in 1970 by Lynne, multi-instrumentalist Roy Wood and drummer Bev Bevan.
They first split in 1986, before frontman Lynne resurrected the band in 2014.
Why he could win: Olson is a late replacement for Acuna as the home team’s representative at this year’s Derby. Apart from being the Braves’ first baseman, however, Olson also was born in Atlanta and grew up a Braves fan, giving him some extra motivation. The left-handed slugger led the majors in home runs in 2023 — his 54 round-trippers that season also set a franchise record — and he remains among the best in the game when it comes to exit velo and hard-hit rate.
Why he might not: The home-field advantage can also be a detriment if a player gets too hyped up in the first round. See Julio Rodriguez in Seattle in 2023, when he had a monster first round, with 41 home runs, but then tired out in the second round.
2025 home runs: 36 | Longest: 440 feet
Why he could win: It’s the season of Cal! The Mariners’ catcher is having one of the greatest slugging first halves in MLB history, as he’s been crushing mistakes all season . His easy raw power might be tailor-made for the Derby — he ranks in the 87th percentile in average exit velocity and delivers the ball, on average, at the optimal home run launch angle of 23 degrees. His calm demeanor might also be perfect for the contest as he won’t get too amped up.
Why he might not: He’s a catcher — and one who has carried a heavy workload, playing in all but one game this season. This contest is as much about stamina as anything, and whether Raleigh can carry his power through three rounds would be a concern. No catcher has ever won the Derby, with only Ivan Rodriguez back in 2005 even reaching the finals.
2025 home runs: 24 | Longest: 451 feet
Why he could win: He’s big, he’s strong, he’s young, he’s awesome, he might or might not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. This is the perfect opportunity for Wood to show his talent on the national stage, and he wouldn’t be the first young player to star in the Derby. He ranks in the 97th percentile in average exit velocity and 99th percentile in hard-hit rate, so he can still muscle the ball out in BP even if he slightly mishits it. His long arms might be viewed as a detriment, but remember the similarly tall Aaron Judge won in 2017.
Why he might not: His natural swing isn’t a pure uppercut — he has a pretty low average launch angle of just 6.2 degrees — so we’ll see how that plays in a rapid-fire session. In real games, his power is primarily to the opposite field, but in a Home Run Derby you can get more cheapies pulling the ball down the line.
2025 home runs: 20 | Longest: 479 feet
Why he could win: Buxton’s raw power remains as impressive as nearly any hitter in the game. He crushed a 479-foot home run earlier this season and has four others of at least 425 feet. Indeed, his “no doubter” percentage — home runs that would be out of all 30 parks based on distance — is 75%, the highest in the majors among players with more than a dozen home runs. His bat speed ranks in the 89th percentile. In other words, two tools that could translate to a BP lightning show.
Why he might not: Buxton is 31 and the Home Run Derby feels a little more like a younger man’s competition. Teoscar Hernandez did win last year at age 31, but before that, the last winner older than 29 was David Ortiz in 2010, and that was under much different rules than are used now.
2025 home runs: 16 | Longest: 463 feet
Why he could win: If you drew up a short list of players everyone wants to see in the Home Run Derby, Cruz would be near the top. He has the hardest-hit ball of the 2025 season, and the hardest ever tracked by Statcast, a 432-foot missile of a home run with an exit velocity of 122.9 mph. He also crushed a 463-foot home run in Anaheim that soared way beyond the trees in center field. With his elite bat speed — 100th percentile — Cruz has the ability to awe the crowd with a potentially all-time performance.
Why he might not: Like all first-time contestants, can he stay within himself and not get too caught up in the moment? He has a long swing, which will result in some huge blasts, but might not be the most efficient for a contest like this one, where the more swings a hitter can get in before the clock expires, the better.
2025 home runs: 23 | Longest: 425 feet
Why he could win: Although Caminero was one of the most hyped prospects entering 2024, everyone kind of forgot about him heading into this season since he didn’t immediately rip apart the majors as a rookie. In his first full season, however, he has showed off his big-time raw power — giving him a chance to become just the third player to reach 40 home runs in his age-21 season. He has perhaps the quickest bat in the majors, ranking in the 100th percentile in bat speed, and his top exit velocity ranks in the top 15. That could translate to a barrage of home runs.
Why he might not: In game action, Caminero does hit the ball on the ground quite often — in fact, he’s on pace to break Jim Rice’s record for double plays grounded into in a season. If he gets out of rhythm, that could lead to a lot of low line drives during the Derby instead of fly balls that clear the fences.
2025 home runs: 19 | Longest: 440 feet
Why he could win: The Athletics slugger has been one of the top power hitters in the majors for three seasons now and is on his way to a third straight 30-homer season. Rooker has plus bat speed and raw power, but his biggest strength is an optimal average launch angle (19 degrees in 2024, 15 degrees this season) that translates to home runs in game action. That natural swing could be picture perfect for the Home Run Derby. He also wasn’t shy about saying he wanted to participate — and maybe that bodes well for his chances.
Why he might not: Rooker might not have quite the same raw power as some of the other competitors, as he has just one home run longer than 425 feet in 2025. But that’s a little nitpicky, as 11 of his home runs have still gone 400-plus feet. He competed in the college home run derby in Omaha while at Mississippi State in 2016 and finished fourth.
2025 home runs: 17 | Longest: 442 feet
Why he could win: Chisholm might not be the most obvious name to participate, given his career high of 24 home runs, but he has belted 17 already in 2025 in his first 61 games after missing some time with an injury. He ranks among the MLB leaders in a couple of home run-related categories, ranking in the 96th percentile in expected slugging percentage and 98th percentile in barrel rate. His raw power might not match that of the other participants, but he’s a dead-pull hitter who has increased his launch angle this season, which might translate well to the Derby, even if he won’t be the guy hitting the longest home runs.
Why he might not: Most of the guys who have won this have been big, powerful sluggers. Chisholm is listed at 5-foot-11, 184 pounds, and you have to go back to Miguel Tejada in 2004 to find the last player under 6 foot to win.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Twins All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton admitted to feeling a little added pressure before Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was his bobblehead day, meaning the first 10,000 fans to walk through the gates at Target Field would receive a replica of Buxton doing his “Buck Truck” home run celebration.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous before the game started, just knowing it was bobblehead day,” Buxton said. “Obviously you want to come out and do something good.”
Buxton did more than something good. He became the first player to hit for the cycle at Target Field since the ballpark opened in 2010, helping ignite the Twins to a 12-4 win over the Pirates.
It was the 12th cycle in Twins history and the first since Jorge Polanco had one in 2019.
Buxton had three hits through three innings — a single in the first, a triple in the six-run second and a double in the third. After singling again in the fifth, he had one more opportunity in the bottom of the seventh.
Buxton, who will participate in next week’s Home Run Derby in Atlanta, crushed a 427-foot solo homer off Pirates reliever Andrew Heaney with two outs in the seventh to make it an 11-3 game and complete the cycle. That brought the Target Field crowd to its feet, with many fans celebrating with Buxton bobbleheads.
With his team holding a comfortable lead, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli almost took Buxton out of the game before his final at-bat, he admitted afterward. Thankfully for Baldelli — and Buxton — a few coaches reminded the skipper what was at stake.
“He was 4 for 4 at the time. But with everything going on during a game, sometimes I’ll be the one that might miss on a hitting streak or something that’s going on with a particular player,” Baldelli said. “But once they reminded me of that, he was going to stay in the game. He was going to get another at-bat, regardless of the score, and give him a chance to do something great.”
The homer was Buxton’s 21st of the season, tied for fifth most in the American League. With two runs driven in Saturday, Buxton now has 55 RBIs on the season — just one shy of his single-season high. He boasts an OPS of .921 and is 17 for 17 in stolen bases.
“It’s one of the greatest first halves I’ve ever witnessed,” Baldelli said.
Buxton was replaced in center field after the seventh inning, but not before getting a standing ovation curtain call from Twins fans. He also received a Gatorade bath courtesy of teammate Ty France, who was headed to the clubhouse before realizing that nobody had doused Buxton yet after the game.
“It’s special,” Buxton said. “To be able to come out on bobblehead day like this and have a day like this is something I won’t forget.”