New year, same debt ceiling fight

Plus, Jacinda Ardern is stepping down.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

The US reaches its debt limit with no agreement in sight; New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern resigns.   Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin. TOP NEWS The US reached its debt ceiling. Now what? Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images The Treasury Department on Thursday enacted "extraordinary measures" after the US reached its debt limit — the total amount the federal government can borrow. [Vox / Madeleine Ngo] The temporary accounting tools will keep things running until June when the government will likely exhaust its $31.4 trillion spending cap. [Associated Press / Josh Boak] If the debt limit isn't increased before June, the US could default on its debt for the first time in history. [New York Times / Jim Tankersley and Alan Rappeport] That would roil the global economy and harm Americans who rely on government borrowing for benefits like Medicare and Social Security payments. [CNBC / Lorie Konish] To become House speaker, Rep. Kevin McCarthy promised his caucus he'd use a debt ceiling fight to force Democrats to cut spending. [Vox / Andrew Prokop] However, the White House has refused to negotiate the borrowing limit, and Senate Democrats are against cuts. Unless a deal is made, the US could reach June unable to pay its bills. [CNN / Tami Luhby] 📍 If you read just one story Vox's Dylan Matthews explains how Biden could use executive action to void the debt ceiling — and the risks that come with it. [Vox / Dylan Matthews] Jacinda Arden is leaving office Thursday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced she's resigning by February 7 due to burnout. [BBC / Tiffanie Turnbull] Since her 2017 election, Ardern has received international praise for her rapid response to the 2019 Christchurch massacre and early measures to curb Covid-19. [AP / Nick Perry] However, in recent months, Ardern's polling numbers have fallen at home amid criticism over her government's response to crime and an affordable housing crisis. [Reuters / Praveen Menon] It's unclear who will lead the country until October 14 general elections, but Arden's Labour Party expects to find a replacement before Ardern departs. [NPR / Ashley Westerman] Support our work   Reader gifts help keep Vox and newsletters like Sentences free for all. Support our work with a gift today. Give MISCELLANEOUS The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in Groff v. DeJoy, a case that could grant religious conservatives more power in determining workplace operations. [Vox / Ian Millhiser] Alec Baldwin and weapons handler Hannah Gutierrez-Reed will be charged with involuntary manslaughter over the 2021 on-set shooting death of Rust cinematographer. [ABC News / Meredith Deliso] The US and its European allies are working to convince Germany to send Ukraine tanks, but Berlin won't agree until the US sends its own. [Politico / Alexander Ward, Lara Seligman, and Paul McLeary] Florida won't offer new AP African American studies classes in its high schools over claims the content violates state law. [NYT / Patricia Mazzei and Anemona Hartocollis] VERBATIM "Even just the specter that the United States might not honor its obligations does damage to the economy." [National Economic Council Director Brian Deese on the debt ceiling fight / CNN] LISTEN TO THIS It's debt ceiling season House Republicans are refusing to raise the US debt ceiling without huge concessions. Vox's Dylan Matthews explains why we have a debt ceiling to begin with (and how President Biden could bypass it).   Listen now   ▶ Read more from Vox  The FAA is struggling. Who can save it? Introducing the new, even Trumpier class of Senate Republicans The empty threat of a white-collar recession Honey bees are not in peril. These bees are. How scientists discovered the universe is really freaking huge This email was sent to punjabsvera@gmail.com. Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe. If you value Vox's unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring contribution.   View our Privacy Notice and our Terms of Service.   Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved.