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Go to Economist.com and get your first month free. Happening now a high-stakes political standoff over raising the debt ceiling after the

US hits its 31 trillion dollar limit the threat of an economically disastrous default is

now hanging over Congress, the White House, and every American.

Also this hour a new report that CIA director William Burns made a secret trip to

Ukraine to brief President Volodemir Zelensky and share US intelligence on

Russia's next moves in the war.

An actor and producer Alec Baldwin now faces criminal charges in the fatal shooting of a crew member on the set of the film Russ.

Our legal experts are weighing the evidence and whether

the involuntary manslaughter charges will stick. Welcome to our viewers here in

the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer, you're in the situation room. We begin with the partisan showdown over raising the debt ceiling and fears of an

unprecedented default by the United States. Our chief congressional

correspondent, Manu Raju explains where this critical fight stands tonight.

Tonight Congress and the White House engaged in a risky standoff as the U.S US reaches its 31.4 trillion dollar borrowing limit.

The White House and Congressional Democrats say no negotiations to raise the debt ceiling

...