If it's Thursday paying the price, the U.S. has warned that its credit rating will be downgraded if Washington can't get its act together as the president touts progress in talks behind the scenes with just one week until a potential government default.

Plus, failure to launch. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis tries to steady the ship

after a bumpy and botched entrance into the Republican presidential campaign as former President

Trump expands his lead on the field. And the future of AI, my one-on-one exclusive interview

with the president of Microsoft as Washington looks to

rein in the rapidly evolving technology before it's too late.

Welcome to meet the Press now.

I'm Chuck Todd reporting from Washington,

where White House and congressional negotiators have still not yet hammered out a deal

to raise the nation's borrowing limit,

which is seven days until a potential government default

based on Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's calendar.

Negotiators on Capitol haven't hit the panic bunny yet, though.

They say Dale could be within reach.

Soon, they can take the weekend.

But even if that does happen, we're already seeing some political and economic fallout.

The White House appears to be losing the messaging war against Republicans over the debt ceiling.

A couple of new polls indicate that.

Here's one from Fox. A majority of Americans, 57% agree with the debt ceiling. A couple of new polls indicate that. Here's one from Fox.

A majority of Americans 57% agree with the Republican position in these talks.

That Congress should raise the debt ceiling only if spending is cut.

And if you want to dismiss that poll because it's Fox, well, let me show you these numbers

...