But here's how I see it. Under my predecessor, Republicans in Congress voted three times

to keep paying America's bills without preconditions and without a crisis. They paid America's

bills and then, so why won't they pay them now? So let's be real clear about one thing. There is no actual crisis here.

This is entirely a crisis of their making if it occurs. President Joe Biden continues to call out

House Republicans over the debt ceiling, delivering what sure sounded like a 2024 stump speech.

Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Republican senators air their grievances with the Attorney General.

And also ahead, a major move on the price of insulin that will bring much needed really for millions of Americans.

Good morning and welcome to way too early on this Thursday, March 2nd. I'm Jonathan Lemire. Thanks for starting your day with us. We'll begin on Capitol Hill,

where Attorney General Merrick Garland

faced a barrage of attacks from Republican lawmakers yesterday during a Senate Judiciary Committee

hearing. As is customary for an attorney general to do, Garland appeared before the new Congress

to answer questions about a wide range of topics. But the AG spent a large portion of the

four-hour hearing, defending himself

from accusations of political bias, advocating his responsibilities, and even using the FBI to

terrorize Catholics. Attorney General, are you cultivating sources and spies in Latin Mass parishes and other Catholic parishes around the

country? The Justice Department does not do that. How many informants do you have in Catholic

churches across America? I don't know, and I don't believe we have any informants aimed at Catholic

churches. Does your department have a problem with anti-Catholic bias? Our department

protects all religions and all ideologies.

It does not have any bias against any religion of any kind.

Decisions about how to go about this were made on the ground by FBI.

So you're saying you don't know?

...