Rob Bill makes a progress because we both agreed that default's not really in the table.

We've got to get something done here.

And the consequence for only a pair of bills would be that American people would have a real kick in their economic well-being.

As a matter of fact, the rest of the world would do.

President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy in the Oval Office yesterday, after what both

sides called a productive meeting.

We'll look at the issues that are still holding up a deal on the debt ceiling.

Plus, E. Jean Carroll wants a judge to update her defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump

following his comments about her during a recent town hall.

And also ahead, the field for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination adds a new name.

We'll show you Senator Tim Scott's first pitch to voters.

Good morning and welcome to way too early on this Tuesday, May 23rd. I'm Jonathan Lemire. Thanks for starting

your day with us. We'll begin this morning with the ongoing debt-sealing negotiations in Washington.

President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy met at the White House yesterday afternoon.

They emerged without a deal. However, both leaders called their meeting productive

and instructed their teams to meet last night to try to reach a consensus. While McCarthy

reiterated that Republicans would not consider raising taxes, a source familiar with the talks

tells NBC News that the White House is eyeing health savings as one area

for compromise. The savings would target areas of federal programs like Medicare Part B, where the

government is seen as overpaying private health care companies. Reforms to certain Medicare

programs could unlock hundreds of billions of dollars in potential savings, according to some estimates.

In addition, rescinding unspent COVID relief funds for work requirements for federal aid recipients and capping future spending are all still on the table, but plenty of points of disagreement remain.

...