Sunday shows preview: Debt limit talks continue slowly; Biden officially enters 2024 race

Slowly progressing efforts to raise the debt ceiling before a looming default deadline and President Biden’s official entry into the 2024 presidential race are likely to dominate the Sunday talk show circuit this weekend.

House Republicans passed legislation on Wednesday to raise the federal government’s borrowing limit, alongside sweeping spending cuts. The bill, which represents a major victory for Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), is virtually dead-on-arrival in the Democratic-majority Senate.

However, it represents Republicans’ opening offer for debt ceiling negotiations, in which Biden has so far declined to participate. The president has remained steadfast in his call for a “clean” debt ceiling increase, or an increase not tied to any other policy changes or spending cuts.

“The President has made clear this bill has no chance of becoming law,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday, adding, “Congressional Republicans must act immediately and without conditions to avoid default and ensure that the full faith and credit of the United States is not put at risk. That is their job.”

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), who will join ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday to discuss the debt ceiling fight, called on Biden to negotiate following the bill’s passage on Wednesday.

“It’s long past time that President Biden gets off the sidelines and does his job and gets to the negotiating table with Speaker McCarthy, so we can solve this problem and put America on a stronger financial footing that will benefit all Americans,” Scalise said.

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) is also set to chat about the debt limit debate on ABC’s “This Week,” while Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) will weigh in on the issue on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Biden’s recently announced 2024 reelection bid will also likely be a major topic of discussion this weekend. The president officially announced his campaign on Tuesday, after months of hinting at his plans to run again.