US lawmakers blame each other for debt ceiling standoff: ‘They are not negotiating’

Democrats and Republicans continue to trade pointed remarks, underscoring that agreement is not in reach to avoid default

Lawmakers exchanged sharp criticism about who was to blame for the protracted standoff over the debt ceiling on Wednesday.

As the country nears its deadline to avoid a federal default, talks between Joe Biden and the House speaker, Kevin McCarthy, continued on Wednesday, as negotiators met again to hash out the details of a potential deal. But both parties simultaneously trade pointed remarks, underscoring that an agreement is not yet in reach.