‘Whatever it takes’: Biden and McCarthy’s tense journey to debt deal

Like the deal they crafted, the relationship the president and House speaker forged does not look pretty but appears to have gotten the job done

When Kevin McCarthy was struggling early this year to get enough votes from his own Republicans to become speaker of the House of Representatives, Democratic president Joe Biden called the prolonged saga a national embarrassment, then had a little fun.

I've got good news for you," Biden said, pointing playfully at a reporter after a speech in Kentucky. They just elected you speaker."