In his piece for The New Yorker, James Surowiecki argues that instead of figuring out ways to raise the debt ceiling, Congress should simply go ahead and abolish it.

The U.S. debt ceiling and deficit debate has led to challenges on foreign aid spending, but while aid could be leaner and more effective, CFR's Stewart Patrick argues Congress should look to consolidate programs rather than simply cut them.

While Congress is likely to raise the U.S. debt ceiling ahead of the August 2 deadline, lawmakers will still need to hash out a long-term deficit-reduction package to avoid market disruption and preserve U.S. global standing, says economist C. Fred Bergsten.

The current level of political dysfunction and ideological polarization in Congress is beyond the norm. A broken legislative branch risks plunging the United States into an economic catastrophe and damaging the nation's global standing, writes Norman Ornstein.

John Dickerson of Slate describes the redemption of a debt ceiling "grand bargain" between President Obama and congressional Republicans from the ash-heaps of legislative gridlock.

Marc Goldwein of the New America Foundation endorses the bipartisan "Gang of Six" debt deal, while warning that a failure to execute its recommendations properly could deepen economic woes.

Manu Raju of Politico documents Tom Coburn's sudden return to the Senate's Gang of Six in the midst of trying talks on deficit reduction and the debt ceiling.

A new proposal by the bipartisan "Gang of Six" to reduce deficits by nearly $4 trillion could gain traction among House Republicans, with polls showing greater public support for raising the debt ceiling as the August 2 deadline approaches, says CFR's Sebastian Mallaby.

As the debt-ceiling deadline looms, political wrangling has escalated, but lawmakers are likely to cobble together an agreement that avoids default.

James M. Lindsay says a U.S. debt default will harm America's ability to wield and project its power in the world.

This analysis outlines eight reasons why the "Theory of Inevitable Compromise"--that Republicans and Democrats will ultimately hammer out a deal to raise the nation's debt ceiling ahead of August 2--may not hold true in this instance.

The Economist argues that the Republicans are playing a cynical political game with hugely high economic stakes as they cling to the position that not a single cent of deficit reduction must come from a higher tax take.

Matthew C. Waxman discusses the lawsuit challenging U.S. participation in the Libyan military mission.

Senator Chuck Hagel discusses his experiences in the army and the U.S. Senate, and expresses his views on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Senator Chuck Hagel discusses his experiences in the army and the U.S. Senate, and gives his opinion about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

This meeting is part of the HBO History Makers series.

Senator Chuck Hagel discusses his experiences in the army and the U.S. Senate, and gives his opinion about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

This meeting is part of the HBO History Makers series.

Peter Orszag says the problem of gridlock in Washington might be a consequence of where voters choose to live.

In this piece for Foreign Policy, Flynt Leverett, Senior Research Fellow at the New America Foundation and Hillary Mann Leverett, a professor at American University, write that American policy in the Middle East is no better under the Obama administration than it was under the Bush administration.

John B. Bellinger III says President Obama should seize the opportunity presented by Republican support for increased domestic oil and gas production to urge the Senate to approve the Law of the Sea Convention.

NASA's human spaceflight ventures may be fading away due to continued underfunding, despite perennial efforts by some members of Congress and the science community, reports Keith Perine.