Skip to main content
Back to Show
PBS News Hour

How Does the U.S. Debt Ceiling Work and Why Does it Matter?

The United States government hit the legal limit for the amount of money it can borrow Monday, but Treasury officials say they can take other measures to pay the bills. Ray Suarez discusses questions about how the debt ceiling works and the ongoing political debate with The New York Times' Binyamin Applebaum.

Support Provided By
Season
March 20, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 20, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 19, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 19, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 18, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 18, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 17, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 17, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 16, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
56:44
March 16, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 13, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 13, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 12, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 12, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 11, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 11, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 10, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 10, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 9, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
56:46
March 9, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 6, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 6, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
March 5, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
57:46
March 5, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
Active loading indicator