Fox News' Kelly Phares has reported comments from moderate Republican Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) stating that "It's inevitable," that the federal debt ceiling will be raised, "sooner rather than later."
- Graham continued: "....we got to get the debt ceiling raised and do some things to address our debt. I'm hoping after today, there'll be a pathway forward that he can go to Asia and it'd be just writing out the agreement. That's what I hope."
- On whether President Biden should travel to Japan tomorrow: "I'll leave that up to him? ...Does he need to be in town the end of the negotiations? Maybe not? I'd like him to be able to go, quite frankly."
- Graham had been identified as a GOP Senator who could work with Democrats to push a debt ceiling bill through the Senate, but Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY) nixed that prospect this morning.
- Jake Sherman at Punchbowl News: "McConnell with very intentional language on the Senate floor. He said he will "attend" a discussion between McCarthy and Biden on the debt limit... A message that he will not be involved in cutting a deal on his own with the White House."