"Van Hollen urges Democrats to implement 'Plan B' on debt ceiling as talks stall"

Sen. Chris Van Hollen blames House Republicans, led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, for creating an "insane situation" as the White House negotiates with lawmakers on raising the nation's debt ceiling to avoid a potentially disastrous default. The federal government risks not being able to pay all of its bills as soon as June unless its borrowing limit, currently $31.4 trillion, is raised by Congress. Van Hollen saw three paths forward, including Democrats trying to move their own deal through the House via a discharge petition, the president invoking the 14th Amendment, or ongoing talks between the White House and McCarthy.