Is Biden signaling surrender to debt ceiling hostage takers?

The planned meeting between President Biden and congressional leaders over the debt ceiling and budget was postponed, and that’s just as well, because over the last few days, there’s been a slow but steady softening in Biden’s “no negotiating the debt ceiling” stance. Maybe a break from negotiations will stiffen his resolve.

The White House continues to insist talks are only about the budget, but that’s starting to sound like semantics. As far as Republicans are concerned, this is one big negotiation: They got Biden to come to the table to talk about cuts by taking the debt ceiling hostage, and it’s hard to say they’re wrong. They wanted talks on spending levels, and they’re getting them—without having released the hostage.

There is some disquieting rhetoric being reported these days. Like this, from Reuters: “White House officials acknowledge that they must accept some spending cuts or strict caps on future spending if they are to strike a deal, two sources said.” That sure sounds like negotiating with economic terrorists.

Then there’s Biden himself, essentially conceding the Republicans’ point rhetorically: that spending has to be controlled.