A live look at what happens when the far-right handles the US's bills

The MoJo Daily newsletter, Monday through Friday. [View in browser]( [Mother Jones Daily Newsletter](     January 17, 2023 Fresh off the heels of a head-splitting fight for House speaker, the United States is now careening toward an explosive debt ceiling showdown. But what does that mean? Well for me, a non-economist who appreciates generally staying informed, the looming fight triggers anxiety over the future of Social Security and Medicare—two social programs I can't wait to qualify for because that also means retirement. Send the martinis and Adirondack chairs my way! But alas, I can't quit a regular paycheck for good for at least another three decades. So for the immediate future, I've interpreted this political battle as what happens when the [worst of the Republican Party]( hijacks the nation's bill-paying responsibilities after [Kevin McCarthy's steep concessions]( to far-right conservatives in exchange for the prize of his speakership. This all portends a deeply frustrating and mind-numbing fight ahead, not to mention a potential "financial Armageddon," as experts keep warning. Get ready for some more viciousness. But if Republicans force the country to default on its debt, what will happen beyond a global market implosion? What will this mean to the average American—people like you and me? If I survive the coverage of all the incessant bickering, I'll be sure to find out and let you know. —Inae Oh Advertisement [Domini Impact Investments]( [Top Story] [Top Story]( [Why Ron DeSantis Won’t—or Shouldn’t—Run for President]( Donald Trump would make it his mission to destroy the Florida governor. BY DAVID CORN SPONSORED CONTENT BY HEIFER INTERNATIONAL   Free Goat Tote with Your Monthly Gift Heifer International is a global nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger and poverty. As a monthly donor, you’ll give families the resources, education and opportunity to thrive. If you join now, we’ll send you your very own goat tote to say thanks. [Join today]( — and make a difference for a lifetime. [Trending] [Former Trump fixer meets with Manhattan prosecutors]( BY RUSS CHOMA   [How a sunken slave ship set off "a search for ourselves"]( BY SAM JONES   [Revealed: Exxon made “breathtakingly” accurate climate predictions in 1970s and '80s]( BY OLIVER MILMAN   [The bloody secret behind lab-grown meat]( BY TOM PHILPOTT Advertisement [Domini Impact Investments]( [Special Feature] [Special Feature]( [How a sunken slave ship set off "a search for ourselves"]( More than 200 captive Africans were lost when the São José Paquete D’Africa went down in 1794. BY SAM JONES [Fiercely Independent] Support from readers allows Mother Jones to do journalism that doesn't just follow the pack. [Donate]( Did you enjoy this newsletter? Help us out by [forwarding]( it to a friend or sharing it on [Facebook]( and [Twitter](. [Mother Jones]( [Donate]( [Donate Monthly]( [Subscribe]( This message was sent to {EMAIL}. To change the messages you receive from us, you can [edit your email preferences]( or [unsubscribe from all mailings.]( For advertising opportunities see our online [media kit.]( Were you forwarded this email? [Sign up for Mother Jones' newsletters today.]( [www.MotherJones.com]( PO Box 8539, Big Sandy, TX 75755