Budget Deal Clears a Very Low Bar

On the menu today: America returns to work after the Memorial Day holiday weekend with a potential debt-ceiling deal that gives conservatives a few things to cheer about but ultimately reflects their limited leverage; the former director of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that the Chinese government did secretly investigate whether there was a leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology; and the Chinese government says that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is not allowed to meet with China's new defense minister. But I'm sure the thaw in U.S.–China relations that President Biden predicted will arrive any day now. . . .

If You Want a Better Deal on the Budget, Win More Elections

It's not a great deal, but it's an okay deal. Kevin McCarthy and House Republicans had limited leverage; there was no way President Biden and Senate Democrats were going to sign on to deep cuts to non-defense discretionary spending.

For those who contend the bill doesn't cut spending enough, recognize that before negotiations began, Republicans took entitlements such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid (roughly 52 percent ... READ MORE