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Why do we have a debt limit? We answered your politics questions.

Politics editor Brianna Tucker and congressional reporter Camila DeChalus chatted with readers about the debt limit, judiciary battle and more

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April 18, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. EDT
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Capitol Hill in early March. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Congress returns to Washington this week, and lawmakers will tackle issues including the debt limit stalemate, the classified-documents leak and a possible Senate vote to temporarily replace the ailing Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), whose absence has stalled judicial nominations.

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I’m Brianna Tucker, a deputy politics editor for The Washington Post. I’ve covered Congress, climate and three election cycles, and I was tuned in to all 15 rounds of Republican House member Kevin McCarthy’s push for the speakership. (Shout-out to C-SPAN.) I’m answering your questions every Tuesday about politics and 2024, and sharing the inside scoop from our reporters on the campaign trail.

This week, I was joined by congressional reporter Camila DeChalus, who focuses on Capitol Hill, national politics and political campaigns. She recently reported on the indictment of Trump not galvanizing Republicans in a competitive House district in New York; lawmakers’ reaction to Trump’s warning of “potential death & destruction”; and the future of TikTok.

This chat is over, but you can read a transcript of it below. Questions may be edited for accuracy and clarity.

Alexandra Pannoni, newsroom talent and community editor, produced this Q&A.

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