The trigger that could lead to a debt deal  —  It's all going to come down to the trigger.  —  Look closely at the Reid and Boehner bills.  The first round of cuts are pretty much the same.  The joint congressional committee charged with recommending further deficit reduction is pretty much the same.

Forty-three GOP senators pledge opposition to Reid debt-ceiling plan  —  Forty-three GOP senators on Saturday signed a letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) expressing opposition to his debt-ceiling legislation currently being considered in the upper chamber.

Democrats enforce filibuster against their own debt bill  —  Senate Republicans want a 60-vote threshold for a debt-limit bill to pass the chamber, but it's actually Democrats who are enforcing the filibuster on their own legislation, insisting on delaying a vote until 1 a.m. Sunday morning.

43 Senators Sign Letter Opposing The Reid Bill  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. - The following letter is signed by 43 Republican Senators.  In it they encourage the Majority Leader 'to abandon this reckless proposal and instead pursue a more responsible course of action.  —  The full text of the letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid is below.

As Congress Nears Debt Limit Endgame, Attention Turns to a Trigger  —  If you're hardy, stay up until 1am ET tonight and watch the US Senate take a vote on a debt limit plan.  The plan will retain most of the structure of what Harry Reid has put forward in recent days …

Kyl: Dems using debt debate for ‘much broader tax increases’  —  Republicans have tried to work with Democrats to solve the debt crisis, but “behind the scenes” Democrats insisted on hug tax increases, Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz) said Saturday.  —  “Unfortunately, after weeks of negotiations …

Days after lauding McConnell, Democratic leaders rip him  —  Four days after publicly praising Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Senate Democratic leaders are now ripping him.  —  The Democrats' comments about McConnell at an impromptu press conference late Friday night signaled …

Senate headed for critical debt vote Sunday  —  The Senate is driving toward a climactic and dramatic vote at 1 a.m. Sunday that could determine whether a bipartisan deal to raise the nation's legal borrowing limit is possible or a government default is likely.

Pelosi: Boehner went to ‘dark side’  —  House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi didn't mince words on Speaker John Boehner's efforts on the debt ceiling, whipping out a Star Wars reference on the House floor Saturday.  —  Instead of working out a compromise with Democrats, she said on the House floor …

GOP leaders ‘fully engaged’ with W.H. on debt deal  —  Top Republicans in the House and Senate say they have spoken with the White House Saturday and are “fully engaged” in trying to reach a compromise on the debt ceiling.  —  “It should be clear ... that Senator McConnell and I believe …