The Hill's Evening Report — Debt limit standoff: Biden, McCarthy to meet

View Online  Evening Report Tuesday, January 31 ©  AP Debt limit standoff: Biden, McCarthy to meet President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) are about to have their first face-to-face meeting since McCarthy became Speaker.   Wednesday's meeting comes amid an ongoing standoff on the national debt limit. Republicans want major budget cuts, while Democrats argue the nation's credit shouldn't be used as a bargaining chip.   The White House sent a memo to McCarthy this week that said Biden plans to ask the GOP leader to commit to avoiding a default and release a budget proposal outlining House Republicans' spending plans.   The White House budget proposal will be released on March 9. McCarthy appeared to scoff at the idea though.   "Mr. President: I received your staff's memo. I'm not interested in political games. I'm coming to negotiate for the American people," McCarthy tweeted.   During a trip to New York on Tuesday, Biden called McCarthy a "decent man" but said the new Speaker had to cater to an extreme wing of his party to secure the gavel. McCarthy was elected after a historic 15 rounds of voting that required cajoling support from several conservative holdouts.   Leaders are in general agreement that the nation won't reach the point of defaulting. But the edge is rapidly approaching, as Congress has several breaks — about seven weeks worth — between now and the June date estimated for when the country could hit default. "We'll never default. That's not going to happen, but I do think we need to be serious about finding spending cuts," House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) told reporters this week. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) said he hopes Biden will be open to listening to McCarthy in good faith.   "Is there no waste in the federal government that President Biden can agree to identify to save taxpayer money?" Scalise said. "That's what Speaker McCarthy laid out, and hopefully they'll be able to start having that conversation." Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has also called on Republicans to produce a written plan that can be negotiated. "The damage will show up on everything from credit card bills, mortgage rates, and car loans—thousands of dollars lit on fire for American families," he warned of a potential default in a tweet Monday.   Earlier this week, 24 Republican senators sent a letter to Biden saying they would not vote for a debt ceiling hike without "real structural spending reform that reduces deficit spending and brings fiscal sanity back to Washington." Welcome to Evening Report! I'm Elizabeth Crisp, catching you up from the afternoon and what's coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here. CATCH UP QUICK Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is brushing off potential 2024 GOP rival former President Trump's recent attacks with a simple message: Check the scoreboard.   Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) mocked one of President Biden's nominees for a district judgeship after she flubbed basic questions about the Constitution, arguing Democrats have used a double standard for Biden's and former President Trump's nominees.  ExxonMobil announced higher-than-ever profits, reporting it made $55.7 billion in 2022 amid a supply crunch and record-high prices. NEW THIS AFTERNOON 🚶‍♂️  Santos gives up committees as troubles mount House Science and Technology Committee and Small Business Committee hearings will probably be a bit calmer now that embattled Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) has announced he's giving up his posts to spend more time addressing the ongoing turmoil he faces.   Santos, who has drawn intense attention and scrutiny as a web of lies and exaggerations have come to light, has been a magnet for media attention at the Capitol since he took office a month ago. Reporters regularly crowd around outside his House office and follow the 34-year-old congressman around the Capitol Complex.   He officially informed his GOP colleagues of his decision to give up his committee assignments Tuesday after a meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).    McCarthy, who assigned Santos to the panels despite growing calls for the New York Republican's resignation, told reporters Tuesday he had a "discussion" with Santos about his future but denied he pressured him to give up his seats. McCarthy has refused to call on Santos to resign, even as polls have shown Santos's constituents overwhelmingly want his resignation.   "Nobody's pressuring me to do absolutely anything," Santos, who says he won't resign, told reporters Tuesday. He has admitted to "embellishing" his resume but has otherwise denied wrongdoing. WHITE HOUSE 🇺🇸  Biden: America 'never fully lived up to' racial equality promise  President Biden marked the start of Black History Month with reminder of progress that's yet to be made.   "This country was established upon the profound but simple idea that all people are created equal and should be treated equally throughout their lives," he said in a statement. "It is an idea America has never fully lived up to, but it is an idea we have never fully walked away from either." CAMPAIGN ⛰️  West Virginia governor 'probably leaning' toward Senate bid West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) is "probably leaning" toward a run for the Senate in 2024 — setting the stage for a potential battle against conservative Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who still hasn't said whether he'll seek reelection.   "I've given a lot of thought and I'm still very, very, very seriously considering it," Justice told a local TV station. "In fact, I'm probably leaning that way."   Justice, a wealthy former businessman and owner of famed The Greenbrier luxury resort, said he will make an announcement "soon." He's considering the Biden administration's initiatives and whether he thinks he can "make a difference" in the Senate.   Justice notably announced a party switch from Democrat to Republican during a 2017 rally for former President Trump. IN OTHER NEWS ©  AP ❄️  Severe winter weather rips across the South, Central U.S. Winter weather has again struck several states, causing the cancellation or delay of thousands of flights this week, leaving drivers stranded on icy roads and cutting off power for thousands of homes and businesses.   The arctic surge is expected to last at least through Wednesday but could ultimately cause flash flooding and other after-effects when the ice melts.   At least 3,800 flights had been delayed in the U.S. as of Tuesday afternoon while more than 1,800 were canceled.   Major airport hubs in Texas — Dallas-Fort Worth International, Austin-Bergstrom International and Dallas Love Field — have been especially affected. ⛪  Harris, other Biden officials will attend Tyre Nichols funeral Vice President Harris will attend the funeral of Tyre Nichols, the 29-year-old motorist who died after a brutal beating by Memphis police that was caught on video.   Harris was invited to attend the services by Nichols's family, the vice president's office told The Hill. Other Biden administration officials who will travel to Memphis for the ceremony Wednesday include Office of Public Engagement director Keisha Lance Bottoms and senior adviser to the president Mitch Landrieu.   The graphic video that was released last week shows Nichols being pepper-sprayed, Tasered, punched and kicked by a group of police officers. He was ultimately left slumped over in visible distress for several minutes before medical aid was rendered. He died three days later.   Five Memphis police officers have been fired and charged in Nichols' death. At least two others have been placed on leave.   The Department of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation.   Nichols's death also has prompted renewed calls for police reform measures. President Biden has scheduled a meeting with Congressional Black Caucus members at the White House on Thursday to discuss reform efforts. 🌐  NATO: China is 'learning lessons' from Putin's invasion of Ukraine China is "watching closely" and "learning lessons" from Russia's ongoing invasion with neighboring Ukraine, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.   "Beijing and Moscow are leading an authoritarian pushback against the international rules-based order," Stoltenberg said at a news conference this week. "This war is not just a European crisis, but a challenge to the world order."    If Russian President Vladimir Putin succeeds in his invasion of Ukraine, it could encourage China to forge a similar path in the near future, he warned.   "This is dangerous," Stoltenberg said. "Beijing is watching closely. And learning lessons that may influence its future decisions."   "What is happening in Europe today could happen in East Asia tomorrow," he added. PUNDIT CORNER "Do classified document revelations highlight problems at the National Archives?" — Sheldon H. Jacobson, professor in computer science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. (Read here)   "Giving lower-income families a hand up will help America" — Steve Forbes, chairman and editor-in-chief of Forbes Media.  (Read here) ⏲️ COUNTDOWN 2 days until the Democratic National Committee's winter meeting. 7 days until Biden's State of the Union address. 644 days until the 2024 presidential election. 🗓 ON TAP TOMORROW President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy meet privately at the White House — their first sit-down since Republicans took control of the House and as a crucial deadline looms on the debt ceiling.   10 a.m.: House Oversight Committee holds a hearing on waste, fraud and abuse in federal spending during the pandemic.   10 a.m.: Senate Agriculture Committee holds its first of four introductory hearings on the 2023 Farm Bill. UNDER THE RADAR There a story you think should be getting more attention? Something people should be talking about? Drop me a line: ecrisp@thehill.com Stay Engaged You're all caught up! 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