Kickoff The next two FIFA Womens World Cups will only air on Netflix Let's hope Netflix fixes its live buffering problems beforehand. Scharon Harding Dec 20, 2024 12:50 pm | 2 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - 2023/08/20: Salma Paralluelo of Spain (R) and Keira Walsh of England (L) seen in action during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Final match between Spain and England at Australia Stadium, Sydney. Credit: Getty SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - 2023/08/20: Salma Paralluelo of Spain (R) and Keira Walsh of England (L) seen in action during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Final match between Spain and England at Australia Stadium, Sydney. Credit: Getty Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreIf you want to watch the next two FIFA Womens World Cups in the US, youll need a Netflix subscription.FIFA confirmed the news today, marking an unexpected change for the sports event, which has historically played on free-to-air broadcast channels. The shift to a streaming platform inevitably makes it more costly and hurts viewer accessibility, while likely injecting FIFA with a lot of cash.Netflix and FIFA havent said how much Netflix is paying for exclusive airing rights. But Netflix and other streaming services have been paying out hefty, sometimes record-setting sums to air live sporting events as the company seeks to earn more revenue from commercials and draw more viewers. Netflix, for example, paid $5 billion to swipe the World Wrestling Entertainments weekly RAW program from the USA cable network for 10 years, starting next month.While FIFA runs the risk of isolating some fans, it seems that its made a favorable deal with Netflix after complaining in 2022 about low bids for the 2023 Womens World Cup and resistance from broadcasters to pay what the women's game deserves, as chief business officer Romy Gai told Bloomberg in October 2022.This agreement sends a strong message about the real value of the FIFA Womens World Cup and the global womens game," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement today.FIFAs announcement suggested that it expects to reach a larger audience and increase US engagement by airing on Netflix. FIFA said that 1.2 billion people watched the 2019 Women's World Cup, ESPN noted. Netflix has already demonstrated the ability to lure a massive amount of viewers to exclusive sports matches. In November, Netflix claimed the most-streamed sporting event ever when it streamed a boxing event centered on a Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight and reportedly garnered 65 million live concurrent streams.Per FIFAs announcement, Netflix will stream the tournaments in English and Spanish via a dual telecast. Under the deal, Netflix will also release a documentary series about the biggest players ahead of both tournaments. Brazil will host the 2027 event, while the host country for the 2031 Women's World Cup has yet to be announced.The news comes as streaming platforms continue battling over sports. Currently, Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Fox are in a legal battle over plans to launch a joint sports streaming app, Venu, which is being challenged by sports streamer Fubo over antitrust allegations. The case is set to go to trial in October.Meanwhile, fans are adjusting to changes in how sports events are aired, learning to bounce between channels and streaming services to find their events and dealing with buffering and other technical problems. At times, some of the biggest fans, like NFL player Tariq Woolen, have resorted to illegal pirating to avoid complications and fees, underscoring pressure for streaming services to perfect and simplify the streaming of the live events that they're eagerly snatching up.Scharon HardingSenior Product ReviewerScharon HardingSenior Product Reviewer Scharon is Ars Technicas Senior Product Reviewer writing news, reviews, and analysis on consumer technology, including laptops, mechanical keyboards, and monitors. Shes based in Brooklyn. 2 Comments

LOST AND FOUND New AA-powered AirTag case promises 10-year lifespan Aluminum AirTag case replaces coin cell with 2 AA Lithium batteries for extended lifespan. Benj Edwards Dec 20, 2024 12:23 pm | 24 A photo of the TimeCapsule, which purportedly extends AirTag battery life with AA batteries. Credit: Elevation Lab A photo of the TimeCapsule, which purportedly extends AirTag battery life with AA batteries. Credit: Elevation Lab Story textSizeSmallStandardLargeWidth *StandardWideLinksStandardOrange* Subscribers only Learn moreOn Wednesday, a startup announced TimeCapsule, a new $20 battery case purported to extend Apple AirTag battery life from one year to 10 years. The product replaces the standard CR2032 coin cell battery in the Bluetooth-based location tracker with two AA batteries to provide extended power capacity.The TimeCapsule case, created by Elevation Lab, requires users to remove their AirTag's original back plate and battery, then place the Apple device onto contact points inside the waterproof enclosure. The company recommends using Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA batteries, which it claims provide 14 times more power capacity than the stock coin cell battery configuration.The CNC-machined aluminum case is aimed at users who place AirTags in vehicles, boats, or other applications where regular battery changes prove impractical. The company sells the TimeCapsule through its website and Amazon. A photo of the TimeCapsule, which purportedly extends AirTag battery life with AA batteries. Credit: Elevation Lab As related on the TimeCapsule's product page, the add-on case reportedly emerged after its inventor lost camera equipment to theft, discovering their AirTag had died months earlier due to a depleted battery. This experience led to the development of a longer-lasting power solution for the tracking devices.It's important to note that we cannot verify these battery life claims without independent testing, but using larger lithium batteries to extend lifespan makes technical sense. The company has not released detailed technical specifications about power consumption rates or testing methodology, but we've ordered a unit to test ourselves.Build your own battery extension?On an interesting Hacker News thread, the TimeCapsule device sparked discussion about balancing convenience with size. While the TimeCapsule's larger form factor makes it impractical for keys or pet tags, some users pointed out specific use cases where the extended battery life may outweigh size concerns (such as in bags or vehicles). A photo of the TimeCapsule, which purportedly extends AirTag battery life with AA batteries. Credit: Elevation Lab Some worried that TimeCapsule might make stalking easier, while multiple commenters questioned the anti-theft applications, noting that AirTags alert nearby iPhones when separated from their ownera privacy feature that also serves as an anti-stalking measure. Android phones also now detect nearby AirTags by default after a 2023 system update.Other commenters pointed out that handy do-it-yourself types could potentially build a similar device using dummy CR2032 extensions that lead to external battery packs. Either way, it's an interesting hack that could potentially make AirTags more useful in some scenarios.Benj EdwardsSenior AI ReporterBenj EdwardsSenior AI Reporter Benj Edwards is Ars Technica's Senior AI Reporter and founder of the site's dedicated AI beat in 2022. He's also a tech historian with almost two decades of experience. In his free time, he writes and records music, collects vintage computers, and enjoys nature. He lives in Raleigh, NC. 24 Comments

Transmission electron micrograph of parts of the norovirus pathogenBSIP SA/AlamyA global international trial of an mRNA vaccine against norovirus is getting underway with the aim of reducing the health burden caused by the infamous winter vomiting bug. The trial has been complicated by the emergence of a new norovirus strain that is causing soaring numbers of cases in parts of the world, including England.Unfortunately, one of the strains which is most prevalent isnt in that jab, says Patrick Moore at the UKs National Institute for Health and Care Research, who is leading the UK branch of the trial. The high cases are probably

NASAs Ingenuity helicopter on Mars, snapped by the Perseverance roverNASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSSA little helicopter finally met its end this year. NASAs Ingenuity drone made its 72nd and final flight on Mars in January, damaging one of its rotors on landing, concluding one of the most unusual space exploration experiments in recent decades.Having reached the surface of Mars on the Perseverance rover in 2021, the drone flew missions autonomously because the long delay in radio transmissions between Earth and Mars made direct control impossible.

Small website owners say they may be forced to shut downPortra/Getty ImagesThe UKs new Online Safety Act may result in hundreds of community websites and forums being permanently shut down, as site administrators say they fear the law imposes onerous obligations and exposes them to potential million-pound fines.We fall firmly into scope, and I have no way to dodge it, says Dee Kitchen, who runs the cycling forum LFGSS for its 70,000 members. The Act is too broad.The Online Safety Act

Ariana Grande is dating her "Wicked" costar Ethan Slater.Slater is a Broadway actor who rose to fame starring as Spongebob in "The Spongebob Musical."Here's what to know about Slater, from his notable roles to his relationship with ex-wife Lilly Jay.Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater's relationship is facing renewed interest amid the release of "Wicked" and a personal essay published by Lilly Jay, Slater's ex-wife.In July 2023, multiple outlets including People magazine and TMZ reported that Grande, 31, and her "Wicked" costar Slater, 32, were dating. The reports came days after news broke of Grande's separation from her husband, Dalton Gomez.Grande and Slater presumably met through their roles in the two-part film adaptation of the "Wicked" musical. Grande portrays Glinda, the popular girl at Shiz University, and Slater plays Boq, a classmate from Munchinland who has an unrequited crush on her but becomes the love interest of Elphaba'syounger sister Nessarose (Marissa Bode).Here's everything to know about Slater.Slater is an actor who rose to fame playing Spongebob on Broadway Ethan Slater as Spongebob in "Spongebob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical" in 2017. Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for Nickelodeon For his star turn as the plucky yellow sponge in the 2017 musical adaptation of "Spongebob Squarepants," Slater received several accolades, including a Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk Award win in 2018. He also starred in the Classic Stage Company's production of "Assassins," which ran until January 2021, and has had roles on shows including "Law & Order: SVU" and "Fosse/Verdon."Slater more recently starred in the Broadway revival of "Spamalot," which closed in April after a 24-week run.Shortly after news broke of his rumored relationship with Grande, Slater's Instagram page was made private. When viewed by Business Insider before Slater made the account private, the page mostly featured clips from his past and coming projects, as well as a blurry selfie with his then-wife, Jay.Slater shares a son with his ex-wife, Lilly Jay Ethan Slater at the UK premiere of "Wicked" in November. Scott A. Garfitt/Invision/AP Slater and Jay, a clinical psychologist in perinatal mental health and child development, met in high school and married in 2018. They welcomed their first child together, a son, in August 2022.In People's July 2023 report about Grande and Slater's relationship, a source said that Slater and Jay had separated, though they didn't give an exact timeframe for the separation. TMZ reported that Slater filed for divorce from Jay on July 26, 2023.Jay later addressed Slater's romance with Grande in an interview with Page Six, calling the singer "not a girl's girl" and saying her family was "just collateral damage" in the controversy.Grande first sparked her own divorce rumors after she was spotted at a Wimbledon match without her wedding ring or engagement ring on July 16, 2023.A day after the singer was seen without her rings at Wimbledon, TMZ reported that Grande and Gomez had been separated for several months and were "heading for divorce." The couple had been together since 2020and married in 2021.Grande and Gomez simultaneously filed for divorce in September 2023. Their separation date was listed in court documents as February 20, 2023.Jay recently discussed her and Slater's divorce in an essay for The Cut, published on Thursday. In her essay, Jay avoided directly addressing Slater and Grande's relationship and instead focused on how her highly publicized divorce affected her. She also said that she and Slater continue to co-parent their child."While our partnership has changed, our parenthood has not," Jay wrote. "Both of us fiercely love our son 100% of the time, regardless of how our parenting time is divided. As for me, days with my son are sunny. Days when I can't escape the promotion of a movie associated with the saddest days of my life are darker."Libby Torres contributed to an earlier version of this story.

Alexis Ohanian predicts AI will drive demand for more raw human experiences.In 10 years, live theater will be more popular than ever, the Reddit cofounder contends.He says no matter what jobs are replaced by AI, humans will always have an advantage in empathy.Alexis Ohanian predicted that in a future oversaturated with artificial intelligence, people will seek out more raw, emotive human experiences.And in 10 years, he said, live theater will be more popular than ever.The 41-year-old, who co-founded social media platform Reddit in 2005, told the "On Purpose with Jay Shetty" podcast this week that AI will soon have an undeniable impact on nearly every aspect of society, including the entertainment sector.Ohanian, who also founded venture capital firm Seven Seven Six in 2020, said that the industry will see a big shift when AI makes on-screen entertainment better, faster, cheaper, and more dynamic which he said is happening.Every screen we look at will become so programmed to show us "what we want, when we want it, how we want it," he said, that "a part of our humanity will miss, you know, thousands of years ago when we were sitting around a campfire and that great storyteller was doing the voices and the impressions.'""That's ingrained in our species," he said.And that kind of raw, in-person magic will feel novel, he suggested."I actually bet 10 years from now live theater will be more popular than ever," Ohanian said. "Because, again, we'll look at all these screens with all these AI-polished images, and we'll actually want to sit in a room with other humans to be captivated for a couple hours in a dark room to feel the goosebumps of seeing live human performances."The same is true for sports, he told Shetty. "We need humans doing that. We need to feel their pain and their success and their triumphs," he said. "Those are the areasAI can't replace genuine human empathy, Ohanian suggested. No matter what jobs robots take over from us in the future, fields of work where empathy is a core component of the job will have an advantage, he said. And that's why one of the most important, marketable skills he's teaching his kids is empathy, he said.

Biden's administration posted notices to withdraw its broader student-loan forgiveness plans.The Education Department wrote that it still stands by the legality of the debt relief among lawsuits.The plans aimed to cancel some student debt for over 38 million borrowers.President Joe Biden's administration has officially scrapped its unfinished rules for broad student-loan forgiveness.The Education Department posted notices to withdraw its plans to cancel student debt for over 38 million borrowers. The withdrawal notices were for two of the department's unfinished debt relief rules. The first rule was Biden's Plan B for broader debt relief after the Supreme Court struck his first plan down in the summer of 2023. The second rule was a proposal to provide relief to borrowers facing financial hardship.In the notices to withdraw the unfinished rules, the Education Department said it is focused on helping student-loan borrowers manage the remaining elements of the return to repayment that began last year following the pandemic pause.The department said that withdrawing these regulations will give future stakeholders the flexibility to craft new forms of relief, especially with the uncertainty the incoming administration brings. Trump has previously criticized broad relief and is unlikely to continue Biden's efforts.The department also said that the withdrawal of these rules is not a result of the questions surrounding their legality, saying that it believes the relief "is authorized by the Secretary's longstanding and existing authority" under the Higher Education Act.Biden's Plan B for student-loan forgiveness would have benefited over 30 million borrowers. It proposed full or partial relief for categories including borrowers with unpaid interest and those who have made at least 20 years of payments. While the rule was never finalized, a group of GOP-led states filed a lawsuit in September to block its implementation.Meanwhile, the Education Department proposed a separate rule in October to provide relief to 8 million borrowers facing financial hardship. Those categories would have included borrowers facing challenges with childcare or medical expenses.The Education Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider on the debt relief withdrawals.Biden is still pursuing other avenues for debt relief before his term is up. On Friday, his administration announced an additional $4.28 billion in debt relief for 54,900 borrowers in Public Service Loan Forgiveness a result of ongoing improvements to the program. Despite not being able to pass broad relief, Biden, over the course of his term, has provided relief to nearly 5 million borrowers through changes to various programs.Some Republican lawmakers lauded the withdrawal of the plans. Sen. Bill Cassidy, the top Republican on the Senate education committee, said in a Friday statement that Biden's "student loan schemes were always a lie."At the same time, some advocates criticized the GOP-led challenges to Biden's relief efforts. Persis Yu, deputy executive director of the advocacy group Student Borrower Protection Center, said in a statement that Biden's plans "would have freed millions from the crushing weight of the student debt crisis and unlocked economic mobility for millions more workers and families.""We are deeply grateful to President Biden for the work he did to fight for the 40 million borrowers trapped in student debt," Yu said.

This week, were getting a potent reminder of what legislating looked like under President Donald Trump and the turmoil we can soon expect in his new term. Trump, along with his ally, Tesla CEO and Elon Musk, upended a bipartisan spending deal on Wednesday, just days before government funding is set to expire. That agreement would have kept the government open until March 14, bundling $100 billion in disaster aid with $10 billion to assist farmers, and a slew of other measures. Following grumbling from Musk about the size of the legislation, Trump called for Republicans to negotiate a new agreement that both addresses the debt ceiling and strips the deal of so-called Democrat giveaways. House GOP leaders tried to do so, presenting a new bill Thursday. Unsurprisingly, that version of the bill hasnt been able to garner the votes that it needs to pass leaving lawmakers once again scrambling with a shutdown deadline looming Friday night.RelatedTrumps 11th-hour decision to get involved in negotiations, weighing in via social media (and seemingly without coordinating with congressional allies), is reminiscent of his first-term approach to Capitol Hill, when he regularly blew up funding talks and directly caused the longest government shutdown in US history. As such, this weeks chaos is both a callback and preview of the tumult thats yet to come. Trumps history of blowing up deals, briefly explained During Trumps first term, he repeatedly called for Republicans to shut the government down in order to put pressure on Democrats to back his priorities, and also proved to be a mercurial negotiator. In his first year as president, Trump began urging a shutdown as early as August, attacking members of his own party and emphasizing his willingness to endure a stoppage if it meant securing funding for a border wall. He went out of his way, too, to needle Democrats on Twitter ahead of a funding negotiation meeting that November, prompting Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to not attend. And as a shutdown loomed in January 2018, Trump further helped to scuttle a potential spending deal by throwing in extraneous border security demands. That month, Trump and Schumer famously met for cheeseburgers and appeared to reach an agreement, according to the Democratic lawmaker. That agreement would have included Democratic backing for increased military spending and potential funding for a wall, in exchange for legislation that created a path to legal status for DACA recipients (a category of undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children). After the meeting, however, Trump reportedly pushed for more hardline immigration measures including policies to enforce illegal immigration across the country ultimately killing the deal. In the week that followed, Democrats withheld their votes on a funding bill in an attempt to force the inclusion of DACA protections, leading to a brief shutdown. That didnt wind up working, however. The shutdown ended when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell promised Democrats a vote on an immigration bill, which later failed to pass. Perhaps most notably, Trump went on to cause a 35-day government shutdown from December 2018 to January 2019, after he panned a bipartisan funding deal that lawmakers had already agreed to. His statements prompted House Republicans to pass a different version of the spending bill that included more than $5 billion in funding for construction of a border wall, which Democrats balked at supporting. Because the House and Senate couldnt find a version of the bill they could both pass, the funding deadline came and went, and the government entered a shutdown.After more than a month, Trump caved on his demands when it was apparent that he and his Republicans allies didnt have the votes for the border wall funding and the effects of the shutdown on government services were becoming untenable (his approval rating also suffered noticeably as the shutdown wore on). He ended up signing a short-term funding bill that reopened the government but did not include his requested border wall funds, though he later declared a national emergency in a second, more successful, attempt to secure wall funding.Even after leaving the White House in January 2021, Trump has continued to meddle with funding bills. Just this past fall, he again called for Republicans to reject funding legislation and shut down the government if Congress didnt pass a bill to curb noncitizen voting, which is already illegal. A return to the chaos of Trumps first termThis weeks developments are yet another indication that Trumps disruptive style hasnt changed particularly with the vocal backing of new allies like Musk. Trump and Musks shared approach to governance by tweet (or Truth Social post) could well amp up the chaos and pressure that Republicans lawmakers will face in the president-elects second term. Neither has been shy about making threats in order to bully people into acquiescing. Musk, for example, has said hell financially back primary challengers against senators who dont support Trumps Cabinet picks. And Trump has his own history of pushing for primaries against lawmakers who dont do his bidding, a tactic he reprised this week. While Republicans will again control both chambers of Congress next year, as they did during the first two years of Trumps first term, they will hold narrow majorities that pose their own challenges. House Speaker Mike Johnson will need to keep a fractious coalition fully unified or rely on Democrats to get anything done. Already this year, Johnson has had to rely on Democrats to help pass multiple funding bills, a dynamic thats garnered ire from his right flank and could fuel challenges of his leadership in the new term. Even after lawmakers resolve this funding fight, Johnson wont have long to rest; the likely next deadline, in mid-March, will be an early test for the return of unified Republican governance. If this week is any measure, GOP leaders will have their work cut out for them and its likely Trump and Musk will throw a few more grenades into the process along the way.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More: Politics

Support independent journalism that matters become a Vox Member today.President-elect Donald Trump didnt even wait to start his second term before throwing Congress into chaos, sinking a bipartisan spending deal and making his own demands as a government shutdown looms at midnight.In one sense, this is just the latest installment of a very familiar story involving House Republican dysfunction over spending battles, and Trumps willingness to embrace chaos and throw things into disarray.The surprising aspect to the current showdown, though, is just what, exactly, Trump has chosen to pick this fight over: He wants to suspend, or even eliminate, the debt ceiling. Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social early Friday morning. Without this, we should never make a deal.The debt ceiling is the limit set in law of how much new debt the US government can issue. If it is not raised or suspended in time, the country would default on its debt; it is widely believed economic turmoil would then ensue. Republicans have used the threat of a debt default to try to force Democratic presidents into policy concessions, and Trump fears Democrats will try something similar against him in 2025. So he wants the debt ceiling suspended right now or even abolished entirely.This was an unexpected turn of events because the initial bipartisan deal just didnt address the debt ceiling at all: It merely funded the government for three more months, as well as included several other provisions that had won bipartisan backing.When, on Wednesday, billionaire Elon Musk started publicly attacking the deal, he complained about the bills overspending and also made sometimes-inaccurate claims about those add-on provisions. But he said nothing about the debt ceiling which would, if suspended, allow Trump and Republicans to spend more freely.Then, in a Wednesday afternoon statement denouncing the deal, Trump suddenly put the debt ceiling on the agenda. Increasing the debt ceiling is not great but wed rather do it on Bidens watch, he posted on Truth Social, calling Republicans foolish and inept for not dealing with this issue earlier and complaining that the Debt Ceiling guillotine was coming up in June.On Thursday, House Speaker Mike Johnson scrapped the bipartisan deal, dropping several of the add-on provisions and, in accordance with Trumps wishes, adding a debt ceiling increase. Some conservatives who had cheered on Musks criticism of the initial deals big spending are now horrified at this turn of events, believing the debt ceiling is a crucial tool to help restrain spending. More than three dozen House Republicans broke with Trump to vote against the new bill Thursday evening, and since nearly every House Democrat also opposed it, it failed.But Democrats are still weighing how they should handle this unexpected turn of events. Democratic wonks have long hated the debt ceiling, believing irresponsible Republicans used it to take the economy hostage to extort Presidents Obama and Biden, and many would happily see it abolished. However, the partys congressional leaders may hope to preserve it as leverage against Trump and are ill-inclined to give in to Trumpian demands issued from on high if theres a deal, they want to be part of that deal.This situation is still in flux and we dont yet know how it will end. But already there are a few telling aspects to whats happened.First: Though some claim Musk killed the initial bipartisan deal and Trump and Republicans are simply puppets dancing on the strings of the worlds richest man, that does not seem like what is actually happening.It is not clear why exactly Musk went so hard against the bill, or whether he was freelancing or working in coordination with Trump. In addition to making complaints about too much government spending, Musk made various false claims about what was in the bill, including that the bill included a 40 percent pay increase for members of Congress (it was a 4 percent increase), and that it included $3 billion for a Washington, DC, NFL stadium (not at all true). Some have pointed out that the bill also included restrictions on tech investments in China, where Musk has business interests, wondering whether that was his true motive in coming out against it. (That provision was then dropped from Johnsons revised bill.)Whatever Musk wanted, once Trump got involved, he turned out to want something entirely different: a debt ceiling increase. And Musk fell behind his strategy.Second: Congressional Republicans are not in lockstep behind Trump on matters of policy, and the internal tensions that have made the party dysfunctional on spending issues still exist. Trump praised Johnsons revised bill as a very good Deal, but 38 House Republicans then voted against it. Trump angrily threatened to support a primary challenger to one such Republican, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), but Roy was unmoved.Roy is part of a group of several dozen House Republicans that has long been hostile to any bipartisan spending deal with Democrats and that has long made absurdly unrealistic demands for spending cuts. Their unwillingness to back Republican leaderships proposals means that, in practice, GOP leaders have to rely on Democratic votes to pass government funding bills. Trump has not yet figured out a way around this dynamic.Third: Trumps willingness to defy conservative dogma presents opportunity and peril for Democrats.Democratic wonks believe abolishing the debt ceiling would be a great thing for the country and would ultimately benefit future Democratic presidents by removing this tool for GOP hostage-taking. However, the party is wary that doing Trump a favor like this will make it easier for him to enact an agenda they fear and oppose.The path of political least resistance would be for Democrats to simply oppose everything Republicans do and maximize the squirming in the fractious GOP coalition. However, it is also possible that, if they negotiate effectively and think about the long term, theres an opportunity for serious policy wins. Imagine a world with no more debt ceiling no more phony crises, no more risk of default, no more hostage-taking. It would be nice! Can they make it a reality?Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More: