Federal debt exceeds $39 trillion for the 1st time. Why is this milestone significant? episode artwork

EPISODE · May 2, 2026 · 4 MIN

Federal debt exceeds $39 trillion for the 1st time. Why is this milestone significant?

from Weekend Edition Saturday · host Scott Simon

The federal debt passed an uncomfortable milestone this year, outgrowing the entire U.S. economy. That poses risks, but policymakers show little sign of addressing it.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 2, 2026

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Federal debt exceeds $39 trillion for the 1st time. Why is this milestone significant?

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