U.S. lawmakers have increasingly used the debt ceiling to re-litigate congressional spending, risking default and sparking debate over whether to abolish the ceiling.

The spectacle highlighted not only the ongoing battle within the GOP, but also spoke to what may lie ahead on critical governance issues this year.

In the twenty-four months since rioters breached the U.S. Capitol, the capacity of the American system to overcome even the gravest challenges has quietly been on display.