https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/an-exercise-in-thinking-about-the-unthinkable-a-u-s-debt-defaultContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/an-exercise-in-thinking-about-the-unthinkable-a-u-s-debt-defaulthttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/an-exercise-in-thinking-about-the-unthinkable-a-u-s-debt-default#u64197Thu, 10 Sep 2026 18:57:12 +0000The U.S. national debt increased by $5.1 million per minute over the last year, adding $117,279 to the burden of every American. While some argue the U.S. possesses sufficient wealth to manage this debt, others describe the current fiscal path as unsustainable. These conditions have led law students at the University of Virginia to study the possibility of a U.S. debt default, a scenario previously viewed as nearly impossible, as concerns grow over the nation's standing in the global financial system.Why it mattersCongress faces an upcoming fight over the debt limit to prevent a default.