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What's the difference between the national debt and the deficit?

Jun 22, 2017
Both are hugely important to President Trump and congressional Republicans' priorities, but they need a lot of context.
Director of the Office of Management and Budget Mick Mulvaney testifies during a House Budget Committee hearing concerning the Trump administration's fiscal year 2018 budget, on Capitol Hill, May 24, 2017 in Washington, DC.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Pete Peterson: The man who focused Washington on the national debt

Feb 26, 2013
Pete Peterson is the man who started talking about bringing down the deficit decades ago. But he's not pleased with the current sequestration talks.

Pete Peterson's long campaign against the national debt

Feb 25, 2013
The former Commerce Secretary and financier has warned of danger from the nation's long-term debt for years, and financed a campaign to address it.

Who are these budget-cutters, Simpson and Bowles?

Feb 19, 2013
Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles, with their second plan for cutting the deficit, get attention because their proposals fall in the middle between political extremes.

U.K. government battles to cut deficit

Jan 8, 2013
The U.K.'s coalition government has just passed the halfway point in its first term. Critics say its continuing tough talk on austerity is constraining growth.

Poll respondents tricked by Panetta-Burns plan

Dec 4, 2012
Twenty-five percent of respondents to Public Policy Polling's new survey said they had heard of a deficit reduction plan that doesn't actually exist.

How Americans view the deficit

Aug 15, 2012
Has the attitude about debt and the deficit changed over time?

For public good, not for profit.

Will Congress get anything done in 2012?

Jan 24, 2012
As President Obama delivers his State of the Union address, Congress seems poised for a political stalemate.

Americans react to the failure of super committee

Nov 22, 2011
According to preliminary polls, the average American may not be as worried about the failure of the super committee to reach a deal as some would think.