Tuesday morning news: May 23, 2023

Debt ceiling » Still no deal on moving the debt ceiling, but they’re getting closer. That’s what House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters on Monday after another White House meeting with the president.

KEVIN MCCARTHY: I did feel the discussion was productive in areas that we have differences of opinion. We’re going to have the staffs continue to get back together.

President Biden also struck a positive tone:

PRESIDENT BIDEN: We still have some disagreements, but I think we may be able to get where we have to go. We both know we have a significant responsibility.

McCarthy suggested a deal could come together any day with just over a week remaining until a June 1st deadline.

That’s when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says the United States could start defaulting on its debts without a debt ceiling deal.

Republicans have been working to reduce overspending as part of any such agreement.

Tim Scott » Another Republican is challenging Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination.

TIM SCOTT: I will be the president who stops the far left’s assault on our religious liberty. I will preserve one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott kicked off his campaign Monday in his hometown of North Charleston.

Scott was twice elected to the U-S Senate after being appointed to the seat in 2013 by then Gov. Nikki Haley who is also now running for president.

Scott joins a field of more than a half-dozen declared GOP candidates with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis expected to file campaign papers this week.

Sen. Tom Carper won’t run for reelection » Meantime, Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware says he will not run for reelection in 2024 with a Senate map that could be tough on Democrats next year. WORLD’s Anna Johansen Brown reports.

ANNA JOHANSEN BROWN: The 76-year-old Democrat announced Monday that he’ll call it a career at the end of his fifth term in office.

Carper is one of several incumbent Democrats who have announced that they will not seek reelection next year.

The others are Ben Cardin of Maryland, Dianne Feinstein of California and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan.

Their party now has a slim 51-to-49 majority in the Senate. But of the 34 seats on the ballot next year, only 11 of them belong to Republicans, setting up a tough road ahead for Democrats to keep control of the chamber.

For WORLD, I’m Anna Johansen Brown.

Ukraine » With Russian forces reportedly making gains in Ukraine’s east, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell says the West must continue providing aid to Ukraine:

JOSEP BORRELL: The success and extent of Ukraine's defense depends not only on the bravery of their soldiers and their people but also on the pace of ammunitions and weapons.

The U.S. announced a $375 million aid package to Ukraine over the weekend.

Meta EU lawsuit » A European Union court has ordered Facebook parent company Meta to pay $1.3 billion in fines under its new privacy laws. WORLD’s Lauren Canterberry has more.

LAUREN CANTERBERRY: Regulators say the company doesn’t do enough to protect European users’ data from U.S. spy agencies.

The court on Monday struck down a previous data-sharing agreement between the E-U and the U.S. and officials are still working to craft a new one.

Meta says it’s being unfairly singled out among hundreds of businesses that have the same data-sharing rules.

And it argues that restricting the flow of information between countries could fundamentally change the internet.

Meta says it will appeal the decision.

As it now stands, Facebook will have to delete all E-U user data from U-S servers by October.

For WORLD, I’m Lauren Canterberry.

Tim Keller » The Redeemer network of churches in New York has posted a final message from the late pastor and author Tim Keller, sharing his vision for the road ahead.

TIM KELLER: So what we should do the next ten years is to be a network and continue to serve the whole city, not just ourselves.

He helped launch the ministry in 1989.

In his parting message, he also offered advice from Jeremiah 29.

KELLER: Engage, but at the same time, be different. Don’t assimilate and just pick up all the views of the culture. But don’t stay out and keep your skirts clean, denounce everybody, no.

Keller died on Friday from pancreatic cancer at age 72.

I’m Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: the unexpectedly bumpy road for a pro-life bill in South Carolina. Plus, remembering the heroes who are still missing in action decades later. This is The World and Everything in It.

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