President Joe Biden's capitulation to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in agreeing to negotiate about budget cuts in order to get a debt ceiling increase through Congress has elicited threats from the left about "backlash in the streets" if those cuts materialize.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) told CNN, “I think there would be a huge backlash from our entire House democratic caucus, certainly the progressives — but also in the streets."

Jayapal also argued that the cuts would detract from the agenda Biden has put forward since taking office two years ago.

“It’s important we don’t take steps back from the very strong agenda that president himself shepherd and led over the past two years,” she said.

Left wants to raise taxes

“It’s going to be a problem,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said, adding, “We do not legislate through the debt ceiling for this very reason."

Biden is still trying to demand tax increases to accompany the debt ceiling increase, but previous tax increases have led to less revenue for the federal government because it stimulates people to avoid taxes more.

McCarthy has nixed any tax increases tied to the debt ceiling, saying spending is the problem, not taxes being too low.

He said Monday, “I felt we had a productive discussion. We don’t have an agreement yet."

“The tone tonight was better than any other time we’ve had discussions,” McCarthy added.

An artificial deadline?

The two sides are working toward a Janet Yellen-imposed deadline of June 1 to avoid potential default, but most experts don't think default will happen that soon.

Some say it will be June 8 or 9, while others have put the date as far back as the end of July.

“I don’t believe June 1st is the real deadline for default. Why aren’t we making @SecYellen show her work before Congress?” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) posted on Twitter.

I don’t believe June 1st is the real deadline for default. Why aren’t we making @SecYellen show her work before Congress?

She couldn’t even see inflation coming from a mile away! pic.twitter.com/ZwRJjDhHHI

— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) May 23, 2023

Could take that long

At the rate they're going, it could take long past June 1 to reach any kind of agreement that lets Biden save face but gives the spending reductions both sides have to know are needed.

Then again, the artificial deadline could provide just the pressure they need to stop blustering and find common ground.