The media are covering Washington’s latest fiscal crisis basically as a spectacle—the way local news now covers traffic accidents, crime scenes and big storms.   But there is a reality underneath the spectacle—the decisions that are made and not made in Washington over the next few weeks will affect what happens in the lives of all of us.  Here are some basic facts that can help make sense of all the craziness.

Congress is headed toward yet another manufactured budget crisis after House Republicans today passed legislation that AFL-CIO Government Affairs Director William Samuel says will provoke another government shutdown by making “ransom demands” that are “unacceptable” and “unrealistic."

The current tracking of Congress’ popularity shows that only 15% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing. Now, House Speaker John Boehner struck another tone deaf moment at a political fundraiser in Idaho when he warned that when Congress returns in September, he will lead Republicans in holding up the government’s business to pick a fight with President Obama over the nation’s debt ceiling. More than 11.5 million Americans are out actively looking for work, while the economy languishes with 2 million fewer jobs than at the end of 2007, more than five and a half years ago. Median family income remains thousands of dollars below the level it reached in 2007. And thousands of America's workers are staging strikes this week to raise their low-wage pay to something respectable. Americans want more jobs and a raise in pay now. How does a showdown on the integrity of the United States of America and paying its bills help address jobs and pay now? They don’t.

The U.S. House of Representatives, led by Speaker John Boehner and his Republican allies, voted to put off the debt ceiling fight until May 18. 

This is good news—no doubt about it—and it shows the power of working people when they make their voices heard. But don’t think for a second that Republicans have given up trying to tank the economy to get their way. Or trying to cut Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare benefits. Or trying to cut taxes for Wall Street and rich people. Because they haven’t and they won’t. This fight is still on.

Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) seemingly have rallied enough of their House allies to push the battle over causing a U.S. government default down the road, with a temporary three-month extension of the government's borrowing authority (or "debt ceiling"). But House Republicans have not changed their ransom demands. They've simply chosen a different hostage. For now.

Working families all over the United States are gearing up for round two in the fiscal showdown. Once again, Republicans in Congress are demanding benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and threatening to tank our economy by causing a default of the U.S. government on March 1 unless they get their way. Write a letter to the editor today asking our elected officials to:

1. Oppose benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid.
2. Close loopholes for Wall Street and the richest 2% of Americans.

Are you feeling disgusted and cynical watching Republican lawmakers as they grip the wheel in the game of chicken that could wreck the nation’s credit rating and leave working families to salvage the debris?

At more than 100 events across the country today, workers, students, seniors and health care, civil rights and faith activists are demanding a debt deal that protects seniors and the middle class while making sure the rich and corporations pay their fair share.

Mary Jane says she brought her hand-made sign “Rich Tax Dodgers Pay Your Fair Share” to Capitol Hill this afternoon because:

I’m extremely concerned about the debt ceiling deal. I’m extremely concerned that a “bipartisan” deal will mean big cuts for Social Security and Medicare.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) insists on severe cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and keeping huge tax breaks for millionaires and corporations as part of his debt ceiling plan.