Can Washington Still Do Anything?

Can the United States government still act to solve problems and aid allies in the national interest? It’s hard to believe it has come to this, but that’s the underlying question as President Biden and Congress struggle to pass a spending bill to help Ukraine and Israel while improving U.S. border security.

President Biden has asked Congress for $106 billion in supplemental spending, but he needs Republican votes to do it. Republicans want to do something to reduce the flood of migrants pouring across the border and burdening American cities, but they need Democratic votes to pass it. The necessity for compromise is obvious, but America’s polarized politics and Mr. Biden’s political weakness may tank the effort.