# Can Anyone Solve America’s $40 Trillion Debt Problem?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/kqed-s-forum-910728/can-anyone-solve-america-s-40-trillion-debt-problem
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/kqed-s-forum-910728/can-anyone-solve-america-s-40-trillion-debt-problem.md
Podcast: [KQED's Forum](https://stenobird.com/podcast/kqed-s-forum-910728)
Published: 2026-09-03T18:43:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC5624664110.mp3
Audio file: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/KQINC5624664110.mp3
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Duration seconds: 3285

## Resource

At this week’s G20 summit in Asheville, N.C., global finance leaders met amid a bond sell-off that threatened to raise the cost of long-term borrowing and upend global economic stability. That comes as the US national debt officially topped $40 trillion — a record high that’s double what it was a decade ago, raising serious concerns for some economists. With the nation’s spiraling debt showing no signs of slowing, is it too late to avoid a U.S. fiscal cliff catastrophe? We talk to economic experts about the current and future impacts, and whether there’s a solution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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## Transcript

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