discretionary spending increases 12 to 15%, but mandatory spending doubles. our price tag for social security and medicaid and other mandatory programs is $4.5 trillion in 2023 and that s not a trajectory that is sustainable and could bring the economy to its knees. eric: and the clock is going up. all right, john. reporter: it will be $$17 trillion soon. eric: we will be talking about this throughout the hour. and tonight, john s special, showdown on debt row, part of a three-hour lineup on the subject, with an exclusive interview with mitt romney and his wife, followed by a special edition of the fox report at 6:00 and then fox news reporting, our special on the debt. jamie: in fact, $85 billiop in spending cuts are upon us. maybe there is an up side,