Timely political commentary from the West Wing: “So this debt ceiling thing is routine or the end of the world?” “Both.” A political crisis over raising the debt ceiling is nothing new: witness this clip from season six of the West Wing, from an episode named ” In God We Trust ” that first screened in March 2005. Annabeth Schott: “So this debt ceiling thing is routine or the end of the world?” Toby Zeigler: “Both.” Interesting fact: the episode was written by Lawrence O’Donnell , who now hosts his own daily news show on MSNBC