A high-stakes meeting between President Joe Biden and key lawmakers from both parties yielded no breakthrough on the impasse over the US debt limit, but the group agreed to keep trying to avert a devastating default. "I am hoping that the president understands, as the leader of this nation that you can't sit back and hold the country hostage," says Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. While House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says that "extreme Republicans "have indicated that they are willing to take us down the path of default." The two leaders were speaking to reporters after the White House talks. [completes VIDI33EQ8RJ_EN] IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES