The Journal made waves with this headline today:

President Open to Deal on Debt Cap

If that's true, it's a very big deal.

From the Journal's lede:

White House officials have opened the door to a deal with Republicans that would allow the U.S. to increase its ability to borrow, potentially easing worries in financial markets that the country might default on its debt.

Softening the administration's earlier insistence that Congress raise the so-called debt ceiling without conditions, officials now say they won't rule out linking an increase of the borrowing cap with cuts aimed at reducing the deficit—even though they'd prefer to keep the issues separate.

The shift by the White House comes at a critical point in a debate about the country's fiscal future.

Slight problem with the story: There's no actual sourcing for the scoop. None.

As Washington Monthly blogger Steve Benen noted:

Through the rest of the piece, the reader gets no additional information of any use. There are no quotes or even blind paraphrases from anyone at any level in the administration. The entire piece seems to be based on some vague comment David Plouffe made on “Meet the Press” -- a detail that isn't shared until the 11th paragraph.

Like Benen, I don't know if the Journal story will turn out to be accurate. But I do know the sourcing here is pretty much non-existent. And I also know the Journal newsroom tried a similar stunt during the Wisconsin union showdown, reporting on A1, without any actual proof, that Democrats were preparing to end their standoff with the Republican governor. That Journal “scoop” turned out to be completely false.

We'll have to wait and see about the daily's debt cap story.