Interest on the National Debt

I was catching up on some podcasts this morning on the drive in, and listened to Bob Brinker's (not pictured) Sunday show. He mentioned that with a $12 trillion national debt, if the prime rate was to go to 5%, we'd be paying $600 billion a year in interest. That's interest only.

Should interest rates rise. No worry of that, right?

Well...

Picture is of *the other* market timing radio pop star, Gwen Stefani.  After all, Brinker ain't no hollaback girl.