Topic: College Debt

The "fairness" of student loan forgiveness is debated on social media, with proponents comparing it to the transition from horse-drawn carriages to cars. The hosts suggest that the policy primarily targets existing Democratic voters and may not significantly shift the electoral map. They argue the GOP may actually gain points by focusing on the perceived unfairness to those who already paid their loans or did not attend college.

The Department of Education announced $5.8 billion in full student loan discharges for 560,000 borrowers who attended the now-defunct Corinthian Colleges. The move is seen as a political win for Vice President Kamala Harris, who previously sued the for-profit chain as California's Attorney General. Critics of the Vice President suggest her public speaking style and repetitive rhetoric may be indicative of a lack of preparation or other factors.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand discussed her potential presidential run on CNN, emphasizing "debt-free college" and the importance of diversity. Host Van Jones questioned the lack of diversity among the top Democratic frontrunners. The segment critiques the repetitive nature of election programming and its impact on television ratings.

An NBC News report features a high school student choosing a technical program for diesel mechanics over a traditional four-year college. The segment highlights that 40% of college students fail to graduate and that many mid-skill technical jobs now offer higher pay than average bachelor's degrees.

President Barack Obama issued a proclamation for National College Application Month, framing a college degree as the "surest ticket to the middle class." The hosts criticize this rhetoric, arguing that it leads to financial slavery through massive student debt. They reference the "military-industrial-academic complex" and a previous Obama statement about "just getting by" being the American dream.

Over 1,200 students have joined a debt strike, refusing to pay back loans used to attend the for-profit Corinthian College system. The school system has been sued by the federal government for predatory lending practices. The strikers are demanding that the Department of Education cancel their debts entirely.

The Sunday Times features major stories on the soaring cost of education and the "generation hobbled by college debt." Other headlines include the decline of U.S. influence in Iraq and the controversial placement of missiles on London rooftops for Olympic security. The hosts note the lack of substantive political news in the "below the fold" sections of the paper.

Total student loan debt in the United States has surpassed $1 trillion, exceeding total credit card debt. The hosts discuss how bankruptcy laws have been changed to prevent the discharge of student loans, creating a permanent debt class. They note that many young people are staying in school indefinitely to defer payments while working untaxed side jobs.

A new cultural meme discourages higher education, highlighted by Peter Thiel's program paying students to drop out of college. The hosts discuss the rising cost of tuition, the burden of student loans, and the potential "dumbing down" of the American workforce.

The U6 unemployment rate, which includes underemployed and discouraged workers, shows a slight increase despite official job growth reports. Discussion focuses on the plight of recent college graduates who are struggling with high debt and low-paying jobs. The hosts clarify that "small business" is often misdefined by the IRS and that government aid rarely reaches the mom-and-pop shops with fewer than 25 employees.