logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2022
44m 22s

The Messy Debate Over Student Loan Forgi...

The Ringer
About this episode

The level of student debt in this country represents a massive policy error. But is forgiving up to $20,000 of student debt really the best way to help low-income Americans, or fix the nation's education-financing problems? The Atlantic's Jerusalem Demsas joins Derek to discuss the student loan forgiveness debate and weigh the positives and negatives of Biden's controversial new policy.

If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com. You can find us on TikTok at www.tiktok.com/@plainenglish_

Host: Derek Thompson

Guest: Jerusalem Demsas

Producer: Devon Manze

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Oct 7
Why Money Doesn't Buy Happiness in America
America is rich—richer than ever. Yet Americans are more anxious, lonelier, and less satisfied than people in many poorer nations. The 2025 World Happiness Report ranked the U.S. 24th in life satisfaction, its lowest on record. Maybe, as social scientists say, we’ve traded commun ... Show More
48m 38s
Oct 3
Is AI Really About to Solve Human Disease?
I’ve had the privilege of talking to many brilliant people about artificial intelligence. And when you ask them to imagine the most beneficial consequences of this technology, they almost always give the same answer: medicine. The dream is dazzling. Superintelligent AI will cure ... Show More
53m 41s
Sep 30
How America Became a Nation of "Free Speech Hypocrites"
The past few weeks have marked a low point for free speech principles in America. The head of the FCC openly threatened ABC for the language of a comedian. The president told a reporter that networks that are "against" him should have their licenses revoked. The vice president we ... Show More
52m 18s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2025
Is the Era of Student Loan Forgiveness Officially Over?
Across the country, millions of Americans with unpaid student loans are discovering that years of patience and forgiveness from the U.S. government have officially come to an end.Stacy Cowley, a business reporter for The Times, explains what is behind the change of heart, sets ou ... Show More
26m 27s
Sep 2024
Daily Wire Backstage: The Presidential Debate
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris go head-to-head in a historic face-off, clashing over key issues like inflation, abortion, and immigration. Join Ben Shapiro, Matt Walsh, Michael Knowles, Andrew Klavan, and Jeremy Boreing as they break down the debate, analyze the key moments, and ... Show More
1h 20m
May 2025
For Millions of Student-Loan Borrowers It's Time to Pay
The Trump administration is starting to put millions of defaulted student-loan borrowers into collections and threatening to confiscate their wages, tax refunds and federal benefits. WSJ’s Oyin Adedoyin digs into what the restart could mean for borrowers and the economy. Annie Mi ... Show More
17m 27s
Oct 2024
Follow Your Passion: She created popular student loan debt repayment company.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed, Dr. Sonia Lewis. She is the CEO of award-winning business The Student Loan Doctor LLC. She is considered the people’s expert on all matters related to student loan d ... Show More
27m 17s
Jan 2025
What's the Future of Student Loan Debt Relief and SAVE?
Laura answers a listener's question about managing student loans in forbearance and reviews seven things about the SAVE Plan to know. Money Girl is hosted by Laura Adams. A transcript is available at Simplecast.Have a money question? Send an email to money@quickanddirtytips.com o ... Show More
14m 12s
Apr 2025
Princeton’s President Responds to Attacks on Higher Education
The Trump administration is targeting higher education. Colleges and universities across the United States are faced with the threat of funding freezes over their handling of free speech, anti-semitism and transgender issues, among other topics, on campus.    Princeton University ... Show More
32m 44s
Sep 2022
About Student Debt Forgiveness and Ben Shapiro at Podcast Movement
Jen, Andrew and Justin discuss the decision by the Biden administration to forgive some student debt. They also muse on Ben Shapiro's appearance at Podcast Movement which turned into a lengthy apology on Twitter.PATREON.COM/WERENOTWRONG for bonus episodes weekly. Hosted on Ac ... Show More
1h 24m
Jul 21
Ask Charlie Anything 231: Charlie on Mariology? Deflating the Student Loan Bubble? Marriage and the Military?
Charlie takes an hour of questions live from CK Exclusives subscribers, including: -What does he think about Catholicism and its reverence for Mary? -How should we approach the big problem of America's unpaid student loans? -Who did he think won the Israel debate at the Student A ... Show More
34m 12s
Dec 2020
219: How Much is OK to Take Out in Student Loans?
Robert Farrington of TheCollegeInvestor.com is back to help me answer your student loan questions in this special Q&A episode! If you have more questions on student loan forgiveness head over to https://thecollegeinvestor.com/578/ways-to-get-student-loan-forgiveness Have a Questi ... Show More
8m 37s
Oct 2
Student-Loan Debt Is Strangling Gen X
Gen X is barreling toward retirement with an excruciating student-loan burden. The generation that came of age in the ’80s and ’90s is now also the generation with the most student debt per borrower. WSJ’s Oyin Adedoyin explains how federal policies around student debt left Gen X ... Show More
19m 19s