The segment discusses the end of student loan forbearance, where interest resumed accruing on federal student loans in the United States on September 1st. It mentions concerns about scams targeting borrowers, and some actions taken by the Minnesota Attorney General to investigate such companies. The discussion also covers the Biden Administration's new income-driven repayment plan called "Save," criticized as a temporary fix, and the Debt Collective's advocacy for widespread student debt cancellation. The interviewee, Astra Taylor, discusses her book "The Age of Insecurity," emphasizing the pervasive issue of economic and climate insecurity and the need for solidarity and systemic change to address it. She also mentions workplace surveillance as an example of how capitalism perpetuates insecurity.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The COVID-19 student loan forbearance has ended, and interest has begun to accrue on federal student loans.
2. Around 40 million Americans will have to make payments on their federal student loans starting October 1st.
3. Many student loan borrowers are being targeted by robocalls that promote scams offering help that is not real.
4. The Minnesota state has launched an investigation into 52 companies suspected of falsely promising loan forgiveness to student loan borrowers.
5. The Biden Administration has announced a new income-driven repayment plan called SAVE (Saving Unevaluable Education).
6. The SAVE program is a new iteration of an income-driven repayment plan, and it may not be beneficial for all borrowers.
7. The Debt Collective, an organization that helps people with student debt, is critical of the SAVE program and believes it is not a real fix for the student debt crisis.
8. The Debt Collective is advocating for debt cancellation and believes that the president has the authority to cancel all student debt through the Higher Education Act of 1965.
9. The organization has launched a tool to help people apply for debt cancellation and is encouraging people to use it to push for debt abolition.
10. The book "The Age of Insecurity: Coming Together as Things Fall Apart" by Astra Taylor explores the theme of insecurity in the economy and how it is manufactured to control people.
11. The author believes that insecurity is not just a feeling but is built into the economy and is used to control people.
12. The Debt Collective is committed to fighting for public investment in education and making education a democratic right.