SAVE Plan Tossed. Trump Admin Sued Over College Race Reporting. Black-Owned Music Royalties

The US Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit ordered the termination of the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan, a Biden administration initiative offering flexible, low-payment student loan options. Starting July 1, 2026, federal student loan borrowers will be limited to a tiered standard repayment plan or a new income-driven 'repayment assistance plan.' Approximately 7 million borrowers currently on the SAVE plan are in forbearance during ongoing legal challenges.

The US Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit ordered the termination of the SAVE plan. The US Department of Education announced new repayment options effective July 1, 2026. Approximately 7 billion borrowers are currently enrolled in the SAVE plan.

17 'blue states' filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration challenging the new Admissions and Consumer Transparency (ACT) survey. This survey mandates universities provide extensive admissions and student data related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, aiming to detect affirmative action practices. The lawsuit argues these requirements are costly, burdensome, and could lead to politically motivated investigations, with non-compliant universities facing penalties.

17 blue states filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over new race, gender, income, and academic performance-based reporting requirements for universities. The lawsuit challenges the ACT survey, which requires years of admissions and student data related to DEI to ensure schools aren't engaging in affirmative action. The lawsuit claims the data demands are burdensome and costly.

The 'SAVE America Act,' despite its name, is characterized by the host and Congressman Al Green as a voter suppression bill, not a genuine effort to secure elections. It proposes strict voter ID requirements, including proof of citizenship beyond existing laws, and bans mail-in voting except in extreme cases. Critics argue these measures disproportionately burden Black, elderly, and low-income voters who may lack specific documentation (like birth certificates or passports) or face difficulties acquiring them, effectively acting as a 'neuvo poll tax.'

Roland Martin and Congressman Al Green discuss the 'SAVE America Act,' describing it as 'trash' and a 'sham.' Green details how his congressional ID is insufficient to vote under such laws and the difficulty many, especially older Black individuals, face in obtaining birth certificates or passports. The act also bans mail-in voting except in extreme cases. Ornstein's tweet suggests Democrats propose free federal IDs to expose Republican motives.

George Monger, CEO of Connect Music, discusses his AI-powered royalty intelligence platform designed to combat the music industry's historical lack of transparency and artist exploitation. The platform, Connect Deck, allows artists to track royalties in real-time, understand their audience demographics, and make informed career decisions. Connect Music recently raised $80 million to invest in artists and catalogs, offering capital without requiring artists to surrender copyright ownership, aiming to create a 'win-win' scenario where artists maintain control and financial reward.

George Monger, CEO of Connect Music, explains the music industry's complexity and how his platform simplifies royalty streams. He mentions a 'billion dollars every year of blackbox money' that should go to writers and producers. Connect Music raised $80 million to fuel growth and invest in artists and catalogs, allowing artists to retain copyright ownership.

Family mediator Renard Crowley explains that family mediation offers a healthier, more productive, and less costly path to resolving disputes (custody, visitation, child support, divorce) compared to traditional court battles. Mediation provides a private, confidential setting where parents or ex-spouses control the outcome, saving time and money. Mediators act as neutral facilitators, and can separate parties if emotions run high, but mediation is not suitable for cases involving abuse, neglect, or harm to a child, which must go to court.

Family mediator Renard Crowley details how mediation allows parents to come together without going to court, giving them control of the outcome. He explains it saves time and money and is a private, confidential setting. Crowley clarifies that mediation is not viable for cases involving abuse, neglect, or anything detrimental to a child, as mediators are mandated reporters.