The U.S. Department of Education has updated its federal student loan guidance as changes involving college debt policy from the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act took effect July 1.

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has said that American taxpayers should no longer pay for other people’s student loans.

But the changes, according to NPR, will limit the amount of programs available to borrowers. And they’ll cap loans for grad students.

Today on The Wheelhouse, what borrowers should know ahead of the 2026-2027 academic year.

Guests:
Ayelet Sheffey, senior education reporter, Business Insider 
Betsy Mayotte, president and founder, The Institute of Student Loan Advisors
Michelle Jarvis-Lettman, student loan ombudsperson, State of Connecticut 

The U.S. Department of Education has updated its federal student loan guidance as changes involving college debt policy from the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act took effect July 1.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has said that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-begin-federal-student-loan-collections-other-actions-help-borrowers-get-back-repayment">American taxpayers</a>&nbsp;should no longer pay for other people&rsquo;s student loans.
But the changes, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/06/18/nx-s1-5856432/big-changes-coming-to-student-loans-on-july-1">NPR</a>, will limit the amount of programs available to borrowers. And they&rsquo;ll cap loans for grad students.
Today on The Wheelhouse, what borrowers should know ahead of the 2026-2027 academic year.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/ayelet-sheffey">Ayelet Sheffey</a>, senior education reporter, Business Insider&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://freestudentloanadvice.org/about_us/our-staff/">Betsy Mayotte</a>, president and founder, The Institute of Student Loan Advisors</li>
<li><a href="https://portal.ct.gov/dob/student-loan-ombudsperson/student-loan-ombudsperson-office">Michelle Jarvis-Lettman</a>, student loan ombudsperson, State of Connecticut&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

If you’re a news junkie — or maybe just news curious, we’ve got your weekly dose of Connecticut politics, tackling everything from tax cuts to human composting. Amplifying important local and national voices, The Wheelhouse walks listeners through the most important political stories of the week.  You’ll hear from well-known political reporters, academics, and local journalists across Connecticut’s 169 cities and towns.

Connecticut's best journalists come out of the political trenches every Wednesday to join us on WNPR's weekly news roundtable The Wheelhouse.

The Wheelhouse

The Trump administration has changed federal student loan policy. Here’s what you should know

Two-thirds of Americans surveyed are worried about the integrity of U.S. elections.

That’s according to a Gallup Poll released in July. A total of 67% of the respondents are concerned that political leaders will attempt to pressure election officials to change outcomes in the upcoming midterm elections. That's a significant percentage of people.

President Donald Trump had ordered the U.S. Postal Service to screen ballots to ensure they comply with a new set of conditions that would have made it harder to vote by mail. The U.S. Supreme Court responded, rejecting the administration’s attempt to restrict mail ballots.

With the Supreme Court weighing in, is there still fear of federal influence on the 2026 midterms? And what’s behind the anxiety around election security right now?

Today on The Wheelhouse, what's being done to preserve the integrity of our elections?

Guests:


Eric McDaniel, congressional reporter, NPR’s Washington Desk


Dion Nissenbaum, senior national reporter, Votebeat


Stephanie Thomas, Connecticut Secretary of the State

Are you thinking about 2026 midterm elections? Help shape our election coverage by filling out this survey.

The Wheelhouse is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Two-thirds of Americans surveyed are worried about the integrity of U.S. elections.
That&rsquo;s according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/712955/election-concerns-run-high-ahead-2026-midterms.aspx">Gallup Poll </a>released in July. A total of 67% of the respondents are concerned that political leaders will attempt to pressure election officials to change outcomes in the upcoming midterm elections. That's a significant percentage of people.
President Donald Trump had ordered the U.S. Postal Service to screen ballots to ensure they comply with a new set of conditions that would have made it harder to vote by mail.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2026-09-15/supreme-court-rejects-trump-mail-ballot-restrictions-ahead-of-midterms">The U.S. Supreme Court responded</a>, rejecting the administration&rsquo;s attempt to restrict mail ballots.
With the Supreme Court weighing in, is there still fear of federal influence on the 2026 midterms? And what&rsquo;s behind the anxiety around election security right now?
Today on The Wheelhouse, what's being done to preserve the integrity of our elections?
Guests:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.npr.org/people/780913800/eric-mcdaniel">Eric McDaniel</a>, congressional reporter, NPR&rsquo;s Washington Desk
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.votebeat.org/authors/dion-nissenbaum/">Dion Nissenbaum</a>, senior national reporter, Votebeat
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://portal.ct.gov/sots/capitol/about-stephanie-thomas/the-biography-of-stephanie-thomas?archived=true">Stephanie Thomas</a>, Connecticut Secretary of the State
</li>
</ul>
Are you thinking about 2026 midterm elections? Help shape our election coverage by filling out this&nbsp;<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WBPXCFW">survey</a>.
The Wheelhouse is available on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/the-wheelhouse/id1123069986">Apple Podcasts,</a> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0rdTqFfVu8e6TKMa5lWXsI">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvYWMwYmU5NjktZDdkZi00NjBjLWE2NmMtYTZmOTAwZTFlYmQxLzI1M2YwNjY4LTA0NjMtNGFiNC04ZWIzLWE5ZmIwMDRjOTdlNy8wOTUwNDBkZS1hZjMyLTQ1Y2UtOTkwZi1hOWZiMDA0Yzk3ZjUvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M">Google Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/dd73c297-450d-4ea5-bb0b-64131d617ee0/the-wheelhouse">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Government/The-Wheelhouse-p1207903/?topicId=264709829">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-wheelhouse-connecticut-public-radio-mxksbjc_iJI/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Concerns over election integrity loom over November midterms

John Larson, a 14-term Democratic congressman, was unable to stave off a primary challenge from former Hartford mayor Luke Bronin.

Larson wasn’t the only incumbent who lost on a primary night this year.

As Republicans in Connecticut make their case against local incumbents, they campaign in a blue state, outnumbered by Democrats.

Today on The Wheelhouse, we continue our midterm election coverage by dissecting local primary results.

Plus, amid a spate of immigration arrests in Danbury by federal law enforcement, how is Mayor Roberto Alves working to keep migrant families in his city safe?

Guests:
Roberto Alves, mayor, city of Danbury
Themis Klarides, former Republican state representative, Derby
Christopher Keating, reporter, Hartford Courant

John Larson, a 14-term Democratic congressman, was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2026-08-11/ct-election-results-primary-congress-governor-larson-bronin-lamont">unable to stave off a primary challenge</a>&nbsp;from former Hartford mayor Luke Bronin.
Larson wasn&rsquo;t the only&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courant.com/2026/08/30/national-anti-incumbent-wave-comes-to-ct-with-veteran-lawmakers-ousted-in-primaries-caucuses/">incumbent who lost</a>&nbsp;on a primary night this year.
As Republicans in Connecticut make their case against local incumbents, they campaign in a blue state, outnumbered by Democrats.
Today on The Wheelhouse, we continue our midterm election coverage by dissecting&nbsp;local&nbsp;primary results.
Plus, amid a spate of immigration arrests in Danbury by federal law enforcement, how is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/2026-09-03/major-protest-held-in-danbury-to-denounce-ice-arrests">Mayor Roberto Alves</a>&nbsp;working to keep migrant families in his city safe?
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.danbury-ct.gov/291/Meet-Mayor-Roberto-Alves">Roberto Alves</a>, mayor, city of Danbury</li>
<li><a href="https://portal.ct.gov/jsc/commission-members-bios/biographies-of-commission-members">Themis Klarides</a>, former Republican state representative, Derby</li>
<li><a href="https://www.courant.com/author/christopher-keating/">Christopher Keating</a>, reporter, Hartford Courant</li>
</ul>

Assessing the field of candidates in Connecticut ahead of the November midterms

The 2026 midterm elections are still weeks away, but voters are already sending signals about what November could look like.

Across the country, primary races are testing the strength of party establishments, the appeal of moderate candidates and the enthusiasm of Democratic and Republican voters.

This hour, we explore what’s happening in states from Maine to Michigan, and what those contests reveal about the broader political landscape.

Plus, what both parties need to do between now and November to turn primary results into general election wins.

Guests:
Liz Goodwin, national political reporter for The Washington Post
Alec Hernández, politics reporter, POLITICO
Andy Sullivan, deputy editor for politics, Reuters 

The 2026 midterm elections are still weeks away, but voters are already sending signals about what November could look like.
Across the country, primary races are testing the strength of party establishments, the appeal of moderate candidates and the enthusiasm of Democratic and Republican voters.
This hour, we explore what&rsquo;s happening in states from Maine to Michigan, and what those contests reveal about the broader political landscape.
Plus, what both parties need to do between now and November to turn primary results into general election wins.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/liz-goodwin/">Liz Goodwin</a>, national political reporter for The Washington Post</li>
<li><a href="https://www.politico.com/staff/alec-hernandez">Alec Hern&aacute;ndez</a>, politics reporter, POLITICO</li>
<li><a href="https://www.reuters.com/authors/andy-sullivan/">Andy Sullivan</a>, deputy editor for politics, Reuters&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

The Trump administration has changed federal student loan policy. Here’s what you should know

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