5 vital stories to know this week
From Donald Trump changing his stance on abortion to the Supreme Court rejecting lower repayment options for low-income student loan borrowers, here are five stories to know this week.
Trump condemns Florida's 6-week abortion ban, faces growing GOP backlash
Despite taking credit for overturning Roe v. Wade—the landmark Supreme Court case that protected abortion rights nationwide—Donald Trump said he would vote against Florida’s six-week abortion ban, which is on the ballot in November.
“I think six weeks, you need more time,” Trump, who is a Florida voter, told Fox News. “At the same time, the Democrats are radical…So I'll be voting no for that reason.” Trump continued to reiterate false claims about late-term abortions, claiming Democrats want to allow abortions up until nine months.
Trump also said he wants to mandate insurance companies or the federal government to pay for IVF treatments. However, Trump did not say how his administration would fund this initiative.
CONTEXT: Project 2025, a conservative handbook for a potential Trump presidency, includes a proposal that would ban the approval of abortion pills in the U.S.
Palestinian content creator Medo Halimy, 19, killed in an Israeli airstrike
Friends of Palestinian content creator Medo (Mohammad) Halimy reported on social media that the 19-year-old died after an Israeli airstrike hit his tent in Gaza.
Halimy made videos documenting his daily life during the war in Gaza and told his followers he was determined to keep filming every day as part of his resistance against the Israeli government. He gained over 200,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok.
His last Instagram post, uploaded just a few days ago, was a video showing his tent life in Gaza.
In an interview with Fault Magazine in June, Halimy expressed his happiness over the support his videos received, saying “the most joy I get now is from the comments on my videos and the support from people worldwide. Seeing people recognize the truth and view the situation from an unbiased perspective is very uplifting.”
“After this genocide is over, I will pursue my life dreams, no matter how long it takes—even if it takes 50 years. I aim to achieve so much that everyone will remember my name.”
Student loan borrowers in limbo after courts halt SAVE plan
Millions of student loan borrowers are in limbo after the Supreme Court upheld a block on President Joe Biden’s SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education) plan, which promised lower monthly payments and a faster path to loan forgiveness for about 8 million enrollees. The plan will remain on hold until the 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals decides on its legality, which could take weeks or longer, leaving borrowers uncertain about their future payment obligations.
In response to the ongoing legal battle, the Department of Education has paused payments for all borrowers enrolled in SAVE. The Supreme Court’s ruling adds to the confusion as it remains unclear whether the block affects other repayment plans or debt relief options. The situation is particularly pressing on borrowers as the pandemic-era freeze on defaulted student debt collections is set to end on October 1.
The legal struggle began earlier this year with two lawsuits from Republican-led states and is now awaiting a ruling from the St. Louis-based 8th Circuit Court, which is predominantly composed of judges appointed by Republican presidents.
NOTE: Borrowers should be prepared for potential changes in their repayment plans and monitor updates closely as the legal proceedings continue at StudentAid.Gov
The Taliban publish vice laws that ban women’s voices and bare faces in public
Last week, the Taliban in Afghanistan introduced a new set of restrictions on Afghan women that will require them to conceal their faces, bodies, and voices in public spaces, a new decree that intensifies the already severe limitations placed on women and girls by the Taliban.
CONTEXT:
Afghan girls have been barred from attending school beyond the sixth grade.
Women are prohibited from getting local jobs or working at nongovernmental organizations.
The Taliban have ordered the closure of beauty salons and barred women from going to gyms and parks.
Women can't go out in public without a male guardian.
Israel has been buying Google ads to spread false information about UNRWA
The Israeli government has been using Google Ads to undermine the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
The campaign, which began in January, involved purchasing ads that falsely claimed all of UNRWA was compromised by its ties to Hamas. These ads, which appeared prominently in search results for terms related to UNRWA, aimed to discredit the organization and influence potential donors.
The UN said in early August that nine UNRWA staff members were fired because they "may have been" involved in the October 7 attacks by Hamas. However, the UN said they have not been able to fully verify the claim because the Israeli government has not made the evidence available for investigation.
Despite complaints from UNRWA USA and attempts to counter the ads, Google said the ads do not violate its policies. Google’s enforcement of ad policies, particularly in politically sensitive contexts, has faced scrutiny from public officials, with critics arguing that the company’s reluctance to act may be influenced by its business interests in Israel.
UNRWA, which provides critical aid to millions of Palestinian refugees, has faced increased challenges in fundraising due to these ads. While UNRWA USA has reported record donations this year, the negative impact of the ads on public perception and support remains a significant concern for the organization. [Learn more]
NOTE** This newsletter was scheduled for Saturday, August 31. Any news on September 1 will be included in next week’s edition.