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

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John Larson hasn’t faced a stiff challenge from a member of his own party since he was first elected to represent Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District in 1998.

Larson touts his experience as a 14-term representative, saying his seniority in Congress helps Connecticut. But his challengers say that Larson has been in Washington too long and that it’s time for a fresh perspective.

Today on The Wheelhouse, we’ll talk to Larson about his re-election effort. And we’ll meet his challengers, including former Hartford mayor Luke Bronin, who is the endorsed candidate in this race, Connecticut State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford), and Hartford attorney Ruth Fortune.

Guests:

• U.S. Rep. John Larson (D-CT)
• Luke Bronin, candidate, Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District
• Ruth Fortune, candidate, Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District
• Jillian Gilchrest, candidate, Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District

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Children as young as 5 are being resettled in Connecticut after being picked up by federal law enforcement at the U.S. border.

Attorneys for these unaccompanied children say they’re being held for too long and in some cases, aren’t released to sponsors at all until legal action is taken.

This hour, we examine the U.S. government’s obligation to unaccompanied children.

And later in the show, we’ll discuss the Aug. 11 primary elections in Connecticut and a new federal law that could help Connecticut officials in their fight against their affordable housing crisis.

Guests:

• Tess Reagan, managing attorney, Kids In Need of Defense
• Sabrina Tavi, senior attorney and director, Center for Children’s Advocacy
• Jacqueline Rabe Thomas, investigative reporter, Hearst Connecticut Media Group’s CT Insider
• Lisa Hagen, federal policy reporter, Connecticut Public and CT Mirror
• Mark Pazniokas, capitol bureau chief and a co-founder, CT Mirror

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