From the ACLU, this is at Liberty. I'm Kendall Seesmeyer, your host.

In August of this year, President Biden followed through on a campaign promise to help debt drowning college students pay off their

loans. He announced a loan forgiveness program, acknowledging that the total cost of four-year

public and private college has nearly tripled over the last 40 years, and that's after

accounting for inflation. A variety of court cases have been brought against Biden's plan, blocking the U.S. Department

of Education from moving forward.

Just last week, the Supreme Court agreed to weigh in on one of them, Nebraska versus

Biden, that will determine whether or not the Biden administration overstepped its

authority in using the Heroes Act, an act that allows the administration to change payments on

student loans during times of national emergency, to cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt

for nearly 40 million Americans.

The oral arguments are set for February.

Now, thankfully, while this issue pens in court, the Biden administration extended a pause on federal student loan payments so that borrowers are protected.

At the ACLU, we believe that the student debt crisis is a racial justice issue,

depriving black and brown Americans' important social and economic mobility.

Here to discuss how we got here, the litigation at hand, and why this issue is one of racial justice and

systemic equality, is Persis U. She is the deputy executive director in managing counsel at the

Student Borrower Protection Center, a group leading the charge and advocating for forgiveness.

Persis, welcome to Out Liberty.

Thank you.

It's great to be here.

So, Persis, I think we'll just start with the news.

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