Afford Anything First Friday: Why Americans Are More Pessimistic Than Ever
10 snips
Jul 4, 2025 Americans are feeling a growing sense of pessimism as job growth numbers contrast sharply with private sector cuts. Major changes in student loan caps and tariffs are stirring uncertainty. Learn how the recent signing of a domestic policy bill affects education financing, while new tariffs have varying impacts, particularly for small nations like Lesotho. The decline in consumer confidence and economic unpredictability raises challenges for job seekers and graduates alike, prompting a cautious outlook amidst these turbulent times.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Three Presidents Died July 4th
- Three U.S. presidents died on July 4th, a highly improbable historical coincidence.
- Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, both signers of the Declaration of Independence, died on the same July 4th in 1826.
Economic Impact of New Bill
- The new domestic policy bill extends 2017 tax cuts but adds $3.3 trillion to national debt over 10 years.
- It cuts Medicaid, limits student loan borrowing, and rolls back clean energy tax credits.
New Student Loan Caps Advice
- Parents now face a $65,000 lifetime cap on Parent PLUS loans and no repayment plan eligibility.
- Graduate students face new borrowing caps, so plan educational financing carefully.