Today in one sentence: Biden canceled $7.7 billion in student loans for another 160,000 borrowers; the Senate confirmed Biden’s 200th federal judge; Spain, Norway, and Ireland said they would recognize an independent Palestinian state; months before Trump was indicted for mishandling classified documents, a federal judge said the Justice Department had “strong evidence” that Trump “intended” to hide classified documents at Mar-a-Lago; Trump – resorting to magical thinking and outright fabrication – falsely claimed that Biden was “locked & loaded ready to take me out” during the 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago for classified documents; and 49% of swing state voters say they’re worried about violence surrounding the November election.

1/ Biden canceled $7.7 billion in student loans for another 160,000 borrowers. This latest round of forgiveness brings the total student debt relief approved by the Biden administration to $167 billion. More than one in 10 Americans with federal student loans have been approved for some form of debt relief under Biden. (Axios / Bloomberg / Associated Press)

2/ The Senate confirmed Biden’s 200th federal judge. At this point in his term, Trump had secured 196 judges. Trump ultimately confirmed 234 judges. If Biden and the Democrats exceed 234 confirmed judges, they’ll have replaced about one-quarter of the federal judiciary. (Politico / NBC News / Associated Press)

3/ Spain, Norway, and Ireland said they would recognize an independent Palestinian state. While a largely symbolic move, the group said they were “confident that further countries will join us in taking this important step in the coming weeks.” More than 140 countries currently recognize a Palestinian state, including more than two-thirds of the United Nations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the move, calling it “a reward for terrorism” that would “not stop us from reaching a victory over Hamas.” The White House also rejected unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood, saying “a Palestinian state should be realized through direct negotiations between the parties.” Still, the announcement comes days after the International Criminal Court requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israel’s defense minister, and the leaders of Hamas for war crimes stemming from the Oct. 7 attacks and the Israeli offensive in Gaza. (New York Times / Washington Post / Wall Street Journal / Associated Press / NPR / NBC News / CNN)

4/ Months before Trump was indicted for mishandling classified documents, a federal judge said the Justice Department had “strong evidence” that Trump “intended” to hide classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. After Trump was informed by his attorney of a government subpoena for video footage from his Mar-a-Lago club, he realized that the security cameras could capture his employees moving classified government information that officials were attempting to retrieve. Trump allegedly instructed aides to then return several boxes they had previously removed – without being caught on camera. And, four months after the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago, four documents marked “classified” were discovered in Trump’s personal bedroom. The folders were “mostly empty” and marked as “Classified Evening Summary.” Four other classified documents were found in Trump’s post-presidential office at the resort. The revelations were among several cited by U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in a newly unsealed 2023 opinion, which found that prosecutors presented compelling evidence that Trump knowingly hid national security documents in his home and attempted to conceal them from the Justice Department. “Notably, no excuse is provided as to how the former president could miss the classified-marked documents found in his own bedroom at Mar-a-Lago,” Howell wrote in March 2023. Trump faces 40 federal charges for keeping classified government documents at Mar-a-Lago and then obstructing government efforts to retrieve them. (ABC News / Washington Post / Politico / CNN)

5/ Trump – resorting to magical thinking and outright fabrication – falsely claimed that Biden was “locked & loaded ready to take me out” during the 2022 search of Mar-a-Lago for classified documents. It’s the first time in U.S. history that a former president accused his successor of trying to kill him. The FBI said in a statement that it “followed standard protocol in this search as we do for all search warrants, which includes a standard policy statement limiting the use of deadly force.” Nevertheless, Trump baselessly claimed on his personal social media platform that he was “shown Reports” that Biden’s Justice Department “AUTHORIZED THE FBI TO USE DEADLY (LETHAL) FORCE” in their search of the property for classified documents. During the search of Mar-a-Lago on August 8, 2022, the FBI seized 33 boxes containing a mix of classified and non-classified documents. Among these, over 100 classified records were identified, including numerous empty folders labeled as classified. Trump faces 40 felony charges related to his mishandling of top secret classified information and obstructing federal investigators’ efforts to retrieve them. (Washington Post / New York Times / ABC News)

poll/ 49% of swing state voters say they’re worried about violence surrounding the November election. (Bloomberg)