Biden’s student loan legacy, Israel’s Hamas revenge & Olivia Benson’s Kamala endorsement

Plus: Reads on America’s political ad machine, the disinformation pipeline and why humans need to breed and train more puppies like service animals.

President Joe Biden surprises Rhode Island kindergarten teacher Kelly Beckford with the news that her student loans have been canceled. Screenshot courtesy of the White House

👋🏾 Hi, hey, hello! Welcome back to Once Upon a Hill. I’m looking forward to a stress-free weekend since my dazed and confused Dallas Cowboys are on a bye week.

In tonight's edition: I chat with White House Director of Public Engagement Steve Benjamin about the Biden administration’s announcement that over one million public service workers have received student debt cancellation through a Bush-era program that the Trump White House jankily administered.

But first up, here’s what's happening on Capitol Hill, at the White House, from the campaign trail and beyond:

• The Israeli military confirmed this afternoon it killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.

• Vice President Harris said Sinwar’s death should end the war in Gaza during remarks during a campaign stop in Wisconsin: “And it is time for the day after to begin — without Hamas in power.”

• Harris stopped by a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee business class before the remarks where she and business leader Mark Cuban greeted students and discussed entrepreneurship and economic policy.

• President Biden will travel to Germany tonight to meet with German leaders about the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. They will also discuss countering antisemitism and hatred, advancing economic, trade, and technology cooperation, and strengthening our Euro-Atlantic alliances and partnerships.

• Biden will travel to Angola the first week of December, his first and only trip to Africa as president. (He postponed the trip last week due to Hurricane Milton.)

• The Harris campaign released a new ad titled “Hard Work” on Wednesday to highlight how her economic agenda would benefit Latino families.

• President Biden announced $425 million in military assistance to Ukraine on Wednesday. During a call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Biden updated Zelenskyy on his work to increase additional aid to the country for the remainder of his term. Zelenskyy also updated Biden on his plan to win the war against Russia.

• President Biden delivered a eulogy on Wednesday at a memorial service for Ethel Kennedy, the wife of late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, sister-in-law of former President John F. Kennedy and mother of former Democratic presidential candidate RFK Jr.

• Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama also attended—along with Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), to whom Biden hasn’t spoken since she led the pressure campaign for him to drop his candidacy this summer after the first presidential debate.

• House Small Business Committee Democrats called on Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) yesterday to bring the chamber back into session and approve additional funding for the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan program, which was exhausted during the response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

• The Federal Trade Commission adopted a final rule on Wednesday to remove consumer barriers to canceling subscriptions and memberships.

• Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer led a senior US delegation to Haiti on Wednesday to meet with senior Haitian officials and reiterate the US’s support for Haitian-led efforts to restore security and pave the way toward free and fair elections.

• Former President Trump called the Jan. 6 insurrection “a day of love” during a Univision town hall on Wednesday.

• Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) once called Trump “stupid as well as being ill-tempered,” a “despicable human being,” and a “narcissist,” according to new excerpts from an upcoming biography. (McConnell has since endorsed Trump for a second term, FWIW.)

• Actress Mariska Hargitay Olivia Benson endorsed Kamala Harris for president.

• The Federal Communications Commission finalized a proposed rule today to improve the 988 Suicide and Crisis lifeline by routing calls to mental health professionals and local public safety officials by location instead of area code.

• Vice President Harris will travel to Atlanta this weekend for a rally where she will encourage Georgians to vote early.

• Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) traveled to Phoenix, AZ and Palm Springs, CA today to discuss the health care stakes of the election as part of Protect Our Care’s six-week bus tour.

• 36 percent of US adults have no trust in the media than trust it a great deal or a fair amount, according to a new Gallup poll that reflects a trend in distrust for institutions like the media and Congress.

Elsewhere: In my weekly COURIER column, I wrote about a tale of two Fox News appearances: Former President Trump taking questions during a town hall full of supporters and Vice President Harris’s contentious interview with Bret Baier.

Now, back to Biden’s big student loan announcement: