“My greatest desire is that the hope that has overcome fear in my country will help vanquish it around the world.” – Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil
From Spain and France to India and Brazil, ordinary people around the world took to the streets this month to demand an end to tenant evictions, education funding cuts, fascist politics, and a global affordability crisis. As we approach next week’s midterm elections in the U.S., these protest movements are a potent reminder that lasting social change is not possible without the will and participation of the people.
Take President Lula da Silva’s surprise victory in Brazil. After losing the first round of voting to challenger Flávio Bolsonaro earlier this month, people across the country rallied in unprecedented numbers against the rising far-right. Before this week’s runoff election, Lula introduced a number of reforms to ease financial pressure on Brazilian families, of whom more than 80% are in debt from credit cards, payroll loans and buy-now-pay-later schemes. These included a ban on online gambling, legislation to guarantee national free public transport on weekends, and programs to help Brazilians negotiate with banks to reduce their debts.
One of these policies, which would abolish the six-day workweek, was originally championed by Rick Azevedo, an exploited pharmacy clerk whose viral TikTok video about his grueling work schedule launched the grassroots workers movement behind this reform. Lula’s comeback proves that running on debt cancellation, labor rights, and anti-imperialism is a winning political strategy — and that no policy alone can defeat rising fascism without the people’s support.
While it’s important to cast your vote in this election, voting alone is not enough — we cannot win without an organized movement of debtors fighting for debt cancellation and the reparative public goods we need to live and thrive, like housing, higher education, and healthcare.
Read on for more of what we’ve been up to this month. We’ll see you online and in the streets!
Higher Education
While the national affordability crisis has dominated the leadup to midterm elections, student loans — which represent most American households’ biggest bill increase this year — have been ignored by both parties. While the Trump administration recently abandoned its attempts to weaponize PSLF eligibility, working-class families are still getting billed for jaw-dropping amounts every month.
That’s why we’re launching Bring Out Your Debt, a new initiative to pressure Congress to pause student loan payments and interest by making our debt their problem. Every month, groups of debtors across the country are bringing their loan statements to their members of Congress to demand that they pause the payments for now and cancel them for good. Debtors in California, Oregon, New York, and Minnesota have already kicked things off! Join our next campaign call on 11/24 to learn more.
Healthcare
Support for Medicare for All is at a record high as the country braces for massive health insurance premium hikes and the impending national rollout of “Big Beautiful Bill” federal healthcare cuts. The growing support is no surprise: nearly half of working-age adults in the country had inadequate health insurance this year, and one in four U.S. workers reports being stuck in a job they can’t leave for fear of losing healthcare coverage.
People are ready for something different, but we won’t win universal healthcare by asking nicely. Since late spring, we’ve been organizing in Nebraska to fight the state’s early rollout of federal Medicaid cuts — cuts that other state Medicaid offices across the country are preparing to implement starting January 1, costing an expected 15 million people their health insurance.
Wherever you live, we’re going to need you fighting with us. Fill out our HealthWatch Interest Form and we’ll keep you in the loop as we expand our organizing against fascist attacks on lifesaving public healthcare infrastructure.
Housing
Two of the largest multi-family housing landlords in the country recently merged to become Vivmark Residential, creating the U.S.’s largest publicly-traded corporate landlord overnight. This merger has major implications for tenants, from local monopolies to increased spending against tenant protections and rent control.
To bring awareness to this mega-merger, we hosted a townhall meeting this month to hear from experts and current and former tenants about their experiences living in Vivmark buildings. Join us for our next townhall on 11/10, where we’ll discuss why corporate landlords like Vivmark Residential use junk fees as a common business practice, why they are illegal, and what we can do to push back!
Upcoming Events
NY Student Debtors Organizing Call
2.5 million NYers have federal student loans — that’s more than $115 billion in student debt cutting into our groceries and childcare budgets while making the rich even richer. Join student debtors across New York state to share your debt stories, build solidarity, and take action to win a payment pause now and debt cancellation for good. This event is limited to residents of New York.
Teaching Anti-fascism: A Roundtable Discussion with CAHE
Friday, Oct 30th 7pm ET / 4pm PT
A growing number of college and K-12 courses are being taught on the theory, history and culture of antifascism, and there have been three conferences since 2022. Organized by Coalition for Action in Higher Education (CAHE) and moderated by Debt Collective organizer Dr. Shamell Bell, this panel will discuss ways that educators can share and defend research and teaching while supporting antifascist action.
Final Friday Flow
Friday, Oct 30th 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT
Friday, Nov 20th 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT
Held on the last Friday of each month, these gatherings are designed to remind us that the path to debt abolition and collective liberation begins within. Through guided somatic and movement-based practices, we’ll transform exhaustion into power, fear into vision, and pain into purpose.
Office Hours: Troubleshooting for Troublemakers
Saturday, Oct 31st 2pm ET / 11am PT
Saturday, Nov 14th 2pm ET / 11am PT
Saturday, Nov 28th 2pm ET / 11am PT
Sick and tired of your student debt, and of our elected officials doing nothing about it? You’re not alone! Join us every other Saturday to learn how to meet with your own federal legislators, get support as you prepare your meetings, and be in community with other student debtors building power to win a payment pause now, debt cancellation for good.
Phonebank Power Hour
Tuesday, Nov 3rd 4pm ET / 1pm PT
Tuesday, Nov 10th 4pm ET / 1pm PT
Tuesday, Nov 17th 4pm ET / 1pm PT
Tuesday, Nov 24th 4pm ET / 1pm PT
Join fellow Debt Collective members for a weekly Phonebank Power Hour. Never phonebanked before? No problem! We’ll start the call with a brief training, provide a script, and an easy-to-use dialer so that you can make calls from anywhere. Debtor-to-debtor outreach is the most powerful way to reach one another — all you need is a phone or computer and a few minutes.
New Member Call
Wednesday, Nov 4th 7pm ET / 4pm PT
Curious about the Debt Collective and how we’re organizing to abolish debt? Our New Member Call is a space to learn who we are, what we’re fighting for, and how you can plug in. Whether you’re brand new or have been following our work for a while, this call is a chance to get grounded, ask questions, and connect with others who are ready to challenge the debt system together.
Writing Your Debt Story Op-Ed Workshop
Monday, Nov 9th 8pm ET / 5pm PT
Join writers, educators, and Debt Collective organizers Kristin Collier and Maddy Clifford for a writing workshop on telling your debt story to demand a payment pause. Together, we’ll discuss focus, structure, language, and research, as well as write and experiment together. You are welcome to join regardless of where you are in the process of telling your debt story.
Office Hours: Debtors in Default
Tuesday, Nov 10th 7pm ET / 4pm PT
Join us as we discuss options for debtors with federal student loans in default or those who know they cannot afford to pay their loans who are thinking through their options. We will share resources and cover options that require repayment, like rehabilitation and consolidation, as well as options that do not, like loan cancellation.
Junk Fees: Why Corporate Landlords Use Them & How We Fight Them
Tuesday, Nov 10th 8pm ET / 5pm PT
Are you a current or former tenant of Equity Residential or AvalonBay with concerns about the growing power of corporate ownership of our communities? Tenants across these properties — which have recently merged to become Vivmark Residential —are organizing for accountability, fair treatment, fair rents, and an end to junk fees. Join us to discuss the ways corporate landlords like Vivmark Residential use junk fees as a common business practice to exploit tenants, why they are illegal, and what we can do to fight back.
Jubilee School - Legal Plunder: The Predatory Dimensions of Criminal Justice
Tuesday, Nov 17th 8pm ET / 5pm PT
Predatory criminal legal practices have dramatically expanded since the 1980s, extracting billions of dollars from working-class Americans every year. In this workshop, Professors Joshua Page and Joe Soss will discuss their recently published book, Legal Plunder: The Predatory Dimensions of Criminal Justice. Together, we’ll discover how and why such practices became increasingly financialized over time and discuss some of the devastating consequences that practices such as asset forfeiture, commercial bail, carceral profiteering, and police-and-court fines and fees have for communities, families, and individuals’ lives. We’ll also explore some of the ways that organizations like Debt Collective can fight to abolish criminal justice predation and promote justice and equality.
Student Debtors MA Chapter Organizing Call
Massachusetts Congressmembers like Sen. Warren, Sen. Markey and Rep. Pressley are key players in the national conversation on student debt cancellation, and it’s crucial that we pressure them to stand up for student debtors. Join our MA chapter organizing call to meet other MA student debtors, share your story, and learn how we can harness our collective power to win an interest-free student loan payment pause, cancellation, and free college for all. This event is limited to residents of Massachusetts.
50 Over 50 Monthly Call
Thursday, Nov 19th 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT
Are you 50 years old or older? Do you have student loan debt? Join our 50/50 meeting for student debtors aged fifty and above to discuss action steps, organizing plans, and build solidarity. Newcomers are welcome!
Bring Out Your Debt Campaign Call
Tuesday, Nov 24th 7pm ET / 4pm PT
Right now, millions of people are being pushed out of the SAVE student loan repayment plan. Debt is designed to isolate us – but instead of dealing with financial stress alone, we’re coming together and bringing it to our Members of Congress. Join student debtors from around the country taking action to win a federal payment pause. Come Bring Out Your Debt and make your bill their problem.
In The News
Stories we’re reading, writing, and thinking about this month:
New York Times – Online Gambling and Crushing Debt are Transforming Brazil
Forbes – Student Loan Borrowers Can Stop The Education Department From Taking Their Wages. Here’s How.
Business Insider – Student-loan borrowers are facing a key issue ahead of the midterms: affording their new monthly payments
Politico – Mountains of Debt are Warping Gen Z’s Politics
Democracy Now – “When the Bubble Bursts”: Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor on Reclaiming Democracy from AI Oligarchs
KFF – Health Care Issues in the Lead-Up to the 2026 Midterm Election
CNBC – Trump’s student loan overhaul could lead to more bankruptcy filings, former judge says
Center for Economic and Policy Research – Black Wealth Takes a Nosedive
The Guardian – As US medical debt grows, AI will be used more to collect it
Washington Post – Thousands of public servants are stuck waiting for student loan forgiveness