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Judges across the United States are wiping away student loan debts worth, in some cases, tens of thousands of dollars, all because National Collegiate Student Loans Trusts has been unable to show in court that it owns the loans it says it does.

National Collegiate is comprised of 15 different trusts, holding 800,000 private student loans. Those loans add up to $12 billion, and more than $5 billion is in default, court records state. The private loans were made by banks, then sold to investors, and when the borrowers struggle to pay these loans which often have high interest rates back, National Collegiate takes them to court; on average, at least four new collection lawsuits are filed every day, The New York Times reports, and more than 800 have been filed this year so far.

When borrowers don't go to court, National Collegiate almost always automatically wins the case, but when they do show up, most of the time judges throw the suits out because National Collegiate was not able to produce the paperwork proving it owned the debt it said it did. An audit of the company, organized by one of the financiers behind National Collegiate's trusts, conducted in 2015 looked at nearly 400 random loans owned by National Collegiate, and found that none had the proper paperwork documenting the chain of ownership. This is similar to what happened in the 2000s during the subprime mortgage crisis, when judges ruled in favor of borrowers, saying the companies could not collect subprime mortgage loans because the documents were either missing or forgeries.

The lawyer for Samantha Wilson, a 33-year-old mother of three, said when she was sued by National Collegiate, the paperwork was riddled with errors. She earned her degree in psychology from Lehman College in the Bronx. and fell behind on payments when her daughter was ill and she had to quit her job. Documents claimed she attended a school she never went to, and a judge dismissed four lawsuits against her because trusts "failed to establish the chain of title" on her loans. Wilson told the Times she was "responsible" for the loans she took out and was prepared to pay them off over time, but "some of them I didn't take." In the end, $31,000 worth of debt was wiped clean. Read the entire report at The New York Times. Catherine Garcia

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Top House Democrat promises the Democratic Party will finally have its core message figured out 'by this fall' - The Week Magazine

Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

FILE - Jenny Wilson, with her son Zach, talks to Democrats gathered Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, in Salt Lake City.

SALT LAKE CITY Salt Lake County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson announced Monday that she will challenge Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, in 2018.

Wilson, a Democrat, said she has been "overwhelmed" by encouragement from Utahns who want change in Washington.

"They are tired of the bickering and recognize the bipartisan successes I have had working locally," she said. "Utahns want an apolitical voice, and that's what I represent."

Wilson, 51, launched an exploratory committee earlier this year and has raised $139,328, according to her campaign. She will hold a formal campaign kickoff event in late August.

"Utahns want a senator who works for them, who listens to them and who gets things done. But after 40 years of Orrin Hatch, Washington is broken. Orrin Hatch is a decent man, but hes part of the problem in Washington, and he has forgotten who sent him there," she said.

Hatch, 83, has indicated he will run for an eighth term, barring some unforeseen circumstance.

President pro tem of the Senate and chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, Hatch pledged in 2012 that his current term would be his last but seems to have changed his mind.

The senator's leadership role puts him at the center of the most critical debates in Washington, including health care and tax reform, said Hatch spokesman Matt Whitlock.

"With all the problems Utahns sent him here to solve, the 2018 election cycle has not been top of mind," Whitlock said. "While he intends to run, he has not yet reached a final decision and hopes to by the end of the year. But should the senator decide to run, he will win."

The seven-term senator raised about $1.3 million in the first three months of this year and another $1 million in the quarter that ended June 30.

The amount raised from January through March is more than he collected in all of 2016. The senator has about $4.1 million overall in his campaign account.

A Democrat hasn't held the Senate seat since Hatch took it from Sen. Frank Moss in 1976.

Wilson, the daughter of former Salt Lake City Mayor Ted Wilson, has worked at various levels of government, including as chief of staff to late Rep. Bill Orton, D-Utah. She also served as an aide to the Utah Legislature and was a candidate for Salt Lake City mayor in 2007.

Wilson said Hatch used to pride himself on being a check and balance on the administration, but that has change since President Donald Trump won the White House.

"The lack of check and balance may be what put me over the edge on this thing, among other things," she said about her decision to run. "We need Congress to be a check on the administration no matter which party has a president in office, and that is not the case. Hatch is doubling down on Trump."

Like Orton, a Blue Dog Democrat, Wilson said she would stand up to her party when necessary.

In the private and nonprofit sectors, Wilson worked for the Sundance Institute and Film Festival, 2002 Winter Olympics, Voices for Utah Children and the University of Utahs John A. Moran Eye Center.

Wilson graduated from the University of Utah and received a master's in public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School. Wilson and her husband have two sons.

"I cant imagine there is anyone out there that is more in touch with Utah than me," the fifth-generation Utahn said. "I think I understand this state."

Wilson has set her sights on Hatch but said she brings collaborative and bipartisan ethics that would play well regardless of who the GOP opponent might be.

"I think that were missing that in Washington, so whether its Hatch or anybody else, I think I can say, Look, Ive been elected. I know how to deliver with accomplishments. Im in touch with the community,'" she said.

See more here:
Democrat Jenny Wilson sets sights on Sen. Orrin Hatch in 2018 - Deseret News

With re-election rates often hovering above 90 percent, open seats representa critical factor in the Democrats quest for a House majority. New Mexicos 2nd District has been an elusive target for years, as long as Rep. Steve Pearce has been on the ballot.

But the Republican congressmans decision to run for governor opens up a majority-Hispanic district that could be vulnerable if an anti-GOP wave develops.

Pearces districtis an expansive onethat envelopes the southern half of New Mexico, forming a U-shape around Albuquerque. The Hispanic population of the 2nd District was 54 percent in 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey.

Thats a larger numberthan the voting-age and the voting-eligible population of the district, but the opportunity for Democrats to organize and for President Donald Trump to antagonize Hispanic voters is there.

Trump did fairly well in 2016, carryingthe district 50 percent to 40 percent over Hillary Clinton, according to calculations by Daily Kos Elections. But Mitt Romney edged President Barack Obama 52percent to 45 percent herefour years earlier.

Pearce was first elected, 56 percent to 44 percent, over Democrat John Arthur Smith in 2002, when he won the open seat following GOP Rep. Joe Skeens retirement.Pearce represented the 2nd until 2008, when he opted to run for the U.S. Senate but lost in the general election to Democrat Tom Udall.

Democrat Harry Teague won Pearces open seat, 56 percent to 44 percent, over Republican Ed Tinsley in 2008 (whileJohn McCainwas carryingthe district 50-48 percent). Teague held it for just two years until Pearce came back to defeat him, 56percent to 44 percent.

Democratic strategists have had their eye on the district because of the Hispanic population, but talked about the seat as a long-term project. The buzz from the party accelerated briefly when Eddy County Commissioner Rocky Lara got into the 2014 race because she looked like a potentially strong candidate. But Pearce defeated her handily, 64 percent to 36 percent, and he won re-election last year, 63 percent to 37 percent.

New Mexicos 2nd District could be an example of a seat where the incumbent makes the seat look more comfortably Republican than it really is. Pearce is regarded as a hardworking incumbent who is aware of the demographic changes of his district. Now it will be up to Republicans to nominate someone who can replicate his success.

Even with the open-seat dynamic, Democratic strategists arent initially pushing the race to the top of their target lists. But Pearces absence, a large minority population, and potential midterm backlash against Republicans is enough to push the seat onto the list of competitive districts.

Were changing the Inside Electionsrace ratingfrom Solid Republican to Likely Republican. Democrats probably still need a political wave in order to win the 2nd District, but Republicans cant take the open seat for granted.

Correction 11:12 p.m. | An earlier version of this story misstated the result of the 2008 Republican Senate primary in New Mexico.

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Rating Change: Open Seat Gives Democrats Takeover Opportunity in New Mexico - Roll Call

Rep. Adam SchiffAdam SchiffDemocrat critiques Trump's infantile attack with baby photo Controversy over Trump Jr. meeting shows no signs of losing steam Key Democrat: 'We can't accept anything Don Jr. says' on Russia meeting MORE (D-Calif.), the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, slammed President Trump for his attack on the press earlier Sunday by posting a photo of an infant in his office.

Another infantile attack on the press by @realDonaldTrump today. On behalf of all infants, Rose says it's beneath the dignity of the office, Schiff wrote on Twitter.

Another infantile attack on the press by @realDonaldTrump today. On behalf of all infants, Rose says it's beneath the dignity of the office. pic.twitter.com/i4l4idDuFv

Schiff was responding to Trump, who criticized the media in several early morning tweets.

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The president also blasted the ABC News/Washington Post poll, which he said was just about the most inaccurate poll around election time.

Trumps most recent attack on the press corps comes as the White House deals with the fallout from news that Donald TrumpDonald TrumpFox News host defends Trump Jr.: I'd meet with the Devil for opposition research Officials clash at FEC over confronting Russian influence in 2018 elections Lewandowski: Great Russian spies wouldnt bring 8 people to a meeting MORE Jr. during the 2016 presidential election met with a Russian lawyer claiming to have harmful information about Democrat Hillary ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonFox News host defends Trump Jr.: I'd meet with the Devil for opposition research Officials clash at FEC over confronting Russian influence in 2018 elections Lewandowski: Great Russian spies wouldnt bring 8 people to a meeting MORE.

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Democrat critiques Trump's 'infantile attack' with baby photo - The Hill

A top House Democrat said in a new interview that his party must improve its core message to voters.

That message is being worked on, Rep. JosephCrowley (D-N.Y.)toldThe Associated Press.

Were doing everything we can to simplify it, but at the same time provide the meat behind it as well. So thats coming together now, the House Democratic Caucus chairman continued.

Despitethose struggles, Democratic leaders say the party must unite around a common message.

The Associated Press noted thatDemocratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez said last week that the party must articulate what it stands for.

The Democratic Party needs to up its game, Perez said in a speech, according to the news service. What I hear most from people is, Tom, we not only need to organize, but we need to articulate clearly what we stand for.

Democrats are preparing for the 2018 midterm elections, where they will be tasked with trying to win back both chambers of Congress.

Veteran Democratic operative James Carville predicted this week his party had a 50-50 chance of taking back the House in 2018, but had slimmer chances when it came to the Senate, despite only having to win three seats back.

The problem in the Senate is we have a large number of seats we have to hold in states thatDonald TrumpDonald TrumpFox News host defends Trump Jr.: I'd meet with the Devil for opposition research Officials clash at FEC over confronting Russian influence in 2018 elections Lewandowski: Great Russian spies wouldnt bring 8 people to a meeting MOREcarried. Indiana, Missouri, you know places like that we have to hold seats, Carville told John Catsimatidis on AM 970 in New York on Sunday.

The only places where we have an opportunity for pick up are, you know, Nevada is pretty good. After that Arizona is less good, then youre down to Texas and Alabama, and for Democrats to win the Senate back, they have to pick up three seats, he said.

As for the 2020 presidential race, Carville said primary voters will have a plethora of Democratic candidates to choose from, saying it will be double digits.

"There will be a number of serious candidates that are going to run on the Democratic side, and our party needs that, he said.

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House Democrat: Party is struggling to 'provide the meat' in messaging - The Hill (blog)