Biden's approval is up but Dems aren't out of the woods; 'Bake Off'' Mexico episode flops

Plus, be a croissant, not a bagel when networking. [View this email online]( [NPR]( by Suzanne Nuyen Good morning. [Have you gotten your next COVID booster yet]( Make sure you wait long enough between shots. Here's what we're following today: First up Chelsea Beck/NPR Ever since President Biden announced his student loan forgiveness plans, scammers have been out for blood. The administration is [trying to fight them]( but still hasn't given any word on when the real application for student loan relief will open. It's been 100 days since Roe v. Wade was struck down. In that time, 66 clinics in the 15 states that have severely restricted or banned the procedure have closed. The ones still open are [all in Georgia]( and health care workers have had to turn many patients away. Biden's approval rating has risen to 44%, but Democrats aren't off the hook yet. Seven-in-ten people think the country is [going in the wrong direction]( and young and Black voters are the least likely to vote this fall. The Great British Bake Off is usually a sweet way to end the week. But the show's latest "Mexican Week" episode left a sour taste in many viewers' mouths. Fans say the show missed out on an opportunity to explore Mexican heritage, and [instead relied on harmful stereotypes](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- Picture show [Harvey Matthews was born in the River Road community. He stands with Macedonia Baptist Church First Lady, Marsha Coleman-Adebayo, also president of the Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition. She has led the fight to preserve and prevent further desecration of the cemetery.]( André Chung for NPR Urban development often forces historically Black communities to uproot and disperse, leaving cemeteries as the only proof of their existence. In Maryland, defendants of one such community are [fighting to memorialize]( their historically Black cemetery. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s listen [Penelope Wingard of Charlotte, N.C., has survived breast cancer, a brain aneurysm and surgery on both eyes. For the past eight years, she's also been battling tens of thousands of dollars in medical debt.]( Photographer/Source Penelope Wingard was thrilled when she learned her breast cancer was in remission. But that meant she no longer had temporary Medicaid coverage, and she suffered a huge financial toll just when she was overcoming a medical one. 🎧 [Listen to why she says it feels like "being punished for being sick]( or [read her story](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Before you go Photo Illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR - In a world full of bagels, be a croissant. A networking expert tells us how the flaky pastry can help us [make meaningful job connections](. - Chess.com says it believes Hans Neimann, the 19-year-old grandmaster at the center of a scandal, has cheated in more than 100 games. But he's [not backing down]( and still playing in the U.S. Chess Championships. - Now that's a Great Pumpkin! A 2,554-pound pumpkin grown in upstate New York has [set a new U.S. record]( for the heaviest. --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a Station]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Music, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Daily News emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]