Chris Arnold

Chris and Quill have been trying to figure out how many Natalies there are out there, people who will not be helped by the big bailout plan, but probably still need help. So they asked the VA, did not get an answer, and then they FOIA'd a bunch of documents.

They got a bunch of documents through the Freedom of Information Act, and those appear to show that about 3,000 veterans took a loan modification and ended up paying at least 25% more And some paid a lot more. At least 1,000 vets ended up with monthly payments that were 50% higher than before, just like Natalie.

They got a bunch of documents through the Freedom of Information Act, and those appear to show that about 3,000 veterans took a loan modification and ended up paying at least 25% more And some paid a lot more. At least 1,000 vets ended up with monthly payments that were 50% higher than before, just like Natalie.

They got a bunch of documents through the Freedom of Information Act, and those appear to show that about 3,000 veterans took a loan modification and ended up paying at least 25% more And some paid a lot more. At least 1,000 vets ended up with monthly payments that were 50% higher than before, just like Natalie.

The Department of Veterans Affairs holds these press conferences every month with, like, the person in charge, the head of the VA, Secretary Dennis McDonough. And for the last year... Good afternoon, Quill. Hey, thanks. Can y'all hear me? Yep, we got you. Basically every month... We'll go to Chris.

The Department of Veterans Affairs holds these press conferences every month with, like, the person in charge, the head of the VA, Secretary Dennis McDonough. And for the last year... Good afternoon, Quill. Hey, thanks. Can y'all hear me? Yep, we got you. Basically every month... We'll go to Chris.

The Department of Veterans Affairs holds these press conferences every month with, like, the person in charge, the head of the VA, Secretary Dennis McDonough. And for the last year... Good afternoon, Quill. Hey, thanks. Can y'all hear me? Yep, we got you. Basically every month... We'll go to Chris.

Chris and Quill have been showing up and asking about VA mortgages.

Chris and Quill have been showing up and asking about VA mortgages.

Chris and Quill have been showing up and asking about VA mortgages.

At the most recent of these press conferences. Thanks, Dan. We'll go to Quill.

At the most recent of these press conferences. Thanks, Dan. We'll go to Quill.

At the most recent of these press conferences. Thanks, Dan. We'll go to Quill.

Will got the chance to ask the VA secretary Natalie Donaldson's specific question.

Will got the chance to ask the VA secretary Natalie Donaldson's specific question.

Will got the chance to ask the VA secretary Natalie Donaldson's specific question.

As of this recording, the bailout plan, VASP, has just started to be rolled out. Today's episode was produced by James Sneed. It was edited by Meg Kramer and fact-checked by Dania Suleiman. Engineering by Sina Lafredo. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer. And a very, very special thanks this week to Robert Benincasa and Bob Little. I'm Kenny Malone. This is NPR.

As of this recording, the bailout plan, VASP, has just started to be rolled out. Today's episode was produced by James Sneed. It was edited by Meg Kramer and fact-checked by Dania Suleiman. Engineering by Sina Lafredo. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer. And a very, very special thanks this week to Robert Benincasa and Bob Little. I'm Kenny Malone. This is NPR.

As of this recording, the bailout plan, VASP, has just started to be rolled out. Today's episode was produced by James Sneed. It was edited by Meg Kramer and fact-checked by Dania Suleiman. Engineering by Sina Lafredo. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer. And a very, very special thanks this week to Robert Benincasa and Bob Little. I'm Kenny Malone. This is NPR.

Thanks for listening.