NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-26-2024 11AM EDT

Episode Date: October 26, 2024

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From poll numbers to talking points to all the drama, we get it. Election season can be a lot. That's why here at NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast, we're in the business of providing a little release from the squeeze of the political season. Try out any of our shows on the latest in TV, movies, and music to keep you grounded and bring you back to Earth. New episodes every week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, only from NPR. Liveor Rahm Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Noor Rahm. Israel carried out airstrikes against Iran overnight, targeting Iran's air defenses and the storage and production sites of ballistic missiles and drones.

NPR's Daniel Estrin reports from Tel Aviv, this was after Iran had conducted missile strikes against Israel earlier this month. Israel's response was designed as a kind of a quid pro quo after Iran carried out its missile strikes on Israel on October 1st and also designed in a way that Iran would be able to contain any reaction. Israel says that its retaliation against Iran is now over, and Iran indeed is signaling that it's downplaying this. NPR's Daniel Estrin. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Iran not to respond. Villamarks

has more. At a press conference in Samoa at the end of a Commonwealth heads of state meeting, Starmer echoed his previous stance, saying he'd been, quote, clear that Israel has the rights to defend itself against Iranian aggression. But he insisted the warring parties needed to quote, avoid further regional escalation and he said he urged all sides to show restraint. He said Britain would work with his allies to help with that de-escalation and said that Iran should not retaliate to these latest strikes. Early UK analysis

indicated that Israel had heeded advice from the British and United States to avoid targeting energy nuclear or leadership sites in Iran. For NPR News, I'm Villamarks in London. With ten days until Election Day in the US, both major presidential candidates are in Michigan, where early voting is now underway statewide. It began in Detroit last week. Democrat Kamala Harris is campaigning in Kalamazoo, joined by former First Lady Michelle Obama. Republican Donald Trump is holding a rally in suburban Detroit. The candidates will move next to Pennsylvania, where there are 19 electoral votes at stake. Across the country, it's estimated that more than 38 million people have already cast ballots

either in person or by mail. U.S. officials say Russia manufactured a fake video that purports to show someone destroying ballots marked for Trump in Pennsylvania. NPR's Shannon Bond reports Russian propagandists have made other phony videos targeting the Democratic ticket. Federal intelligence officials and the FBI say Russia is behind the video, which is spread widely on social media, including Elon Musk's ex. The video was quickly debunked by local election officials and the district attorney's office in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

They say the envelopes and ballots shown are not what the county uses to vote. Federal officials say the fake video is part of Russia's efforts to undermine confidence in the integrity of the election and stoke division among Americans. The video was posted by an ex-account that previously shared another video making false accusations against Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz. Intelligence officials have said that was also a Russian fake. Shannon Bond, NPR News. This is NPR News.

In the northeastern Philippines, rescue crews are scrambling to reach thousands of people stranded after a tropical storm swept the region yesterday. Officials say at least 65 people are confirmed dead in landslides and flooding. Although the storm moved away yesterday, state weather forecasters say it could make a U-turn and come back next week. A retrial began this week for former Louisville police officer Brett Hankinson over his role in the police raid that killed 26-year-old Breonna Taylor in her apartment in March 2020. Louisville Public Media's Giselle Rodin has more.

Federal prosecutors allege Hankinson blindly fired 10 shots through a covered window and a sliding glass door from outside Taylor's apartment Prosecutors argued Hankinson's actions are against police protocol and endangered people around him Hankinson shots didn't strike Taylor But they went into a neighboring apartment where a pregnant woman her boyfriend and her five-year-old son were sleeping her boyfriend and her five-year-old son were sleeping. Hankinson was charged with two felony counts of violating the civil rights of Taylor, her boyfriend and the neighboring family. The trial is expected to continue through Tuesday.

Last year, a judge declared a mistrial after the jury couldn't reach a unanimous decision. If convicted this time, Hankinson could face a maximum of life in prison. For NPR News, I'm Gisele Rodin in Louisville. In the opening game of the World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees 6-3 in Los Angeles last night. It ended with the first game-ending grand slam in World Series history by Freddie Freeman

in the 10th inning. I'm Nora Rahm. NPR News in Washington.