NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-27-2024 11PM EDT

Episode Date: October 28, 2024

NPR News: 10-27-2024 11PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This message comes from Indiana University. Indiana University is committed to moving the world forward, working to tackle some of society's biggest challenges, nine campuses, one purpose, creating tomorrow today. More at iu.edu. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Vice President Kamala Harris was in Philadelphia today where she made several stops, including a rally at a community center in North Philly

where she got the crowd cheering as she encouraged them to vote. Philly, I've got a question for you. Are you ready to do this? Yes! Are we going to do this? Yes! Are we ready to vote? Yes! Are we ready to win? Yes! Harris also said this election is too important for people to sit on the sidelines. Democrats will need a strong turnout in Philadelphia to offset Republican presidential candidate

Donald Trump's advantage in the state's rural areas. Trump, meanwhile, held a rally today at Madison Square Garden in New York City. He said that when elected, he'll launch on his first day in office the biggest deportation program in American history. Before he spoke, allies got the crowd fired up by calling Democratic presidential candidate Harris the Antichrist. Former President Trump is promising to cut taxes on tips over time and even social security benefits and this weekend Trump floated the idea of cutting all federal income taxes.

His running mate, though, isn't so sure. MPR's Luke Garrett explains. On Sunday, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance called the elimination of federal taxes, quote, aspirational. During an interview with NBC's Christian Welker, Vance argued tariffs on foreign countries could fund the federal government instead of taxing citizens. When pressed on whether he thinks ending income taxes is possible, Vance relented. Is it on the table with the Democratic Congress that we have?

I don't think that's realistic, Kristen. But we propose it. But I do think it's good to set an aspiration of what you want the country to look like. So you don't rule it out. And right now we're working on cutting taxes on tips, cutting taxes on overtime. Tax experts say these cuts would severely increase the country's national debt. Vice President Harris also supports eliminating taxes on tips. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington. The disputed results of Saturday's parliamentary elections in Georgia are

dividing European Union leaders. Terry Schultz reports that some EU lawmakers are demanding the bloc withhold recognition of the outcome, which gave 55% of the vote to the ruling anti-EU party known as Georgian Dream. Under the Georgian Dream government, the country has turned away from the EU and toward Russia to the extent that Georgia's candidacy for EU membership was suspended earlier this year. Election observers cite illegalities including vote buying, double voting, physical violence and intimidation.

Lawmakers from several EU countries insist in a joint letter on withholding international recognition for Georgian Dream, demanding an external investigation. But EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell issued a statement calling for reform with no mention of possible non-recognition. And the man who's currently the rotating president of the European Council, Hungary's pro-Moscow Viktor Orbán, has issued congratulations and is on his way to Georgia. For NPR News, I'm Terri Schulz in Brussels. And you're listening to NPR News. World leaders met recently to discuss saving the planet's biodiversity. Extinctions are happening

at a rapid pace, especially in Hawaii, as NPR's Lauren Sommer reports. Hawaii has more threatened animals than any other state. Many found nowhere else on Earth. But soon one of those species will be taking a small step in recovery. It's a kahuli, a Hawaiian tree snail. The tiny snails look like jewels, and there were once more than 700 species. Half of them are now extinct, largely because of invasive animals. Many have been brought into captivity for safekeeping. Now biologists with Hawaii's Department of Land and Natural Resources are poised to release one species in the mountains of Oahu next month.

It'll be a walled enclosure to keep invasive species out to give the snail the best chance of survival. Lauren Summer, NPR News. McDonald's officials say testing has ruled out beef patties as the source of an E. coli outbreak that's been linked to its quarter pounders. At least 75 people in 13 states have been sickened by the outbreak and one person in Colorado has died. The Food and Drug Administration says onions from a single supplier are the likely cause.

The University of Miami has broken into the top five of the AP College football rankings this week for the first time since 2017. Following their win on Saturday over rival Florida State, that win moves their record to 8-0. The rest of the top five remains the same, with Oregon in the number one slot, followed by Georgia, Penn State, and The Ohio State University. Texas is in sixth place followed by Tennessee, Notre Dame, BYU and Texas A&M. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News. This message comes from Grammarly. The work we can be fast-paced and it's hard

to focus on getting everything done. 93% of professionals report that Grammarly helps them get more work done. Download Grammarly for free at Grammarly.com slash podcast.