NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-28-2024 3PM EDT

Episode Date: October 28, 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. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Republicans in Virginia are asking the Supreme Court to remove 1,600 people from the state's voter rolls. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports the appeal follows two lower court decisions that found the state was illegally purging

voters from the rolls during the 90-day period prior to the election. Virginia's Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order on the 90th day prior to the election. It permitted systematic voting roll purges to continue in order to prevent non-citizens from voting, he said. The Justice Department and voting rights groups challenged the move, and two lower courts ruled in their favor, blocking Youngkin's purge order. Both courts said the order is illegal under a federal law that bars such systematic purges

in the 90 days leading up to an election. Now, with just eight days before the election, Virginia is asking the Supreme Court to allow the voter purges to continue. The case is the first of what are likely to be multiple election appeals that will come before the Supreme Court in the coming days and even weeks. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington. NATO has confirmed that North Korea has sent troops to assist Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. The alliance is demanding the two countries end this cooperation,

which is seen as a major escalation in the conflict. Terry Schultz reports the NATO secretary-general says this development is a threat to global security. NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte spoke after South Korean intelligence officials shared their assessment that thousands of North Korean troops are now on the ground in Russia. The deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is a threat to both the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security.

Lithuania's ambassador to NATO, David Esmatylionis, says allies are discussing their options. About the concrete actions which I needed to deter Russia and North Korea to continue cooperating. South Korea is reportedly considering providing weapons directly to Ukraine for the first time. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Investors will get new information this week about the economy and the job market. NPR's Scott Horsley reports forecasters

think GDP grew at a healthy clip in the third quarter. The Commerce Department reports this week on how much the US economy grew in July, August, and September. We'll also learn how many jobs employers added in October. The monthly jobs report is expected to show some temporary weakness as a result of the Boeing strike and damage from hurricanes in the southeast. Quarter pounders are going back on the menu at hundreds of McDonald's restaurants after a brief suspension of sales due to an E. coli outbreak. Slivered onions on the burgers are the suspected culprit. The fast food chain is set to report quarterly earnings tomorrow. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. This is NPR News.

NPR News, Washington. This is NPR News. Several states are under red flag warnings. The National Weather Service says strong winds, combined with low humidity and dry conditions, are raising the threat of wildfires across Kansas and Oklahoma. Warnings have also been issued for parts of northern Texas and southeast Colorado. Boeing has launched a stock offering aimed at raising up to $19 billion. NPR's Joel Rose reports the plane maker is looking to shore up its balance sheet in the midst of an ongoing strike. Boeing says it will raise billions of dollars by selling stock and other securities.

The company needs the infusion of capital to preserve its investment-grade credit rating. Boeing is bleeding cash as it deals with production problems and a strike by its machinist union that's now in its seventh week. The work stoppage hobbled production at Boeing's airplane factories in the Pacific Northwest, contributing to a $6 billion quarterly loss for the company. The machinist union, which represents 33,000 members, says it's been in contact with the U.S. Department of Labor in an effort to get back to the bargaining table with Boeing. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington. Halloween is just three days away, and many costume trends are stemming from Hollywood

this year. Many trick-or-treaters are opting to dress up as Dr. Doom or Lady Deadpool, but the most searched costumes come from the Beetlejuice sequel. Outside of the movie industry, other popular costumes this year include Chipotle burritos and the ill-famed Olympic breakdancer known as Raygun. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News in Washington.