NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-31-2024 3AM EDT

Episode Date: October 31, 2024

NPR News: 10-31-2024 3AM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Shae Stevens. Support for this podcast and the following message come from Autograph Collection Hotels, with over 300 independent hotels around the world, each exactly like nothing else. Autograph Collection is part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio of hotel brands. Find the unforgettable at autographcollection.com. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Virginia's Republican governor is welcoming the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to allow his state to keep 1,600 people off voter rolls less than one week from Election Day.

VPM News' Jad Khalil reports from Petersburg. Jad Khalil, VPM News Anchor Wednesday's ruling stemmed from a challenge to an order by Governor Glenn Youngkin that removed voters who said they were not a citizen at the DMV. Even though there's been cases of citizens being taken off the rolls, Youngkin didn't answer a question about whether he was concerned about inconveniencing them. There may have been someone who was on the voter rolls who came off, but the reality is that they came off because they failed to identify themselves as a citizen. J.D. Noncitizens vote in very small numbers, but it's been a centerpiece of Republican

messaging in the election. Virginia voters who are mistakenly taken off need to re-register and cast a provisional ballot. They can no longer vote by mail. For NPR News, I'm J.D. Khalil in Petersburg, Virginia. J.D. House Speaker Mike Johnson is campaigning in dozens of swing districts across the country to try to boost the GOP's prospects of keeping the House majority. NPR's Digir Walsh reports that Johnson's future is linked to the outcome. Speaker Johnson has held the gavel for about a year and out on the campaign trail he talks about plans for another term. When we take control again and we have unified government, when we have the White House, the Senate and the House, we're going to have the most aggressive first 100 days agenda

that Congress has ever seen. Johnson is touting his ties to GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump. He says border security is his top priority. Then Republicans will focus on extending Trump's tax cuts, passing legislation on energy and regulatory changes. Deirdre Walsh, NPR News. Johnson says returning Trump to the White House would clear the way for Republicans to overhaul Obamacare, the federal health insurance program that's used by almost 50

million Americans. Both major presidential hopefuls are promising a rosier economy if elected, but their ideas are vastly different. Vice President Harris is calling for expanded child tax credits and tax breaks for the poor and middle class, while former President Trump wants to lower corporate taxes and increase military spending. Economist Sung Hwan Sohn of Loyola Marymount University says that both plans would increase the deficit. Sung Hwan Sohn, Vice President Harris, Loyola Marymount University, both candidates have

good programs, and Vice President Harris, she has a number of programs which will increase deficits but at the same time will increase revenues on balance increasing deficits slightly. Whereas when you talk about former president's proposals, deficits are going to be, you know, somewhat higher than what Vice President Harris proposes. Zone says economic conditions are good on the surface, but that underlying issues, including persistent inflation and rising credit card debt, should be monitored. This is NPR.

Medical professionals in Antigua and Barbuda are challenging an abortion law that dates back to British colonial rule. The law forbids abortion on the island unless the pregnancy could result in the woman's death. A woman who ends her pregnancy for other reasons could face up to 10 years in prison. A top local court has denied the government's motion to dismiss the case. A ruling is expected in early December. Jaywalking is no longer a crime in New York City. Until last weekend, police could stop and ticket violators who faced penalties of up to $250. Councilwoman Mercedes Narcisse says New York's Jaywalking law was outdated, unnecessary,

and disproportionately used against pedestrians of color. The Los Angeles Dodgers have won the World Series. The Dodgers beat the New York Yankees four games to one, as NPR's Becky Sullivan reports. The two teams were each the top in their league and stacked with star power, and a World Series between them had promised to be a thrill. It opened with a spectacular finish to Game 1 when Dodger first baseman Freddie Freeman hit a 10th inning grand slam to walk off the Yankees 6-3. LA took the next two games to take a three game lead. The Yankees managed to win game four and

looked for a moment like they might do it again in game five. They took a five run lead on homers from Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm, but in a nightmare fifth inning Yankee after Yankee committed error after error and the Dodgers took advantage to tie the game and ultimately to win it. And with it the series, the eighth title in Dodger history. Becky Sullivan, NPR News. U.S. fooders are lower and after hours trading on Wall Street shares are also lower on Asia-Pacific markets. This is NPR News. Who's claiming power this election? What's happening in battleground states? And why do we still have the electoral college? All this month, the Throughline Podcast

is asking big questions about our democracy and going back in time to answer them. Listen now to the Throughline Podcast from NPR.