NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-03-2024 11PM EST

Episode Date: November 4, 2024

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Support for this podcast and the following message come from the NPR Wine Club, which has generated over $1.75 million to support NPR programming. Whether buying a few bottles or joining the club, you can learn more at nprwineclub.org slash podcast. Must be 21 or older to purchase. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. With less than two days left before the presidential election, both major candidates hit swing states today. Vice President Kamala Harris offered a positive closing message while campaigning in Michigan. Speaking to a crowd on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing, she did not mention Republican Donald Trump by name.

NPR's Deepa Sivaram reports. Harris spoke directly to students in the crowd, telling them not just to vote, but to knock on doors and send out texts during these last two days of her campaign. She also spoke directly to the issue of Israel's war in Gaza and Lebanon, an issue that's been a major focus in Michigan. This year has been difficult, given the scale of death and destruction in Gaza and given the civilian casualties and displacement in Lebanon. It is devastating.

Harris said that she would do everything she can as president to end the war in Gaza while also ensuring Israel's security. Harris next heads to Pennsylvania on Monday for a slew of rallies across the state. Deepa Sivaram, NPR News, Detroit. At a Pennsylvania rally today, Donald Trump yet again promoted the baseless idea that election cheating and fraud are widespread, and that raises the question of how he and his supporters might react if he loses. MPR's Danielle Kurtzleben has more. As he has at other rallies, Trump continued to sow doubt about Pennsylvania's voting system.

There's only one reason you don't want voter ID. There's only one reason, don't want voter ID. There's only one reason, and that's to cheat. There is no other reason. There's no other reason. And they do cheat. Again, there is no evidence of this. Opponents of voter ID laws argue

that they cause voter suppression, particularly in marginalized communities. Trump also suggested that he didn't have to leave the presidency after losing in 2020. Speaking of a rise in border crossings under Biden, Trump said, quote, I shouldn't have left. Danielle Kurtzleim in NPR News, Lyditz, Pennsylvania. Trump also indicated that he wouldn't mind so much if reporters happened to get shot at one of his rallies. In Gaza City, several Palestinians, including children, have reportedly been wounded near a clinic that was giving polio vaccinations. NPR's Scott Newman reports from Tel Aviv.

The World Health Organization says the attack took place near the Sheikh Radwan Primary Health Center in northern Gaza, in an area where Israel and Hamas had earlier agreed to a humanitarian pause in the fighting. The UN organization says the strike happened as parents were bringing their children for polio vaccinations. The organization expressed concern that such attacks could deter future vaccination campaigns. The Israeli military says an initial review indicates it was not conducting operations in the area at the time. The attack comes in a weekend that UNICEF says was an especially deadly one for northern Gaza with more than 50 children killed there. Scott Newman, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

And you're listening to NPR News. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has declared a state of emergency for six counties that were affected by a number of tornadoes early this morning. At least 11 people were taken to hospitals for treatment of injuries and some 24,000 customers were without electricity this afternoon. And Stitt says things could be getting worse for the region. We've got more storms coming so don't rely on the sirens. Make sure you're watching your news and your cell phones taking cover when you can.

About 100 structures were destroyed by the storm and most of the state was under tornado watches for much of the day today. It was a close finish at today's New York City Marathon. That race is billed as the world's biggest such event. And today was the 53rd annual event. NPR's Amy Held has more. Somali Dutch runner Abde Nagai won with a time of 2 hours 7 minutes 39 seconds. Arms raised as he broke the tape in Central Park. And on the women's side, Sheila ChepkaruiRui of Kenya came first at 2 hours, 24 minutes, 35 seconds.

And she does come through. Powering past defending champion, Helen O'Berry. But for those who are not elite competitors and who finish several hours later, simply making it there can feel like a win. Just 4% of the 165,000 hopefuls who applied to a general lottery in March were chosen. The race began in 1970 with just a few dozen runners. Today, it surged past 50,000. Amy Held, NPR News.

And I'm Dale Willman. You're listening to NPR News. This message comes from Indiana University. Indiana University performs breakthrough research every year, making discoveries that improve human health, combat climate change, and move society forward. More at iu.edu slash forward.