Friday morning news: October 28, 2022

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kent Covington. 

U.S. GDP » With Election Day less than two weeks away, President Biden is defending his handling of the economy. He told supporters in Syracuse, New York on Thursday that his policies have things heading in the right direction.

BIDEN: Real incomes are up and the price of gas is down. Folks continue to spend.

He also touted a new Commerce Department report showing the U.S. economy grew at a 2.6% annual rate through the last quarter. That was after the economy shrank in back to back quarters.

But economists remain concerned that inflation—and rate hikes designed to combat it—may still lead to a painful recession.

Polls show inflation is top concern » And a new poll reveals that inflation is the top worry on the minds of voters. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN, REPORTER: President Biden has been campaigning hard on abortion access, hoping the reversal of Roe v. Wade will tip undecided voters toward Democrats.

But in a new poll from USA Today and Suffolk University twice as many Americans chose inflation and the economy over abortion as their top issue. Thirty-seven percent said inflation and 18 percent said abortion.

The poll of about a thousand likely voters also gave Republicans a 49 percent–to–45 percent lead over Democrats as Election Day draws near.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Mortgage rates » And speaking of inflation, the cost to take out a mortgage has more than doubled over the past year.

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate this week topped 7% for the first time since April of 2002. 7.08 to be exact.

Last year at this time, rates on a 30-year mortgage averaged just over 3%.

Ukraine » The White House responded Thursday to threats by Russia to target US satellites in retaliation for arming Ukraine. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby:

KIRBY: Any attack on US infrastructure will be met with an appropriate response in an appropriate way.

Kirby also said President Biden has no intention of sitting down with Vladimir Putin at next month’s G-20 summit.

PUTIN: [Russian]

Putin on Thursday deescalated his nuclear rhetoric for the first time since the start of the war. He said he sees “no need” to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

PUTIN: [Russian]

He also painted Russia as the victim, claiming his country is defending its right to exist against Western aggression.

Meantime in southern Ukraine, Kyiv’s forces attacked Russia's hold on the city of Kherson on Thursday while fighting intensified in the country's east.

The battles came amid reports that Moscow-appointed authorities have abandoned the city, fleeing to other Russia-held areas.

Uvalde » The Texas state police chief faced a room full of angry families in Austin on Thursday. Parents of children killed in the Uvalde school shooting were allowed to attend a meeting of the Law Enforcement Commission.

In a heated moment, one parent told Dept. of Public Safety chief, Steve McCraw…

PARENT: If you were a man of your word then you would retire. But unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like you’re going to do that because you keep talking in circles and do all that mess. And listen, you can get irritated all you want. I lost my son.

McCraw previously told CNN that if DPS failed the families or community of Uvalde, then he should resign. On Thursday, he said he was not going back on his word.

MCCRAW: DPS as an institution, right now, did not fail the community, plain and simple.

McCraw said the findings of an investigation into the hesitant police response would be turned over to prosecutors within two months.

More than 400 officers waited well over an hour before confronting a gunman at Robb Elementary School in May.

State Dept. funds drag shows in Ecuador » Republican lawmakers are demanding answers about the Biden administration using U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund LGBT drag performances in Ecuador. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER, REPORTER: The State Department approved a $20,000 grant to a cultural center in Ecuador. The grant pays for several workshops and 13 drag performances.

The top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Michael McCaul, and other Republicans say the grant raises serious questions.

Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs said, “This initiative does not enhance national security … or support U.S. foreign policy."

The State Department responded, saying, “The program will advance key U.S. values of diversity and the inclusion of LGBTQI+ communities.”

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

I’m Kent Covington. For more news, features, and analysis, visit wng.org. 

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