Thursday morning news: October 31, 2024

Presidential campaigns » Vice President Kamala Harris is working to distance herself from remarks this week by President Biden after he called Trump supporters “garbage.”

Harris told reporters Wednesday:

HARRIS: First of all, he clarified his comments, but let me be clear. I strongly disagree with any criticism of people based on who they vote for.

Biden had remarked, "The only garbage I see floating out there is his supporters," referring to backers of Donald Trump.

The White House quickly backtracked. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre:

PIERRE:  No, he does not view Trump supporters or anybody who, who supports Trump as garbage. That is not what he views. He has said multiple times that he is a president for all.

The back and forth started when comedian Tony Hinchcliffe appeared at Donald Trump’s weekend event at Madison Square Garden. Hinchcliffe, who is well known for participating in uncensored roasts and taking crude indiscriminate jabs, made a joke referring to Puerto Rico as a "floating island of garbage."

The Harris campaign seized on that moment, suggesting it reflects Trump’s viewpoint.

But Trump now is returning fire in the wake of Biden’s comments.

TRUMP:  Joe Biden finally said what he and Kamala really think of our supporters. He called them garbage. And they mean it, even though without question, my supporters are far higher quality than crooked Joe or lyin’ Kamala.

Former President Trump also having some fun with the controversy. He spoke to reporters before a Green Bay rally from the passenger seat of a garbage truck adorned with his campaign logo.

SCOTUS Virginia voting » The Supreme Court is allowing Virginia to resume its removal of noncitizens from the state’s voter registration rolls. That after Republican Gov. Glen Youngkin’s administration fought the matter all the way to the nation’s highest court.

YOUNGKIN: This is a victory for common sense and it's a victory for the constitution. And I also believe it's real clarity that in fact, someone who self identifies as a non citizen should in Virginia be, be treated by the law.

The Biden administration had sued to block Virigia’s efforts to halt immigrants from voting illegally. The Justice Dept. said the effort violated federal election law barring systematic purging of voter rolls within 90 days of an election.

The justices acted on the state’s emergency appeal after a federal judge ruled that the state did not have legal authority to remove 1,600 people from voter registrations in the past two months. A federal appeals court had previously allowed the judge’s order.

Colorado election leak » Colorado’s Republican party has blown the whistle on state officials, accusing the government of accidentally leaking hundreds of passwords securing election equipment.

Secretary of state Jena Griswold confirmed the leak to reporters, but downplayed it.

GRISWOLD: Colorado's elections have multiple layers of security…there are two unique passwords held by two different parties in two different locations to access any of the voting equipment. On top of that, you need physical access…

Griswold says the passwords were listed under a hidden tab on a spreadsheet that was posted on the department’s website.

The sheet was online for months before officials realized that once users downloaded the file, the feature hiding the passwords could be disabled.

North Korean troops in Russia » The Pentagon says Ukraine is free to use American weapons to fire on any North Korean troops who fight alongside the Russians and attack Ukrainian forces. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters:

AUSTIN: Ukrainian soldiers have the right to defend themselves. And they will do that, um, with the weapons that we provided and others have provided.

Kim Jong Un has sent about 10,000 soldiers to train in Russia, and they’re expected to start fighting against Ukrainian forces in the next several weeks.

Israel » Biden administration officials are on-the-ground in Tel Aviv today. Their mission: to try to broker a truce between Israel and the Lebanon-based terror group Hezbollah.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller:

MILLER: Two White House officials, Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein are traveling to Israel to engage on issues, including a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon, as well as how we get to an end to the conflict in Gaza and other regional matters.

Miller says that will involve the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, something that hasn't been enforced in years. That resolution requires the disarmament of all groups inside Lebanon, including Hezbollah, that are not a part of the Lebanese government.

The Biden administration has its work cut out for it though.

QASSEM - [In Arabic]

Hezbollah’s newly appointed leader, Naim Qassem, says the group plans to continue on its path toward war with Israel.

Spain floods » Authorities say catastrophic flash floods in and around Valencia, Spain turned village streets into rivers and are now blamed for nearly a hundred deaths. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin reports.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: Floods of muddy water swept cars down streets and left piles of mangled debris behind.

Police and rescue services used helicopters to airlift people from their homes and boats to rescue drivers stranded atop their cars.

SANCHEZ: [In Spanish]

In a televised address, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said, to all those who “continue to search for their loved ones... All of Spain cries with all of you.”

SANCHEZ: [In Spanish]

As of last night, at least 95 people were confirmed to have died in the flooding.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Hurricane Helene left a path of destruction that’s being felt across the country. Plus, what are social media companies doing this election cycle to combat disinformation, and is it a good thing?

This is The World and Everything in It.

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