• Tip News
  • Posts
  • Vance, Walz Play Nice In VP Debate

Vance, Walz Play Nice In VP Debate

Your unbiased daily news brief

Author

James Kratch
October 02, 2024

Good Wednesday morning. The map of Europe has been redrawn a bit. Melting glaciers in the Alps have shifted the natural boundaries between Italy and Switzerland, leading the countries to formally adjust their shared border. Have a great day!

In Today’s Brief

  • Helene: Staggering numbers

  • NATO: New leader

  • Texas: Senate shift

  • CVS: Cost cutting

  • John Amos: Dies at 84

... and more

First time reading? Sign up here

Top Tips

1) Change of pace

Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz delivered a substantive and civil vice-presidential debate.

  • What happened: The event was nothing like the tumultuous presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Their running mates engaged in almost two hours of calm discussion and discourse, digging deep into policy issues without launching personal attacks. The men shook hands at the end, sharing a moment with their wives.

  • The analysis: Vance controlled the debate early on and was steady throughout, landing more punches than Walz in a stronger performance. Walz had uneven moments but appeared to grow more comfortable as the debate progressed. His best moments came in the second half of the event, but he often failed to hit Vance or his past comments in exchanges.

  • The highlights: Walz became flustered when pressed about his untrue claims about being in Hong Kong during the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. But he scored points on Vance when debating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot; Vance refused to say if Trump lost the 2020 election. Vance said he would support and pray for Walz if Harris wins the race. The candidates also debated abortion rights, illegal immigration, the Middle East, the economy and more.

2) Another escalation

Israel vowed retaliation after a ballistic missile attack by Iran.

  • The news: At least 220 missiles were launched at Israel in response to the Israeli military's campaign against Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based terrorist group and Iranian proxy militia. Israel has assassinated a slew of top Hezbollah officials, including longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah, while conducting limited ground operations over its northern border and carrying out a daring series of electronic device strikes.

  • Damage contained: Israel and the U.S. had advanced warning of the attack. Many of the Iranian missiles were intercepted -- as was the case when Iran's first direct attack on Israel flopped earlier this year -- but some did hit infrastructure. Only one death -- a Palestinian civilian in the West Bank -- had been reported as of last night.

  • The reaction: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran "will pay" for the attack. Iran threatened a "subsequent and crushing response" if Israel retaliates. Israel carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut after the attack was rebuffed. President Joe Biden said he supports Israel while his administration continues to work to avoid an all-out war in the Middle East.

  • Also happening: At least seven people were killed and eight injured in a reported terrorist shooting and stabbing attack in Tel Aviv. It was not clear if that incident was connected to the Iranian attack or the incursion into Lebanon.

3) Historic probe

The Department of Justice will investigate one of the most infamous events in American history.

  • The news: DOJ has launched the first-ever probe into the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. A commission, historians, lawyers and others have previously investigated the act of mass racial violence, but federal prosecutors have never addressed it.

  • Look back: A white mob attacked Greenwood, a Black economic hub in the Oklahoma city, over 100 years ago. The riot was sparked by unsubstantiated rumors that a Black teen assaulted a white woman. Almost 300 Black people were killedwhile "Black Wall Street" was torched. No one was ever charged and city officials obstructed the rebuilding process. 

  • Big picture: DOJ will review the incident under a federal law covering civil rights crimes that resulted in death before 1980. There is no expectation of identifying living perpetrators, but it could lead to federal acknowledgment and potential compensation. Three living survivors had a reparations lawsuit tossed by an Oklahoma judge earlier this year.

Quick Tips

U.S. News

  • Hurricane Helene has killed at least 160 people across six states with hundreds still missing. The storm dropped 40T gallons of rain and was second-deadliest hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland in 50 years, trailing only Hurricane Katrina (More | More)

  • The union boss representing striking dockworkers said he is "not playing games" and that ports will remain closed until the International Longshoremen's Association's demands are met. President Biden reiterated he will not intervene in the work stoppage despite pressure from Republicans (More | More)

  • A Virginia teacher fired for refusing to use a transgender student's preferred pronouns won a six-figure settlement. A conservative Christian legal group representing Peter Vlaming said West Point High School's board paid out $575K (More)

World News

  • Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte took over as NATO's new Secretary General. He pledged continued support for Ukraine and said he can work with former President Trump if he is re-elected; Claudia Sheinbaum was also sworn in as Mexico's first female president yesterday (More | More)

  • Germany arrested a Chinese national on espionage charges. Prosecutors alleged the woman worked for an airport logistics company and provided information on military equipment transports to a far-right political staffer who was also allegedly spying for China (More)

  • An ex-human rights attorney pleaded guilty to fraudulent claims against British Iraq War veterans. Phil Shiner was previously disbarred for pursuing false torture and murder allegations in legal claims; he will be sentenced in December (More)

Campaign News

  • Cook Political Report now rates the Texas senate race to "lean Republican." The move comes amid growing buzz that Rep. Colin Allred is threatening to upset incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz, a result that would give Democrats a better chance to hold the upper chamber (More)

  • Former President Trump has maintained polling leads in North Carolina despite the scandal engulfing Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the state's GOP gubernatorial candidate. Trump led Vice President Harris by 1-2 points in four surveys released yesterday; Robinson has trailed Attorney General Josh Stein by double-digits in all recent polls (More)

  • GOP-aligned groups have already filed close to 100 lawsuits challenging various state voting laws, according to various reports. Democratic groups are also involved in litigation nationwide; the lawsuits are unlikely to impact November's election but could set the stage for challenges to the results (More)

Business & Markets

  • Major indexes closed down yesterday to start the month. The Nasdaq tumbled well over 1% as the Middle East conflicts impacted trading (Dow -0.41%, Nasdaq -1.53%, S&P 500 -0.93%).

  • CVS Health will lay off about 3K workers in a cost-cutting move. The workforce reduction will not impact workers at the pharmacy chain's distribution centers and stores; the company may also sell off some of its verticals, including insurer Aetna (More | More)

  • Audacy has completed its financial restructuring, reducing its debt by 80% from $1.9B to $350M. The Philadelphia-based radio network is expected to become a private company following an FCC sign-off; a group backed by billionaire Democratic donor George Soros now effectively controls the company (More)

Entertainment & Sports

  • Actor John Amos died at 84. The Good Times star passed away in August, but his family announced the news yesterday; he received an Emmy Award nomination for his work on Roots and also had roles on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The West Wing and in Coming to America (More)

  • Sean "Diddy" Combs will face dozens of new sexual assault allegations, according to a Texas-based attorney. Tony Buzbee said he will file lawsuits on behalf of 120 accusers; the hip-hop mogul was indicted on federal sex trafficking charges and is being held without bail (More)

  • Gonzaga will join the Pac-12 Conference in 2026. The men's basketball powerhouse has made the Sweet 16 nine straight times, but does not have a football team; the league still needs to find more gridiron members to keep its NCAA sanction (More)

Quick Hitters

  • Feel Good: A South Carolina man drove seven hours through Hurricane Helene's wreckage, only to be stopped at the Tennessee border and told he could go no further -- a problem since his daughter was getting married. So the former marathoner made a treacherous 30-mile walk to ensure he was there for the big day.

  • Helping Hand: Virginia has installed special viewfinders for colorblind people in its state parks. The lenses allow users to enjoy the full spectrum of fall foliage and other natural beauty.

  • New Idea: Rare metals are critical to modern life in many ways. Extinct volcanoes may be an untapped energy source for current and future technologies.

  • That Stinks: An American Airlines flight from Dallas to Seoul abruptly turned around over the Pacific Ocean due to bathroom malfunctions. That's a nine-hour trip to nowhere, but who's counting?

  • Life Hack: It's always possible to make positive changes. Here are 31 ways to get your life in order -- or at least make it a bit better.

A look back at Disney’s failed plan to build an American history theme park near Washington D.C.

Looking Ahead …

Microsoft recently signed a 20-year deal to buy energy from a revived reactor at the infamous Three Mile Island facility in Pennsylvania. Here is a look at what is needed to safely reopen the site of the worst-ever nuclear accident on U.S. soil.

Question of the Day

Who won the VP debate?

Let us know!

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Yesterday’s results:

Trivia: Who was the last GOP presidential candidate to be endorsed by The New York Times?

The Old Gray Lady endorsed President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956.