Harris to travel to Georgia on Wednesday
Kamala Harris will travel to Georgia to survey the impacts of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, her office announced.
Harris will receive an on-the-ground briefing and will also provide updates on federal actions that are being taken to support emergency response and recovery efforts in Georgia and other impacted states in the southeast.
As of Monday, at least 15 people in Georgia have been killed by Hurricane Helene, including a first responder, according to local outlets.
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris attends a briefing about the impacts of Hurricane Helene and updates on the federal response, at Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters in Washington, DC, on September 30, 2024. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
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Here are some of the latest images coming through the newswires of Hurricane Helene:
Aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina
A drone view shows a damaged area following the passing of Hurricane Helene, in Lake Lure, North Carolina, U.S., October 1, 2024. Photograph: Marco Bello/ReutersVehicles and debris that were caught in a flash flood from Hurricane Helene rest on the side of tae road near the Swannanoa River, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Swannanoa, N.C. Photograph: Mike Stewart/APAndy Brown takes a break on top of what remains of a tree that destroyed his SUV when it fell during Hurricane Helene on in Augusta, Ga., on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 Photograph: Jeffrey Collins/APA search and rescue dog and handler searches for victims in deep mud in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in Swannanoa, N.C. Photograph: Mike Stewart/APSeveral incense sticks poke out of a bowl outside of Dancing Moon Earthway Bookstore for passersby to use after Tropical Storm Helene passed, along King Street in downtown Boone, N.C., on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. Photograph: Makiya Seminera/APA view of the damaged area at Asheville along with the western part of North-Carolina is devastated by the heavy rains and flooding after Hurricane Helene in Asheville, United States on September 30, 2024 Photograph: Anadolu/Getty ImagesAngel Sanchez (L) and Miguel Garcia (R) cut up a downed pine tree which damaged a home after Hurricane Helene swept through Valdosta, Georgia, USA, 30 September 2024. Photograph: Erik S Lesser/EPAShare
Biden on USMX and ILA negotiations: ‘Now is not the time for ocean carriers to refuse to negotiate a fair wage’
Here is Joe Biden’s statement on the negotiations between United States Maritime Alliance and the International Longshoremen’s Association:
“Collective bargaining is the best way for workers to get the pay and benefits they deserve. I have urged USMX, which represents a group of foreign-owned carriers, to come to the table and present a fair offer to the workers of the International Longshoremen’s Association that ensures they are paid appropriately in line with their invaluable contributions.
Ocean carriers have made record profits since the pandemic and in some cases profits grew in excess of 800 percent compared to their profits prior to the pandemic. Executive compensation has grown in line with those profits and profits have been returned to shareholders at record rates. It’s only fair that workers, who put themselves at risk during the pandemic to keep ports open, see a meaningful increase in their wages as well.
As our nation climbs out of the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, dockworkers will play an essential role in getting communities the resources they need. Now is not the time for ocean carriers to refuse to negotiate a fair wage for these essential workers while raking in record profits. My administration will be monitoring for any price gouging activity that benefits foreign ocean carriers, including those on the USMX board.”
A view of the cranes at the Port of Miami on the first day of the East and Gulf Coast cargo facilities dockworkers strike in Miami, Florida, USA, 01 October 2024. Photograph: Cristóbal Herrera/EPAShare
Updated at 15.38 EDT
The federal government has delivered more than 2.6 million ready-to-eat meals and more than 1 million liters of water, homeland security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said.
“At its peak, there were 5.1 million customers without power … we’ve reduced that number of customers without power by 3.8 million people,” he added.
In response to a question about communities on the ground that have been badly affected by Hurricane Helene and feel that the government is not doing enough, Mayorkas said: “We are there, and we will continue to be there, and we will reach the most difficult to access locations. We are relentless in our efforts to ensure the safety and security of all.”
More than 100 people have been killed by Hurricane Helene across multiple states in recent days.
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Updated at 15.19 EDT
Homeland security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is giving an update on Hurricane Helene.
During the White House press briefing, Mayorkas said, “Hurricane Helene is of a historic magnitude, this many states hit this hard, the wind field of the hurricane stretched 350 miles from its center.”
He added, “We are in different phases of a post hurricane environment, depending on the state and the location within the state. In some areas, we are still in search and recovery, search and rescue operations. And others, we are in the response and recovery phase.”
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency has made federal assistance available to Georgia residents in 30 additional counties to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene.
In a news release issued on Tuesday, Fema said:
Individuals in Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Colquitt, Cook, Echols, Emanuel, Evans, Glascock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Lincoln, McDuffie, Montgomery, Screven, Telfair, Treutlen, Ware, Washington and Wheeler counties may be eligible for grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help them recover from the effects of the disaster.
According to Fema, in addition to housing expenses, survivors may be eligible for other serious disaster-related needs such as replacement of damaged personal property and expenses for transportation, childcare, moving and storage.
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Updated at 14.51 EDT
Republicans in Nevada are dismissing an effigy of a nude Donald Trump as “deplorable”.
The Guardian’s Edward Helmore reports:
A 43ft (13 meters) effigy of an entirely nude Donald Trump on the interstate from Las Vegas to Reno, Nevada, has been dismissed as “deplorable” and “pornographic” by Republicans in the state.
In a statement, the Nevada Republican party said it “strongly condemns” the effigy of the former president, which hangs from a crane, weighs 6,000lbs, is made from foam and rebar, is titled Crooked and Obscene and is expected to be brought to other cities as part of a nationwide tour.
“While families drive through Las Vegas, they are forced to view this offensive marionette, designed intentionally for shock value rather than meaningful dialogue,” said the party’s statement, invoking the name of a city that was essentially founded to capitalize on gambling and sex.
The artists behind the graphic effigy – who want to remain anonymous – told the Wrap that Trump’s nudity was “intentional, serving as a bold statement on transparency, vulnerability and the public personas of political figures”.
For the full story, clicl here:
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Updated at 14.32 EDT
Harris to travel to Georgia on Wednesday
Kamala Harris will travel to Georgia to survey the impacts of Hurricane Helene on Wednesday, her office announced.
Harris will receive an on-the-ground briefing and will also provide updates on federal actions that are being taken to support emergency response and recovery efforts in Georgia and other impacted states in the southeast.
As of Monday, at least 15 people in Georgia have been killed by Hurricane Helene, including a first responder, according to local outlets.
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris attends a briefing about the impacts of Hurricane Helene and updates on the federal response, at Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters in Washington, DC, on September 30, 2024. Photograph: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
The justice department has launched its first federal investigation of the Tulsa Race Massacre.
On Monday, assistant attorney general Kristen Clarke announced the opening of the investigation under the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act.
Under the act, the federal government is able to investigate civil and violent crimes committed before 1970.
“We acknowledge descendants of the survivors, and the victims continue to bear the trauma of this act of racial terrorism,” Clarke said, the Associated Press reports, referring to the tragedy in 1921 where white supremacists killed around hundreds of residents in Oklahoma while destroying around 1,250 homes and businesses.
The event is largely considered one of the most horrific incidents of racial violence in the history of the US.
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Updated at 13.32 EDT
Joe Biden has urged port operators to increase wages after 45,000 workers went on strike.
The Guardian’s Michael Sainato reports:
Biden has urged port operators to give workers a “meaningful increase” in pay after tens of thousands went on strike, prompting some of the busiest ports in the US to brace for crippling disruption.
About 45,000 port workers represented by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) began walking off the job after their contracts expired at midnight, with 36 ports along the east and Gulf coasts affected. They typically handle about half of the nation’s ocean shipping.
Talks over a new contract between the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have broken down, and the union dismissed a last-ditch offer from operators hours before the strike was due to began.
Hours after the strike began, the White House issued a robust statement calling on USMX to negotiate a “fair” contract that reflects “the substantial contribution” of ports workers to America’s economy.
For more details, click here:
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Biden to travel to North Carolina and South Carolina on Wednesday
The White House said on Tuesday that president Joe Biden will be traveling to North Carolina and South Carolina on Wednesday.
Biden will take an aerial tour of areas impacted by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina, receive operational briefings, and greet with first responders and local officials, the White House said in an announcement.
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Updated at 13.50 EDT
The day so far
Good afternoon US politics readers.
We are hours away from the vice-presidential debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance, which will start at 9pm ET, and will be held in a studio without an audience.
Here’s what else has happened today so far:
Donald Trump said that he will be offering a play-by-play commentary of the vice-presidential debate on social media.
A new poll found that a majority of voters want to hear from Tim Walz and JD Vance on immigration and economy during the debate tonight.
President Joe Biden is continuing to monitor the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Biden said that thousands of federal personnel are being deployed to help support search and rescue missions and remove debris from collapsed buildings.
Biden will be traveling to North Carolina and South Carolina on Wednesday, the White House said. The president will be taking an aerial tour of the areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, receive operational briefings, and meet with first responders and local officials.
The Georgia hand-count trial, regarding a lawsuit filed by Democrats challenging two new rules passed by the Georgia state election board got under way this morning.
Former president Jimmy Carter is celebrating his 100th birthday today.
Donald Trump is campaigning in the battleground state of Wisconsin on Tuesday.
Public health emergencies were declared for South Carolina and Tennessee over hurricane impact.
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The death toll in South Carolina as a result of Hurricane Helene has now risen to 33, according to WCSC, quoting the state’s department of public safety.
Before Tuesday morning, the death toll was at 29.
At least 133 deaths in six states in the south-east of the US have been attributed to Hurricane Helene so far, according to the Associated Press.
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Updated at 12.26 EDT
A new survey from AARP published on Tuesday has vice-president Kamala Harris leading Donald Trump 50% to 47% among likely voters in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.
The survey, conducted between the 14th and 24th of September, also showed a significant gender gap, with Harris ahead by 19 percentage points among female voters and Trump leading by 16 points with male voters.
The survey also found that Trump leads Harris by 8 points with voters 50 years old and older.
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Updated at 12.24 EDT
Majority of voters want to hear Walz and Vance views on immigration and economy – poll
A new CBS/YouGov poll released on Monday ahead of the vice-presidential debate tonight, found that both Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz and Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance are described as “competent” by more than 50% of the registered voters surveyed.
In regards to the debate tonight, 86% of respondents said they wanted to hear from the candidates about the economy, and three-quarters said they wanted to hear the candidates’ views on immigration.
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Updated at 12.25 EDT
Public health emergency declared for South Carolina and Tennessee over hurricane impact
Xavier Becerra, the US health and human services secretary, has declared a public health emergency for South Carolina and Tennessee to address the health impacts of Hurricane Helene.
“We will do all we can to help officials in South Carolina and Tennessee respond to the health impacts of Hurricane Helene,” Becerra said in an announcement. “We are working closely with state and local health authorities, as well as with our partners across the federal government, and stand ready to provide additional public health and medical support.”
Public health emergencies were also issued for Florida, Georgia and North Carolina last week, as a result of the hurricane.
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Updated at 10.33 EDT
Lloyd Austin, the US defense secretary, said on Tuesday morning that over the last several days, the Department of Defense had mobilized personnel and resources to support the ongoing disaster relief, rescue, and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
His statement continued:
I am grateful to the over 6,300 Guardsmen from over 12 states, US Northern Command, the US Army Corps of Engineers, and other DOD teammates who continue to work alongside federal, state, and local partners to provide assistance where it is needed most. We continue to stand by the people and communities of North Carolina and all those affected.
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Updated at 09.53 EDT
Trump campaigning in Wisconsin ahead of VP debate
Republican nominee Donald Trump will be campaigning in the battleground state of Wisconsin on Tuesday, ahead of vice-presidential debate.
One of his stops in Wisconsin today is in Dane county, a Democratic stronghold. The former president is scheduled to appear at a manufacturing facility in Waunakee.
According to the Associated Press, Trump has never campaigned in Dane county before and did not visit the county when he was president.
Recent polls have shown Kamala Harris and Trump neck and neck in Wisconsin, with Harris leading narrowly by one percentage point.
Donald Trump delivers remarks at the Prairie du Chien Area Arts Center in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, on September 28, 2024. Photograph: Kamil Krzaczyński/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 09.51 EDT
Kamala Harris’s 2024 presidential campaign is launching a new ad focused on healthcare, it said on Tuesday.
The ad features clips from the presidential debate between Harris and Republican nominee, Donald Trump, last month, in which Trump discussed having a “concept of a plan” to replace the Affordable Care Act but did not give any details.
In the ad, Harris says that if elected, she will extend the price caps that Joe Biden has signed for seniors, such as the price cap on insulin at $35 a month and a cap on prescription drug costs to no more than $2,000 a year, to all Americans.
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Updated at 09.17 EDT
As of this morning, there are still more than 1 million homes and businesses without power across multiple states in the south-east of the US, from Florida to West Virginia, as the region continues to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
In South Carolina, more than 600,000 power outages are being recorded, according to PowerOutage.us.
In Georgia and North Carolina, each state is recording over 450,000 power outages as of Tuesday morning.
Power crews help restore electricity to a neighborhood after Hurricane Helene swept through Valdosta, Georgia, USA, 30 September 2024. Photograph: Erik S Lesser/EPAShare
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