What's Happening

International

Israel and Hezbollah Step Up Attacks As World Leaders Call for Calm

What's going on: Israel said it struck 150 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon this morning and advised civilians to evacuate from areas where the Iranian-backed militant group stores weapons. It comes after Hezbollah launched over 100 rockets into northern Israel over the weekend, marking the farthest the armed group has fired missiles into the country. The Israeli military said its air defenses blocked most of the rockets, though one town was struck. No casualties were reported. Hezbollah’s attack came in response to an Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese capital city of Beirut on Friday. The strikes killed at least 45 people, including women, children, and a top Hezbollah leader, according to Lebanese officials. Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Israel would take “whatever action is necessary” to fight Hezbollah. That’s as the militant group said the conflict against Israel entered a “new stage,” but reiterated that it would stop the fighting once the Israel-Hamas war ends.

What it means: This past weekend marks the most significant escalation in the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel since the two began exchanging fire nearly a year ago. The New York Times reports the intensifying conflict is fueling fears that Israel may be shifting its focus away from Hamas in Gaza. Many world leaders, including the US, have hoped to avoid an escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, amid growing concerns that the Middle East could be plunged into complete chaos. The White House said a regional escalation would not be in Israel’s “best interest” and is pushing for a diplomatic solution that would see Hezbollah move several miles away from the Lebanon-Israel border. The European Union called for an “urgent” cease-fire and expressed extreme concern over the weekend’s escalation.

Related: Israeli Media Reports Netanyahu Is Considering a Plan To Remove Palestinians From Northern Gaza (Reuters)

Politics

North Carolina's Gubernatorial Race Is in the National Spotlight

What's going on: The race for governor in North Carolina is under the microscope, following a bombshell report about the Republican nominee and current Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Last week, CNN revealed lewd comments Robinson allegedly made on a porn website’s message board a decade ago — predating his tenure in politics. CNN said Robinson referred to himself as a “Black Nazi” and described Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf as a “good read.” Robinson, whose previous comments have made headlines, called CNN’s report “salacious tabloid lies.” There have been growing calls for Robinson — who trails his opponent in some polls — to drop out of the race, even though the withdrawal deadline has passed and early voting ballots have been mailed out. The fallout continued yesterday, with several of Robinson’s senior staffers quitting the campaign less than two months before Election Day.

What it means: How this scandal plays out could have broader implications for the Republican Party. VP Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are focused on key swing states like North Carolina, which hasn’t voted Democratic in a presidential race since 2008. Trump, who endorsed Robinson’s gubernatorial run, appeared to distance himself from the lieutenant governor at a recent campaign event in Wilmington, NC. Meanwhile, the Harris campaign is seizing the opportunity by running attack ads that link Trump to Robinson. It’s unclear whether the scandal will affect GOP voters, some of whom have dismissed the reports about Robinson as false or shrugged them off entirely. The allegations have made North Carolina a case study showing that the threshold for scandals to affect voters’ seems to be rising, according to The Washington Post.

Related: 78-Year-Old Trump Is Already Talking About His 2028 Plans (The Hill)

Climate

2024 Is Poised to Be the Hottest Year Ever — And Many Aren’t Ready

What's going on: As fall kicks off, the heat hasn’t even started taking a break in many parts of the US. Summer 2024 wrapped up as the hottest on record. Arizona, California, Florida, Maine, and New Hampshire sweated through their warmest summers ever. Phoenix didn’t just break records — it shattered them, experiencing an intense 113 consecutive days over 100°F and a blistering 61 days above 110°F. No chill. Meanwhile, scientists are “pretty certain” 2024 will go down as the hottest year humanity has recorded. More heat means more moisture in the air, which can lead to bigger storms, stronger hurricanes, and heavier rainfall.

What it means: While the planet bakes, many Americans aren’t ready for the fallout. Over a quarter of homeowners are financially unprepared for weather-related damage costs, according to a Bankrate survey. For some, the unbearable heat and worsening storms are prompting thousands of Americans to pack up and head to the Midwest, seeking cooler climates and safer conditions. Schools are also feeling the heat, with students struggling to learn in overheated classrooms and class cancellations becoming more common in states like Oregon. Without significant emissions cuts, extreme weather is expected to worsen. Experts are calling for heat action plans and better infrastructure to withstand these conditions. That includes legislation that protects outdoor workers, prepares for floods, and upgrades buildings to withstand extreme weather.

Related: It Might Be the Second Day of Fall, but Here’s When To Expect Your City’s First Freeze (Axios)