What's Happening

Politics

QR Codes, Hot Mics, and No Audience — What To Expect From the VP Debate 

What's going on: Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) and Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) will face off tonight in the only scheduled vice presidential debate this election season. It’s likely to be a meme-able night, if the run-up has been any indication. Vance, who wrote the popular book-turned-movie Hillbilly Elegy before veering into politics, is likely to strike an aggressive, bold tone and to laugh off questions he needs to diffuse, according to a man who once played him in Senate debate prep. But Vance’s ultimate goal is to paint Walz as an ultra-liberal candidate. Meanwhile, the Minnesota governor — who’s had a long political career, but didn’t gain national recognition until he started calling the Republican party “weird” — is likely to lean into his Midwestern dad vibes. His backers hope he’ll keep the focus on the dangers of another Trump presidency without letting Vance rattle him, though CNN reports he’s feeling some nerves. Unlike in the presidential version, this debate will have hot mics. And in a modern twist, viewers will be able to use QR codes for live fact-checking (that is, if you’re watching on CBS).

What it means: Both candidates were chosen for a similar reason: to appeal to working-class voters. Still, VP debates are rarely make or break — after all, the most memorable star from the Harris-Pence face-off was the fly on Mike Pence’s head. But tonight’s showdown could be pivotal because there’s no other scheduled presidential debate, so this could be the last time voters get a taste of the ticket before Election Day. In the meantime, many unknowns remain. Will Walz’s “rizz” be helpful? Will Vance make a misstep akin to his “childless cat ladies” comments? And perhaps most importantly, could Vance’s performance push former President Donald Trump into agreeing to a second presidential debate? Guess, we will have to tune in to find out.

Related: VA Workers Illegally Got Ahold of Vance and Walz’s Medical Files (CNN)

Economy

Dock Workers Are on Strike and People Could Be Losing Their Bananas

What's going on: Overnight, thousands of dock workers at dozens of East Coast and Gulf Coast ports went on strike after their contract negotiations failed — the first strike of its kind since 1977. The union representing the workers and port employers could not reach an agreement on key sticking points, including a 77% pay raise over six years for the dock workers and the use of automated machinery at the ports. Located in cities like Miami and Baltimore, these ports handle 68% of all containerized exports in the US. That includes poultry, soybean, and vegetable exports. There is no clear timeline for when operations will return to normal, but the union says it won’t resume talks until port employers agree to their wage demands.

What it means: The strike threatens to rattle the US economy just weeks before Election Day, with some experts raising concerns about inflation and shortages. A JP Morgan analysis estimates the strike could cost the US economy as much as $5 billion a day. Companies have been preparing for the strike by pre-shipping what they can — especially with the holiday season approaching. However, this preparation doesn’t apply to perishable goods. If the strike lasts for days or even weeks, consumers could face shortages of bananas, cherries, alcohol, and chocolate — essential items for surviving our luteal phase. At the very least, those items could become more expensive until the workers return to the ports. President Joe Biden has said the White House won’t intervene, but has urged both sides to reach an agreement quickly.

Related: The Dock Workers’ Strike Could Slow Recovery After Hurricane Helene (Business Insider)

US News

A Georgia Judge Struck Down the State's 6-Week Abortion Ban — Will It Last? 

What's going on: Georgia’s abortion ban is off the table…for now. Judge Robert C.I. McBurney of Fulton County Superior Court struck down the law, reinstating access to abortion in the state up to 22 weeks into pregnancy. The six-week ban was originally signed into law in 2019 but only took effect in 2022, after legal challenges and the reversal of Roe v. Wade. This time, the judge ruled against the law, citing higher court interpretations of the right to “liberty” as including “a woman’s power to control her own body, decide what happens to it, and reject state interference with her healthcare choices.” This isn’t the final say on abortion rights in the state. A spokesperson for Georgia’s attorney general said they’ll appeal the ruling to the state supreme court, which reversed a similar decision by Judge McBurney in 2022.

What it means: Even temporary access could have a significant impact on those seeking abortions in Georgia. The number of monthly abortions in the state has dropped by about half, and the lack of access has been linked to the deaths of two women in Georgia, according to ProPublica. Many women must also travel hundreds of miles to states such as Illinois and North Carolina to have an abortion. In the US, an estimated 3.7 million women of reproductive age live in an “abortion desert” — areas with no access to abortion and little or no access to maternity care, per an analysis from ABC News and Boston Children's Hospital. Georgia isn’t the only state where abortion rights are at stake. Voters in 10 states will decide the issue this November.

Related: Louisiana’s New Abortion Pills Law Goes Into Effect Today (NBC News)