Thursday Briefing: U.S. voters focus on the economy

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October 31, 2024

	By Gaya Gupta

Good morning. We’re covering the biggest issue for voters in the U.S. campaign and devastating floods in Spain.

Plus, what too much sugar does to your body.

The New York Times/Siena

The economy is the top priority for U.S. voters

A report released yesterday, just days before Nov. 5, showed that the U.S. economy was growing at a healthy pace. The economy remains the No. 1 issue in the presidential election for voters. But most rated the country’s economy as only fair or poor in a poll this month.

And when voters are frustrated with the economy, they typically seek change in a presidential election. Donald Trump remains the more trusted candidate in terms of handling the economy, according to recent polling, but Kamala Harris has made some gains on the issue in the last few months.

“When Trump taps into voters’ concerns over the economy, it can be very effective,” my colleague Michael Gold, who covers Trump’s campaign, said. “A lot of voters see the economy as a referendum on the current administration, and when Trump focuses on that, he can be very strong.” But Trump doesn’t always stick to the script.

“Now, in most of his speeches recently,” Michael said, “he’s been saying he thinks immigration is the top issue, which is a public rebuke to his advisers who have told him to talk more about the economy.”

More on the U.S. election Election Day is Tuesday. Harris tried to distance herself from President Biden’s muddled remarks appearing to call Trump supporters “garbage.” Arnold Schwarzenegger, the actor and former Republican governor of California, endorsed Harris. Many of Trump’s former military and national security advisers now call him a “liar,” “fascist” and “unfit.” Speaker Mike Johnson said that Republicans would embark on a “massive reform” of the Affordable Care Act if Trump is elected.

After the floods in the Valencia region of Spain. David Ramos/Getty Images

Flash floods left more than 95 dead in Spain

It’s one of the worst natural disasters to hit the country in recent years. Officials said at least 95 people died after devastating flash floods hit eastern Spain this week. The toll is expected to rise.

In the eastern region of Valencia, a year’s worth of rain fell over eight hours. Beginning Monday, catastrophic floods washed away cars, inundated homes and knocked out power. Rescuers waded through neck-high waters to reach some residents. Andalusia also had severe floods, getting four times the amount of rain typical for October in a single day. Here’s what else to know.

The Haret Saida area near Sidon in Lebanon, yesterday.  Diego Ibarra Sanchez for The New York Times

Israel has demolished over 1,000 buildings in Lebanon

Israel’s military yesterday warned residents of the city of Baalbek in eastern Lebanon to evacuate, appearing to extend its campaign against Hezbollah strongholds beyond the country’s south.

Satellite imagery and videos show widespread destruction in several villages along Lebanon’s border in the month since Israel invaded. At least 1,085 buildings have been leveled or badly damaged, including at least 200 in controlled demolitions, a Times analysis shows. Before and after photos offer a clear view of the damage.

Diplomacy: William Burns, the C.I.A. director, is expected to be in Cairo today for talks with Egyptian officials on cease-fire proposals.

Ukrainians at a registration center in Sumy, Ukraine, after arriving from Russian-occupied areas. Mauricio Lima for The New York Times

Sports

Anthony Volpe of the New York Yankees hit a grand slam home run during Game 4. Elsa/Getty Images

Nicola Longobardi for The New York Times

Indonesia has 270 million people and stretches across 17,000 islands. Getting a package from one place to another requires extraordinary logistical planning and intense physical effort. So when TikTok needed an e-commerce partner there, it turned to companies like Tokopedia, which deploys its vast fleet of motorbike riders in a grueling relay race across the country.

Lam Yik Fei for The New York Times

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Rosa Sawyers

This is your body on sugar

Sugar is added to so many foods and drinks — sodas, candies, breakfast cereals, salad dressings, breads — that most of us are probably getting more than our bodies were meant to handle. Over time, this can increase the risk of health problems.

For example, some people can have trouble absorbing fructose, a common kind of simple sugar. If fructose lingers in your gut, bacteria can ferment it, potentially causing gas, bloating and abdominal pain. Sugar also causes dopamine surges. Too many of those, and your brain could be rewired to keep you reaching for the sweets.

Here’s a “head, shoulders, knees and toes” guide to sugar.

David Malosh for The New York Times

Cook: In the Philippines, pork tocino is served for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Travel: Here are five places with exceptional hotels available around Christmas and New Year.

Read: “Nora Ephron at the Movies,” examines her work, including “When Harry Met Sally” and “Heartburn.”

Listen: Piano trios are a major theme in jazz this year.

Watch: Martha Stewart gave Netflix’s Martha Stewart documentary a scalding review.

Play: Spelling Bee, the Mini Crossword, Wordle and Sudoku. Find all our games here.

That’s it for today. See you tomorrow. — Gaya

P.S. The Times won five awards from the Online News Association.

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