Transcripts For MSNBC Alex Witt Reports 20241006

Costs. Costs. Good day from msnbc in washington. Welcome back to Alex Witt reports. I am Ali Vitali in for alex. We begin with decision 2024, still just 31 days until Election Day but we are following breaking news. Kamala harris expected soon in North Carolinaex. The Vice President will be briefed on Hurricane Helene Recovery efforts and meet with people impacted by the disaster. She will provide updates on federal actions being taken to support victims there. Meanwhile Tim Walz caring the message in ohio. This is the Scene And Butler pennsylvania when former President Donald Trump and his Running Mate j. D. Vance will appear later today. Pennsylvaniall is among more th two dozen states where Mailing Or Absentee voting is already underway. E the reaction from one congresswoman who just told me what keeps her up at night about the keystone state. I was there on january the 6th. I know what President Trump was responsible for. Responsible for saying, i will not accept losing. I wont allow for a peaceful transfer of power. What keeps me up at night is that we knock on every door. We engage every voter that they come out to the eprotection of our precious democracy. We have correspond an analyst ready to discuss all the new developments but we start with Aaron Gilchrist at the White House. The Vice President is expected to land in North Carolina shortly. This is not technically a campaign stop. What is the purpose of the trip and why at all . E It Reporter it is in battleground North Carolina. The Vice President is going to charlotte. She should be landing in the next half an hour or less. In her official capacity as Vice President to survey some of the area that has been impacted by the hurricane that came through that region last week. The Vice President , as we understand, intends to receive a briefing while she is on the ground she will meet with some of the people impacted. Charlotte was not in the heavy Hit Zone but we do know there have been people who have Left Asheville and moved into the Charlotte Area trying to get away from some of the devastation that has been seen in the western part of North Carolina. The Vice President will also get an opportunity to see arsom of the Aid Distribution that has been set up in this particular state. Shes going to be able to give us a briefing, a golisting of what the federal government has done in The Days senses Hurricane Hit in the North Carolina area. We know that there are more than 6000 federal workers on the ground helping with the Recovery Efforts in that region, across several states that were impacted by Hurricane Helene. We expect the Vice President will talk about that and likely talk about the millions of dollars that have been allocated to help with the Recovery Effort by the federal government. There is also going to be an effort to make sure that there are military assets that are added to the ground operations that is happening in the area that has been devastated so badly. The Vice President visited georgia earlier in ththe week. This isr a part of her responsibility as Vice President of the United States to go to see how vipeople are being impacted by these sorts of disasters and see what the federal operation is, the response is to help these people get back on their feet. G as i said, ali, this is a Battleground State. One that the Vice President has visited t as someone who is campaigning to be president several times over the last several weeks. There is that in the background as she makes this official visit to North Carolina. Or what is this close to Election Day everything is present politics even though it may be not. Aaron gilchrist, Thank You. Now let us go to butler, Ut Pennsylvania and dasha burns. They are already in place and have been for hours to hear from former President Trump. What is the mood less than three months after the attempted assassination interrupted trumps first rally in butler . A reporter less than three months from that and about a month from Election Day but the mood here is a mocombination of celebratory, reflective and also a little bit defiant. People i have been talking to, many of whom were there on July 13th and are back today. They want to show they are not going to be kept away from political events. They will not be kept away from the ballot box. The former president is coming back, i want to come back here too. They are here to show their little curious about some of the big names that we are going to see later today. Take a listen. I wanted to be here to support trump but also to see My Hero Growing Up and to see my second hero. I heard Elon Musk would be here also. There is rhetoric. Kind of tired of hearing people regurgitating stuff that is not true. I believe what he says is true. Reporter ali, not only is this important to the community because of what happened here three months ago, but let us not forget that this is western pennsylvania. It is so Neck And Neck right now. It is certainly hoping that this visit could boost his support out here. The question that i have going is told. Every time we wonder is the er former president going to sound different is the vibe going to be different it is really not. This is the first time youre seeing him come back to the site of a neardeath experience. I am interested to see how he handles things today. How he honorss corey, his fami is here who were shot and killed that day. It is going to be a long Day And One that the campaign, the folks here today will be a cathartic one after resume went through that day. Dasha burns on the Campaign Trail in pennsylvania, Thank You. I want to bring in Alexi Mccammond Host of the in sync podcasts along with tim miller, host of the bulwark comcast. Tooling podcast host, alexi, i will turn to you first. It is one where she will deal with the aftermath of the hurricane heads on. She will also debunk some of the female lies that have been circulating about the federal Governments Response to the hurricane. How important is that . Incredibly important. Im glad you guys have been covering it so extensively xt earlier in the show. You talk through that missing disinformation around fema aid. It is a situation in which, of course, No One controls the weather, Condrey Contrary to what Marjorie Taylor Greene said. We see the air turning a Natural Disaster that has killed people and threaten to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters into a political tool to use against democrats. Kudos to former President Trump for starting a gofundme to raise money for folks. I do think it is a little curious he is not talking up any of his own money. Tim, disheartening to see disinformation take hold. Maybe not entirely surprising just given the way that we have seen moments like this default into miss and disinformation. It is not surprising at all. Unfortunately in the trump era, this is been a hallmark of the Republican Party and the conservative ecosystem. They are willing to go out there and advance allies to advance their political ends. There is no time where there is a break from politics to actually, you know, focus On The Issues that matter to voters, people that are struggling. The only exception to this is at this hyper local level. We have seen this in North Carolina and tennessee. They have a pretty maga there in tennessee, a republican State Legislature in North Carolina. They have actual responsible to their constituents who are going through pain and suffering. Please, stop posting this false information. It has real impacts. There was examples of fema and first responders going to wrong places because, you know, they were told based on Social Media reports that something was happening that was not happening. There is a real world implication here. It cannot be surprising this is what is happening. This is been happening for a decade now. Critical time and resources that can and have been wasted. Tim, harris was embracing country over party appearing with former republican congressman Liz Cheney in wisconsin. Known as the birthplace of the Republican Party. I want to get your reaction to her remarks. Above all else i know that the most conservative of conservative values is fidelity to our constitution. I tell you i have never voted for a democrat. This year, i am probably casting my vote for Vice President Kamala Harris. She is also holding an event in pennsylvania with high profile former pro trump women. I think if youre just watching the segment you would be like, h what your direct up in . Is this a reality for republicans who might feel politically homeless right now . Is this it . This is it. This is our life. I bet liz was powerful in two ways. She was very clear. She is not changing her policies and she is not really asking, harris tab. This is about her own commitment to the constitution but the fact that Donald Trump is too dangerous to put back into the White House. Ck that is good for some progressives who are nervous. What is happening with all the Buddy Buddy with the cheneys . It was not about policy. It was about principles. The most important political element of lizs remarks is she is speaking to people like her who remain conservative and do not like Donald Trump and are probably not going to vote. She is not trying to get the Swing Voters who cannot decide between trump and harris. She speaking to conservatives who decided not to vote for ha trump and trying to that you can vote for the Vice President is one time. It is not a huge segment of the population but it is going to be the one or 2 that make a difference in a place like pennsylvania. Nothing is moving large swaths of voters. Clearly that is the goal when you talk to people like cheney or people in that orbit. Alexi, Liz Cheney is not the only person in making surprising remarks about republicans. Really giulianis daughter has analogy is voting for Vice President harris. Writing that she grieves the loss of her dad to trump she spoke with nicolle wallace. Listen to that. I view trump as a disease. Im sure it is difficult for this daughter to go through this relationship will break it and to go to someone who is unintelligible but a lot of folks who voted for trump the first time, as tim was alluding to, i decided consciously or because of some other reason they cannot support him again. There are certainly some man that your Family Measure looking to others. And confused. At this point, the Swing Voters, as we are just talking about, not people who dont know what to vote for but they are people who might not vote. People know exactly who Donald Trump is and who Kamala Harris is, to a lesser extent. It is not waiting to see who Donald Trump is anymore. It is more of an admission that you like all of the chaos that he brings. Tim, i want to get a Gut Check from you. 31 days out from Election Day. The New York Times described it as Trench Warfare for both campaigns. From what you know if you put your Campaign Hat back on, who is in a better position to win that kind of Handtohand Combat on the ground . I would rather be harris then trump it it certainly is not something im sleeping easy about right now. I think that the Ground Game is superior on the democratic side. I think that the antitrump coalition is bigger than the proton coalition. I think if you look at the numbers, harris has lost altitude. Particularly among male hispanic voters. Possibly among male black voters , we dont know, under the age of 40. That has narrowed the path to victory. When you have places like arizona that becomes harder if youre not doing better with hispanic voters. I think it is way too close for comfort. I do think in this situation, like the democrats, they are more prepared for that for republicans are right now. Alexi, what about you with so little time to go here and such a tight race. Is the Harris Campaign focusing on the right things to bring out their voters . You know, as dueling podcast hosts, i am sure tim and i are both jealous that unlike alex cooper, we do not get to sit down with Vice President harris but i will definitely be watching. I am proud to see a modern Campaign Running in modern media strategy. I know we all listen to podcasts and we all have interest outside of politics and it is exciting to see what is usually an audience focused or women and lifestyle and relationships really shift gears to focusing on a really important issue, which is voting and educating people On The Issues like Reproductive Rights. How to get out and vote and educate your friends and bring it directly to them rather than asking them to, you know, read the New York Times or do something they might not otherwise do. I think the call her daddy podcast, strategically speaking, the telegraph about about where the Harris Campaign is looking for you want to talk to thirtysomething women, even twentysomething women, that is a place that many of us gather on a weekly basis. Stick around with me. We will talk about one of the things that some americans might be choosing to forget and the comment that went viral this week from the Vice President ial debate we are back in 90 seconds. Eing sto om us. I cant believe this is the world we live in, where were losing the freedom to control our own bodies. We need your support now more than ever. Go online, call, or scan this code, with your 19 monthly gift. And well send you this care. No matter what tshirt. It is your right to have safe Health Care. Thats it. Go online, call, or scan right now. Swiffer duster traps 4x more dust, for a clean even mom approves of. That reach making hard to reach. So easy. Swiffer. Wow. The mother of all cleans. Love it or your money back but st. Jude has gotten us through it. St. Jude is hope for every child diagnosed with cancer because the research is being shared all over the world. Two separate questions im confident it will be free and fair. I dont know whether it will be peaceful. The things that trump has said and the things that he said last time out, when he did not like the outcome of the election, were very dangerous. If you notice, i noticed the Vice President republican candidate did not say he would accept the outcome of the election. Or whether he accepted the outcome of the last election. I am concerned about what they are going to do. That was President Biden speaking to Reporters Yesterday Afternoon but i want to bring Alexi Mccammond and tim miller. Tim, i will start with you. What you think one of the goals for the appearance in the Briefing Room was visibly when it comes to reminding voters about the potential for a non peaceful election aftermath. I think the intention for him going in there was to try to give good information out about fema as we talk about the hurricane recovery. We talked in the last segment when he gets out there, the media sometimes has different interest of what they want to talk about. Friendly, these two issues tied together. He is talking about both. It is just a lack of trust. If there is one side and only one side but is telling boldface lies and spreading out false information with about the hurricane or the coming election. That is something that we need to be concerned about. As a society, we cannot continue to sustain. I think that he is trying to, you know, reassure people about the fact the election will be free and fair. The hurricane, the Governor Response to the hurricane is nonpartisan. It is tough when you are seeing what you get on the other side. When youre actively combating disinformation in Real Time alexi, this week We Saw election to nihilism among republicans front and center, not just because of President Biden but with the new filing by Jack Smith in the 20 Election Interference case. There was this moment during the president ial debate watch. Did he lose the 2020 election two tim, i am focused on the future predictive Kamala Harris Sensor Americans from speaking their mind in the wake of the 2020 covid situation . That is a not answer. It is an not answer for you not talk about censorship. That was the Vice President ial debate but alexi, do you get the sense that the Election Interference have potentially faded from peoples minds and this could bring that back into focus . Republicans of done a good job of trying to whitewash January 6th and do mental gymnastics to convince themselves and others that it was not really a big deal. People died and killed others because they were believing a lie from former President Donald Trump. That he won the election after all. What is really scary is how you see former President Trump already laying the groundwork by naming off a list of different ways that democrats and others will allegedly be Cheating And Rigging the election this time around. He is already trying to tell people what to do in case he loses month in advance. Gives folks more time to prepare than what they did on January 6th. I do think We Saw, even last month, poll showing democracy as a number two issue among voters. When we have really been seeing the economy and immigration be one and two. Democracy has been creeping back up. Not just because reminders from democrats but because of all that is happening with Jack Smith now too. You talk about the signaling that trump and the rest of his campaign and allies are doing it is there enough preparation by the Harris Team to combat the efforts of subverting the election that we might expect particularly if trump loses . Look, i think democrats have had a long time to try to prepare for the increasing of craziness with those on the right who are unwilling to accept election outcomes. Democrats, as you know well, have popped up other Super Packs that are specifically dented to litigation and lawsuits and dealing with the many lawsuits we are already seeing from republicans in Swing States and crucial states needed to win the election. I think they have been preparing for how to help disenfranchised voters back. But No One is prepared for how intensely the most rabid trump supporters will fight with me note this is the last possible time they could have two to elect Donald Trump again. You spoke with Doug And Model for your podcasts. I want to play that conversation talking about how harris was able to succeed on the Debate Stage against trump. She really approached it the way she does everything. I am not afraid of you. I am just going to bring it right to you. And see if you can deal with me whether she can deal with him. That is the way she approaches everything. I think the folks you mentioned in 2016 you felt like, there were some really good debaters on that stage. You took them all down because they did not know how to deal with him. She knew how to deal with him. Tim, does the stage translate to the Campaign Trail and that same attitude through the next 31 days . I think so. It struck me that he was willing to go there. I think that the assertiveness that the Vice President showed and the dominant, almost the Alpha Attitude during that debate. I think it undermines what Donald Trump is trying to do but i know that is why he is in butler today. He had Hulk Hogan and Dana White from usc at the last convention. Trump wanted to be the alpha, the masculine one. The fact that the Vice President was able to go out there and be the assertive one. Be the one to try to shake his hand and put him on the defensive. Force him to not to look over at her. I think it really did make a difference for her. When you see the result in the polling. One thing i was saying is that trump, in a weird way, is a standin for putin. Ken, stand up to that type of person . Should she stand up to a mean autocrat from another country . She showed that she did. It was inching her husband said that is her. That is her personality. It is natural to her. She went there and was successful in a way that my old boss and a bunch of other republican men were not able to in past debates against trump. We do not me to take you back to 2016 campaign but im living right there alongside you. That was my first campaign too. Tim and alexi, thanks for spending your saturday with me. Next, how Kamala Harris is gaining ground with Donald Trumps strongest issue but well talk about that with Tina Smith of minnesota, plus a Planet Smith has to ease the nations housing crisis. Clients move around the world seamlessly in over 180 countries. And help a partner like the World Food Programme as they provide more than food to people in need. Together, citi and the World Food Programme empower families across the globe. Speaker my little miracle is beckett. [christina perri, A Thousand years] i have died every day waiting for you. We wouldnt be where we are without saint jude. And in turn, we wouldnt be where we are without those people that have donated. As the Middle East braces for Israels Response to Irans Missile Barrage this week, President Biden and former President Trump are offering differing opinions on what proportional response should be. Who would support attack on irans nuclear sites by israel . The answer is, no. We will be discussing with the israelis what they are going to do. Then we all agree they have a right to respond and to respond in proportion. He had that one wrong but is not what youre supposed to hit your mark it is the biggest risk that we have, nuclear weapons, the power of nuclear weapons. The answer should have been, hit the nuclear first and worry about the rest later. Me not democratic senator Tina Smith of minnesota. Senator, this is a delicate time, the dramatic play. The republican candidate may want to weigh in and Foreign Policy debates happened during the campaign but what point does it go too far . Hi, ali. It is great to be with you. This is a great example of how unserious and how risky Donald Trumps strategies for policy are to our best interest in the United States. Present biden and Vice President harris are talking about a proportional response, an appropriate response that will not you will further escalation of the violence in the Middle East, which would be very much counter to our interest in the Middle East. In the interest of the people in the Middle East. It is just another example of how unserious President Trump is when it comes to the various serious foreignpolicy issues. I want to stay on Foreign Policy for a moment before we pivot to the domestic. Monday marks one year since hamas attacked israel on October 7th, the war in Gaza Sewing showing no signs of seizing. The war has expanded into a wider regional conflict. Chris murphy surmises we are not seeing a diplomatic end to the war. Listen to him. I certainly worry that prime Minister Netanyahu is watching the american election as he makes decisions about his Military Campaigns in the north and in gaza. I hope this is not true. It is certainly a possibility that the israelis is not going to sign any diplomatic agreement prior to the american election as it means to try to influence the result. Senator murphy says he hopes he is wrong about that but do you think he has . I think chris is putting his finger on something that is very important. For many, many years our partisan politics in this country stopped at the border we pursued the United States best interest as we were looking around the world. What chris is pointing out is that our foreign leaders around the world can see that is no longer the case. When you have leaders like Donald Trump who are trying to politicize the best interest of the United States when we are facing these terrible challenges like we face in the Middle East. I think that we all are working and i am admiring of how Vice President harris and President Biden are working to secure a ceasefire and a return of the hostages and i think that it is beholden on all of the parties in the Middle East to come to the table and get that done for the best interest of everyone. I wish that prime Minister Netanyahu would leap into finding a solution there. I want to do now to president ial politics but we are pretty one days from Election Day, the final homestretch for as you look at the Closing Strategy for the harris walz ticket, what you think the impact is a bring out the unconventional endorsers . Im thinking like Liz Cheney. The Vice President harris and Governor Walz are working very hard to build a big tent to build a large coalition. I have to say is someone who has been working and organizing in politics for a long time. The moment when Vice President harris and Liz Cheney Clasp Hands in wisconsin was just a moment where i was feeling strongly the surge of patriotism that we should have. I think it is absolutely the right thing to do. Hundreds of republicans have joined the harris walz campaign. Including former senator jeff flake, who i served with it is a sign that these republicans might not agree with everything that Vice President harris is proposing but they understand what is at stake in terms of our democracy. Their patriotism is really admirable. We know they do not agree with them on everything. I certainly cover them all the time in the halls of congress. I do think this is a striking moment as you watch just a temporary political realignment. The reality is that when you talk about hundreds of former conservatives or disgruntled conservatives coming into the democratic fold, it speaks to the reality that this is a race that can be decided by a few thousand or tens of thousands of votes in key states. When you talk about the Trench Warfare that is going on county by county and all of the Battleground States, you have been out on the Campaign Trail. Is the Harris Operation doing enough . What are you the Motion Voters . What i see on the ground and i have been campaigning in wisconsin. I am here in nevada this weekend. What i am seeing is a surge of volunteers that are showing up and want to get out and talk to their friends and neighbors about what is at stake in the election. Here you have a campaign that has well over 300 Field Offices around the country. 2000 on the Ground Field staff, understanding this is how we win at The End of The Day. You have to have a strong message talking about lowering costs for americans. You have to have energized volunteers and have a way of making sure that people understand that their voices are powerful. In the exerciser voices when they vote. That is what you are seeing on the ground. It is happening right now. I am feeling very hopeful. A lot of work to do, however. You are in a state like nevada. You and i often talk about desperate Reproductive Rights and freedom is the X Factor in this election but you joined a reproductive Freedom Bus Tour The Day after j. D. Vance tried to distance himself from past comments about his support for federal restrictions on abortion. That was during the Vice President ial debate. Donald trump came out and said he would veto any federal abortion ban. Some have reframed these approaches as gas lighting. Others say they are rebranding the gop as more moderate. However you look at it, do you read to this approach could be effective from the same Man At The Top of the ticket who said he takes credit for ending roe . There trying to gaslight americans with what we know to be true is not the case. I think people, as they go into the Voting Booth or send in their mailin ballot, they are asking themselves who do i trust . Do i trust Donald Trump . He campaign unending roe v. Wade, he appointed the justices that overturned roe versus wade. When that was done he said it was a good thing that he was proud of what he accomplished. Or do you trust Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, who have made it very clear that they trust women to make these decisions for themselves. They are doing everything they can to restore the protections. American women are not stupid. They understand what is going on. At The End of The Day, this is not just an issue for when voters, this initiative for all voters should not have government interfering in their decisionmaking. I dont think this reframing, as some are calling it, will work over voters who are way smarter than that. Youre out in nevada and i know you said you were in wisconsin but those are states that are not just battlegrounds but they are important for democrats being able to keep the senate. This is something that you are centrally concerned about, i imagine. When you talk to your democratic colleagues, how do you feel about the potential for democrats being able to hold the senate at this point . It is a tough map. We have very strong candidates, like Jacky Rosen in nevada and Tammy Baldwin in wisconsin. All across the board, they know their states that are running with a record of accomplishment. They are running against weak opponents who have, in Jacky Rosens case here in nevada, who has on the issue of abortion has been strongly opposed to abortion rights. Our candidates feel confident but they also know that we have to run like we are behind until the very end. Anything could happen. That is why engaging voters right now is the most important thing that we can do and that is why i am here and i will be in other states around the country and helping my colleagues to make that happen. Senator Tina Smith of minnesota. Thank you for joining us for travel safely on the Campaign Trail. Im sure Chris Cross paths. Thank you. Coming up, what we are learning that israel expanding its attacks in lebanon. That is next. At is next in every jar. Olay visibly firms, lifts, and smooths wrinkles, by penetrating the skin, to boost regeneration at the surface cellular level. Try olay. Lukes Mom without easterseals, my luke would be a very different luke. Look up. Where you going . Lukes mom theres an incredible urgency to get your child into services, because the longer you wait, these Motor Pathways are set in stone. I knew he needed help. He needed these services. Im almost there. Yes, you are. Youre so close. Youre so strong. Im gonna say hi. Okay lets say hi. 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Join now, and well send you this Oneofakind Tshirt with our heartfelt thanks. To reach into your heart and see what your donation can do for these kids. It really does make a difference. Youre helping kids believe in themselves. Go online, Call Or Scan now this is the tarmac was Vice President Kamala Harris just landed in charlotte, North Carolina, a few moments ago. You see her talk with people live on the tarmac. I believe that is governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina. An ally of the Vice President and also the governor of that Storm Ravaged States as they try to rebuild. You also see north to my guardsman jeff jackson, among others who are standing on the tarmac with Kamala Harris. She is there to survey Storm Damage as well as to talk about the fema response. Which we have seen be mired with disinformation over the course of the last several days as folks on the ground try to get back on their feet while they are trying to rescue those who might still be impacted and in danger from the storm. This stop from the Vice President happens to be in the Battleground States but it is not when she is taking in her capacity as a president ial contender instead, she is taking in her capacity as Vice President and official stop, if you will, if youre trying to speak specifically about this is a Battleground State and people are seeing everything. 31 days to go until the election through the lens of a very tight race that could mean North Carolina is one of those that could decide the Balance Of Power once we eventually get there. Talking to the lawmakers on the ground there, im hoping that the camera will zoom out so we can see if there is any members of the North Carolina delegation from the other side of the aisle. Not just democrats coming to join harris but republicans. I would be surprised but Storm Recovery has become partisan as so many other things in this country have over the course of recent years. We will also wait to see if Vice President harris speaks to reporters. I imagine they are stationed under the wing of her Plane Waiting to see if she will come over and answer questions from them. Of course, all of this coming in the throes of a president ial campaign that is hitting a Fever Pitch as they go across the country. Harris continuing to talk with lawmakers and this response is one that has come under scrutiny because of missing dip information, largely push by republicans. Republicans say that Fema Money is being diverted to other places where it is not. That money is being comingled of money from migrants. Which is not the way the Appropriations Process works. Nevertheless, we see officials from President Biden himself in the White House Briefing Room during a surprise appearance. Where he tried to combat a lot of that disinformation to a country that is badly in need. You see Kamala Harris coming to The End of the line of lawmakers giving away to reporters as she gets in her motorcade and began to tour. In her official capacity as Vice President of the storm ravaged state of North Carolina. Breaking news out of the Middle East, where israel is expanding its attacks on hezbollah targets in lebanon. Israel said it killed two senior Hamas Official operating in lebanon as it steps up strikes across the country. Meanwhile the region is bracing for israel expected retaliation against iran for last weeks largescale ballistic missile attack. This past our prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged that israel will respond. Translator no country in the world what except such an attack on its citizens and towns and neither will the state of israel. Israel has the right to defend itself and to protect itself from such attacks. That is what we are going to do british citizens of israel, as you begin the new jewish year, we do not forget, i do not forget, our 101 hostages in gaza and we are fully committed to do everything we can to bring them back home. This coming as Monday March one year since the hamas October 7th attack on israel. The fbi issuing a warning of potential Terrorist Attacks in the u. S. Surrounding the observance of The Day. Join me now for beirut is nbcs matt bradley. What more can you tell about the operation in lebanon about the expected retaliation to iran strikes from earlier this week . Reporter we have been getting Front Row seats in the continuing wars of that operation because a lot of it has focused on the neighborhood here which is just behind me and seven beirut. This is a muslim majority area. It is a stronghold of hezbollah which is been in israels crosshairs in earnest in the past three weeks and it exactly where Hassan Nasrallah was assassinated Just A Little Bit over a week ago. And a huge series of bombardments, Bunker Buster bombs that killed him and about 20 of his top lieutenants. Now we have been seeing ever since israels attacks on hezbollah expanding. Now they are not as in the suburbs but into Central Beirut with several bombardments. One of them straggling a medical center that was affiliated with hezbollah. Bear striking not only military targets. And also they struck , today, well into the northern lebanese city of Tripoli Hamas said at least one of its commanders was killed. Another top Hamas Official was killed in the Eastern Valley as well. We are seeing not just hezbollah under fire in lebanon but hamas and other militant groups. This is a systematic effort by the israelis to go and pick off top leaders of militant groups opposed israel. Matt, theres so many groups in the Region And Summary proxy battles going on. Thank you for breaking it all down for us. Coming up, we did not about Hurricane Helene but probably wondered about. We will speak with the author of this article, the science behind how Florida Hurricane ravaged North Carolina. And disruptive to your life, posing a real threat to your Familys Comfort and safety. When the power goes out, you have no lights, no refrigeration, no Heating Or Air conditioning. The winds are not letting up at all here. Were going to see some Power Outages. Number one thing to prepare for is extended Power Outages. Are you prepared . You can be with a generac Home Standby Generator. When a Power Outage occurs, your generac Home Standby Generator automatically powers up, using your homes existing Natural Gas or propane, so your life goes on without disruption. You and your family are comfortable, safe, and secure. 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Go online, call, or scan right now. Breaking news this hour. Vice president harris is in charlotte, North Carolina, to survey the damage that behind the Hurricane Helene. She is joined by State Legislators and is expected to be briefed on the severity of the situation. Meanwhile there about 230,000 north carolinians who are still without power today. The Death Toll has climbed to 223 people as Recovery Efforts across the southern u. S. Are entering their second week. Nearly half of those victims are in North Carolina. This morning the State Attorney General and democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein described how this ordeal has affected residents living in some of the hardest hit areas. If you were in a building near water, your life was completely ripped apart. Dozens and dozens of homes are just gone. The utilities, the power, self service, gone. They are up there isolated. Lets go to Guad Vanegas and erwin, tennessee. About half 1 Million people are still without power and it is becoming a scarce resource. How are people down the coping . Reporter we just heard the official talk about people who were near water and what has happened in those communities. You can see behind me the destruction here in erwin. There is a river nearby. That was all of this devastation that you can see. There is also search teams still out there. We know County Officials reported that two bodies were recovered yesterday. That is a total of six people that have been found dead here in this county. It has been over a week since the flooding happened here. There is a lot of cleanup taken place. Some residents might get lost homes that we have been speaking to say they are now helping other residents that need supplies. You have got cities, like erwin, which is one of the larger communities. They do have resources to spread and to give to those that lost their homes. Then you have communities in the mountains. The peoples have been timely those once in most need. They still need helicopters to get to a lot of the communities and bring the supplies. Earlier today, we spoke to abraham, who lived nearby from where we are standing. All of this was destroyed. His home was destroyed and he is now helping to take supplies to some of the more remote communities. This is what abraham had to say. Although electricity is gone but all the power poles. Things got washed down and it is the road washed out. The Concrete Pads the houses were sitting on our washed out. I think we have enough Food And Water for now. I think what we need is generators. We need extension cords. We need solar chargers. We need all that stuff that is going to bring life back to a little bit of normalcy. Reporter it is losing all of that infrastructure that brings People Power and brings people all of the services that will change things for everyone. That is why he mentioned the need for generators for individuals. I should also say that County Officials i spoke to told me that people making donations should focus on taking those to the Bristol Speedway for this entire area. When it comes to the power, we can see the work being done just behind us. All of these Utility Poles have been put in. The workers are out there and doing what they can as the cleanup continues. Of course, restoring all of the services continues to be a priority. Guad vanegas, Thank You. Let us bring in it Science Reporter Denise chow, who has been covering the storm. How much did climate Change Factor into the severity of the storm . Reporter tying Climate Change directly to certain Weather Events is tricky. We know that overall Climate Change is making extreme weather much more intent. We know that global warming is increasing ocean temperatures. That helps big Storms Form and develop and strengthen kind of like what We Saw with helene. We know the warmer atmosphere holds more moisture which means it can dump a lot more rainfall over land. That is exactly what We Saw play out. One of your Argument Helene was expected to be a florida storm. Weather is unpredictable. How did North Carolina get so much of the brunt of this . Reporter you are right. A lot of people would think about this is unsinkable. The places in western North Carolina that were heavily impacted hundreds of miles away from any coastline. A lot of these towns are up in the mountains and thousands of feet in elevation. This is not what we think about when we think about hurricane targets. Yet, at the same time, this goes to show that No One is really safe from the impacts of Climate Change. Part of the reason why western North Carolina and Southern Appalachia was heavily impacted has to do with the fact that this was such a rainy storm. We saw some of the highest rainfall totals the state has ever recorded. We saw some of the highest River Levels ever recorded. All of that great perfect storms with extreme flooding. I went to school in louisiana, in new orleans. We memorize the Hurricane Season Calendar and Hurricane Season is far from over right now. Just did a tropical Storm Milton Form in the Gulf Of Mexico and inspected to impact florida next week. Do you expect another storm of the magnitude of helping to make landfall before The End of the year . Reporter it is hard to say. Hurricane season can be erratic for a long time for a long time before helene, noaa have predicted an active season and it was kind of quiet but all us and it picks up and we had helene a couple more areas of interest that nhc is monitoring. It is difficult to say. There is an area of development in the Gulf Of Mexico that could bring a lot of rainfall to florida. These are areas that were impacted by helene, where it made landfall. It is hard to say right now. I think we should expect the unexpected. Denise chow, Thank You for the reporting and joining us this saturday. Coming up, a 10yearold Boys Joy Ride that could have been deadly. That is next. And wakes up feeling like himself. Get the rest to be your best with nonhabit forming zzzquil. Citis industry leading global payments solutions help their clients move money around the world seamlessly in over 180 countries. And help a partner like the World Food Programme as they provide more than food to people in need. Together, citi and the World Food Programme empower families across the globe. Oh. Stuffed up again . So congested you need Sinex Saline from vicks. Just sinex, breathe, ahhhh what is wow sinex. Breathe. Ahhhhhh todays other top stories the nypd is searching for a group of people they say assaulted former President Or Governor David Patterson friday night. Police say 70yearold patterson, who is blind and his adult stepson were attacked by walk her home for the two were injured but managed to fight off their attackers. The l. A. County d. A. Announced he is rebuying the Life Sentence of Erik And Lyle menendez, who were convicted of the 1989 murders of their parents. Prosecutors say new evidence has come to light about the alleged Sexual Abuse the brothers say their father inflicted. Abuse they claim was the motive behind the murders. In minneapolis a 10year Old Boy is in custody after authorities say he drove a stolen vehicle across a crowded playground last month. Surveillance footage shows the Vehicle Weaving as teachers rush to get children out of harms way. Thankfully, No One was hurt. The boy is a suspect in several cases ranging from Auto Theft to robbery. That will do for me on this edition of Alex Witt reports. I am Ali Vitali. Alex is back tomorrow at 1 00 p. M. Eastern. In the my Colleague Katie Phang picks up the coverage, next. I am Katie Phang coming to you live and what you are seeing right now on your screen is on North Carolina, where Kamala Harris, as you can see, has entered a room where she is meeting with local officials to determine what is going on with the Disaster Relief efforts. She is going to be addressing the people