Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance prepare for their first debate tonight, and Iran fired missiles to Israel.
Vance, Walz set to meet in only remaining debate of 2024 campaign
Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are set to meet face-to-face in New York on Tuesday for what is currently the only debate between the Trump and Harris campaigns left on the schedule before Election Day.
The vice presidential hopefuls will make the case for their respective tickets in the CBS News-hosted event, with both campaigns talking up their opponents as skilled debaters in the lead up to Tuesday. Vance, the Republican serving his first term in the Senate, and Walz, a two-term Democratic governor and former House member, have never spoken to an audience as large as the tens of millions of Americans expected to watch on Tuesday night.
On Monday, the Trump campaign previewed a debate strategy that involves battering Walz and Vice President Kamala Harris with dark and misleading depictions of immigration and violent crime, while the Harris campaign played down the significance of the debate and presented it as an opportunity for Walz to continue introducing himself and Harris with just 35 days before the election.
While vice presidential debates historically have had little impact on polling, experts say a poor performance could hurt more than a good one could help.
“We don't really know these people," Casey Burgat, director of the legislative affairs program at George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management, told Spectrum News. "We know their names, probably, if we're paying attention. But really, how they deliver a message, if they're prone to certain characteristic flaws that can be exacerbated by someone else's answer — we can get to know them on a more personal level, both positively and negatively.
"It may not sway a ton of minds, but should a gaffe happen, or should someone lose their cool or make a big mistake, that can have a detrimental message or a detrimental impact on a campaign that we just know there's not that much margin left in.”
The Vance-Walz matchup comes just weeks after Harris and former President Donald Trump met for their one and, so far, only debate. Post-debate polls and punditry suggest Harris outperformed Trump, but the two campaigns have yet to work out a follow-up, as the former president has said he’s uninterested.
“In two days, I know we will cheer on Coach Walz when he debates JD Vance," Harris said at a rally in Las Vegas on Sunday night. "But, listen, also their debate should not be the last word. I’m trying to debate Donald Trump again. As you say here in Vegas, I’m all in. I’m all in, even if my opponent is ready to fold.”
Tuesday’s 90-minute debate moderated by CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan is set to begin at 9 p.m. ET. It will have similar ground rules to the debate between Trump and Harris, including that there will be no audience, no candidate interaction with staff during breaks and no pre-written notes or props allowed.
One major difference from the presidential debates this year and Tuesday’s is that each man’s microphone will be unmuted, with CBS News saying they reserve the right to cut the microphones off if necessary. And the moderators will not be live fact-checking the candidates, CBS News said, after ABC News’ moderators did with a handful of Trump’s statement in last month's debate. CNN’s moderators did not jump in during Trump’s June debate with President Joe Biden.
Israeli military says Iran has launched missiles at Israel
The Israeli military says that missiles have been launched at Israel from Iran, with air raid sirens sounding across the country.
"All Israeli civilians are in bomb shelters as rockets from Iran are fired at Israel," the Israel Defense Forces wrote on social media, adding in a follow-up post that roughly 10 million civilians "are the targets of Iranian projectiles."
Military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari released a video statement Tuesday saying: “The air defense system is fully operational, detecting and intercepting threats wherever necessary, even at this moment.”
Soon after, a series of explosions were heard in Tel Aviv and near Jerusalem. It was not immediately known if they were interceptions or incoming missiles landing. Witnesses said the explosions near Jerusalem were so loud that windows shook.
Residents were ordered to shelter in place and remain close to bomb shelters. The order was sent to mobile phones and announced on national television. TV stations reported sirens in parts of Jerusalem as well as central Israel.
Iranian media posted videos that appeared to show missile launches at several sites across the country, but the Iranian government did not immediately acknowledge what was happening.
The alerts were sounded after a day of rocket and missile attacks from Lebanon. Israeli authorities also warned that Iran might be preparing a missile attack.
A senior White House official warned of “severe consequences” should Iran launch a ballistic missile against Israel. U.S. ships and aircraft are positioned in the region to assist Israel in the event of an attack from Iran.
Israel similarly warned of "repercussions" should Tehran launch an attack.
Property insurer under fire after new report
A new report by 60 Minutes is raising questions about Florida’s already troubled property insurance market.
The story suggests that multiple companies, including Heritage Insurance, are lowballing repair estimates after Hurricane Ian.
With more repairs needed across the state from Hurricane Helene, lawmakers want to see something done.
Hurricane Ian struck Florida in 2022 as a Category 4 storm. But now, roughly two years later, some 50,000 homeowners are still working to settle their claims.
Florida House Democrats want a grand jury investigation into several property insurance companies.
In a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis, they spotlighted a report suggesting some companies are altering assessments to underpay or even reject claims after Ian.
“Floridians are paying the highest rates in the country. If we’re adding insult to injury and homeowners are not getting compensated in the way that they should at the time when their property insurance companies should be there for them, it’s a real problem,” Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell said.
The state is actively investigating Heritage Property Insurance.
The state fined the company more than $1 million in May, finding hundreds of state violations. The company, however, denies ever altering claims.
“Heritage made many reforms and improvements following Hurricane Ian two years ago, including overhauling our claims software that now adds the name of any reviewer who works on the claim,” Heritage Insurance CEO Ernie Garateix said.
Meanwhile, Florida is now dealing with the impacts of Helene. But this time, there are new consumer protections on the books.
“You can’t just disregard what the adjuster does. You actually have to have a clear, valid reason to be able to depart downward," DeSantis said. "That may not have been in place when Ian happened. But I know that particular company has faced fines in excess of seven figures."
DeSantis has yet to comment specifically on whether he’d like a state grand jury to look into the matter.
He did, however, welcome the Justice Department to take action.