North Korean troops in Russia; Harris Polls: NPR

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Today's top stories

With just two weeks until the end of the election, a new poll suggests that young voters' initial enthusiasm for Vice President Harris may be starting to fade. When she first joined the campaign, Harris generated viral memes, drew large crowds at rallies and saw a surge in polls, particularly among young Americans. However, a recent GenForward poll conducted exclusively by NPR shows that while Harris is doing better among young Americans than President Biden did before he withdrew from the race, she is struggling to reach the historically high levels of support he has received from voters under 30 in the 2020 election. This NPR graphic breaks down young people's support for Harris and other candidates by race and ethnicity.

Supporters watch Vice President Harris' speech during a rally in Flint, Michigan.

Dominic Gwinn/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

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Dominic Gwinn/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

The United States, Ukraine and South Korea claim to have evidence suggesting North Korea has sent troops to Russiapossibly to support Russia in the conflict against Ukraine. Both Russia and North Korea have rejected these claims, which suggest an escalation of the war.

• 🎧 US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has not disclosed the evidence received from the USsaid NPR's Anthony Kuhn. Alleged satellite photos of Russian troop transports and videos of North Korean troops receiving uniforms have not been confirmed. The US is not sure whether North Korean troops will fight in Ukraine, but if they do, it would be a very serious matter. South Korea has said it will not stand idly by while North Korea sends troops.

Israeli forces have cut off food, water and medicine in the northern Gaza Strip, which is besieging the area. The people living there believe it is an attempt to permanently occupy the area and prevent the return of Palestinians. The Israeli military claims it is hindering Hamas militants' reconstruction efforts. Hundreds of Palestinians, including doctors and aid workers, have been killed in recent days.

• 🎧 According to the Israeli military, the operation arrested hundreds of militants and allowed around 20,000 civilians to evacuate from Jabalia, where the siege is most intense, to Gaza Citytells NPR's Aya Batrawy First up. A World Health Organization team reached a hospital in northern Gaza this week and said it had been blocked by Israel from providing supplies such as blood bags, fuel and food. “The background to all this is that there are increasing calls in Israel from prominent members of this current right-wing government to permanently expel Palestinians and build Jewish settlements in their place,” says Batrawy.

We, the voters

Mary Mellinger, 61, left, and her husband Andrew Mellinger, 63, stand together for a portrait with their goats at their farm in Ronks, PA on Friday, October 18, 2024.

Hannah Yoon for NPR

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Hannah Yoon for NPR

NPR is visiting six important swing states That will probably decide this year's historic election. This week, Morning Edition is in Pennsylvania to listen to voters about what matters to them and how that will impact their vote.

In swing state Pennsylvania, Lancaster County rarely changes political parties in presidential elections. Residents consistently vote for the Republican candidate. However, Mary Mellinger, who describes herself as conservative, feels that her politics are no longer in line with the majority in her district. Mary and her husband Andrew Mellinger are the owners of Linden Dale Farm. They say one of their top concerns this election season is affordable health care. They have indicated that they will not vote Republican in this election, but have not explicitly stated whether they will vote for Harris. Here's what they have to say about the issues affecting them in their rural county.

Today's listening

Chappell Roan performs during the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival on Sunday, June 16, 2024, in Manchester, Tennessee. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

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Amy Harris/Amy Harris/Invision/AP/Invision

Lately, pop music by female artists has provided an outlet to express frustration. These artists incorporate screams into their music to express their anger over various topics such as failed relationships, jealous fans, and societal norms. They even encourage their concert audience to join in and let go of their own frustrations. To Morning editionPsychotherapist Jennifer Cox discusses the importance of this trend in the music industry.

3 things you should know before you go

Malcolm Campbell (left) and Don Lawson from their yearbooks in the 1980s.

Malcolm Campbell

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Malcolm Campbell

1. Malcolm Campbell has a PhD in molecular biology and has been a lecturer for three decades. He credits his high school civics teacher and unsung hero Don Lawson for helping him understand the true value of education.
2. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has fined Apple and Goldman Sachs $89 million for allegedly harming hundreds of thousands of Apple cardholders through the improper processing of disputed transactions and the use of deceptive marketing practices.
3. Boeing engineering companies voted to reject the company's latest contract proposal yesterday, extending a grueling strike that has already lasted more than 40 days.

This newsletter was published by Suzanne Nuyen.