Today in one sentence: Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel after Israel launched a ground invasion into Lebanon to pursue Hezbollah; nearly 50,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association are on strike over wages and guarantees that automated technology won’t be used to replace human workers; Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said "the economy is in solid shape," adding that while more rate cuts are expected, the size and speed "will depend on the data"; and Tim Walz and JD Vance will face off in a 90-minute debate hosted by CBS News tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern.

1/ Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel after Israel launched a ground invasion into Lebanon to pursue Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed Lebanese militia. The strikes also follow Israel’s killing of Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah last week. Most of the missiles were intercepted — including with help from U.S. naval destroyers — and there are no reports of deaths inside Israel. The Biden administration described Iran’s attack as “defeated and ineffective,” but acknowledged that “this is a significant escalation” and “there will be severe consequences.” Iran, nevertheless, warned that Israel would face “a crushing defeat” if it responds with force. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded, saying “Iran made a big mistake this evening, and it will pay for it.” He added: “Whoever attacks us, we will attack them.” Israel is at war with two of Iran’s allied militias – Hamas and Hezbollah – and the airstrikes risks a wider war in the Middle East. The U.N. Security Council, meanwhile, will hold an emergency meeting to discuss Iran’s attacks on Israel and the threat of a widening war in the region. (New York Times / Washington Post / NPR / Politico / Associated Press / Axios / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg / CNBC / NBC News / ABC News / CNN)

  • Why Did Israel Send Troops Into Lebanon? “Israel says it aims to cripple Hezbollah’s forces in an area of southern Lebanon that the armed group controls.” (New York Times)

2/ Nearly 50,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association are on strike over wages and guarantees that automated technology won’t be used to replace human workers. The strike – the first by the union since 1977 – affects 36 ports from Maine to Texas, and is expected to cause an immediate disruption to global supply chains that connect the U.S. to the global economy. The ports account for more than half of the nation’s imports, and the economic loss from the shutdown is expected to be between $3.8 billion to $4.5 billion a day. Biden called on the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents port employers, “to come to the table and present a fair offer” and “to negotiate a fair contract with the longshoremen that reflects the substantial contribution they’ve been making to our economic comeback.” As of Monday, USMX had offered the union raises of “nearly 50%” over six years and the same limits on automation that was in the last contract. The union wants a complete ban on automation and a 61.5% raise over six years – down from the 77% the union had asked for earlier in negotiations. (New York Times / NPR / Washington Post / CNN / Associated Press / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal / ABC News / CNBC)

3/ Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said “the economy is in solid shape,” adding that while more rate cuts are expected, the size and speed “will depend on the data.” Fed officials lowered interest rates by half a percentage points – 50 basis points – at their September meeting, and penciled in two more quarter-point rate cuts in November and December. It was the first reduction in more than four years. “We’re looking at it as a process that will play out over some time,” Powell said, referring to the Fed’s interest rate reductions, “not something that we need to go fast on. It’ll depend on the data, the speed at which we actually go.” Inflation fell to 2.2% in August, and the unemployment rate ticked down last month to 4.2% – nearly a full percentage point higher than the low of 3.4% it reached last year. Hiring, meanwhile, has slowed to an average of 116,000 jobs a month in the past three month – about half its pace a year ago. (Associated Press / Washington Post / New York Times / Axios)

⏭️ Notably Next: Tim Walz and JD Vance will face off in a 90-minute debate hosted by CBS News tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern. It’s the first and likely only vice presidential debate before the November election.

  • 📅 The WTFJHT Calendar: Now until then.

  • 📺 TODAY: CBS vice presidential debate.
    📆 Oct. 6: Last day to register to vote in some states.
    ⛔️ Oct. 14: Indigenous Peoples’ Day – No WTFJHT.
    📺 Oct. 23: [Proposed] Presidential debate.
    🗳️ Nov. 5: Election Day.
    ⚖️ Nov. 26: Trump is sentenced.

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  • 📈 Election Polling Tracker

  • Harris +4.0 points (New York Times)
    Harris +2.6 points (538)
    Harris +3.4 points (Nate Silver)
    Harris +3.7 points (The Economist)
    Harris +2.0 points (RealClearPolitics)
    Harris +3.4 points (Election Betting Odds)

  • 🔮 Election Forecast Tracker

  • Harris wins 56 times out of 100. Trump wins 44 times out of 100. (538)
    Harris wins 56 times out of 100. Trump wins 44 times out of 100. (Nate Silver)
    Harris wins 60 times out of 100. Trump wins 40 times out of 100. (The Economist)