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Today’s Top Stories

Vice President Harris spoke to CNN last night for her first major interview as the Democratic presidential candidate. She was accompanied by her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Harris said she would appoint a Republican to her Cabinet if elected and talked about her policy changes over the years. Republicans have accused her of flip-flopping on issues like fracking and enforcement at the southern border. She has also been accused of dodging interviews. How did Harris do? Here are six takeaways.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Vice President Kamala Harris are interviewed by CNN’s Dana Bash at Kim’s Cafe in Savannah, Georgia, on Aug. 29, 2024. This is the first time Harris has spoken to a reporter for an in-depth, on-the-record conversation since President Joe Biden ended his presidential bid in July. (Will Lanzoni/CNN)

Will Lanzoni/CNN

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Will Lanzoni/CNN

• 🎧 It wasn’t an “earth-shattering interview”, NPR’s Asma Khalid tells First up. Harris offered a largely continuation of President Biden’s policies. She acknowledged that the economy is one of the Democrats’ biggest vulnerabilities, but defended what the Biden administration has done on things like lowering Medicare drug prices and creating manufacturing jobs. She spoke in vague terms about strengthening the middle class. Policy proposals aren’t central to her campaign strategy. Instead, she talks about herself as a new way forward. Khalid says it’s interesting that Harris and former President Donald Trump have never met in person before. That makes the anticipated Sept. 10 debate perhaps one of the most important moments of this campaign.

Trump responded to Harris and Walz’s interview at a rally in Wisconsin, a state where the outcome is still uncertain. In addition to his usual talk about immigration and inflation, Trump opened the meeting with a question about IVF, a surprising political topic in the post-Deer reproductive rights landscape.

• 🎧 Trump says he supports IVF and wants it to be widely availablesays Clay Masters of Minnesota Public Radio. But abortion remains an issue he struggles with. In an interview with NBC News earlier in the day, he indicated that he would vote for abortion rights on the Florida ballot. The campaign quickly pushed back, saying that Trump believes Florida’s six-week abortion ban is too short, but he has not yet said how he would vote. During the town hall meeting, he accused Walz, without evidence, of supporting third-trimester abortions. He also attacked the Minnesota governor over a bill he signed that made tampons available in school bathrooms across the state.

Nine people have died and more have been hospitalized due to listeria, a bacteria transmitted through foodmarking the worst listeria outbreak since 2011. The cases stem from contaminated Boar’s Head deli meat. The plant has recalled millions of pounds of product. The first recall was issued in July and was tied to a ready-to-eat liverwurst product. It has since expanded to dozens of products, including sliced ​​hams, sausages and breads, all made in the same Virginia plant as the liverwurst.

• 🎧 NPR’s Yuki Noguchi says one reason cases are still popping up is because the products have a long shelf life. and they may still be in people’s refrigerators. Some of the recalled meats have expiration dates that extend into October. It’s also a huge amount of potentially contaminated meat: more than 70 million pounds. People should look for a specific number — 12612 — on the inspection label. If recalled meat is found, you’re advised to clean your refrigerator, countertops, and anything that came into contact with it.

Life advice

Are you bothered by fruit flies? You’re not alone. This is a common problem, especially in the summer, says Laurie Stevison, an associate professor of biology at Auburn University. She shares ways to help you get rid of it.

• 🍌 If you take fruit homeespecially the overripe variety, wash it with water to remove any eggs.
• 🍌 Try not to avoid baked goods with blueberries, bananas or other fruit.
• 🍌 Also check your sink. Fruit flies can live in the drain.

Listen to learn more about how to remove fruit flies from your drain or with a trap.

Weekend Choices

Bill Skarsgård in The Crow.

Larry Horricks/Lionsgate

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Larry Horricks/Lionsgate

Look what NPR watch, read and listen this weekend to:

🍿Movies: The Crow is a brand new reimagining of the comic book series that inspired the original film. Bill Skarsgård plays a man who is brutally murdered along with his soulmate and returns to life as an unstoppable figure of vengeance. Pop Culture Happy Hour presenters discuss how this film compares to the original.

📺 Television: Season 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is finally back after two years. The first three episodes are available to watch on Amazon Prime. NPR’s Glen Weldon has seen all eight episodes and has a spoiler-free review.

📚 Books: Did you know that Albert Einstein and Franz Kafka lived in Prague at the same time with the same circle of friends? Ken Krimstein’s new graphic novel, Einstein in Kafkaland: How Albert Fell Down the Rabbit Hole and Invented the Universe playfully explores the possibilities of what happened when two 20th century geniuses made their career breakthroughs separately, using an archive of letters, diaries and research.

🎵 Music: In honor of the DC Jazz Festival’s 20th anniversary, we invited artist-in-residence bassist Corcoran Holt to curate a playlist featuring the Washington, D.C. natives and other bandleaders who will be performing. Check it out here.

🥗 Food: Content creator Logan Moffitt is inspiring many on TikTok with almost daily posts of cucumber salad recipe videos. Check out some of the recipes from him and other chefs.

🎲 Games: The tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons is turning 50 this year. NPR critic Glen Weldon shares why he loved playing the game as a closeted teenager and how he came across the fierce, shoulder-padded illusionist who would become his first character.

❓Quiz: See how I listened to the news this week and got a high score on the weekly quiz? Very subdued. Very mindful.

3 Things You Need to Know Before You Go

A White-browed Sparrow Weaver inspects a nest under construction, having just been given some grass by another member of the group.

Maria Cristina Tello-Ramos

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Maria Cristina Tello-Ramos

1. For birds, nest building is also culture formation. According to a new report in Science.
2. An office retreat in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains turned into a worst-case scenario for one of the 15 workers when he became separated from his colleagues. He had to find his own way down the steep terrain of a mountain.
3. A group of authors and the country’s largest publishers have filed a lawsuit against Florida officials challenging a 2023 state law limiting books in school libraries. (via WMNF)

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.