Harris sits down with Fox News, Trump holds town hall

Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on Fox News to talk about topics ranging from immigration and whether she would continue policies implemented by the Biden administration.  And what led to the tragic fatal fall of British pop star Liam Payne in Argentina. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024.

Harris sits down with Fox News, Trump holds town hall

With less than 20 days until America heads to the polls to elect the next president, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump appeared on Fox News Wednesday, Oct. 16. While Fox News is a familiar outlet for Trump, this was Harris’ first interview with the outlet since becoming the Democratic nominee.

In the one-on-one sit-down interview, Harris told Fox News Anchor Bret Baier her presidency would not be the same as Joe Biden’s previous four years after being questioned about past comments she made, saying she would not have done anything differently than the president. 

“So, you’re not Joe Biden, you’re not Donald Trump, but nothing comes to mind that you would do differently?” Baier asked. 

“Let me be very clear: my presidency would not be a continuation of Joe Biden’s presidency, and like every new president that comes to office, I will bring my life experiences and professional experiences and fresh and news ideas,” Harris said. “I represent a new generation of leadership. I, for example, am someone who has not spent the majority of my career in Washington, D.C.” 

At times during the interview the anchor and the vice president spoke over one another to get their point across. One of those times was when they touched on the topic of immigration and the border.

When pressed about whether she had concerns about President Biden’s health, Harris noted Biden is not the one running for president, Trump is and mentioned former senior Trump officials who said he is not fit for office. 

Former President Trump’s town hall with Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner also aired Wednesday. It had an audience made up of all women.

During the event, Trump touched on the topics of abortion and IVF, where he said he was the “father of IVF.”

“We really are the party for I.V.F.,” Trump said. “We want fertilization, and it’s all the way, and the Democrats tried to attack us on it, and we’re out there on I.V.F., even more than them.”

In response to Trump’s “father of IVF” comment, Vice President Harris told reporters it was “quite bizarre.” 

A Trump campaign spokesperson said Trump made a joke “in jest when he was enthusiastically answering a question about IVF as he strongly supports widespread access to fertility treatments for women and families.”

Judge invalidates 7 new Georgia election rules

As early voting is underway in Georgia, a judge has ruled seven new rules put in place after the 2020 election are “illegal, unconstitutional, and void.” Among those were three particularly controversial rules — one requiring ballots be hand-counted after polls close and two that had to do with the certification of election results. 

On Wednesday, the judge ruled the state Election Board did not have the authority to make those rules and ordered them to be immediately removed. It must also inform all state and local election officials that the rules have been invalidated and not to follow them. 

Also in Georgia Wednesday, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who charged former President Trump with interfering in the 2020 election, asked an appeals court to reinstate multiple charges against him and his co-defendants that had been tossed out by the trial court judge earlier this year. 

Willis argued the judge made a mistake in dropping six of the charges against Trump related to Solicitation of Violation of Oath by a Public Officer. That ruling removed three of the charges Trump was facing in the case. The same judge later tossed two more counts against Trump.

US bombers strike Houthi weapons facilities in Yemen

The United States bombed Houthi weapons storage facilities in Yemen Wednesday night. U.S. defense officials said the strikes were authorized by President Biden.

U.S. Central Command Conducts Multiple Strikes on Underground Iran-Backed Houthi Weapons Facilities pic.twitter.com/6YjQRVFvSD

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) October 17, 2024

The “precision strikes” by the B-2 stealth bombers targeted five underground storage facilities used by the Iran-backed rebel group. Defense officials said those facilities housed advanced weapons that the Islamist military organization has been using to attack military and civilian vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for months now.

Los Angeles Archdiocese to pay $880M to clergy sex abuse victims

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $880 million to victims of sexual abuse by clergy dating back decades. 

Attorneys for more than 1,300 people who say they suffered abuse at the hands of local catholic priests, reached the settlement after months of negotiations with the archdiocese. It puts an end to more than two decades of litigation against the most populous archdiocese in the United States.

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has reached an agreement in principle worth $880 million to compensate more than a thousand decades-old claims of childhood sexual abuse.

Read the latest from @angelusnews: https://t.co/e1d1Icg4Zb pic.twitter.com/9qTIgE7PlU

— Archdiocese of LA (@lacatholics) October 16, 2024

The archdiocese has previously paid $740 million to victims in various settlements. This settlement put the total payout at more than $1.5 billion, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Liam Payne, member of One Direction, dies at 31 after fall from hotel balcony

The music industry and fans around the world are mourning the death of Liam Payne, a member of the British boy band One Direction. He died Wednesday at 31 years old. 

According to authorities in Argentina, Payne fell from a third-story balcony at a hotel in Buenos Aires. The circumstances surrounding his death are under investigation, however, the Associated Press reported police rushed to the hotel in response to a call about an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.” 

Since the band took an indefinite hiatus in 2016, Payne embarked on a solo career. The singer has been open about his struggles with alcoholism, announcing in July 2023 that he had been sober for six months after seeking treatment.

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A post shared by Charlie Puth (@charlieputh)

Pop star Charlie Puth, who collaborated with Payne in the past, remembered the One Direction singer on social media saying, “Liam was always so kind to me. I can not believe that he is gone…may he rest in peace.”

Payne is survived by his 7-year-old son, his parents, and two older sisters.

Pizza Hut to open “Personal Pan Pizza Hut” pop-up location in New York City

For those craving pizza but not wanting to share it, Pizza Hut has come up with a concept just for you. 

It’s opened the Personal Pan Pizza Hut, a small restaurant experience only offering the pizza chain’s popular 6-inch personal pan pizza. Guests who are able to snag a reservation can customize their pizza any way they want, in their personal hut.

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The Personal Pan Pizza hut will only be around in New York City for two days sometime later this month, so spots are limited. Reservations open Thursday, Oct. 17, and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.