Israel issues rare warning to Lebanese civilians and Johnson's new strategy to avert a shutdown: Morning Rundown

Sept. 23, 2024, 11:06 AM UTC

House Speaker Mike Johnson makes a deal with Democrats in an attempt to avert a shutdown. Israel launches ‘’extensive’’ strikes across Lebanon. And catch up on the highlights from Week 3 of the NFL.

Here’s what to know today.

House to take up new funding bill as some Republicans fear shutdown

House Speaker Mike Johnson has struck a deal with the White House and top Democrats that would keep the government funded at current levels through Dec. 20.

The House plans to vote this week on the three-month stopgap funding bill as Donald Trump pressures Republicans to shut down the government without policy concessions they have no realistic chance of achieving. The deal, which will be voted on this week, leaves out a provision made by Trump that would revise election law nationwide to require proof of citizenship to vote.

As the House adjourned for the week on Friday, Johnson declined to say whether Trump, whom he has regularly consulted during the funding fight, would be OK with moving a funding package without the citizenship voting component, known as the SAVE Act. Trump and Johnson met in Washington on Thursday.

The federal government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1 unless Congress can pass a short-term funding bill, known as a continuing resolution or CR. Both President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed support for the CR.

The House plans to take up the CR by the middle of the week. While it does not include the SAVE Act, the short-term bill contains $231 million in additional funds for the Secret Service following the latest apparent attempt on Trump’s life on Sept. 15. Johnson’s CR should sail through the House — with backing from a large number of Republicans and Democrats. But there is still a faction of conservatives who are vowing to vote no.

Follow here for live updates.

Israel tells civilians to evacuate as it launches ‘extensive’ strikes across Lebanon

Smoke billows over southern Lebanon following Israeli Strikes

The Israeli military warned civilians in southern Lebanon to move away from Hezbollah positions this morning as it intensified attacks on its neighbor.

“Shortly, the IDF will engage in extensive, precise strikes, against terror targets which have been embedded widely throughout Lebanon,” Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said.

The warning is the first of its kind issued by the IDF in Lebanon, an Israeli military official told NBC News, adding the present campaign only involves aerial strikes. The announcement comes amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah which reached a new heights last week when pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to Hezbollah members exploded in a stunning Israeli operation.

A rare airstrike on Friday then killed at least 45 people in a densely populated suburb of Beirut, including Hezbollah’s senior members as well as dozens of civilians. The militia responded with its own round of attacks with dozens of rockets hurled towards Israel in what was one of its deepest strikes since the war began. Here’s what else to know.

At least 4 dead and 17 injured after gunfire erupts in Birmingham, Alabama

A manhunt is underway for “multiple shooters” who killed four people and injured 17 when they “fired upon a large group of people” in Birmingham, Alabama. Multiple people pulled up in a vehicle, got out and opened fire before they got back inside the vehicle to flee. A total of 21 people were shot, police said.

Police said a preliminary investigation led them to believe the shooters were targeting one person. The shooting happened outside Hush, a lounge in the city’s historic Five Points South nightlife district, according to an NBC affiliate in Birmingham. People were in line waiting to get into the lounge when gunfire erupted. It is the second mass shooting in the city this year. In July, four people were killed at a nightclub.

Highlights from Week 3 of the NFL

The third week of the 2024 NFL season gave us upsets, injuries and some spectacular field goals. Sports editor Greg Rosenstein breaks down the weekend’s best moments: breaks down the weekend’s best moments:

🏈 The Chiefs moved to 3-0 after a 22-17 road win against the Falcons on ‘Sunday Night Football.’ Atlanta had a chance to claim the lead in the final minute but running back Bijan Robinson was stuffed on fourth down. Kansas City took over on downs and proceeded to run out the clock. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdowns with one interception in the victory.

🩹Los Angeles QB Justin Herbert left the Chargers’ 20-10 loss to the Steelers early on Sunday after he appeared to reaggravate the high-ankle sprain that had sidelined him in practice in the days leading up to the game. It is unclear how long their star signal-caller will be sidelined.

💪 Sam Darnold may be the story of the NFL season so far. The Vikings QB had four touchdown passes in a dominant win against the Texans on Sunday as Minnesota remained undefeated. His eight scores this season lead the NFL.

🤩 The best offensive weapon in the NFL? It might just be a kicker. The Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey hit a 65-yard field goal against the Ravens, his 14th in a row beyond 50 yards. The distance was the second longest in NFL history behind Baltimore’s Justin Tucker’s 66-yarder in 2021.

Politics in Brief

Robinson fallout: Four top staff members in Mark Robinson’s campaign for North Carolina governor have stepped down, as the candidate faces calls from Republicans to do the same, after a CNN report alleged Robinson made racist comments years ago on a porn website.

NBC News poll: The latest NBC News national poll shows Harris leading Trump 49%-44%, within the margin of error, while Trump holds advantages on the economy, inflation and the border.

Campaigns: Democrats plan to launch a new messaging campaign dubbing Donald Trump a “chicken” for saying he won’t debate Kamala Harris again.

✦ WANT MORE POLITICS NEWS?

Sign up for From the Politics Desk to get exclusive reporting and analysis delivered to your inbox every weekday evening. Subscribe here.

Read All About It

Hundreds of mourners attended a funeral service for Kevin Mullins, a Kentucky judge allegedly shot by a sheriff last week.
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ public image projected wealth and achievement, but the indictment that led to his arrest paints a more sinister picture of his private life.
Rescuers in Yellowstone National Park searched the area of Eagle Peak in an effort to find a park concession worker who failed to check in at the end of a personal trip.
Olivia Munn and John Mulaney announced the birth of their second child together.

Staff Pick: A steakhouse server makes ends meet in one of America’s least affordable markets

Stefany Serna waits tables at a high-end steakhouse in Coral Gables, Florida, where she makes about $55,000 a year in salary, plus tips. She and her partner, pay $2,250 for their two-bed, one-bath home and hope to save up to get married, buy a house and start a family. But, it’s proving difficult in Miami. The city is ranked as the sixth-least-affordable market in the U.S., and the least affordable on the East Coast. A local real estate broker specializing in food and beverage spaces says that Miami is currently experiencing “restaurant Armageddon” amid a wave of high-profile closures. Serna says her restaurant “is not making any money right now.” The latest in NBC News’ Checkbook Chronicles is a disheartening financial reality of the hurdles for those trying to save for their future.

— Elizabeth Both, associate platforms editor

NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified

Break out your cold-weather wardrobe because fall is officially here! Here’s how to care for your fancier fabrics, from suede to leather.

Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.

Elizabeth Both

Elizabeth Both is an associate platforms editor for NBC News, based in New York.

Sept. 23, 2024, 11:06 AM UTC

By Elizabeth Both

House Speaker Mike Johnson makes a deal with Democrats in an attempt to avert a shutdown. Israel launches ‘’extensive’’ strikes across Lebanon. And catch up on the highlights from Week 3 of the NFL.

Here’s what to know today.

House to take up new funding bill as some Republicans fear shutdown

House Speaker Mike Johnson has struck a deal with the White House and top Democrats that would keep the government funded at current levels through Dec. 20.

The House plans to vote this week on the three-month stopgap funding bill as Donald Trump pressures Republicans to shut down the government without policy concessions they have no realistic chance of achieving. The deal, which will be voted on this week, leaves out a provision made by Trump that would revise election law nationwide to require proof of citizenship to vote.

As the House adjourned for the week on Friday, Johnson declined to say whether Trump, whom he has regularly consulted during the funding fight, would be OK with moving a funding package without the citizenship voting component, known as the SAVE Act. Trump and Johnson met in Washington on Thursday.

The federal government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1 unless Congress can pass a short-term funding bill, known as a continuing resolution or CR. Both President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed support for the CR.

The House plans to take up the CR by the middle of the week. While it does not include the SAVE Act, the short-term bill contains $231 million in additional funds for the Secret Service following the latest apparent attempt on Trump’s life on Sept. 15. Johnson’s CR should sail through the House — with backing from a large number of Republicans and Democrats. But there is still a faction of conservatives who are vowing to vote no.

Follow here for live updates.

Israel tells civilians to evacuate as it launches ‘extensive’ strikes across Lebanon

The Israeli military warned civilians in southern Lebanon to move away from Hezbollah positions this morning as it intensified attacks on its neighbor.

“Shortly, the IDF will engage in extensive, precise strikes, against terror targets which have been embedded widely throughout Lebanon,” Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said.

The warning is the first of its kind issued by the IDF in Lebanon, an Israeli military official told NBC News, adding the present campaign only involves aerial strikes. The announcement comes amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah which reached a new heights last week when pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to Hezbollah members exploded in a stunning Israeli operation.

A rare airstrike on Friday then killed at least 45 people in a densely populated suburb of Beirut, including Hezbollah’s senior members as well as dozens of civilians. The militia responded with its own round of attacks with dozens of rockets hurled towards Israel in what was one of its deepest strikes since the war began. Here’s what else to know.

At least 4 dead and 17 injured after gunfire erupts in Birmingham, Alabama

A manhunt is underway for “multiple shooters” who killed four people and injured 17 when they “fired upon a large group of people” in Birmingham, Alabama. Multiple people pulled up in a vehicle, got out and opened fire before they got back inside the vehicle to flee. A total of 21 people were shot, police said.

Police said a preliminary investigation led them to believe the shooters were targeting one person. The shooting happened outside Hush, a lounge in the city’s historic Five Points South nightlife district, according to an NBC affiliate in Birmingham. People were in line waiting to get into the lounge when gunfire erupted. It is the second mass shooting in the city this year. In July, four people were killed at a nightclub.

Highlights from Week 3 of the NFL

The third week of the 2024 NFL season gave us upsets, injuries and some spectacular field goals. Sports editor Greg Rosenstein breaks down the weekend’s best moments: breaks down the weekend’s best moments:

🏈 The Chiefs moved to 3-0 after a 22-17 road win against the Falcons on ‘Sunday Night Football.’ Atlanta had a chance to claim the lead in the final minute but running back Bijan Robinson was stuffed on fourth down. Kansas City took over on downs and proceeded to run out the clock. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdowns with one interception in the victory.

🩹Los Angeles QB Justin Herbert left the Chargers’ 20-10 loss to the Steelers early on Sunday after he appeared to reaggravate the high-ankle sprain that had sidelined him in practice in the days leading up to the game. It is unclear how long their star signal-caller will be sidelined.

💪 Sam Darnold may be the story of the NFL season so far. The Vikings QB had four touchdown passes in a dominant win against the Texans on Sunday as Minnesota remained undefeated. His eight scores this season lead the NFL.

🤩 The best offensive weapon in the NFL? It might just be a kicker. The Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey hit a 65-yard field goal against the Ravens, his 14th in a row beyond 50 yards. The distance was the second longest in NFL history behind Baltimore’s Justin Tucker’s 66-yarder in 2021.

Politics in Brief

Robinson fallout: Four top staff members in Mark Robinson’s campaign for North Carolina governor have stepped down, as the candidate faces calls from Republicans to do the same, after a CNN report alleged Robinson made racist comments years ago on a porn website.

NBC News poll: The latest NBC News national poll shows Harris leading Trump 49%-44%, within the margin of error, while Trump holds advantages on the economy, inflation and the border.

Campaigns: Democrats plan to launch a new messaging campaign dubbing Donald Trump a “chicken” for saying he won’t debate Kamala Harris again.

✦ WANT MORE POLITICS NEWS?

Sign up for From the Politics Desk to get exclusive reporting and analysis delivered to your inbox every weekday evening. Subscribe here.

Read All About It

Hundreds of mourners attended a funeral service for Kevin Mullins, a Kentucky judge allegedly shot by a sheriff last week.
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ public image projected wealth and achievement, but the indictment that led to his arrest paints a more sinister picture of his private life.
Rescuers in Yellowstone National Park searched the area of Eagle Peak in an effort to find a park concession worker who failed to check in at the end of a personal trip.
Olivia Munn and John Mulaney announced the birth of their second child together.

Staff Pick: A steakhouse server makes ends meet in one of America’s least affordable markets

Stefany Serna waits tables at a high-end steakhouse in Coral Gables, Florida, where she makes about $55,000 a year in salary, plus tips. She and her partner, pay $2,250 for their two-bed, one-bath home and hope to save up to get married, buy a house and start a family. But, it’s proving difficult in Miami. The city is ranked as the sixth-least-affordable market in the U.S., and the least affordable on the East Coast. A local real estate broker specializing in food and beverage spaces says that Miami is currently experiencing “restaurant Armageddon” amid a wave of high-profile closures. Serna says her restaurant “is not making any money right now.” The latest in NBC News’ Checkbook Chronicles is a disheartening financial reality of the hurdles for those trying to save for their future.

— Elizabeth Both, associate platforms editor