CNN 5 Things in News stories

1
Presidential race

Vice President Kamala Harris slammed Republican rival Donald Trump in Pennsylvania on Monday over the former president’s comment that the US military should handle “the enemy from within” on Election Day. She portrayed Trump as dangerous and unstable following his remarks Sunday on Fox News, when he said he would call on US forces and the National Guard to suppress what he described as “radical left lunatics.” Trump, who incited violence to try to stay in power after the 2020 election, also said he isn’t worried about his supporters’ actions on November 5. Harris’ campaign plans to seize on his remarks with a new ad that features Trump repeatedly invoking the phrase “the enemy from within” on the campaign trail.

2
FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has resumed door-to-door neighborhood outreaches in some areas affected by Hurricane Helene after authorities arrested one man accused of making a threat against its employees. This comes after aid to several communities was paused in parts of North Carolina over the weekend due to reports of a truckload of militia, amid a backdrop of misinformation about responses to recent storms. Investigators later determined a 44-year-old man in possession of a handgun and rifle acted alone. FEMA has had to deal with a slew of threats and wild rumors about its latest relief efforts, which include an initial $750 payment to many victims. “The contours of this misinformation are unlike anything we’ve seen before,” a senior administration official told CNN last week.

3
Medicare

Medicare Advantage enrollees are encouraged to review their plans during open enrollment, which begins today and runs until December 7. Health experts say insurers are making a flurry of changes that could leave some senior citizens hunting for new policies, paying more out of pocket or getting skimpier supplemental benefits. For example, more than 16 million enrollees this year are in plans with no deductible for any drug. But in 2025, more than 45% of these members will be subject to a deductible for at least some drugs — particularly brand-name or specialty medications — if they stay in the same plan. Some insurers are also cutting back on allowances for dental, hearing and vision benefits.

4
Israeli hostages

The parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American murdered by Hamas militants in Gaza in August, described the “crushing blow” of losing their son and say they fear that other families will receive the same “devastating news” unless world leaders take urgent action to secure the release of the remaining hostages. In the interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, both parents were wearing stickers with “374” written on them to mark the number of days that have passed since the hostages were taken to Gaza by Hamas. As part of its escalated offensive against the militant group in the enclave, the Israeli military has ordered civilians to leave and blocked all food from entering northern Gaza. The UN has warned that Israel is effectively sealing off the area and may be carrying out a “large-scale forced transfer” of civilians, which it said would amount to a war crime.

5
La Niña

A weak La Niña is expected to develop ahead of winter and affect temperatures, precipitation and snow across the US. La Niña is a natural climate pattern that influences global weather marked by cooler-than-average ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. If this year’s La Niña ends up rather weak, winter is expected to be warmer than normal across almost the entire southern half of the US and much of the East. This could mean some winter storms in parts of the East end up wetter, rather than snowier. It’s a complete flip from winter 2023, which favored a wetter South and a drier North. Last winter’s pattern was the warmest on record for the Lower 48 because it was dominated by La Niña’s counterpart El Niño in a world also warming due to fossil fuel pollution.