Why relations between the U.S. and China will be rocky regardless of whether Harris or Trump wins the presidency. Harvey Weinstein is undergoing treatment for cancer. And LeBron James and his son Bronny could make NBA history tonight.
Here’s what to know today.
U.S.-China relations expected to be bumpy no matter who is in the White House
Harris or Trump? With Election Day two weeks away, the question looms over the U.S. as other countries watch from afar. Chinese President Xi Jinping has not expressed any preference for the outcome. But experts said there might be a slight preference among Chinese officials for Vice President Kamala Harris to win the presidency.
Harris is viewed by Beijing as more likely to pursue “more manageable” policies introduced by President Joe Biden. But “it’s a weak preference,” said Brian Wong, a fellow at the University of Hong Kong’s Centre on Contemporary China and the World.
Former President Donald Trump, on the other hand, is “highly unpredictable,” said Jia Qingguo, a political adviser to the Chinese government and former dean of the School of International Studies at Peking University. “And he can be very emotional. He may take measures that would create huge problems between China and the U.S.”
Regardless of which candidate wins, experts such as Wong and Jia predict a bumpy road ahead.
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When China has come up on the campaign trail, it has mostly been in the context of tariffs. Harris is expected to continue Biden’s targeted tariffs and restrictions on key Chinese tech sectors. And Trump has suggested harsher trade policies toward China, like imposing a blanket tariff of 60% or higher on goods from China.
Taiwan is another issue that could affect U.S.-China relations, especially if the U.S. were to use its military to help the island defend against Chinese aggression. Neither candidate has said if they would do so.
And then there’s a question of who would advise Harris or Trump on China policy.
More election coverage:
➡️ Trump and Harris have pulled back on “off-the-record” stops to diners, ice cream shops and other small businesses. Here’s why.
➡️ McDonald’s is the latest battlefield in a campaign fight to reach low-wage voters.
➡️ Some in Harris’ campaign are concerned about whether she can win the three “blue wall” states that helped the last two Democratic presidents win the White House.
➡️ In an interview with NBC News, Usha Vance talks about her role in her husband JD Vance’s vice presidential campaign and the reason behind her latest read, “The Iliad.”
➡️ While ramping up his efforts to help re-elect Trump, Elon Musk is raising eyebrows across the political world.
➡️ Experts weigh in on the legality of Musk’s daily $1 million lottery for registered swing state voters who sign his super PAC’s petition.
➡️ Three states are asking voters to decide whether to remove language banning same-sex marriages from their state constitutions.
➡️ Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy cites his business acumen as a reason voters should elect him. But the aerial firefighting company he helmed until July is losing money and hasn’t delivered on the benefits it promised to a Montana county four years ago.
Harvey Weinstein diagnosed with cancer
Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein is undergoing treatment at a New York prison for chronic myeloid leukemia, an uncommon form of cancer of the bone marrow, two sources said. The news of his diagnosis comes amid a myriad of other health issues. Last month, Weinstein underwent emergency heart surgery to alleviate a significant amount of fluid in his lungs and heart.
Weinstein, whose alleged sexual misconduct fueled the #MeToo movement, was indicted last month on new charges after his New York conviction was overturned earlier this year. Read the full story.
LeBron James and son Bronny set to mark an NBA first
It’s the start of a new NBA season. While fans are in for months of exciting matchups, one of the season’s most anticipated moments could come tonight, during the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. It’s possible LeBron James, entering his record-tying 22nd season, will play alongside his oldest son Bronny James — a first in NBA regular-season history. Sports reporter Andrew Greif breaks down the possibility of a marquee moment and how things have been going for the rookie.
🏀 Everyone wants to see LeBron and Bronny on the court at the same time, but does it make any basketball sense? Watching LeBron and Bronny make history is not even a subplot in tonight’s game. It’s the main event. But judging by Bronny’s preseason production, it wouldn’t make sense for him to earn much playing time over other backup wings.
But imagine a scenario in which it’s late in a quarter during a close game, and the Lakers make a substitution to get a defensive stop. In that case, it could actually be feasible to insert Bronny to use his strengths as a defender while also creating the moment everyone wants to see.
🏀 Did Bronny do enough in the preseason to earn minutes in the opener? Almost from the night the Lakers drafted Bronny, the team has made it clear their 55th-overall pick is a “development player.” Bronny hasn’t done much to dispute that label, shooting 29% from the field in the preseason and 1-of-12 on three-pointers. Still, with the G League season still several weeks away, Bronny will be with the Lakers for the time being, and that could mean opportunities to get on the court.
🏀 Does Bronny have any hoops skills his dad doesn’t? The short answer is no. That isn’t to degrade Bronny’s skills, but when your father is a once-in-a-generation talent, it’s hard to be superior.
🏀 Have any other pro sports father-son duos played together? Many sons have followed their famous fathers into professional sports, but the Griffey family is the most famous example of a son playing alongside his father. Ken Griffey Jr. first played outfield next to Ken Griffey Sr. in 1990 for the Seattle Mariners, becoming the first father-son duo to play together in MLB history. The two will be in attendance at tonight’s game.
Read more about Bronny James’ potential NBA debut.
Read All About It
- A juvenile suspect was taken into custody after five people, including three children were fatally shot in Washington state, authorities said.
- Testimony from Robert Roberson, the Texas inmate whose execution in a “shaken baby syndrome” case was narrowly avoided last week, has been postponed. Yesterday’s state House hearing included testimony from TV psychologist Dr. Phil and novelist John Grisham.
- The Vessel, the unique Manhattan landmark that closed in 2021 after a series of suicides, reopened with additional safety features.
- The men who make up the exonerated “Central Park Five” filed a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump.
Staff Pick: Dodgers-Yankees World Series will be a start-studded showdown
Love for the Dodgers runs deep in here in Los Angeles, and now that the team has made it to the World Series, the excitement is on another level. It’s L.A. versus New York — two cities that everyone loves to compare even when baseball isn’t involved. It’s West Coast versus East Coast. And, as NBC News correspondent Sam Brock explains, this World Series will be a battle between the two largest markets in the MLB and showcase some of the greatest talents in the game today. — Elizabeth Robinson, newsletter editor
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
NBC Select’s editors rounded up the best sales across the internet this week, including deals from Lowe’s, Joybird and Cozy Earth. Meanwhile, if you have an unpleasant smell in your kitchen that you can’t seem to track down, it could be your garbage disposal. Here’s a step-by-step guide to cleaning it.
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