g "top story." i'm tom llamas in new york city. stay right there, more news on the way. s on the way. vice president kamala harris delivering one of the biggest speeches of her political career, making her 2024 closing

argument from the same place donald trump spoke on january 6. the promises she's making with less than one week until the election. reproductive rights are on the ballot in several states, including florida where a group of republicans who support abortion rights is making the case to enshrine those rights in the sunshine state law. north korea's top diplomat visits russia as vladimir putin presides over nuclear training exercises. we're live with what the apparent show of force means for the ongoing war with ukraine. should elephants be considered people? that's the legal argument one animal rights group is making in colorado. we take you inside the unusual case. and remembering teri garr, the actress known for her roles in young frankenstein and tootsie has died at 79. we look back at her life and legacy on this wednesday, october 30th. "early today" starts right now.

good morning. i'm frances rivera. with only six days to go, the candidates will continue to crisscross battleground states today. both nominees will end the day in wisconsin. former president trump will be in green bay with packers' legend brett favre. vice president harris will treat her supporters to another concert with musical acts like mumford and sons and gracie y abrams. harris has made what could be the most important address of her campaign. a closing argument to voters about why they should put their faith in her as a leader. brie jackson has more on this historic address. >> reporter: a critical moment in the 2024 presidential race. vice president harris making the case that the former president is a threat to democracy. delivering her closing argument from the ellipse as a reminder of the day trump urged his supporters to go to the u.s. capitol on january 6th. >> and sent an armed mob to the

united states capitol to overturn the will of the people in a free and fair election. >> reporter: harris sending an optimistic message about the country's future if she's elected. >> i will deliver tax cuts to working people and the middle class. i will make sure you have a chance, not just to get by, but to get ahead. >> reporter: former president trump arguing that harris is the one dividing the country. >> a campaign of destruction. but really, perhaps more than anything else, it's a campaign of hate. >> reporter: after backlash from remarks made at his madison square garden rally where comedian called puerto rico a floating island of garbage, the former president saying -- >> the love in that room. it was breathtaking. >> reporter: former president trump zeroing in on immigration, highlighting personal stories of americans hurt by migrant crime

and laying out his solutions if elected to a second term. which include imposing a prison sentence for illegal border crossers. >> they serve ten years in prison. they won't come back. and if that's not long enough, we'll have to do something else, but we don't want them back. >> reporter: both candidates making the argument that they should lead the country. voters will have the final say. in washington, brie jackson, nbc news. former president trump also responded last night to president biden who quickly faced backlash after speaking on the latino voter outreach call. the president was reacting to the comments made at trump's new york rally about puerto rico, and he said this. >> the only garbage i see floating out there is his supporters. his, his demonization is unconscionable. >> remember hillary? she said deplorable? that didn't work out. garbage, i think is worse, right? but he doesn't know. you have to, please forgive him.

please forgive him. for he not knoweth what he said. >> president biden clarified his remarks overnight saying he was calling the hateful rhetoric spewed by trump's supporter as garbage and that the comments at that rally don't reflect who we are as a nation. the supreme court has rejected robert f. kennedy jr.'s plea to be removed from the ballot in two swing states. he suspended his campaign in august and he endorsed donald trump. he sought to have his name taken off b off ballots in wisconsin and mich michigan. russia and north korea continue to make shockwaves after vladimir putin watched nuclear training exercises from the kremlin yesterday. that included practicing launches of ballistic missiles

in what's being seen as a show of force. north korea's foreign minister also arrived, though the reason for the visit is unclear. it reenforces the deepening relationship between the two countries after north korea sent thousands of troops to russia to fight against ukraine. let's go live to claudio lavanga. good morning. >> reporter: good morning, frances. that's right. on tuesday, the pentagon confirmed there are north korean troops in russia, including this region of kursk where ukraine launched a major in incursion a they still hold some territory. now president biden said that if the north korean soldiers do cross into ukraine that it will be fair game, and ukraine should strike back. a similar reaction came from the president of ukraine, volodymyr zelenskyy. he wrote on his x account that the war is now becoming

internationalized and goes beyond two countries, while south korean said that if north korean soldiers do cross and join the fighting to ukraine they will start supplying weapons to ukraine as well. now, as you mentioned, the, they're both russia and north korean state media say north korea as foreign minister traveled to russia for the second time in six weeks. it's not clear who she will meet andm and what she hwill do. a lawmaker said that he thinks she's there to discuss the possibilities to send, of sending more north korean troops into russia and especially to see what north korea will get in return of that. frances? >> claudio lavanga, thank you. suspect has been arrested after a standoff at the four seasons hotel in atlanta that saw entire floors sealed off and traffic halted. police initially responded to a dispute between a man and a

worker at the building. the man then barricaded himself in a residence, shooting from the balcony and through doors and walls. one police officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries. cops returned fire, later breaching the door and apprehending the suspect. he was taken to the hospital with unspecified injuries. turning to the latest on the deadly mcdonald's e. coli outbreak. the fast food ceo now apologizing to customers in a call to shareholders. he said the outbreak, which was possibly linked to onions on the chain's quarter pounder, has been contained. he offered condolences to the customers affected. mcdonald's says it plans to resume sales of the quarter pounder in certain restaurants this week. much of the country is bracing for severe weather today. nbc meteorologist angie lassman is tracking the storm chances for us. good morning, angie. >> we do have the chance for some of these stronger storms to

develop across the plains and the midwest today. we've got really warm conditions ahead of this front as it works to the east. we're going to see the potential for some of these tornados too, specifically in eastern parts of kansas. by tomorrow the rain unfortunately works across parts of the great lakes, stretching down to the gulf coast for halloween. then we start to turn our attention to the weekend. here's where we're looking, though, this afternoon and tonight for the strongest storms. kansas city in the bull's eye. we'll see wind gusts and hail and tornados in that lighter pink area that you see there. the potential for large tornados. now meanwhile temperatures are continuing to run warm. we've got 80 degrees in saginaw today. indianapolis, 81 in huntington and washington, d.c. will be near record for the locations for at least today. the next couple days we'll start to see a cool down. but notice what happens for your halloween forecast. rain from the mid section of the country, out west plenty of sunshine for parts of the southwest. the east coast 40s.

80 for detroit, columbus and indianapolis. mid-70s for new york. and that's a look at your forecast, frances, back to you. actress teri garr has passed away at the age of 79. she wrackedracked up more than credits in film and television. anne thompson has a look back at her life and career. >> reporter: teri garr was no dumb blond, but few played the role better. >> would you like to have a holiday? >> reporter: the ditzy lab assistant in "young frankenstein." dustin hoffman's actress friend

in "tootsie". earning an academy award nomination. she could play other roles, too, featured in "close encounters of the third countdown", and "mr. mom", with a young michael keaton. she got her start as a dancer in elvis presley films and her break on ""star trek"". she would become a frequent and favorite guest of david letterman on his talk show. >> dave? >> yeah? >> your hair looks good. >> reporter: and phoebe's mom on "friends". >> you know, i wanted to tell you yesterday, but i just, i felt all floopy. >> reporter: struggling for years with an illness, finally diagnosed with mult pple sclerosis. survived by a daughter and grandson in roles that will keep future generations laughing. anne thompson, nbc news. "early today" is back in a

minute with a push in florida to win over republicans on abortion rights. and why airlines might owe you more than you think when you run into turbulence during a trip. n into turbulence during a trip. now what's going around is 12-hour cough relief. and the giggles. the family that takes delsym together, feels better together. (vo) margaret is eating progresso chicken noodle soup the family that takes delsym together, with coin cut carrots and tender white meat chicken. that gives her the idea to take a sick day and finish binge watching her latest obsession. (margaret) mmmm. (vo) when you make it progresso, you've made it. ♪♪ vicks vapostick provides soothing non-medicated vicks vapors. easy to apply for the whole family.

vicks vapostick. and try new vaposhower max for steamy vicks vapors. this election year, abortion rights are on the ballot in several states, including florida, where more than 6 million people have already voted. and, as laura jarrett tells us, advocates are making their case to republicans in living rooms across the state. >> thank you all so much for coming. >> reporter: in this suburban living room, a group of women united over a single issue. >> i am a pro-choice republican. there are a lot of women i know who are just like me. >> reporter: a life -long republican in florida, carol whitmore is laser focussed on mobilizing others like her to vote in favor of abortion right theirs election. this election. >> we decided to start this group, republican women for

freedom. it was to give republicans and others a safe place to talk about their issuis issue and ta facts. >> reporter: how did you get involved in the issue of abortion rights? >> when i was young,ly t i had have an abortion. >> reporter: she's using informal house parties like this one to reach conservative women in private, hoping to galvanize support on amendment four, a proposal that would wipe out the state's existing six-week abortion ban and restore access to the procedure up to the point of fetal viability. >> we want you to get the message out that nobody messes with our bodies. >> reporter: florida, one of nearly a dozen states with abortion rights on the ballot this election. but the only one that requires a 60% super majority, meaning it means bipartisan support to pass. agreement like we found with jane and her daughter beth. so mom liberal, daughter more moderate. yet, on this issue you're completely aligned.

>> absolutely. >> there are a lot of women like me that might be fiscally conservative but socially 100% that we believe a woman has a right to choose who decides what happens to her body. >> reporter: jane at times growing emotional. >> we had no legal abortion. and i fought, all my life, to get this going. and then it was settled. roe versus wade. wow! yay! and all of a sudden? it's overturned? now we're fighting all over again. >> reporter: but there is deep division among republicans. governor ron desantis who signed the six-week ban into law has been actively campaigning for the amendment to fail. >> if you don't know what this would do, you should vote no. this is something that is going to be a part of florida forever. >> reporter: while former president trump said the six-week ban went too far, he later changed his stance saying he would vote against the

amendment. but back in manatee county, carol is staying the course. you're in the second-most conservative county. >> in florida. >> reporter: in florida. >> yes. trump will probably win my county. but, on this issue, the women are going to speak up. >> reporter: laura jarrett, nbc news, lakewood ranch, florida. still to come, a scary movie reunion, nearly two decades in the making. the team that kick started the iconic parody series is back for a new generation of horror movies. w generation of horror movies. only when i see flakes. then i switch back to my regular shampoo. you should use it every wash, otherwise the flakes will come back. he's right, you know. is that tiny troy? the ingredients in head & shoulders keep the microbes that cause flakes at bay. microbes, really? they're always on your scalp... but good news, there's no itchiness, dryness or flakes down here. i love tiny troy. and his tiny gorgeous hair. make every wash count! and for stubborn dandruff, try head & shoulders clinical strength. *air wick* how far would you go to set your home ambiance?

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hey, guys, it's billy. i am back on the street with the one and only will ferrell. for another dollar, what's your favorite will ferrell movie? >> oh. i worked in racing. >> oh, wow! >> i don't have time for this whole biography. >> there he goes. billy eichner returning to the streets of new york on a mission to get out the vote. the comedian revived billy on the street for the first time since 2022 and was joined right

there by will ferrell. you see it on their shirts. loud white men for kamala. they reminded pedestrians to vote next week. the duo took time to ask about their favorite will ferrell movie. and if you're on the fence, i don't know if it will sway your vote, but it will get you out there to register. >> if you haven't seen the full piece, it will make you laugh at the very least. very, very funny from those two. an iconic partnership thought to be a ghost is being brought back back. the first two installments of the horror series were directed by keenan ivory wayans. the trio has not collaborated on a project since 2006, little man, marvin wayans took to instagram to confirm the announcement alongside a smiling ghost face.

another family affair. they're back together. and, you know, those scary movies are something. >> they are a lot of material, right? of all the scary movies they can spoof, it's about time. why chocolate is feeling more like a trick than a treat this year. and you can ride into gotham in style. sle.o th our digestive health, but less than 10% of us get enough each day. good thing metamucil gummies are an easy way to get prebiotic, plant-based fiber. with the same amount of fiber as 2 cups of broccoli. metamucil gummies. the easy way to get your daily fiber. for 54 years, they were trying to get roe v wade terminated, and i did it. he did it. it was pretty devastating. he is bragging. bragging about the rights that he stole from american women. and trump is promising to do more. *sighs* in project 2025. they are restricting birth control, tracking pregnant women, and forcing a nationwide abortion ban. the government should get out of my business.

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their elephants to sanctuaries. gadi schwartz has the story. >> reporter: it was a bitter sweet day at the oakland zoo when african elephant osh was shipped to a sprawling sanctuary in tennessee. after a search to find a companion for the zoo's last surviving elephant, came up dr they transported him to tennessee. >> we know this is the very best place for him to be. so we're all very, very sad. but we know that this is going to be a fantastic forever home for him. >> reporter: the elephants here all have their own stories. like nosey, a circus elephant whose time in showbiz ended in 2017 after a court found signs of animal abuse. now there's another fight over five elephants in colorado. >> they have a right to body liberty. >> reporter: last week, colorado

supreme court heard arguments about whether elephants should be considered people in the eyes of the law. animal rights groups are arguing a habeas rights petition. they want the elephants protected under the same law. >> at the end of the day, this case is about something very simple, which is allowing elephants to be elephants. everything we know about elephant intelligence is that elephants cannot engage in natural behaviors when they are in captivity at a zoo. >> reporter: christopher berry claims the elephants have suffered decades of trauma, saying videos like this, where you can see one of the elephants swaying back and forth show stereotypical signs of stress. >> we believe it is in the best interest of the elephants to go to a software. >> reporter: but some call it frivolous. >> we felt like we're not sure this is about our elephants as it is about publicity. >> reporter: the group is called an extreme animal rights

organization. >> they're moving from state to state to state where they think they might get traction. our animals are a playing card for them. >> reporter: in the past, the non-human rights case has been unsuccessful in arguing on behalf of chimpanzees. >> as you know, we're not just writing an opinion here for this case, right? whatever we write is going to have precedence. >> reporter: the judge's decision could come in weeks, deciding the fate of five elephants unaware of the legal fight about their rights. gadi schwartz, nbc news. thank you so much for being with us for "early today." i'm frances rivera, have a great dnesday. see you weea

now at five, making her case vice president harris delivers her closing arguments overnight steps from the white house as president bius