Military capability and the u. S. Military. Its also a testament to the tensive planning between the united states and israel to anticipate and defend against the attack we expected. Make no mistake the united states is fully, fully supportive of israel. That was president Joe Biden addressing a major escalation in the Middle East, irans ballistic Missile Attack on israel. Well bring you the very latest on that developing story in just a moment. And well go through the big moments of last Nights Vice President ial debate, which could be the final matchup between the campaigns before Election Day. And well Haven Update on recovery efforts across the southeast as President Biden prepares to get a firsthand Look Today at some of the devastation. Good Morning And Welcome to Way Too Early on this wednesday, october 2nd. Im jonathan lemire. Thanks for starting your day with us, and we have an extraordinarily busy show for you this morning. And well begin with the latest developments out of the Middle East where iran has launched a ballistic Missile Attack against israel. Yesterday iran fired about 180 missiles into israeli territory, forcing millions of people, millions of people to take cover in bomb shelters. But with the help of u. S. Forces, most of the missiles were intercepted, and no deaths were reported in israel. One civilian, however, did die in the west bank. A small town in central israel was also hit, damaging a school building. Thankfully, No One was injured in that attack. Iran claims it targeted three Military Bases including an Air Base in the desert. The idf says that attack had no impact on the air forces operational capabilities. Iran says the strikes were in response to the killings of two militant Group Leaders and an iranian commander. Israel has taken responsibility for the death of hezbollahs Hassan Nasrallah but has not yet commented publicly on a July Attack that killed the head of hamas political wing in tehran. Now, israeli prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is vowing to retaliate, saying iran made a, quote, Big Mistake and will pay for it. Iranian officials are warning against any retaliation, saying that tehran will hit israels entire infrastructure if it takes anymore action. The White House, however, is in support of severe consequences for tehran. Obviously this is a significant escalation by iran, a significant event. And it is equally significant that we were able to step up with with israel and create a situation in which No One was killed in this attack in israel, so far as we know at this time. We are now going to look at what the appropriate next steps are to secure first and foremost american interest and then to promote stunt to the maximum extent possible as we go forward. Joining us now, former fbi Special Agent and national Security Analyst for Nbc News and msnbc, clint watts. Clint, good morning. Thank you for starting us off today. A twoparter for you. First, in april, The Last Time iran struck at israel, there was a sort of a sense, though, the attack was big in number. It was pretty telegraphed and somewhat symbolic and face saving. The first question to you is what is your assessment this time . What did iran intend to do . And a second parter, what do you think Irans Response will be . Yeah, jonathan, this mirrors what we saw in april from iran, which was a large barrage of missiles heading towards israel. But, again, there was no impact of this. But what those those Missile Strikes attempted Missile Strikes do for iran is it provides something that, one, iran can show its own domestic audience theyre doing in the face of withering attacks by israel and hezbollah. And, two, it tries to shore up some of the support for its alliances with the houthis in yemen, which were struck over the weekend by israel. Hezbollah inside lebanon, and hamas inside gaza. That was three parts if iran were to call on them, but that has not happened. I think the second question, jonathan, about what israel will do, it may again be a limited attack. Because if weve seen anything over the last two weeks its that israel is very focused on hezbollah. This is starting with dedecapitating Communication Networks of the leadership with pagers and walkietalkies exploding to targeted Air Strikes on the most advanced units to hezbollah to now the Ground Incursion which started yesterday. What we saw in april is israel took out an Air Defense System that was maybe a gateway to the nuclear facility. So the question would be maybe the less aggressive end would they do something similar and a small strike in retaliation, or will they do Something Injury aggressive like going after the nuclear Refining Capability of iran . Yeah, certainly the White House watching and so is the rest of the region. Nbc news national Security Analyst, clint watts, thank you. Well talk to you later on Morning Joe, and of course well have more coverage about the Middle East later in this show as well. Now we switch to domostic politics, and Vice President ial nominees tim Walz And J. D. Vance took to the Debate Stage Last Night. The Minnesota Governor and ohio senator largely kept things cordial focusing their attacks not at each other but at their running mates, the two at the top of the ticket. Walz and vance did clash on everything from the immigration to the economy and foreign policy. But one of the sharpest exchanges came right at The End of the night when Senator Vance refused to concede that former President Trump lost the 2020 election and then sidestepped the question about certifying this years results. Would you, again, seek to challenge this Years Election results even if every governor certifies the results . Ill give you 2 minutes. Laura, first of all, i think were focused on the future. We need to figure out how to solve the Inflation Crisis caused by Kamala Harriss policies, make housing affordable. I want to focus on your question because you did ask it. What President Trump said there are problems in 2020 and my belief we should fight about those issues, debate those issues peacefully in the public scare, and thats all ive said, and thats all Donald Trump has said. Its really rich for democratic leaders to say that Donald Trump is a unique threat to democracy when he peacefully gave over power on January 20th as we have done for 250 years in this country. This was a threat to our democracy in a way we had not seen, and it manifested itself because of Donald Trumps inability to say he is still saying he didnt lose the election. Did he lose the 2020 election . Tim, im focused on the future. Did Kamala Harris Censor Americans from speaking their mind in the wake of the 2020 covid situation . That is Damning Nonanswer. A Damning Nonanswer there. Both candidates were also asked about the issue of abortion Last Night. Vance repeatedly suggested the gop is losing the rhetorical battle on the issue, while walz argued folks needed to mind their own business. And i think what i take from that as a republican who proudly wants to protect innocent life in this country, who proudly wants to protect the vulnerable, is that my party, weve got to do so much better of a job at earning the american peoples trust back on this issue where they, frankly, just dont trust us. And i think thats one of the things Donald Trump and i are incurving to do. I want us as a republican party to be profamily in the fullest sense of the word. I want us to support fertility treatments. I want it to make it easier for moms to afford to have babies. I want to make it easier for young families to afford a home so they can afford a place to raise that family. I think theres so much we can do on the public Policy Front just to give women more options. I use this line on this, just mind your own business on this. Things worked best when roe v. Wade was in place. When we do a restoration of roe, that works best. That doesnt preclude us from increasing funding for children. It doesnt preclude us from make sure they get meals, they get early childhood education, they get health care. So hidebug hind were going to do all these other things when youre not going to propose them in the budget, Kamala Harris is proposing them. Shes proposing all those things to make life easier for families. Joining us now Politics Reporter for semafor, shelby talcott. I think theres a conventional wisdom around Vice President ial debates they dont matter all that much. I was struck by frankly how civil things are. There were moments of agreement throughout. I know you wrote about this for semafor, and you were tweeting about it as well. What do you think, some overall impressions . Did they land any blows. This was very midwestern nice, if you will. And i think thats notable particularly as weve seen with a lot of these president ial debates in recent years especially when it comes to Donald Trump, theyre not as cordial. So i think that was one really big take away that surprised a lot of people. I also think it was Policy Heavy, and i think thats notable because, again, this was for sure the most Policy Heavy debate this president ial cycle. And its notable that its coming from the Vice President ial candidates. I think thats what a lot of americans were sort of hoping for when we saw the debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. And we got a lot more indepth on policy Last Night than we did earlier this year. I do wonder, though, because it was so civil that maybe meant walz missed an opportunity to go after vance like by calling him weird, which is something he had done so effectively early on, and somewhat almost normalized some of vances positions. But i think walz did score an effective argument there on January 6th. Talk about that. That was walzs best moment of the debate. Walz didnt do terribly, but i think democrats were Breathing A Sigh of relief at that last question because they were already clipping it. Theyre already pulling it out into ads, Kamala Harris team. That was sort of his moment of the debate. And prior to that, he hadnt that Attack Dog moment. Walz started off clearly nervous but rallied into form as the evening went on. Lets talk about abortion. Obviously its one of the signature issues, one of the defining issue of this Years Election. One that Vice President Harris And Governor Walz Sort of Make A Center Piece of everything they say. How do you think that was communicated Last Night . Walzs sort of attack, if you will, and vances response. I thought it was one of the more notable moments of the debate particularly its such a big issue for americans this cycle. What i really thought was important to point out happened off the Debate Stage, and it was that during this exchange, Donald Trump went on Twitter X and posted he is obviously opposed to a national Abortion Ban and would veto one. And the Veto Part is something that he dodged on the Debate Stage a few weeks ago. So that was really newsy, and it sort of happened during this exchange during the Vice President ial debate where he felt like he had to come out and clarify, oh, actually hes against he would veto an Abortion Ban if it came to his desk. Vance has expressed support in the past for that. Last question, do you think there will be an impact from Last Night . Im not sure. I think at The End of the day the Vice President ial debates are really its an interesting question because i think the Vice President ial debates typically dont matter. And do they matter this time around . When i talked to both campaigns i think the overwhelming sense is maybe they dont. Do they push the needle for Donald Trump . Im not sure. I think it was a great opportunity for Donald Trump to get out there and show who he is and sort of push back on that weird narrative we didnt really hear on the Debate Stage. Vance presented the best version of himself Last Night. Because theres not another president ial debate scheduled, this might have been the last set piece. Potentially. You never know with Donald Trump. Good point. Shelby, thanks for starting us off this morning. Next up here well take a look at Relief Efforts underway in parts of the country including hard hit asheville, North Carolina, in the wake of hurricane helene. Plus, well bring you much more from last Nights Vp Debate including Exchanges On Immigration and springfield, ohio. Those stories and a check on sports and weather when we come right back. Check on sports and weather when we come right back todays biggest Feat Wasnt Booking appointments. It was the fact that the silvas went 4 for 4 on getting all their Flu Shots with no tears. Bravery . Rewarded. When its time for vaccines, its time for cvs. when its time for vaccines, like a relentless weed, moderate to severe Ulcerative Colitis symptoms can keep coming back. Start to break away from uc with tremfya. With rapid relief at 4 weeks. Tremfya blocks a key source of inflammation. At one year, many people experienced remission. And some saw 100 visible healing of their intestinal lining. Serious allergic reactions and increased risk of infections may occur. Before treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tb. Tell your doctor if you have an infection, flulike symptoms or if you need a vaccine. Healing is possible with tremfya. Ask your doctor about tremfya today. Craig here pays too much for verizon wireless. So he sublet half his real Estate Office to a pet shop. Theres a smarter way to save. Comcast business mobile. You could save up to an incredible 70 on your wireless bill. So you dont have to compromise. Powering smarter savings. Powering possibilities. Switch to comcast Busines Internet and mobile and find out how to get the latest 5g Phone on us with a qualifying tradein. Dont wait call, click or visit an xfinity store today. Welcome back. In the aftermath of hurricane helene, several communities across georgia and the carolinas are grappling with widespread Destruction And Flood damage. Nbc News Correspondent Sam Brock has more on the Relief Efforts. The crises in western North Carolina are too many to count, and access to a basic life force, water, at the top of the list. Behind you right now is this effort to disseminate water. How critical is it for families like yours . Its very critical. I mean, like, we got a baby. He eats oatmeal. Hes a priority for us. Is it a lifeline right now . Absolutely. Reporter parents and Loved Ones coming to one of four Community Sites are supplies are slowly tricking in and neighbors stepping up. But complications abound. All three Water Treatment plants in asheville are compromised with the pipes to distribute the water washed away. You dont realize how thirsty when youre at home and you flip your fosed on and drink out the sink or flush your toilet, you have to spit in the sink. And you have to use your good water to rinse your sink out. Reporter with other area locals cut off from aid, frustration with fema reaching a Boiling Point of its own. Theres no water. Theres no internet. Theres no food. Reporter the agency says its already delivered more than A Million liters of water and 6 Million more to north koreanss. Many people were waiting for Day Triezing to get in touch with Loved Ones and thankfully many of them have. Reporter on the ground shelters are teaming. We do not have the resources available. Reporter with 75yearold Cynthia Dunn who survived the rushing waters clinging to a mattress, provided temporary shelter. Everythings gone, my identity is gone, high hearing aids. I lost my teeth. Reporter other displaced residents wait in long lines at Gas Stations and Grocery Stores for necessities. Picking up some essentials and tells us how shes charging her Fathers Oxygen Machine in the car. Hes on dialysis, and her pain is many families. Weve been very blessed and forcht, it was me passing and seeing his Dialysis Clinic was open. But everybody doesnt have the ability to ride by. Almost incomprehensible scenes of destruction there. Well have more on that story later in the morning. Next up here well turn to sports. Well have highlights from all four wild Card Series openers. A great day of baseball, plus well bring you a check of the Weather Forecast when we come right back. Check of the Weather Forecast when we come right back heres to getting better with age. Heres to beating these two every thursday. Help Fuel Today with boost high protein, complete nutrition you need, and the flavor you love. So, heres to now. Now available Boost Max start your day with nature made. And try new zero sugar gummies. Heres fernando tatis. High and deep to left. Hes watching, and so are 44,000 others. Oh, what a start for the padres as tatis leaves the building, and this place is on its feet. Padres lead it 20. Fernando Tatis Jr. this his first Playoff Game start. One of the brighter young stars in baseball overlooked of late, and that was an absolute bomb and he knew it. He gave the San Diego Padres the lead Last Night with that two Run Homer into the upper deck. The padres shutout the Atlanta Braves 40 in that ser