That idea . And a staggering new measure of the pandemic as covid infections spread across the u. S. At the fastest rate yet. The president still claims were rounding the turn. But the question is, will voters believe him or the truth . Its way too early with kasie hunt for this. Good morning, and welcome to way too early, the show that always appreciates your spending the hour with us. I am kasie hunt on this wednesday, october 28th. Well start with the news. In the u. S. , covid19 infections are spreading at the fastest rate since the start of the pandemic. Over the past week, more than 500,000 new cases have been reported. Yesterday marks the first time that the rolling sevenday average of new daily case counts tops 70,000. To give some perspective here, it took nearly three months for the first cases to reach the 500,000 mark. When the outbreak first began back in january. So far, more than 8. 8 million cases have been reported nationwide. And nearly 228,000 covid19 deaths have been confirmed. This comes as the Trump Administration continues to claim that we are, quote, rounding the corner on the pandemic. Be careful out there, folks. Wear a mask. Meanwhile, President Trump made a Campaign Swing through the midwest yesterday, holding rallies with packed crowds in michigan, wisconsin and nebraska, in defiance of coronavirus recommendations. On the trail, he again complained about the coverage coronavirus is getting. You know now, with them, cant watch anything else. Turn it on, covid, covid, covid, covid, covid, covid. At his stop in wisconsin where case rates are surging right now, the president pushed for the states to open up. Its a choice between a trump boom or a biden lockdown. Lets lock it all down. By the way, speaking of lockdowns, lets get your governor to open it up. Lets get him to open it up. We should point out that yesterday wisconsin reported its worst coronavirus numbers yet, with more than 5200 new cases. And 64 deaths on tuesday. State Health Officials have urged residents to only leave home when absolutely necessary. Theyve said it once already, well say it again, wear a mask. Former president barack obama hit the campaign trail in florida yesterday where he mocked president s trumps complaints about coronavirus Media Coverage. And well, whats his Closing Argument . That people are too focused on covid, he said this at one of his rallies. Covid, covid, covid, hes jealous of covids Media Coverage. If he had been focused on covid from the beginning, cases wouldnt be reaching new record highs across the country this week. When it comes to testing, President Trump once again repeated his false claim on the campaign trail yesterday that the increase in cases is simply due to an increase in testing. But the Trump Administrations testings admiral bret gurer opened with this. Were testing people. Were testing very young people, were testing everybody. In many ways i hate it, in many ways, i hate it. Overall, we find out where it is, there are a lot of things they use it to make us look bad. Testing may be identifying some more case, i think thats true, but what were seeing is a real increase in numbers. Compared to the memorial day surge, even though testing is up, this is a real increase in cases. We know not only because cases are up and we can calculate that but we know that hospitalizations are going up. Joining us now reporter for the Washington Post eugene scott who hosted that conversation with admiral giroir yesterday. Eugene, good morning to you. Always great to see you, let me just ask you what was your recollection between the disparity between what the admiral said there, and what the president has been saying on the campaign trail about these cases going up and about the Media Coverage of the virus . You know, kasie, it was honestly shocking, if your viewers get a chance to watch the entire interview, he at least not only said wear a mask. But held up a mask to show people how to put it on, probably five times. This being someone who is on this Coronavirus Task force for the president. A president who mocked his opponent for wearing a mask. And seems to think that theres too much attention on covid. It just lets you know how just how inconsistent, perhaps, the messaging from the white house on how serious this illness is, and how that can be quite confusing for voters looking to top officials trying to figure out which way to move forward as we expect the possibility of more outbreaks this fall, as more people move indoors. Well, on that point that he made about hospitalizations is, of course, a critical one, and were starting to get such worrying reports from so much states about hospitals potentially becoming overwhelmed or already being overwhelmed. So, i think that point is very well taken in terms of how these numbers are playing out. Eugene, lets talk a little bit about former president barack obama. He was, as we saw a little bit there, in florida, on the campaign trail. Seemed fired up. Seemed, you know, willing to take some pretty sarcastic shots in some cases. That was kind of the hallmark of president obama when he was out there on the trail. A little different than the former Vice President joe biden who has approached it in a little bit different way. How do you think president obama helps joe biden here in the final stretch . I think obama was deployed hopefully to really connect with voters who supported him in 2008 and 2012 but didnt show up in 2016. The post previously reported that about 4. 4 million obama voters skipped 2016. And about a third of them were black. So, obamas trying to remind these voters of just what their absence in the voting process helped produce. A president that is deeply moving in a direction that is opposite of what the Obama Biden Administration aimed to do. Hes trying to let those voters know if they actually do come out and support biden, they can reverse that and perhaps atone for their absence in 2016. Some of the strategists that ive been talking to as well say theres particularly a focus on black men making sure they actually get out to the polls. The folks im talking to, anyway, feel like thats particularly a place where they have work to do, i should say. Washington posts eugene scott, appreciate your reporting. We want to turn to other news, police in philadelphia, shot and killed a black man triggering violent protests across the city. Police shot 27yearold Walter Wallace jr. On monday after responding to a call about a man armed with a knife. In a statement the responding officers ordered wallace several times to drama the knife, but he continued to advance towards them. They then fired their weapons, quote, multiple times, shooting him in the chest and shoulder. Wallace was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly afterwards. His father told the Philadelphia Inquirer that his son struggled with Mental Health issues and was taking medication. Violent protests resulting in two dozen police officers. Philadelphias Police Department has launched an investigation into the officerinvolved shooting. Still ahead here, with less than a week to the election, voters in states are driving record turnout. Well take a look at those numbers. Plus, for the First Time Since 1988, the l. A. Dodgers are world series champs. Weve got the highlights from game six. Those stories and a check of the weather when we come right back. We live in uncertain times. However, there is one thing you can be certain of. The men and woman of the United States postal service. We are here to deliver your cards, packages and prescriptions. And also deliver the peace of mind knowing that whats important to youlike your ballotis on its way. Every day, all across america, we deliver for you. And we always will. vo im a verizon engineer and today, were turning on 5g across the country. With the coverage of 5g nationwide. And, in more and more cities, the unprecedented performance of ultra wideband. The fastest 5g in the world. It will change your phone and how businesses do everything. Im proud, because we didnt build it the easy way, we built it right. This is the 5g americas been waiting for. Only from verizon. Ownership, andrew friedman. Dave roberts. Strike three, dodgers have won it all in 2020 time now for sports and the World Champion los angeles dodgers, finally crowned after a frustrating drought that included three tries in the last four years. And the franchise captures its first title since 1988. The city of los angeles now with even more to celebrate, as the dodgers add to the lakers success on the court, over in the nba. As for the action on the diamond at globelife field last night, tampa got the scoring starts as Randy Arozarena extended his run in the first inning. And starter blake snell was taken out of the game. The lefty had struck out nine batters before giving up two hits being pulled. And a double mookie betts. That was for you joe. And a rund sco scoring ground p and groundout gave them that run. And the dodgers hang on for a 31 win over the rays in game six. And with it, of course, that world series title. Congrats to l. A. My friends katy tur and Jacob Soboroff are going to be particularly excited this morning, i think. There was one concerning moment as starting third baseman Justin Turner was pulled from the game over what was later revealed to be a positive coronavirus test. The lab doing the test informed Major League Baseball that turners test from monday came back inclusive. Samples from tuesday arrived and showed up positive. The league immediately called the dodgers and said to pull turner. The 35yearold did return with his wife an hour after the game, sitting for a team photo, lowering a mask he otherwise wore throughout the celebration. Turn earp said he felt great and was experiencing no symptoms, he was the first player since the games began to be flagged for the coronavirus. Lets go to bill karins for a check of the weather on this wednesday morning. Bill, good morning. Good morning, kasie. Unfortunately, ive got horrendous need for folks on the gulf coast. Zeta has zens intensified. Were expecting a category 2 hurricane to hit new orleans. Thats a huge headline. The hurricane center, just out, an eye has formed, a distinct eye, an airplane flying through the center right now they say the storm is definitely strengthening and could strengthen more as it approaches land. Pts its going to be a fast moving storm. In and out in a hurry and when it hits its going to pack a punch. 100mileperhour winds south of louisiana at 1 00 this afternoon. By 6 00 p. M. , right over the top of the new orleans. Some of all of the storms weve had this year, many threaten new orleans, but none hit. Now, were expecting a category 2 hurricane over the top of new orleans this afternoon. We could see a storm surge of six to nine feet. Especially the mississippi coastline, from slidell to biloxi, to st. Louis, those are the areas of concern. Listen to your emergency manager. There may be evacuations that we didnt think were necessary yesterday that are necessary now. And then the storm will quickly race through the southeast later on tonight. And then tomorrow, it heads through the midatlantic region but the real big impacts are along the coast. These are the maximum expected wind gusts and these have to be upgraded. Assuming its a category one, kasie, its a category 2. We could see 90mileperhour winds in downtown new orleans. A very serious situation, widespread Power Outages expected. Well update the stories today on msnbc. Bill, i think i said this yesterday, weve got to stop meeting like this. This is like, how much bad news can we get in 2020, just a week out from the election. This Hurricane Season alone has been horrendous. The storm at the end of the season, maybe a little barely a category one is now a serious category two, kasie, yeah, brutal for louisiana. Indeed, well be thinking of the folks down there. Bill karins, thank you as always, my friend. Hope you have better news tomorrow. Still ahead, House Speaker nancy pelosi says there wont be any Coronavirus Relief before the election. What shes saying about that and house democrats. Were back in just a moment. Nyquil honey. The nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever best sleep with a cold medicine. Supreme court case against your governor, so what the hell happened . Why isnt it over . Still not over. You know, we sued. We want the case, what are we appealing, shes appealing the case. Hey, governor, let your state open, get your kids back to school, governor. Not a good governor. And you know what else, im also getting your husbands s the want to get back to work. Were getting your husbands back to work. And everybody wants it. And the cure can never be worse than the problem itself. Were getting your husbands back to work. Wonder what all of the women who have been disproportionately affected by the job losses of this pandemic, are going to think about this, all those women who by and large are signalling that they do not support the president. Largest gender gap in polling in years. Welcome back. That was President Trump yesterday in michigan, making an appeal to women voters that he would help heir husbands recover from the Economic Impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. In a clear sign, meanwhile, that a stimulus deal will not be reached ahead of election day. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is out with a letter addressed to democratic colleagues telling him that the white house has failed miserably to control the pandemic. In a letter she writes for a long time now, Congressional Democrats have laid out a Strategic Plan to crush the virus. The white house and Mitch Mcconnell have resisted. And yesterday saying were not going to control the pandemic. From hopes to hundreds of thousands dead the white house has failed missably. Now we know why they resisted science at expensive lives, livelihoods and our democracy. The bottom line here, of course, it doesnt look like any relief is coming before before the election which could mean it doesnt happen until january or later. Thats some tough news for so Many Americans out there. Meanwhile, according to the u. S. Elections project, more than 71 million ballots have already been cast in the 2020 election, with less than a week to go until election day. Battle ground voters account for more than half of the early ballots cast with the New York Times reporting that democrats appear much more eager, according to the times, quote, in the five battleground states that report party registration, nearly 2 million more reche stret registered democrats have voted thus far. In the outlier is pennsylvania where as of yesterday early vote tallies were about 28 of 2016 totals. Texas leads the nation in early voter turnout, with 82 of the total number of 2016 voters having already cast their ballot. Wow. According to the center for information and research on sink learning and engagement part of the texas voting phenomenon is a 600 increase in voters under 30. Meanwhile, the crucial state of florida has surpassed its 2016 early vote totals. Floridians have cast 6. 8 million ballots already, with almost 4 million cast by mail. The statewide turnout thus far is 46 , according to the u. S. Elections project. With 42 of voters being democrats, 37 republican and 20 independent. But in Miamidade County which did not mail absentee ballots out until the last possible day, turnout was less than 46 and lagging among democrats. As of tuesday evening, the state reports that in miamidade, 52 of republicans, 47 of democrats and 37 of independents have either voted early in person or past their mailin ballot. Democrats have a 80,000 advantage vote in miamidade a county where democrats need a strong showing if they have a chance to win that state. Still ahead here, were breaking down the latest battleground polling plus jobe biden makes a play for georgia. Bill clinton was the last president ial candidate to win that state and that was all the way back in 1992. Before we go to break, we want to know, why are you awake . Send your reasons for being up to way too earlwaytooearly msn the way too early. Heavy duty. For a deep clean, just toss in a pac. Formulated with 10 concentrated cleaning actives, that clean deep down into the fabric to remove invisible dirt. See the difference, after being washed with tide hygienic clean. For a deep clean, try tide hygienic clean with a 100 money back guarantee if its got to be clean, its got to be tide. Did you try it yet . Comparing plans . Oh yeah. They sure can change year to year. I found lower premiums and lower prescription costs. 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