Kamala Harris gets under Donald Trump’s skin in their first debate. Hurricane Francine churns toward Louisiana. And new weight loss pill shows dramatic results. 

Here’s what to know today.

First presidential debate with Harris features clashes, conspiracies and a rattled Trump

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump clashed on the economy, abortion and immigration in a presidential debate full of fiery exchanges. And while Trump tried to tie Harris to President Joe Biden, he learned that she is a much tougher rival. 

While Trump tried to re-create the conditions of June’s fateful debate stage matchup, Harris reminded him, “You’re not running against Joe Biden. You’re running against me.”

Harris was quick to bring up the economy, promising a tax cut for families to ease pocketbook concerns for middle class voters, and she found her comfort zone while blasting Trump’s positions on abortion. Trump was his most confident pointing to issues on which Harris has changed her position over the years, like whether to ban fracking. Both candidates tried to claim the mantle of change in a country full of voters who are hungry for it.

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Harris tried to get under Trump’s skin, baiting him into a defensive posture that prevented him from attacking her weaknesses. In one of the more memorable moments, Trump went on a tangent about a debunked conspiracy theory about Haitian immigrants in Ohio eating dogs and other pets.

And when Trump scolded Harris’ attempt to interrupt him, some allies lamented that he lost control at a key moment. “Wait a minute, I’m talking now,” Trump said, sounding annoyed. “You don’t mind? … Does that sound familiar?” (Watch the moment here.)

Three Republican sources told NBC News after the debate that Trump came off as “angry” in that moment.

After the matchup, Trump approached reporters to claim the night was a win. He wouldn’t commit to a second debate, which Harris’ campaign has challenged him to do.

Read the full story here. 

More debate coverage: 

• Here are six key takeaways from the debate.
• Watch highlights from the debate in 3 minutes.
• Moments after it ended, pop star Taylor Swift endorsed Harris — and signed her Instagram post “Childless Cat Lady.”
• NBC News’ politics team fact-checked statements from the debate. Here’s what’s true, needs context or is outright false.
• In a lengthy exchange on abortion, Trump declined twice to say whether he would veto a federal abortion ban. 
• Trump refused to acknowledge his 2020 election loss and dodged questions about whether he had any regrets about his actions on Jan. 6.
• Trump repeated debunked rumors related to Venezuelan gangs taking over a Colorado apartment complex. Here’s how the false claim started.
• “Harris exemplified Debating 101” when it came to getting Trump to talk about himself, NBC News chief political analyst Chuck Todd writes. But voters wanting to learn more about Harris probably didn’t. Read the full analysis. 

Inflation steadies ahead of anticipated interest rate cut

Inflation keeps slowing, but many consumers are likely still feeling the sting of higher prices ahead of the Federal Reserve’s anticipated interest rate cut this month. The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the consumer price index for the month of August today, and economists predict it will show an annual increase of 2.6%, down from 2.9% in July. Despite the apparent relief, consumers are still grappling with the climb in prices since the onset of the Covid pandemic, especially when it comes to housing costs.

While some economists predict an economic “soft landing,” in which unemployment and inflation are subdued, others fear the Fed’s anticipated 0.25% rate cut might not be enough to stave off a harsher outcome. 

Hurricane Francine churns toward Louisiana

Hurricane Francine is forecast to make landfall in Louisiana today, with the coastline expected experience a storm surge of 5 to 10 feet and a possible 12 inches of rain. Public schools in New Orleans are closed today and tomorrow, and curfews were in place in multiple parishes. A state of emergency has been declared by the governors of both Louisiana and Mississippi. Follow the latest updates here.

Daily pill cuts body weight by 13% in 3 months in early trial

An experimental weight loss drug from Novo Nordisk was shown to decrease body weight by up to 13% after three months, a rate that appears to be more rapid than what is seen with other popular weight loss drugs, according to findings presented this week. The daily pill is called amycretin and works in similar way to semaglutide, the drug in Wegovy and Ozempic, by mimicking a hormone that helps reduce food intake and appetite. It also imitates a second hormone that can promote a feeling of fullness. 

The results are part of a Phase 1 clinical trial, which look at the safety of a new drug. More research is needed to focus on how well the drug works. 

Despite compelling results, medical experts already have critical questions.

Politics in Brief 

Hospitalized representative: Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina is being treated after he collapsed at an event in Washington. His family said the 77-year-old “experienced stroke-like symptoms.”

New Hampshire politics: Republican Kelly Ayotte and Democrat Joyce Craig have won their parties’ primaries for governor, setting up what’s expected to be a close matchup in the battleground state.

Want more politics news? Sign up for From the Politics Desk to get exclusive reporting and analysis delivered to your inbox every weekday evening. Subscribe here.

Read All About It 

• Mauricio Pochettino, who has managed some of the biggest soccer clubs in the world, was named head coach of the U.S. men’s team.
• Videos have emerged on social media of Ukraine using so-called “dragon drones” that spew a fiery substance onto troops and terrain in its war with Russia.
• Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl admitted to fathering a baby outside his 21-year marriage.
• Police identified the officer placed on leave after Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was detained over allegations of careless driving and failure to wear a seat belt. 

Staff Pick: ‘Master of our craft’

After the news broke of actor James Earl Jones’ death, a debate sprung up quickly in our newsroom: What was the actor’s most iconic role: Darth Vader or Mufasa? Regardless of where you land, what is undeniable is Jones’ impact on American culture and his role as a trailblazer who broke color barriers. NBC News BLK reporter Char Adams reflects on a career that spanned generations and set the standard for Black actors. — Joy Y. Wang, senior editorial director

NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified 

Ready for some self care? Dermatologists shared the 18 best under-eye creams, patches and rollers to de-puff and brighten your eyes. And don’t skip on shower oils, which are a great alternative to body wash but won’t dry out your skin.

Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.

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Elizabeth Robinson is a newsletter editor for NBC News, based in Los Angeles.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday amplified false rumors that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were abducting and eating pets, repeating during a televised debate the type of inflammatory and anti-immigrant rhetoric he has promoted throughout his campaigns.

There is no evidence that Haitian immigrants in an Ohio community are doing that, officials say. But during the debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump specifically mentioned Springfield, Ohio, the town at the center of the claims, saying that immigrants were taking over the city.

“They’re eating the dogs. They’re eating the cats. They’re eating the pets of the people that live there,” he said.

Harris called Trump “extreme” and laughed after his comment. Debate moderators pointed out that city officials have said the claims are not true.

Trump’s comments echoed claims made by his campaign, including his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, and other Republicans. The claims attracted attention this week when Vance posted on social media that his office has “received many inquiries” about Haitian migrants abducting pets. Vance acknowledged Tuesday it was possible “all of these rumors will turn out to be false.”

Officials have said there have been no credible or detailed reports about the claims, even as Trump and his allies use them to amplify racist stereotypes about Black and brown immigrants.

While president, Trump questioned why the U.S. would accept people from “s—-hole” countries such as Haiti and some in Africa. His 2024 campaign has focused heavily on illegal immigration, often referencing in his speeches crimes committed by migrants. He argues immigrants are responsible for driving up crime and drug abuse in the United States and taking resources from American citizens.

Here’s a closer look at how the false claims have spread.

How did this get started?

On Sept. 6, a post surfaced on X that shared what looked like a screengrab of a social media post apparently out of Springfield. The retweeted post talked about the person’s “neighbor’s daughter’s friend” seeing a cat hanging from a tree to be butchered and eaten, claiming without evidence that Haitians lived at the house. The accompanying photo showed a Black man carrying what appeared to be a Canada goose by its feet. That post continued to get shared on social media.

On Monday, Vance posted on X. “Reports now show that people have had their pets abducted and eaten by people who shouldn’t be in this country. Where is our border czar?” he said. The next day, Vance posted again on X about Springfield, saying his office had received inquires from residents who said “their neighbors’ pets or local wildlife were abducted by Haitian migrants. It’s possible, of course, that all of these rumors will turn out to be false.”

Other Republicans shared similar posts. Among them was Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who posted a photo of kittens with a caption that said to vote for Trump “So Haitian immigrants don’t eat us.”

Hours before Trump’s debate with Harris, he posted two related photos on his social media site. One Truth Social post was a photo of Trump surrounded by cats and geese. Another featured armed cats wearing MAGA hats.

A billboard campaign launched by the Republican Party of Arizona at 12 sites in metropolitan Phoenix plays off the false rumors. The billboard image resembles a Chick-fil-A ad, portraying four kittens and urging people to “Vote Republican!” and “Eat Less Kittens.”

Chick-fil-A said the party didn’t reach out to the restaurant chain before running the ad, declining to comment further. In a statement, the state party said the ad humorously underscores the need for border security.

What do officials in Ohio say?

The office of the Springfield city manager, Bryan Heck, issued a statement knocking down the rumors.

“In response to recent rumors alleging criminal activity by the immigrant population in our city, we wish to clarify that there have been no credible reports or specific claims of pets being harmed, injured or abused by individuals within the immigrant community,” Heck’s office said in an emailed statement.

Springfield police on Monday told the Springfield News-Sun that they had received no reports of stolen or eaten pets.

Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, held a news conference Tuesday to address the influx of Haitian immigrants to Springfield. He said he will send state troopers to Springfield to help local law enforcement deal with traffic issues and is earmarking $2.5 million over two years to provide more primary health care to immigrant families.

DeWine declined to address the allegations, deferring comment to local officials. But he repeatedly spoke in support of the people of Haiti, where his family has long operated a charity.

What do we know about a separate case 175 miles (281 km) away?

An entirely unrelated incident that occurred last month in Canton, Ohio, quickly and erroneously conflated into the discussion.

On Aug. 26, Canton police charged a 27-year-old woman with animal cruelty and disorderly conduct after she “did torture, kill, and eat a cat in a residential area in front (of) multiple people,” according to a police report.

But Allexis Ferrell is not Haitian. She was born in Ohio and graduated from Canton’s McKinley High School in 2015, according to public records and newspaper reports. Court records show she has been in and out of trouble with the law since at least 2017. Messages seeking comment were not returned by several attorneys who have represented her.

She is being held in Stark County jail pending a competency hearing next month, according to the prosecutor’s office.

What do advocates for Haitian immigrants say?

The posts create a false narrative and could be dangerous for Haitians in the United States, according to Guerline Jozef, founder and executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, a group that supports and advocates for immigrants of African descent

“We are always at the receiving end of all kind of barbaric, inhumane narratives and treatments, specifically when it comes to immigration,” Jozef said in a phone interview.

Her comments echoed White House national security spokesman John Kirby.

“There will be people that believe it, no matter how ludicrous and stupid it is,” Kirby said. “And they might act on that kind of information, and act on it in a way where somebody could get hurt. So it needs to stop.”

What is the broader context of Haitians in Ohio and the United States?

Springfield, a city of roughly 60,000, has seen its Haitian population grow in recent years. It’s impossible to give an exact number, according to the city, but it estimates Springfield’s entire county has an overall immigrant population of 15,000.

The city also says that the Haitian immigrants are in the country legally under a federal program that allows for them to remain in the country temporarily. Last month the Biden administration granted eligibility for temporary legal status to about 300,000 Haitians already in the United States because conditions in Haiti are considered unsafe for them to return. Haiti’s government has extended a state of emergency to the entire country due to endemic gang violence.

Another matter cropping up and raised by Trump in an email Monday is the August 2023 death of an 11-year-old boy after a vehicle driven by an immigrant from Haiti hit the boy’s school bus. After that, residents demanding answers about the immigrant community spoke out at city council meetings.

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Catalini reported from Trenton, New Jersey, and Shipkowski from Toms River, New Jersey.