Taylor Swift becomes most decorated VMAs solo artist, Francine makes landfall in La., Polaris Dawn crew conducts 1st civilian spacewalk

Good morning, folks. The northern lights may be visible in up to 17 states tonight. Here’s how you can try to see them. Now, on to the news.

NEED TO KNOW

The biggest moments at the VMAs

The MTV Video Music Awards took place last night in New York, where it blended nostalgia from its heyday with performances from a growing pool of fresh talent.

Swift wins big: With seven wins, Taylor Swift became the most decorated solo artist in VMAs history. In one of her speeches, she thanked boyfriend Travis Kelce for turning everything into “happiness and fun and magic.” [Rolling Stone/Yahoo Entertainment]

Big performances: Among the night’s many acts, Video Vanguard Award winner Katy Perry sang some of her most popular songs, and next-gen pop stars Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan performed their summer hits. [Hollywood Reporter]

Nostalgic nods: Carpenter wore Madonna’s Oscars dress from 30 years ago, while ceremony host Megan Thee Stallion paid homage to Britney Spears’s iconic 2001 bikini and boa constrictor ensemble. [People/Entertainment Weekly]

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

?? 1st civilian spacewalk

The all-civilian crew of SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn capsule took turns floating outside of their vessel this morning, marking the first nongovernment spacewalk in the history of space exploration. [CBS News]

?? Western wildfires

Since Tuesday, the Bridge Fire near Los Angeles grew from 4,000 acres to more than 50,000 acres, becoming the state’s largest wildfire. It’s just one of several major fires in the state and in neighboring Nevada. [NBC News]

?? Hurricane Francine

Hurricane Francine made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 2 storm before being downgraded to a tropical storm. It’s expected to bring heavy rain and potential tornadoes to parts of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. [Yahoo News]

?? 9/11 remembrances

Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump attended a memorial in New York City yesterday to honor the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, a day after their intense debate. [CNN]

??? Mail-in ballot concerns

State and local election officials warned that problems with the U.S. Postal Service may lead to issues with mail-in ballot deliveries in this year’s election. The USPS said it’s prepared but urged voters to mail in early. [AP]

WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY

?? Usher’s concert film Rendezvous in Paris is in theaters. Watch the trailer. [Rolling Stone]

?? Part 2 of Emily in Paris Season 4 dropped overnight on Netflix. Here’s what to know. [USA Today]

?? In women’s basketball, the Liberty and the Wings take the court at 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video. [SNY]

?? In football, the Bills play the Dolphins at 8:15 p.m. ET on CBS and Prime Video. [Miami Herald]

? In baseball, the Rangers and the Mariners start their four-game series at 9:40 p.m. ET on the MLB app. [Fort Worth Star-Telegram]

?? And don’t forget to: Read your daily horoscope. Play the Crossword. Check the forecast in your area.

TODAY IN HISTORY

In 1940, the Lascaux cave paintings, which are estimated to be 17,000 years old, were discovered in southwestern France by a boy whose dog fell down a hole. The site was closed to the public in 1963 after the carbon dioxide, heat and humidity of nearly 2,000 visitors a day began to cause damage. [Reuters]

3 QUESTIONS

...about the 2024 election and your finances

I asked economic policy reporter Ben Werschkul to break down the presidential candidates’ positions on key financial issues, like inflation and taxes.

Lily: How would you best sum up Vice President Kamala Harris’s economic approach compared to Donald Trump’s?

Ben: I found that the two nominees often talk about the same goals — from lower prices to more jobs — but offer very different paths to get there. Harris is more focused on targeted government interventions, while Trump tends toward ideas to loosen regulations.

Lily: How do both candidates plan to address rising prices for everyday items, like groceries and housing?

Ben: Early policies from Kamala Harris included plans to tackle supermarket "price gouging" and spur more homebuilding. Trump says he'd lower interest rates and allow oil companies to drill more to trickle lower costs through the economy.

Lily: Several Trump-era tax cuts expire in 2025. What could Harris and Trump’s new tax policies look like?

Ben: Harris is likely to let them expire for the richest Americans and instead focus on expanding the child tax credit. Trump wants to expand his 2017 tax cuts and make new ones. Either way, both plans could be expensive.

Go deeper: Compare the candidates’ stances on job growth, health care costs and more.

FEEL-GOOD MOMENT

Eleven years after her cat disappeared in the woods, Jennifer Ravenel received word that he was rescued and brought to a nearby animal shelter. “It's the craziest thing that's ever happened to me!” she said about their unexpected reunion. [USA Today]

Have a wonderful day. See you tomorrow!

?? P.S. Before you go, your daily advice: What does it really mean to drink alcohol or eat red meat “in moderation”? Here’s what experts said. [Yahoo Life]

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