Monday, October 19, 2026

0:00This holiday, all plans, even unlimited, are just$15 a month. A holiday deal this good obviously deserves an enormously expensive holiday song, like All I Want. Right. Okay, we can afford that. You know what? Forget the music budget. We're going to stick with whatever's in the public domain. Give it a try at mintmobile.com slash switch. Upfront payment of$45 for three months,$90 for six months, or$180 for a 12-month plan required,$15 per month equivalent, taxes and fees extra. New customer offer for initial plan term only. Greater than 50 gigabytes may slow when network is busy. See terms. at Jared Jewelers we know it's about more than fine jewelry it's the moment they open the box that smile they can't hide knowing you chose exactly right because the right gift can bring a lifetime of meaning a promise, a milestone, a memory in the making make every moment unforgettable find great gifts starting at$250 Jared, make the holiday last forever shop Jared Jewelers Tonight, the threat against the president.

1:03The man arrested for threatening to gun him down. President Trump in Kansas tonight, where Secret Service says this man claimed to have guns and bragged about scoping out rooftops. What we're learning about the arrest. The life-threatening diagnosis for Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, sidelined with blood clots in his lungs. Why the treatment likely takes him out for the rest of the season. College football tragedy. A U.S. airman killed when a military repelling demonstration before the game goes horribly wrong. What we're learning tonight. Air scares the passenger jet's engine catching fire during takeoff.

1:40The terrifying view from inside that plane. Plus this small plane crashing nose first onto a California highway. Selena Gomez sharing her struggle to quit vaping. Saying nicotine has changed her voice forever. However, her warning to fans as a new study reveals teen girls are vaping more than boys. The fiery truck explosion caught on camera the moment this car erupted. And does hypnotherapy really work? Our team test out the latest wellness trend said to help with everything from anxiety to pain management. Plus, did OJ Simpson have an accomplice? We'll talk to TMZ's Harvey Levin, who covered the case from start to finish, about the stunning new allegations.

2:20Top Story starts right now.

2:28Good evening. We begin tonight with a violent threat against President Trump, a Kansas man arrested for threatening the president's life just as he touches down a campaign in the state. This man in custody tonight after allegedly writing comments online about shooting President Trump and mapping out rooftops near his rally. It's the latest in a string of threats aimed at the president since that assassination attempt at a rally in Butler two years ago. The president has been a constant and public presence on the campaign trail in this final sprint to the midterms. Tonight, shoring up support for Republicans in deep red Kansas, where the Senate race is shockingly close and could go blue for the first time in more than 80 years.

3:06The trouble at home coming as President Trump faces international pushback. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky slamming the president's decision to lift sanctions on Russian oil. attacking Russian oil targets in defiance of President Trump as deadly and destructive strikes ramp up on both sides. Our Garrett Haig pressed the president on all of these issues tonight and leads us off from the White House with the latest. Tonight, the new threat to President Trump. Just as the president heads to a rally in Kansas, the Secret Service announcing a man has been arrested there for threatening to kill him.

3:39Jade and John Reed charged with threatening to take the life of the president. A criminal complaint says Reed posted four days ago, quote, can we shoot him in Kansas? Please, I will myself. And that he'd mapped out rooftops. All as the president embarks on a Republican rescue mission in Deep Red, Kansas, where incumbent Senator Roger Marshall faces what even the president describes as a surprisingly tight race against Democrat Adam Hamilton. Is it a bad sign for Republicans that you have to go campaign in Kansas today? No, he's a fantastic senator. He's one of the best. It's a close race. It shouldn't be.

4:15The president rallying Republican voters. It's just wonderful that he has eliminated the taxes on overtime and tips. But new NBC News polling shows challenges. His approval rating slipping to just 34 percent, a second term low. All as the president faces new criticism tonight from Ukraine's President Zelensky over Trump's decision to lift sanctions on Russian oil to try and lower gas prices, with new video showing an incredible drone rescue of a Ukrainian soldier. It's really big support for Putin. He feels victory with sanctions. And this will deal. I pressed President Trump. Zelensky says you're supporting Putin by waiving these sanctions.

4:57Is he right? I'M SUPPORTING STOPPING THE WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE. HOW DOES THAT HELP STOP THE WAR? WHY? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING. AND, FRANKLY, ZELENSKYY IS NOT HELPING MATTERS MUCH. I THINK HE DOESN'T WANT TO STOP IT. ALL I WANT IS FOR RUSSIA AND UKRAINE TO STOP THAT STUPID WAR. Garrett HAKE JOINS US NOW FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. SO, Garrett, BACK TO THE PRESIDENT'S MIDTERM BLITZ. YOU HAVE NEW REPORTING ON HIS RALLIES? Yes, Tom, the White House insists they're helping Republican candidates and point to Alaska as a place where they think a Republican got a polling bump after a visit from the president.

5:35But the schedule of these rallies really tells you the degree to which Republicans are playing defense in these midterms. The president next goes to the Carolinas, both north and south, and just announced two more rallies in deep red areas in Texas. These are all states where he has never lost, but Republican Senate candidates are now locked in much tighter than expected contests. Tom? All right, Garrett Haake leading us off from the White House. Later in the broadcast, we're going to take you live to the president's rally there in Kansas. Julie Sirkin standing by for top story for a live report when the president hits that stage.

6:09Now to that stunning news out of the NFL Eagles quarterback. Jalen Hurts likely out for the rest of the season after doctors found blood clots in his legs and his lungs, a potentially life-threatening condition. Kaylee Hartung has this one for us. Tonight, the city of Philadelphia and football fans everywhere reeling as Eagles star quarterback Jalen Hurts is sidelined, likely for the season. Hurts, who set out yesterday's game against the Carolina Panthers, diagnosed with a potentially fatal bilateral pulmonary embolism, blood clots in both of his lungs. The news announced by the Eagles, who say Hurts is now on blood thinners.

6:46Medical experts say that treatment and football do not mix. Contact sports are really incredibly dangerous when people are on blood thinners, because anytime you're hit, especially in the head, there's going to be a risk of bleeding into the brain, which can be life-threatening. Hertz, who two seasons ago led Philadelphia to a Super Bowl championship, said he took a cleat to his left calf in a game two weeks ago. Days later, after the team flew to London as part of the NFL's International Series, an ultrasound detected a superficial clot in that leg, and team doctors cleared him to play. Hurts last week initially coy about his condition.

7:27It was a very unique experience to say the least. Today, the team sharing that a follow-up scan revealed a more serious diagnosis, a clot deep in his leg and clots that reached both of his lungs. The Eagles say Jalen's prognosis is very good and we expect a full recovery. Head coach Nick Sirianni standing by the medical team who guided this process. I have full trust and full faith in them. It's not just me that has major care for our players. It's them as well. And Tom, the big question being asked tonight is why was Jalen Hurts allowed to play in that London game after the clot had initially been identified?

8:05Well, the Eagles say that that was a superficial clot. Those are often considered low risk. Medical staff believed that activity and mobility were important, that it was safe for him to play. And Jalen Hurts performed that Sunday with no limitations. Tom? Okay, Kaylee Hartung for us. Kaylee, thank you. And at a college football game in Texas, a horrifying incident unfolding in front of a packed crowd. A U.S. airman following to his death in what was supposed to be a celebration of the armed forces. George Solis has this one, and I'm warning some of the video you're about to see is disturbing. A horrifying scene ahead of a Texas college football game.

8:41Video captures the moment a U.S. airman was meant to repel from the rafters in a pregame demonstration, but tragically plunges to the ground. The airmen identified today as U.S. Air Force Tech Sergeant Ian Patterson, dying from the fall at the Alamo Dome Saturday before the University of Texas at San Antonio's annual Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans game. We've stopped the video before the moment of impact from the more than 150-foot fall. We were all stunned. We were just watching this person, this service member, not move. Gabby Ramirez was at the game and describes how the roar of the crowd grew eerily silent as all eyes turned to the field.

9:23I wanted to leave after that because it didn't feel right. But after the incident, the game between UT San Antonio and Navy went on. The American conference saying both teams agreed, adding it was done to mitigate speculation about Patterson's condition and avoid distress for his family. A Nellis Air Force Base spokesperson confirming Patterson was taken to a local hospital where he later died. Patterson served 15 years and was a decorated airman. Fans there for the game say three other airmen eventually rappelled down and collected Patterson's rope. Tonight, the investigation into the deadly and tragic fall is ongoing.

10:03George Solis joins Top Story Live tonight. And George, what more information do we have on that investigation and the surviving airmen? I mean, the big question is, how could this have happened? Yeah, that's right, Tom. So an interim safety board was actually just established today to try to figure out what went wrong, investigate, to try and prevent it. Other airmen are said to be okay. Now, close friends of Technical Sergeant Patterson say he was dedicated, a loving father. They're actually planning on holding a memorial service tomorrow at one of his favorite restaurants there in San Antonio to remember him as they await for more information about this horrific tragedy.

10:38Tom? Very sad. Okay, George, thank you. Also tonight, we're following a series of frightening flight emergencies, including a plane's engine bursting into flames and a private jet crashing after skidding off the runway with an actor on board. Our Liz Kreutz across it all tonight. Tonight, a series of alarming close calls on the tarmac and in the air. In Lima, Peru, the engine of this LATAM Airlines flight catching fire just before takeoff. You can see these videos showing the billowing flames and here the terrifying view from inside. The airline says no one was injured and all passengers evacuated safely.

11:14The cause is still under investigation. Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, new video shows the private jet that skidded off the runway there Sunday as it was taking off for Canada, hitting a perimeter fence. Actor Donnie Wahlberg among those on board. We're all okay. I'm okay. The Boston Blue Star speaking out about the experience on his Instagram. These pilots saved our lives and God covered us because we were, I'm not sure how many fences we avoided, but we didn't avoid the last one. But we avoided those trucks and heavy equipment and the dumpsters behind that. No one was injured. It's unclear what caused the plane to skid off the runway.

11:59And in San Jose, California. We are having engine failure. I'm declaring an emergency. This single engine plane nosedived into traffic Sunday, crashing down on one of the city's busiest streets. We live with the constant fear of another airplane flying into our community and crashing. The Cessna landing just yards away from this neighborhood, narrowly missing homes. All right. With that, Liz Quetz joins us from L.A. And Liz, was anyone hurt in that San Jose crash? Because that one looked very, very wild. Yeah. Incredibly, Tom, nobody was injured. Nobody on the ground was hit. Nobody was hurt. And on that plane, according to the fire department, there were two adults and a child.

12:39They were taken to the hospital, but all of them are OK. Amazingly. That's great news. OK, Liz, thank you. We're going to head overseas now to the chaos erupting in France. Protesters shutting down the Louvre in Paris and authorities now trying to rein in the escalating violence, putting curfews in place across the country. NBC's Richard Engel reports. Curfews in cities across France tonight as the government tries to bring calm. Clashes outside the Louvre Museum today, closed because of protests. Just the latest dust-up between demonstrators and police. In the city of Limoges, the historic city hall went up in flames, set on fire during nationwide protests over the weekend.

13:22The gathered crowd cheers when the spire collapses. Across the country, authorities have arrested thousands, water cannons used in attempts to disperse crowds this weekend. But the prime minister said as many as 3 ,000 businesses were impacted. Some looted. Much of the anger in the streets is aimed at French President Emmanuel Macron and a troubled economy. Macron blasted for attending a Celine Dion concert Friday night, said by his detractors to show him to be out of touch. Tear gas is now just falling right around us. We were there earlier this month as student protests over school conditions, initially peaceful, were growing and meeting resistance.

14:03Some of the demonstrators are trying to kick it away, to throw it away. Why all of this now? A mix of discontented youth, economic anxiety and politics, with France's far right saying all of the mayhem is caused by illegal immigration, hoping to capitalize on these scenes to win national elections just six months from now. So far, the curfews announced only extend until tomorrow, including in parts of central Paris, but they could easily be extended or expanded. There are more demonstrations scheduled for later this week and this weekend. President Macron is out of the country, currently on a Middle Eastern tour.

14:44Tom? Richard Engel for Top Story tonight. Richard, thank you. For more exclusive video, expert insights, and inside access to our reporters on the ground, you can download the NBC News app and subscribe. We're going to be back in a moment with a possible new twist in the O.J. Simpson case. Did he have an accomplice? We'll hear from TMZ's Harvey Levin, who covered the case at the time about the new court documents raising questions. Plus, does what happens in Vegas actually stay in Vegas? A man now on trial for allegedly stealing a flamingo, what he says he was doing in Sin City before that animal abduction.

15:16And Elon Musk announcing a big SpaceX stock giveaway, what it could mean for millions of kids across the country. That's ahead tonight on Top Story.

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16:06This holiday, all plans, even unlimited, are just$15 a month. A holiday deal this good obviously deserves an enormously expensive holiday song, like All I Want. Right. Okay, we can afford that. You know what? Forget the music budget. We're going to stick with whatever's in the public domain. Give it a try at mintmobile.com slash switch. Upfront payment of$45 for three months,$90 for six months, or$180 for a 12-month plan required. $15 per month equivalent. Taxes and fees extra. New customer offer for initial plan term only. Greater than 50 gigabytes may slow when network is busy. See terms. At Jared Jewelers, we know it's about more than fine jewelry.

16:41It's the moment they open the box. That smile they can't hide. Knowing you chose exactly right. because the right gift can bring a lifetime of meaning, a promise, a milestone, a memory in the making. Make every moment unforgettable. Find great gifts starting at$250. Jared, make the holiday last forever. Shop Jared Jewelers. We're back now with a potential twist in the O.J. Simpson case. Newly unsealed court documents fueling speculation that Simpson had an accomplice with ties to the mob and the rap world and information on what happened to the murder weapon. Emily Akeda has more. Three decades after O.J.

17:25Simpson's murder trial. We the jury in the above entitled action find the defendant Orenthal James Simpson not guilty of the crime of murder. Where the murder weapon was never found. Tonight, potential new clues that this man, a mobster turned government informant, had information about the disposal of the weapon. According to unearthed court records, Joey Ippolito was a known associate of Simpsons. He died in 2006, but his brother Sam Ippolito revealed to the New York Times that his sibling was at the murder scene. And that night, Sam Ippolito said his brother went out to help O.J. Simpson and then returned to their apartment with what appeared to be blood on his hands, with a bag that he wanted his brother to get rid of.

18:07One federal official telling the Times that Ippolito was ultimately reluctant about being the snitch of the century in the trial of the century. Rapper Fat Joe, who says he had a friend nicknamed Joe Bentley, seems to suggest Ippolito was waiting at the other end of the infamous police chase. He was in the airport with the private that O.J. Simpson is his man, right? He was the one waiting for him. But in another twist, after implicating his brother to the Times, the paper says Sam Ippolito recanted after being denied compensation for his story. Sam now telling NBC News there was no way Joey was involved.

18:46A prosecutor from the trial told the Times she would have been informed if there was anything credible from Ippolito. In the meantime, the LAPD says their investigation remains active and open. Tom. Emily Akeda, thank you. I want to now bring in someone who covered the O.J. Simpson case from start to finish. Harvey Levin was an investigative reporter at the local CBS station in L.A. back in the 90s before he went on to start TMZ. Harvey, great to have you back on Top Story. So, you know, when you read this New York Times article, it feels almost like JFK, that film by Oliver Stone, because some of it may be true, some of it may not be true.

19:22But, wow, what a story. Had you ever heard of this guy, Joey Ippolito? Yeah, I mean, I heard of him. Not a lot was made of him. But, you know, when you read the story, it's plausible. That doesn't mean it happened. You know, look, the most likely thing that happened is that there was a guy at LAX when O.J. was going to Chicago right after the murders. AND THERE WAS A GUY WHO WITNESSED HIM AND HE ACTUALLY TESTIFIED WHO SAID THAT HE SAW OJ WITH A BAG AND HE WAS DEPOSITING THINGS IN THE TRASH CAN RIGHT OUTSIDE THE TERMINAL AT LAX. SO IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THAT'S THE SCENARIO. BUT THIS IS INTERESTING AND IT DOES TIE SOME PRETTY MYSTERIOUS THINGS TOGETHER.

20:13I WANT TO PUT UP FOR OUR VIEWERS THE THREE DIFFERENT SORT OF POSSIBILITIES ON HOW IMPOLITO MAY HAVE BEEN CONNECTED TO OJ. You mentioned one of them there first. He had info about the weapon, right? Did he help O.J. hide the weapon? Was he at the house? Who knows? Ippolito's brother says he was actually at the scene. He went and he helped O.J., and he apparently at one point had the murder weapon. Again, the brothers recanted the story to The New York Times. And finally, there's a story of Fat Joe, who says he was at a party in Miami hanging out with Ippolito. O.J. was there, and he apparently told him at one point a story about Simpson wanting to flee, and he was at the airport waiting with a private jet.

20:51THE PART ABOUT THE SCENE, RIGHT, HARVEY, YOU KNOW THIS BETTER THAN ANYONE. THERE WAS DNA, THERE WAS THE BLOODY GLOVE BACK AT O.J.'S HOUSE. I MEAN, THERE WAS SO MANY THINGS THAT TIED O.J. TO THIS MURDER. WAS THERE EVER ANY THEORY THAT THERE WAS AN ACCOMPLICE IN ANY DNA OR EVIDENCE THAT POINTED THAT WAY? THERE WAS NO ACCOMPLICE. AND PERSONALLY, I THINK THE PROSECUTION GOT THIS CASE WRONG. O.J. SIMPSON WENT TO NICOLE'S HOUSE ALONE. AND HE DIDN'T GO TO KILL HER because, remember, he had less than an hour before he was being picked up in his limo. So how was he going to pull this off where he stabbed somebody to death, was a bloody mess, had to get rid of the knife, had to get rid of the clothes?

21:31It doesn't make any sense. He went over there because a month before, out of vengeance, he slit her tires. And I think that's why he went there this time. He went there with a hat as a disguise, gloves so he didn't cut his hand, and a knife to cut the tires. AND I THINK HE WENT INTO THE COURTY YARD, WHICH HE OFTEN DID, AND RON GOLDMAN CAME IN AND HE WENT NUTS. BUT THERE IS NO ACCOMPLICE IN THIS CASE. OJ WENT THERE BECAUSE HE WAS STALKING HER. YEAH. JUST REAL QUICK, BECAUSE YOU BROUGHT IT UP, DO YOU HAVE ANY THEORIES ON WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MURDER WEAPON HERE? WELL, AL COWLING, WHO WAS HIS BEST FRIEND, THE GUY THAT WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN THE SLOW - SPEED CHASE, HE HAD TOLD, SORRY FOR GETTING LURID HERE, TOM, BUT HE HAD TOLD A PORN STAR THAT HE was dating shortly after the murders, that the knife was sleeping with the fishes.

22:23That's what she says he said. So I don't know. If you believe Joey Apolito that he went to a trash can or his brother went to a trash can near their apartment, I can tell you that if that happened, I lived a block from that trash can. So how bad a reporter am I if that were the case, that we're trying to figure out where the knife was, and it was literally a stone's throw for me if it were true? It would have been a crazy story. Harvey, explain to our viewers. People might be saying, why would this guy make it up? Why would his brother make it up all these years later? Maybe there was some truth.

23:05He obviously had a connection to O.J. Simpson. Maybe he knew him. But there's big money. Let's say it's all fabricated. There's big money to be made in the documentary space if you have a new twist on the O.J. Simpson case. Of course. Of course. And, look, there are so many of these stories. I still get e-mails from people with these crazy theories. And, again, I don't know whether this is true or not. O.J. apparently didn't know this guy. But look, this guy, Joey Apolito, was a mafioso drug dealer, convicted felon who escaped from prison. So not the greatest credibility. Yeah. Did you know anything about the restaurant he was running where people, a lot of sort of L.A.'s elite were hanging out at the time, and that's where I guess Al and O.J.

23:54meet him? Now, I didn't know. In fact, I thought it was a particular restaurant that I know O.J. went to, but it's not that. SO I REALLY DON'T. I WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE RESTAURANT. AND HE APPARENTLY ALSO WAS A DEALER, IT SAID IN THE NEW YORK TIMES STORY, TO THE SIMPSONS. IT WAS PLURAL. WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT I KNOW IT'S BEEN SORT OF ALLEGED AND REPORTED, BUT WHAT WERE THE DRUG CONNECTIONS THERE IN THAT FAMILY? WELL, IF YOU REMEMBER, DURING THE TRIAL, WELL, YOU'RE TOO YOUNG, TOM. DURING THE TRIAL, THERE WERE, THERE WAS AN ALTERNATE THEORY THAT THE PROSECUTION, THAT THE DEFENSE, RATHER, SUGGESTED THAT NICOLE BROWN SIMPSON OWED MONEY TO DRUG DEALERS AND THIS WAS A REVENGE KILLING THAT SHE DIDN'T PAY.

24:41AND THEY USED WHAT THEY CALLED A COLUMBIAN NECKTIE ON HER. SO, YEAH, I MEAN, NICOLE HAD PARTIED AS WELL AS OJAY. SO, DO YOU HAVE TIME FOR A REALLY QUICK STORY? HARVARD, WE ALWAYS HAVE TIME FOR YOU. OKAY. SO, OJAY SIMPSON WAS REALLY good friends with a guy named Wayne Hughes. Wayne Hughes owned public storage and he had a bachelor pad in the Hollywood Hills. And he got married and his wife said, we don't want to live here. We want to go to Bel Air. I bought Wayne Hughes' house and it turned out O.J. Simpson and Nicole partied at this house. And the day I moved in, I walked into the guest house and there was cocaine on the rug in the guest house.

25:28So if you're asking me, is it plural? My guess is yes. Harvey Levin, that's not where we expect this segment to go, but that's why you're a great reporter. Harvey, thanks so much for being on Top Story. We appreciate it. My pleasure, Tom. Now to another strange story, a bizarre trial in Las Vegas, a man admitting to stealing a live flamingo from its habitat at a hotel after he says he drank 30 to 40 beers. Much of his night captured on surveillance cameras. Our Andres Gutierrez has the details on the case. Now in the hands of the jury. This is the scene a father of three says he now regrets. Watch as he climbs into a flamingo habitat at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas.

26:08He holds a flamingo down as it tries to escape. When he keeps walking, birds scatter. He ends up snatching one named Peachy and carries him up to his hotel room. Video shows him in the hallway shirtless grabbing Peachy by the neck before scooping him up and laughing with his friend. Canadian tourist Mitchell Fairbarn is now facing two felony counts of animal cruelty. On the stand, he told jurors he was in town for a war conference back in March and decided to go day drinking before his encounter with Peachy, downing dozens of beers. If I had guessed, I'd say between 30 and 40. As to why he decided to take Peachy up to his room?

26:48I thought it would be at the time funny. Prosecutors say Peachy was left bleeding and with damaged feathers. He's got an abrasion to his wing. A court order has kept Fairbarn in the U.S. awaiting trial. During his testimony, he broke down in tears. While you're here in Vegas, what happens with your dad?

27:09Sorry. Do you pass? Police say Fairbarn later admitted to the axe and stated he was just trying to help. Andres joins us now live from L.A. Andres, this is such a strange story. How much time could Fairbarn face if the jury finds him guilty? Well, Tom, the jury has been deliberating since late this morning, and they're considering those two felony counts of animal cruelty we mentioned in the story. If they convict Fairbarn, he could face up to four years in prison on each count. But the jurors also have the chance to convict him of a lesser charge of misdemeanor animal cruelty, and that carries up to six months in jail per count.

27:46There is no word yet on how long deliberations could take, Tom. All right, Andres Gutierrez, thank you. Still ahead tonight, just two weeks to go until election night, and Steve Kornacki is in the house breaking down an all-new NBC News poll. Plus, new drama on Dancing with the Stars, one of the show's biggest names, now suspended. We'll tell you what happened, what he did, and how long they're sitting out. But first, Top Story's top moment in the pumpkin patch with an unexpected problem. Too many pumpkins. This Rhode Island farm created a display with nearly 10 ,000 of them to celebrate 250 years of farming in the state.

28:19Now they're desperate for visitors to make a dent in their spooky surplus. The solution? All-you-can-carry pumpkins for just$25. We thought, how fun would it be if everyone can haul out as many pumpkins as they can possibly carry, turn it into a bit of a game, but also help us liquidate some of the possibly too many pumpkins that we put out there. I'm next for shoulder surgery. You may have to tell me where to go. Imagine that all the pumpkin pie you can eat. Jack-o'-lanterns, just so much carving fun. All right, stay with us. More top story after the break.

29:03We're back now with the final countdown to the midterms. As we mentioned at the top of the broadcast, President Trump on the ground in Kansas, rallying for the Republican Senate candidate in a surprisingly tight race. Julie Serkin is live at the rally for us. She joins Top Story tonight. Julie, so great to see you. Kansas has not elected a Democratic senator since the 1930s. So just how close is this race, and what is the president's message to voters going to be down there tonight? Well, Tom, it's neck and neck, and not just in the polls, but the president said it himself. He said this is a race that is closer than it should be, and that's why he says he's heading to Kansas here, taking the stage any minute now to try and get his supporters to go to the polls and vote for Roger Marshall.

29:45I spoke to a woman, Susan, who told me that's exactly what she hopes happens here, that the president is able to motivate Republicans who wouldn't show up to vote unless he's on the ballot. That's what I heard from the president as well in Ohio and other campaign rallies he's held in very red states. And certainly Roger Marshall needs that support because he is so close in the polls to Adam Hamilton. He's a pastor. He's a Democrat here who has positioned himself as a moderate. I talked to a number of Democrats, Tom, in Wichita, Kansas, one voter who even told me they voted for Republicans and are now ready for change.

30:19And then, Julie, we reported on the threat against President Trump earlier tonight, a man arrested after saying online he wanted to kill the president. Have you noticed any change in security at the venue of where you're at tonight? All right. Security is tight as it always is. It is a packed crowd here waiting for the president. But here's what makes it so unique here, Tom. Kansas in a state that the president himself only visited twice. Tonight is his second time since 2016. One rally goer I spoke to told me she has never seen the president. So I don't think anything would deter people here who came to see the president speak in Park City, Kansas.

30:53As you mentioned earlier, this is a neck and neck race in the Senate. The president knows that. And of course, many people here not only want to hear from the president, but also want to hear the case he has to make. And certainly we expect him to say that a vote against Roger Marshall is a vote for radical Democrats. That's a line we've heard very often from him. Tom? Yeah. And then while we have you there, what are voters telling you? Are they going to vote their pocketbook there? Are they concerned about the war in Iran and what's happening in Ukraine now with the diesel? Absolutely concerned with the economy.

31:24me. We were driving by gas stations, the cost of diesel specifically, because this is a farming state. 85 percent of the state is used for agriculture. I talked to farmers as well in Iowa who told me a similar thing. But taking farmers aside, you have regular everyday voters. One of them told me they're concerned about health care. The other told me they're concerned about caring for their parents. So there's a lot of different issues here at play. And certainly this is a big reason why Roger Marshall is down in the polls. The president's approval numbers, including in our own NBC News poll, not anything to write home about.

31:55And for Marshall, of course, that's bringing him down as well. All right, Julie Sirkin, we thank you tonight. And a new NBC News poll giving us the broadest sense yet of how Americans are feeling in the final sprint to the midterms. Steve Kornacki is at the big board for us tonight to break it down. Steve, this poll shows nearly three and four Americans say the country is on the wrong track. Yeah, look, headwinds for the president, for his party as we get close to the midterms. And that translates into this approval rating. This is with registered voters here. That's what you're looking at, Trump's approval rating sitting at 39 percent in our decision desk poll.

32:29And what that also looks like here, this is the generic congressional ballot. Again, this is registered voters you're looking at here. An advantage for Democrats over Republicans on that question of which party would you like to see control Congress. Nine points here. And again, some of the ingredients going into this continues to be the economy, inflation, cost of living. asking folks, compared to a year ago, your own personal financial situation, look at that, 44 % say it is worse now than it was one year ago. Crucially, among those who call themselves independents, it's an outright majority.

33:02It is 53 % of independents who say worse now than a year ago. Also, the cost of fuel, the cost of gas for you, for your family, is that a very serious problem, a somewhat serious problem, 67 % combined. That's the key here. Two-thirds of adults in this poll are saying that the price of gas for their family is either a very serious or somewhat serious problem, again, driving those numbers that we're talking about here. And, Steve, I want to show our viewers this new tool. I'm sure you're familiar with it on NBCNews.com. It's powered by our decision desk, and it tracks early voting across the country.

33:36Already more than 9 million Americans have cast their ballots, You can see the breakdown by party and by state as well when you check that out. Steve, heading into election night, how will you be thinking about that early vote and turnout? Well, I think one of the questions here is about enthusiasm. Which side has the edge there? Does one side have the edge? And this in the new poll, I think, speaks to it. Those who say they will definitely vote or have already voted voting early, this is the advantage on the generic ballot for Democrats, 12 points. Remember, it's nine overall. So among those who are most motivated, at least the way they report themselves, it's double digits for the Democrats, where the Republicans have the advantage.

34:14There's those who say, eh, I'll probably vote. You see a double-digit Republican advantage. And actually, those who say they won't vote, you poll this because there's always a small number who say, no, I won't vote ahead of the election and then end up voting. And the Republicans with that group have a 22-point lead. Now, this is by far the biggest category here, but these Republican advantages among those who are not sure at all that they're going to vote, that's the variable right here. And when you see President Trump out there, especially when he goes into Republican areas, he's trying to fire up turnout, activate a Republican base.

34:48The polls are telling us right now is not as motivated as the Democratic base. Steve, I'm going to throw you a curveball. Actually, it's going to be more of a knuckle curve. It's going to be out there, usually on big election nights, right, general election nights. We talk about a blue mirage, a red mirage. You know, it's when you think, oh, is the Republican in the lead? Is the Democrat in the lead because of the early voting or the states that we have called? These are midterm elections. But when it comes to the House or the Senate, and folks are going to be watching all night long, will there be potentially a blue mirage or a red mirage when it comes to control of Congress?

35:20Well, the one thing you always look for on election night is Florida, because the polls close there early, basically 7 o 'clock Eastern except in the panhandle. And they're very quick at counting their vote. And we have seen some recent elections. The 2018 midterm comes to mind. Where Florida, we went into the night thinking it was going to be a bellwether for the country. And Florida produced a very big night for Republicans. But then most of the rest of the country came in with a very good night for Democrats. We saw that in 18. A little bit we saw that in 2022. So Florida is going to give us some very important results early.

35:51But I'm not sure it's going to be a bellwether for the rest of the country. All right. So that means you've got to tune in and watch all night long. And we mean until 5 a.m., actually until the Today Show starts. So hopefully we'll have some results by then. Steve, great to see you. And you can dive deeper into the midterms with the NBC News polling page, early vote data, expert analysis, and more subscriber-only content. Scan the QR code on your screen to subscribe now. All right, now to Top Stories news feed. We start in South Florida, where the state's attorney general announced an arrest warrant for Raul Castro, the former leader of Cuba.

36:23The charges are related to his role in the shootdown of two U.S. humanitarian planes three decades ago. The U.S. government indicted the 95-year-old earlier this year as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Havana. And in Montana, a massive explosion caught on camera. Here you can see this truck engulfed in flames when it suddenly erupts into a fireball. It happened in a parking lot in Billings. Luckily, no one was hurt. Authorities say the blast was caused by part of the truck that overheated, sparking the fire that spread to a propane tank in the back of the vehicle. And one of the biggest names in Dancing with the Stars, or on Dancing with the Stars, I should say, just got suspended.

36:59The show announcing that Val Schmerkovsky will be sitting out a week after responding to a judge's critique of his wife, who's also a pro dancer on the show. He posted to social media appearing to reference the Will Smith notorious slapping of Chris Rock at the Oscars. Schmerkowski has now apologized, calling it a poor decision. All right. And Elon Musk announcing a massive SpaceX stock giveaway, the world's wealthiest person promising to give one share of his aerospace company to every kid in the U.S. As of this evening, a single share is trading just under$150. Musk didn't give any details on how it would be carried out, though.

37:34But with about 73 million kids across the country, his pledge would be valued at nearly$11 billion. Okay, now to our series Business in America. and tonight we hear from the CEO, Victoria's Secret. Our Savannah Seller sat down with her as the iconic brand tries to spread its wings in a new era after years of slumping sales, marketing misses, and leadership controversies. It's the brand that made superstars out of Heidi, Giselle, and Tyra. You have wings in your office. I do. I do. Now, Victoria's Secret revealing its own reinvention with CEO Hillary Super running the show. Sexy seems like a word that is just built into the DNA of Victoria's Secret.

38:18But I wonder what it means now to Victoria's Secret. I think it's one of the most common human connections that you can have is wanting to feel sexy, wanting to feel beautiful. I think it just looks and feels different for every woman. The company on the come up after taking a sales and reputation hit for marketing that primarily featured one body type. Changing tastes and new competition, along with fallout in 2019 from former owner Les Wexner's close ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, led to a challenging period. Obviously, it was not the brand's most proud moment. It's not something any of us really want to be tied to.

39:01But at the same time, it's important to know that bit of history to understand how far we've come and how much we've changed. There was also conversation about the treatment of models. Harassment, many of them saying they felt like they couldn't eat to maintain this particular physical look. What has changed in that regard for models on set? We have very strict protocols in our casting, in our fittings, in any model interaction. And it's actually monitored by a designated individual. So we've come a long way in that regard. Wexner stepped down in 2020 and has said he had no knowledge of Epstein's criminal activity and did nothing wrong.

39:39Four years later, Super took the helm, driving the company through a dramatic evolution. Today, women make up more than 75 percent of the leadership team and 86 percent of employees overall. And the overhaul includes the faces of both its Victoria's Secret and pink brands. We like the mix of OG angels, new talent, sports figures, influencers. It's about the mix of the community. The shift extending to its more than 800 stores in North America, 40 % of which, Super says, will be remodeled by the end of the year to help serve its fastest-growing customer demographic, Gen Z. We are laser-focused on Gen Z in both brands, actually.

40:21Even the youngest of your customers want an in-store experience. I would say especially our younger customers want an in-store experience. There is this tremendous opportunity to be a third space for her and a gathering place where she can come and shop and have fun with her friends. On Sunday, Victoria's Secret's famous fashion show spread its wings in Los Angeles, leaving an impact the company hopes will soar past the heights of its heyday. What just looking at it will feel different? I think this is done through a very different lens. We're really thinking much more expansively about who an angel can be.

40:58And to me, that's about self-possession and just personal confidence, strength, and feeling great in your own skin. Savannah Sellers, NBC News. Still to come on Top Story, can vaping permanently change your voice? Selena Gomez says it happened to her. We'll speak with a doctor about the potential risk. Plus the rise of hypnotherapy, it's billed as a way to treat anxiety and help people lose weight. Our Chloe Malas tries it out next.

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43:31We are back now with Top Story's Health Check and a surprising new study about teens who vape as Selena Gomez opens up about kicking the habit. In a major trend reversal, teen girls are vaping more than teen boys. That according to researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina. In 2024, almost 8 % of girls ages 15 to 17 were regularly using e-cigarettes compared to less than 5 % of boys the same age. This weekend, Gomez, an actress and Grammy-nominated singer, telling her 400 million Instagram followers she has struggled with nicotine use, saying vaping has permanently altered her speaking voice.

44:09I'm not going to be able to change my voice. I vaped nicotine a lot. If you're going through it or if you're even trying to vape, it's just not worth it. It's so stupid and it's changed my voice. Some good news. Gomez says she recently quit. Joining us now is NBC News medical contributor Dr. Akshay Sayal. Doctor, thanks so much for being here. So my question to you is how seriously could vaping impact a person's voice? I mean, I think you could hear it there with Selena. You could, Tom. And, you know, credit to her for going public with her story. Whenever a patient comes forward with a personal health story, it always takes a lot of guts to say that.

44:51And I think, you know, when you talk about what's going on with vaping and the voice, it's helpful to understand how the body actually speaks and how the voice is actually generated. And so, you know, what happens, Tom, is air comes in from our lungs and it goes up into our trachea or windpipe. And that sort of causes our vocal folds to vibrate. I mean, that vibration is actually what produces sound. But when you think about vaping, you know, it causes smoke to actually go down that same windpipe. That smoke is filled with chemicals. It's dry. It's hot. It can cause some inflammation in the vocal cords.

45:19It can cause some inflammation in the trachea or the windpipe. And it's certainly biologically possible that that inflammation is affecting someone's voice. Now, I think the big question is, is that change permanent, right? Vaping is a relatively new thing out in the market. And so if people do get that voice change like Selena says she did, is that going to last if they stop vaping? I think that's where we need a lot of data. Is it wrong to assume, and the people that vape, that it's better than smoking or healthier than smoking? I know healthy is the wrong word, but less dangerous than smoking?

45:47You know, I think that's a fair assessment, that it is less dangerous than smoking. But if somebody's not already smoking, I wouldn't say to start vaping. But if they are smoking, vaping is definitely a safer route than actually smoking cigarettes. Why do you think teen girls are doing this more? It's, you know, it's surprising, Tom. I think that when you have that graphic out there, you know, nearly 8 % of teen girls are vaping compared to, you know, just 5 % of boys. That's a reversal, right? And this reversal seems to happen in about 2021, according to this paper from the University of, or the Medical University of South Carolina.

46:16A couple reasons. You know, the researchers didn't really speculate as to why this might be. the study wasn't really designed to assess that, but things you worry about, right? Teen girls are at a higher rate of anxiety and depression. Is it something about that that's causing them to choose these substances? You know, is it something in the marketing, right? These little sort of devices and cartridges, is it something about them that may be more appealing to females? I mean, finally, you know, nicotine can be used as an appetite suppressant, and you wonder, you know, girls are at a higher risk of eating disorders.

46:42Is there something driving that as well? We just don't have enough information right now. If parents are concerned about vaping at HOME, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THEY COULD DO? DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR THEM? YEAH, I THINK WHENEVER PARENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR CHILD SORT OF UNDERGOING A SUBSTANCE PROBLEM, THE FIRST THING WE ALWAYS SAY IS, YOU KNOW, GO IN WITH AN OPEN MIND AND PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T JUDGE. I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN A KID SENSE THAT HE'S BEING JUDGED ABOUT SOMETHING, THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO OPEN UP AND YOU'RE LESS LIKELY TO GET TO THE ROOT CAUSE. BUT I THINK WITH VAPING, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE risks of nicotine, right?

47:08We talk about the developing brain. It really doesn't finish developing until 25 or so. That can really cause problems with, you know, impulse control and attention, you know, stressing those risks. And also, I think, Tom, finding the reason they're even doing this in the first place, right? Are they doing it just because their friends are doing it? Are they doing it because they're anxious and depressed and they're turning to this as a coping mechanism? You know, unless you address the root cause, I don't think they're going to have much luck coming off of it. But, you know, forming that partnership, as you said, is really, really important because this is a nicotine is a really hard substance to come off of and it's going to be really hard for the kid to do it without their parents help.

47:40Dr. Akshay Sile, always great to have you here. Thank you. Appreciate it. And for those looking to beat an addiction or break a bad habit, could hypnosis be the answer? A version of the practice called hypnotherapy is becoming more and more popular and more mainstream, but does it actually work? Our Chloe Malas gave it a try. You feel your eyes becoming so, so heavy. It's the latest trend in wellness TikTok. Surrender into the comfortable relaxation. Hypnotherapists claim they can guide viewers into a trance-like state through their phones in order to treat everything from anxiety. You'll find that it will become easier and easier to handle challenges.

48:21To losing weight. You see the ideal self standing in front of you. But this isn't the stereotypical Hollywood hypnosis. You are getting we be we be some patients report real benefits from hypnotherapy online and in person. I started seeing a hypnotist. He's completely changed my life. Influencer Alexa Court turned to hypnosis for help with anxiety. What I expected was like the old vision of someone sitting in a chair swinging a pendulum. Instead, she says her hypnotist helped her identify the thought processes fueling her anxiety and talk her out of them. My anxiety now versus what it was prior to him, it's a different, it's a completely different level.

49:08So how does it all work? We asked trained hypnotherapist Safra Bakshani. It's really about accessing a part of the brain that is not always open and reprogramming it to change something. What sorts of benefits does hypnotherapy have. It's great for healing. I've worked with a lot of people who have anxiety and depression, PTSD. I wanted to try it for myself. I want you to just see an image of the book to see if it could help me manage some stress around my upcoming book release. Your leg and deep sleep, you're allowing your entire body to relax, release and let go. Open those eyes, deep sleep, close the eyes.

49:45We were working against the clock and under bright shooting lights, hardly the most relaxing setting. So all of that anxiety energy about the book is just going to come down this arm. I didn't feel like I achieved a true hypnotic trance, but I could see how in the right setting hypnosis might help me shift my mindset. And research shows hypnosis could have a medical use like reducing pain and anxiety during medical procedures. Areas that have been shown to have strong efficacy include pain management, irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, reduction of menopausal hot flashes. Dr. Gary Elkin studies the clinical application of hypnotherapy.

50:27He explained that hypnosis decreases activity in the waking conscious part of the brain and increases activity in the part that identifies important signals and guides the body's response. What ties those together is They are symptoms that the individual experiences, not behaviors that they do. But he warns that some social media claims go too far. I would be cautious about excessive claims of hypnotherapy. The bottom line, hypnotherapy may not be magic, but in some cases, it may have real power. Chloe Malas joins us now. Chloe, can you hear me? Are you there? How does it feel? You know, I totally believe that it can help people break habits and reduce stress.

51:15She really had me going into a trance-like state. You could feel it. Yes. I mean, I've done a lot of meditation and breath work in my life. I'm a big believer in how this can reduce stress, really clear your mind. And I think that, like, if I hadn't been under the bright lights and I had been in a quiet setting, I think I would have gone completely under. So if people want to do this, are there apps that help you do this? because I know I use an app to help with meditation. Are there apps? Because this seems like it's a little bit more intense. Sure. I mean, it's always great if you can do it in person, but there are several apps, including the Nerva app, which is actually something that they're doing studies on when it comes to people with irritable bowel syndrome.

51:54And as you know, your mind and your gut are connected through something called the vagus nerve, and they're constantly talking to one another. So if your gut is off, it actually makes sense as to why you don't feel right mentally. So that is an app that a lot of people are using. You could do hypnosis for irritable bowel syndrome. Yeah, IBS. It's really incredible. 45 million Americans suffer from IBS. So it's something... As you do, right? I have actually something called IBD, inflammatory bowel disease. But mindfulness and meditation and breath work are great for all types of chronic illness and also just reducing stress in everybody's everyday life.

52:29But Nerva is something that Dr. Elkins told us about. And then there's the Mindset Health app and other things like that. OK, great. I definitely want to try it. Thanks so much. We appreciate it. When we come back tonight, the touching act of selflessness when a homecoming king passes on the crown to a beloved classmate, sending the pep rally crowd into a frenzy. You're going to love this video. That moment right after this.

52:53Finally tonight, the homecoming celebration fit for a king, the winner sharing his crown with a classmate. Why the crowd went wild for the royal recognition. OK, first up we have Kenny Cedano. It's homecoming at Mahanoy Area High School in Eastern PA. And a new king is about to be crowned. These are the finalists, seniors Kenny Cedano Ramirez and Axton Kula. Arms around each other, plus one last fist bump before the big reveal. For 2026 is Kenny the Dome. Kenny accepting the title, applause filling that gym, but that's not where this story ends. Moments later, Kenny giving his crown and sash to Axton.

53:45Their classmates in the crowd going wild. Axton has Down syndrome and his mom, Alyssa, says this moment meant so much. He's been talking about homecoming probably since last year. The moment also resonating with so many online. It's fun. It was fun. Yeah. Kenny's kindness, something they'll always remember. I'm very thankful that he did that and happy and that he was able to give him the experience that he's been talking about probably since last year or longer. It's pretty amazing.

54:26Both kings in our book. What a moment. Thanks so much for watching Top Story. I'm Tom Yamas in New York. Stay right there. More news on the way.

54:42At Jared Jewelers, we know it's about more than fine jewelry. It's the moment they open the box. That smile they can't hide. Knowing you chose exactly right. because the right gift can bring a lifetime of meaning, a promise, a milestone, a memory in the making. Make every moment unforgettable. Find great gifts starting at$250. Jared, make the holiday last forever. Shop Jared Jewelers.