Tuesday, October 27, 2026

0:00This message comes from Wise Business, the only account your business needs to scale globally. You're building a business with global ambitions, but hidden fees are eating into your margins. With Wise Business, you can pay overseas suppliers without exchange rate markups. Have customers worldwide get payment details in 22 currencies, so you get more of each hard-earned payment without hidden conversion fees. Be smart. Get Wise Business. Download the app. T's and C's apply. This 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.

0:39Right. 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 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. Tonight, the final push to Election Day. Now just one week away. President Trump campaigning across Texas. Can he prevent the Lone Star State from going blue? And the nasty battle for Michigan.

1:12The backlash to comments from RFK Jr. about Muslims. And the anti-Israel ad there creating new controversy. Historic flooding on both coasts. Parts of Fort Lauderdale. Underwater. Streets turned to rivers. people kayaking down them, and cars trapped. Out West, beachfront homes completely swamped, the threat far from over. High-stakes election in Israel, the early votes just in. Will Benjamin Netanyahu hold on to power? Our Richard Engel is live there. New tonight, serial killer Ted Bundy linked to another murder, a teen girl found dead in a park. How a new DNA test solved the decades-long mystery.

1:55signs of hope on the front lines a ceasefire in effect for a war-torn Ukrainian city on the brink of starvation couldn't signal the beginning of the end of the years-long conflict and body cam of a mother arrested at the airport after police say she left her four kids home alone for days the concerning 911 call that tipped off the cops and the bear wreaking havoc behind the wheel how police were able to break him free plus the staggering price at the pump the reason why its driving costs higher than they were during the Biden era. Top story starts right now.

2:35And good evening. Right now, it's an all-out sprint to the midterm elections. Voters heading to the polls in just a week and both sides of the aisle launching a full court press with the control of Congress hanging in the balance. President Trump landing in deep red Texas today, hosting two rallies in a state he won three times, scrambling to shore up support for a Senate race that's too close for comfort for Republicans. That race, an all-out showdown between Trump-backed Republican Ken Paxton and progressive James Tallarico. So will Texas elect a Democratic senator for the first time in more than three decades?

3:09And in Michigan, an already heated race for Senate taking an ugly turn. The Trump administration ramping up attacks against Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Vice President J.D. Vance calling him a, quote, psychopath as Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. targets El-Sayed's faith. With election night just days away, more than 32 million people have already voted early or by mail. And top of mind for those voters, cost of living. New data tonight shows gas prices are now higher than they were during the Biden era. We're covering it all tonight with full team coverage breaking down these high-stake races.

3:43But we begin in Texas, where our Gabe Gutierrez is traveling with the president. He leads us off tonight. Tonight, President Trump in deep red Texas, scrambling to hold on to a critical Republican Senate seat. Seven days from now, the people of Texas are going to defeat Democrat, communist James Salafrico. And bringing back up in this heavily Latino district with Secretary of State Marco Rubio's first appearance on the trail. It's an honor to work for the greatest country in the world, for the greatest president in the history of the United States of America. We love you, Texas. Republican Ken Paxton locked in a tighter-than-expected race against Democrat James Tallarico.

4:21A recent poll in Texas finding, along with the cost of living, corruption is a top issue. In 2023, Paxton was impeached in the Texas House for allegations that included bribery, but he was acquitted in the state Senate. And then there's Ken Paxton, the most corrupt politician in our state. But Paxton slamming Tallarico as too liberal for Texas, pointing to controversial comments like this. There are many more than two biological sexes. In fact, there are six. Nationwide, more than 32 million people have voted early. Cindy Bell, who considered herself a Bush Republican, today cast her ballot for Tallarico.

5:03I definitely think it's a change that we need. AAA says the average price of gas during this Trump administration has now exceeded the average under President Biden. But a new government report out today showing consumer confidence is rising. We spoke to this Paxton supporter. Democrats are saying that they might have a shot to turn this state blue. Do you buy that? No, not for a minute. Why is that? Because there are too many of us who want to save our state and save our country. Let's pick it up there. Gabe Gutierrez joins us now live from the president's second rally today. and gave many of his stops are in Republican strongholds, and he's going to have a busy last week of these midterms.

5:45Yeah, that's right, Tom. The final stretch is really heating up. We're expecting President Trump here any moment, and President Trump is expected to head to Ohio tomorrow, then South Carolina, Florida, Kansas, and Iowa over the next five days. All states said he won by double digits in 2024, but Texas is particularly high stakes, Tom, because, as you'll remember, Trump endorsed Ken Paxton over the Republican incumbent John Cornyn. And in just the last few months, during this election season, President Trump has already been to Texas four times. Tom? An important point there, Gabe. We thank you for that.

6:24Now to the fiery race for the Senate in Battleground, Michigan. The vice president going after the state's Democratic candidate, Abdul El-Sayed. And tonight, there's growing backlash over El-Sayed's latest campaign ad. Here's Ryan Nobles. Tonight, the brutal Michigan Senate race getting more bitter. The vice president going after Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. I think Abdul El-Sayed is a little bit of a psychopath. Earlier, El-Sayed blasting the GOP. My name and my faith are not the reason you can't afford your gas. And there's new backlash tonight over comments by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

6:57going after the Muslim Brotherhood. There's 500 million Arabs in the world, and yet they don't produce science. They don't win the Nobel Prize. All of that tradition has been destroyed by the Muslim Brotherhood. They've created stagnant societies. There have been several Arab winners of the Nobel Prize. The El-Sayed campaign responding, it's rich to have an anti-scientist come to Michigan to lecture a doctor with two doctoral degrees. Republican Mike Rogers' campaign has zeroed in on questions over El-Sayed's connection to the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist movement that several countries classify as a terror group.

7:33El-Sayed's half-sister posted in 2012, my family has long been MB. But he told Tom he has no ties. I'm telling you, like, I have no ties. We have no ties. And tonight, there's outrage over a new ad by El-Sayed supporters being widely criticized as anti-Semitic, showing parents buying groceries, trying to blame high prices on U.S. aid to Israel. They like eggs, but we have to set that$7 aside for killing Palestinians? The outside campaign saying it's not affiliated in any way with the ad. And Jewish voters are expected to be a key voting block in this Michigan Senate race. One county to watch is Oakland County outside of Detroit.

8:17The current Democratic Senator Alyssa Slockin won Oakland County by 12 points. There's a large Jewish population there. And if Abdul El-Sayed is struggling in Oakland County, it could be a sign of weakness with Jewish voters. Tom? Okay, Ryan Nobles for us. Ryan, great to see you. You can dive deeper into the midterms with NBC News' polling page. Early vote data, expert analysis, and more subscriber-only content. Scan the QR code on your screen and subscribe now. We want to head overseas because all eyes are on Israel, the future of the country, and the political fate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are up in the air.

8:51Massive turnout for the first national election since the October 7th attacks. But the outcome could be weeks away. Richard Engel is on the ground for us. TONY GUIDA, President, Israel's most consequential election in modern history produced no clear winner. There was huge enthusiasm and apparent record turnout at the polls, leading some to believe Israel's longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was on his way out. But at this watch party in Tel Aviv tonight, stunned silence as exit polls were reported on Israeli TV. They showed a split result, so Netanyahu is still a contender. Was this the result you were hoping for?

9:34No, but also I'm not surprised. I'm disappointed, but not surprised. The opposition did show strength, but not enough to win power outright. And it's the same old politics instead of trying something new. The opposition leader and first-time candidate retired General Gadi Eisenkot, whose son was killed in the war in Gaza, could end up as the next prime minister. But there may be weeks of negotiations ahead. Eisenkot ran on criticism of Netanyahu's response to the Hamas terror attack three years ago. Now the man at the center of Israeli politics is the country's president, Isaac Herzog. He has the responsibility of tasking either Netanyahu or Eisenkot with the job of forming a coalition government among more than 10 political parties.

10:26Many Israelis returned from abroad to participate in today's election, where most are required to vote in person, among them actress Gal Gadot. Gadot, like many, said she was voting for change. But tonight, it's unclear if change is coming to Israel's leadership. All right, Richard Engel joins us now live from Tel Aviv. So, Richard, the impact of this election, obviously, it's going to be felt widely from the war in Iran. That obviously is going to impact our gas prices here in the U.S. as well.

10:58No doubt. This is a hugely consequential election. It has worldwide impact. Prime Minister Netanyahu has promised that if he is reelected, and we won't know for some time as this horse trading process takes place and the president will have to pick one of these two candidates to try and form a government, But if it is Netanyahu, he has promised that he will intensify the war in Iran to completely remove the Iranian regime and partner with President Trump to, quote, finish the job, which would mean more fighting across the Middle East and continued high gas prices in the U.S. and elsewhere. And then, Richard, while we have you here, there is this issue of the investigation into Benjamin Netanyahu.

11:44If he does lose power, what happens with that investigation? Does it move forward? That is an enormous question that a lot of Israelis are talking about. Not only has he been convicted of war crimes by the International Criminal Court, he is also facing corruption charges here in Israel. Because he's been a prime minister, because this country has been at war, he's been able to postpone many of the proceedings. And there are concerns among Netanyahu's camp. Perhaps he shares these concerns personally, that if he leaves office, there will be many people going after him, that he will face legal challenge after legal challenge.

12:29So not only is his political future on the line, but his personal future is also at stake should he not get reelected. Richard Engel for us live tonight here on Top Story. Richard, we thank you for being there. We're going to turn now to the record high tide sending feet of water inland from coast to coast. In Florida, water overtaking neighborhoods and businesses. And in California, the iconic Pacific Coast Highway partially washed out. Our Jesse Kersh is tracking it all. Tonight, record-breaking high tides inundating neighborhoods on both coasts. In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, ocean water rolling into the streets.

13:08Some people pushing cars through the flooding. It is insane. It looks like you're driving through a river. First responders carefully helping this man. Coming to his aid after the flooding cut him off from his home. Water lapping at the doorsteps of these businesses and surging into the yards of these homes. The so-called king tides have long been a problem here. Yesterday in the city of Fort Lauderdale, we reached higher elevations of tide than we'd ever seen before, and today was even higher. And in the west, you can hear the spring tides flooding Huntington Beach, California. NBC Los Angeles' Brittany Hope is on the Pacific Coast Highway.

13:48All of PCH, both sides, is flooded, and the water isn't going anywhere. So what you see back there, those are Huntington Beach city crews. They have pumps to try to get this water off the road back into the ocean. First responders out in force, ready to rescue anyone who needs it, while families hoping barriers like these keep the water out of their homes. All right, let's pick it up there. Jesse Kirsch joins us now live from Fort Lauderdale. So, Jesse, how long are the tides going to remain a threat? Tom, we're going to be dealing with a coastal flood warning here until tomorrow night. and bigger picture.

14:22This is just one of the coastal communities in the United States that has a long road ahead for decades to come, potentially. When I spoke with the chief resilience officer here in Fort Lauderdale earlier, she talked to me about how they have come up with solutions to try to mitigate the flooding impacts. But she said, then the water finds another way to get on land. And the reality, she said, is that she believes there will become a point where even all of the technology at our disposal will not be enough to keep up with the ocean behind us here. Tom. Okay, Jesse Kirsch first. Jesse, thank you.

14:55We're going to be following some breaking news right now. It's out of Houston. Firefighters rushing to Bush Intercontinental Airport. Video shows thick black smoke pouring from the building. The airport posted an update on social media saying the Houston Fire Department is responding to a fire at a restaurant in one of the terminals, also adding that all of the passengers in that immediate area were relocated as a precaution. United says some flights into and out of Houston have now been delayed because of this. Okay, we're going to turn now to the stunning fall from grace for the Alexander brothers.

15:26The famed luxury real estate brokers convicted in a years-long sex trafficking ring learning their fate in a New York courtroom today. Our Stephen Romo is following this one, and Steve, it got very tense leading up to that sentencing. Yeah, Tom, it was an emotional day in court, as we heard from many of the Alexander brothers victims. But ultimately, the judge deciding to sentence all three brothers to 30 years in federal prison for their roles in this sex trafficking scheme involving drugging and raping women for more than a decade. The judge called their conduct monstrous, describing the brothers as having two sides, one of a loving family man and then the other as a statistic, misogynistic, sexual predator.

16:08Prosecutors had sought life sentences for Tal Orin and Alon Alexander. The brothers, once prominent figures in luxury real estate, were convicted in March after prosecutors accused them of using their wealth and influence to lure these women to exclusive parties with promises of vacations where they were ultimately drugged and sexually assaulted. Prosecutors saying more than 70 women came forward with allegations of abuse. And today, 11 women actually read victim impact statements describing not only what happened to them at the time, but what has happened to them in the years since these crimes?

16:42One of them described being raped by Alon Alexander. She ended up telling the court, it is so incredibly dehumanizing to be violated by someone who never saw you as a human being to begin with. I even lost trust in myself. I could not have known what he was capable of. A predator is not always in a ski mask in a dark alleyway. Now, the judge said she does not believe that these brothers are beyond redemption, explaining her decision not to impose these life sentences that the prosecution was really fighting for. All three also face 10 years of supervised release and also sex offender treatment for their probation as well.

17:22And the judge says she'll even ask prison officials to take a look at their cases and to see if the brothers are sort of bad influences on each other and whether or not they should even be housed together in the same federal facility. This trial started all the way back in January, and now we're finally hearing this sentence in late October. Tom? Okay, Stephen Romo. Stephen, we thank you for that update. Now to a chilling breakthrough in a 50-year-old murder case. Authorities say new DNA evidence links the death of a teen girl in Utah to the infamous serial killer Ted Bundy. NBC's Steve Patterson reports.

17:56Tonight, a murder mystery spanning half a century now solved. Sheriff's in Summit County, Utah, announcing the 1974 murder of a 17-year-old Melissa Ann Smith was at the hands of infamous serial killer Ted Bundy. I am announcing the closure of the 1974 homicide investigation into the death of Melissa Ann Smith. Smith was reported missing in October 1974. Her body found more than a week later in a wooded area. With no suspect ever identified, the case went cold. This case demonstrates the importance of preserving evidence even when decades have passed. The big break came in April of this year when Bundy was linked to the unsolved murder of 17-year-old Laura Ann Amy thanks to sophisticated modern DNA tracing.

18:44Today, officials announced that same male DNA was also found on Smith. It does not close the book on Ted Bundy. I didn't show any emotion because, you know, what am I supposed to do? Bundy is considered one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. He was executed in 1989. I deserve certainly the most extreme punishment society has. His killing spree linked to the mid-70s murders of at least 30 women across several states, but investigators believe he could be tied to dozens more cold cases. Thanks to forensic advancements, some can now finally be solved. Steve Patterson joins Top Story Live tonight.

19:25And Steve, could some of this new technology help crack some of those other cold cases you mentioned? Tom, a lot of this technology is so new that it broke through in 2023, which means none of this would have been possible even four years ago. And you're right. Detectives are now looking at other cases. Authorities in Utah say they're already working on the unsolved murder of Nancy Wilcox, another teenage girl also found murdered in 1974. Tom? Okay. We thank you for that. We're going to turn out of the intensifying manhunt for a convicted killer after he escaped a Tennessee prison. Authorities now saying Jacob Morley ditched his stolen getaway car and could be anywhere.

20:03That stolen truck found in Marion, Illinois, that's almost 120 miles from the correctional facility Morley broke out of. Aaron Gilchrist has been following this search and joins us now. So, Aaron, bring us up to speed here because there's been some big developments, including quite the statement, in quote, from the sister of the victim that this man killed. RAY SUAREZ, The New York Times, The New York Times, The New York Times, The New York Times, you're absolutely right. And you think about the fact that now this search has expanded for certain. It was really focused in northwestern Tennessee for the first several hours, the first day after Jacob Morley escaped.

20:35And now we know that there's some energy that's being focused in Marion, Illinois. That's where the car was found. We understand from our affiliate in Paducah, Kentucky, that the car was found around 10 o 'clock this morning after someone who had seen reports on the news about Jacob Morley, saw the truck and called police. Our understanding is that there was a search in that area, executed by the local police department and by the U.S. Marshals Service, that took up a good chunk of the day. And they did not find Morley in that area around Marion, Illinois, which was about a two-hour drive or so from the correctional center in Tiptonville, Tennessee.

21:13So, at this point, police know at least that Morley had moved into that Illinois area, and they have now warned all the states that surround Tennessee to be on the lookout. That's been the message that's been sent out for those law enforcement agencies. And again, the message that we're hearing from the police in Tennessee and elsewhere is that they want people to be on the lookout. They want people to call if they see something that may lead to Morley. They have asked people to look at their trail cameras, to look at their doorbell cameras, and to report anything that may look suspicious or to report if they see someone who fits the description of the person you saw on the screen there a second ago with that beard and with the glasses.

21:55There's no reason at this point, Tom, to believe that Morley has been able to change his appearance in the time that he's been gone. And you're right. Our colleague Matt Levita said NBCNews.com was able to speak with the sister of Cody Birchfield. That's the man who was killed by Morley back in 2022. And his sister said she's just in disbelief that Morley was able to walk out of that prison the way that he was Sunday night. She is angry with law enforcement agencies that this is something that's happened. And, Tom, she also said that she's a bit concerned at this point. She's worried for other people because she believes that Morley is dangerous.

22:30And she said that if she that if he were to get a weapon, she believes he could kill someone again as he killed her brother back in 2022. Tom? Yeah, pretty scary stuff there. Okay, Erwin, thank you for that. We're back in a moment with the war of words on the floor of the UN. The U.S. ambassador to the UN getting into a shouting match with Cuba's foreign minister. What set off that clash will show you. Plus, a mother arrested after police say she traveled to Las Vegas for work and left her four kids home alone. What happened while she was away? And this plane clipping some power lines before crashing onto the ground.

23:04how the pilot walked away with just a few scrapes. That's ahead tonight on Top Story.

23:14This message comes from Wise Business, the only account your business needs to scale globally. You're building a business with global ambitions, but hidden fees are eating into your margins. With Wise Business, you can pay overseas suppliers without exchange rate markups. Have customers worldwide get payment details in 22 currencies, so you get more of each hard-earned payment without hidden conversion fees. Be smart. Get wise business. Download the app. T's and C's apply. Ever notice how every new AI tool asks you to explain your business to it all over again? Google Workspace with Gemini skips that.

23:53You get Google's AI built right into the premium versions of Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and more. No new tools. No extra logins. Just one subscription that gives you personalized AI right inside your actual workflow. Make work less work. Try Google Workspace with Gemini at goo.gle slash workspace with Gemini. 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.

24:37Jared, make the holiday last forever. Shop Jared Jewelers. We're back now with the heated clash at the U.N. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez locked in a shouting match during a debate over the U.S. blockade on the communist nation. Emily Akeda has the video. Tonight, a fiery turn on the floor of the United Nations General Assembly. Back up, Ambassador. Back away. This isn't Havana. Marking the latest spat between Cuba and Washington amid the U.S.'s punishing economic campaign against the island nation. What's on his wrist? Two Rolexes worth$40 ,000 in today's money.

25:18As the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Mike Waltz, was speaking and detailing alleged corruption by the Cuban government, you can see Cuba's foreign minister and delegation advance toward the podium. This individual needs to back away from this podium. He's not going to intimidate me in the United States of America like he tries to intimidate political prisoners. The exchange quickly intensifying. Waltz repeatedly telling the foreign minister to back up. Do you understand who you're dealing with? This is America. Back up. The rule is clear. Amid the shocking shouting match, the U.N. General Assembly president even called to suspend the meeting.

25:59He's violating my personal space. Waltz later sharing this video of what he says is a Cuban diplomat trying to cut their microphones during the chaotic day. The Cuban foreign minister said Waltz lied in a crude and conceded way. We reached out to the embassy for further comment with the vote on the economic embargo against Cuba set for tomorrow. The economic embargo against Cuba has been in place for decades. And while some countries' positions have changed over the years, Canada, China and Russia have long supported its end. Such resolutions are not legally binding. Tom? Okay, Emily, thank you.

26:34We're also following other developments out of the region there. In the Americas tonight, Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro is heading to the U.S. following his election defeat. A senior U.S. State Department source confirming the department will issue visas to Bolsonaro and his family. It comes a day after Brazilian police asked him to hand over his passport as he's investigated in a money laundering case. Over the weekend, Bolsonaro lost incumbent President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva in a stunning upset. Still to come tonight, we'll dive deeper into the race into the midterms.

27:06Our Steve Kornacki back in the house. He's going to join Top Story breaking down the key races he's watching and looking very serious tonight. Plus, breaking free, a big bear locking itself in a family car. How officers managed to get it out and what that poor Subaru looked like after he was done. But first, Top Story's top moment and the young Subway superfan going viral for his creative Halloween costume. Five-year-old Nalo dressing up as the N-Train. Take a look. About a local train. The next stop is West 8th Street. Near the accordion. He's pretty good. Mom tells us he's loved trains since he was a baby and knows every subway stop.

27:51Make way for the Nalo, king of the commute. All right, stay with us. More top story after this.

28:05We're back now with more on the Mad Dash to the Midterms. And tonight, affordability and gas prices are front and center. with just a week to go until election day. Candidates on both sides of the aisle are addressing soaring prices at the pump, with President Trump insisting that once the war in Iran ends, prices will start to drop. The Trump administration has also tried to shift the blame to former President Biden for the high cost. But new numbers from AAA show Americans, on average, have paid more for gas during President Trump's second term than they did under former President Biden. Our Ali Canel is here to break down those numbers for us.

28:37So, Ali, four years ago, I think we're going to put this up for our viewers, we saw the stickers, right, of President Biden on gas pumps all across the country. I did that, a play on some of the things that Biden used to say and take credit for. But now prices are even higher. Explain how we got there and put this all in the contest, because it's not much higher, but it is higher. Yeah, and I think there's a lot of political irony in here, too, because Biden really struggled under the affordability questions, the high gas prices during his reelection campaign, and now Republicans are dealing with the same thing heading into the midterm.

29:07So these numbers from AAA, like you said, gas prices have now averaged$3.47 a gallon under President Trump's second turn. Now, this is just ever so slightly higher than the average under Biden's presidency. The difference is less than a penny here, but it's still a pretty significant milestone politically since Trump campaigned so hard on bringing gas prices down. And then you can also take a look at how much gas prices have risen since the start of the war. prices at the pump have jumped more than 40 percent since that time. You're seeing that on your screen right now. And this is largely due to the Strait of Hormuz shutting down that's greatly disrupted global oil supplies.

29:46And I think it's important here to remember the significance of gas prices when it comes to how it shapes Americans' view of the overall economy. It's a very tangible thing. People are hyper aware that they're spending more on gas today than they were a year ago. We just received new consumer confidence numbers this morning. Confidence actually ticked up for the first time in four months. Why? Largely due to gas prices slightly easing between September and October. So it really all comes back to gas. So where could things go from here, right? Because if we stay in this war with Iran, prices obviously are going to stay flat or they're going to go back up.

30:19If we start to wind down, when will we actually feel it? How long does it usually take? It's a big impasse right now. And it's not just the Iran war. It's also Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. That's contributed to a lot the spikes as well. Now, experts tell me that once these wars end, you're going to see oil prices drop, and they're probably going to drop relatively quickly. However, they're probably not going to get to the levels that we saw pre-war because we've depleted a lot of our strategic reserves, and we're going to have to boost those back up. But if these conflicts continue, it's very likely that we'll see higher energy prices across the board, and they could potentially go even higher from here.

30:55It's also not just prices at the pump. Diesel sitting at record highs. Diesel is a workhorse behind the entire U.S. economy. It powers our tractors that feed us. It powers the ships and the trains that transport our supplies. So all of that in combination can eventually raise prices for consumers, and that's what has economists spooked right now the longer this continues. Ali Cannell, always great to see you. Thank you for being here. Voters across the country telling NBC News the economy is their top issue at the ballot box this year. I want to bring in Steve Kornacki tonight at the big board for a pulse check on the state of play.

31:28Steve, what are you keeping your eye on as we get closer to Election Day? Yeah, well, let's take a look here at two states that President Trump is going to be visiting, where that issue of inflation and costs in the economy has particular resonance, potentially. So Ohio, Senate race here. John Husted, the appointed Republican. Sherrod Brown, the former senator here. Democrats trying to flip this seat. Now, where's Trump going to be going? He's going to be going to Ross County. This has become a very Republican pro-Trump county. It didn't used to be that way. Back when Barack Obama was president, back when he ran for re-election in 2012, this was a competitive county.

32:04What happened here is the story of what happened throughout rural and small town and small city Ohio, all the way through southern Ohio, up into the Mahoning Valley here. Areas that used to be competitive, areas that used to be Democratic, working class areas swung hard to President Trump in 2016 and have stayed there for the last 10 years. President Trump is going there trying to shore up that base, trying to shore up that Trump vote for Husted and for Republicans. And it's a big question. Can the issue of the cost of living of those rising gas prices, is that something that separates those voters from Trump, who they've been with for 10 years?

32:42Are there defections from Republicans that we haven't seen in those areas since Barack Obama was the candidate for the Democrats back in 2012? Key question there in Ohio, again, all the way through southern Ohio into the Mahoning Valley. And it's also going to be a key question in Iowa in that Senate race. Again, this is a Republican seat. Democrats are trying to flip this. And Iowa is a state very much like Ohio. We used to think of it not that long ago as a swing state. It's become a solidly pro-Trump state. This is what it looked like in 2024. Trump is going to be coming here. Where is he going to be going?

33:14He's going to be going to Dubuque. This is the Mississippi River here that Dubuque is right next to. And this is the region of Ohio, of Iowa, excuse me, that swung the hardest to Trump in 2016, just like I was showing you in Ohio. This used to be competitive and even Democratic territory, switched to Trump in 2016. In fact, I can show you right here in Dubuque County. Okay. Trump won it by about 10 points here, close to 10 points in 2024. If we wind back the clock to 2012, this was a landslide County for Obama. So that's been the story here and all along the Mississippi River and in eastern Iowa.

33:52And again, Trump is going there trying to shore up that blue-collar Obama-Trump vote that he got to break from the Democratic Party and go his way in 2016. Democrats think that the economy and cost of living is giving them an opportunity to get those voters back. Ohio and Iowa are going to be two very key tests of that, Tom. And for more exclusive video, expert insights and inside access to our reporters on the ground. Download the NBC News app and subscribe. Now to Top Stories news feed, starting with a new lawsuit against Dollar General. The Federal Trade Commission, along with 20 states, now suing the bargain chain.

34:28They're accusing it of deceptive pricing practices by charging customers more once they reach the register than the prices shown on shelves and in ads. In response, Dollar General pushed back on the lawsuit, saying the allegations could not be further from the truth. In North Carolina, a pilot somehow able to walk away from this small plane crash. Here you can see it appearing to clip power lines, slam into some trees as it was trying to land at a private airstrip. People nearby rushing to help the pilot, who somehow only had a few scrapes and cuts. Neighbors told our affiliate he flies often and likely misjudged how long he was flying.

35:02The FAA is now investigating. And police in Alaska freeing a black bear that locked itself inside of a family's car. Officers attaching a rope to the car door and pulling it open allowing that bear to jump out and run off. The animal wasn't hurt, but that Subaru wasn't so lucky. This isn't what it looked like inside, totally destroyed. The family says the bear got into three other cars that night, but only got trapped inside that one. And in Florida, a mother was arrested after police say she left her four kids home alone for days. Police getting involved after they say one of the kids, a nine-year-old, ended up in the hospital.

35:38Ryan Chandler has this one. A mother's work trip to Las Vegas ending in handcuffs. Detectives waiting for 50-year-old Irene Miller as she exits the plane, arresting her after her four children, they say, were left at home for five days. The Osceola County Sheriff's Office says they received a 911 call last week. The caller, a young girl who said a dumbbell had fallen on her 9-year-old brother's head. When deputies arrived, they say they found four children, ages 14, 12, 11, and 9, with no adult present. The nine-year-old was taken to the hospital, treated and released. The Osceola County Sheriff's Office says when they tracked down mom on the phone, she told them she had a work trip and would be gone for five days.

36:25She said her children had a babysitter checking on them before and after school, but that person was not spending the night. This mom had been gone, did not put a plan in place for someone to be with those kids from about four o 'clock in the afternoon until about 8 o 'clock the next morning. And we felt that that constituted child neglect. Florida law does not dictate when children can be left alone, but guidelines from the State Department of Children and Families say 12 should be the minimum age, and no child under 15 should be supervising younger children. Given that this was a five-day trip, I think that's going to be the biggest hurdle for this mom when it comes to her defenses.

37:05And there's going to be some scrutiny about whether or not is that willful neglect. The standard is willful neglect or culpable negligence. Today, the kid's father, Mark Miller, writing online, saying he and Irene are in the middle of a divorce. He wrote, she is not a bad person, but I think she made choices she didn't fully think through. NBC News reached out to both parents. Neither returned a request for comment. Florida authorities hoping this case will make other parents think twice. Parents sometimes are not sure whether or not they should leave a child at home. If you're unsure, you have any doubts, just don't do it.

37:45Ryan Chandler joins us tonight. Ryan, this case has obviously generated a lot of controversy and a lot of conversation online. Does the mother have any defense here? there's no objective answer to that tom because florida law does not dictate specific standards for when she would be able to leave her children alone but there are a lot of different opinions online in fact when i was speaking with the sheriff's office there they did acknowledge that this country that this was controversial some people were saying look i know times have changed but 14 years old i was looking after my siblings at 14 years old or my babysitter was was 14 years old back in the day.

38:25It's going to be up to a court to weigh the individual factors in this case. And the mom may argue that she knows her 14 year old and they're mature enough to look after their kids. She did have a babysitter checking in on them twice a day. But in my conversation with Misty there, our legal analyst, she said the hard thing for the mom here is going to be the duration. Maybe you can argue these kids could be left alone for an afternoon, maybe a day, but five days. It's going to be up to a court, perhaps a jury, to determine whether that was reasonable. Yep, sounds like she may have a defense there from what you're saying.

38:59Okay, Brian, thank you. Great to see you. We're turning now to the manhunt for the suspect wanted in a terrifying attack in New York Central Park. The NYPD releasing new surveillance video of a man they believe raped a woman at knife point there last weekend. NBC New York's Gabby Acevedo is tracking the latest. The suspect still on the loose. neighbors and visitors in the Central Park area remain on edge days after police say a man threatened a woman using a knife and then raped her. The NYPD releasing this images. You can see the suspect here on video for the first time walking down a sidewalk wearing dark clothes and a black backpack while holding a pair of earbuds in his hands.

39:38Investigators say that on Saturday night he dragged a 39-year-old woman at Knife Point to a wooded area here on the Upper on the other side near 5th Avenue and East 66th Street in Central Park and then sexually assaulted her. Detectives say that the victim did not know the man who attacked her. She was rushed to the hospital and is now recovering from injuries and from the traumatic experience. Council member Virginia Maloney says this is the second reported attack on a

40:14People in the neighborhood are eager to see arrests in both cases nonetheless. And some have been asking for more police patrolling in the area, especially at night when it gets dark. You should be safe to walk into the park and enjoy the beauty of Central Park. It is everybody's backyard. I wish there was more police presence in the park, but during the day, I don't find it necessary. But in the evening, I think it is. Obviously, nobody wants like 100 police officers around you constantly to ensure that you're safe. It should just be a given. So it's scary. And records show that this is at least the fifth sexual assault incident in Central Park Register so far this year.

40:56The NYPD asking for the public's information and help to find this man related to the latest incident during the weekend. Reporting from Central Park in the Upper East Side, Gabby Acevedo, News 4. New York. Just ahead, the surprising breakthrough in the Russia-Ukraine war, a U.S. brokered ceasefire now in effect in a Russian-occupied city. Could it be the first step to bringing the wider conflict to an end? We'll explain.

41:38No new tools, no extra logins, just one subscription that gives you personalized AI right inside your actual workflow. Make work less work. Try Google Workspace with Gemini at goo.gle slash workspace with Gemini. If you like YouTube, you'll love YouTube Premium. Hi, I'm Sean Evans from Hot Ones, and I want to tell you about YouTube Premium. It has offline downloads, so you can watch without Wi-Fi. Background play, so you can lock your phone and it still plays, baby. Oh, and it is completely ad-free. Yes, I said it, ad-free. Try YouTube Premium for two months free at youtube.com slash premium. Trial eligibility varies, terms apply, cancel anytime.

42:24Tired of the same old game night? Switch things up with Chumba Casino. Play over 200 free online social casino games From classic slots and blackjack to exclusive in-house favorites you won't find anywhere else. However long you got, you can play your way, anytime, anywhere. Make your next chill night a little more fun with Chumba Casino. Only available in permitted states. No purchase necessary. See terms and conditions for details. VGW group or were prohibited by Log 21+.

42:58We're back now with Top Story's Global Watch and a rare sign of hope for the war-stricken community of Oleshky, a Russian-occupied Ukrainian city on the front lines where roughly 2 ,000 residents are trapped, cut off from food and surrounded by roads covered in mines. Here's some of what it looks like. An unexpected ceasefire brokered by First Lady Melania Trump is now in effect, though, the first reprieve for those desperate to get out. For more on this, Keir Simmons joins us tonight from Moscow. Keir, so great to have you there for us. The First Lady says the ceasefire THE CASE FIRE HAS NOW EXPANDED BEYOND OLECHKI.

43:31WHAT DOES SHE MEAN THERE? WALK US THROUGH WHAT LED UP TO THIS TRUCE AND WHY RUSSIA IS AGREING TO THIS?

43:39WELL, I THINK WHAT SHE MEANS IS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE TERRITORY IN THAT CURSORN REGION THAT IS OVERLOOKED BY THIS CEASE FIRE, IF YOU LIKE, IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS VERY DIFFICULT PLAN TO TRY TO HELP PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO LEAVE AND TO GET HUMANITARIAN AID IN. AS YOU SAY, TOM, IT DOES SO FAR SEEM TO BE GOOD NEWS. OFFICIALS HERE IN RUSSIA AND IN UKRAINE SAYING THAT THE CEASE-FIRE IS HOLDING. WHAT LED UP TO IT? THE FIRST LADY WAS INVOLVED IN HANDOVERS OF PRISONERS BETWEEN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA HELPING MAKE THOSE HAPPEN. WHEN SHE SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, SHE SAYS THAT SHE DECIDED TO TRY TO USE THOSE CONTACTS TO ACHIEVE THIS.

44:24SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT. SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT. SO PUTTING TO USE THE KINDS OF RELATIONSHIPS THAT SHE HAD BEGUN TO BUILD IN ORDER TO HELP A SITUATION IN WHICH REPORTS HAVE BEEN COMING OUT THAT PEOPLE THERE HAVE BEEN EATING WEEDS JUST TO SURVIVE. THEY REALLY HAVE RUN OUT OF EVERYTHING FROM FOOD TO ENERGY SUPPLIES. VIDEO FROM OVERNIGHT SHOWS THE CONFLICT RAGING ON WITH UKRAINE AND RUSSIA TRADING THE CASE FIRE IS A GREAT THE CASE FIRE IS A GREAT DOES THIS CASE FIRE SIGNAL ANY HOPE FOR THE BROADER CONFLICT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT FROM THESE IMAGES? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

44:57THE KREMLIN HERE IN MOSCOW HAS SAID THAT THE CASE FIRE COULD BE A MODEL FOR OTHER REGIONS IN UKRAINE. IT'S HARD TO TELL HOW SERIOUS THE RUSSIANS ARE BEING ABOUT THAT. CERTAINLY, TOM, I WILL TELL YOU THAT IS A POSSIBLE END TO THE THAT HERE IN MOSCOW, I JUST WATCHED PRESIDENT PUTIN SIT WITH THE IRANIAN PRESIDENT, WITH THE EMIER OF KATAR, AND WHILE THERE SEEM TO BE A LOT OF KIND OF FRIENDLY RELATIONS, THERE WAS NO MENTION OF A POSSIBLE END TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE WILL BE TRI-LATERAL TALKS NEXT MONTH BETWEEN UKRAINIANS TALK ABOUT THEIR PEOPLE, THE RUSSIANS AND THE U.S. RUSSIA IS BEING CLEAR THEY WILL CARRY ON ATTACKING UKRAINE, THEIR OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS AS THEY CALL THEM EVEN WHILE THOSE TALKS CONTINUE.

45:46KIR, WE LOOK AT THAT VIDEO AND REPORTED THIS, THE AREA AROUND THERE IS COVERED IN MINES. THESE POOR PEOPLE FROM UKRAINE WERE TRAPPED INSIDE THIS WAR-TORN REGION. THAT'S WHY THEY WERE STARVING. ARE THERE ANY MEASURES IN PLACE TO HELP RESIDENTS GET OUT SAFELY? YEAH, EXACTLY. IT IS GOING TO BE A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT OPERATION. AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE CEASE FIRE IS GOING TO LAST THROUGH INTO NEXT MONTH. ASSUMING THAT IT HOLDS, BECAUSE HOW DO YOU JUST SIMPLY GET THESE PEOPLE OUT THROUGH THOSE HEAVILY MINED AREAS? THERE IS A SEMBLANCE OF A PLAN. THEY DO THINK THEY CAN DO IT. BUT THEY NEED TO TRY TO ACHIEVE IT AND CLEARLY THAT'S GOING TO INVOLVE MORE COOPERATION, IF YOU LIKE, EXCHANGES OF INFORMATION BECAUSE YOU NEED TO KNOW WHERE EVERY ONE OF THOSE MINDS IS IF YOU ARE GOING TO TRY TO TRAVERSE THAT VERY DIFFICULT TERRAIN, TOM.

46:41KERR, YOU'RE ONE OF THE SORT OF RARE WESTERN REPORTERS THAT CAN GET INTO RUSSIA AND REPORT FROM THERE. SO I ALWAYS ASK YOU EVERY TIME YOU'RE THERE ON ASSIGNMENT FOR US, WHAT IS THE TEMPERATURE LIKE IN RUSSIA WHEN IT COMES TO THE UKRAINE WAR? IT HAS BEEN SO MANY YEARS OF BLODSHED, SO MUCH LIVES LOST, SO MUCH MONEY LOST. WHAT DO PEOPLE IN RUSSIA SAY NOW ABOUT THIS WAR? YEAH, IT'S ALWAYS A FASCINATING QUESTION, TOM. ALWAYS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE COME HERE. I THINK IT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THIS IS A COUNTRY OF 11 TIME ZONES. SO TRYING TO ANSWER THE QUESTION WHAT DO THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE THINK EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

47:17HERE IN MOSCOW PEOPLE ARE SOMEWHAT PROTECTED. I THINK THE RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES DO THAT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE RISK OF PEOPLE BEING UNHAPPY HERE. THAT BEING SAID I THINK THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THE WAR. WE HAVE CERTAINLY SPOKEN TO PEOPLE HERE WHO SAY THEY WANT

47:45is that while they would like that war to end, they do not want it to end in defeat for Russia or for the Kremlin. Tom? Keir Simmons for us tonight. Keir, stay safe there with your team. When we come back, we'll take a turn. Is the new iPhone not all it's cracked up to be? Our Brian Chung will take a closer look at Apple's new folding phone and all the problems some users are experiencing. Stay with us.

48:11Back now with cracks in Apple's newest product. Buzz has been high around the company's first folding iPhone, but just days after the release, some say the screen is already cracking. Our Brian Chung is following this one. Tonight, iPhone Duo users going unhinged. It's broken. As some took to social media, claiming the screens cracked on their phones, which cost at least$2 ,000. And I just heard like an egg crack. Photos showing a pattern, a crack in the center and a white horizontal line on the right side. This is iPhone Duo. It's a setback for Apple, which began selling the full-wheel phone just last week.

48:49The iPhone Duo was made of a titanium hinge that Apple says is made for long-lasting durability. But some experts say there's something about this hinge that's leading to some stress. We're taking this thing all the way down to the gears. iFixit expert Shahram Maktari opened up the iPhone Duo. So what do you think is the issue with the hinge? My best guess, and a very likely guess, is that that hinge element is breaking and causing a piece of mess. to stab into the inner display from underneath when the phone is being opened or closed. Apple saying in a statement, we are aware of an issue impacting the inner display on a small number of iPhone Duo units and advising users with problems to contact AppleCare for replacement.

49:29We're not perfect. It's not the company's first time dealing with an issue at launch. The iPhone 4's antenna problems became known as antenna gate, while the iPhone 6 made headlines over reports of bending. Excitement over the iPhone duo now showing signs of cracks. I am panicking. Brian Chung joins us now here in the Top Story Studios. So, Brian, this is kind of interesting, right? You have a new CEO. You have a new massive product and rollout for Apple. Not going exactly the way they wanted, but you're telling me this is not a huge deal, not affecting stock price. I mean, it doesn't seem like it's widespread.

50:06Well, for right now, Apple says this is affecting a small number of these devices. But you have to remember, some people are pre-ordering them. They might not receive them until January. So the full scope of this, we're only just beginning to see the implication of that. But this could not come at a worse time for CEO John Ternis. He just took over the reins for this massive company from Tim Cook in September. And the iPhone Duo, the first foldable iPhone, was supposed to be the big, splashy debut. And now you have these issues, which are getting a lot of social media attention, having some people canceling their orders.

50:34So certainly that's something that's going to be a bit of a speed bump for the new CEO. There are people that want to try the new technology, and people that just love Apple products are going to buy them no matter what. Do we have a sense yet if this is sort of one of those revolutionary products like an AirPod or like the iPhone or an iPod back in the day where people just love it? Or even the iPad. I mean, I'll put it up there with the iPad because the iPad came out and people, like, when it took off, it did take off. The watches is another one. I mean, do we know yet if it's at that level or it's still too early?

51:02Well, look, I mean, I think you would see some Android users that are saying Apple's not innovating here because there have been foldable phones from Samsung and from Google for years now, but I think what Apple usually does best is perfect on a model that's already existed out there. And so will the iPhone Duo be seen as the perfection of the foldable phone, which has already been out on the market for years? That remains to be seen, but this is not the first step that I imagine Apple wanted to have in on the list. Is that the question, or is it, does the country and the world need a product between an iPad and an iPhone?

51:30Like, does it need something that's in between to eliminate the two others? I think that remains to be seen. People that I've talked to about this product have said, look, it's a good size, especially when you unfurl it. But I think we still have yet to see the proper use cases for a phone of this size because it is still smaller than your standard iPad, but of course, bigger than your iPhone. It's what are those people going to use that size for? I think that remains to be a saying. Okay. Brian Chung, always great to have you. Thank you for being here tonight. Finally, the pink out for the principal, students, and staff dressing in pink to show support for their beloved school leader who's a breast cancer survivor.

52:03her emotional reaction to the overwhelming act of love.

52:10It was the volume of cheers she noticed first. Eaton Academy principal Nicole Sims walking out to find all of her students, not in class, but gathered together for a special reason, to celebrate her. So many of them decked out in pink, their excitement filling the front courtyard. Here we go, Miss Sims. Here we go. Sims first became principal at the Detroit area school in 2024. That same year, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Sims beat the disease and is now cancer-free. Math specialist Melissa Wallace organizing the surprise to honor her strength. Stop my birth! Stop my birth! A gesture of kindness for a woman who gives her all here.

53:01I really truly believe community really makes a difference. Putting a smile on one person's face can make a whole difference in their world. I definitely feel blessed. You know, the love and warmth that I receive from everyone is something I will never forget.

53:21An incredible show of support there. We thank you for watching Top Story tonight. I'm Tom Yamas in New York. Stay right there. More news now on the way.

53:31At 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.