Good morning. It's 10 a.m. Eastern, 7 a.m. on the West Coast. I'm Christine Romans. Let's get you current. Midterm countdown: early voting already underway in more than a dozen states as new polling reveals the political challenge Republicans face nationwide. Plus, two killed when a truck plows into a youth soccer game in Kansas — what we know about the deadly crash. Outrage in France sparks violent protests across Europe; France's president calling for peace as protesters demand change. And another nor'easter is developing, threatening millions along the East Coast. We've got your forecast.
Good to be with you this Monday, October 19th. A lot to get to this morning. Let's begin this hour with President Trump back on the campaign trail, gearing up for a week-long blitz with 15 days until the critical midterm elections. And the voting is already underway. Early in-person voting beginning today in six more states. The president heading to Kansas later today, one of several trips to traditionally solid red states as Republicans fight to hold on to control of Congress. And as an NBC News poll shows, 71% of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track. Let's bring in NBC News Senior White House Correspondent Gabe Gutierrez and NBC News Correspondent Stephanie Gosk, who was just on the ground in Kansas. And Gabe, that new poll — 71% of Americans saying the country is on the wrong track. They're concerned with the economy, gas prices and corruption. Dive into what that polling tells us.
Hi there, Christine. Well, certainly, look, not the headwinds that Republicans would want just two weeks before the midterm election. You mentioned that 71% thinking that the country is on the wrong track. Look at some of those top issues right there: inflation, cost of living, government corruption — 18% of respondents said that was the most important issue. Also, as you go down, jobs, the economy, the war with Iran and immigration and border security. Significantly, though, look, Democrats are also, you know, we're targeted by some of the respondents there. They're not happy with Democrats either. They're skeptical of Democrats as well, skeptical of both parties. But when it comes to the issue of corruption, for example, 52% think that the Trump administration is more corrupt than previous administrations. So certainly while President Trump, as he repeatedly says, he himself is not on the ballot, he's now asking for people to pretend he's on the ballot because he wants to juice turnout. But you look at those poll numbers that could go in the negative direction for Republicans in these tight races.
Christine, and the president heads to Kansas today. What's the White House strategy there?
Well, look, Kansas is a state that hasn't sent a Democrat to the Senate in really almost a century since 1932. It's also a state that the president won by 16 points back in 2024. And it is a very, you know, it's typically a red state where he is now facing, you know, Republicans are facing a very tight contest. And it's something that the president says just this morning, he's posting on social media that, you know, he is trying to go for the incumbent senator there, and Republicans are having to defend this red state. As the president, after Kansas, he's heading to several, you know, typically red states, including South Carolina this week, as well as North Carolina, also Iowa, Florida, and then Georgia and Michigan over the next couple of days. A very busy midterm blitz just two weeks before the election.
All right. Gabe Gutierrez at the White House. Thank you so much. And Stephanie, you've just gotten back from Kansas, Kansas farm country. And from fertilizer to steel to diesel that runs the trucks and tractors, there are administration policies that are raising the prices for farmers. But farmers have been loyal to Donald Trump for a decade.
They have. And so this is where you need to be careful about Kansas. It's very independent-minded, more independent-minded than people give it credit for. Where will those farmers fall? And, you know, the big question about this trip to Wichita is, does it help the Republican incumbent or does it maybe hurt him? You have Roger Marshall, who has been very closely linked to Donald Trump's policies, and then you have Adam Hamilton, the Democrat, who has established himself very much as a moderate in this race. But front of mind for everyone I talked to, regardless of what party they align themselves with, is the economy.
This morning, President Trump adding a campaign stop in Kansas as his party tries to keep control of Congress, calling these midterm elections the most important in U.S. history.
We got to get out and vote. And if we do, we're going to win in a landslide.
A new NBC News poll finds 71% of adults think the country is on the wrong track. In the Republican stronghold of Kansas, there's a sense the political winds may be changing. We met up with voters for Friday night football at Newton High School, north of Wichita.
Did you vote for Donald Trump?
And how do you feel about this election?
Very disappointed. Frustrated. Let down. Bamboozled.
Kansas has not sent a Democrat to the Senate in nearly a century. But in recent weeks, the race has gotten very close.
I talked to different people. There are Republicans, but they don't like what's going on.
Democrat Adam Hamilton, a moderate and a pastor in a popular church, is taking on incumbent Senator Roger Marshall, a Republican who has tied himself closely to the president's policies. What the president will find here across party lines is an economy under strain for everyday Americans.
I got to get a tank of gas every week. So I see it every week.
Diesel prices in Kansas have increased nearly 80% compared to a year ago, largely because of the war with Iran.
85% of the land in Kansas is used for agriculture, and the farmers are already living on razor-thin margins. So when diesel prices go up, it hurts. And they are feeling real pain here in the country's breadbasket.
Mark Wallace is a fifth-generation farmer, and like most farms, diesel is critical.
And we are in the time of the year. We're consuming the most fuel we could possibly consume. So does it hit? Absolutely.
But for Lawless, that economic pain will not turn into a vote for the Democrats. So will the president's visit today help? Former Trump voter Andy Ortiz doesn't want to hear it.
And no, I will not be going to that convention or rally or whatever you call it. And I don't think I would have said that 18 months ago. I might have been trying to be in the front row.
You spent some time near Wichita where the president is going tonight. What is your big takeaway from what you heard from voters?
Well, it was really interesting and really critical for President Trump is what you just heard from that last voter who said 18 months ago, I would have been in the front row at that rally. And now he's saying, I'm not going anywhere near it. And so the question is, how big of a population is that disaffected voter? And will they propel this election? This race for Senate wasn't even part of the conversation a month ago, Christine. And it has narrowed so quickly and so tightly that now it is this battleground. It is going to be very interesting to watch. And people are definitely hurting in this economy. And it will be interesting to see how that drives their vote.
All right. Stephanie Gosk, thanks so much. Welcome back. All right. Now let's take a deeper dive into where the numbers stand in some key races 15 days from the midterms, with NBC Chief Data Analyst Steve Kornacki at the big board. Steve.
NBC News Decision Desk poll just a couple weeks before the election. Now, this is a little bit different than some of the other polls you see out there. This is a poll here, this is of registered voters. It's a bit of a wider net than you're seeing in some of the other polls. But I think it captures the core of the environment here, the generic ballot: which party do you want to see control Congress? Poll finds Democrats with a nine-point advantage right there. Now, there is some potential flux here. It's an interesting finding here when you ask folks if they're definitely going to vote or if they've already voted — early voting underway in some states, the Democratic advantage is actually even a little bit higher than this. So a motivation edge there for the Democratic voters. But when you ask them, will they probably vote or, you know, they really don't think they're going to vote, that's where Republicans actually do have an advantage. So to the extent Republicans can get their voters more motivated, more tuned in, they would have a chance to bring that number down. So that's a bit of the suspense here. In the closing weeks, there's an enthusiasm gap there between the parties. Can Republicans stem that at all in the closing weeks of this campaign? Now take a look here. What goes into that lead Democrats have? Now, this is a little bit of a wider net still. We're talking about all adults nationwide here, but just taking their temperature and asking them, your personal financial situation, is it better or worse compared to a year ago? 44% say it's worse now than it was one year ago. Among those who say they are independents, it's a majority, 53%. And how about this? We asked the same question in September 2025, right? A year ago we said, your personal financial situation, is it getting better? At that point, 34% were saying it's worse. So the 'worse' number has gone up over the last year. As I say, among those who say they're independents, that's an outright majority. In terms of the price of gas, this has been a major issue, a major theme this year. Look, 34% say it's a very serious problem right now. In the spring, that number was at 29. Cumulatively serious, very serious or somewhat serious problem, that's two-thirds of voters saying that the price of gas for their family has been some kind of a serious problem for them. In terms of how people are changing their habits due to the economic conditions, this is the percentage-point increase here. I think, you know, look, cutting back on electricity, six-percentage-point increase in the number who say they are doing that. Changing or canceling plans to travel, that's a six-percentage-point increase for those who say they are doing that. So you see some — that's not a huge number, but that is all increases right there to some degree. Again, just people reacting to how economic conditions are affecting them. And it all goes to that question here. The rising price of everyday things, cost inflation. Which party do you trust more? Again, this is of all adults. This is not just registered voters. This is not likely voters. This is the widest possible net right here. But the Democrats here with a 12-point edge when we ask that question.
All right. Steve Kornacki, thank you so much. And for more expert analysis and updates on the midterms all season long, scan this QR code. You can subscribe to The Data Dive with Steve Kornacki. His weekly newsletter is out every Tuesday. All right. A search for answers behind a deadly tragedy in a Kansas community. A woman drove a pickup truck through a crowded field at a soccer game, a youth soccer game in Wichita, killing two people, including a six-year-old child. Ten other people hurt this morning. That 34-year-old driver is out of police custody and has not been identified or charged. Joining us now, NBC News Correspondent Maggie Vespa with her report.
In Kansas, a kids' soccer game devolving into chaos. Players, parents and coaches screaming and running after hearing tires screeching. Witnesses say this black pickup truck plowed the length of a crowded youth soccer field in Wichita Saturday, hitting a dozen people, including multiple kids.
We started hearing boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.
At first, Erica thought she was hearing gunshots.
The moment that I recognized that that wasn't gunshots, that that was bodies, I lost it. I lost it because it wasn't just adults. It was also children.
Everybody off the field. Off the field.
Police say ten people were injured and two died: 35-year-old Nicholas Schaefer and six-year-old Cole Adrian. This video appears to show a woman being led away in handcuffs.
You see them police carrying somebody? It's a woman.
Investigators say a 34-year-old woman was taken into custody and released pending toxicology results and a mechanical examination of the truck. They have not publicly named or charged the driver.
We know what happened, but now we're working very hard to find out why it happened, and we're not there yet.
David Griekspoor watched the driver from the next field over.
What did you see regarding the driver? How did she behave?
First of all, a lot of people ran to the truck. That vehicle was surrounded by lots of people. Everybody was yelling, though. The driver got out and you could kind of see her trying to explain her story.
He says police quickly intervened as first responders raced to help the injured.
My heart is heavy for the young kids that had to see that happen.
Maggie, so many disturbing details in this story. We also learned the driver's own children were in the truck with her.
That's right. Two of her own kids, police say, were in that truck, and a third child of hers, they say, was playing soccer on a field nearby here. They tell us all of those kids, thankfully, are okay.
But obviously, again, the big question is why? Why did this happen? Police at that press conference that you saw in the piece were asked over the weekend, do you think this was intentional? Do you think she was intoxicated? Could it have been a possible medical emergency? They acknowledge that all options are on the table. They just kept reiterating that they're investigating. And then as far as those tests that we mentioned in the piece, that kind of aim to shed light on why this happened, they didn't give us a timeline as to when we can expect those results. We'll keep you posted, Christine.
All right. Maggie Vespa, thank you so much for that from Wichita. Violence breaking out across France this weekend as protests turned to riots. French authorities are calling on major cities to impose curfews as they attempt to regain control of the streets. More than 2,000 people have been arrested because of scenes like this. That was the moment a 19th-century clock tower in central France collapsed in flames. Popular tourist destinations like the Louvre Museum in Paris have also been forced to shut down. NBC News International Correspondent Raf Sanchez following this for us. These protests began as mostly peaceful protests from students about education quality, but has really turned. This weekend saw some of the worst violence. Give us a sense of how widespread this is across France.
Yeah, Christine. Extremely widespread across France. Marseille down in the south, Calais in the north. And then, of course, those very violent, very disturbing scenes you saw in the French capital, Paris. Large groups of masked people looting luxury stores around the Champs-Élysées and the center of Paris. You saw high-end luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Lacoste being targeted there. Authorities say they arrested 2,500 people, but that about 1,000 police and firefighters were injured in the course of these clashes over the weekend. Now, you mentioned this actually started out peacefully. About half a million people turned out to protest the state of the economy, the state of France's schools. That went off reasonably smoothly. But then in the hours that followed later on Saturday, this descended into violence. And one of the most painful images is the one you played at the top there, that 19th-century town hall which survived two world wars. There you see it on your screen looking a little bit, dare we say it, like the spire at Notre Dame collapsing, burning to the ground during these riots. Christine.
Yeah, just remarkable images. What is the government's plan moving forward to try to contain the violence?
So they are really trying to get back on the front foot, Christine, because it really does appear the French government was caught off guard by the scale of the chaos over the weekend. Emmanuel Macron, the French president, addressed the nation on Sunday night. I'll read you just a little bit of what he said: 'Those who looted will have to pay back for the damage, and those who sought to bring down the Republic, the French Republic, will be held accountable.' Now, that is tough talk from the French president. The reality is the scale of the rioting here is so enormous, it's very, very difficult to imagine that they're going to be able to prosecute everybody, let alone extract money from people who stole things from stores. Macron himself is under a lot of fire. He spent Friday night at a Celine Dion concert in Paris. The riots exploded the following day, so it really looks like he didn't have his finger on the pulse. And then he is in the last six months of his 10-year term in office, and a lot of French people very, very angry about the state of the economy. French students angry about the state of education. In his address, Macron said he understands that inflation, the cost of living, is a really painful thing for a lot of people. He blamed that partly on the war in Iraq, a war, of course, that the French are not involved in. But he said nothing would justify the violence. Christine.
All right. Raf Sanchez, thank you so much. Raf. Along the East Coast, we're watching out for a developing nor'easter, although not as strong as the storm we saw back in September. It is threatening heavy rains and powerful wind gusts. Coastal flood alerts are now in place from North Carolina to New Jersey, with some areas expecting up to four feet of flooding. Telemundo Meteorologist Andrea Romero is tracking what you can expect.
Our concern this week is actually this Atlantic storm. It's developing northeast off the Carolina coast. The heaviest rain is expected to remain offshore. That's the good news. The not-so-good news is that we are going to have this persistent, strong wind flow from the northeast that could lead to some coastal flooding, beach erosion, rough surf all along the Eastern Seaboard from the Carolinas, possibly all the way up to the Jersey Shore and even parts of Massachusetts. This storm will continue to strengthen off the East Coast, so the storm impacts will be felt along the coast. In fact, we already have some coastal flood alerts in effect. We can see from the Outer Banks to the Jersey Shore, 2 to 4 feet of inundation possible, 8 to 14 feet. Waves are also likely. And of course, that's due to that persistent northeast wind flow with wind gusts. Peak wind gusts probably tomorrow will be felt in Hatteras up to 45 mph, close to 40 mph in parts of Massachusetts. And this storm could take on some tropical characteristics and become a subtropical system later on this week, with a 40% chance of that happening. Meanwhile, out west, over in parts of Arizona and New Mexico, we're a little bit concerned that we could have some flash flooding as the tropical moisture moves into that area. We also have some Pacific moisture moving into parts of California. Back to you, Christine.
All right, Andrea Romero, thank you so much. Much more ahead, including the investigation into a deadly fire at a Canadian military base — four people killed, how it unfolded. Plus, Pope Leo out of the hospital after surgery to treat lung cancer, his Sunday message to Catholics around the world. And later, a new twist in the O.J. Simpson case, the New York Times investigation into a mobster turned police informant, and what it could reveal in the 30-year-old case. We'll get you current after the break.
Now to a terrifying situation at a Canadian air base. A deadly fire swept through Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in the western province of Alberta. Four service members were killed and at least 39 others hurt. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney calling it one of the worst tragedies in the military's history.
The nation is in mourning for those brave members of our armed forces whom we have lost, and I have asked that the flags on all federal buildings be flown at half-mast to honor them.
NBC News Correspondent Steven Romo is following this. And Stephen, military officials said they were initially aware of the fire, but they thought it was contained. Walk us through what happened next.
Yeah, that was a surprising development. We learned that the military officials knew this fire was burning for potentially hours before it moved closer to some 80 soldiers who were participating in these combat exercises. They say with the winds just suddenly changed, the weather shifted, and the distance between the fire and the training area was about two-thirds of a mile away, and within about 30 seconds, they say the fire made up that distance. These soldiers were surrounded by flames. Let's listen.
The range control knew there was a fire for several hours. It was decided that that could carry on for a certain amount of time and as it was contained. I spoke to my commander on the ground last night and this morning, and he said within 30 seconds to a minute they saw no fire, and then there was a fire right on top of them.
Just hard to imagine what a terrifying situation that was. They were just suddenly surrounded by all these flames. And this is a remote area, so it took a while for response to reach them.
Officials mentioned that there were explosives and ammunition stored at the base, being held at the base. They haven't said that contributed, but they must be investigating that.
Yeah, they certainly are still looking into that. It's not clear right now whether it played a role in spreading the fire or not. But this included not only live ammunition but also grenade launchers and grenades, some serious stuff that was kept there. This is one of Canada's premier sites to train people with that live fire. Investigators are looking into how this unfolded.
All right, Steven Romo, you'll keep us posted. Thank you. All right. Now to the Vatican this morning, where Pope Leo will hold a general audience in St. Peter's Square this Wednesday. He was released from the hospital Saturday after surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his lung. Yesterday, he delivered Sunday prayer and pledged to return to full duties. The Pope's illness, coming relatively early in his papacy, has raised questions about his upcoming schedule. NBC News Correspondent Anne Thompson is at the Vatican.
This is a day of recuperation for Pope Leo. Usually on Monday nights, he goes down to the papal retreat, Castel Gandolfo, and takes Tuesday off. But he's staying here. However, on Wednesday he's going to be back in the square for his general audience. As the Pope slowly goes back to work, to a roar of applause, Pope Leo showed the world he is back.
It was a happy Sunday for the crowd in St. Peter's Square.
We just want to make sure that one of the few real leaders in the world is still doing well.
The Pope thanked the people who prayed for him during his lung cancer surgery and promised he would eventually return to all his duties. Doctors said he was fit for discharge, releasing Pope Leo Saturday after checkups and a chest X-ray showed the affected lung was healing well.
It allows him to understand even better the suffering of others.
The Pope seemed to soak in all the good wishes Sunday in the crowd. Tom and Julie Gilbert from Atlanta.
I like his focus on world peace, caring for immigrants, for really looking out for everybody, a return to just being a welcoming church again.
A mission, Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich says the Chicago-born Pope is determined to see through.
He's calling us to live a better kind of life, and not just as individuals, but as nations in which we have a multilateralist kind of view of the world in which we're interdependent on one another.
Though he has chosen the White Sox in Chicago's great baseball rivalry.
From the Sox run this year, the people were proud of that, to the minor night that they had. It's very clear that people are having a lot of fun with this and a good way drawing people together. And I think he appreciates that.
The big question now, will the Pope's planned trip to South America be altered in any way because of his lung cancer surgery? It's an ambitious trip: three countries, 11 days and 19,000 miles. So far, there is no word from the Vatican press office on any changes. Back to you.
All right, Anne Thompson, thank you for that. From a blast at an oil refinery in Russia to rising measles cases in Bangladesh, let's get you globally current. Ukraine launched one of its largest aerial attacks on Russia on Sunday, striking an oil facility in St. Petersburg with more than 1,000 drones. One person was killed, five others injured. Russia's Defense Ministry says it shot down drones across 15 Russian regions. In the West Bank, Israeli police say they've arrested 10 people in connection with two violent incidents over the weekend. On Saturday, masked settlers targeted a group of European diplomats, damaging their vehicles. On Friday, a Washington Post photographer was severely beaten. Police have not identified the suspects, but say they are Israeli citizens. And Bangladesh is battling the world's worst measles outbreak. There are more than 200,000 suspected cases. More than a thousand people have died. 94% of those reported deaths are children under five, according to the World Health Organization. Coming up, a growing fight over a historic golf course in Washington, D.C. President Trump's plan to close and renovate it, and the legal challenges standing in his way. Plus, Cindy Crawford opening up about the shocking death of her son, her heartbreaking message next.
We have more current: an arrest shaking up a Massachusetts election, to President Trump's message to Israel ahead of elections. Let's get you current. This morning, a candidate for lieutenant governor in Massachusetts dropping out of the race after a suspected drunk driving crash. Police say Republican Sean Oliver's car hit five parked vehicles before overturning over the weekend. He was taken to a local hospital and was later arrested. Oliver ending his campaign after his running mate called on him to step down. In a statement, he said the election is, quote, 'too important to be overshadowed by personal matters.' President Trump is endorsing Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of a pivotal Israeli election. The president praised Netanyahu on social media as a, quote, 'great warrior prime minister.' Next week's election will be Israel's first since the Hamas-led attack on October 7th, 2023. Recent polls have suggested no candidate has a clear path to power. Cindy Crawford is paying tribute to her son, Presley Gerber, who died last month. She addressed his death publicly for the first time on Instagram, writing that the family is, quote, 'beyond heartbroken to lose our beloved son and brother.' Gerber died at a rehab facility in September. Police say his death is being investigated as a suspected overdose. Now to a shocking incident caught on camera in San Antonio. An Air Force tech sergeant is dead after falling during a pregame demonstration at a college football game. We want to warn you, the footage may be disturbing. Video recorded from the stands shows the service member rappelling from the rafters before suddenly plummeting to the ground. He was treated on the field before being rushed to the hospital, where military officials say he later died. An investigation is now underway. Joining me now, NBC News Correspondent George Solis. George, military officials have identified the service member, Air Force Tech Sergeant Ian Patterson. What more are we learning?
Yeah. Good morning, Christine. This is an absolute tragedy. And you're right, the Air Force did identify the tech sergeant as Ian Patterson. They say he was a tactical air control party instructor assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2. They're at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. They go on to say that he was from Fort Stewart, Georgia, and served 15 years, citing his decorations, including the Air and Space Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, each with its own leaf cluster. And they say in 2022, Patterson was named the Air Force Special Warfare Enlisted Instructor of the Year at the Headquarters Air Force level. Clearly a very decorated service member. They go on to say the tragedy is felt deeply across the 57th Wing. According to a spokesperson, his service mattered immensely to our wing and to family, friends and teammates who had the privilege of knowing and serving alongside him. Now, Christine, I spoke with witnesses yesterday, both who were in the stands and on the field who watched this go down. They say, of course, San Antonio is a military city, so they're used to these types of exercises. And this was a military appreciation game. So it took a minute for everyone to come to terms with what they were witnessing. But once it became evident, they said the Alamodome, which is normally and historically known as a very loud stadium, came to an eerie hum as they tended to that service member. The Air Force spokesperson saying that he was injured there on the ground, taken to that hospital where he later died. Obviously just a horrific tragedy, and there's still so many questions about what went wrong. We know there were other service members that were meant to rappel during this demonstration. They eventually had to come down to that rope, had to be pulled back up. One witness telling me that it was just so emotional as that game kicked off and they had to play the national anthem. It obviously just created a different atmosphere in that stadium. And again, still so many questions about what went wrong. Christine.
Yeah. And an investigation is underway into just what happened there. George Solis, thank you so much for that. President Trump is teeing up a new legal showdown in the nation's capital. At the center of the fight, his plan for a massive makeover of a historic public golf course, despite a federal judge's order halting that work. Hundreds of trees, at least 430 trees, were already cut down. And now the administration wants that judge off the case. NBC News Legal Affairs Reporter Gary Grumbach joins me now. Gary, the president's golf course project is the latest in a string of Washington landmarks he's been transforming, from the White House to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. This project already tied up in court with a major hearing today.
Yeah. Judge Reyes has denied the government's request for her to recuse herself from the case. And she's overseeing a hearing that's happening right now where they're focused on the 'why now' portion of this. What was the rush that started with an October 5th meeting at Department of Interior headquarters and ended up with a Friday night notice that they were going to cut down 500 trees in a matter of 14 hours or so on a Saturday of a holiday weekend? So they've called the Department of Interior Chief of Staff, who is on the stand right now discussing why this meeting happened, and if it was a coincidence that this all happened two weeks before President Trump posted on Truth Social this weekend that he was planning to create what he calls a world-class golf course here in Washington, D.C.
And Gary, this is a public golf course. This golf course is on federal land. So who exactly has jurisdiction over something that belongs to the people? And what exactly then, who foots the bill for this makeover? I mean, assuming renovations move forward, is that the taxpayer?
It's the taxpayer. It's you and me. And it's the millions of Americans that live in this country here that are going to be paying for this golf course, and they're actually going to be getting less out of it. As it stands right now, the golf course has two different 18-hole courses, a bike and running path and a public park, among other things. What this is going to turn into if President Trump gets his way is a 118-hole course, no bike and...
All right, Gary Grumbach, we know that hearing is underway, so we'll let you get back to monitoring. Thank you so much. Still ahead, a stunning new twist in the O.J. Simpson case: the New York Times report on a mobster-turned-informant and what he told police. Plus, the huge box office weekend for the new documentary about Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. Our spoiler-free wrap of all the reactions, we'll get you right after this.
New intrigue in the O.J. Simpson case. More than three decades after he was acquitted of murder, a new report raising questions about who was there the night O.J.'s ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman were killed. NBC News correspondent Emilie Ikeda has the latest.
Hey there. So the report doesn't introduce new forensic evidence or untangle the mystery. But these newly unsealed court docs from the '90s do shed light on a mobster-turned-informant who had information about O.J. Simpson's alleged domestic violence, attempts to flee, and the murder weapon. New questions are being raised this morning about who may have been involved in the 1994 murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. The intriguing new information surfacing more than three decades after O.J. Simpson's acquittal for the murders. According to the documents, Ippolito became close to several individuals at the center of the murder case and had, quote, "become privy to many facts relevant to the case," including Simpson's attempted flight from justice and his disposal of the murder weapon, which has never been recovered. Ippolito was a close friend of Simpson's confidante, Al Cowlings, which is likely how he entered Simpson's orbit. Mike Baker is one of the Times reporters involved in the investigation.
Why does this information about Joey Ippolito matter?
I mean, to me, this is a part of the O.J. Simpson story that has been kept secret for 30 years. There is someone here who is telling law enforcement that they know details about the murder weapon. They know details about how O.J. Simpson wanted to flee prosecution.
Ippolito died in 2006, but the Times reports his brother Sam told their team he believes Joey had been at the scene of the murders.
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. And Sam Ippolito told us he did. He was confident that his brother was present at the scene of the murders.
The Times says Sam Ippolito later asked for compensation for his account, and when a reporter declined, he told them he wanted to recant his story. When we reached out to Sam Ippolito overnight, he told us via text message there was no way Joey could have been involved. But theories around accomplices in the murders have long been floated in books, social media, and reportedly an upcoming documentary on Peacock, as the case that once consumed the nation continues to captivate. Joey Ippolito was never called to testify during the trial. One of the prosecutors telling the Times she would have been informed if Ippolito had any credible information. In the meantime, the LAPD says the case remains an open investigation, telling us because there is no conviction in the murders, the department has an obligation to continue to pursue justice in this matter. Back to you.
All right, Emily, thank you for that. Joining me now, NBC News senior legal analyst Danny Cevallos. And Danny, these documents have been under wraps for three decades. How is it we're hearing about this right now?
Because the information was largely contained in a letter from a federal prosecutor, not a state prosecutor, to a court, and it was sealed. And this happens all the time. It happens in my cases when an informant or cooperating witness cooperates. Then they're going for a special letter from the prosecutor, basically saying to the judge, "Hey, this guy cooperated and helped us get bad guys, but give him a lesser sentence." But we've got to keep this letter under seal because, as the saying goes, snitches get stitches. And this is a safety concern. That's why it sat sealed for three decades in some court file. The New York Times just had the idea, "Hey, why don't we go see about unsealing some of these documents?" And voila.
The LAPD says that this is still an open and ongoing investigation. The department has an obligation to continue to pursue justice in this matter. I mean, after all, he was acquitted. That means, legally speaking, there is somebody out there to find and to charge. From a legal standpoint, what does an open case really mean after all this time?
The open designation is something the police assigned. It's not really a court designation. And you're absolutely right. Has there ever in American history been an open case, and I'm using air quotes, that has been less open than the O.J. Simpson case? I don't think anybody has any real doubt other than those jurors from many, many years ago that O.J. Simpson was the murderer. And frankly, there have been books written about this. This was probably more evidence than I've ever seen in any murder case. And for whatever reason, the jury acquitted. So technically, you're right, it's still open. I highly doubt anyone at this police department is opening up the file on a daily basis and looking for new leads.
O.J. died in 2024. Ippolito died in 2006. Are there any legal avenues left for investigators or prosecutors to even pursue at this point?
They are vanishing by the day. Many people involved with the case have died, have disappeared. So even if this was a case they wanted to reopen, the challenges after three decades of not only prosecuting a case or investigating a case, but even defending a case, would be nearly insurmountable. While it's true that murder generally has no statute of limitations, practically speaking, for prosecutors, it does.
You know, he was found guilty, though, in civil proceedings, wasn't he?
He was found liable in civil proceedings, which highlights the difference in the burden of proof. In criminal, it's beyond a reasonable doubt. In civil, it's just a preponderance. 51%, a coin flip, almost.
All right. Danny Cevallos, thank you so much. In the era of superhero movies and big-budget franchises, you don't often hear about audiences rushing to see a documentary. "You Can See Everything" made $15 million in its debut. It was the second most popular movie this weekend, behind "Street Fighter," and the second largest opening for a documentary ever. The nearly three-hour film centers on convicted fraudster Elizabeth Holmes days before she begins her prison sentence.
I know you guys invited me to stay here. Is any part of you worried about me being here 24/7?
But what if I see something that makes you look bad?
Let's bring in Morning News Now anchor Joe Fryer. Joe, you've seen it without spoilers. What were you expecting going in, and what did it deliver? I mean, people who have seen this movie say it kind of breaks their brain.
Yeah, no spoilers here, but I will say you do have to see it soon if you want to avoid spoilers. Not everyone could this weekend. It will have wider release this upcoming weekend. I went in with high expectations because let's be clear, it had 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. And let's be more specific. One bad review, I'm looking at you, Time magazine, out of 117 reviews. I mean, everyone was saying it just does blow your mind. It's unlike anything you've seen. It does live up to the hype. It's unlike any documentary I've ever seen, to the point where you actually start to wonder, am I actually watching a documentary because of the way it breaks the mold in so many ways? There is one mind-blowing surprise midway through. Of course, we won't reveal what it is here, but it takes the movie in a whole new direction. As for me, I mean, I went to a theater in uptown Manhattan on Friday night. It was packed, except for maybe the front row. Three-hour movie. Almost no one got up to even use the restroom or refill their drinks. When it was done, the guy behind me said I could have watched two and a half more hours of this movie.
Fascinating. All right, so for those of you who don't know her, she is currently in prison. She is serving a fraud sentence. She had pledged and told investors she had this healthcare revolution, and she was convicted of defrauding those investors. It never happened. How did she come across in the movie?
Deeply subjective. That is kind of still the conversation point that anyone who sees it is going to have. Some people will feel more sympathy for her. Others will basically say she is manipulating everyone. I think she is trying to portray herself as this genius who can sort of see things that almost no one else can see, but because of that, can maybe not see some things that almost everyone else can see. The question is, do you buy that? Or do you think she is manipulating you? And even Nathan Fielder, the guy who is behind this whole documentary, an unconventional filmmaker to be sure, doesn't seem to have an answer to that. His exclusive interview with Wired magazine is out this morning. He's asked, "Do you hope this adds to the cultural understanding of Holmes?" And he says, "I guess I don't really think about it on those terms. I think what the movie ended up being, to me, feels like it goes beyond that in a way. I don't know what it will do to people's understanding of her, but people are really complex." That article also made a little bit of news because Holmes did call him about a week and a half ago, he says, from prison, and he sort of asked her, "What do you think of all the buzz around this movie?" And she just said, quote, "I trust you."
Interesting. All right. So the only other documentary ever to have a bigger opening weekend was Fahrenheit 9/11, all the way back in, in, in what, 2004?
It's been like a while. Yeah, more than 20 years.
So what is it about this movie that has audiences rushing to see it?
I think it's a mix. There's a built-in audience already. You've got the book "Bad Blood," you have the podcast, you have the Hulu series "The Dropout." There are people who are already fascinated with her, but then there's the fact that this was a secret project. No one knew about it. Then all of a sudden, at the Telluride Film Festival five or six weeks ago, there's this surprise screening. People see it. Critics' minds are absolutely blown by it. They put out this trailer that was brilliant and captivating and awkward and could go viral on social media. So that added to the buzz of it all. And it's just the fact that everyone I've talked to who has seen it wants to talk about it and digest it, and your mind about it is always changing, your mind about her is always changing. And there are just things about it, again, that you're like, oh, I had no idea they were going to do that.
And I'll be able to be spoiler-free for a few more days, and then I'm going to have to.
I think eventually it's going to be hard to avoid at least the big one. Yeah.
Nice to see you. Thanks, Joe.
No problem.
Still to come, an update on the search for Amelia Earhart's missing plane. What search teams are finding in the South Pacific. And next hour, inside the surprisingly close and expensive Senate race in Kansas. Why this typically red state could help, humanity or something like that. That's a glib way to think.
Jared Perlow, thank you so much. Nice to see you. Great reporting as always. One of flying's greatest mysteries still without an answer. An expedition to find Amelia Earhart's missing plane turned up no new clues. NBC News has been following the mission for the last year. Our Janis Mackey Frayer takes us inside.
It's a search that has spanned decades, this time taking researchers to a remote island in the South Pacific, hoping a mysterious shape seen in satellite images could solve the disappearance of Amelia Earhart. This morning, it appears one of the greatest mysteries of aviation history is going to remain a mystery, at least for now.
Amelia Earhart on a globe-girdling flight.
An expedition to find evidence of Amelia Earhart's plane that's been missing for nearly 90 years came up empty. The team's leader, archaeologist Rick Pettigrew, breaking the disappointing news.
We can say now, after the conclusion of our work, that the object did not or does not represent the wreckage of Amelia Earhart's Electra aircraft.
Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, disappeared in their Lockheed Electra plane back in 1937 while she was attempting to become the first woman to fly around the world. The new expedition was focused on this satellite image of a blurry object first spotted in 2020 off Nikumaroro, an uninhabited island in a remote section of the Pacific. The team believed it could be Earhart's plane, and after much planning and anticipation, they set off last week on a trip halfway around the world to prove it. But overnight, in a statement, researchers from the Archaeological Legacy Institute and Purdue University admitting the expedition found no conclusive evidence and that the satellite image was likely a collection of large trees.
We think it's most likely that the object was a collection of debris that accumulated here.
While they didn't crack the mystery, the expedition said their effort supports the theory that Earhart and Noonan may have been marooned on Nikumaroro. Artifacts have been found there, including glass bottles from the 1930s and pieces of a woman's makeup compact.
We leave Nikumaroro knowing more than what we did when we came here. Amelia herself said, "Adventure is worthwhile in itself," and I think we've lived that out this week.
While the expedition team acknowledges they didn't uncover what they called the smoking gun this time around, they still believe the wreckage is somewhere nearby. They say they've even found new artifacts, like a steel tube that can now be studied. They say if anything, the mission deepens the resolve to find that ultimate answer and end a mystery that has both captivated and puzzled historians for decades.
All right. Janis Mackey Frayer, thank you so much. There's much more news ahead. The next hour of Current starts right now. And good morning. It's 11 a.m. Eastern, 8 a.m. on the West Coast. I'm Christine Romans. Let's get you Current. Midterm countdown. We're on the ground in Texas, where early voting begins today. The stakes in the state's super tight Senate race. Plus violent protests. Rock France President Macron's new message and what the protesters are now demanding. A Kansas community demanding answers after a pickup truck plowed into a soccer field as kids were playing. How the tragedy unfolded. And a nor'easter cooking up along the East Coast, threatening millions. We've got your forecast. And good to be with you this Monday, October 19th. We've got a lot of news to get to this morning. Let's begin this hour with the critical midterm elections now just 15 days away. Early voting begins today in six more states across the country, including Texas, where Republicans are struggling to hold on to a Senate seat in the race between Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico. And here's the backdrop. A new NBC News poll shows 71% of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track. Americans worried about gas prices, the war in Iran, and corruption. NBC News correspondent Ryan Chandler is in Allen, Texas this morning for us. And Ryan, today Texas joins the list of states where early voting is already here. Let's talk about the Senate race there. How do state Republicans view Ken Paxton's chances?
They're nervous. They are very nervous here in Texas, Christine. I think the takeaway on the first day of early voting is the election has arrived here in Texas. Democrats are more fired up than they've been in 30 years. All indications show that they have reason to be more optimistic, with strong candidates at the top of the ticket in James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa challenging Governor Abbott. And Republicans, I just spoke with a congressman here, conservative Republican Keith Self, who represents this area. He's out talking to voters, and he said that he's nervous talking with his constituents. He is hearing a lot of consternation about the war in Iran, about the price of gas, about data centers, issues that are giving pause to even very conservative areas like here just north of Dallas. That was contrasted by a very strong conversation I had with a Democratic volunteer out here who got choked up and emotional about the stakes of this election. She said that she is so proud of their slate of candidates, and she is feeling very good for the first time in a long time as a Texas Democrat. So, I mean, just the contrast between the moods on both parties is exceptional, especially for a state like Texas, where Republicans have been in power for so long. Christine.
Absolutely. And we're seeing so much of this brand new polling from NBC News about the things that are really weighing on people. Does that reflect what you're hearing from voters on the ground about their primary concerns?
No, absolutely. It is consistent in the polls that voters are most concerned about the economy, about inflation, about the price of gas. And we do see that borne out on the ground. Of course, another part of my conversation with Congressman Self was very interesting because he said, "If we lose this election, it is because we have not done a good job of messaging our wins to voters." He said the first year of the Trump administration was very successful very quickly on the border issue, which is a huge deal here in Texas. But he says, "You never hear about that anymore because we essentially rendered it a non-issue. Now all you hear about is the price of gas and inflation," which tracks with how voters are telling us in our polling about what they care about. Christine.
All right. Ryan Chandler, thank you so much there in Texas for us. I want to bring in Larry Sabato, director of UVA's Center for Politics and editor-in-chief of Sabato's Crystal Ball. Larry, let's start with the Senate race in Texas. You've got this as a toss-up. How do you see that going? 15 days to go.
If you force me to guess today, I'd say Talarico would win. How much confidence do I have in that? I think I've got $0.20 in my pocket, so I'll put that on it. And the reason I say that is not because there's any hard evidence that Talarico will end up losing. Most of the bad news is really for Paxton and the Republicans. It's because we've been here before, and not just once or twice, but really every year, every other year since the early '90s. You know, I was already middle-aged, Christine, in the early '90s, and it's been a long time. And Democrats always say they're winning. And sometimes the polls go along, and sometimes the conditions of the election year suggest they will win, and they lose, and sometimes lose really badly, contrary to what the polls suggested. So take a grain of salt there with you as you're trying to look through the next. A lot of things can happen in 15 days.
We know this NBC News polling, 71% of Americans say the country is on the wrong track. The president's approval rating is at a second-term low. When it comes down to control of Congress, how do these numbers resonate with Republicans right now?
They set up the conditions for Democrats to retake the House, potentially by a larger margin than expected. And they've also set up the potential for Democrats to have a narrow majority in the Senate. Again, the problem is that there are, I would say, millions of anti-Trump Republicans, or maybe not anti-Trump, but they're not enthusiastic about Trump. They really weren't enthusiastic about him in 2016 or 2020. They were a little bit more enthusiastic in 2024. But they have become alienated for one reason or another. However many of them, maybe most of them, the percentage is critical, will still vote for the other Republicans because they'll say, "Well, I'm turned off to Trump, but goodness knows I don't want those radical Democrats in charge." And if you're out there at all, if you talk to people about politics at all, you hear that in the course of a day, over and over.
Here's how Speaker Mike Johnson framed the race over the weekend. Listen.
Everywhere I go from coast to coast, and I'm traveling nonstop, 40 districts across 22 states this month alone. I'm going to the swing districts. I'm going to the places that the pundits and the pollsters say we're going to lose. They are wrong. We have incredible turnout. As I said in that clip you played, it feels like 2024 to me when we defied the odds.
It's interesting because on the one hand, Republicans don't have a really coherent message on the cost of living, but they do have a coherent message on socialism, communism, trans kids in sports, you know, sports with, you know, different genders. And of course, they're happy about what the president did at the border.
Yes. No, they're happy about the border. The congressman who said, "Well, that's all over with. We succeeded." Someone said that to your correspondent. "We succeeded on that, and nobody remembers." You know, welcome to politics. If you solve a problem, it's no longer an issue in the campaign. So you don't really get that much credit for it. If the problem continues, people blame you. But, you know, overall, Christine, this is a blue year. Come on. I mean, you look at the long sweep of history, when you have a president this unpopular, the opposition party is going to do well. The only real argument is how well. You know, the speaker is living in another universe. I'm not familiar with it, but then I'm not speaker.
All right. Larry Sabato, thank you so much. Talk again soon. It will be a thrilling next 15 days, I'm sure. Dive deeper into the 2026 midterms on NBC News' polling page, early vote data, expert analysis, and more subscriber-only content. You can scan the QR code on your screen to subscribe. Now let's turn to France and some of the worst violence that country has seen in years. Popular tourist destinations like the Louvre Museum in Paris have been forced to shut down. More than 2,000 people have been arrested because of scenes like this.
That was the moment a 19th-century clock tower in central France collapsed in flames. French authorities are calling on major cities to impose curfews as they attempt to regain control of the streets. Joining me now, NBC News international correspondent Raf Sanchez. We know these protests started weeks ago over the cost of living and conditions in France's schools, but this really turned ugly this weekend.
Yeah, Christine. So we saw about half a million people take to the streets to protest those issues. You mentioned those protests were largely peaceful. They happened in central Paris. But in the hours that followed, you saw just this descent into very widespread violence in central Paris. There was a lot of looting. You saw masked groups of people smashing their way into luxury stores, Louis Vuitton, Lacoste, other high-end retailers around the Champs-Élysées. Authorities say some 2,500 people have been arrested. About a thousand cops and firefighters have been injured in clashes. And some of the most painful images are the ones that you played at the top there, that 19th-century town hall there on your screen in the city of Limoges, a building that survived two world wars being burned to the ground. Images reminiscent of the fall of the spire of Notre Dame. And those protests are continuing today. Christine, we are seeing the Louvre Museum in Paris closed because there are demonstrations near its front gate.
Wow. Okay. The next French election is in April. Political leaders are already pointing fingers. What kind of reaction politically are you seeing?
So what you're seeing, Christine, is the government of Emmanuel Macron, which is pretty centrist, is blaming the far left for these protests. The far left is blaming the centrist government, saying they've totally failed to make the economy work for normal people. And Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader on the right side of your screen there, is blaming everybody. And you mentioned we are some six months out now from what is going to be an absolutely critical French presidential election. French elections tend to play out in two rounds. And so there's a real possibility here that French voters in that final round in May are going to be making a decision between the far-left candidate, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, and the far-right candidate, Le Pen. And there is real concern you could see more political street violence in the run-up to that vote, Christine.
All right. Raf Sanchez for us there. Thank you so much. A search for answers behind a deadly tragedy in a Kansas community. A woman drove a pickup truck through a crowded field at a youth soccer game in Wichita, killing two people, including a six-year-old child. Ten others were hurt. This morning, that 34-year-old driver is out of police custody and has not been identified or charged. Joining me now, NBC News correspondent Maggie Vespa. Maggie, so many questions about just what happened there.
