Here's the Scoop

If there’s one issue driving this election, it’s affordability. With prices for everything from gas and groceries to healthcare and childcare rising, many Americans feel the American Dream is slipping out of reach. Meanwhile, Democrats think this could be the key to their comeback, while President Donald Trump calls affordability a “hoax” — but is still pitching $5,000 payments for every voter if Republicans maintain control of the House and the Senate.On Episode 2 of "Here’s the Scoop, Election Edition," NBC News chief White House correspondent Garrett Haake brings together NBC News senior policy reporter Shannon Pettypiece, former Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., and NBC News contributor Ashley Etienne, a former adviser to President Joe Biden, to discuss where voters are feeling the squeeze, why they don’t feel like the economy — or the government — is working for them and how the parties are responding on the campaign trail and beyond. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians marched in the streets of Tehran today in a rally organized by the Iranian government to show a united front against the U.S. and Israel. NBC News international editor Babak Dehghanpisheh explains who those protesters are – and how Iranians are really feeling about the state of the war. Then, amid the recent rise of AI “doomerism,” Geoffrey Hinton, one of the so-called “godfathers of AI,” has said lawmakers have about a year to get the technology under control. But not everyone is in the doomer camp. Dr. Joanna Bryson, professor of ethics and technology at the Hertie School in Berlin, explains what the U.S. could learn from the E.U. and how government regulators could work collaboratively with companies to improve. Plus, a revealing new memoir by Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, is striking a nerve with the British royals. The Telegraph’s royal correspondent India McTaggart explains the allegations and Buckingham Palace’s highly unusual response. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

House Speaker Mike Johnson abruptly canceled votes scheduled for today and sent representatives home early – ending the last session of Congress before the midterms. Johnson claims the House finished its business, but Democrats say it’s because Republicans are trying to sidestep a vote on a resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. NBC News correspondent Julie Tsirkin breaks down why Massie’s resolution may have put the GOP on edge. Then, Canada is cozying up to Europe. Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke before the European Parliament this morning, after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed making Canada the bloc’s first “associate member.” NBC News international reporter Matt Bodner explains what that designation would entail and what it could mean for the U.S. on the international stage. Finally, the animated sitcom “South Park” is back for Season 29 with its signature satire – and a new name. The Guardian’s Jesse Hassenger joins to talk about whether creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone will soften their political commentary after proving in Season 28 that a $1.5 billion deal with Paramount+ won’t tame them. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

President Donald Trump has been calling for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, but on Wednesday, new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh defied the president, announcing the first rate hike since 2023. NBC News business reporter Allie Canal explains why this decision came now and how American consumers could be affected. Then, the Trump administration is planning a $2.8 billion arms sale to Israel — including 40,000 heavy bombs — according to a U.S. official and a source familiar with the matter, which would be one of the largest deliveries of U.S. munitions to the country. NBC News chief White House correspondent Garrett Haake explains why the Biden administration had paused delivery of these bombs — and why Congress might not be able to stop it, despite changing public sentiment toward Israel.Plus, all of Ed Sheeran’s supporting acts and his house band have left his tour after rapper Macklemore was dropped for making a pro-Palestinian speech. NBC News senior breaking news reporter Doha Madani breaks down how New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is involved and why this controversy might boost Macklemore’s sales. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After months of legal back-and-forth about mail-in voting, the Supreme Court has blocked President Trump’s executive order restricting the practice. NBC News senior political reporter Jane C. Timm shares how states are responding – and why this may not be the end of the story on mail-in ballots.Then, the Environmental Protection Agency is rolling back a Biden-era rule placing limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, saying it will save the energy industry hundreds of billions of dollars. Bloomberg News Climate Reporter Zahra Hirji explains how this fits into the administration’s broader strategy of deprioritizing the fight against climate change – and what else could be coming down the pipeline.And finally, the AI safety issue is making some strange bedfellows. NBC News AI reporter Jared Perlo joins us from the Pro-Human Assembly, an AI risk conference in Washington, D.C., to explain why Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Trump ally Steve Bannon were back-to-back headlines. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.