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JD Vance discusses his approach to the Mediterranean as he weighs a 2028 presidential run. Records detail a Cornell fraternity brother’s account of the night a woman claims she was raped. And what long-term unemployment says about the economy.
Here’s what you need to know today.
Vance talks 2028, Ted Cruz and a tough middle climate
Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that Republicans have an “uphill climb” in the midterms – telling NBC News the results could affect whether he runs for president in 2028.
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“No matter what happens in the next 35 days, there will be new information, new things that you have to make a decision,” he said.
He said he is cautiously optimistic that the GOP’s numbers will improve even as worries about the Iran war and gas prices take a toll. He reiterated that Republicans can’t pretend things are perfect, but they can argue that the next wave of Democrats would be worse.
He also addressed a potential rival – Ted Cruz.
“It’s really obvious to me that at this moment Ted Cruz is running for president,” Vance said. “At this point, I’m not. I’m trying to vote Republican.”
Here’s what Vance said about data centers during the exclusive interview.
More politics news:
- Analysis: Democrats succeeded again ground on voter registration in key states after steep drops.
- A look at Trump’s wins – and losses – as the new Supreme Court term begins.
Records provide insight into how one Cornell student responded to the rape allegation
A Cornell brother named in a lawsuit said he did not see the woman in distress, despite her allegation that she was assaulted, according to court records.
Scott Kretzschmar, now 22, said that after seeing a Snapchat post advertising “free p—y upstairs,” he entered the room, already filled with several fraternity brothers, but never saw the woman clingy, did not touch her or use ketamine.
A photo of Jane Doe was shared among active Chi Phi members in a Snapchat group, documents revealed.
Text messages obtained by NBC News between Jane Doe and another fraternity member she later accused of assault also provide context about the aftermath of the incident. “My reputation is ruined and I am totally ashamed,” she wrote.
Here’s what else was mentioned.
More about Cornell:
- New York Governor Kathy Hochul the DA replaced the caseappoints AG Letitia James as backlash mounts. It is not the first time Prosecutor Matthew Van Houten came under scrutiny.
- A Cornell survey has a Increase in reports of female undergraduates experiencing nonconsensual sexual contact.
It has rarely been more difficult for people to find new work
At 4.1%, the official unemployment rate is lower than its historical average of more than 5%, signaling an apparently stable labor market. Long-term unemployment tells a different story.
The proportion of workers who have been out of work for 27 weeks or longer is now at 27%, the highest since 2015 outside of the Covid pandemic. The median spell of unemployment lasts about 11 weeks, and the average is more than six months, suggesting increasing levels of long periods of unemployment.
Overall, fewer people are employed, and those who have jobs do not leave them.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is scheduled to announce the jobs report for September today. Economists polled by Dow Jones estimated the U.S. added 84,000 jobs last month, with the unemployment rate holding steady.
Read what’s behind the trends.
Shingles cases are falling among people who received the chickenpox vaccine, data show
The chickenpox vaccine appears to protect against shingles, according to a major new analysis.
Anyone infected with chickenpox as a child is at risk of developing chickenpox later. But new data suggests that people aged 34 and younger are less likely to develop shingles than previous generations because they are more likely to be vaccinated against chicken pox.
It’s a promising development, but because singles are typically rare in people younger than 50, the data can’t prove whether the protection lasts as they age, one researcher said.
Read the full story here.
Personal pick: harmful kratom-like substances hidden in cat’s claw products across the country
My interest in kratom started in the summer of 2025. I just came across a TikTok video of a man warning about its addictive potential and wanted to learn more. I had never heard of kratom, a supplement that causes opioid-like effects, but soon came down a rabbit hole of stories from people who said the substance nearly cost them their lives. Since then, kratom has continued to make headlines. Most recently, two University of Mississippi students were found dead, and authorities said the supplement was found at the scene.
While many states are taking steps to ban kratom, manufacturers are trying to get around it by selling it under different labels, such as cat claws – a substance used for inflammation. This is a growing problem because Poison Control Centers are receiving an uptick in calls about exposure to “cat cases.” Health officials are sounding the alarm to avoid the risk of overdose and death. People deserve to know what they are buying, and this situation is a case of false advertising. As one doctor said, these products are kratom in disguise.
– Claretta Bellamy, researcher
Read all about it
- ‘Couldn’t let them all die’: Pilot attacked on Flydubai plane speak for the first time.
- An American passenger described Drafting goodbye texts to her family like the flydubai plane she was on.
- Sean “Diddy” Combs was placed in isolation after an NBC News report about his VIP lifestyle in prison, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.
- An alleged media representative for Hamas was accused around 1.7 million dollars to the terrorist organization of donors who believed they were giving aid to Gaza.
- Mike Tomlin is a Super Bowl-winning coach. Now he’s revealing a masterpiece he’s been building for more than a decade – and “Minecraft”.
NBC Featured: Online shopping, made easy
Gen Z doesn’t have a wallet — so we spoke to our editors to find out what they wear instead. Plus, new Early October Prime Day Deals just fell, and we hand-picked the actual value shopping, including up 50% Off Top-Rated Vacuums.
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