JD Vance weighs his approach to the midterms as he weighs a 2028 presidential bid. Records detail a Cornell fraternity brother’s account of the night a woman alleges 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 climate in the midterms. Vice President JD Vance speaks on stage on the second day of the 2026 Republican National Convention at the American Airlines Center on September 10, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. Brandon Bell/GettyVice President JD Vance acknowledged that Republicans face an “uphill climb” in the midterm elections and told NBC News that the results could influence his bid for president. in 2028. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up here to receive it in your inbox. “Regardless of what happens in the next 35 days, there will be new information, new things that you will have to make a decision about,” he said. He said he is cautiously optimistic that the GOP’s numbers are improving even as concerns about the Iran war and gas prices take their 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 possible rival: Ted Cruz. “It’s really obvious to me that, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president,” Vance said. “Right now, I’m not. I’m trying to help elect Republicans.” Here’s what Vance said about data centers during the exclusive interview. More politics news: Analysis: Democrats have managed to regain ground in voter registration in key states after sharp declines. A look at Trump’s victories (and losses) as the Supreme Court’s new term begins. The records give insight into how a Cornell student responded to the rape allegation. A Cornell fraternity brother named in a lawsuit said he did not see the woman in distress, despite her claim that she was assaulted, according to court records. Scott Kretzschmar, now 22, said that after seeing a Snapchat post advertising “free f—up,” he entered the room already filled with several fraternity brothers, but never saw the woman naked, touched her or used 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 whom she later accused of assault also provide context about the aftermath of the incident. “My reputation is destroyed and I am completely ashamed,” she wrote. This is the most that was mentioned. More on Cornell: New York Gov. Kathy Hochul replaced the district attorney handling the case and named Attorney General Letitia James as a source of reaction. This is not the first time prosecutor Matthew Van Houten has come under scrutiny. A Cornell survey showed an increase in reports of college students experiencing non-consensual sexual contact. Rarely has it been harder for people to find new jobsJustine Goode/NBC News; GettyAt 4.1%, the official unemployment rate is lower than its historical average of more than 5%, indicating a seemingly stable labor market. Long-term unemployment tells a different story. The proportion of workers who have been out of work for 27 weeks or more now stands at 27%, the highest since 2015 outside the Covid pandemic. The average period of unemployment lasts around 11 weeks, and the average is more than six months, suggesting increasing levels of long periods of unemployment. In general, fewer people are hired and those who have jobs do not leave them. The Bureau of Labor Statistics will announce the September employment report today. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones estimate that the United States added 84,000 jobs last month, while the unemployment rate held steady. Read what’s behind the trends. Shingles cases decline among people who received the chickenpox vaccine, data show PonyWang/GettyThe chickenpox vaccine appears to protect against shingles, according to a large new analysis. Anyone who was infected with chickenpox as a child is at risk of developing shingles later in life. But new data suggests that people ages 34 and younger may be less likely to develop shingles than previous generations, because they are more likely to have been vaccinated against chickenpox. It’s a promising development, although because shingles tends to be rare in people under 50, the data can’t show whether the protection will last as they age, one researcher said. Read the full story here. Staff Pick: Harmful Kratom-Like Substances Hidden in Cat’s Claw Products Nationwide. Kratom is sold in a store in Bradenton, Florida, in 2025. Tiffany Tompkins / The Bradenton Herald via Getty My interest in kratom began in the summer of 2025. I had just come across a TikTok video of a man warning about its addictive potential and wanted to know more. I had never heard of kratom, a supplement that causes opioid-like effects, but I soon ran into a rabbit hole of stories from people saying the substance nearly cost them their lives. Since then, kratom has continued to make headline news. More 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’s claw, a substance used for inflammation. This is a growing problem, as poison control centers are receiving an increase in calls about exposure to “cat’s claw.” Health officials are sounding the alarm to prevent 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 ‘I couldn’t let them all die’: Pilot attacked on Flydubai plane speaks out for the first time. An American passenger described writing goodbye text messages to her family when the Flydubai plane she was traveling on crashed. Sean “Diddy” Combs has been placed in solitary confinement following an NBC News report about his VIP lifestyle inside prison, according to a source with knowledge of Importa. An alleged Hamas media representative has been accused of funneling approximately $1.7 million to the terrorist organization from donors they believed were giving aid to Gaza. Mike Tomlin is a Super Bowl winning coach. Now he’s unveiling a masterpiece he spent more than a decade building, in “Minecraft.” NBC Selected: Online Shopping, Simplified Gen Z doesn’t use wallets, so we talked to our editors to find out what they carry instead. Plus, new Prime Day deals just went live in early October and we’ve handpicked the ones that are actually worth buying, including up to 50% off top-rated vacuum cleaners. Sign up for The Selection newsletter for actionable product reviews, expert shopping tips, and a look at each week’s best deals and sales. Thanks for reading today’s morning briefing. Today’s newsletter was curated for you by Kayla Hayempour. If you’re a fan, send a link to your family and friends. You can register here.
