NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Episode Date: October 15, 2026

Inside Michigan’s critical midterm Senate battle; Pope Leo recovers after lung surgery; Illinois teen arrested over alleged mass shooting plot; and more on tonight's broadcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tonight, we're live from Detroit in Battleground, Michigan, on the ground for this make-or-break Senate race with the election just weeks away. Control of the Senate could all come down to the all-out brawl in the Great Lake State. Polls as close as they can be. I go one-on-one with progressive Abdul al-Said finally answering this question. What is a bigger threat to the U.S., Israel or Iran? And pressing his Republican challenger. me that you are basically a rubber stamp to President Trump. What do you say to that? And we talk to voters about the issues they're grappling with in one of the most critical

races this year. Also breaking tonight, temple targeted. Police arresting this man, accused of planning a mass shooting at a Hindu temple near Chicago, accused of opening fire, but his gun jammed. The powerful funnel cloud tearing across Texas, the video just coming in. Chaos on the battlefield, the new video of a man hit by a Russian strike in Ukraine as the country accuses Elon Musk's SpaceX of limiting Internet and undermining their defenses. Elon Musk responding tonight. New details about Pope Leo's recovery and his lung cancer diagnosis, cold case arrest, the story that made national headlines 15 years ago. The woman who vanished after an appearance on the People's Court, her fiancé, now charged. images of a giant sinkhole swallowing this van in Los Angeles? How did this happen? What NFL legend

Terry Bradshaw is telling NBC News about his future in TV? Is he retiring? Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News. Decision 2026 on the road to the midterms. Reporting tonight from Michigan, here is Tom Yamas. And good evening. We are live from Detroit. Detroit tonight in Battleground, Michigan, just behind me here as the sun is setting the Detroit skyline. But ahead for this state, three more weeks of an all-out, down to the wire, bruising fight for the Senate, all because this is the state that could determine control the Senate. We came here to speak to voters about the issues driving their decisions, from rising prices to health care to the wars in the Middle East. Pulling back to the big picture, though,

Democrats need to flip four seats in order to win back the Senate. And they are performing surprisingly well in deep red states like Texas and Iowa, even Kansas. But see that blue there? That's Michigan. And Democrats are defending an open seat here. And what was considered a safe win is now as close as can be. Look at this. Recent polls show only a one point difference well within the margin of error.

So what changed? A progressive and to some controversial candidate, Abdul al-Sayyad, won the nomination. nation, electrifying young voters here, but also turning off some Jewish voters. I pressed Al-Said about why it is so close as Democrats elsewhere are surging and as Michigan hasn't elected a Republican senator in more than 30 years. And I go one-on-one with his opponent, Mike Rogers, who Democrats suggest, will just be a rubber stamp to President Trump. The two candidates engaged in a bitter battle with no sign of letting up. Tonight, the bitter Senate showdown in Battleground Michigan, Democrat, Abdul Al-Said, taking on Republican, Mike Rogers.

Mike, listen, man, if you can't say the name, it's Abdur Rahman, keep the name out your damn mouth. He wants to represent Palestine. I want to represent Michigan. A Republican has not won a Senate seat here since 1994. But now, polls are showing a very tight Senate race, and you can see it in neighborhoods. This home with an Abdul for Senate sign. Just next door, you see it in the front lawn, Mike Rogers for U.S. Senate. Tonight, we spoke with Al-S. Ayat. Why do you think it's so tight?

I think it's not because it's Michigan, right? At the end of the day, people are trying to figure out who actually is going to stand up for them. And I think when you look at Mike Rogers and the fact that he's rubber-stamped, a president who's got historically low disapproval, you can see why we consistently leave. We also met up with Rogers. I just spoke with Dr. Abdul-A-Sahed. He tells me that you are basically a rubber stamp to President Trump. What do you say to that? Nonsense.

I mean, I've called an end to the Iran war. I've called for an end to wrap up these Canadian tariffs. So I'm going to do what's right for Michigan, Michigan first. Rogers now accusing Al-Said of line in this interview when NBC's Kristen Welker asked about ties to the Islamist movement, the Muslim Brotherhood. You don't have any ties? No. And your family doesn't. No.

But newly revealed past tweets from Al-Said's half-sister appearing to, to call his answer into question. These tweets have emerged now. Had an amazing talk with my mom about her activism and the Muslim Brotherhood during the early 70s while she was in college. Hashtag respect. My family has long been in MB.

Let me finish. Praying for all my family that supports the MB in Egypt. Can you just explain it? Yeah, Tom. It's funny to me. I was born in 1984, down the street in Rochester Hills. I was raised here in Michigan,

went to the University of Michigan, rebuilt the health department in this city, led the health department in this county. And you want to ask me about what was happening in Egypt in 1970? Are you serious? I get it, but you were asked a question. And you gave an answer.

This is kind of like the same. Yeah, I'm telling you, like, we, I have no ties. We have no ties. So your mother had no ties? I have never had these conversations with my mother. I wasn't raised by my mother. You were unaware. But I'm just telling you that like,

you're using hearsay evidence from a tweet. It's just not serious. It's just not serious. But you've also gone after the president for truthfulness. You've also gone after the president for truthfulness. So when people ask you a question, they all do expect the truth? And do you think, are you, are you insinuating that somehow I was lying? I don't know.

That's why I'm asking you. And I'm telling you I was not. And Al-Sayed has faced scrutiny over this debate answer. Who do you think is a bigger threat to the United States? Israel or Iran? You have 60 seconds. And again, Rick, I'm just going to say that that's a ridiculous hypothetical. So you do think Israel is as big as a threat.

I just want to hear you on this. When we look at our situation in the world. You think they're equally a threat to the U.S. When we look at our situation in the world, there is actively more war in the world because of what Israel is pushing us into. We should never have fought a war with Iran. Right? I agree that Iran can, is a dangerous threat.

That's not a question. But I also think that when you ostensibly have an ally that's pushing you into war with the country that is threatening you, that does not make you any safe. You think they're both a threat. You think they're both threats. Yes. There's no, look, we pay, last month alone, we pay $2.8 billion for $2,000 bombs for a foreign government. Right. Do you think that makes us safer?

Is that good for us? And El-Sayed going after Rogers over the economy and the Iran war, which now Rogers says should end after initially supporting it. This all goes back. to the fact that we've got a tariff war with Canada, who provides a whole lot of our diesel, and then we've got this war in Iran. We never should have fought this war in the first place. My opponent backed it. I oppose it.

We pressed Rogers. President Trump asked you to run in this race. He wanted you to be the senator from Michigan. If he asked you to do that, how are you going to stand up to him once you do get elected and make sure you put Michigan first and not MAGA? Well, I don't even understand the premise of your question. Okay.

He said, he wanted the best candidate to run, who could win the state for Republicans. I'm the best candidate that could run that is actually going to win this state for Republicans. No one else has been able to go in and have these conversation with Jewish Democrats. Same with African Americans in the city. Al-Sayat has attacked Rogers over his personal finances, alleging he and his wife cashed in off their government work. What do you say to those allegations?

My money came from cybersecurity work after I left Congress. When you build a company and you sell a company, it's a great American part of the U.S. and I'm blessed to have been a part of that. The challenge for Republicans like Rogers, voters frustration with the economy and the high cost of living. We went to the Royal Fresh Market in northwest Detroit. Delilah?

Yes. Is this where I can get a joy cake? Yes, it is. At her bakery, Delilah Reynolds Fields sells joy cakes. That's very good. Thank you. So this is why you're famous here. I don't know about the famous part.

I don't know about that part. A combination of pound cake and sweet potato pie for $999. What did it start out as when you first started doing this? When I first started out, it was like $5.99. $5.99. That was several years ago. She had to increase prices because of inflation and new fuel fees from her suppliers. She's voting for Al-Said.

You think President Trump's policies, whether it be with the economy or the war on Iran, has it made your life tougher? I think it's made it tougher for everybody, more specifically gas prices. But the Rogers campaign believes this tight race could come down to a critical voting demographic. Jewish Democrats like Sarah Bennett. You're a Democrat and you're supporting Mike Rogers. Why? Correct. I'm a lifelong Democrat. I don't think I've ever voted Republican. But I am a mom, a Jewish mom, and I'm voting with my heart. And I think that Mike Rogers will keep our Jewish community safe. And I don't think the same about Abdul Al-Sayyad. Earlier this year, a terrorist drove a car with explosives into a synagogue here that included a daycare packed with children and opened fire in what the FBI called a Heard. Hezbollah-inspired terror attack. Al-Sayed then saying this about the attacker.

It was wrong and he never should have done it. Hurt people, hurt people. He later apologized after backlash. Bennett says he was making excuses for a terrorist. She showed us the sign she placed in her yard. That sign says hurt people, help people. So explain that. Hurt people should help people, make the world a better place.

There is no justification for a terrorist attack. We showed a photo of her sign to Al-Sayed and asked how he would respond. Well, look, I wish it was true that hurt people always help people. I'd love to live in that world. I want us to understand pain for what it is and end the cycle of violence that we see anywhere against anyone. People really fixated on those four words, and I realized that it was not the right thing to have said at the time. And so I apologize for what I said. Here's the thing I want us to understand.

It is important for us to understand that right now we can either come together to save our democracy, or we can allow folks who want to rubber stamp the worst policies from Donald Trump and his agenda that is raising our prices for everything from gas to groceries. And the choice is ultimately ours. And we're going to have much more from Michigan later in the broadcast. We want to turn out of some breaking news out of Illinois. A teenager is under arrest tonight after authorities say he tried but failed to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora.

Shaq Brewster is covering this one for us in Shaq. Authorities say he actually tried to open fire? And Tom authorities are also saying the seriousness of this alleged plot cannot be overstated. According to court documents, 19-year-old Alexandros Paparacas drove to the largest Hindu temple in Aurora on Sunday and fired his gun, but it jammed. Prosecutors say after fleeing, he tried to fix the rifle and sent a manifesto to a coworker calling himself a sociopathic white supremacist neo-Nazi filled with hatred. Police arrested the teenager outside his home, recovering an AR-style rifle, at least 300 rounds of ammunition. ammunition and a tactical vest. Paparakis is facing felony charges of making a terroristic threat and unlawful possession

of weapons. A judge today ordered him held in jail until a trial. Tom? All right, Shaq, we thank you for that. Elon Must tonight, pushing back on allegations from Ukraine that his company, SpaceX, is limiting Internet services in the war-torn country, putting Ukraine's defenses at risk. Gabe Gutierrez is at the White House. In Ukraine, first, the warning sirens, then another sound.

This man surviving the Russian strike in Harkiv as the war enters a bloody and increasingly volatile phase. Ukraine now accusing Elon Musk's SpaceX of hurting its ability to defend itself by limiting the military-grade Internet service called Starshield, a Ukrainian member of parliament with this message tonight from Musk. To stop playing the bull-b-games, it costs hundreds and thousands of Ukrainian lives. Musk saying, quote, Star Shield systems are owned and controlled by the U.S. government. any limits on speed or usage are decided by the U.S. military and ultimately the president of the United States. It all comes as four Ukrainian and European officials tell NBC News the lack of advance warning by the U.S. Ahead of two Russian missile strikes on Kiev this week has sparked confusion over the status of U.S. intelligence sharing.

Ukraine's President Zelensky today saying he feels betrayed, slamming President Trump's deal to buy Russian diesel. It's a pity that we are losing, we are a losing strong partner. President Trump, meanwhile, has denied the U.S. stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine. We are helping them, and we are sharing it. We want the war to end. But tonight, there has been no response from the White House about those new allegations of limiting Internet service in Ukraine. Tom? Gabe Gutier is at the White House for us. Now to a dangerous situation unfolding across Texas and the plane.

A massive funnel cloud spotted near Fort Stockton in West Texas, knocking down trees. Look at that and branches. It comes after flash flood swamped roads in Oklahoma. We head to the Vatican now where Pope Leo is recovering following lung surgery and his cancer diagnosis. Ann Thompson is outside the Vatican for us tonight. And the Pope is on the men tonight, but there is some big news as well. There is, Tom. First, to the Pope's health, he is recovering from that lung cancer surgery.

The Vatican says he was up walking around today eating, and he even can celebrate Mass in a private chapel at the hospital. He also sent a message to the conference on marriage and families thanking people for their prayers and their work. But from Peru tonight, where Leo plans to visit next month, the first indication that his recovery may impact those plans. The Peruvian president telling reporters today that she understands the Pope's recovery will take several weeks longer than expected. and that could lead to changes in his trip, which includes visits to Uruguay and Argentina. There is no word tonight from the Vatican on her remarks. Tom. And Thompson, with that major update, and we thank you. When we return tonight live from Michigan, the cold case just broken open in Florida involving the woman who vanished hours after this people's court appearance.

And what NFL great Terry Bradshaw is saying about retiring from broadcasting. And as we go to break this look at beautiful Ann Arbor here in Michigan, nightly news, live from this state, back in just 60 seconds. We're back now with a major update in a Florida murder mystery gone cold. Michelle Parker went missing nearly 15 years ago on the same day she appeared with her ex-viancee on the People's Court. Authorities now arresting and charging him. George Solis on how they crack the case. tonight the break in a case gone cold for nearly 15 years. Dale Smith.

Michelle Parker and her ex-fiance, Dale Smith Jr., appearing on the people's court over a lost engagement ring on November 17, 2011. Any of the problems that we've ever had, it's always been alcohol-related. That same day, she dropped their children off at his home and then went missing. Smith, now arrested and facing a second-degree murder charge in connection with her disappearance. This case never stopped being a priority. Investigators say they reviewed evidence and found new clues. New evidence was found using advancements in technology, especially in our digital forensics. We were able to better interpret that evidence today than what we were able to do back in 2011.

The case garnering national attention as investigators found her car and her phone. I'm hoping that maybe there's a fingerprint that shouldn't be on there, meaning like not my sisters are the twins. Smith was the only named suspect in the case but was never criminally charge and denied having anything to do with her disappearance. Today, investigators say they also re-examined his testimony and found conflicting statements. And very specific questions were asked of him numerous times over the years where he gave different answers to those same questions. The state attorney says murder charges could be upgraded as this case moves forward.

Meanwhile, the search for Parker's remains is ongoing. Tom. George, thank you. We're back in a moment with the massive sinkhole that opened up. in Southern California, swallowing a cable van. The windshield wiper is still running. Stay with us. Welcome back.

A massive surprise on a Southern California street. Take a look at this, a giant sinkhole swallowing a cable van in Los Angeles. Officials say it opened up after a large water main broke early in the morning. The company says the employee who is inside the van is okay. And NFL legendary Bradshaw raising some eyebrows telling Arcade Snow that he realizes that his TV career is, quote, coming to an end. It's still unclear exactly when it might wind down, but it comes 42 years after he started his NFL analyst career when he retired from playing pro football back in 1984. That's Nightly News for this Wednesday.

I'm Tom Yamas. We thank you so much for watching this special edition of Nightly News. Tonight and always, we're here for you. Good night.