Just weeks before the midterm elections, federal agents searched the home of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., seizing her phone and issuing around a dozen subpoenas, two people familiar with the DOJ investigation told NBC News. NBC News senior justice reporter Ryan J. Reilly explains how the move fits into a broader trend of the DOJ going after President Trump’s perceived political enemies and why it’s so unusual to launch this kind of probe right before an election.

Then, Cleo Abram is a video journalist and the host of the widely popular YouTube series “HUGE* if true” and “HUGE* conversations,” where she looks at the potential and the solutions offered by science and technology. Cleo talks about why she’s still a tech optimist in light of growing AI doomerism and how her interviews with industry leaders have shaped her perspective on security and regulation.

Lastly, we wade into the internet’s favorite controversy this week: singer and TV personality Kelly Clarkson’s social media fight with a Brooklyn shop over a mechanical bird. NBC News entertainment correspondent Chloe Melas spills the tea on the back-and-forth – and why the bird is now going for $15 million.

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Consumer prices are up 3.7% from a year ago, according to the latest inflation numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s largely driven by gas prices, which rose 9.1% in September. NBC News chief Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles breaks down how the GOP is dealing with rising inflation as early voters head to the polls. Plus, Ukraine says that Elon Musk’s SpaceX limited critical Starlink internet access and that some allies didn’t share key intel ahead of attacks, making the country more vulnerable to Russian assaults. NBC News national security and global affairs reporter Dan De Luce discusses whether Ukraine is being cut off from key allies as President Donald Trump’s attitude toward Russia softens. Finally, the Vatican said that Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer and that he is recovering after surgery Tuesday. NBC News Vatican analyst Deborah Lubov joins us from Rome to discuss Leo’s transparency about his condition and how Catholics are responding.

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Kimberly Guilfoyle has resigned from her post as U.S. Ambassador to Greece, after being accused of asking a Trump donor for $100K in exchange for access to the president and taking luxury trips from Greek tycoons, all of which she denies. NBC News chief White House correspondent Garrett Haake explains why the White House called for her to step down now and what’s next for the longtime Trump loyalist.

Then, Americans are finding it harder to put food on the table – and more are relying on food banks. An NBC survey of 90 of the largest food banks across the country found that nearly three-quarters were serving more people this year, while 4 out of 5 said they were getting less food and funding from the government. NBC News senior policy reporter Shannon Pettypiece shares how food pantry workers in rural West Virginia are managing the shortages.

Lastly, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any advanced economy – even though it spends the most on healthcare. Former supermodel Christy Turlington Burns joins the podcast to explain how her own experience with a childbirth complication led her to start a maternal health organization, why impending changes to Medicare coverage could exacerbate the maternal mortality crisis, and how people can take action.

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The Iran-backed Houthi militia launched two hits on a Riyadh airport in Saudi Arabia over the weekend, killing 13 people. NBC News chief international correspondent Kier Simmons looks into whether the deadliest attacks on a regional U.S. ally since the war with Iran began could open up another front. Plus, states are cleaning up from Hurricane Isaias, which hit Florida and Alabama over the past weekend and killed four people. NBC News correspondent Jesse Kirsch breaks down how prepared states are to deal with the aftermath of these disasters in the wake of FEMA cuts. Finally, a slew of films focusing on Silicon Valley giants like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are coming to the big screen once again. NBC News entertainment correspondent Chloe Melas discusses why Hollywood is spotlighting these stories and why they might not be resonating with audiences.

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As early voting gets underway ahead of the midterms, Garrett Haake goes behind the scenes of America’s elections to ask a fundamental question: Can voters trust the results? Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt explains how officials are preparing for everything from cyberattacks and AI-generated misinformation to voter intimidation and potential federal interference. Then, NBC News senior reporter Jane C. Timm takes us inside Georgia’s election system, where Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is turning to security measures, audits and a lot of data to combat distrust. Plus, why counting votes takes time, what makes voting by mail secure, and what election officials are most worried about this November.

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As Hurricane Isaias barrels toward the Gulf Coast, AI models are being used for the first time to track the storm’s progress. NBC meteorologist Bill Karins explains how they differ from conventional models and why the National Hurricane Center is optimistic about the use of AI. Then, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the first military execution by firing squad since World War II - and he wants it livestreamed. NBC News senior national security correspondent Courtney Kube explains why that could be challenged in court and how the Fort Hood shooter’s background could play a role. Finally, as actress and comedian Michelle Buteau gears up for her “Surviving and Thriving” world tour and an upcoming Netflix special, she joins us to share lessons she has learned about self-love, being a woman in comedy, and why she doesn’t mind holding a grudge.

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President Donald Trump has been telling voters that the drug prices on TrumpRx.gov are the lowest in the world. But that’s not the case, according to a recent analysis of more than two dozen medications on the site. NBC News health and medical reporter Berkeley Lovelace Jr. breaks down where and why the savings are lower than the president has claimed.

Then, Russia has been intensifying attacks on Ukraine, sending civilian deaths surging. While Ukraine has been striking back, it’s struggling without a full supply of air defenses. NBC News chief international correspondent Keir Simmons explains why there’s concern that Russian President Vladimir Putin could use this opportunity to extend the conflict into Europe.

Finally, another twist in the saga of the ex-CIA officer who was arrested with millions of dollars of stolen money and gold bars in his home. NBC News senior homeland security correspondent Julia Ainsley details David Rush’s story and explains why it is bringing up questions about vetting and oversight at the CIA.

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Republican candidates in Maine, Michigan, Iowa and Georgia separated themselves from President Trump’s most unpopular policies in debates on Tuesday night. NBC News chief Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles explains how GOP candidates are threading the needle on issues like the war in Iran, data centers and tariffs as the midterms inch closer.

Plus, hundreds of schools in France have been closed as protests over decrepit conditions continue into their third week. NBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel takes us onto the streets of Paris, where some protests have turned violent, and breaks down the changes thousands of parents, teachers and students are demanding.

Lastly, actor and comedian DL Hughley discusses his new book, “Charlie’s Boy,” out this week. It’s a memoir of his upbringing in South Central Los Angeles and his journey to discovering that the man he called “father” was not his biological father. He talks about reckoning with that revelation, his stint as a member of the Bloods gang, and how he found direction in the most unlikely of places: Ohio.

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