Voter Concerns Rise Ahead of Midterms as NBC News Reports on Key Races and Legal Developments

NBC News sent three reporters on a six-day road trip to competitive congressional districts to gauge voter priorities before the November midterm elections. The reporters found that many Americans are uneasy about rising prices, higher interest rates, ongoing foreign wars, and the impact of artificial intelligence on employment and utility costs. The "Drive to Decision Day" series covered roughly one-third of the nation’s most closely contested House races and two pivotal Senate contests.

In a separate legal story, the attorney for a former Cornell University student who alleges she was raped in 2024 says law-enforcement officials and the university failed to protect her. He claims the victim reported the assault to campus police, but officers did not follow up on key evidence, including a group chat. Cornell has responded that Title IX proceedings resulted in expulsions and suspensions for those involved, while Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announced he will reopen the case and pursue any new evidence "zealously."

Former special counsel Jack Smith is scheduled to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee to answer questions about his handling of the investigation into President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Smith has asserted that a jury would have convicted Trump in the election case and denied that his actions were influenced by the Biden administration. Senate Republicans have signaled they will press the committee on the probe, which follows a broader inquiry into federal law-enforcement actions dating back to 2016.