we are now just eight days to the election with a record number of early voters already casting their ballots. this as at least five members of vice president pence's inner circle test positive for coronavirus. the u.s. is coming off one of the worst three-day stretches of the pandemic with record numbers of positive new cases reported bracing for zeta that massive cloud in the south is strengthening to hurricane force with the louisiana coastline in its current path. a passenger riding in a car pulled over for speeding refuses to show officers his i.d as he narrates the situation on

tiktok and then is handled roughly by police plus the candidates running for change and also making history in the process "early today" starts right now good morning happy to be with you i'm lindseyriser >> i'm frances rivera. one week from tomorrow america heads to the polls president trump is making three campaign stops in pennsylvania today while joe bide enspent the weekend campaigning in the midwest. but once again, coronavirus is casting a shadow over the trump administration with some of vice president mike pence's top aides testing positive nbc's kelly o'donnell has more >> reporter: the vice president's mask an outward sign of another covid hot spot at the white house. >> north carolina is trump country! >> reporter: at least five pence associates are covid positive including his chief of staff marc short, said to have mild symptoms

>> i think he's doing well so hopefully the -- it will be really good. >> reporter: long-time outside political adviser marty obst and others unnamed despite close contact, pence is not in quarantine. aides say he and the second lady tested negative again. so he headed to north carolina top white house officials defend that choice, calling candidate pence an essential worker. under cdc guidance essential workers should wear masks and keep kidistance but are not required to stay home 14 days. >> an essential worker, we're talking about people going out to vote. we're talking about people, essential workers going out and campaigning. >> reporter: the president got up close with many maskless voters at an apple orchard in maine. >> it is great, isn't it >> reporter: while in new hampshire -- >> you know who got it i did. >> reporter: the president said nothing about new infections on pence's team while ignoring evidence covid is

spreading. >> we're rounding the turn even without the vaccines we're rounding the turn. it's going to be over. >> reporter: trump chief of staff mark meadows conceded the white house is focused on treatment, not prevention. >> we're not going to control the pandemic we are going to control the fact that we get vaccines, therapeutics, and are other mitigation -- >> why aren't we going to get control of the pan dem snik. >> because it is a contagious virus just like the flu -- >> but why not make efforts to contain it >> reporter: of course the vice president has for months been serving as the chairman of the coronavirus task force so there's extra pressure on him. he'll continue with daily testing according to aides to make sure he remains covid negative and when he's out on the campaign trail, making some adjustments there too. he canceled local interviews in his stops over the weekend and also ended the practice that is familiar for politicians known as a rope line, greeting supporters after an event, even at a distance. scrapping that as a further

precaution he will keep his travel schedule, though, as planned, going to minnesota and the carolinas over the next couple of days. frances? >> all right, kelly, thank you both campaigns made their final pitches to america by sitting down with "60 minutes. president trump insisted again that america is rounding the corner on the pandemic and when asked if he takes responsibility for the country being divided here's what he said. >> i'd like not to but you know, perhaps everybody has to take a little responsibility but when people put out phony witch hunts, you know. when they spy on your campaign, you have to fight back and if you don't fight back you're not sitting here very long, you go back home >> the president abruptly cut the conversation short, saying his opponent does not get asked tough questions. >> during his interview joe biden was asked about concerns that he would lock down the economy to slow the spread of coronavirus. >> youdon't have to lock down the economy. it depends on the community.

it depends on where it's in real trouble. and you have to do things that make sense, that make it easier for people to avoid being exposed. >> the former vice president also made news by saying he would establish a bipartisan commission to study a possible overhaul of the u.s. court system president trump narrowly won michigan in 2016, but there are signs he could face a tougher battle this year nbc's dasha burns has more from grand rapids good morning >> hey, lindsey. i'm coming up on my one-year anniversary of talking to voters here in kent county for our county series. and the developments i've seen here have been fascinating donald trump did win kent county back in 2016 he won it by a pretty narrow margin, though, and if democrats are able to flip it to blue this time around it could actually be in part because of some of the republican voters in this county this is the hometown of gerald ford and i've spoken to a lot of folks who call themselves gerry

ford republicans this is a slice of the electorate we've been focused on here they tell me they're feeling increasingly less at home with the republican party and they've been looking to the democrats to see if maybe that could be a new home for them. i want you to hear from a woman named katie moore. she's a mom of two here. she voted for donald trump in 2016 she's come to regret that vote since then but i want you to hear what she's planning to done just with her vote at the top of the ticket she's planning to vote for joe biden. but listen to what she's planning to do down the ballot >> so this is -- yeah, definitelit first time i'm going to vote blue all the way down the ballot because i think it was really important for republicans to come up and denounce trump's behavior and who he was and i honestly think that republicans have put the nail in the coffin for the republican party >> reporter: and lindsey, that down ballot effect could be really important here. there are some key congressional seats democrats are trying to flip in this area and a key

senate seat that democrats need to hold on to. so if the folks at the top of the ticket are influencing what voters are doing down the ballot that is very important to watch there. lindsey? >> you've been there one year already. dasha, thank you covid cases continue surging. as of now there are over 8.7 million infected americans and more than 226,000 lives lost to the pab pandemic after being devastated by the virus in the spring the numbers in the northeast are bouncing back new york had over 1,500 new infections and the garden state reported more than 1,100 new cases. it was the eighth day in a row that daily cases topped 1,000 in new jersey meanwhile, hospitals in el paso, texas are reaching a tipping point. after a record 300% spike in covid-19 patients in just three weeks. the county now issuing a 10:00 p.m. curfew. and violators could face a $500 fine so these cases are spiking and so is the fear, so is the

anxiety. our sam brock spoke to families and front line workers >> reporter: lindsey, good morning. with lives right now hanging in the balance, city leaders in covid hot spots are pleading with people to wear masks and considering tighter restrictions an 18-year-old student just died upon returning to a chicago suburb this as the state's health director talks to us about months of heartache built up as covid cases climb, communities are reeling. illinois recording record numbers. reckoning with 9,500 deaths. >> these are mothers and fathers and grandparents, co-workers it's overwhelming. >> reporter: dr. ngazi ezeke the illinois health director talking about what led to this moment. >> these are people who started with us in 20 to and won't be with us at the thanksgiving table. >> reporter: when she ended in tears. >> excuse me, please >> reporter: what was it when

you were listing those updated figures that for you really struck a cord? >> it has to be a cull miminatio the sadness and despair. it sounds like everybody needed to have that release together. >> reporter: ezeke says much of the state is struggling and chicago is flirting with tighter restrictions like closing down bars 30 minutes outside the windy city lynn doolis lost her husband vassalius who covid. >> our family's devastated and it's not the grief it's not losing a person because people die every single day. it's losing a person to covid. >> reporter: across the nation the virus trends triggering alarm bells. 43 states and d.c. are now up at least 10% in the last two weeks. with michigan also breaking case records. >> no one wants to see us take step backwards

but if covid is growing uncontrolled across our state, that will be necessary >> reporter: battle against covid canvassing the northeast too, where new york, new jersey and massachusetts just notched numbers not seen since may even if some are skeptical >> so when people tell me you know, it's going up, it's spiking, i don't buy it. >> reporter: but urgent state measures all too real. the texas governor just requesting the feds turn an active duty military medical center into a hospital for non-covid patients nearby health care centers are overwhelmed. and this morning the battle for new restrictions is playing out in fierce fashion. the governor of wisconsin is trying to limit indoor gatherings the governor of mississippi has hinted at the prospect of closing or restrictioning businesses but so far both of them have met road blocks in correlate in miami sam brock, nbc news lindsey, let me send it back to you. >> not the news we want to hear but sam, thank you the senate is expected to vote judge amy coney barrett onto the supreme court today yesterday all but two senate

republicans and no democrats voted to advance her nomination. all but assuring her seat on the high court while barrett is not expected to need a tiebreaker vote from vice president mike sense like the last justice appointed to the supreme court, brett kavanaugh, the margin will still be razor thin compared to years past. we're also checking a big weather story. let's get to our monday weather with nbc meteorologist janessa webb zeta we keep going deeper into the greek alphabet >> it continues. we still have a month away of our hurricane season this is the 28th named storm we're about to set records we have never seen for the tropical season right now tropical storm zeta, it is aiming toward a hurricane. and finally, in the last 24 hours it has gained a little bit of movement out of the northwest at two miles per hour. the national hurricane center, it's going toward the yucatan peninsula tonight turning into a cat 1 hurricane before going into the gulf.

unfortunately, once again th track goes be ac seeing record heat over the weekend colder air is starting to expand daytime highs for casper today 21 degrees and we have this massive cold air that's spreading to the east we'll talk about that coming up. >> we'll hear about it, all right. thank you, janessa coronavirus didn't stop halloween from coming to the white house. on sunday president trump and first lady melania hosted this halloween event for frontline workers, military families and schoolkids the kids in costume briefly met the president and first lady from a safe distance and they were given treats treats as they walked along the path of the south lawn there were hand sanitizers and guests over 2 years old were required to wear masks >> the pumpkin display looks

absolutely beautiful coming up all your sunday night football highlights. and meheet t record-breaking wave of black senate candidates ready to make their mark this november that works to turn down acid production, blocking heartburn at the source. with just one pill a day, you get 24-hour heartburn protection. take the prilosec otc two-week challenge. and see the difference for yourself. prilosec otc, 1 pill a day, 24 hours, zero heartburn. ...crunchy oat clusters with a hotouch of honey...ombine... ...plump, juicy raisins... ...and tasty fiber... ...into one delicious cereal? it took a lot of branstorming. get it? kellogg's raisin bran crunch. two scoops of delicious. to severe plaque psoriasis uncover clearer skin that can last. in fact, tremfya® was proven superior to humira® in providing significantly clearer skin.

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zzzquil pure zzzs all night. fall asleep. stay asleep. diversity in politics. black senate candidates could make history in next month's election six democrats and one republican are all contending for senate seats this election, which is being touted as the most ever. there have only been ten black senators in u.s. mystery here's nbc's blayne alexander. >> reporter: marquita bradshaw is making history. long-time organizer, first-time candidate, and after an upset victory in the democratic primary tennessee's first black woman to serve as a major party nominee for the u.s. senate. >> what made you jump into this race >> i just didn't see the representation that was needed for work people. >> reporter: bradshaw is part of a recordmaking wave of black

senate candidates across the country. >> i'm adrian perkins. >> reporter: from louisiana to georgia, michigan to mississippi. >> i am tired of it! and that's why i'm ready for u.s. senate. >> reporter: in all seven candidates, mostly democrats and mostly in the south. the lone republican in michigan. >> this is the only country where ugh go from slave to senator in four generations. >> how historic is this? >> i think this is the largest number we've ever had run for the u.s. senate at once. >> reporter: bigger still when you consider the history of the nearly 2,000 members who ever served in the u.s. senate. only ten have been black why have we seen so few black senators >> black candidates typically don't receive the same financial support to compete typically they have not been thought of, of being a u.s. senator, of being a governor >> reporter: and it appears that shift is happening in south carolina democrat jaime harrison has attracted national attention in his bid to unseat long-time senator and trump ally

lindsey graham >> this is about the future of your country and our state >> reporter: harrison raised a staggering $57 million in the third quarter, a new record for any senate race ever and recent polls show georgia's rafael warnock, pastor of the church once led by dr. martin luther king jr., with a double-digit lead over the republican incumbent so why now experts point to a voting base galvanized over recent protests over racial injustice. and inspiration, namely in 12018 a surge of house candidates and stacey abrams' gubernatorial run in georgia >> when we talk to these candidates they're inspired by what wave seen and that if they can do it why not me, why not now? >> what i would like to see in the future, where it's normalized, you don't have to say this is a black woman candidate and she's the first. >> reporter: hoping to bring the nation's diversity to washington

blayne alexander, nbc news, chattanooga, tennessee still to come, a stinging defeat for the murder hornets that swarmed washington state this year. >> looking forward to that and "sunday night football" ends in an orte veimthriller the seahawks-cardinals nail biter. next ewww. dead skin cells? gross! so now, i grab my swiffer heavy duty sweeper and dusters. dusters extends to 6 feet to reach way up high... to grab, trap and lock away gross dust. nice! for dust on my floors, i switch to sweeper. the heavy duty cloths reach deep in grooves to grab, trap and lock dust bunnies... no matter where they hide. no more heebie jeebies. phhhhew. glad i stopped cleaning and started swiffering. it's so hon, out here!u guys. are we on yet? oh... i thought we were doing a zoom thing. no. but she wanted someone who loves with the cats.ng.

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rocket for the touchdown >> seahawks and cardinals came down to the wire on "sunday night football." russell wilson had himself a game to put seattle up big but kyler murray and the cardinals rallied to force overtime tied at 34 after the cardinals picked up a last second field goal gives them the come from behind win. 37-34. well, big moments and close finishes were the norm in week 7 sunday games in atlanta todd gurly's score with a minute left gave the lions nuft justify time to come back detroit punched it in, giving them the win 23-22 and tom brady surpassed drew brees's all-time leader in touchdown passes he threw four scores to get to number 259, helping the buccaneers beat the raiders in las vegas. 45-20. and in a battle of the afc's last unbeaten teams the steelers try to hold on to an early lead in tennessee the titans miss a field goal

pittsburgh wins it 27-24 a new chapter in the epic college admissions scandal and another ailatrlbzing decision by pope francis you're watching "early today" on a monday ♪ ♪ from america's number one serum brand. five times more retinol than the no1 retinol serum. yet formulated to be gentle on your skin. new no7 advanced retinol night concentrate. laso you can enjoy it even ifst you're sensitive. se. yet formulated to be gentle on your skin. yet some say it isn't real milk.

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in today's top stories we've got a vatican first to tell you about. pope francis has announced he's elevating washington, d.c. archbishop wilton gregory to cardinal gregory, who's 73 years old, will be the first african-american to hold that position in the u.s. gregory is among nine new cardinals who will be eligible to elect the next pontiff in a secret conclave. the fbi says it has launched an investigation after someone set fire to a ballot box in boston police say the fire was set early sunday morning at a ballot and drop box, holding more than 120 ballots. officials say 35 ballots were partially destroyed and up to 10 of those cannot be counted

crews extinguished the fire by filling the ballot box with water. massachusetts election officials said the fire appeared to have been a deliberate attack those voters whose ballots were damaged will be mailed a replacement. a video has gone viral of a black man as rest. he was riding as a passenger in a car that was stopped for speeding and when police asked him for some identification the man declined as he was narrating the scene for a tiktok video >> how is it lawful for them to get the identification of the passenger? which they did not get but said they identified you >> antoine wedding-ton's girlfriend was pulled over for speeding and officers asked for i.d. from both of them police released a statement saying there were two active warrants against wedding-ton and when he repeatedly refused to get out of the car they physically removed him he was arrested and charged for resisting. trappers 1, murder hornets 0. in washington state trappers clad in spacesuit-like

protective gear destroyed the first nest of murder hornets discovered in the united states. crews spent weeks capturing the asian giant hornets and tying tracking devices to them with dental floss before locating the nest in a tree trunk they then sucked out hundreds of them using a vacuum. the hornets can deliver painful stings to people and spit venom and are devastating to honeybee colonies and who would have thought that dental floss of all things >> i don't think anybody's shedding a tear over the murder hornets. sxl not this time, no. the college admissions scandal comes to a finale for felicity huffman the actress has served her full sentence, a year of supervised release. 250 hours of community service and 11 days in jail. back in 2019 she pleaded guilty to paying rick singer $15,000 to have a procter change the answers on her daughter's s.a.t. test it was an all-important night in game 5 of the world series the dodgers came out there firing with jacque pederson's

home run in the second making it 3-0. the rays made it a game. rosarena his hit in the third set the postseason hits record his 24th of the playoffs the key defensive plays and an extra run kept.a. l

covid numbers spiking to levels not seen since the height of the pandemic. as four out of five states are seeing a rise. and many consider new restrictions plus covid hitting close to home for vice president pence and his team with eight days until the election more americans have already taken advantage of early voting than they did in 2016 our correspondents are in battleground states this morning with the latest. we'll take you to the nation's largest retirement community where republicans outnumber democrats 2-1. but could this election change all that our kerry sanders