with 11 days until the election, the stars are shining bright, deep in the heart of

texas. kamala harris and donald trump bringing out the big names in the lonestar state. we're in d.c. with the dueling events set for today. and a bombshell claim. a new accuser comes forward with allegations against donald trump. this time, tying him to jeffrey epstein. how the campaign is responding. their case captivated the nation. now the menendez brothers could get a new chance at freedom. why the d.a. is recommending they be resentenced for the 1989 killing of their parents. and breaking overnight, a trio of astronauts splash back to earth. cashing in on a fall classic. the staggering price for tickets to see the yankees and dodgers step up to the plate for game one of the world series tonight. it's friday, october 25th. "early today" starts right now. good morning, i'm christina

ruffini. with just 11 days to go, we have new insight into how young voters are feeling about the election. a nbc news stay tuned poll of 18-29-year-olds suggests that half of gen z voters support kamala harris. according to the poll, vice president harris is winning over young women by 33%. let's turn now to nbc's alice barr. alice, good morning. are we expecting harris to try to appeal to some of those young women in her rally tonight in houston? >> reporter: christina, good morning. we have a good clue about how she ni she might try to do that. houston is the hometown of beyonce, and rumor has it, she will be there. the super star will be at the event, while one source says she's actually expected to perform. that, after rock legend bruce springsteen performed last night in georgia in support of harris, joining several other big names at the rally, including chief

among them, former president barack obama. >> we do not need four years of a wanna-be king, a wanna-be dictator, running around, trying to punish his enemies. that's not what you need in your life. america's ready to turn the page. >> we are not going back! you're damn right. >> she's running to be the 47th president of the united states. donald trump is running to be an american tyrant. >> reporter: meanwhile, at a las vegas campaign stop overnight, former president trump was asked about a recent report claiming he made positive comments about adolf hitler. >> no, i never said that. i would never say that. it's a rag that he made up stories. he's done it before. it's a failing magazine.

>> reporter: today former president trump is expected to be in austin for taping of the very popular joe rogan podcast. so, with the harris rally in houston, both candidates are headed to the lonestar state today. >> and with that finish line in sight. alice, thank you so much. now, new this morning, former "sports illustrated" swimsuit model stacy williams says she was groped by donald trump while jeffrey epstein watched back in 1993. now a writer, consultant and registered democrat, williams went public on a survivors for kamala zoom call where women expressed their experiences with sexual violence. she said they were friends when he took her to meet trump. during the alleged assault, she said the men smiled at each other and spoke calmly. nbc news has spoken to seven people who say williams previously told them about the incident as early as 2006. a trump campaign spokeswoman called the accusation, quote,

unequivocally false. negotiators from the u.s. and israel hwill meet this weekend to try to find a resolution for the conflict in gaza. officials will convene in qatar and attempt to resume long-stalled negotiations for a cease-fire and the release of amo hostages. this as u.s. secretary of state blinken is in the region trying to achieve a breakthrough or at the very least some progress. let's go live now to nbc's matt bodner in london. what are we expecting? >> reporter: christina, good morning. the united states has been dialing up the pressure on israel in recent days to wind down its military operation in gaza following the killing of yahya sinwar. with blinken emphasizing repeatedly that israel's war aims have been achieved. with that in mind, blinken's visit to doughha is the cap sto to the visit to the reasonable. negotiators will travel to doha

to try to find a way to move things forward. the major question now is who speaks for hamas. sinwar's death has seen the likelihood of an agreement. it has also left a power vacuum within hamas. appearing with the qatari minister, blinken said it was unclear that hamas was ready to rejoin the talks following the killing of their leader last week. blinken did however say that the united states was working with intermediaries in egypt and qatar to find some way forward. among those options is an egyptian proposal for a two-week cease-fire in the exchange for the release of six more hostages. qatar's foreign ministers said their conversations with the political wing of hamas suggest that there is no clarity on who will take the helm and what the path forward will look like. all of this comes as israel continues its military operations against hamas and gaza, but also against the iran-backed hezbollah in lebanon, and of course the

worsening humanitarian situation in gaza. back to you. on thursday, the los angeles district attorney announced he will seek resentencing for eric and lyle menendez, which could potentially allow the brothers to walk free, after being behind bars for decades. nbc's laura jarrett has the details. >> reporter: after serving more than three decades behind bars, the menendez brothers may soon be on the verge of release. >> i believe that they have paid their debt to society. >> reporter: los angeles county district attorney george gascon announcing his office will support a resentencing of eric and lyle menendez, convicted of murdering their parents in a beverly hills mansion, a case that captured the nation's attention, one of the first to be televised. >> we're going to recommend to the court that the life without the possibility of parole be removed and that they will be sentenced for murder. they will be eligible for parole immediately. >> reporter: the d.a. under

pressure to reexamine certain evidence of sexual abuse the brothers say they endured at the hands of their father jose, then a high-powered music ehigh-powe. executive. >> i think often, for cultural reasons, we don't believe victims. >> reporter: at the time, prosecutors argued that they murdered out of greed to get their inheritance money. they were tried and convicted in 1996. but viewed in a new light now, gaining fresh attention with a documentary and netflix series and from pleas from celebrities and extended family members sglfrmts t >> this decision is a recognition of the abuse my cousins endured. >> reporter: all that mounting pressure raised by critics of the d.a.'s decision who question its timing as gascon faces a

tough reelection in less than two weeks. and why he's acting now when the brothers' pending petition for freedom laying out evidence of the abuse was filed more than a year ago. mr. district attorney, when did you make the final decision in this case to recommend resentencing? >> the final decision was made today. i have been reviewing arguments within my office, both in support and against it. and i came to my final conclusion a few hours ago. >> reporter: why the timing so close to the election? >> it has nothing to do with the election. it has to do with the workload of the office. >> our thanks to laura for that report. one of america's most-wanted fugitives is in custody after nearly eight years onthe run. 57-year-old john panelegan was arrested. he is the suspect in a 2016 murder of a lawyer in illinois. he fled before he could be arrested and was put on the 15

most wanted list in 2020. the justice department and the operator of the ship that struck and collapsed baltimore's francis scott key bridge have reached a settlement. the dali's singapore-based owner agreed to pay $100 million to the u.s. treasury and other agencies impacted by the collapse. that money will not go toward reconstruction because the state of maryland is seeking a different suit. the spacex rcrew, eight astronauts, have returned safely back to earth. >> 16 miles per hour. >> and splashdown! >> that was the endeavor capsule splashing down off the coast of florida at 3:30 eastern time this morning. the mission launch ed in early march. they were supposed to return in august, but there were several delays, including from hurricane milton. now a fall cool down is

coming just in time for the weekend. nbc meteorologist angie lassman is here. angie, how cool are we talking? like enjoyable? or i'm going to need a parka? >> well, you know, enjoyable in some spots. no need for the parka. other spots are going to feel like summer. we do have a bit of unsettled weather. i'm talking a bit of rain in the great lakes and ohio valley. that's thanks to a cold front that's going to make its way to the east unfortunately. if we're looking for rain in the northeast, which we really need, we're not going to get it. it essentially will wash out. we'll see drier conditions lasting for the extended period. the fire conditions prime for that. we'll likely see the potential from boston to atlantic city through the day today. there's some of the record heat that we will once again be tracking. w we've still got 90s for texas.

notice new york city ending up into the upper 50s by sunday. so the extra layer is needed as we wrap up the weekend. heading into monday and tuesday, temperatures see a slight uptick. we'l olumbus and charleston. stretching over to richmond. lots of sunshine today in philadelphia. and that's a look at your forecast, christina, back to you. >> all right, thanks, angie. "early today" is back in a minute with the new onion recall linked to mcdonald's e. coli outbreak. and dashing hopes for a seamless merger. why a judge blocked the deal for coach and michael cokoors to coach and michael cokoors to become one

herbal essences. feeling ughh from a backed up gut? ughh. .ralax works naturally with the water in your body to help you go. free your gut and your mood will follow. for 8 grams of fiber, try mirafiber gummies. wanna know a secret? more than just my armpits stink. that's why i use secret whole body deodorant. everywhere. 4 out of 5 gynecologists would recommend whole body deodorant which gives you 72 hour odor protection. from your pits to your... [spray noise] secret whole body deodorant. ♪♪ vicks vapostick provides soothing non-medicated vicks vapors. easy to apply for the whole family. vicks vapostick. and try new vaposhower max for steamy vicks vapors. mcronald's says it's identified onions from

california-based taylor farms as the source of its deadly e. coli outbreak, tied to its quarter pounder. the fda is investigating the supplier which issued a recall urging customers to destroy four raw onion products. taylor farms has not responded to nbc news for comment but told bloomberg it hasn't found traces of e. coli yet but pulled the onions out of caution. it is prompting some restaurant chains including illegal pete's, taco bell, pizza hut, kfc and burger king to remove onions from the menu. a luxury mega merger could unravel after a judge blocked the deal. cnbc's carolyn ross is here with the details. what happened? >> look, the federal judge blocked the deal between the owner of coach and michael

koors. why? because this $8.5 billion deal, which was announced in august of last year had the ftc concerned. it could raise prices for many of the affordable luxury products like handbags and shoes for example, that it would loier ben lower benefits of the employees. now, no statement from the ftc. but we're likely going to be getting an appeal from both companies about this. and i want to take you back to tesla. what a pop we saw in shares. as you pointed out, 22% judmp there. that was the best performance in more than a decade. why we saw that optimism coming from the ceo elon musk about the lower-cost model, the robo taxi and about current ev sales. the change in the market, a whopping $140 billion.

back to you. and, if you're wondering where frances is this morning and why you're stuck with me, she served as the emcee for the american heart association heart and stroke ball on new york's long island, sharing her own mother's survival as a teen from a nearly fatal congenital heart defect. the organization is celebrating 100 years of its impact on heart health, changing and saving lives through equity, knowledge, discovery and advocacy. still to come, new music from lady gaga, and don't tell travis, but a nfl stadium outside kansas city is giving a outside kansas city is giving a warm welcome to taylor swift with tremfya®, most people saw 100% clear skin... ...that stayed clear, even at 5 years. serious allergic reactions and increased risk of infections may occur. before treatment, your doctor should check you for infections and tb. tell your doctor if you have an infection, flu-like symptoms or if you need a vaccine. emerge with clear skin.

ask your doctor about tremfya®. ♪♪ [♪♪] about tremfya®. did you know, the first signs of aging start around your eyes? try olay super eyes serum. the serum that targets top eye concerns. it hydrates, brightens, refreshes tired eyes, and improves fine lines and puffiness. try olay super eyes serum. [achoo!] needs, alka seltzer plus cold & flu when speed is what you need, bounce back fast with alka seltzer plus. also try the new chewable fizzy chews. no water needed. (woman) purina one true instinct unlocked her true instincts. from day one, it's high-protein nutrition with real meat #1, also try the new chewable fizzy chews. supporting her healthy energy and strong muscles. and the life she was born to live. (vo) purina one true instinct. a difference from day one. oh... stuffed up again? so congested! you need sinex saline from vicks. just sinex, breathe, ahhhh!

what is — wow! sinex. breathe. ahhhhhh! we all need fiber for our digestive health, but less than 10% of us get enough each day. good thing metamucil gummies are an easy way to get prebiotic, plant-based fiber. with the same amount of fiber as 2 cups of broccoli. metamucil gummies. the easy way to get your daily fiber.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ all right, that is a first taste of lg7 as fans are calling it. lady gaga dropped "disease". the hard -hitting dance album comes after the release of her movie. >> she always has fun music. it's a banger, simply put. i have a feeling a lot of people will be listening to that going into the weekend. taylor swift's marching into nola. the final leg of the eras tour makes its way to the crescent city. and, on thursday, the new orleans saints instagramed pics of this home stadium adorned with a life-sized friendship bracelet with taylor's name on it. they are hoping some of the karm

ka karma will rub off on them. but the stadium will be lit up. i mean, people are just going to go crazy for this, as we've seen. >> i feel like the eras tour has lasted an era. she's going to need a nap forever. >> we need a behind-the-scenes documentary. a florida man is busted for bringing home the bacon. 100,000 pound of it. and krispy kreme is honoring first responders. the free treat-up for grabs on the free treat-up for grabs on monday this mucus won't move . you're gonna love this property. the guy's congestion remedy? harmless. try this. mucinex 12 hour treats the mucus don't leave! it's fine! ugh! i was worried about this side of town! mucinex in, mucus out! don't mask symptoms, treat the cause. with bugs, the struggle—is—real. that's why you need zevo traps. zevo attracts and traps bugs 24/7 using a blue and uv light

with no odor and no mess for effortless protection. zevo. people-friendly. bug-deadly. for 54 years, they were trying to get roe v wade terminated, and i did it. he did it. it was pretty devastating. he is bragging. bragging about the rights that he stole from american women. and trump is promising to do more. *sighs* in project 2025. they are restricting birth control, tracking pregnant women, and forcing a nationwide abortion ban. the government should get out of my business. stay out of my business. that■s not the government■s business. in america, women make their own decisions. i'm kamala harris, and i approve this message. feeling ughh from a backed up gut? ughh. miralax works naturally with the water in your body to help you go. free your gut and your mood will follow. for 8 grams of fiber, try mirafiber gummies. i'll be honest. by the end of the day, my floors...yeesh. but who has the time to clean?

that's why i love my swiffer wetjet. it's a quick and easy way to get my floors clean. wetjet absorbs and locks grime deep inside. look at that! swiffer wetjet. head & shoulders bare clinically proven dandruff protection with just 9 essential ingredients no sulfates, no silicones, no dyes. dandruff protection, minimal ingredients. job done. (mom) let me see my new grand-dog! (mia) say “hi grandma”! (mom) you're feeding him, blue buffalo, right? (jack) nah, we got purina one. it's all the same stuff. (mom) not really. blue life protection formula's got deboned chicken, chicken meal, brown rice, oatmeal, barley... (mia) well purina one has chicken, rice flour, corn gluten meal, whole grain corn, chicken by-product meal...

(jack) [laughing] looks like we're switching to blue! (vo) switch to blue. and feed your dog like family. you've got a pepto predicament, ace. you overdid it on the loaded fries and now your gut is in the gutter. undo it with pepto fast melts. so you can keep on rolling. [bowling pins knocked down] when you overdo it, undo it with pepto bismol. here's what's making headlines this morning. costco has recalled several products due to possible listeria contamination. affected eye dems include ready wise emergency protein bucket. chicken burritos. customers can return the items for a full refund. a florida man was arrested for stealing a refrigerated trailer with $100,000 worth of frozen bacon.

the man was identified through surveillance video. he was already on probation for theft and faces new charges as well as a $30,000 bond. krispy kreme is honoring first responders on monday. they can get a free small coffee and doughnut, no purchase necessary. the offer is limited, though, one doughnut per person. and in new york city, they said it, the new york liberty with a ticker tape parade, celebrating their first-everybody wnba championship, only the third championship, only the third time for a women's sports team with a delicious apple and blueberry-flavored fruit center and yogurt coating, each bite is infused with added probiotics, to help promote a healthy digestive system every day. plus, th.ed in individually-wrapped pouches, for daily digestive support on the go. look for new align yogurt coated probiotic fruit bites online and in the digestive care aisle of your local retailer. brand power, helping you buy better.

jordan's sore nose let out a fiery sneeze, so dad grabbed puffs plus lotion to soothe her with ease. puffs plus lotion is gentle on sensitive skin and locks in moisture to provide soothing relief. a nose in need deserves puffs indeed. america's #1 lotion tissue. sounds like you need to vaporize that cold. dayquil vapocool? it's dayquil plus a rush of vicks vapors. ♪ vapocooooool ♪ woah. dayquil vapocool. the vaporizing daytime, coughing, aching, stuffy head, power through your day, medicine. darnold, look out, safety.

>> vikings fans are seeing more red than purple after a missed call on thursday night football. referees appeared to miss a face mask on sam darnold on the play that sealed the game for the l.a. rams in the last two minutes. the rams' offense was humming with four touchdown passes, as several key players returned from early-season injuries. they get the upset win, 30-20. and a historic matchup fit for the fall classic. the dodgers take on the yankees in l.a. tonight. in game one of the 2024 world series, with the first pitch at 8:08 eastern. the classic matchup featuring the biggest bats in the game is making the series some of the hottest tickets ever. morgan chesky has more on how much fans are willing to shell out. >> reporter: take two legendary teams with a decades-old rivalry, massive fan bases and a couple generational superstars and a 2024 world series is

fiesta becoming the hottest ticket in town, on both coasts, with sky high expectations and prices to match. >> there ain't a person in the world that should be spending a thousand dollars to watch the bronx bombers get beat by the dodgers. >> reporter: and yet plenty are happy to spend even more. >> this is the best matchup in baseball. >> reporter: lifelong yankee fan raymond perez had to be there for the first world series since 2009. >> our total cost was 9,400. >> reporter: and that money came from where? >> from my wedding fund. >> reporter: he says his fiance approved the purchase. and he's not the only one digging deep to support their team. >> we are on track for this to be the best world series in history with regards to total sales. >> reporter: stub hub says in the last 24 hours alone, ticket

sales spiked 71%, already surpassing all ticket sales from last year's world series matchup. adding, the right events put some budgets on the back burner. >> we saw this over the last year and a half or so with the taylor swift tour globally. these bucket list events where people are really willing to spend that extra dollar to see and experience something that's really unique. >> reporter: but for die-hard fans, it's awfully tough to put a price datag on witnessing history. >> everybody's probably going to be on the edge of their seat. >> reporter: morgan chesky, nbc news. >> thanks for waking up extra .

there's more news on the way. the presidential race in its final stretch. the candidates crisi