Here's the Scoop

We’re breaking down the September jobs report: The U.S. added 119,000 jobs, stronger than expected and a sign the economy was still hiring steadily before the government shutdown. But a closer look from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a more uneven picture, with a labor market starting to wobble amid high-profile layoffs at major companies. Wall Street? Pure chaos. Stocks surged, plunged and snapped back as investors tried to make sense of it all. Host Yasmin Vossoughian is joined by Caleb Silver, the editor in chief at Investopedia and the chief business editor at People Inc. Our new NBC News–Bloomberg Law documentary is out, exposing what happens when women give birth behind bars. We spoke with mothers who delivered alone on jail cell floors, screamed for help that never came and, in one case, delivered a stillborn baby into a toilet. Others didn’t survive their pregnancies at all. These stories reveal a devastating reality inside U.S. jails and prisons, where basic care and dignity are often denied. Yasmin is joined by NBC News staff writer Jon Schuppe, her reporting partner, to break down what they uncovered. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Erica Meltzer, national editor at Chalkbeat, delves into the U.S. Education Department's controversial reorganization and its potential to disrupt educational oversight and funding. She highlights concerns over fragmented services and resource losses for schools. Meanwhile, Amin Khodadadi, an NBC News producer in Tehran, paints a grim picture of Iran's water crisis, detailing overwhelmed infrastructure and government responses. He emphasizes the urgent need for solutions as the capital faces possible evacuation amid severe shortages.

The House votes on a bill that would force the Justice Department to release all its records on Jeffrey Epstein. It’s expected to pass, a major win for the bipartisan group pushing for transparency. So, what would this bill require? And what could surface in any new document dumps? NBC News National Law Enforcement & Intelligence Correspondent Tom Winter joins host Yasmin Vossoughian to discuss his reporting. And President Donald Trump hosts Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House. A striking reset after a CIA assessment tied the crown prince to the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The U.S.-Saudi relationship appears to be warming under Trump, with LIV Golf ties, reported Trump Organization real estate talks and the sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia, despite the Pentagon’s warning that China could gain access to the tech, all as the White House looks to Riyadh for help shaping Gaza’s reconstruction. White House correspondent Monica Alba joins the pod. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hallie Jackson, an NBC News anchor known for her in-depth analysis of the Jeffrey Epstein case, joins the conversation alongside Ryan Chandler, an NBC correspondent covering the tense climate in Charlotte, North Carolina. They delve into President Trump's sudden push for transparency on Epstein documents and what that might mean politically. Ryan shares firsthand accounts of Operation Charlotte's Web, revealing the fear it has instilled in immigrant communities and raising critical questions about governmental actions in urban areas marked by sanctuary policies.

Christine Romans, Senior Business Correspondent at NBC News with a background in retail, discusses the surprise departure of Walmart CEO Doug McMillon. She highlights his transformation of Walmart into an e-commerce powerhouse. Anne Thompson, a veteran correspondent and Vatican expert, shares insights on Pope Leo XIV's outreach to Hollywood, explaining his aim to engage cultural influencers and promote human values. The conversation reveals how both figures are navigating significant shifts in their respective fields.

Raf Sanchez, an NBC News foreign correspondent, discusses the recent surge in drone sightings above European NATO sites, linking it to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He explains the proposed 'drone wall' for airspace protection and the challenges ahead. Brian Cheung, NBC News business correspondent, tackles the contentious topic of a 50-year mortgage, analyzing its potential to ease home affordability but warning of lifelong debt challenges. Together, they explore the intricacies of modern security and housing issues.

Join Ryan Nobles, Chief Capitol Hill correspondent for NBC News, Jon Allen, Senior national political reporter, and Sahil Kapur, Senior national political reporter, as they dive into the explosive revelations from Jeffrey Epstein's emails regarding Donald Trump and Michael Wolff. They discuss the implications of these findings, the political maneuvers surrounding the reopening of the government, and the contentious negotiations involving Affordable Care Act funding tied to abortion restrictions. It's a gripping conversation about power, politics, and accountability.

The U.S. military has launched another strike in the eastern Pacific, hitting two boats and killing six alleged “narco-terrorists.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the attack but offered no proof nor identities of the victims. It’s the latest in a series of U.S. operations targeting so-called terrorist-linked drug networks, drawing sharp criticism from Colombia and Venezuela. And with the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group now in the region, signs point to a possible escalation. NBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel is in Colombia and joins host Yasmin Vossoughian to break down what he’s learning on the ground. And a new lawsuit accuses an Army gynecologist of secretly recording a patient during an exam at Fort Hood. The suit names Dr. Blaine McGraw and claims the Army ignored years of sexual misconduct complaints, and a military official said at least 25 women have been contacted by Army criminal investigators. NBC News senior national security correspondent Courtney Kube joins the pod from just outside Fort Hood with the latest. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Senators worked through the weekend, and for the first time in weeks, there may be light at the end of the shutdown tunnel. Lawmakers appear to have struck a preliminary deal featuring a “minibus” package: three full-year spending bills to fund key departments through next fall, plus a short-term measure to keep the rest of the government running through January. Is this the breakthrough Washington’s been waiting for or just another bump in the road? Yasmin Vossoughian breaks it down with NBC News chief Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles, who was really hoping for a quiet weekend. And another gambling scandal is rocking pro sports, this time in Major League Baseball. Federal prosecutors have charged Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Leandro Ortiz with rigging their own games by intentionally throwing balls instead of strikes. At the same time, prosecutors say co-conspirators bet on their performance, netting about $450,000 over two years. The case, brought by the office behind last month’s NBA betting indictments, charges the pair with conspiracy, fraud and bribery. Lawyers for both players denied the charges. Sports betting reporter and author Danny Funt joins the pod. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Shannon Pettypiece, a Senior Policy Reporter at NBC News, discusses the dire impact of the government shutdown on SNAP benefits, revealing heartbreaking stories of families struggling to feed their children and resorting to desperate measures. Keir Simmons, NBC's Chief International Correspondent, shares insights into the ongoing Sudan conflict, examining the roots of the violence and the complexities surrounding the proposed ceasefire. Both guests highlight the human cost of political crises at home and abroad.