3+ week, 4+ day ago (415+ words) Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, a newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team's latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. In today's edition, we get you up to speed before polls close tonight in California, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and beyond. Programming note: Stay tuned for a special edition of the "newsletter later tonight, when we'll break down the election results. The Donald Trump era has changed American politics for a decade. Tonight, two contentious races for governor will define what the next steps for Republicans and Democrats might look like " not only who will lead Virginia and New Jersey for four years, but how the two parties are appealing to different types of voters and building coalitions for future elections. Republicans have gained ground…...

6+ day, 9+ hour ago (82+ words) Mattress Firm is making better sleep more affordable with up to $900 off select mattresses, free adjustable bases and instant gifts on top-rated brands like Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, Beautyrest and more. NBC Select Holiday Edit: Deals Edition Find deals on gifts for your friends and family this holiday season. Mattress Firm is making better sleep more affordable with up to $900 off select mattresses, free adjustable bases and instant gifts on top-rated brands like Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, Beautyrest and more....

6+ day, 12+ min ago (403+ words) Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups on Monday pleaded not guilty to a two-count federal indictment accusing him of participating in a brazen scheme to rig underground poker games backed by the Mafia. Billups is charged with wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. Judge Ramon Reyes set bond at $5 million, secured by Billups" home in Greenwood Village, Colorado. The conditions of his bond package dictate that he cannot have contact with witnesses, victims, co-conspirators or co-defendants. He also cannot gamble or associate with any members of organized crime. Billups was surrounded by reporters and cameras as he left the federal courthouse Monday alongside his attorney, his wife and one of his daughters. The arraignment was followed by a status conference for 31 of his co-defendants in the alleged cheating case, dubbed "Operation Royal Flush" by federal investigators. Assistant U.S. Attorney…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago (444+ words) UPS has grounded its fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-11s, the type of plane involved in Tuesday's deadly crash in Louisville, Kentucky, the company confirmed Friday. UPS said the move to temporarily ground its MD-11 fleet was made "out of an abundance of caution and in the interest of safety." MD-11s make up 9% of the company's air fleet, it said. "We made this decision proactively at the recommendation of the aircraft manufacturer. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our employees and the communities we serve," UPS spokesman Jim Mayer said. FedEx said early Saturday that it was also grounding its MD-11s. The UPS rival has 28 such planes in operation, out of a fleet of around 700, FedEx said. At least 14 people died in the crash, officials said. The UPS flight, headed from Louisville to Honolulu, crashed at around 5:15 p.m. as it was taking…...

1+ week, 3+ day ago (412+ words) GREENBELT, Md. "A federal grand jury is investigating the handling of the Justice Department's criminal investigation into Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff, according to a law enforcement source and a subpoena to a witness requesting information about her communications with individuals purporting to be involved in the probe. The subpoena obtained by NBC News was sent to conservative activist Christine Bish, who testified before the grand jury on Thursday. It asked for any records Bish has from anyone "claiming to be William Pulte," the Trump administration's director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as well as anyone claiming to work for him, including as his chief of staff. The subpoena also requested any communications or documentation Bish has from "anyone claiming to be acting at the direction or request of Edward Martin," who is the Justice Department's self-described "weaponization czar." A spokesperson…...

3+ hour, 24+ min ago (411+ words) A powerful winter storm continues to take aim at the heart of the country, impacting one of the biggest travel days of the year. The Thanksgiving weekend storm system has brought over a foot of snow and strong winds to parts of the Midwest, and thunderstorms across the South. As of Saturday evening, numerous locations in Iowa have recorded a foot or more of snow, while parts of Illinois, including Chicago suburbs, are at 5 inches and counting. Periods of heavy snow persisted throughout the night across the Midwest, with storm totals still expected to range between 6 and 14 inches. The National Weather Service warned that a quick burst of snowfall will impact the Chicago area Sunday morning, reducing visibility on the roads and making travel dangerous. Rain and snow are expected to shift into the eastern third of the country by…...

3+ week, 6+ day ago (420+ words) The lawyer for a man arrested in Michigan in connection with what the FBI described as a thwarted Halloween terror plot says there is "no evidence" to back up the claim. Three senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation said federal agents took five people from Dearborn and Inkster, Michigan, into custody Friday as part of a investigation into a plot to attack the U.S. around Halloween that was tied to Islamic State group extremism. Two senior law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation said some of the suspects are naturalized citizens born in the Middle East who had access to firearms and firearm training. Lawyer Amir Makled declined to name his client, who he said had not been charged, but described him as a 20-year-old, U.S.-born member of a group "with a lawful interest in recreational firearms, not a…...

3+ week, 3+ day ago (635+ words) Federal agents arrested a Chicago day care worker just after the center opened Wednesday in a scene city officials said unfolded in front of teachers, parents and children. City officials and parents told NBC Chicago the federal agents took a teacher from Rayito de Sol, a Spanish immersion day care and preschool on Addison Street near Western Avenue, out of the building soon after it opened at 7 a.m. "A member of our community was violently taken out of this day care with children onsite, with fellow educators onsite," said Alderman Matt Martin. "I've seen video, both video that was taken by parents who were waiting in line to drop their kids off, as well as video footage from inside the building. It's some of the most chilling video footage I have seen certainly in my time in office." Martin said the…...

4+ week, 1+ day ago (231+ words) President Donald Trump endorsed former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for New York City mayor over Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. Tune in to live NBC News election night coverage: Trump made a last-minute push to boost Republican turnout in'Tuesday's races'for governor'in New Jersey and Virginia, but he only mentioned one GOP hopeful by name. While Trump talked up Jack Ciattarelli, his preferred candidate for governor in New Jersey, he did not name the Republican nominee for governor in Virginia: Winsome Earle-Sears. Instead, he broadly urged supporters to vote for the entire GOP ticket. Last night, Trump endorsed former Cuomo, a lifelong Democrat running as an independent, in'New York City's mayoral election. The president urged voters not to cast a ballot today for Sliwa, saying it would be "a vote for Mamdani." "Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you…...

4+ day, 3+ hour ago (231+ words) Pope Leo XIV has a message for Americans celebrating Thanksgiving. While speaking with NBC's Molly Hunter on Tuesday, the Chicago native shared what he hopes people remember during the annual holiday. "The gift of faith, the gift of unity to encourage all people to try and promote peace and harmony and to give thanks to God for them and the gifts we can give," he added. Leo shared this message as he was leaving the lakeside residence, located outside Rome. He tends to visit the palace every Tuesday to enjoy his day off, rain or shine. As for how he plans on spending Thanksgiving? The holiday falls during the pope's first foreign trip abroad as leader of the Catholic Church. He's heading to Turkey and Lebanon to meet with different political and religious leaders overseas. In May, Leo was selected…...