NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (June 9)

Welcome to NTD Evening News. Our top story tonight, the U.S. launching self-defense strikes after Iranian forces attacked a U.S. Army helicopter. That's as President Trump declares the new Iran nuclear deal is in its final throes. And a week after election night, multiple California races remain in limbo. Why experts are calling it a national case study in the urgent need for election integrity reform. Mario Tsu at the White House. Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is also calling for changes to California's election system. He says voter ID could help restore confidence in elections, according to Corona Reports. The House passes the ICE and CBP funding bill. It's now heading to President Trump's desk, locking in full funding for the agencies through the end of his term. Chinese money laundering networks are moving hundreds of billions of dollars for Mexican cartels. Financial fuel behind America's fentanyl crisis, a major new warning from Congress. And reports of possible extraterrestrial sightings back in the spotlight on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers calling for more transparency on unidentified anomalous phenomena while urging protection for whistleblowers. Sam Wong has the details. And NASA announces four astronauts for the Artemis 3 mission, who they are and what the lunar mission will accomplish. And what happened during Game 3 of the NBA Finals? The Spurs ended the Knicks' winning streak. We're going to break down the game. This is MTV Evening News, live from our global headquarters in New York City. Here's Cary Dunst. Good evening. Thank you for joining us tonight. The U.S. launching self-defense strikes after Iran attacks a U.S. Army helicopter. That's as President Trump says a nuclear deal is now very close, with no sticking points remaining. We now go live to MTV's White House correspondent, Mari Otsu. She's at the North Lawn. Mari, good evening. Hey, Cary. Good evening. Yeah, Central Command announcing just about an hour ago that it began launching what it calls self-defensive strikes against Iran at 5 p.m. Eastern today. That's at President Trump's direction. It says, in response to yesterday's downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter, Central Command also saying that this mission is a, quote, proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression. And ABC reporting that President Trump was on the phone with them during these attacks, and that the president said that he thinks it's, quote, very important to respond, adding that he believes the response should be, quote, very strong, very powerful, and that is what this one is. And here's the president on Friday drawing his red lines, saying what would trigger him What would trigger you to restart military action? Would it be Iran killing more American citizens? Well, certainly that would be something that I would think about very seriously, but my red line would be if I think I wasn't going to make a deal or if I wasn't going to make a deal fast enough. U.S. Central Command giving us the specifics of the rescue mission, saying two crew members from a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache were rescued by American forces after their helicopter went down near the coast of Oman while patrolling regional waters. The soldiers were safely rescued within approximately two hours and are in stable condition. A White House official telling NTD that President Trump holds all the cards and won't be rushed into a deal, saying Iran is desperate to make a deal because of the historic successes of Operation Epic Theory, Operation Economic Theory, and the blockade. Talks on a deal that will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon are continuing at a rapid pace and are going very well. President Trump saying he doesn't think there are any sticking points and the U.S. is very close to a strong, powerful deal. We're in the final throes of what will be a very, very good deal that will not allow in any way, shape, or form nuclear weapons, etc., and that it straight will open up right away. It'll open up immediately upon signing, which could be in two or three days. Meanwhile, a week out from election night, California races remain in limbo, with experts saying the delays are turning the state into a national case study in why election integrity reform is urgent. That's as President Trump renews his push for the Save America Act, calling the California election rigged. Even as the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles has opened multiple election fraud investigations, U.S. Attorney Bill Asaili says California continues to refuse a DOJ request to audit voter rolls despite clear federal authority. We believe the rolls are dirty. We have many examples of people voting who should not have voted. We are relying on HAVA and NVRA on the federal basis that the Attorney General has the authority to request these voter rolls. California has refused. They're stonewalling, claiming that it would be a violation of their state privacy laws to hand over the data to the federal government. The U.S. Attorney Bill Asaili calls the claim a completely, quote, ludicrous argument. Meanwhile, President Trump, ahead of the midterms, has repeatedly stated that free and fair elections, as well as a free press, are necessary to keep America great. Carrie, back to you. Thanks for that update, Mari. Next, Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton pushing for election reforms in California. The candidate says voter ID is one change that could help strengthen election security and voter confidence. Entity's Christina Corona has more from California. Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton spoke in Los Angeles County today to discuss election and voting reforms. Outside the county's election headquarters in Norwalk, he outlined changes he says are needed in California's election system. So here's the argument. Mail-in voting should be treated the same as voting in person. That means if you vote by mail on election day, your vote should be counted. And we're going to give you seven days through the postal service for your ballot to get there. That's the theory. Hilton says the problem is how the law is enforced, arguing election officials do not adequately verify when voters actually complete their ballots. Under our current system, you can backdate your ballot because it doesn't require a postmark to be counted, a postmark that proves that you voted on or before election day. You can write it by hand and it will still be counted. He also challenged fellow gubernatorial candidate Javier Becerra to join him in supporting voter ID requirements. To Javier Becerra, Javier, join me, go on the campaign trail with me for voter ID. In Los Angeles, city council member Nithya Raman will advance to the November mayoral runoff against incumbent Karen Bass. Raman pulled ahead of Spencer Pratt in the race for second place, earning 28.5% of the vote compared with Pratt's nearly 26%. It is an outrage and a travesty that Spencer won't be on there. I think he's fought an incredible campaign. I think his ideas are incredibly strong and I'll be honored and proud to have him work with me as the next governor in any capacity. Hilton is currently in second place in the governor's race with about 25% of the vote behind Democrat Javier Becerra's roughly 28%. Decision Desk HQ projected Monday evening that Hilton will advance to California's top two primary. Hilton called the result encouraging, but said he's waiting for the Associated Press to officially call the race. Although Hilton says he isn't celebrating just yet, he states that he remains confident that he will secure a spot in the November election. Reporting from the city of Norwalk, Christina Corona, NTD News. Did past administrations abuse immigration programs? The House Oversight Committee brought in expert witnesses to examine immigration policy. NDD correspondent Jason Blair has the key takeaways. The Biden administration flooded our country with millions of illegal aliens, unvetted, and the impact has been to reduce working class wages, to strain our social system, our education system, our healthcare system, and to culturally transform the United States. The House Oversight Committee examines past and present immigration policies for issues, possible abuses, and ways to move forward. Why would Democrats oppose borders and oppose citizenship requirements to vote in our elections? And I think that the answer is, of course, because they believe that they gain politically from open borders. When the Republicans are pushing through a second reconciliation or funding package to provide billions in additional funding for immigration enforcement, we do in this room have an obligation to ask whether those resources will uphold constitutional rights and human dignity. One witness says that many past presidents have abused the parole and temporary protection status or TPS immigration programs. Presidents have used parole to allow in foreigners who have no right to be here, in any number, anyone they want, for any reason, for as long as they want. And the presidents have used TPS to let people who have already illegally entered the country stay indefinitely. Another witness tells lawmakers that illegal immigrants have been good for America. The evidence in this congressional record for 20 years is clear. Immigrants strengthen the country economically, culturally, demographically, they don't cause crime, etc. Center for Immigration Studies Director Mark Krikorian suggests reforms to the parole and TPS programs. Repeal the TPS statute. There's no need for it. ICE can always withhold, suspend deportation for 60 days or 90 days if there's some problem. Cap parole. Numerically limit grants of parole. Throughout the hearing, Democrats demanded accountability for the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts, while Republicans criticized recent DHS funding standoffs, as well as pushed for more ICE and CBP funding, as well as proof of citizenship voting requirements. Reporting in Washington, D.C., Jason Blair, NTD News. The U.S. Navy is turning to sea drones for a range of missions. The recent rescue of two Army helicopter crew members near the Strait of Hormuz, showing the new unmanned system units in action. NTD's Andrew Thomas has the details. An Apache helicopter went down yesterday off the coast of Oman. President Trump saying Iranian forces shot it down. The two crew members are safe and uninjured after a U.S. Navy sea drone was deployed on a rescue mission. The operation was the first of its kind. The unmanned vessel is part of Task Force 59, the U.S. Navy's first dedicated unmanned systems unit. Based in Bahrain, Task Force 59 is part of Naval Forces Central Command, which oversees U.S. naval operations in the Middle East. Established in September 2021, the unit has been testing and deploying a growing fleet of sea drones across the region. The vessels include both unmanned surface and underwater drones. Larger speedboats can conduct surveillance missions, assist with targeting, and relay communications at sea. Large underwater drones can travel thousands of miles on their own, while smaller vessels are used for shorter-range missions, such as mine detection. Others are designed for offensive combat operations. Details about Task Force 59 come as President Trump pushes for a deal to end the war with Iran, while vowing to retaliate for shooting down the Apache. Andrew Thomas, NTD News. In a bipartisan push for transparency, lawmakers and UAP whistleblowers gathering on Capitol Hill today urging greater disclosure and protection for whistleblowers. NDB's Sam Wong has more. So look, the time for disclosure is now. Disclosure today, disclosure tomorrow. Lawmakers and UAP whistleblowers convening on Capitol Hill, urging more transparency on information surrounding reports of extraterrestrial life. Whistleblower David Rush says the federal government is aware of different kinds of alien life. It's a continuum from corporeal, bipedal type life to what I would consider sentient plasmoid life. Lawmakers are calling for the release of more records, including those related to the 1996 Virginia incident. The event took place in Brazil, where witnesses reported encounters with non-human sentient creatures. Some say those beings were captured by the Brazilian military and later transported to the U.S. I received a video statement from the former Brazilian Ministry of Defense, Aldo Rebelo, just like right as I was walking over here, basically saying the Virginia 1996 incident occurred and that if the United States releases the files on that and declassifies, Brazil will probably follow. But the road to transparency has been a bumpy one. Some members of Congress say they've been stonewalled by the intelligence community time and again in their pursuit of disclosure. According to lawmakers, some of the information has even been withheld from presidents of the United States. When I'm sitting in a skiff and some little punk in a man bun tells me the president's on a need-to-know basis, folks, that ought to tell you right there what we're up against. We're up against corruption. We're up against a cover-up. We demand the answers. In bedgummit, we're going to get them. Meanwhile, several whistleblowers say they've been punished and retaliated against for speaking out. I learned that the Air Force worked with an external agency to seek an investigation of me for alleged unauthorized disclosures, punishable under the Espionage Act, after I testified in front of Congress in 2023. This should concern every member of Congress, regardless of party. Last month, the Trump administration declassified two batches of UAP files containing more than 200 documents. According to chairwoman of the Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets, Ana Paulina Luna, granting immunity to whistleblowers could be next on the president's list. The next course of action and something that they are willing to entertain is if you are an intelligence official or have knowledge of locations of materials, and in doing our due diligence and following up the task force, they are considering, and I do believe that they are going to be providing immunity permanently. Reporting from Capitol Hill, Sam Wong, NTD News. Chinese money laundering networks are moving hundreds of billions for Mexican cartels, helping fuel America's fentanyl epidemic. Lawmakers on the House Financial Services Committee diving into the problem with expert witnesses today. NTD's Washington correspondent, Jack Bradley, has the details. These networks are not comprised of petty criminals, they are professional money launderers who move billions through our financial system. Chinese money laundering networks are the financial lifeline, enabling Mexican cartels to flood America with fentanyl and thereby destroy communities. A House Financial Services hearing exposing how these drug cartels launder billions through these Chinese networks. Chinese money laundering networks have become the financial fuel for cartels to poison Americans and threaten our borders. We're seeing a Silk Road of crime across the Americas. According to Treasury Department data between 2020 and 2024, more than $300 billion in suspicious activity linked to suspected Chinese money laundering networks have been identified. Witnesses describe these networks enabling cartels like Mexico's Sinaloa cartel and the Jalisco New Generation cartel. Chinese companies sell cartels fentanyl precursor chemicals. Cartels put those into pills and then sell those drugs into the U.S. That cash is transferred or sold back to China by money brokers through underground banking networks, shell companies, trade transactions, and cryptocurrency. That allows cartels to access those funds abroad, including purchasing more fentanyl precursor chemicals from China. Several witnesses say that the Chinese Communist Party has the capabilities to crack down on these networks, being an authoritarian regime and all, but chooses not to. China has one of the largest surveillance networks globally. There's other individuals that are moving these funds that are probably politically connected in China. 100%. I mean, we have to basically call out the Chinese for turning a blind eye to these criminal activities. China is a command state. If they want to end something, they can end something. If they want to do something, they can do something. We need to call them out and tell them that they are the largest transnational criminal actor in the world, and they are the largest money launder in the world. As fentanyl remains the leading killer of Americans aged 18 to 45, lawmakers say that breaking these Chinese money laundering networks is key to starving these cartels. Jack Bradley, NTD News, Washington. Coming up, the House passes the ICE and CBP funding bill. It's now heading to President Trump's desk, locking in full funding for the agencies through the end of his term. And House Republicans pressed the Southern Poverty Law Center's interim president over allegations it used millions in donor funds to pay informants linked to extremist groups. How he responded. And a powerful new documentary titled Unbroken, the untold story of Shen Yun, screened in Dallas, Texas. Jason Perry hears from audience members who share their reactions to the film. I was a young dad of three amazing kids. I was finally following my dream. Just when you feel like life is starting to come together, you get kind of hit in the face. 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When you give $19 a month with your credit card, we'll send you this special t-shirt to show you're a part of our community of monthly donors. I'm most grateful that I get to have a husband that I get to grow old with and a husband that gets to be there for his children. I believe without the American Heart Association, I would not be here today. If this can happen to me, it can happen to you, it can happen to anybody. Your donation can literally help save a life. Please call the number on your screen or go to helpheart.org now to become a monthly donor. Whispered across generations, a hidden secret unveils the essence of longevity and vitality, a timeless legend regarding energy and wonder. Rooted in ancient health wisdom, we proudly introduce Pure Tang Black Ginseng, a 100% natural organic energy drink made from premium six-year-old Korean ginseng. It takes 2,260 days and nights from seed to growth, undergoing a meticulous nine-step process of steaming and drying. 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And we will always work to ensure that these brave men and women have the resources they need to carry out their responsibilities, to protect America's families and communities, and to prevent tragedies like the murder of Lincoln Riley, Sheridan Gorman, and so many other precious lives that have been lost. The measure cleared the chamber on a tight margin. Final tally, 214 to 212, largely along party lines with independent Kevin Kiley voting with Democrats against it. The vote ends a 115-day standoff on Capitol Hill over immigration policy. The White House says the bill will provide $38 billion for immigration and customs enforcement and $26 billion for the Border Patrol. The bill passed the Senate last week and it now heads to President Trump's desk for signature. And how important is the newly passed ICE and Border Patrol funding for carrying out President Trump's immigration crackdown? Hear from Representative John Rose tonight on Capitol Report with Steve Lance at 7 p.m. Eastern, just after evening news. Next, reporters are Tom Homan says New York City will soon see its largest ever deployment of ICE agents. Speaking to reporters this morning, Homan said the move is a response to a new legislative package signed by New York Governor Kathy Hochul last month. It bans law enforcement officers from wearing masks, prevents state and local agencies from taking part in civil immigration enforcement, and it also prohibits federal authorities from using state and local facilities for immigration enforcement purposes. You can expect more ICE agents go to New York because Governor Hochul signed legislation that ended our 287G agreements, where one agent can arrest one bad guy turned over by a jail. Now we got to send a whole team to look for that guy. So she took the efficiencies of the jails away in 287G agreements. So it's only, it's math. One agent can arrest one bad guy in the safety and security of the jail, which is safer for the aliens, safer for the agents, safer for the community. But she decided to kill all that. So now we got to send more agents to do the job that worked up one person. 287G program is a place we get thousands of criminal aliens from. If you get arrested in a 287G jail tonight, you're going to be screened too. It's a colorless, everybody, if I get arrested, I'll be screened to 287G. It helps us, it gives us a force multiplier to find criminal aliens. Now you get, Governor Hochul can say she supports the removal of criminal aliens. She wants to work with ICE on criminal aliens. Since she's been governor, thousands of criminals hit the street. She says she supports criminal aliens, but she locks us out of the jail. She ended the 287G agreement. You can't square that. You can't square, we believe that criminal aliens should be arrested and lock us out of the jails. It's ridiculous. Last month, Homan warned Hochul against signing the legislation. He said he's keeping his promise now to send more ICE agents to New York as a result. Several other Democratic-led states, including New Jersey, Virginia, and California have all enacted similar laws. And a House Judiciary Committee hearing today put the Southern Poverty Law Center under the microscope. Republicans focused on allegations it used millions in donor funds to pay informants linked to extremist groups. And it is Chris Bobb reports. He wanted out. He wanted help in leaving this racist group. What'd the SPLC do? They said, no, no, no, stay in the group. We'll pay you a monthly salary. We'll reimburse you for hosting rallies, purchasing racist material and field source 37. This person's the one who coordinated transportation and attended the 2017 rally in Charlottesville. The Southern Poverty Law Center paid him $300,000 to the guy who helped put together the event. House Republicans spent hours questioning Southern Poverty Law Center leadership Tuesday, focusing on the organization's controversial hate map and allegations that more than $4 million in donor funds was paid to informants tied to extremist groups, claims the SPLC disputes. Throughout the hearing, SPLC Interim President Brian Fair repeatedly declined to address the indictment's allegations. Did the SPLC tell Alabama donors that donated funds could be used to pay informants tied to groups like the Ku Klux Klan, Aryan Nations, or the National Socialist Movement? All the allegations in the indictment will be addressed in the middle district of Alabama in the criminal case pending against the SPLC. Republicans repeatedly returned to that answer. The niece of Martin Luther King Jr., Alveda King, also testified and criticized the organization's practices. The KKK is a hate group. It's not effective to pay the KKK or an informant to pretend they're KKK or whatever. And then they do KKK stuff and people get hurt. You can't keep paying informants to do stuff and then they end up helping to do terrible stuff, not tell the donors that's what they're paying for. Democrats largely defended the SPLC, arguing it continues to play an important role in tracking hate groups and political violence. One of the hearing's most notable exchanges came when Texas Congressman Brandon Gill questioned Fair about tattoos belonging to Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner. Do you think that somebody who has a Nazi tattoo on their chest should serve in the United States Senate? I wouldn't vote for that person. The Southern Poverty Law Center has referred to the pro-life movement as, quote, inherently a white, racist, male supremacist, and classist political project. Do you believe that pro-lifers are white supremacists? I believe that reproductive liberty is... Now do you believe that pro-lifers are white supremacists? I will tell you what I believe if you're asking... Yes or no. I can't answer that question. A judge has set a tentative October 5th trial date in the federal case involving the Southern Poverty Law Center. Chris Bobb, NTD News. A teenager has been found guilty of murder in the fatal stabbing at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas. The incident took place on April 2nd of last year. The jury in Collin County deliberated for about three hours before reaching a unanimous verdict. The teenager, Carmelo Anthony, has yet to receive his sentence. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the charge of first-degree murder of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf. And next, the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department announced it is investigating the City University of New York's Black Male Initiative for discriminating against race. The division received reports alleging that SUNY's Black Male Initiative provides educational benefits to minorities, particularly black males, on the basis of race. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said, quote, race can never play a role when deciding how to distribute educational resources or opportunities. The Black Male Initiative is a system-wide program that encompasses recruitment, admissions, student aid, as well as academic support and professional development. As the name suggests, it appears to favor black males over applicants of other races. In the new documentary, Unbroken, The Untold Story of Shen Yun was screened in Dallas, Texas over the weekend. Entity's Jason Perry was on the scene and got reactions from audience members. I'm here in Dallas, Texas for the screening of Unbroken, The Untold Story of Shen Yun. It shows the pressure and threats faced by the New York-based performing arts company. Right after the film was over, the two Shen Yun dancers and their father, all who appear in the documentary, held a panel discussion and answered questions from the audience. And afterward, some of the audience members shared their thoughts on the film. Well, the discipline that the two boys had, the two dancers, it's amazing what they were able to do. The love that the gentleman showed for his two children, he went to the ends of the earth, not only to protect his kids, but also to protect the future children that will come behind him. Look, the movie is inspirational and it's very revealing. It shows to the bottom, the bottom line, it shows why the Communist Party, China Communist Party is scared of Shen Yun. I'm familiar with Shen Yun, but I have not seen the musical, which I will, but I had no idea that there was so much controversy around it. And I completely understand why they did the documentary, just to get the truth out there. The Communist Party of China and their activities in this United States, using our own institutions against us, and the average American has no clue. We think that the Chinese Communist Party is just their little preferred choice of government when it is not. It's a totalitarian regime, and we definitely need to be aware of that. We're seeing a lot of that, the similarities and the persecution of people before, of their beliefs, of being stripped away of their liberties. We see it not just in foreign countries, we see it happening here in the United States. So inspiring, heartbreaking at the same time, and inspirational to see that they did not allow that China regime to bring them down, because it takes a lot. I mean, not only their physical ability, but their mental, knowing that where they were performing could have been, as you know, put at risk. The NTD documentary, Unbroken, The Untold Story of Xinyu, is available to watch for free at NTD.com. Jason Perry, NTD News. And coming up today, in four states, voters head to the polls to back their preferred candidates in the primaries. We'll speak with the chief pollster of the Trafalgar Group for a preview. I was a quarterback at Hardaway High School. College first-round draft pick. On and off the field, we were taught to not show any signs of weakness. During the football season, I would stop eating. I didn't know I was depressed. I thought that something was wrong with me. For 20-plus years, it was physical, physical, physical. We didn't have any education behind what mental health was. I started to learn it starts here first. If this is together, I'll be better as a father, as a man, and as a husband. Put the importance on your mental health. I'm not scared to talk about it anymore. The first tool is therapy. The second one is positive self-talk. And then journaling. Putting your thoughts on paper. We have to redefine what being a strong man is. And heal, love, your mind. Hi, I'm Ryan Blaney, a third-generation race car driver. And we dedicate a lot of our time to going as fast as possible. My Grandpa Lou is the reason why my dad and I started racing. And I'm really proud to follow in his tracks. But when my grandpa was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, it was a very unexpected bump in the road for us. I've learned a lot on this journey with my Grandpa Lou. And the memories of my grandpa will always be with me. And in our family, we're used to getting involved. And I encourage you to do the same, especially when it comes to caring for your loved ones. When I think about Alzheimer's and the impact it had on my family, I recognize that losing a race isn't such a bad day after all. It's important to notice if older family members are acting differently, experiencing problems with their memory, or having trouble with routine tasks. Talking about Alzheimer's can be really tough. But if you notice something, have a conversation with your loved one. Encourage them to see a doctor or offer to go with them. Early detection of Alzheimer's can give your family time to explore support services, make a plan for the future, and access available treatments. If you or your family are noticing changes, it could be Alzheimer's. Talk about seeing a doctor together. You see certain things get reincarnated in your children. My daughter is very much inspired by my wife's artistic pursuits. So my daughter started making necklaces. She makes what we call affirmation fashion. I tell her every day that you're black is beautiful. You're black is beautiful. If there's anything better than being beautiful, it's being smart. And if there's anything better than being smart, it's being kind. And reaffirming that every day is our method of making sure her chin never drops. My dad wasn't around. I'm cutting myself. Me never just wanted to get back on it. People ask, how your children learn how to ride a bike? And you did. I didn't teach them. I just created an environment where they taught themselves. And all I had to do was be there. Welcome back to Antity Evening News. I'm Cary Dunst. Four states are holding primary elections today, including a closely watched race in Maine. Voters are casting their ballots to choose gubernatorial Senate and House candidates. Antity's David Lam reports. Voters in the states of Maine, Nevada, South Carolina, and North Dakota are casting their ballots Tuesday in primary elections. I would like the next Senate of Maine to listen to what people have to say, they're there to represent the people, they're not there to run their own agendas. Stand up for the people. There are a lot of issues here at hand, housing, affordability for housing, preservation of land and nature, equal rights for people. In Maine, the closely watched Senate race is between progressive Democrat Graham Platner and Republican incumbent Susan Collins. We also need to take back the United States Senate with people who are going to represent the working people of this state and of this country. Platner faces several allegations of impropriety, including that he twisted the arm of a woman he once dated. He has also been criticized over a tattoo that some say resembles a Nazi symbol, but he denies having knowledge of that when he got the tattoo. The allegations against Graham Platner are extremely troubling and serious, and he owes the people of Maine a detailed answer. The Maine governor's race has also attracted attention after current Governor Janet Mills dropped out due to financial issues. In Nevada, a key battleground state, voters are picking nominees for governor and the U.S. House of Representatives. Incumbent Governor Joe Lombardo faces several entrepreneurial challengers in the GOP primary. Meanwhile, residents of South Carolina are voting in the state's gubernatorial primary with several high-profile lawmakers competing, including Representative Nancy Mace and President Trump-endorsed Lieutenant Governor Pamela Yvette. And in North Dakota, people are casting ballots for candidates in the state's single congressional district. David Lam, NTD News. Joining us now to explore today's primaries is Robert Kahaley. He's chief pollster at the Trafalgar Group. Thank you for joining us. I'd like to jump in and start with the Maine Democrat Senate candidate, of course, as we saw in that last video package, Graham Platner. He's been mired in a lot of controversies from the tattoo, also to potential allegations of abuse. So where do you think voters in Maine stand, according to your research? Well, I'm shocked you brought that one up first. What we've seen there is he has a solid amount of support among the Democrat establishment. You've seen a lot of national Democrats come and campaign for him. And everybody would have thought that some of these allegations and the stuff about the tattoo would kind of keep people away. But just recently, Ro Khanna was there campaigning for him. So he hasn't become the pariah that I think that the Democrats would have liked to seen so they could replace him. Because I believe that a majority of the Democrats, excuse me, a majority of Maine voters see him as handicapped going into the Senate race against Collins. And Democrats would certainly like to see somebody who is more competitive. But he has his amount of followers because of what he espouses now. And I think that's one of the things you're going to see this new battle within the Democrat party from the extreme left from to the traditional left. And who's the nominees and who gets those primary votes because they certainly don't represent in any state, the majority of people who vote in the fall are so much larger than the small percentage of each party that votes in primaries, which is a subset. And tends to be on the extreme, more extreme than the middle and those who vote in the fall. Yeah, Maine could almost be the inverse of New York. It's downstate where you have more of an urban population. And so I want to stay with Maine for a bit because despite her occasional clashes with the president, Senator Susan Collins is not facing any primary challenger from her own party, unlike in other states where the president has primaried those who have not fallen in line and joined in his agenda a hundred percent of the time. She's been there for 30 years. The Democrats want that seat. And as you mentioned, Ro Khanna showing up. They think that that's an opportunity for them. So is Plantner actually a good thing for Collins? Oh, yeah, long run. She's very good. He's a very good thing for Collins. I mean, you look at how purple all of New England is. And, you know, the fact that you can have somebody hold on to a seat like that in a place that it has become so non-competitive for Republicans says a lot. And so it is it is a must gain for for both. I think that both of their maps for majority include taking Maine and Plattner is just I mean, he is he is wounded is what you call in politics. He has a lot of unnecessary forced errors and it is putting him in a position where the fall it is much more likely that she would get reelected, even in a state that probably if they could vote just straight up or down on reelecting or what. And another interesting state where you have a traditionally red population, but because of the urban boom around Charleston, South Carolina is very interesting. What what is the polling showing for South Carolina? Well, we've done a lot of work, you know, this is this my home state where I grew up, and and so we've done a lot of polling in both the governor's race and the U.S. Senate race. We show a very tight race for incumbent Senator Lindsey Graham, who has the Trump endorsement. And, you know, he's just on that borderline of winning without a runoff. Now, you know, his closest competitor isn't that close. I don't see him getting within 20 percent of him. But the fact is, there are a lot of different candidates in that ballot. And if he does not clear the 50 percent plus one threshold, then he is going to run off. The governor's race is completely unprecedented in the history of Republican primaries to have four or five, as some polling shows it, competitive candidates. And, you know, any of them that picks up the vast majority of undecideds is in a position to win that. The most consistently leading candidates we show is the incumbent lieutenant governor, who has the Trump endorsement, and the incumbent attorney general. Those are the ones that tend to be most likely to make this runoff. But, you know, with the right amount of undecideds breaking their way, we see Ralph Norman and a political newcomer who's dropped quite a bit of spending and very, very creative ads. And Ron Reddy has a decent chance of actually making that runoff to breaking into those top two. Interesting. Now, as we pan out from Maine and South Carolina, what are the issues that you're seeing Americans care about the most in this go round? And do you expect that the change from primary season now to the midterms in November? I mean, right now in Republican primaries, one, there's there's not as much enthusiasm as there was in the past. We've seen Republican primary turnout down. We've seen that already as the early votes started to be cast. In Georgia, the same thing. We had a very low turnout comparatively in Georgia in their first election. And so we're just seeing in general Republican turnout is is down. But the issues there are such a different set of issues. I mean, like I said, on the Democratic Party, it's kind of who can out-progress of the other. And the Republican Party, it's, you know, who can out-Trump the other. And that has more a lot more to do with winning the primary elections. Now, as you move into the general election, I mean, certainly issues of pocketbook issues will take center stage. And, you know, that will have to be a shift. And the Republicans, what they tend to do is make this mistake of just jumping in after Labor Day with tons of TV and other media and not, you know, kind of building that base and making their case. Now, while voters can be moved a little more. And, you know, the Democrats we've seen do a much better job leading up to Election Day in the months that precede Labor Day as to make their case. So they have a little less work to do as it comes to the general. I mean, you know, the House and Senate are up for grabs. The House looks probably leaning toward the Democrats taking that over. And the Senate looks, you know, toward the Republicans. But there's a lot of races that can make the difference in that one. I keep my eye on that Michigan race. The most extreme candidate seems to be getting the largest piece. And since they have a plurality and not a majority, you can win that Michigan Senate race was like 30 percent of the vote. And outside of that nominee. I would say outside of that Michigan race, what other you know, we're looking at the balance of power. Everybody wants to know who will own Congress. Will will it stay with the Republican side or will we have more of a gridlock situation for the last two years of President Trump's term? So outside of that Michigan race, you just called on what other consequential races do you see happening today? Yeah, I think that the New Hampshire race could end up being a little more competitive. People think it's going to be. And Republicans have a shot there. And definitely Democrats want to keep are keeping their eye on North Carolina, where they've got a popular former governor running against, you know, kind of a newcomer to politics, the former RNC chairman running as the Republican nominee with the Trump endorsement. And then look at Ohio. Sherrod Brown is attempting to make a comeback. And without there being a presidential race on the ballot, that comeback might very well have some legs. I've seen some early numbers to say that as a state to watch. And certainly Georgia is always going to be a toss up. We'll see how that the Republican primary comes out next week there. But that that one is going to be definitely one to watch and probably a bellwether to the whole thing. But certainly, you know, going back to Maine, if if Collins ends up with Platner as the opponent, you know, that's the first step in the Republicans maintaining the Senate. And certainly data and political science being your expertise, I'd like to ask you, what kind of impact does polling actually have on races and the voters? Sometimes people see polls and do they just say, oh, my candidates shoo and I don't have to get out there. Is there an interrelationship between polling and turnout and results? There is. But usually good poll numbers don't make people not want to turn out. They see their people like to be behind the person who's going to win. So polling numbers that are good tend to make them create enthusiasm. And now that we have these betting markets, what we're seeing even more is these betting markets are kind of influencing who people think is going to win. Now, the betting markets have a lot to do with the polling. And, you know, if you see each time a new relevant poll is produced, the betting markets change. And certainly the ones doing the betting know which polls to listen to and which ones to ignore. That's why they tend to ignore the mainstream media and university polls and tend to pay attention to some of the private sector polling like what we put out, what Insider Advantage puts out and some other notable groups. But yes, absolutely. The polling has an influence and there's no question that you see, especially a long way out from the election. You know, what you should always keep an eye on is groups that do a lot of polling up till the last three weeks, because basically they don't want to be held accountable for what they say. And, you know, a lot of the ratings have to do with the pollings in the last three weeks. So they'll poll, poll, poll, try to influence how people are thinking about a race and how money is being raised. And then they'll quit doing it because they don't want to live with the consequences of being so wrong. Well, the psychology of it is fascinating. The balance of power is at stake. Robert Cahaley, thank you so much for joining us. Fascinating discussion. Absolutely. Thank you. And coming up, basketball fans on the streets of Manhattan share their perspective on how the Spurs ended the Knicks' hot winning streak in last night's NBA Finals game. Stay with us for that. NASA announces four astronauts for the Artemis III mission who they are. What the lunar mission will accomplish. The bladder control aisle. You won't shop here again. Your private business is your own. The constant struggle is over. Now there's a better way. It's HGIS. We home deliver bladder control products. We understand how you feel. For over 25 years, we've home delivered to many of the 20 million Americans who deal with incontinence. We offer all brands. We pay shipping and use plain unmarked boxes. 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Call 1-800-283-0793 for your free information. That's 1-800-283-0793. There's no risk or obligation. That number again is 1-800-283-0793. That's 1-800-283-0793. Call now. Welcome back to NTD Evening News. I'm Cary Dunst. Victor Wembenyama, or Wemby as he's known, got his first NBA Finals win carrying the San Antonio Spurs to a 115-111 victory over the New York Knicks last night. The Knicks suddenly have more work on their hands to end their 53-year championship drought. NTD's Sean Marshall has more. New York Knicks coach Mike Brown launched a stinging attack on the officiating after his side's 115-111 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday. Claiming a lopsided free throw count in the second half had made an already difficult task near impossible. Behind Madison Square Garden, there's an exclusive limited-run NBA Finals-inspired Nike and Knicks t-shirt pop-up event. I got some fans to share their perspective on the game. To be honest with you, I'm a Cavs fan, so I'm a little bit bummed. Officiating wasn't great, but it was a fun game to watch. I mean, I'm excited for a longer series. We're very somber today, but hopeful because they're going to come back and do it. They're never going to let us down. They don't quit, so we won't quit. Let's go Knicks. I mean, I definitely think the officials went a little wrong. Even Mike Brown said, you know, they shot, I think it was 24 free throws in the second half compared to our eight. I think that was a little absurd. Maybe it's something to do financially with the NBA or something. Who knows? I think it's happened in previous series too. But yeah, I think the officials definitely need some work too. There were also watch parties held around New York City and Central Park, Bryant Park, and other areas. NYPD had to take care of some issues near Bryant Park, but overall the events in most areas went smoothly. My thoughts, to be honest, I feel like we played a great game. The intensity wasn't there. If we keep that same intensity we had in San Antonio, we would have 100% pulled it through. 100% pulled it through. Mikkel Bridges needs to do better in situations like this where we depend on him as a third, second option. So that's my thought. You know, as a basketball fan, really disappointed. I'm going to be honest, not my favorite game. Not a great performance by the Knicks. Yeah, for sure. I just hope that the rest could call things a little more even now. You know, second half, if you look at the foul shot disparity, it was uneven. Victor Wimbenyama produced 32 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three blocks as the Spurs pulled one back in the best of seven series, which the Knicks still lead two and one. Game four is Wednesday night in New York. Sean Marshall, NTD News. And it's official, four astronauts will be going to space in the Artemis III test flight next year. It's the next step in NASA's effort to return humans to the surface of the moon. So to the Artemis III crew, we wish you Godspeed on the journey ahead. You carry the fire of exploration from generations past, the confidence of this agency and the support of this nation and the dreams of millions who will be cheering you on, knowing that what others believe to be impossible happens to be what we do best here at NASA. Three Americans are part of the crew, Andre Douglas, Frank Rubio, and Randy Bresnik. Douglas will be a first timer to space. Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano rounds out the group of four. The crew is expected to launch late in 2027 aboard the Orion capsule on a test flight into lower Earth orbit. Artemis III could involve docking with both lunar landers from SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's Blue Moon. The mission is set to last around two weeks. It'll try out different technologies that'll be vital to returning astronauts to walk the moon as soon as 2028. NASA says it wants to use this mission to reduce risk for future crewed moon missions and to ensure the US will beat China back to the moon. And that's all for today's evening news. Keep it right here. We're gonna send you to DC for Capital Report. And then at eight o'clock, we have Tiffany Meyer tonight here in New York City. She's gamifying the news. You're not gonna wanna miss that. Thanks for tuning in. I'm Terry Dunst. Good night.