Donald Trump isn’t sticking to his campaign’s closing argument. McDonald’s identifies the likely source of a deadly E. coli outbreak. And Boeing workers stay on strike after rejecting a deal that included a 35% raise.

Here’s what to know today.

Trump opts for attacking Harris over staying on message

Former President Donald Trump has less than two weeks to make his final plea to voters in hopes of winning a second term in the White House. Though the race between him and Vice President Kamala Harris is a dead heat, according to an NBC News survey this month of registered voters, he scores better than her on the three “I”s in his campaign: immigration, inflation and Israel. Trump faithfully points to his differences with Harris over those issues at his campaign rallies.

But there’s a tension between the focus Trump’s campaign has kept on those points — they’ve even opted to sparsely use powerful imagery from his first assassination attempt in favor of focusing on the issues — and Trump’s desire to wander into more controversial territory in the lead-up to Election Day.

Just yesterday in Traverse City, Michigan, Trump used a 90-minute speech to continue personal insults. He called Harris a “low IQ individual,” said Harris running mate Tim Walz is “a sick guy” and repeatedly criticized Detroit as being “decimated by stupid politicians.” On Tuesday, he also suggested, without evidence, that Harris is campaigning under the influence. “Does she drink? Is she on drugs? I don’t know,” he said.

On Sunday, Trump will make his case to voters during a rally at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. The burning question is whether Trump will buck his own pattern and stick to his campaign’s message.

Read the full story here.

More election coverage:

➡️ Harris plans to make her “closing arguments” speech exactly one week before Election Day at the site where Trump spoke on Jan. 6.

➡️ In a CNN town hall, Harris called Trump a “fascist” and said he suggested he is unfit for office. Earlier in the day, she blasted Trump’s reported praise of Hitler.

➡️ The Harris campaign says it’s preparing for a deluge of litigation before and after Election Day.

➡️ In separate rallies in Pittsburgh, one former Steelers safety appeared onstage with Harris running mate Tim Walz, while an ex-teammate rallied for Trump, highlighting the role sports have played in both campaigns’ messaging.

➡️ Seven maps show how Trump, Harris and their running mates are dividing their time in critical swing states.

➡️ Harris has yet to enlist help on the campaign trail from Hillary Clinton. In fact, having the former Secretary of State on the trail might not be the most helpful move, one person close to the campaign said.

➡️ The DOJ warned Elon Musk’s super PAC that its $1 million daily giveaway in battleground states may violate federal law.

➡️ Trump’s reported racist insult about a slain Mexican American soldier has drawn backlash and staunch denials. And the soldier’s sister has come to Trump’s defense.

➡️ Trump is the only GOP candidate some Gen Z voters have ever known. The idea of a “normal election” feels foreign, one person said.

McDonald’s pinpoints likely source of E. coli outbreak

Slivered raw onions served on McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers are the likely source of a deadly E. coli outbreak that has killed at least one person and sickened nearly 50 others, with reported illnesses expected to grow. Neither McDonald’s nor public health officials have said where the onions were grown or whether they were sent to other restaurants. McDonald’s said this week that it pulled the sliced onions and quarter-pound beef patties from its menu in affected areas.

As of Wednesday, 49 people have been sickened with E. coli infections linked to the outbreak, the majority being in Colorado. A CDC official said he expects the number of illnesses to rise in the coming days as more reports of cases come in.Here’s what else to know.

The strain of E. coli linked to McDonald’s outbreak is one of the leading causes of foodborne illnesses in the U.S. and potentially can cause serious infection. “This one is the dying kind,” a food safety microbiologist said. Find out more about symptoms and how to prevent E. coli from spreading.

Boeing strike continues after labor contract rejected

Boeing machinists rejected a new labor deal that included 35% wage increases over the next four years, increased 401(k) contributions, a $7,000 bonus and other improvements, their union announced yesterday. In a vote last night, 64% of voters rejected the deal. A union president acknowledged that they made “tremendous gains” in the latest proposal but “have not achieved enough to meet our members’ demands” and will go back to the negotiating table.

More than 32,000 machinists walked off the job on Sept. 13, halting most of the company’s aircraft production. The company yesterday reported a $6 billion quarterly loss.

Inside a Helene-battered North Carolina town

The town of Chimney Rock, North Carolina, is virtually unrecognizable after Hurricane Helene tore through late last month. In all, 15 businesses were destroyed and 26 more were damaged, Mayor Peter O’Leary said. On the south side of town tucked in the Blue Ridge Mountains, 15 homes were obliterated and 14 more were damaged. Five bridges were razed, and 3 miles of Main Street were completely torn apart.

An NBC News video crew visited the town the week after it flooded and spent two days following O’Leary and another local official as they struggled to restore basic services. O’Leary was away on vacation when Helene hit and returned to find himself homeless. Frustration at both FEMA and private insurance companies were palpable. Still, O’Leary and others in Chimney Rock said they were ready to rebuild. Read the full story.

Read All About It

Recordings of the first 911 calls from the first Trump assassination attempt have been released, capturing the panic and chaos that unfolded in Pennsylvania.

Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s in people with Type 2 diabetes, a new study showed.

The family of Robert Card, who carried out a mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, said in an exclusive interview that they want to bring more awareness to traumatic brain injuries among military members.

Grizzly 399, the bear that PBS dubbed “the most famous grizzly in the world,” was killed after being hit by a car in Wyoming.

Witnesses and survivors recalled the deadly dock collapse in Georgia that killed seven people.

Staff Pick: Scenes of devastation in North Gaza

Harrowing images have emerged from northern Gaza in the midst of a ramped up assault on the area by Israeli forces that has been marked by “non-stop” bombardments, widespread displacement and a spiraling humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations.

NBC News’ crew there has captured some of these scenes, offering an insight into what Palestinians are facing in northern Gaza at a time when foreign journalists are not able to independently access the enclave due to Israeli restrictions.

— Chantal Da Silva, world news reporter

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