Economic Discontent Shadows Trump’s Kansas Campaign

A new NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey found that 71% of U.S. adults thought the country was on the “wrong track.” Respondents also said President Donald Trump was failing to improve their material financial conditions. The poll recorded the highest share saying “wrong track” in Trump’s second term, leaving Republicans facing a grim national mood ahead of the midterm elections.

Campaign Promises and Material Conditions

Trump held a rally in Park City, Kansas, on October 20, 2026, to campaign for Republican Sen. Roger Marshall, who faced Democrat Adam Hamilton in a tight race. Marshall promised Republicans would “give you secure borders, a strong military and lower taxes.” He didn't discuss what he would do for Kansas if re-elected.

Marshall also said Hamilton and Democrats would open the border, weaken the military and raise taxes. He spoke about “radical Islam” and rioting in France. Some protesters interrupted Trump at least twice less than five minutes into his remarks, and security removed them from the rally. Trump called them “paid protesters.”

An article reported that Marshall sued hundreds of patients over unpaid debts while practicing as a physician. Trump defended Marshall, who is not Jewish, saying the reporting made him out to be “some kind of a shylock-type guy,” a term widely recognized as offensive toward Jewish people. The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump used the same slur last year in a speech about exploitative bankers while promoting his domestic policy bill, and some Jewish groups denounced its use.

The poll found widespread distrust of both major parties, with Trump and Republicans bearing the brunt. A majority viewed the president’s administration as uniquely corrupt, while expressing skepticism about corruption in both parties. For the first time in Trump’s second term, respondents who said the country was on the “right track” made up less than 30%.

Trump won Kansas by more than 16 points in the 2024 presidential election. In the state’s governor’s race, Republican Ty Masterson and Democrat Cindy Holscher are seeking to replace Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, who was term-limited. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted the Senate race toward the Democrat and called it a “toss-up”; NBC News described it as competitive but leaning toward the GOP. Hamilton had endorsements from several former Republican and Democratic governors.

Campaigns Across Battleground Races

Vice President JD Vance traveled to North Carolina to support Republican Jennifer Balkcom in her competitive race for the 11th Congressional District against Democrat Jamie Ager. According to the live coverage, the House contest ranked among the most competitive in the country. Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., ended his re-election campaign in the district after an accusation of sexual harassment, which he denied.

North Carolina also had a battleground Senate race, with Democrat Roy Cooper facing Republican Michael Whatley. The coverage reported the candidates and campaign stops as the poll showed economic dissatisfaction and distrust of both major parties.

Trump also addressed Saturday’s crash at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, where a car drove through a youth soccer game, killing a 6-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man. “I also want to express our profound sympathy for the victims of the horrific car crash at the Stryker Sports Complex last weekend, and we grieve for the beautiful lives that were lost and pray for those who were tragically injured,” Trump said. He called the crash “horrible” and said investigators “want to get to the bottom of what happened.”

Investigation and U.S.-Ukraine Talks

A 34-year-old woman from Kansas drove the car. Police took her into custody and later released her; they hadn't identified or charged her with a crime. Police said she was cooperating and had a child playing soccer on a different field at the complex. Investigators continued examining why the car entered the field, with vehicle examinations and toxicology testing of the driver pending. Trump said, “You have great law enforcement, but we're going to give them whatever help they need. We want to find out what happened.”

Officials from the United States and Ukraine were expected to meet in Norway that week for another round of negotiations, according to sources familiar with the matter. Reuters first reported the expected meeting. Recent actions by Trump in favor of Russia had prompted questions from Congress and U.S. allies about the administration’s mediation efforts.

Ukraine said Kyiv came under attack by Russian ballistic missiles the previous day and again received no early warning from the United States and its partners, for the third time in recent days. Ukraine also said it faced speed restrictions on Starlink and Starshield, SpaceX’s military version of the service, without an explanation from the Trump administration.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a bipartisan House and Senate delegation in a virtual address: “All of this suggests that some political decision has been made to slow down support for us. This is in sharp contrast to what we are achieving on the battlefield. Of course, I discussed this with President Trump's representatives this Sunday.” Zelenskyy said Ukraine was in “constant contact” with Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Ukrainian officials hoped to meet with them “maybe in Norway in the coming days.” The Norwegian Embassy in Washington didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.