Flash Floods, Election Tensions and an Extraordinary Reunion Lead the Night
NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas covered an unusually crowded news cycle on October 22, 2026: storm rescues across the Southwest, escalating midterm tensions, an investigation involving a former Trump campaign manager, and new questions surrounding driver-assistance technology. The broadcast also found room for a remarkable family reunion.
With the midterms less than two weeks away, the night’s reports moved from campaign confrontations to dangerous weather, transportation safety, and a New York City debate over horse-drawn carriages. Here are the major stories featured in the episode, with images from the broadcast placed alongside their corresponding reports.
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Tonight’s Coverage
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Flash Flood Rescues in Southern California and Storms in Arizona
First responders carried out dramatic rescues from the Los Angeles River amid dangerous, fast-moving water. The episode also reported on a likely tornado northeast of Phoenix, with NBC News correspondent Liz Kreutz covering the severe weather affecting the region. The footage underscores how quickly familiar waterways and roadways can turn hazardous.
Midterms Heat Up as Election Day Approaches
With 12 days remaining until the midterm elections, the broadcast detailed punches thrown during an overnight Trump rally and outrage surrounding an incendiary political advertisement in Ohio. The campaign’s closing stretch was already contentious; these developments put its atmosphere in even sharper focus.
Justice Department Allegations and the Corey Lewandowski Report
NBC News reported that a person familiar with the matter said the Department of Justice was investigating allegations involving Corey Lewandowski, a former Trump campaign manager. The segment presented the matter as an investigation, not as a finding of wrongdoing.
Tesla Driver-Assistance Crashes Raise Safety Questions
The broadcast also covered two incidents involving Tesla vehicles described by the California Highway Patrol as operating in self-driving mode. According to the report, a pedestrian entered a freeway and stepped directly into a vehicle’s path in a fatal collision. The coverage raises difficult safety questions, while the circumstances of the incidents require careful investigation.
Plane Crash Near Reno and New York City Carriage Vote
Outside Reno, a small aircraft crashed onto an interstate during the morning commute. No injuries were reported in the broadcast, and investigators were working to determine the cause. Separately, the New York City Council passed legislation to end horse-drawn carriage rides by 2028. The report connected the debate to the death of a teenager thrown from a carriage earlier in the year.
Good News Tonight: A Daughter’s Wish Comes True
The broadcast closed with a moment of relief from the hard news. A seven-year-old second grader received a golden lamp inspired by Aladdin, a movie she loves watching with her mother, who serves in the military. The little girl wished for her mother to come home—and shortly afterward, the two were reunited in person. It was a beautiful ending to a demanding news night.
NBC Nightly News With Tom Llamas — October 22, 2026
Watch the October 22 edition, including the weather, election, transportation and reunion reports described above.
Source: NBC Nightly News / YouTube.
