RUBIO WARNS PLAGUE COULD SPREAD, BOMBERS FLEE U.K. BASE | LIVE FROM STUDIO 6B

LIVE FROM STUDIO 6B with Damon Roberts, Rick Delgado, Rick Ammirati, and Paul Nolan. AFFORDABILITY AND THE MIDTERMS Damon's First Word: Democrats are the last people in America who ought to be lecturing anybody about high prices. Taxes, grocery bills, and who voters blame heading into November. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says a suspected infection at a Russian anti-plague lab could "quickly spread" if it gets out. A lab worker in Siberia died after a reported exposure. Russia has put contacts under observation. Rubio says it is not cause for alarm, but it is cause for focus. Washington is watching. U.S. B-1 bombers have been pulled from RAF Fairford back to American bases after fresh threat warnings tied to an alleged Iran-backed plot. JD Vance called the move an abundance of caution. Downing Street says the base is safe. Harry Enten's read: since 2016, Republicans have beaten September polls in Iowa, Ohio, and Michigan, often by 5 points or more, including in the 2018 midterms. Democrats are ahead or close in some of those Senate races. The leads are smaller than the old miss. Runbeck mailed about 3,100 Maricopa County ballots on Oct. 1, six days before the Oct. 7 start. Recorder Justin Heap says the ballots are valid and went to the right voters. President Trump called Maricopa dishonest and rejected the "error" explanation. Trump is rallying in Grand Island for Sen. Pete Ricketts and Gov. Jim Pillen, a month out from Nov. 3. Ricketts faces independent Dan Osborn. Ranchers are also pushing back on beef imports. Oddsmakers, lines, and what the numbers say heading into the week. Question for the audience: Is Rubio right to treat the Russia lab death as a focus, not an alarm, or is Washington underplaying it?