Kidnapped by a gang in Haiti.

This morning, U.S. officials are working with Haitian authorities to try to secure the release of 17 missionaries.

Most of them, American.

The question is, what is the government doing to free them?

Plus, Senator Joe Manchin voices opposition to a key climate measure in Democrats' multi-trillion dollar

reconciliation package. The question is, what does that mean for President Biden's climate agenda?

And a NASA spacecraft named Lucy rocketed into the sky for a 12-year journey to explore

eight astronauts. The question is, what will you find? It's way too early for this.

Good morning and welcome to way too early, the show that will resist the temptation to talk

about nothing other than succession.

I'm Jonathan Lear on this Monday, October 18th. We'll start with the news.

We begin this morning with the latest on the 17 missionaries kidnapped in Haiti.

Sixteen members of the group, which includes children, are American citizens.

They were taken hostage by a gang on Saturday while on its way home from building an orphanage.

The New York Times reports that the gang responsible for the kidnapping is among the country's most dangerous and one of the first to engage in mass abductions.

The U.S. State Department says it is working with Haitian authorities at the most senior level to get them back.

NBC News correspondent Sam Brock has the very latest.

The turmoil and violence rocking Haiti has been directed at American citizens. After 17 people on a missionary visit were kidnapped near the capital of Port of Prince while visiting an orphanage.

The Ohio-based Christian aid ministries posting on its website, the group of 16 U.S. citizens and one Canadian citizen includes five men, seven women, and five children.

Join us in praying for those who are being held hostage.

The terror, nothing new.

This taxi driver saying, the effects of kidnapping, people do not go out into the streets.

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