Motor vehicle crash fatalities spiked in the first six months of this year. In fact it’s the biggest half-year rise on record. That’s according to new data from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and it's something Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is calling “a crisis.” Plus, inside New Jersey’s nail-biter election. And, Democrats' plan for drug prices. Guests: Nancy Solomon, Managing Editor for New Jersey Public Radio and WNYC; and Axios' Bryan Walsh and Caitlin Owens.Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Julia Redpath, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Alex Sugiura, Sabeena Singhani, Lydia McMullen-Laird and David Toledo. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can text questions, comments and story ideas to Niala as a text or voice memo to 202-918-4893.