They're up right now. Thanks for watching. I'm Frances Rivera. New details emerge in the horrific midair collision between a commercial jet and a military helicopter. The black boxes from that jet, now recovered as it emerges that FAA staffing at Reagan National was, quote, not normal. The latest from the investigation so far. The U.S. and international figure skating community in mourning today as several prominent skaters perished on that flight, along with some parents and coaches. What family and friends are saying about the victims this morning? President Donald Trump taking aim at Di signing new executive orders targeting diversity initiatives at the FAA after baselessly claiming those initiatives are a factor in the crash. More fiery hearings on Capitol Hill as senators grilled intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard and FBI chief pick Kash Patel. Their chances of getting confirmed, and Basketball Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade opening up about a recent cancer battle. That's ahead on this Friday, January 31st. Early today starts right now. Glad you're with me. I'm Frances Rivera. We begin with breaking news.
Critical information has been pulled from the Potomac River. Two flight data recorders. The black boxes have been recovered from the American Airlines jet that crashed into the water after a collision with a military helicopter. Investigators piecing together the crash that claimed 67 lives on Wednesday night. According to sources, investigators are examining whether the helicopter may have been flying at a higher altitude than what was what was originally assigned. Putting it in direct conflict with the American Eagle Flight. Members of the National Transportation Safety Board are on the scene, beginning the painstaking search for answers. NBC's Erin McLaughlin is there.
Hey there. Well, the first full day of the NTSB's exhaustive investigation has passed during the course of their investigation. According to a source, they did manage to recover two of the black boxes on board that American Eagle jet. It's unclear at this point, though, if they manage to recover the flight data recorder from the Black Hawk helicopter involved in the crash. There were chilling images released by the Department of Homeland Security showing the debris field, and one of the images you could see what looks like the remains, the wreckage of that Black Hawk chopper floating in the Potomac. New questions as well about the staffing of the control tower. According to a source with knowledge of a preliminary FAA investigation, the staffing of the control tower at the time of this tragedy Was, quote, not normal that normally there are two air traffic controllers staffing. One focused on helicopters, the other focused on airplane traffic. The night of the tragedy, there was only one air traffic controller doing two jobs. Although this source underscored that that is compliant with FAA regulations, though noting that it is not ideal.
All of that will undoubtedly be part of this exhaustive NTSB investigation. The NTSB has promised to release its findings, the facts as it gets them. However, we do not expect a definitive conclusion as to what caused this crash, perhaps for months. Back to you.
Erin. Thank you. The disaster has devastated the American figure skating community. Several young athletes, along with their families and personnel, were returning from a training camp in camp in Wichita when disaster struck. Here's Tom llamas with what we know about the victims.
In that stunning moment of horror. Flight 5342 was only minutes away from landing when the lives of its 60 passengers and four crew members suddenly ended. The violent collision with a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter, also killing three U.S. service members. An Army captain, staff sergeant and chief warrant officer. 67 lives lost in an instant as friends and family of the victims prayed for a miracle. There was little hope because after that collision in the sky, both aircraft plummeted into the Potomac River. The icy waters that were only waist deep in about 35 degrees. And we spoke with DC's fire chief moments before he went to meet with those victims families. When you go into a meeting like that, I mean, what goes through your head and what what do you want to tell them?
They're going to going to ask us questions, and we're going to do our best to answer those questions with the facts.
The first officer of the American Airlines flight was Sam Lilly, his father posting. He was so proud when Sam became a pilot. Also on the flight, some of the country's most promising young figure skaters who were in Wichita at a highly selective training camp.
There are brothers and sisters, and we're all very close to each other.
The Skating Club of Boston devastated. Six affiliated with the club perished. Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan trained with the club as a teen.
Much like everyone here has been saying, is not sure how to process it. Oh, shoot. I'm sorry. Okay.
For 1956 Olympic champion Tenley Albright, the tragedy brought back memories of the 1961 plane crash that killed 18 U.S. figure skaters.
I really can't believe that it happened because I picture them right here.
Among those lost now 13 year old skater Gina Hahn and her mother, Jen. Gina was known for her grace and musicality on the ice, and 16 year old Spencer Lane, who was traveling with his mom, Christine. Spencer was known for his jumps, chronicling his progress on TikTok. His final post on Instagram. This view from his plane window before takeoff.
Skating is a very close and tight knit community. It's a close, tight bond, and I think for all of us, we have lost family.
Also on board skating coaches and former world champions Jenna Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, the married couple leaves behind their son Max, a skater hoping to qualify for the Winter Olympics next year. Brielle Beyer was only 12 years old. Her mom Justyna Magdalena, with her on the plane, remembered at her home rink in Virginia.
She is really, really talented and they were my inspiration.
Our thanks to Tom for that report. President Trump signed a pair of new executive actions addressing the FAA. One memo is to ensure that Dei practices are being rolled back. The president yesterday making baseless claims that diversity policies may have played a role in the deadly crash. President Trump also signed an order to appoint Chris Rushlow as the acting FAA administrator. He has more than two decades of experience at the agency. For more from the white House, here's NBC's Susan McGinnis.
As emergency crews search the grim carnage from Wednesday night's midair collision, investigations quickly opened into what caused the deadly crash that killed all 67 on board the two aircrafts.
This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation's capital.
The Pentagon, the NTSB, the U.S. Army and others are now gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses and seeking answers.
No excuses. We're going to get to the bottom of this.
President Trump without evidence casting blame on air traffic controllers. The Blackhawk pilot and taking aim at diversity policies of previous administrations.
What evidence have you seen to support these claims?
It just could have been. We have a high standard. We've had a much higher standard than anybody else.
Another target, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
He's a disaster.
Buttigieg calling the president's comments despicable. The current transportation secretary promising changes to keep such disasters from happening again.
After the FAA studies what happened? We will take appropriate action, if necessary, to modify flight paths And permissions.
We have the safest flying anywhere in the world and we'll keep it that way.
The president reassuring Americans it is safe to fly.
Our thanks to Susan McGinnis for that report. On Thursday, two of President Trump's national security nominees were grilled by senators on Capitol Hill. Former federal prosecutor Kash Patel, up for FBI director, was questioned by Democrats about his ability to break from the president.
Would you be willing to resign the post of FBI director if pressed and given no choice but to obey the order or resign?
Senator, I will always obey the law.
Patel also distanced himself from Trump's pardon of the January 6th Capitol rioters.
I do not agree with the commutation of any sentence of any individual who committed violence against law enforcement.
Meanwhile, across the Capitol, former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who is now a Republican, faced questioning on her director of National Intelligence nomination. She was pressed by Republicans and Democrats on her controversial views on Russia, as well as her previous call for a pardon for Edward Snowden, who fled the U.S. after releasing government secrets.
Is Edward Snowden a traitor to the United States of America?
I understand how critical our national security is.
Apparently you.
Don't.
While Republicans left Patel's hearing sounding confident about having enough votes, some seemed skeptical about Gabbard's nomination passing. All right. We have got some wet weather hitting both coasts today. Let's check in with NBC meteorologist Andy Lassman, who joins us now with what to expect across the US. Good morning Angie.
Good morning Francis. Happy Friday almost the weekend. But we've got a couple of systems that we're tracking, the one for the East Coast, leaving us with some winter weather advisories across the northeast in parts of New England today, you can see that big batch of moisture, though associated with this system as it treks to the east throughout the day. Today, there will be a mix of some ice and snow across New England, and then all that heavy rain and some storms for folks really stretching from the Mid-Atlantic down to the southeast. Heavy rain in some spots will see upwards of an inch to two inches in some of those localized highest spots. Out west, meanwhile, we've got an atmospheric river taking shape. That means we've got rain, we've got wind and mountain snow that we're going to deal with for the next couple of days, specifically as we get into tomorrow, some of that heavy rain and flooding will be centered across San Francisco, stretching up to Eureka and more where that came from. By Sunday, some of that snow piling up in the Sierras going to be difficult for travel for folks in that region.
But notice, we could see upwards of seven inches in some of these locations. So the flooding concern will be there as we get through at least Sunday. Let's look at the weather across the country. Let's see what's happening in your neighborhood. 43 degrees and rain in the forecast today for New York City. We head to the low 50s for Philadelphia. Mid 50s in Washington, D.C.. 70 degrees for Charlotte today. Rain from Atlanta to Montgomery. Some showers for mobile too, but plenty of sunshine for Dallas today with a high of 65. And that's a look at your forecast. Frances, back to you.
Okay. Thanks so much, Angie. The music world mourning British pop icon Marianne Faithfull this morning. Faithful passed away in London Thursday. She rose to fame in the 1960s with a hit As Tears Go By. She also helped write some of the Rolling Stones biggest songs and was known for her romantic relationship with Mick Jagger. Marianne Faithfull was 78 years old. Eight hostages newly released from Gaza, with more set for release this weekend. We've got the latest on the emotional reunions right here on early today. We're back in just one minute.
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Crowds cheering in Gaza after Israel released 110 Palestinian detainees and prisoners as part of the cease fire deal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu originally delayed their release after calling the hostage handovers horrific. Like this chaotic scene with Israeli hostage Arbell Yahud. Gadi Mozes was also released along with five Thai nationals. Agam Berger was the first to be released yesterday. More hostages, including an American, set to be released tomorrow. According to President Trump's special envoy to the Middle East. For more, let's bring in NBC's Claudio Lavanga. Good morning Claudio.
Good morning Francis. Well, if you look at that footage of the chaotic handover of the hostages in Gaza on Thursday, it did look like that the situation could get out of control at any minute. As the hostages were being pulled and and pushed through a screaming crowd protected by a cordon of Hamas militants. Especially when it comes to the case of Arbel Yahud, who had this terrified look on her face. In the end, it all worked out and the fear turned into utter joy when they were finally reunited with their families. But because of those chaotic scenes, the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, delayed the release of the 110 Palestinian prisoners who were being released in exchange of the hostages and demanded that in the future, there should be extra care in making sure of the safe return of the hostages back home and back to Israel. Well, now, on Saturday, we do expect another three hostages to be released as part of the original cease fire agreement. And among them, at least according to Steve Witkoff, the special envoy to the Middle East appointed by President Trump, who spoke to NBC, NBC news, there should be at least one American.
Even though we don't know who yet, Francis.
And those emotional reunions will continue. Okay, Claudio. Thank you. Still to come, an NBA legend reflects on a major health scare, and you'll now have an extra day to pay $23 for a honey juice. Find out the change to this year's US open schedule.
Good morning. Glad to have you with us. I'm Savannah sellers. I'm Joe Fryer.
Right now on morning news now. Rescue teams are out helping people after two major hurricanes.
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Breaking news tonight as we come on the air. Live tonight from New Orleans. Top story live from the Pacific Palisades. Fire like this would erupt into a blowtorch with those Santa Ana winds. So it's a race against time as you look over to Bourbon Street. The first question is, is it safe tonight? Gas prices coming down, mortgage rates starting to come down. When will consumers feel it even more? Paris's Notre Dame cathedral finally reopening following years of renovations.
Every night it's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now.
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I went to the doctor to look for something else. But because I did the full body scan, they were able to see my entire body, my entire insides. What I had on my kidney was a cyst, a tumor, and now I'm in the doctor. And the doctor is like, so you need to have kidney surgery.
Damn. Wow.
Dwyane Wade opened up about his health scare on the latest episode of his podcast, the Y. The Hall of Famer revealed that he had a 40% of his right kidney removed in December of 2023, after doctors found a cancerous tumor growing on the organ. Wade described the experience as the weakest point he has felt in his life, but that he's ultimately glad that he went through with that surgery. And sometimes to see these guys who are so literally larger than life, right, so vulnerable and having these issues and really a reminder, you know, they are human and glad he's on the mend.
And it's a good reminder that you got to go to the doctor and get checked. He never would have known if he wasn't there getting that full body scan. I'm glad he's doing much better now. Alright, big news tennis fans. Honeydew season is starting a bit earlier this year. On Wednesday, the United States Tennis Association announced that the U.S. open will expand its main draw to 15 days for the first time for its 2025 edition. It will also mark the first time the famed Queens tennis tournament begins on a Sunday, with the first rounds of men's and women's singles kicking off on August 24th. The expanded schedule will provide tournament access to an additional 70,000 plus attendees. I personally am so excited about this, one of my favorite times of year in New York City, and man, it just gets me excited for summer.
And I'm always upset when summer is over, right? But it's always that weekend and people are back from their vacations. So always an amazing time and one more day to enjoy it when we come back. More on a new health alert from the USDA and details on a new type of painkiller that just got the green light from the FDA.
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Time now for what's making headlines this morning. The FDA has approved a new type of non-opioid painkiller from Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The drug, sold under the name of X, was approved to treat moderate to severe short term pain in adults. Experts say it does not have evidence of being addictive, and they hope it can lead to fewer opioids being prescribed. The USDA has issued a public health alert for frozen Wegmans breaded chicken nuggets over possible contamination with bone fragments. The alert is for the 46 ounce Wegmans Family Pack, with a best by date of August 26th of this year, according to a new study. A diet that is low in fruits and vegetables and high in things like processed meat, fast food and sugary drinks, can speed up biological aging, even in some young adults. A person's biological age is not always the same as a person's chronological chronological age. Faster biological aging has also been linked to higher risk of disease and also of death. Pending home sales plunged 5.5% in December from the previous month, and also 5% from the prior year.
This drop comes as mortgage rates rose to over 7% early today. We'll be back in just a moment.
Still to come on the channel two news. Well, the waters are certainly receding now. Still too close to call. Lester Holt, reporting from ground Zero as it's being referred to, is, in fact, the Haitian people know a little something about resiliency. What's the biggest risk right now? Some of the truths you have been around. I want to welcome you to the first presidential debate. In fact, we've been told we can't go any farther. There are some resilient folks. Let me give you a hint here.
Good morning. Glad to have you with us. I'm Savannah sellers.
I'm Joe Fryer right now on morning News now. Rescue teams are out helping people after two major hurricanes.
Is the U.S..
Being.
Drawn deeper into this conflict?
A new study reveals that retirement balances are falling short. Why aren't people saving enough?
What are the questions that you hear the most when it comes to staying safe online? These weight loss drugs. Are we concerned about long term side effects?
Lot going on in space right now. Make no mistake.
This mission is high stakes.
Morning news now streaming weekdays at seven. Lester Holt, America's most trusted TV news anchor.
Hey there. I'm Hallie, and.
We.
Are.
Coming.
On the.
Air tonight with new developments. What's up? What do we know about these chemicals? And should we be super concerned about it or what economic policy and what the election means for it. Break it down in English. What this means for people's money.
Lester Holt, America's most trusted TV news anchor.
The folks.
Here.
Is it your plan to deport everyone who is here illegally over the next four years? Who do you think is the leader of the Democratic Party right now? Can you guarantee that grocery prices will, in fact, come down? If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
It's all about love for me tonight. But guess what else I got for you? He's up. Hey, hey. Now, let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild West.
The biggest names in music hit the stage in support of Southern California. At Thursday night's Fire Aid concert in Los Angeles, the benefit show for wildfire relief began with a duet between Billie Eilish and Green Day, and didn't let up for the rest of the evening. Some of the biggest performances came from legends like No Doubt, Stevie Nicks and, of course, hometown heroes Red Hot Chili Peppers. The show has already raised over $60 million from ticket sales alone. And now to a rescue mission in the water. A massive effort underway in Southern California to save the endangered steelhead trout from the possible effects of the massive wildfires. Gadi Schwartz has more.
Through the ashes of the Palisades Fire into Topanga Creek, an army of volunteers wading through murky water, armed with nets and fishing poles that look a little more Ghostbusters than your everyday angler. But with those beeps come an electrical charge. It's the quickest way to mass evacuate the elusive little rainbow trout hiding under rocks. It's a mission where time is running out. All of this fills up with debris and ash. What would happen to that population? Um, there's a very, very high chance that that entire population would be wiped out.
Oh, look at that one.
These aren't just any rainbow trout. This is one of the few places in Southern California where what start as rainbow trout can morph into steelhead trout and swim out into the sea. How do you describe the magic of the the rainbow trout, the steelhead trout?
How to describe that magic? Just to say that nature has miracles, that sometimes we get a chance to get a glimpse of and learn a little bit about.
On this day, 271 endangered Southern California steelhead caught and taken to the protection of a nearby hatchery just in time, where they will wait out the rainy season that threatens to overwhelm their fragile habitat. For the fish that once numbered in the tens of thousands here. Biologists estimate there are now only hundreds. And even though Mother Nature has given them the resilience needed to thrive in both river streams and the sea, when disaster strikes, there are teams like these always willing to lend a human hand. Gadi Schwartz, NBC news, Topanga Creek, California.
So great to see their effort. I hope they're successful with it. Thanks so much for ending your week with early today. It's been a tough week for a lot of us. Hope you get through it and have a great Friday and a great weekend. I'm Frances Rivera and hope to see you right back here early Monday morning. For now, your news continues on NBC. New details on the tragedy in the Potomac. The newly recovered data recorders hope to shed light on what led to the horrific crash. As America mourns the lives lost in the midair collision. We're live from the site of the accident this morning. This is. President Trump immediately sets his sights on diversity efforts, baselessly suggesting those efforts caused Wednesday's tragedy. More on the president's press conference and the reaction from Washington. Two of the president's most controversial cabinet choices have their day before Congress. We have more on how Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel fared on Capitol Hill. Is the U.S. on the cusp of a trade war with its two closest allies?
The president is set to make good on his terror threats against Canada and Mexico go, and Los Angeles continues to rebuild with a little help from its hometown heroes. Billie Eilish, No Doubt, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and more take the stage for an epic benefit concert. It's Friday, January 31st. Early today starts right now. Good morning, I'm Frances Rivera. Critical information about the tragic end of American Eagle. Flight 5342 has been pulled from the Potomac River. Black boxes have been recovered, which could provide some answers to the families of the 67 people killed Wednesday night when a military helicopter collided with a passenger jet.
We have data. We have substantial amounts of information we need to verify, information we need to take our time to make sure it is accurate. That's best for you. That's important for the families.
Members of the National Transportation Safety Board are there on the scene, beginning what is sure to be a lengthy investigation. NBC's Alex Bar joins me now from Reagan National Airport near that crash site. Good morning. Alex, what can you tell us about the recovery efforts there?
Good morning Francis.
So the Potomac River is back behind me right now. There are not divers in the water there. It is just too dangerous with these conditions right now in the dark. And sadly, their efforts have turned from what was an urgent rescue mission to a recovery mission. This is the deadliest crash in the United States in nearly 24 years. The 64 people on board the American Airlines flight and the three soldiers on that Blackhawk helicopter are presumed dead. Dozens of bodies have been pulled from the river. As you mentioned, the NTSB has confirmed that two black boxes were recovered. Investigators now have the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder from the airplane. It's unclear if any data from the helicopter has been found. The recorders have been taken to NTSB labs to be evaluated, and as we wait for those recorders to be analyzed. NBC news has learned about a preliminary FAA review of the crash. A source tells us that staffing at the air traffic control tower was not ideal for the amount of traffic Wednesday night.
Normally, there would be one person focused on helicopter helicopter traffic and another focused on airplane traffic. At the time of the crash, there was only one person handling both tasks. Our source does stress, however, that while this is not ideal, it is considered compliant with FAA safety guidelines. After sunrise, search team search teams will be back in the water. They have committed that they are going to continue to be out here until they recover all of the bodies. They're also, of course, trying to trying to salvage anything they can from the wreckage. That could help with this investigation and bring answers to so many grieving families. Frances, back to you.
Alice Barr for us. Alice. Thank you. With an investigation fully underway, we are learning more about the events and circumstances that led to the Wednesday's crash. Our Tom Costello reports on the search for answers in the face of tragedy.
A source tells NBC news a preliminary FAA report on the midair crash indicates staffing at the Reagan Airport tower was not normal for the amount of traffic at that hour. Normally, one controller handles planes, while another controls helicopters. But Wednesday night, one controller was doing both at the time of the crash, though that is acceptable under established FAA standards. Investigators best clues into what went wrong may rely on those last few words, as controllers asked the chopper crew if they could see the CRJ. The regional jet.
SB 30. 535 aircraft in operation.
The response is garbled. Does the chopper pilot say aircraft in sight?
Has an aircraft in sight?
If so, why did they collide? Miracle on the Hudson. Captain Sully Sullenberger says that radio response is critical.
It changed the rules, and it required that they see each other until they were safely clear.
Like many airports, Reagan has had its share of close calls in recent years. March 7th, 2023 controllers ordered a United flight to abort takeoff after another plane crossed in front of it. April 18th, 2024 A southwest plane crossed a runway just as a JetBlue flight was preparing to take off. May 30th, 2024 A controller canceled takeoff after another airliner was cleared to land on an intersecting runway. Veteran pilots say flying up the river to runway three three involves staying between 4 and 500ft, while helicopters should be flying beneath them under 200ft.
Requires a lot of skill. The runway is very small for an airport that handles this amount of traffic.
The new transportation secretary says flight activity was routine.
This was not unusual, with a military aircraft flying the river and aircraft landing at DCA.
Investigators are looking into whether this helicopter was flying too low. It was apparently flying in one of those highway tracks in the sky for helicopters here outside of Reagan, going from track one to track four. It may have, according to sources, deviated and gone to a higher altitude than was assigned, and that could have put it into a direct conflict with the American Eagle flight. Back to you.
Tom. Thank you. President Trump is facing backlash after saying diversity programs may have played a role in this crash. NBC's Garrett Hake has more on the white House response.
In a white House news conference that began with a somber moment of silence. President Trump pivoting from prayer.
I speak to you this morning in an hour of anguish for a nation to politics. I put safety first. Obama, Biden and the Democrats put policy first.
Suggesting without evidence that Democratic policies at the FAA and military, which President Trump ended last week with an executive order, may have contributed to the midair collision.
We have to have our smartest people. It doesn't matter what they look like, how they speak, who they are. It matters. Intellect, talent.
At one point going after Biden, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Just got a good line of bullshit. He's run it right into the ground with his diversity.
But reporters pressing the president. What evidence did he have that diversity hiring caused the crash?
It just could have been.
And later, as he signed an order to review FAA hiring decisions the last four years.
Are you saying.
Race.
Or gender.
Played a role in this tragedy?
It may have. I don't know. Incompetence might have played a role. Well, we'll let you know that.
The president echoed by the vice president and defense secretary.
We want the best people at air traffic control.
The era of Dai is gone at the Defense Department.
But the comments sparking fierce backlash. Buttigieg posting despicable. As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying. We put safety first. The top Senate Democrat responding.
For the president of the United States to throw out idle speculation as bodies are still being recovered and families still being notified, it just turns your stomach.
The president also naming a new acting FAA administrator. That position had been vacant since Inauguration Day.
And our thanks to Garrett for that report. Turning to the to the heated confirmation hearings for President Trump's picks for Director of National Intelligence and the FBI. Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel. NBC's Ryan Nobles has the details from Thursday's testimonies.
A pair of President Trump's top national security nominees facing high stakes confirmation hearings.
There will be no politicization at the FBI.
Former federal prosecutor Kash Patel nominated for FBI director. The staunch Trump supporter pressed by Democrats about his independence.
Would you be willing to resign the post of FBI director if pressed and given no choice but to obey the order or resign?
Senator, I will always obey the law.
And President Trump's pardons of violent offenders from January 6th.
I do not agree with the commutation of any sentence of any individual who committed violence against law enforcement.
Patel strongly defended by Republicans.
The reason you're here is because most of the public, almost every Republican, believes that the FBI has been used continuously in a political fashion. Lying to get Donald Trump.
Across the Capitol. Former Democratic congresswoman and combat veteran Tulsi Gabbard nominated for director of National Intelligence.
What truly unsettles my political opponents is I refuse to be their puppet.
Gabbard pushing back on claims she parroted Kremlin talking points.
I want to make certain that in no way does Russia get a pass in either your mind or your heart.
I'm offended by the question because my sole focus, commitment and responsibility is about our own nation.
And pressed over her previous call for a pardon for Edward Snowden, who fled the U.S. after releasing a trove of government secrets.
Is Edward Snowden a traitor to the United States of America?
I understand how critical our national security.
Apparently you don't.
Republicans left the hearing feeling very confident that Patel had the votes necessary to win confirmation. They seem a bit more skeptical about both Gabbard and Robert F Kennedy Jr, though at this point not one Republican has said they plan to vote no.
Ryan. Thank you. The weekend is kicking off with some wet weather coast to coast. NBC meteorologist Andy Lassman is tracking it all for us. Good morning Andy.
Good morning Frances. Happy Friday. We made it almost the weekend, but we've got a couple of trouble spots when it comes to weather. First off, we've got some winter weather advisories in effect for parts of the northeast. This is because we've got a system headed that way. This isn't just going to affect folks there though. This stretches all the way down the East Coast. We'll see the potential for some storms, some heavy rain, basically from the Mid-Atlantic down to the southeast in that mix of some ice and snow across New England could see some ice accumulations, maybe some slick spots out there, and about an inch of snow in some of these spots for the interior New England area. But notice all this heavy rain that we're going to see. The potential for flooding will be there as we deal with melting snow as well. Meanwhile, out west, we've got another atmospheric river event that's going to occur. Bringing that heavy rain, wind and of course, the mountain snow. This is going to slow down travel essentially from Washington to California through the day, today and even tomorrow.
Specifically, California picks up some additional snow and heavy rain. We'll see the wind be a risk as well. Anywhere from San Francisco to Eureka is going to be the area that we'll see the biggest potential for some flooding. This continues into the end of our weekend as well. That's a look at the weather across the country. Let's see what's happening in your neighborhood. 51 degrees and rain in the forecast for Philadelphia today. We head to the low 40s for New York. Boston hits 39 degrees today. Much warmer for Charleston with a high of 71 degrees. 80 from Orlando to Jacksonville. Rain and showers in the forecast from Montgomery to Atlanta. And that's a look at your forecast. Frances, back to you.
I appreciate it. Thanks, Angie. President Trump's new tariffs against two major U.S. allies are set to go into effect tomorrow. CNBC's Karen Gilchrist joins us next to break it all down for us.
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President Donald Trump set to make good on his threats to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Those tariffs, he says, will go into effect tomorrow. Let's bring in CNBC's Karen Gilchrist. Good morning Karen. What will be included in the tariffs and what can we expect them to have.
Good morning Frances. Yes, we've finally got some more clarity on these long awaited tariffs. With President Trump confirming that he would impose 25% blanket tariffs on Mexico and Canada starting from tomorrow. And this is set to include things like machinery, vehicles and electrical equipment, as well as popular consumer goods like beer, tequila and whiskey. But it's not clear yet whether it will include oil. The Mexico and Canada being two of the largest exporters of oil to the US. Now, Trump said the decision would be based on whether he deems the prices charged as fair. Now, this all, of course, stems over his concerns of over trade deficits, illegal immigration and fentanyl flows from these countries. But of course, the concern is that these tariffs could push up inflation, something that President Trump has vowed to cut, including cutting energy costs by half this year. Now attention is surely to turn to China, and whether we can expect similar tariffs or potentially more punitive tariffs over his concerns, again over trade deficits and the chemical flows for fentanyl from China into the U.S..
And certainly that's what we'll be looking out for. He did say last night that they're considering something, but didn't give much more detail than that at this stage. Back to you. Frances.
Karen. Thank you. Still to come, the biggest names in music come together for wildfire relief. And ladies and gentlemen, 50 years of SNL music history on one stage. The first details of details of the star studded tribute concert right after this.
Still to come on the channel two news. Well, the waters are certainly receding now. Still too close to call. Lester Holt, reporting from Ground Zero as it's being referred to, is the fact that the Haitian people know a little something about resiliency. What's the biggest risk right now? Some of the troops who have been proud to welcome you to the first presidential debate. In fact, we've been told we can't go any farther. There were some resilient folks. Let me give you a hint here.
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Still to come on the channel two news. Well, the waters are certainly receding now. Still too close to call. Lester Holt, reporting from Ground Zero as it's being referred to, is in fact, a taste of freedom. The Haitian people know a little something about resiliency. What's the biggest risk right now? Some of the truths you have been crowned. I want to welcome you to the first presidential debate. In fact, we've been told we can't go any farther. You are some resilient folks. Let me give you a hint here.
Kristen Welker hosts Meet the Press every Sunday on NBC.
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Food and medicine, this time being dropped over southern Gaza.
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It's all about love for me tonight. But guess what else I got for you? He's up. Hey. Hey. Now, let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild West.
The biggest names in music hit the stage in support of the entertainment capital of the world at Thursday night's Fire Aid concert at the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome. The benefit show for Wildlife relief began with a duet between Billie Eilish and Green Day, and didn't let up for the rest of the evening. Some of the biggest performances came from legends like No Doubt, Stevie Nicks and, of course, hometown heroes Red Hot Chili Peppers. Organizers say the concert has already raised over $60 million from ticket sales alone. And here's the thing even within just the past hour, it finally came to a close. Lady Gaga, one of the last performers on there, too, but keeping it going. I'm sure they're still reaching out, hoping that people will help out.
A star studded list for a really great cause. And that's not the only star studded concert making headlines on February 14th. Iconic musical acts from the last half century will descend upon Radio City Music Hall for SNL's 50 The Homecoming concert. Jimmy Fallon will host the extravaganza, which will feature just a few of the musical guests from SNL's first 50 years, including Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Bad Bunny, David Byrne, Jack White, and The Roots. The three hour special airs live on Peacock just two days before the 50th anniversary show. Right here, of course, on NBC. So much to look forward with this. We know the actual 50th anniversary episode is going to be incredible. This just another cherry on top, really.
And that's cherry on top of more cherries that have been the behind the scenes documentaries.
You're so right that.
Have been so, so good, such a great inside look at what happens in the making of just this genius that is SNL. Okay, when we come back, McDonald's is teaming up with a rising basketball superstar. And the big gesture of gratitude from the L.A. Dodgers for local firefighters.
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Closer to the Gaza border. The story of resilience and hope. Please take care of yourself and each other.
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From inside Iran, from Israel, from Tampa. Hurricane Milton is here. Where we're standing right now is covered in water. Continued reporting live with increasing frequency. Thanks for talking to me. Good to see.
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Closer to the Gaza border. A story of resilience and hope. Please take care of yourself and each other.
Breaking news tonight as we come on the air. Live tonight from New Orleans. Top story live from the Pacific Palisades. A fire like this would erupt into a blowtorch with those Santa Ana winds. So it's a race against time as you look over to Bourbon Street. The first question is, is it safe tonight? Gas prices coming down, mortgage rates starting to come down. When will consumers feel it even more? Paris's Notre Dame cathedral finally reopening following years of renovations every night.
It's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas. Streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now.
Here's what's making headlines this morning. The FDA has approved a new type of non-opioid painkiller from Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The drug, sold under the name, was approved to treat moderate to severe short term pain in adults. Experts say it does not have the evidence of being addictive, and they hope it can lead to fewer opioids being prescribed. McDonald's and a rising WNBA star are teaming up for a first of its kind meal deal starting February 10th. You can order the Angel Rice Special, named for the Chicago Sky player. The meal includes a barbecue, bacon, quarter pounder, fries, and a drink. It's McDonald's first national meal collaboration with a female athlete. The Los Angeles Dodgers expressing their gratitude to firefighters battling area wildfires. Shohei Ohtani and crew visiting the fire in Pacific Palisades and presenting a check for $350,000 for the L.A. Fire Department Foundation. Marianne Faithfull, the British singer and muse who influenced rock history, has died at 78 years old in London. Known for her hit As Tears Go By, Faithfull inspired songs like Sister Morphine and Wild Horses.
During her time with The Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. Early today, we'll be right back.
With Lester Holt. America's most trusted TV news anchor. The NBC news mobile app. Get connected to your favorite news shows for the top stories, breaking news and live video. Download the NBC news mobile app now.
Still to come on the channel two news. Well, the waters are certainly receding now. Still too close to call. Lester Holt, reporting from Ground Zero as it's being referred to, is in fact, a taste of freedom. The Haitian people know a little something about resiliency. What's the biggest risk right now? Some of the troops who have been around. I want to welcome you to the first presidential debate. In fact, we've been told we can't go any farther. There were some resilient folks. Let me give you a hint here.
Good morning. Glad to have you with us. I'm Savannah sellers.
I'm Joe Fryer right now on morning news now. Rescue teams are out helping people after two major hurricanes.
Is the U.S. being.
Drawn deeper into this conflict.
A new study reveals that retirement balances are falling short. Why aren't people saving enough?
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Hey there. I'm Hallie, and we are coming on the air tonight with new developments. What's up? What do we know about these chemicals? And should we be super concerned about it or what economic policy and what the election means for it. Break it down in English. What this means for people's money.
Lester Holt, America's most trusted TV news anchor Kristen Welker hosts Meet the Press every Sunday on NBC.
If you've ever dreamed of hosting Saturday Night Live, here's your chance. A new immersive experience is now open at Rockefeller Center. In honor of the iconic institution's 50th anniversary. From our New York station, here's Adam Kuperstein.
We're so excited to have you guys as host for the evening.
For the first.
Time.
Fans.
Are getting a firsthand look at a true SNL experience. Yes, from the signature headshots to the dressing rooms and cue cards.
This.
Is where they make the cue cards.
The attention to detail in this recreation of studio eight H is impressive. Even the tickets look like the real thing. And they were free. But the four day pop up sold out in ten minutes. I've never actually been to a taping of the show because getting tickets to that is impossible. So I feel like this is the next best thing. Every guest gets to feel what feel what it's really like to host Saturday Night Live with real touches from the show. Like the gnome you rub the nose of For Good Luck and your backstage, you come through the door, the band is playing, the lights are hot, you got to hit your mark. Look down here and then the dolly rolls over. The camera's on and we are live from New York. It's Saturday night.
It was like playing pretend.
On.
Steroids.
Ladies and.
Gentlemen.
It's going to be a great memory. It's going to be something that I'm definitely going to like. Tell my friends about.
The interactive experience uses live actors shuttling you from room to room. True to the spirit of this well orchestrated whirlwind of a show. Every chapter after the monolog, you get a shot to host Weekend Update.
I'm Colin Jost.
And after you pass by props many of them straight from the real studio, you step into sketches, party on like Wayne and Garth, and get gift wrapped for that iconic musical sketch featuring Justin Timberlake. You know, the one.
Oh, yeah.
Look at that. And while this may be your first time hosting, in the end, everyone's invited to kick back and celebrate in the Five-timers club.
I tell you, we know it all here at 30 Rock. There is nothing like that energy and vibe from SNL. Our thanks to Adam Kuperstein for that report. Now to a jolting new class at MIT. One professor offering a class all about making the perfect cup of Joe. This is MIT, after all. So the classroom is equipped with microscopes, computers, and a $20,000 espresso machine.
As everybody knows, the taste of coffee is actually a very personal and complicated experience. In this class, they get to, they get to think about the material. They learn about it. Coffee, right? Um, they get to, you know, touch and feel it.
Professor Jeremy Grossman says he combines lectures on chemistry and coffee science with hands on experiments for around 60 undergrad students. And I'm sure they are up right now. Thanks for watching. I'm Frances Rivera.
Right now on Morning News Now looking for answers. Nearly 36 hours after that deadly mid-air collision at Reagan National Airport, there's hope recovered. Black box recorders from the downed jet could hold the keys to what went wrong. But for.
Families and.
Friends who lost loved ones, the healing process is only just beginning.
You see these things happen in the news. You see them happen in other countries. And then I show up to the airport and my wife's not responding.
Officials say all 64 on board the passenger plane and three on the Army Blackhawk helicopter are presumed dead, making it the deadliest American air tragedy in almost 24 years. But while the while the investigation ramps up. NBC news has learned a preliminary FAA report is shedding light on the role of staffing at the air traffic control tower at the time of the crash. And while the cause has not been determined. National Transportation Safety Board leaders say the agency will issue a preliminary report within 30 days.
Good morning. Good to have you with us on this Friday. I'm Joe Fryer.
And I'm Savannah Sellers. We have a lot to get to this morning. In just a few minutes, we'll sit down with former commercial pilot Anthony Roman and NBC news national security reporter Dan Dallas. But we're going to get started with NBC's Aaron Gilchrist. He's at Reagan National Airport for us.
Aaron. Good morning. So federal investigators say it's going to be a long, painstaking process to determine what caused the midair collision. We know we'll get a preliminary report soon, but the entire investigation that could take several months, if not more than a year. What is the latest in the investigation and just what we're learning about the circumstances surrounding the crash?
Well, those black boxes that we've been talking about, Joe, really are critical to what the NTSB will be doing in the weeks and months ahead of us. The black boxes were recovered from the airplane that was involved in this crash two nights ago. The team from the NTSB has yet to get its hands on the data recorder, the information from the helicopter. But really having that information information will help them to paint a picture of what was happening in each of those aircraft in the minutes before this crash happened, and potentially even after to some degree. And that's going to be so important to really helping us all understand what happened here. The dive teams that were in the water since the minutes after this collision first happened are now out of the water. We understand there was a suspension of the recovery operations last night. Those will resume today. And NTSB, NTSB teams will be with divers from the DC Fire Department and other agencies back on the water as the process to recover bodies continues and continues, and the process to recover pieces of the aircraft will continue for the NTSB to again help them help inform their their investigation process.
I want you to hear from the chair of the NTSB. She spoke to the media yesterday a little bit about their process to try to help us understand what they're going to be doing and looking at going forward.
We look at the human, the machine and the environment. So we will look at all the humans that were involved in this accident. Again, we will look at the aircraft. We will look at the helicopter. We will look at the environment in which they were operating in.
We were told by the NTSB yesterday that it would be spending some time with the families of the victims involved in the collision here. We know that that happened yesterday afternoon. Obviously, an important part of this as well. As much as we want answers about what happened here, we can't forget about the fact that there were 67 people Who are believed to have died as a result of this crash. We understand from our station here in Washington, NBC Washington, that about 40 bodies have been recovered up to this point. And so part of the mission for the dive teams again today, Joe and Savannah will be will be to get back out on the water and to continue the recovery process.
And, Erin, in that same vein, you mentioned that number there late last night. We did hear from Washington officials. The way they put it is that the divers had divers had searched all the accessible areas of the Potomac River. There were 67 victims, though in total. That's what's believed to be the case. And you mentioned that count so far. So what is next in the recovery efforts here?
Yeah. Searching so much of the accessible area obviously is an important part for the divers here to get into the fuselage of the plane, which we understand was broken into three parts to try to retrieve the bodies of the victims. Here. You're showing some of their pictures on the screen here. We heard some reporting again from our station here in D.C., that there were instances where divers went into the fuselage and there were people who were still strapped into their seats. But it's still critically important that the search effort include recovering those bodies. And then there's a large section of the Potomac River here, from where the airport is, along the river, all the way down to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, as we understand it, which is probably a couple of miles where there has been debris discovered. And so they're going to continue to scour the waters here to try to get any debris that may be relevant to the NTSB investigation. Those things go back to laboratory to hangar spaces, and the teams from the NTSB will look at all of that stuff, all of that, the debris that's collected and all the information that's on those black boxes.
Again, to try to help them paint a more complete picture of what happened here. We, Savannah and Joe, I should mention, talked to some of the folks who were flying into Reagan Yesterday some of the first flights to begin happening here again. People told me that they were able to see the wreckage in the water as they were landing here. A surreal moment for them. Also a sad moment, one woman told us as she was landing. She just prayed for the souls that had been lost as a result of this accident.
I think so many people are doing right now. Aaron, thank you for your reporting. We appreciate it.
Absolutely. Let's bring in Anthony Roman. He's a former commercial pilot. You were with us through the morning yesterday as we talked through this. Thank you so much for being here again, Anthony. So we mentioned those two black box devices being recovered from the jet, the American Airlines plane. Walk us through how investigators start to analyze those devices, what information they have that could provide any answers.
Well, those.
Black.
Boxes have a potpourri of data that is exceptionally useful for the NTSB to conduct a detailed analysis of what may have gone wrong. As we discussed UST yesterday. Once that airliner is under 1000ft, the telecast. The collision alert system does not function fully. It does have information as to where the conflicting traffic is and the distance it is, but it doesn't provide oral warnings. It doesn't make any suggestions as to which direction and what action to take. So the black boxes will have the recordings of the pilots speaking to one another, whether or not they saw the aircraft at the last moment, what their descent rate was, was the power settings properly set? Were they approaching the airport following proper procedure? So all of the mechanical and electronic information with regard to how the aircraft is functioning and whether it's functioning properly is also in those data boxes. So tremendous amount of information and exceptionally helpful.
Something else people are talking about NBC news reporting a preliminary report by the FDA indicating air traffic control staffing was not normal at the time of the crash, so it was deemed acceptable. Basically, one person keeping an eye on both plane and helicopter traffic at that moment. We don't know what the cause is right now, but how closely will investigators look at this?
Well, acceptable quote unquote is a subjective phrase. My understanding and my personal experience with very busy airports JFK, LaGuardia, DCA, Atlanta and others simply reflect that the controllers are beyond exceptionally busy. They sound like a southern auctioneers at a at a horse auction. They speak so rapidly. There are so many aircraft inbound and outbound, so many occasional conflicts that they have to resolve. There are language concerns in approaching foreign and international pilots who do not speak English exceptionally well or have thick accents, and they have to carve their way through that during very busy transit times at airports. Now you introduce helicopters flying 2 to 300ft under jetliners. And from my personal perspective, it's just a bridge too far. It's a tad too much.
And we'll see if change comes after a tragedy like this. Anthony Roman, thank you so much. We appreciate your time.
As the investigation and recovery continue. We are learning more about the victims who lost their lives in this collision that includes soldiers as well as figure skaters and their coaches and parents. One of the victims just 12 years old. NBC News Now anchor Tom llamas shares some of their stories and how they're being remembered.
In that stunning moment of horror. Flight 5342 was only minutes away from landing when the lives of its 60 passengers and four crew members suddenly ended. The violent collision with a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter, also killing three U.S. service members, an Army captain, staff sergeant and chief warrant officer. 67 lives lost in an instant as friends and family of the victims prayed for a miracle. There was little hope because after that collision in the sky, both aircraft plummeted into the Potomac River. The icy waters that were only waist deep in about 35 degrees. And we spoke with DC's Fire Chief moments before he went to meet with those victims families. When you go into a meeting like that, I mean, what goes through your head and what do you want to tell them?
They're going to ask us questions, and we're going to do our best to answer those questions with the facts.
The first officer of the American Airlines flight was Sam Lilly. His father posting. He was so proud when Sam became a pilot, also on the flight. Some of the country's most promising young figure skaters who were in Wichita at a highly selective training camp.
There are brothers and sisters, and we're all very close to each other.
The Skating Club of Boston devastated. Six affiliated with the club perished. Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan trained with the club as a teen.
Much like everyone here has been saying, is not sure how to process it. Oh, shoot. I'm sorry. Okay.
For 1956 Olympic champion Tenley Albright. The tragedy brought back memories of the 1961 plane crash that killed 18 U.S. figure skaters.
I really can't believe that it happened because I picture them right here.
Among those lost now 13 year old skater Gina Hahn and her mother, Jen. Gina was known for her grace and musicality on the ice, and 16 year old Spencer Lane, who was traveling with his mom, Christine Spencer was known for his jumps, chronicling his progress on TikTok. His final post on Instagram. This view from his plane window before takeoff.
Skating is a very close and tight knit community. It's a close, tight bond, and I think for all of us, we have lost family.
Also on board skating coaches and former world champions Zhenya Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The married couple leaves behind their son Max, a skater hoping to qualify for the Winter Olympics next year. Brielle Beyer was only 12 years old. Her mom, Justina Magdelena with her on the plane, remembered at her home rink in Virginia.
She was really, really talented and they were my inspiration.
The D.C. Fire chief also tells me that when they came out here, they thought they could possibly find some survivors. That was their hope. But after searching for several hours in those icy waters, in the darkness, they realized that there were no survivors. He tells me that because the fuselage is in pieces and because things are still under the water, it's been hard to recover some of the victims that are either trapped or they just have not been located just yet. Reporting from Reagan National Airport. Tom Llamas, NBC news.
All right, Tom, thank you very much. Just heartbreaking. Will the Pentagon is launching its own investigation into this crash.
We want to give you a live look at the Potomac River, where the recovery mission is still underway. Now that Department of Defense investigation will look into how the Blackhawk military helicopter, which was apparently being manned by an experienced crew, managed to collide with the airplane.
NBC news national security reporter Dan Deluce joins us on this now. Dan, thanks for joining us. Yesterday, President Trump had said the pilots of the Army helicopter bore responsibility for this crash. We also heard Defense Secretary Pete Headset describe them as fairly experienced. What more do we know at this point about who was on this training flight, what their experience level actually was and how that factors in?
That's right. This crew was very experienced by all accounts. They had. They were very seasoned. One of the pilots had more than 1000 hours flight hours. The other had about 500. And this was merely an evaluation flight, an annual evaluation for experienced crew and of course, the Army and the military fly helicopters in that area. Partly as a VIP service, they are ferrying senior officials and military commanders around the Washington area. And they fly low along the Potomac River. Anyone who has spent time in D.C. will tell you about the pretty, pretty heavy helicopter traffic that flows up and down the Potomac. So it would be very misleading to think this was these were novices flying that helicopter. And also, it's very common to see that type of helicopter, the Black Hawk. That is a that is a common helicopter to see along the Potomac. So at the moment we don't know why this collision happened. And there is no evidence at this point that it was pilot error, as we've just heard.
This is a methodical, Article, uh, effort here to investigate what happened and mishaps and aviation accidents take time to understand. And they go through all the equipment and they interview the air traffic controllers and so on.
There are no easy answers. Of course, we have the big NTSB investigation. So, Dan, what is the Pentagon specifically going to focus on with its investigation?
Of course, there will always defer to and be helping the federal investigation, which is which is the lead. But they will be looking at, uh, the pilots, the crew, uh, what their flight plan was going into this for this evaluation, what path or lane they were on. There are routes for the helicopters and then routes for the planes. And, uh, you know, were they on the right? In the right lane? Were they shifting to another lane? Uh, did that was that handled properly? Did they have proper information and what kind of situational awareness did they have as that passenger jet approached Dan Dallas?
Thank you very much.
In a news conference following the collision Thursday, President Trump took the opportunity to attack hiring decisions and leadership at the Department of Transportation under the Biden administration without providing any evidence. He suggested diversity, equity and inclusion policies were to blame for the deadly crash. NBC News senior White House correspondent Garrett Hake has the details.
In a white House news conference that began with a somber moment of silence. President Trump pivoting from prayer.
I speak to you this morning in an hour of anguish for a nation to politics. I put safety first. Obama, Biden and the Democrats put policy first.
Suggesting without evidence that Democratic policies at the FAA and military, which President Trump ended last week with an executive order, may have contributed to the mid-air collision.
We have to have our smartest people. It doesn't matter what they look like, how they speak, who they are. It matters. Intellect, talent.
At one point, going after Biden. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Just got a good line of bullshit. He's run it right into the ground with his diversity.
But reporters pressing the president. What evidence did he have that diversity hiring caused the crash?
It just could have been.
And later, as he signed an order to review FAA hiring decisions the last four years.
Are you saying race or gender played a role in this tragedy?
It may have. I don't know. Incompetence might have played a role. Well, we'll let you know that.
The president echoed by the vice president and defense secretary.
We want the best people at air traffic control.
The era of Dai is gone.
At the Defense Department.
But the comments sparking fierce backlash. Buttigieg posting despicable. As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying. We put safety first. The top Senate Democrat responding.
For the president of the United States to throw out idle speculation as bodies are still being recovered and families still being notified, it just turns your stomach.
Our thanks to Garrett Hake for that report. The president also named a new acting FAA director last night. The position had been vacant since Inauguration Day when the previous administrator resigned.
Well, on Capitol Hill yesterday, several of President Trump's embattled cabinet picks were on the hot seat for another round of confirmation hearings. Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel up for top jobs overseeing national security were the latest to spar with senators. Both attempted to downplay and distance themselves from controversies in their past. NBC news chief Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles has more.
Do you think that.
A pair of President Trump's top national security nominees facing high stakes confirmation hearings?
There will be no politicization at the FBI.
Former federal prosecutor Kash Patel nominated for FBI director. The staunch Trump supporter pressed by Democrats about his independence.
Would you be willing to resign the post of FBI director if pressed and given no choice but to obey the order or resign?
Senator, I will always obey the law.
And President Trump's pardons of violent offenders from January 6th.
I do not agree with the commutation of any sentence of any individual who committed violence against law enforcement.
Patel strongly defended by Republicans.
The reason you're here is because most of the public, almost every Republican, believes that the FBI has been used continuously in a political fashion, lying to get Donald Trump.
Across the Capitol, former Democratic congresswoman and combat veteran Tulsi Gabbard nominated for director of National Intelligence.
What truly unsettles my political opponents is I refuse to be their puppet.
Gabbard pushing back on claims she parroted Kremlin talking points.
I want to make certain that in no way does Russia get a pass in either your mind or your heart.
I'm offended by the question because my sole focus, commitment and responsibility is about our own nation.
And pressed over her previous call for a pardon for Edward Snowden, who fled the U.S. after releasing a trove of government secrets.
Is Edward Snowden a traitor to the United States of America?
I understand how critical our national security.
Apparently you.
Don't.
And Republicans left the hearing for Kash Patel feeling confident that he would win confirmation. They seem more skeptical about the prospects of both Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F Kennedy Jr. Although not one Republican has yet to say they will vote no.
All right, Ryan, thank you.
All right. Time to take a look outside. Once again, the northeast is in for some more snow and also some rain. Let's take a closer look with your morning news now weather.
Andrew Lassman, it's already started. Good morning.
Good morning guys. Man. Savannah, you got to sound a little more excited. It's Friday. We don't have all bad news when it comes to the weather, but yes, we do have a kind of wintry mix for some folks across the northeast. And some rain that's going to stretch all the way down to the southeast. Here's the look right now at your at your radar. Plenty of rain from the Mid-Atlantic back towards Tennessee and Kentucky and stretching down to the Gulf Coast. And we do have a little bit of that wintry weather kind of settling in for New England. So no surprise, those winter weather advisories are up across this region. Those will stay with us through the day today as this system works farther to the east, big batch of rain associated with it and a little kind of sliver of some of that snow and maybe some ice accumulation that you'll see across this region, but most of it's going to fall in the form of rain, of course, because our temperatures are running above normal for a lot of this part of the country right now.
Still, though, a little bit of travel difficulties when it comes to the rain and the ice and snow. Here's a big picture. Look at the rain. We do still have some snow on the ground in some of these spots. So the melting snow along with that heavy rain, maybe some localized flooding across this region. But overall, I think we'll pick up maybe a half of an inch of rain and some of the more widespread areas, and up to an inch or maybe two inches in some of the higher, uh, in some of the higher amounts. Now, snowfall forecast, not all that impressive, but maybe an inch across this region. So again, it will be a little difficult on the roadways. And we'll see some of that ice accumulating. So make sure you have a little extra time if you're going to hit the roads across parts of New England through tonight. Big picture. Look for your weekend. It will stay mild for honestly, most of us east of the Rockies temperatures 60s 70s across the south.
We've got 50s and 60s for parts of the Central Plains. Even the Midwest doesn't look bad for this time of year. Notice the heavy rain though, that's going to arrive and really is going to arrive today. For folks across the West Coast, we've got another atmospheric river taking shape. It's going to bring some much needed rain to parts of California, not Southern California. This is more central California, up into parts of Oregon and Washington along the coast. And that unfortunately continues into Sunday. This is going to leave us with the potential for not just some some snow in parts of the mountainous areas, but we'll see some strong winds as well. And of course, that rain will bring the potential for some flooding concerns across that region. Specifically, Bay area out east and points into Northern California is where we'll be watching. Otherwise, great day on Sunday for the southeast guys and it will stay mild for the Midwest.
Sunday I'm just realizing we won't have a show on your favorite day of the year. Oh no.
I'm.
Going to.
Say.
Groundhog Day.
The audacity of that.
Rodent.
To.
Try and.
Take my job. You know.
We'll talk about it on when you come.
Back. I'm sure I'll complain on Monday.
Yeah. All right. Thanks, Angie. We'll have much more on that deadly plane crash throughout the morning, including what we've learned about the final moments before the collision.
First, though, chaos during a hostage release in Gaza. How it all unfolded. And when an American hostage is now set to be freed. That is.
Good morning.
Glad to have.
You with us. I'm Savannah sellers.
I'm Joe Fryer. Right now on morning news now. Rescue teams are out helping people after two major hurricanes.
Is the U.S. being drawn deeper into this conflict?
A new study reveals that retirement balances are falling short. Why aren't people saving enough?
What are the questions that you hear the most when it comes to staying safe online? These weight loss drugs? Are we concerned about long term side effects?
A effects. Lot going on in space right now.
Make no mistake.
This.
Mission is high stakes.
Morning news now streaming weekdays at seven.
We are back with the latest on that fragile ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Three Israeli and five Thai hostages were released in a chaotic handover by Hamas on Thursday. One release in northern Gaza went smoothly, but crowds of cheering of jeering Hamas supporters in the southern city of Khan Younis surrounded the hostages, and that created a dangerous situation. Hostages were being escorted by armed Hamas fighters were visibly afraid.
In exchange, Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners, including some who have been convicted of deadly attacks. This comes as President Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who helped broker the ceasefire deal, paid a visit to the region earlier this week in Tel Aviv. Yesterday, Witkoff said an American will be among the next round of hostages set to be released tomorrow.
NBC news national correspondent Yasmin Vossoughian joins us now from Tel Aviv with more on this. Yasmin. Good morning. Let's start with that chaotic scene we all saw at yesterday's hostage exchange. Tell us more about just how this all unfolded and how those hostages are doing now.
Yeah, chaotic Joe is putting it lightly. Terrifying for many of these hostages in being released. Really? The whole process taking 90 minutes or so. Let me kind of walk you through the numbers here and the folks that were released and how it went down. We had three hostages, five Thai nationals as well, amongst those hostages. One of them was a soldier, two of them civilians. The soldier was released in Jabalia in the north of Gaza was a fairly seamless handover to the Red cross. However, the two civilians, along with the five Thai nationals, they were released and handed over to the Red cross in front of Yahya Sinwar, the former political head of Hamas's ruined home. We know obviously he was killed as well by the IDF, by Israeli army. That scene was in fact incredibly chaotic, we are told. The hostages were were terrified during the entire 90 minute ordeal. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu was, in fact outraged by the scenes that he saw there. As you see, it was, uh, Islamic jihadist soldiers, along with Palestinians, that were crowding the entire area during the exchange, after the exchange took place, guys.
Bibi himself, in fact, held those 110 Palestinian prisoners until he was guaranteed this type of scene would not take place again for the next exchange of prisoners. Once the hostages, I should say, once that guarantee was secured, those 110 Palestinian prisoners were in fact released. Guys.
Yasmin, let's talk about these hostages that are set to be released tomorrow, including one American. What do we know?
So, three hostages to be released tomorrow. One American, as you as you mentioned, Keith Siegel, 65 years old, along with Calderon, 54 years old, Jardin Bebas, 35 years old as well. All set to be released. And again, nothing is guaranteed here, guys. So we want to be clear about that, right? Set to be released in this phase of this deal tomorrow. This will be the first Israeli American hostage to be released throughout this peace deal. We know that there are two other Israeli American hostages that are still being held, and we believe they are, in fact, alive. So again, that is going to be a major day tomorrow in the kind of phase of this peace deal to see an American Israeli hostage released tomorrow, guys.
And Yasmin, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff wrapped up his trip to the region yesterday. He's the first high ranking U.S. official to visit Gaza in more than a decade. Real quick, what else came out of his visit?
Yeah. So visiting Gaza 15 years, as you mentioned, visiting Hostage Square as well. Certainly, it was a moment for the Trump administration who wants to broker a peace deal, a mideast peace deal not unlike the administration's before him. Witkoff also meeting with a far right member of, uh, of Netanyahu's government, who in fact was against brokering the peace deal from the very beginning, someone who, in fact, the Biden administration had refused to meet with, um, leading up to the brokering of the peace deal. Nonetheless, Witkoff making this trip into Gaza and certainly having important conversations along with the Prime Minister as well.
All right, Yasmin, thank you so much.
For more on this, let's bring in Aaron David Miller. He's a former adviser to multiple secretaries of state, also a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Aaron, good morning. Thanks for joining us. So I want to pick up on something we just discussed with Yasmin, um, which is Prime Minister Netanyahu's response to those scenes, that chaotic scenes from that hostage release, he wrote in a statement. I view with great severity the shocking scenes during the release of our hostages. This is yet another proof of the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas terrorist organization. What can you tell us about the reaction within Israel to what we saw there? And also the clear kind of show of force here on the part of Hamas, knowing what some of Israel's stated goals were? What is kind of the attitude here that Hamas is re-emerging in defiance during a cease fire?
Yeah.
First of all, thanks for having me, guys. Look, this is not an agreement between the United States and Switzerland. It's an agreement between two combatants who, over the last 15 months, basically have tried everything possible to inflict as much pain and trauma on one another as possible. Hamas and and and Israel. Netanyahu is presiding over a a increasingly volatile right wing coalition. The Israeli public emotionally torn with the shadow of October 7th still hanging over them. Looks at these scenes and it's not just the Prime Minister. It's a large majority of the Israelis who I think have come to the conclusion. Those scenes demonstrate to me that Hamas is willfully, quite intentionally trying to demonstrate that they are in charge. They can protect two innocent hostages who they've abused over the course of the last year and a half from massive crowds. And it's a demonstration of power. I'd like to think it was basic incompetence, but I think there was a message here. The message is it's not total victory. Mr. Prime Minister, as you have suggested, we are here.
We're not going anywhere. And we still have a large number of of Israelis to trade. But we want you out of Gaza and we want an end to the war. Uh, phase one, guys, I think will go not smoothly, but I think it will be will be implemented. The problem is how to transition from phase one to phase two are the critical decisions need to be made by both sides?
Yeah. Aaron I want to ask you about that negotiations starting for phase two of this deal. Is there a sense that what we saw yesterday could endanger the cease fire and thus the hostages who remain in custody?
You know, the reason that this is happening, phase one, is because both the state of Israel and Hamas see significant advantage. It's less certain to me a negotiations begun begin February 4th. That I think is Tuesday. That's the day that the Prime Minister is going to sit down first. Foreign visitor that President Trump is going to see. And you know, from my experience in Arab-Israeli negotiations, in relatively normal Arab-Israeli Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, they tend to have two speeds slow and slower. So I would expect that getting to phase two, if you're lucky, is simply going to be dragged out without a return to the resumption of the war. But very hard to imagine all of the hostages being released, the 65 that will remain. The Israelis judge perhaps half the soldiers are no longer alive in exchange for ending the war and withdrawal from Gaza. It's very hard for me to see that happening any time soon.
Aaron David Miller, thank you very much for your time this morning. Coming up, the latest on the investigation into that deadly midair collision.
What we've learned about the staffing levels inside the air traffic control tower next.
From inside Iran, from Israel, from Tampa. Hurricane Milton is here. Where we're standing right now is covered in water. Part of our continued reporting level. Increasing threats. Thanks for talking to me. Okay. You'll be safe.
Is it your plan to deport everyone who is here illegally over the next four years? Who do you think is the leader of the Democratic Party right now? Can you guarantee that grocery prices will, in fact come down? If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
We are back with more on the investigation into the tragic midair collision between an American Airlines jet and a military helicopter at Reagan National Airport Wednesday night. Federal investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder from the plane. They will provide critical details about the final moments before the accident.
Investigators also confirmed late last night that divers finished searching what they call all the accessible areas of the Potomac River. We're also learning more about the 67 victims who lost their lives.
NBC News Now top story anchor Tom llamas with us. He's live in Arlington, Virginia. Tom, thanks very much for joining us. Let's start with the investigation. What are we learning from officials that developed overnight?
Savannah and Joe, great to be with you guys this morning. There have been a lot of developments and new reporting overnight. First, we're getting our first look at the black boxes that were pulled from the passenger jet, the American Airlines plane. They were able to recover those yesterday. They were sent to the NTSB lab here in D.C. they were cleaned and looked at closely. And they're going to start the analysis now. As you can see here from these images, on top of that, there has been some new reporting about the elevation of the Black Hawk helicopter, essentially, how high was it flying and was it possibly flying too high? And that's what led to the collision. So that's all being looked at this morning. Today dive teams will reenter the Potomac River just behind me here at Reagan National Airport. And they have two goals, part of the same operation. They're going to try to recover victims that have been inaccessible, while also trying to salvage both the plane and the helicopter parts that are sort of all over the Potomac River this morning.
It's a very careful process because they have to preserve evidence and again, try to reach those victims that have been trapped that they have not been able to get to so far. So a lot happening today. All of this, as the victims family members have now come to, to D.C., the NTSB meeting with them yesterday to try to answer whatever questions they could. But the big question why is going to take some time?
Tom, talking about the divers, the recovery effort. I know you spoke with the Washington DC fire chief about the conditions that they're dealing with in the river. We know it's icy. It's cold, that the wind has been blowing that debris all over. I mean, what did he tell you about these recovery efforts and just what they're up against?
Yeah. You know, Joe, one of the interesting things he told me was when you look at that sort of horrific video and the way both aircraft crashed into the Potomac, you would assume that firefighters would come here with no hope. But he told me that was not the case. They they came here thinking they would find survivors, hoping they would find survivors. But after several hours searching in those icy waters, in the darkness, they knew that there were there would be no survivors, that all 67 people that were involved in this horrific collision would not come out of that water alive. He also told me that the conditions, obviously, as you can imagine, were terrible. Besides sort of the weather conditions and the ice, there was jet fuel all over the water and the water pushes everything downstream because it's a moving river. And so they have to be incredibly careful. They actually have boats not clustered, but actually spread out across the Potomac River in case something pops up, whether it be evidence or evidence or something else, and it floats down the river.
They're able to recover that and bring it so it can be part of the investigation as well.
Tom Llamas, thank you very much for your reporting.
Dozens of federal investigators are now on the ground at Reagan Airport. They are working around the clock to figure out what happened Wednesday night.
NBC news senior correspondent Tom Costello covers aviation for us. He has details from a preliminary FAA report that sheds some light on what may have gone wrong.
A source tells NBC news a preliminary FAA report on the midair crash indicates staffing at the Reagan Airport tower was not normal for the amount of traffic at that hour. Normally, one controller handles planes, while another controls helicopters. But Wednesday night, one controller was doing both at the time of the crash, though that is acceptable under established FAA standards. Investigators best clues into what went wrong may rely on those last few words, as controllers asked the chopper crew if they could see the CRG, the regional jet flight.
Club has an aircraft inside.
The response is garbled. Does the chopper pilot say aircraft in sight.
Has an aircraft inside?
If so, why did they collide? Miracle on the Hudson. Captain Sully Sullenberger says that radio response is critical.
It changed the rules, and it required that they see each other until they were safely clear.
Like many airports, Reagan has had its share of close calls in recent years. March 7th, 2023 controllers ordered a United flight to abort takeoff after another plane crossed in front of it. April 18th, 2024 A southwest plane crossed a runway just as a JetBlue flight was preparing to take off. May 30th, 2024 A controller canceled takeoff after another airliner was cleared to land on an on an intersecting runway. Veteran pilots say flying up the river to runway 33 involves staying between 4 and 500ft, while helicopters should be flying beneath them under 200ft, which.
Requires a lot of skill. The runway is very small for an airport that handles this amount of traffic.
The new transportation secretary says flight activity was routine.
This was not.
Unusual.
With military aircraft flying the river and aircraft landing at DCA.
Investigators are looking into whether this helicopter was flying too low. It was apparently flying in one of those highway tracks in the sky for helicopters here outside of Reagan, going from track one to track four. It may have, according to sources, deviated and gone to a higher altitude than was assigned. And that could have put it into a direct conflict with the American Eagle flight. Back to you.
All right, Tom, thank you.
Coming up, teams, teams from around the world coming together to create a popular podcast.
After the break, I'll bring you the story of how it all started with a small after school club.
I.
Top story.
Live from the Pacific Palisades. Live in Tel Aviv. Live tonight from New Orleans every weeknight.
It's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now. Kristen Welker hosts Meet the Press every Sunday on NBC.
In this morning's financial headlines, a new FDA approved painkiller is on the market, and it may cut down on the risk of addiction and overdose.
CNBC now has the latest on that and other money news. Savannah. Good morning.
Hey, Savannah. Hey, Joe. Good morning to you and happy Friday. Yes. So Vertex Pharmaceuticals is set to rally today after the FDA approved the company's non-opioid painkiller. It's the first such drug to get the okay from the regulator in decades. Now, the vertex drug can treat moderate to severe acute pain and will be sold under the brand name Dr.. Now, the company will charge about $15 per pill or $217 for a week's prescription. Shares of Apple are rising after the company reported quarterly earnings and sales that topped analysts estimates. However, iPhone sales slipped, with China continuing to be a major weak spot, with sales dropping 11%. Now, Apple has yet to secure an AI partner in China to roll out its new Apple intelligence features. Apple does expect a rebound in sales this quarter, and it's not July, but 7-Eleven is giving customers a free treat. The convenience store chain says you can enjoy a free small Slurpee all day today to celebrate the end of January. 7-Eleven typically offers free Slurpee Day on its birthday, July 11th.
Now, the company says everyone could use a refreshing pick me up after a long winter month. Citing a study from the American Psychiatric Association finding 41% of Americans experience a decline in their mood in cooler months.
Guys, January has been a long year I agree.
With.
You there.
Joe. Exactly.
I agree with that statement.
Whatever you want to give me for free, I'll take it.
Right. Right. Thanks, Ivana. Thank you. Well, a deeply personal podcast is helping teens around the globe find community. It is called This Teenage Life. And it's creating a safe space for teens to talk about everything from the joy of a high school crush to the pain of parents splitting up. Take a look.
Hi, I'm Matthew.
I'm 17 years old and I'm from Portugal. Hi, I'm Theo, I'm 17 and I'm from New York City. I am from Guwahati, Assam, India. I'm like three a 17 year old from Sweden. And this teenage life is one of the warmest places I have found on the internet.
Teenagers from across the.
Globe are tuning in and listening.
Up to This Teenage Life.
A podcast by.
Teens for.
Teens.
We've talked about everything.
We talked about the state of the world, the environment, but then also just like.
Crushes or having.
Like breakouts on.
A big.
School.
Day or something, and being mad that you got a pimple on your forehead.
19 year old Stella Sturgill.
18 year old Jaiden Dial and 15 year old Lydia Bock are part of the international editorial and production team.
The project started as an after.
School.
Club.
My name is Molly Josephs. My title on this teenage life kind.
Of.
Hilariously.
Is.
The adult who works on this teenage.
Life.
How did this thing get started? I was working at a high school.
In San Diego, California.
And young people have so many big feelings. And so I ask these teenagers who I had met if they were interested in joining an after school club, and we called ourselves this teenage life, and we would meet and we would sit around one microphone. We'd record those conversations, edit them, and add music and art that they made. And then we'd publish a podcast and it was heard by, you know, ten people enter 2020 Covid lockdowns and virtual school. The podcast went remote.
And teens.
From.
Illinois.
To.
India.
Reached out to get involved.
Everyone who has joined since the original group sent an email.
And.
That was initially to be like, thank you for this episode or this episode really moved me. Like I was feeling that, but I didn't know I was feeling that. And so hearing someone else say it made me feel less alone.
Contributors meet biweekly.
Virtually recording.
Conversations.
On a certain topic. They've covered themes like.
Body image, faith, failure, birthdays, academic pressure.
And even realizing parents are.
People too. Which topics have hit home the most for you all? The first episode I made was the divorce episode, and I.
Was pretty new to this teenage life. But like I remember sitting there and talking to people.
And people.
Were crying, but they were also just very, like, supportive of me.
You just want.
To talk to someone. And even.
If our listeners.
Can't see us, they hear us.
And so.
I say.
That.
We're not.
Just.
Talking to hear ourselves. We are talking so others can hear their own thoughts.
With nearly.
200 episodes released.
This teenage life has been streamed and downloaded.
In over 180.
Countries.
Not only.
Bridging cultural.
Gaps, but.
Generational.
Ones too.
I think it's also really important for parents and grandparents and aunts and older siblings to listen to as well. This teenage life kind of provides like a little bit of a window into the inner workings of teenagers, and it's crazy and fun and amazing and awkward and weird and cool.
During a time when mental health experts describe Gen Z as the loneliest generation. This teenage life offers young people a community of creativity and support. What do you hear from people?
I've had teachers come up to me and be like, hey, so I used your episode to teach about this thing and I'm like, oh, wow. Like, you're really like listening to what I'm thinking. And I think that makes me pause because I think there are such few spaces that people take young people seriously. We're all just kids or teenagers trying to move through the world and figure out what to do with ourselves.
Aren't we all just that, even if you're not a teenager. Also, if you're more of a reader, they've also got a Substack, but I suggest checking out the podcast, giving it a listen. It was so sweet because they all felt like they knew each other because they've been doing this for so long, but that was their first time together in person.
First time they met. I like how the teachers use it to teach, but I also have to imagine it gives the teachers insight into how kids are feeling, which can help them deal with all the issues that they're dealing with.
Yeah, same thing that she hears from parents is like, this sparked such a good conversation for me to know how to talk to my teen. Pretty neat. Very cool. Thank you. Coming up, it's a clash of the pop powerhouses after a spectacular year in music.
We are gearing up for the Grammys. Everything you need to know about this weekend's awards show. Next.
Breaking news tonight as we come on the air. Live tonight from New Orleans. Top story live from the Pacific Palisades. Fire like this would erupt into a blowtorch with those Santa Ana winds. So it's a race against time as you look over to Bourbon Street. The first question is, is it safe tonight? Gas prices coming down, mortgage rates starting to come down. When will consumers feel it even more? Paris's Notre Dame cathedral finally reopening following years of renovations.
Every night it's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas. Streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now.
Welcome back. Finally, this hour music's biggest night of the year is almost here. The 67th Annual Grammy Awards are happening live in Los Angeles this Sunday, with fierce competition for the biggest awards.
This year's album of the year category is pitting pop icons Beyonce and Taylor Swift against newcomers Chaperon and Sabrina Carpenter, and this year's ceremony will do more than just entertain. The Recording Academy has partnered with several organizations in Los Angeles to help raise funds for the victims of the recent wildfires.
That's awesome. For more, let's bring in Brittany Spanos. She's a staff writer for rolling Stone, where she covers music, fandom and pop culture. Brittany, good morning. Thanks so much for being here. We are going to get into winter predictions and put you on the spot in a minute. But first, who are some of the performers and presenters we should be looking out for this weekend?
I mean, it's going to still be a really, really stacked award show. I mean, I know a lot, a lot, a lot of the show is going to be focused on the wildfires and raising awareness. So they are bringing in a lot of performers like Chris Martin and Brittany Howard are going to be performing segments that are about that, but they also have most of the best New Artist nominees performing Chapel and Sabrina Carpenter. And they also will have other nominees like Billie Eilish and Charli XCX, hopefully doing some some really exciting and giant performances for their album.
So excited.
So rolling Stone is out with a list of predictions for the winners in all 13 categories. I'm going to give I like to do this my Grammy 101. For those who are confused. Album of the year. That's the big thing they produce with lots of tracks. Record of the year, for reasons no one understands, is one song every year. Song of the year is a writing award. It goes to the folks who wrote a song. That being said, album of the year is usually considered the big one. Who should win? Who does rolling Stone think will actually win? This is the award. Beyonce has never won. Is this finally the year?
Yeah, I mean it is going to be really contentious. It's a tough year. I think a lot of us are kind of rooting for Beyonce to have this big win this year. I mean, it's a really great album. It's really deep into the history of country, especially into Black Country. Um, but it could be really contentious. Taylor Swift has taken home this award so many times, so it really could go to Tortured Poets department. But the new artist in the category are incredible people. Sabrina, those are some of the most talked about albums of the year. So it's really surprising. But I'm kind of rooting for Beyonce this year.
And what about record of the year? As Joe noted, not album of the year.
I mean, record, of course, is about the recording of a song, which is probably the best way to remember how you know how to how this how a word goes. But, you know, I think it could again, it's a tough there's a lot of huge singles from this year. I am personally rooting for Chappell. Roan. I think that song is one of the best singles of the year. Um, so that could be a really great win for a new artist.
But as you know, they really love throwing Grammys at Billie Eilish. Like, they.
Just I mean, all the.
Grammys. Yeah. Let's talk.
About.
Song of the year. That's the song writing award. This is a tough one, right?
Yeah. I mean, so again, like song to I guess sort of to help again song songwriting like sort of makes it easy to think about who's going to how that award is in fact awarded. But I think Sabrina Carpenter's Please, please, please is so fun. I mean, it's a great sort of country twang to it. Um, so surprising after espresso. So, so true. Could really go to her. I think the new artist could really take home some of the the big four this year, which could be a really great sort of diversification of all of the all the awards this year.
And let's talk about that award, best New artist. What do you think?
Yeah, I mean, we had a lot of breakouts in 2024. I mean, it was really incredible year for new artists, especially after a few years due to the pandemic where there was less touring, less opportunities for new artists to really shine in that way. So it is kind of anyone's game, but I think a lot of the industry is rooting for Chapel Road. I mean, she had not only good luck, babe, but almost half of her album ended up becoming giant hits over the course of 2024. She was the name on everybody's lips.
Bottom line, kind of unpredictable year which will make it fun, right?
Yeah, I mean, it could be a lot of surprises, a lot of left field moments. I mean, we have like someone like Andre 3000, who's won multiple times with Outkast up for album of the year for his flute album. I mean, he could easily take it home, too. There's a lot of kind of New new opportunities for for huge surprises on the night that I'm sure everyone will be talking about.
Brittany Spanos, thank you so much. Happy watching. Listening.
Thank you.
For this. Our morning news now.
But the news continues right now. Good morning. I'm Savannah Sellers.
And I'm Joe Fryer. Right now on morning news. Now the grim aftermath of that deadly midair collision near DC's Reagan airport. Investigators finding a critical clue. A pair of black boxes from that American Airlines jet pulled from the icy Potomac River comes as NBC Washington reports, the bodies of 40 of the 67 victims have been recovered so far. Well, President Trump draws some sharp criticism for choosing to attack Dei efforts in his response to the disaster.
The Diversity and Inclusion hiring plan, which says diversity is integral to achieving FAA's mission of ensuring safe and efficient travel. I don't think so. I don't think so. I think it's just the opposite.
We've got team coverage as the investigation unfolds. We're also learning more about those aboard the ill fated flight. At least six passengers from the same figure skating group out of Boston. A tightly knit New England community now coming together to honor their neighbors. Elsewhere in Washington, another blistering day of heated testimony on Capitol Hill. Two of President Trump's top national security picks facing tough questions. Kash Patel and former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. But how are their answers resonating with lawmakers, including some Republicans this morning? We're going to bring you the latest in just a moment. And hope from the ashes as Southern California reels from those deadly January wildfires. Some of the biggest names in music coming together in the City of Angels for a show of support like no other. Incredible how this concert came together so quickly with some of the biggest names in music. All for a good cause. We'll get to that in a moment. Let's begin, of course, with the investigation into the deadly midair collision between an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter.
It happened near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night. Officials have now recovered two crucial devices the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder. Both could provide important information about the final moments before the tragedy.
Also, as Joe mentioned, we are learning more about the dozens of victims who lost their lives and how they're being remembered by friends and family. NBC's Tom llamas has more from Arlington, Virginia.
Dive teams this morning will enter the water here in the Potomac at Reagan National Airport, just behind me with two goals, part of the same operation. They're going to try to recover victims that have been inaccessible so far. They're also going to try to salvage the parts of both the plane and the and the helicopter that are still underwater. This is going to be a very careful process, because they want to make sure they can preserve as much evidence as possible. This as we're getting and learning a lot more from overnight, including seeing our first images of those black boxes from the plane as they're being analyzed at the NTSB lab, and also new reporting that is raising questions about the elevation of the Black Hawk helicopter and whether it was flying too high at that moment of impact. This morning, NTSB investigators getting their first look at a critical clue the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder recovered from the American Airlines passenger jet involved in that horrific midair collision near Reagan National Airport. These images, showing the devices being cleaned and evaluated at the NTSB labs as new video aired by CNN, shows the horrifying moments the two crashed and plunged into the icy Potomac.
I mean, how tough was it out there?
There's wreckage that can puncture your suit. There's jet fuel in the water that's contaminating your gear. So we're having to work with all of that to keep our divers safe while we're looking for people.
Audio seems to show the helicopter pilot responding to controllers, though it's hard to hear as he.
Has the aircraft in sight.
As authorities try to piece together what happened. Sources tell NBC news investigators are looking at whether the helicopter was flying above its designated altitude. While a preliminary FAA report on the crash found staffing at the air traffic control tower was not normal, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. The tower typically has one controller focusing on planes and a second on helicopters. But Wednesday night, only one person was overseeing both at the time of the collision, although that is allowed by FAA safety guidelines. And this morning, we're learning of another close encounter near the airport just a day earlier. Audio showing a plane had to change course due to a helicopter in its path.
4514 what was the reason for the go around? We had an RA with a helicopter traffic below us. 4514.
Officials say the helicopter involved in Wednesday night's crash was on a routine training flight with three experienced crew members, including crew chief Ryan O'Hara. A young father also on board, an instructor pilot with about 1000 flight hours. Among those killed on the American flight, multiple children, their parents and coaches returning from a figure skating camp in Kansas.
There's just no words.
To describe how awful it.
Is. The plane's captain identified as 34 year old Jonathan Campos. His co-pilot, Sam Lilly, 28 years old and engaged to be married.
He was very, just a very kind soul.
Also on the flight. Young mother Wendie Jo Schafer and civil rights attorney and former Miss Kansas contestant Kay Duggins. Ahmad Raza was at the airport to pick up his wife, asra, who was returning from a business trip.
I always pick her up from.
Departures.
Had dinner waiting.
At home.
So many families grieving while the investigation continues. Yesterday, the NTSB was set to meet with the victims family members, and I spoke with the D.C. fire chief who was going to attend that meeting as well. I asked him what he was going to tell those relatives. He said that he was going to tell them the truth. Answer as many questions as he could. But the big question why is going to take some time to answer. Reporting from Reagan National Airport, Tom llamas, now back to you.
All right, Tom, thank you.
Let's keep the conversation going with Bruce Landsberg. He's the former vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board or the NTSB. So Bruce knows these investigations well. Thank you for joining us. Your former colleagues at the NTSB are now in possession of those two black boxes from the American Airlines plane. Walk us through what comes next, what investigators hope to learn from those devices, and just how long this analysis and really this investigation will take.
Well, thank.
You for.
Having me. And of course, condolences to all of the families who who lost loved ones.
So let me preface.
My.
Remarks.
By saying anything I say here is preliminary.
To the investigation.
And.
In terms of how the investigation will go, they will be gathering, as Tom mentioned earlier, all of the perishable evidence off the bottom of the Potomac River and moving it to probably a hangar somewhere, maybe on at over at DCA. And everything will be very carefully laid out so that the investigators can see exactly what the collision angles were And that sort of thing. It the cockpit voice recorders and the flight data recorder, which are orange, by the way. They're not black and I've never seen a black one will provide us with tremendous information on the altitude, not the elevation. Elevation is ground level, but altitude of both aircraft. If the Black Hawk has any kind of recording device. So that's that's something that we will find out from a human factors perspective. They're going to look very closely, as you've already mentioned, in the staffing in the tower, the fatigue levels of the controllers. Obviously, everybody will have a drug test to make sure that they were fully functional. The key thing that will come up is the design of the helicopter route, and why it is in close proximity to the final approach course to runway 33.
And of course, we will find out whether the helicopter pilots were complying with the altitude restrictions on that route. And then perhaps finally in this area, because there have been several other close calls, why didn't our safety reporting systems pick this up? So these are all things that the NTSB will be looking at as they go through the process. The preliminary report should be available in about a month. And then the final report probably will be about a year. After that they will issue a factual report first. There will be a full board meeting on that. And then the final report will come out a couple of weeks afterwards. And that will answer a lot more questions than than what we know at this point.
Bruce, you mentioned the airspace, how crowded several other near misses do you think that this could lead to to change in the area?
Well, that's a very good question. I can't answer it, but my sense is that having only a couple hundred feet of separation. Between aircraft is probably not the best idea as as we've seen here. There are a couple of operational factors we might want to very quickly touch on. One is the controller advising the helicopter pilot only 13 seconds prior to the collision. The audio is not quite clear, but it appears that the helicopter pilot said traffic in sight and something about request or maintain visual separation. Now, what happens there is that if you're close to the altitude of the other aircraft, you are going to have a real difficult time at night, even though it's a perfectly clear night to see the other aircraft because of the background ground clutter of all of the lights, and what the pilot reported may not have been the same aircraft, because there are a lot of aircraft that are on the approaches going into DCA. And finally, I bring up the point of the geometry of any kind of collision, whether it's an automobile or whether it's aircraft, is that when you're on a collision course with something, the target will not appear to move and will only blossom literally a second or two prior to.
So it's very difficult to see those those kind of situations.
All right. Bruce Landsberg, we appreciate your expertise this morning.
Thank you for joining us. Well, over at the white House, President Trump is facing accusations he's politicizing the tragedy and making unverified claims long before the investigation is complete. Speaking yesterday, the president linked the crash to FAA diversity initiatives and criticized the actions of his Democratic predecessors, former Presidents Biden and Obama. NBC News Chief White House correspondent Peter Alexander has the latest on this angle for us. Peter. Good morning.
Savannah, good.
Morning to you. The president's.
Remarks.
Yesterday.
In yesterday in the.
White House briefing room here really.
Felt like a.
Flashback to.
Five years ago, those marathon COVID-19.
News conferences.
That he held.
In.
This first.
National tragedy of his.
Second term.
In office. The president.
Began with.
Notes of.
Unity.
But quickly pivoted to go.
On the.
Attack without any evidence to back up.
His claim. His claims of who and what is to blame for the worst air disaster in this country since 2009.
With.
The.
Remains of.
Victims.
Still being recovered.
From the frigid Potomac River. President Trump.
Blamed his two.
Democratic predecessors.
I put safety first. Obama, Biden and the Democrats put policy first.
And diversity requirements in the military and FAA.
That.
He just ended with executive.
Orders.
They actually came out with a directive to white, and we want the people that are competent.
Still, the president offered no evidence.
That.
Diversity programs had anything to do with the deadly collision.
His remarks.
Began with.
A moment of silence.
And.
Condolences.
We grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly.
But quickly took.
A sharp turn, the commander in chief criticizing the Army helicopters crew.
You had a pilot problem from the standpoint of the helicopter.
Pressed how he could conclude diversity hirings contributed to the crash before all the facts were known.
Because I have common sense. Okay. And unfortunately, a lot of people don't. Uh, we want brilliant people doing this.
Among his targets, former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg.
I just got a good line of bull run it right into the ground with his diversity.
Buttigieg calling the president's comments despicable, writing, as families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying, adding we put safety first. The president also cited language on Language on the FAA's website about recruiting those with disabilities. It's on the website, the FAA's website. It was there in 2013. It was there for the entirety.
Of what I read.
It was there for the entirety of your administration, too. So my question is, why didn't you change the policy during your first administration?
I did change it. I changed the Obama policy. And we had a very good policy. And then Biden came in and he changed it. And then when I came in two days, three days ago, I signed a new order bringing it to the highest level of intelligence. Okay.
Later, the president dismissed the question whether he would visit the crash site.
Once the site, the water.
To meet.
With the first.
Responders down there.
I don't have a plan to do that.
As for President Trump's criticism of the diversity programs within the FAA, multiple former Transportation Department officials tell me that all air traffic control candidates undergo rigorous mental and physical testing before they're hired, and that very few applicants even make it to training because the process is so difficult. Joe and Savannah.
All right, Peter, thank you very much.
Among the victims on board the plane, figure skaters, their parents and coaches, they were attending the figure skating nationals in Wichita, Kansas. This morning, we know at least six were part of the same club in Boston. NBC news correspondent Sam Brock is in Massachusetts for us. Sam. Good morning.
Joe. Good morning. It's pretty incredible. For the last hour or two. There's been the first formal practice on this rink since that crash. And having spoken with the CEO of the Skating Club of Boston here, he tells me they sent 12 skaters to that elite development camp and did not know until hours into the day after the crash how many of them were actually on board that flight. Joe, it turns out it was two skaters, Gina Hahn and Spencer Lane. They are mothers, two incredible coaches. Right now, the heartache here just unimaginable. The ripple effect of this week's D.C. plane tragedy can be seen in flowers, portraits and empty ice at the Skating Club of Boston, which learned six of their own lost their lives. This tight knit sport now uniting in grief.
It's a tragic loss for all of us.
It's just. It's terrible.
That fateful flight to DC from Kansas, coming just days after the U.S. Championships in Wichita. Followed immediately by a developmental camp for the sport's best and brightest.
My heart is with.
All.
The.
Families affected.
And that's the part I have no words for.
Among those on board members of multiple skating clubs, including coach Alexander Kirsanov. 12 year old athlete Brielle Beyer and her mother Justina, and the half dozen deeply connected to the Skating Club of Boston, including young skater Gina Hahn.
I would.
Get a.
Smile on my.
Face.
Seeing her smiling, and she was smiling.
A.
Lot.
And Spencer Lane, who had only been competing for a few years.
The amount that he has achieved in those 3 or 4 years is absolutely remarkable.
Also lost in the tragedy, their mothers, Jin Hahn and Christine Lane, and figure skating coaches Vadim Naumov and Zhenya Shishkova coaches. Naumov and Shishkova, who were married, won the 1994 World Championship as a pair and competed in two Winter Olympics.
Very nice.
Whose son Max just competed at nationals.
His parents were his coaches as well as his parents.
This has split parents from kids and vice versa.
Yeah, it's.
Fractured the community.
In an emotional press conference. Leaders and alumni of the club are trying to come to grips with the tragedy, whose impact will be felt far beyond the rink, including former Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan.
Even when you're.
Crying.
Hurt.
Pain, get back up.
And move.
Forward.
It's not easy.
But that's what we all.
Have.
To do now.
Together.
And for many at the Skating Club of Boston, Wednesday's crash bringing back painful memories. More than six decades after competitors from the same club died in a plane crash while traveling to the 1961 World It is obviously a cruel and ironic coincidence that you would have a situation again, where half of the members on that 1961 flight of the U.S. skating team were connected directly to this rink. I did speak with the CEO again about that very matter. He says it was like growing up in the shadow of a tragedy. They felt the weight of this experience but didn't really know how to talk about it. They didn't talk about it. But this time around, sadly but potentially positively, there's going to be grief counseling and community meetings to try to allow the healing process to move forward, if that's possible. Joe, back.
To things in a different way. Right now, we're thinking of that entire community. Sam. Thank you. Appreciate it.
Well, an atmospheric river is going to bring lots of wet weather to the West Coast this weekend. For more details, let's check in on your morning news now.
Weather Angie Larson is with us. Angie. Good morning.
Hi, guys. Good morning to you. We're heading into the weekend with plenty of alerts up across the West. Those winter alerts basically extending west of the Rockies. We're going to see this atmospheric river take shape through the day today. We've got heavy rain, snow, wind all on the table. Travel is going is going to be difficult today from California up into Oregon, and we've still got some of that heavy rain, the flood risk centered across California, specifically as we get into tomorrow and even Sunday, the snow will continue to pile up across the Sierra mountains and stretching out to the Rockies. So we'll see some difficulty with travel when it comes to snowfall as well. Here's the area we're watching for for flash flooding. San Francisco, Sacramento, and Yosemite all included here as we get into the day tomorrow. So a heads up for folks there. We've also got some rain and snow across parts of the East, and that's leaving us with some alerts this morning too. There's the rain that you're seeing now.
Notice what happens by the time the day goes on. We see that heavy rain working across the southeast, a mix of ice and snow for folks across New England. It's going to be difficult for travel there as well. Big picture. Look as we roll into your Saturday mild across the South, we've got plenty of sunshine. Honestly, East of the Rockies, that system for the northeast will be out of here. The heavy rain will be focused across the West. And then, of course, my favorite day of the year, say Groundhog Day. Here's what we've got. Science. Science. Punxsutawney Phil. Scientist. Apparently a slight chance.
Of.
Showers there. Yeah, I knew. I knew you would laugh at that. Savannah. Staten island. Chuck. It's going to be chilly for him there. We've got 24 degrees there. We've got 30.
These are.
The.
Names.
These are the names. Listen.
I'm going to be honest. This is.
This is news to you.
I didn't know there was more than one.
You just thought it was Punxsutawney. Yeah, I'm going to tell.
Woodstock was famous. Why doesn't anybody talk club? You are.
Asking of groundhog.
The wrong person. Why?
These rodents carry Staten Island? Chuck should get more notoriety. That's funny.
We're going to send you on assignment there, I think, on Sunday. How about that?
What is the one in.
The.
West? I couldn't even read that one.
Yeah, I don't know, guys.
Bring it up again.
These are my.
Enemies. Regina. Our director. Oh, good. There it is. What is. What does that say?
Unadilla.
Billy. Unadilla, Nebraska.
Respect to our friends in Nebraska.
I'm sorry. Phil is kind of the lamest, right?
We're.
We're focused.
Yeah.
You guys are.
Not hate.
Me. They all look the same.
Normally I get hate mail for this day, but you guys are going to get it.
For normally in the past, I was like, oh, it's Groundhog Day, but you have taught me.
What I should. I really just didn't know that. And I'm mind blown. And from now on, we are only going with Staten Island. Chuck's prediction.
I'm here to teach you.
Thanks, Andrew. You're welcome. After the break, a grilling on the hill for two of President Trump's top national security picks.
So what is the mood like in Washington after yet another heated day of Senate hearings? We're going to take you there next.
More Americans turn to NBC news than any other news organization.
Is it your plan to deport everyone who is here illegally over the next four years? Who do you think is the leader of the Democratic Party right now? Can you guarantee that grocery prices will, in fact, come down? If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
Welcome back. This morning, Republicans are weighing whether to support several of Donald Trump's controversial cabinet nominees as he looks to fill out his administration. Yesterday on Capitol Hill, Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel and Robert F Kennedy Jr all faced tough questions over their prior statements and positions that have landed them in some hot water. We've got NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles joining us with a look at those hearings. Hey, Ryan. Good morning.
Savannah. Good morning. Now, all three of these nominees will likely not get a single vote from Democrats. So that means they need strong support from Republicans to win the job. This morning, it is still unclear if all three have cleared that threshold. A contentious day on Capitol Hill. Two of Donald Trump's top national security picks facing tough questions about their past controversial records.
Senator, I will always obey the law.
Kash Patel, Trump's pick to run the FBI, taking tough questions about his calls for political retribution against Donald Trump's opponents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. But he broke with Trump when it came to the issue of pardons for some January 6th defendants.
I'm asking.
Was he wrong to do it?
I do not agree with the commutation of any sentence of any individual who committed violence against law enforcement.
The tough questions for Patel came mostly from Democrats. But for Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's choice as director of national intelligence, a great deal of scrutiny came from Republicans.
I want to make.
Certain.
That in.
No way.
Does Russia get a.
Pass in.
Either.
Your mind or your heart.
Senator, I'm offended by the.
Question.
Because my sole focus, commitment and responsibility is about our own nation, our own security and the interests of the of the American people.
Gabbard pressed about her calls for a pardon for Edward Snowden.
Edward Snowden broke the law.
Who fled the U.S. after releasing a trove of government secrets.
Is Edward Snowden a traitor to the United States of America?
I understand how critical our national security.
Apparently you don't. Apparently you don't.
Republicans left the hearing confident he was on the path to confirmation.
Oh, there's no question.
He gets.
Confirmed.
While their support for Gabbard was tepid, only Matt Gates, Trump's original pick for attorney general, has dropped out of the running. And Trump has made it clear he wants all of his picks confirmed.
Well, sure, we want fast confirmations.
Meanwhile, Robert F Kennedy Jr. Trump's pick to run the Department of Health and Human Services is facing a new challenge. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who chairs the committee in charge of his confirmation, said yesterday that he is, quote, struggling with Kennedy's nomination, a sign he may vote no. Of course, Kennedy can only afford to lose three GOP votes and still win confirmation. Savannah and.
Joe. All right, Ryan, thank you very much.
Let's get to some international headlines, starting in Ukraine, where North Korean troops are now withdrawing after months of brutal fighting, partnering with Russia.
NBC News international correspondent Claudio Lavanga has that and more. Hey, Claudio. Good morning.
Savannah. Good morning. Well, that's right. According to Ukrainian and U.S. officials who spoke to the New York Times, North Korean soldiers have been fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, have now been taken off the front line after suffering heavy losses for the past three months. Around 11,000 soldiers from North Korea are believed to have been deployed to Ukraine. But according to the country's top military commander, around half of them have already been killed. An American official told The New York Times that with the withdrawal from the front line may not be permanent, and it's possible the North Koreans will return after additional training. Let's go to Nicaragua now, where President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, who currently serves as vice president, may soon become co-presidents. The constitutional reform approved on Thursday also expands the presidential term from 5 to 6 years. Ortega's wife said the reform strengthens the model of people's president and direct democracy. But experts say the new constitution is meant to consolidate the Ortega family's grip on power, and is meant to guarantee that Murillo will succeed him as president in the future.
And let's end this tour of the world in New Zealand, where a mountain has been granted the same legal rights as a person. The mountain, called Taranaki Maunga, is considered sacred by the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand, but its name has been changed and its land seized by British colonists in the 18th century. Now the law passed by the New Zealand government on Thursday, recognizes the belief by the Maori that nature features, including mountains, are ancestors and living beings. So now the mountain will go back to its original Maori name, and it speaks and surroundings will be protected as if it was a person. Back to you guys.
All right. Welcome to the human race. Claudia, thank you so much. Coming up. Hope rising from the ashes.
In the wake of those deadly wildfires that ravaged Southern California. A rockin show of support across L.A. that brought some of music's biggest names together. All for a good cause. More on that. Next.
We're back now with a look at new developments in the federal sex trafficking case against hip hop mogul Sean Diddy Combs.
Prosecutors filed a superseding indictment against Combs yesterday, accusing him of dangling a person over an apartment balcony and of coercing two additional women into commercial sex acts. In a statement responding to this expanded indictment, one of Combs attorneys said, quote, the latest indictment contains no new offenses. The prosecution's theory remains flawed. Mr. Combs is as committed as ever to fighting these charges and winning at trial.
Joining us now to discuss NBC news legal analyst Danny Cevallos. Danny, good to have you with us. So explain these new allegations that Combs is facing. And real quick, kind of give us this explainer. It's something we've heard a lot recently, but what is a superseding indictment?
Basically, we're looking.
At new victims and an.
Increased.
Scope of time. And why that's significant is when you have allegations like conspiracy. If a conspiracy is ongoing, then you can get around what's called the statute of limitations. You have a certain period of time in which to bring a civil claim or bring a prosecution, after which it expires. And for prosecutors alleging conspiracy allows them to essentially relate back all of this conduct, even if it might be otherwise outside the statute of limitations. Now, a superseding indictment is really just a new indictment. It happens all the time. And I had absolute certainty this was going to happen in the Holmes case, because they had raided his house and a relatively short period of time after indicted him. I assumed they were going to go through evidence cell phones, laptops, other things, gather more evidence. And then that new indictment adding charges, usually superseding indictments, either add charges or victims or defendants. And for criminal defense attorneys, they are super depressing because they mean that something worse. And there's going to be more crimes, more allegations, more time in prison for your client.
So some of the timeline here and the details of these crimes has changed. What is that?
Yeah. So in originally the earliest possible date was 2008. That's been pushed back to 2004. So now you have an increased window in which conduct can be chargeable, whereas otherwise statutes of limitations would be a problem. But things like conspiracy, Rico charges, these allow you to say, hey, this may have happened back in 1995, but there was this ongoing effort to conceal it, and it kept going on. And all of these things were part of some global conspiracy. Therefore we are we are within the statute of limitations. Prosecutors use this, especially federal prosecutors use this with deadly efficiency. I use deadly as a as being glib. But, I mean, they use this very effectively to secure convictions and use that to get evidence in that otherwise would be time barred.
Yeah.
Combs and his team firmly deny the allegations. Trial is scheduled to begin in May right now. So when you add a Add a superseding indictment like this so close to a trial, can it have any impact on that trial?
Yes, it can push back deadlines. After all, if you had to supersede if you have a superseding indictment, you have new defendants. That's not the case here. But if you do, then they need time to prepare. So a superseding indictment can but doesn't always have had this happen to me personally. But it can push out deadlines. But if the superseding indictment basically just adds a few minor things, the timeline won't be pushed out all that much. It really is very fact specific. But yes, generally speaking, a superseding indictment is a kind of reset. In fact, everybody has to come back in for a new arraignment. So it is a reset.
Danny, we know that his team, as Joe just mentioned, is is rigorously kind of denying these allegations. Plans on defending looking forward to to winning at trial as they say with that coming up in May. So many of these details I think, have just shocked people, including things we've seen with our own eyes, like that video from a hotel surveillance camera. Do you expect that when this goes to trial? Just even more details come out and it's kind of becomes this court of public opinion. In addition.
Yeah, we're living in the modern era of digital evidence. I mean, now jurors almost expect to see tons of video, DNA, photographs, images, social media posts, recordings. This is what they expect. And the federal government is very, very good at collecting this kind of thing. They have they can use celebrate. They can get everything off your phone and use all of that against you. And they do it fairly often. So this is going to be a case I expect with a lot of video, a lot of text messages, a lot of digital communication, possibly a lot of images that maybe things we haven't even seen yet, things that were seized from the home or devices. So yes, this is going to be a case where I think we're going to see a lot of digital evidence in addition to witness testimony.
All right, Danny, thank you.
Thanks, Danny. Well, Southern California, of course, still reeling from those devastating wildfires. But last night, some of the biggest names in the music business held a benefit concert bringing the community together and raising millions of dollars. NBC news correspondent Kaylee Hartung was there and has the highlights. Hey there.
This was a night about music and really LA pride and this mission of raising money for relief efforts. It was deeply personal for many of the artists and people in attendance, making for an emotional evening of great music for a great cause.
Just miles.
From the.
Devastation.
Of.
The L.A. fires, some of the biggest names in music packed two stadiums.
For not.
One but two star studded concerts, raising millions for relief efforts.
If people have.
Lost so much, this.
Is a very.
Small gesture.
On our part.
The fire.
Aid benefit brought dozens of artists across all genres and generations.
Together.
Making beautiful music for a deeply personal cause.
We're cycling through all the stages of grief and anger and disbelief and.
Bouncing.
In a nonlinear way all around them.
Comedian Billy Crystal.
Among the stars, sharing their own stories of loss.
Like thousands of you, our house.
Now look.
Like this. I stepped onto the grounds and I fell to my knees and I wailed.
At the Kia forum.
Green Day Pink, Stevie Nicks.
And the Red Hot.
Chili.
Peppers.
Were among.
Those who kicked.
Things off.
I found you. To your.
Surprise.
Performer.
Doctor Dre getting a huge reaction from the crowd.
Come on.
He's up. Hey.
While at the Intuit Dome, no doubt Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Sting and Stevie Wonder kept things rocking late into the night.
Keep on flying. Reunions is the one, you know.
Unlikely collaborations.
And it was because he felt that a change would do us good.
And covers filled the air with sweet music.
All feelin good was.
Easy.
When he sang the blues.
But while the performances in packed venues made for a lively atmosphere, the real reason for the night was ever present.
There are moments that.
Get us through moments like.
Tonight, the show featuring the stories of people whose lives and homes were destroyed by the fires and honoring first responders.
We finally got a break.
I immediately went.
To check on my.
House and it was gone.
An emotional and empowering night. The music industry showing up to support their city and their community as they rise from the ashes together.
And before last.
Night's concert even began, organizers said they'd already raised $60 million off ticket sales and sponsorships alone, and donations are still pouring in. And this weekend, Sunday's Grammys, many of those same artists will still be.
Here in L.A. that night, planning to pay tribute to the heroic first responders, raise more money for relief efforts, and honor the spirit of LA. Back to you.
Kaylee. Thank you.
Coming up, teens from around the world coming together to create a popular podcast.
After the break, I'll bring you the story of how it all started with a small after school club.
Come.
Still to come in the channel two news. While the waters are certainly receding now, still too close to call. Lester Holt, reporting from Ground Zero as it's being referred to, is in fact a taste of freedom. The Haitian people know a little something about resiliency. What's the biggest risk right now? Some of the troops who have been around. I want to welcome you to the first presidential debate. In fact, we've been told we can't go any further. There were some resilient folks. Let me give you a hint here.
Welcome back. It is time now for some money news. Some hourly employees at big box giant Costco are getting a raise.
CNBC now has that some other money. Headlines. Savannah. Good morning.
Hey, Joe. Hey, Savannah. Good morning to you. Costco is raising pay for most of its hourly store workers to more than $30. Now, that's according to a memo sent to employees this week. And the pay hike? Well, it comes after Costco union members voted earlier this month in favor of a nationwide strike as they entered a final round of talks before their contract expires today. The union represents more than 18,000 workers at Costco. Amazon is raising the price of its Music Unlimited streaming service. Prime members will pay $11 a month, or $109 a year for an individual plan. That's up from $10 and $99 right now. non-Prime listeners will see their monthly rate go up to $12 a month. The family plan is rising from $17 to $20 a month, and $169 to $199 a year. These new prices took effect on Wednesday for new customers, and current subscribers will see the changes in their next billing cycle. And Instagram is testing a pause feature with a small group of users on reels.
The tool has been one of the top requests by users. Previously, you were only able to pause videos on reels by tapping and holding on the screen. Now you can do it with a single tap. The new feature is the latest sign Instagram and Meta are trying to capitalize on the uncertain future for TikTok here in the U.S..
Guys, the latest.
Is right.
You could pause on a VCR so it feels like it only makes sense. You could rise on this, right?
Very interesting the way they are copying some of those features. Thanks a lot. Thank you. Well, a deeply personal podcast is helping teens around the globe find community. It's called This Teenage Life, and it's creating a safe space for teens to talk about everything from the joy of a high school crush to the pain of parents splitting up. Take a look.
Hi, I'm Matthew, I'm 17 years old and I'm from Portugal.
Hi, I'm Theo, I'm 17 and I'm from New York City.
I am from Guwahati, Assam, India. I'm my three, a 17 year old from Sweden.
And this.
Teenage life is one of the warmest places I have.
Found on the.
Internet.
Teenagers from across.
The.
Globe are.
Tuning in and listening.
Up to This Teenage Life.
A podcast.
By teens.
For teens.
We've talked about everything.
We talked about the.
State of the world.
The The.
Environment, but then also just like.
Crushes.
Or having like breakouts of a.
Big school day or something and being mad.
That you got a.
Pimple on your forehead.
19 year old Stella Sturgill.
18 year old Jaiden Dial and 15 year.
Old.
Lydia Bock are part of.
The international.
Editorial and production team.
The project started as an after school club.
My name is Molly Josephs. My title on this is.
Kind of hilariously is the adult.
Who works on this teenage Life. How did this thing get started? I was working at a.
High school in San Diego, California.
And young people have so many.
Big.
Feelings. And so I ask these teenagers who I.
Had.
Met if they were interested in joining an after school club, and we called ourselves this teenage life, and we would meet and we would sit around one microphone and we'd record those conversations, edit them, and add music and art that they made. And then we'd publish.
A.
Podcast and it was heard by, you know, ten people.
Enter 2020 Covid lockdowns and virtual.
School.
The podcast went.
Remote.
And teens.
From.
Illinois.
To.
India.
Reached out to.
Get involved.
Everyone who has joined since the original group sent an email.
And.
That was initially to be like, thank you for this episode or this episode really moved me. Like I was feeling that, but I didn't know I was feeling that. And so hearing someone else say it made me feel less alone.
Contributors meet biweekly, virtually recording conversations on a certain topic. They've covered themes like body image.
Faith.
Failure, birthdays.
Academic.
Pressure.
And even realizing parents are.
People.
Too.
Which topics.
Have hit home the most for.
You all? The first episode.
I made was.
The divorce.
Episode, and.
I was pretty new to.
This.
Teenage.
Life. But like, I.
Remember sitting there.
And talking to people and people were crying, but they were also just very, like, supportive of me. You just want to talk to someone. And even if our listeners can't see us. They hear us. And so I say that we're not just talking to hear ourselves. We are talking to so others can hear their own thoughts. With nearly 200 episodes released, This.
Teenage Life has been screened and downloaded.
In over.
180 countries.
Not only bridging cultural gaps, but generational ones too.
I think it's also really.
Important for parents and grandparents and aunts and older siblings to listen to as well. This teenage life kind of provides a little bit of a window into the inner workings of teenagers, and.
It's.
Crazy and fun and amazing and awkward and weird and cool. During a time.
When mental health experts describe Gen Z as the.
Loneliest.
Generation.
This.
Teenage life offers young people a community.
Of.
Creativity and support.
What do you hear from people?
I've had teachers come up to me and be like, hey, so I used your episode to teach about this thing and I'm like, oh, wow. Like, you're really like listening to what I'm thinking. you. And I think that makes me pause, because I think there are such few spaces that people take young people seriously. We're all just kids or teenagers trying to move through the world and figure out what to do with ourselves.
I just love talking to those girls. If you're more of a reader. This Teenage Life also has a Substack, but I really suggest checking out the podcast, giving it a listen.
All right, there are just a few hours left now in dry January, and some who gave up alcohol for the month have actually found a different way to get a different kind of buzz without the booze. NBC news correspondent Priscilla Thompson has more on that growing trend.
This is all THC that's going to be going out, taking the place of beer, draft lines.
On.
Tap.
Or.
Out of a bottle. Those kicking off the new year abstaining from alcohol have a new choice cannabis infused cocktails.
This is the first.
Dry January that your spirit is on the on the market. What has the response been like?
Even at our own brewery here, I would say upwards of 40% of our sales are now THC.
While can THC infused beverages like seltzers have been on the market for years?
This is all THC.
Bayou City Hemp CEO Ben Meggs says their product, Ocho Verdes, is one of only a handful of spirits.
Restaurants still want to sell a $15 cocktail. So how do we get that? Well, we decided let's put it in a spirit. We've got about 22 tanks here and there are about three that are beer. The rest are full THC.
Wow.
And you know, what's unique is that beer takes 3 to 6 weeks to ferment. And thc we can turn around in a week.
The 2018 farm bill removed federal restrictions on hemp products with low levels of THC, the active compound in cannabis that delivers those intoxicating, mind altering effects. Those products are now allowed for those 21 and up, not only in states where recreational marijuana is legal, but also in some places where it's not. Including right here in Texas.
These are called super sacks, and we bring in hundreds of them a year.
Industry experts say the THC infused drinks are now among the fastest growing product sales for liquor stores and restaurants, like Houston's Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice.
For many years.
This was a huge no no. And then all of a sudden, these products came out into the market and we were like, are you really?
We can serve this, okay. Chris Cusack is the bar's owner. We're in dry. January can be a tough month for bars like this one. Are having THC infused cocktails changing that?
Yeah, absolutely. I think it's really only going to go up from here.
Cheers.
It makes the bar more inviting. I don't drink anymore, so that's what I stick to.
I try to be healthy with alcohol intake, so I would definitely order it as an alternative.
And are you feeling anything yet?
Uh, I don't.
Know if I feel it just yet because my tolerance is a bit high.
On health and safety. A concern with any adult beverage overserving. That's a concern in bars. How do you navigate something like that with a drink like this?
We try to be really thoughtful of who's consuming what. That's our responsibility as bar owners and bartenders.
Consumers should also be aware. Cannabis researchers say know the product. Understand the amount of THC in each serving and how many you're consuming. Start small. See how your body reacts before ordering a second drink. It can take up to an hour to feel the effects, which could last for 2 to 4 hours. Don't mix. Combining THC with alcohol or other substances can increase impairment. And never drive under the influence. With all of that in mind, you're all set to give it a go. Here's Priscilla. Thompson, NBC news, Houston.
Now, if cannabis infused cocktails aren't your speed and you need a different kind of liquid kick, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology may have a class that's just right for you. Have you ever wondered what goes into making the perfect cup of Joe? Well, MIT is trying to figure that out with a coffee class that's giving students a hands on chance to fuel their curiosity. NBC's Carla Hall, with our Boston affiliate explains.
As everybody knows, the taste of coffee is actually a very personal and complicated experience.
The perfect cup of coffee is.
In.
The eye, or rather, in the mouth of the beholder.
Jeffrey Grossman.
Is a professor of materials.
Science and engineering at MIT.
I have a personal passion for good coffee.
A.
Passion.
He's taken to the classroom creating a course called Coffee Matters, using the maker space.
To make the perfect cup. In this.
Class.
You can find microscopes, computers.
And, well, a $20,000 espresso machine.
So in this class, they get to, they get to think about the material. They learn about it. Coffee, right. Um, they get to, you know, touch and feel it.
Grossman says he combines lectures on chemistry and coffee science.
With hands on.
Experiments for around 60.
Undergrad.
Students. Like if coffee is too acidic, students learn that you could add a pinch of baking soda to neutralize it. He tells us one of those projects was inspired by his father.
I had this fight for like, you know, running for ten years now where he makes his coffee all day.
The conclusion the students.
Say.
That heating your coffee in the microwave changes the chemistry of it.
It does make a difference. And to them, it it tasted worse.
Another test they did. Comparing the liquid gold from our world renowned Dunkin Donuts and coffee. They roast and brew themselves. So do they believe that America should run on Dunkin?
As a true, you know, Bostonian? And I'm not going to say anything that could that could say anything negative about Dunkin.
Grossman says 2024 was the first year teaching this class, and now the second round starts next week.
Thanks to Carla Rojo for that report. We appreciate the research.
No kidding. I bet they've made some amazing cups of coffee, and I bet they've made some disgusting cups of coffee in their endeavors. All right, coming.
Up, iced latte people. Exactly.
All right. Coming up. If it's Friday, you know, that could mean only one thing.
It's time for your weekly can't miss list. A full roundup of everything from the world of entertainment that's catching our eyes. Grab your popcorn. We're running through it all. Next.
Closer to the Gaza border. The story is resilience and hope. Please take care of yourself and each other.
Is it your plan to deport everyone who is here illegally over the next four years? Who do you think is the leader of the Democratic Party right now? Can you guarantee that grocery prices will, in fact come down? If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
Welcome back. Dragon riders unite. Am I right?
But yes.
The third installment of the series, fourth wing. Okay. They're amazing. It's called Onyx Storm. As you can see on your screen, it has amassed an absolutely massive following. And though Joe might not be one of them, 2.7 million people have bought this book in the first week of its release. If that wasn't enough, the author of the popular romantic books, her name is Rebecca Yarros. She currently holds the top three spots on the New York Times hardcover bestseller list. There's the whole series. I guess you could say the series has taken everyone by storm, including myself, including our fabulous stage manager, Jillian.
And now a whole new group of people will be introduced to it.
I'm just telling you you would like it.
Okay, I will write that down, I'm sure. Finally, this.
Morning.
The things that interest me more, which is the stuff I don't have to read all the time. All right. It's Friday, which means it's time for your can't miss list.
It's a wrap up of all the movies and shows that you need to see this weekend. For those of you who aren't reading.
I do read. But anyway, joining us now is Kay Ingram with NBC New York. Good to have you with us. You didn't know the book either. I feel like I'm not alone.
But.
I'm.
Into.
It now.
We're thrilled for everyone else.
She did write it down, Joe noted. It's noted.
All right. So we're doing kind of a romance technology focus here. Our first one is a rom com horror because those two things go together.
Hello. Genre mixing. That's exactly it. We've got companion, which is essentially bringing us into the future, the near future where the solution.
To.
Loneliness is by buying or renting what's called a companion. It's this.
Android.
Of sorts.
And so essentially we have Sophie Thatcher.
Who is playing this android.
And what she does is.
She provides companionship.
Hence the name.
And they go on a weekend.
Getaway.
And.
Truly.
All goes to hell.
What could possibly go wrong?
Right. Everything. And so she goes haywire.
You've also got Jack Quaid.
If you know him from the boys.
He's in it as well.
And just.
Like.
You said, it's whether or not humans have.
Learned their lesson is the solution to loneliness. Having this android.
Unclear.
But probably not. So it is a rom com. comedy.
It's a little bit of horror.
Like Megan vibes. Her vibes, it sounds like. Exactly.
Kind of like a modern love story.
Horror and.
Comedy. It's always been a love story. It is horror stories all this time, right?
This is also a love story. Kind of a weird one in terms of who's in love with each other. A new movie, though, starring Kristen Stewart, which is kind of cool. Haven't seen her in a while, if you like. What's this one?
I know, and she looks so different. I was actually excited.
To see her.
I was huge in Twilight, so that was fun to see.
But essentially you would love for swing.
I'm noting it, I promise, but in this.
One you've got a satellite, you've got a boy, and.
They.
Somehow fall in love. I know we've got questions, but they've got answers.
But the.
Whole big theme of it.
Is, you know, identity and figuring out what it is about that human connection that clearly the satellite and the boy are missing and don't understand. So as you can see, um, you know, we've got the two Kristen Stewart, Steve Young and the two of them, you know, they are doing exactly what humans do that these items don't really understand, but they're navigating that together. They're finding love. They're figuring it out. It's called Love Me. It's in theaters. And yeah, it's all about finding out what it is that they were missing since we went away.
Okay, okay. We got kind of.
We got less than two minutes.
You want to try and work through four things here. So families. Dog man, Pete Davidson.
I saw it all.
You need to know. Half dog, half man. He's trying to save his community and he does his best. Pete Davidson plays Pete the cat. It's his villainous cat who, you know, obviously is being hysterical and trying to take over the city. But the two have to team up. It's really fun. It's hilarious.
It's also huge stars in a new movie, Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon. I cannot wait to watch this.
This one's so good. Well, you are cordially invited. It's supposed to be hilarious. Two different groups, wedding groups, they get together. It's double booked on an island, so you can already imagine the chaos that ensues.
And that's streaming where That'll be fine. Yep.
Okay. You can watch that this weekend in the comfort of your own home.
Exactly.
There you go. All right. Below deck down under. Which is for Bravo fans.
Season three is back. So for those who are big fans there in the Seychelles, which I learned is there off the coast of Africa. I do not have a big yacht such as this, but it's exciting for.
Fans.
Of Below Deck. You know, you've got a big boat. It's the biggest in the franchise. They're going to a location they've never been to. You've got new faces, old faces, same drama. And it's going to be huge.
All right. Finally Oscars season. Tell us sing sing now you. It's got three nods and you can now stream it.
Absolutely. And it's back in theaters as well. Colman Domingo, who just completely swept at the Oscars for himself really breaking records. But this, if you're not familiar with Sing Sing.
It's.
About this highly successful. It's awesome, isn't it? It's a highly successful program that has this rehabilitation effort through the arts. What's awesome is more than 85% of the of the cast are formerly incarcerated folks. And so yeah, it's really great to see. And we'll have to see how they do with the Oscars.
Kate, thank you so much. Thank you. This our morning news now?
Stay with us though. The news continues right now. Right now on morning news now looking for answers. Nearly 36 hours after that deadly mid-air collision at Reagan National Airport, there's hope recovered. Black box recorders from the downed jet could hold the keys to what went wrong. But for families and friends who lost loved ones, the healing process is only just beginning.
You see these things happen in the news. You see them happen in other countries. And then I show up to the airport and my wife's not responding.
Officials say all 64 on board the passenger plane and three on the Army Blackhawk helicopter are presumed dead, making it the deadliest American air tragedy in almost 24 years. But while the investigation ramps up. NBC news has learned a preliminary FAA report is shedding light on the role of staffing at the air traffic control tower at the time of the crash. And while the cause has not been determined. National Transportation Safety Board leaders say the agency will issue a preliminary report within 30 days.
Good morning. Good to have you with us on this Friday. I'm Joe Fryer.
And I'm Savannah Sellers. We have a lot to get to this morning. In just a few minutes, we'll sit down with former commercial pilot Anthony Roman and NBC news national security reporter Dan Dallas. But we're going to get started with NBC's Aaron Gilchrist. He's at Reagan National Airport for us.
Aaron. Good morning. So federal investigators say it's going to be a long, painstaking process to determine what caused the midair collision. We know we'll get a preliminary report soon, but the entire investigation, that could take several months, if not more than a year. What is the latest in the investigation and just what we're learning about the circumstances surrounding the Surrounding the crash.
Well, those black boxes that we've been talking about, Joe, really are critical to what the NTSB will be doing in the weeks and months ahead of us. The black boxes were recovered from the airplane that was involved in this crash two nights ago. The team from the NTSB has yet to get get its hands on the data recorder, the information from the helicopter. But really having that information will help them to paint a picture of what was happening in each of those aircraft in the minutes before this crash happened, and potentially even after to some degree. And that's going to be so important to really helping us all understand what happened here. The dive teams that were in the water since the minutes after this collision first happened are now out of the water. We understand there was a suspension of the recovery operations last night. Those will resume today. And NTSB, NTSB teams will be with divers from the DC Fire Department and Department and other agencies back on the water as the process to recover bodies continues and the process to recover pieces of the aircraft will continue for the NTSB to again help them help inform their their investigation process.
I want you to hear from the chair of the NTSB. She spoke to the media yesterday a little bit about their process to try to help us understand what they're going to be doing and looking at going forward.
We look at the human, the machine and the environment. So we will look at all the humans that were involved in this accident. Again, we will look at the aircraft. We will look at the helicopter. We will look at the environment in which they were operating in.
And we were told by the NTSB yesterday that it would be spending some time with the families of the victims involved in the collision here. We know that that happened yesterday afternoon. Obviously, an important part of this as well. As much as we want answers about what happened here, we can't forget about the fact that there were 67 people who are believed to have died as a result of this crash. We understand from our station here in Washington, NBC Washington, that about 40 bodies have been recovered up to this point. And so part of the mission for the dive teams again today, Joe and Savannah will be will be to get back out on the water and to continue the recovery process.
And, Erin, in that same vein, you mentioned that number there late last night. We did hear from Washington officials. The way they put it is that the diver divers had searched all the accessible areas of the Potomac River. There were 67 victims, though in total. That's what's believed to be the case. And you mentioned that count so far. So what is next in the recovery efforts here?
Yeah. Searching so much of the accessible area obviously is an important part for the divers here to get into the fuselage of the plane, which we understand was broken into three parts to try to retrieve the bodies of the victims. Here. You're showing some of their pictures on the screen here. We heard some reporting again from our station here in D.C., that there were instances where divers went into the fuselage and there were people who were still strapped into their seats. But it's still critically important that the search effort include recovering those bodies. And then there's a large section of the Potomac River here, from where the airport is, along the river, all the way down to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, as we understand, which is probably a couple of miles where there has been debris discovered. And so they're going to continue to scour the waters here to try to get any debris that may be relevant to the NTSB investigation. Those things go back to a laboratory, to hangar spaces, and the teams from the NTSB will look at all of that stuff, all of that, the debris that's collected and all the information that's on those black boxes.
Again, to try to help them paint a more complete picture of what happened here. we go. I should mention talked to some of the folks who were flying into Reagan yesterday. Some of the first flights to begin happening here again. People told me that they were able to see the wreckage in the water as they were landing here. A surreal moment for them. Also a sad moment, one woman told us as she was landing. She just prayed for the souls that had been lost as a result of this accident.
I think so many people are doing right now. Aaron, thank you for your reporting. We appreciate it.
Absolutely. Let's bring in Anthony Roman. He's a former commercial pilot. You were with us through the morning yesterday as we talked through this. Thank you so much for being here again, Anthony. So we mentioned those two black box devices being recovered from the jet, the American Airlines plane. Walk us through how investigators start to analyze those devices, what information they have that could provide any answers.
Well, those black boxes have a potpourri of data that is exceptionally useful for the NTSB to conduct a A detailed analysis of what may have gone wrong. As we discussed yesterday. Once that airliner is under 1000ft, the TCAs, the collision alert system, um, does not function fully. It does have information as to where the conflicting traffic is and the distance it is, but it doesn't provide oral warnings. It doesn't make any suggestions as to which direction and what action to take. So the black boxes will have the recordings of the pilot speaking to one another, whether or not they saw the aircraft at the last moment, what their descent rate was, was the power settings properly set? Were they approaching the airport following proper procedure? So all of the mechanical and electronic Tronic information with regard to how the aircraft is functioning and whether it's functioning properly is also in those data boxes. So tremendous amount of information and exceptionally helpful.
Something else people are talking about NBC news reporting a preliminary report by the FDA indicating air traffic control staffing was not normal at the time of the crash, so it was deemed acceptable. Basically, one person keeping an eye on both plane and helicopter traffic at that moment. We don't know what the cause is right now, but how closely will investigators look at this?
Well, acceptable, quote unquote is a subjective phrase. My understanding and my personal experience with very busy airports JFK, LaGuardia, DCA, Atlanta and others simply reflect that the controllers are beyond exceptionally busy. They sound like a southern auctioneers at a at a horse auction. They speak so rapidly. There are so many aircraft inbound and outbound, so many occasional conflicts that they have to resolve. There are language concerns in approaching foreign and international pilots who do not speak English exceptionally well or have thick accents, and they have to carve their way through that during very busy transit times at airports. Now you introduce helicopters flying 2 to 300ft under jetliners. And from my personal perspective, it's just a bridge too far. It's a tad too much.
And we'll see if change comes after a tragedy like this. Anthony Roman, thank you so much. We appreciate your time.
As the investigation and recovery continue, we are learning more about the victims who lost their lives in this collision. That includes soldiers as well as figure skaters and their coaches and parents. One of the victims just 12 years old. NBC News Now anchor Tom llamas shares some of their stories and how they're being remembered.
In that stunning moment of horror. Flight 5342 was only minutes away from landing when the lives of its 60 passengers and four crew members suddenly ended. The violent collision with a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter, also killing three U.S. service members, an Army captain, staff sergeant and chief warrant officer. 67 lives lost in an instant as friends and family of the victims prayed for a miracle. There was little hope because after that collision in the sky, both aircraft plummeted into the Potomac River. The icy waters that were only waist deep in about 35 degrees. We spoke with DC's fire chief moments before he went to meet with those victims families. When you go into a meeting like that, I mean, what goes through your head and what what do you want to tell them?
They're going to ask us questions, and we're going to do our best to answer those questions with the facts.
The first officer of the American Airlines flight was Sam Lilly. His father posting. He was so proud when Sam became a pilot, also on the flight. Some of the country's most promising young figure skaters who were in Wichita at a highly selective training camp.
They're our brothers and sisters, and we're all very close to each other.
The Skating Club of Boston devastated. Six affiliated with the club perished. Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan trained with the club as a teen.
Much like everyone here has been saying, is.
Not sure how to process it.
Oh, shoot. I'm sorry.
Okay.
For 1956 Olympic champion Tenley Albright. The tragedy brought back memories of the 1961 plane crash that killed 18 U.S. figure skaters.
I really can't believe that it happened.
Because I picture them right here.
Among those lost. Now 13 year old skater Gina Hahn and her mother Jin, Gina was known for her grace and musicality on the ice. And 16 year old Spencer Lane, who was traveling with his mom, Christine. Spencer was known for his jumps, chronicling his progress on TikTok. His final post on Instagram. This view from his plane window before takeoff.
Skating is a very close and tight knit community. It's a close, tight bond, and I think for all of us, we have lost family.
Also on board skating coaches and former world champions Zhenya Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The married couple leaves behind their son Max, a skater hoping to qualify for the Winter Olympics next year. Bayar was only 12 years old. Her mom, Justina Magdalena, with her on the plane, remembered at her home rink in Virginia.
She was really, really talented and they were my inspiration.
The D.C..
Fire.
Chief also tells me that when they came out here, they thought they could possibly find some survivors. That was their hope. But after searching for several hours in those icy waters, in the darkness, they realized that there were no survivors. He tells me that because the fuselage is in pieces and because things are still under the water, it's been hard to recover some of the victims that are either trapped or they just have not been located just yet. Reporting from Reagan National Airport. Tom Llamas, NBC news.
All right, Tom, thank you very much. Just heartbreaking. While the Pentagon is launching its own investigation into this crash.
We want to give you a live look at the Potomac River, where the recovery mission is still underway. Now that Department of Defense investigation will look into how the Blackhawk military helicopter, which was apparently being manned by an experienced crew, managed to collide with the airplane.
NBC news national security reporter Dan Deluce joins us on this now. Dan, thanks for joining us. Yesterday, President Trump had said the pilots of the Army helicopter bore responsibility for this crash. We also heard Defense Secretary Pete Headset described them as fairly experienced. What more do we know at this point about who was on this training flight, what their experience level actually was and how that factors in?
That's right. This crew was very experienced. By all accounts, they were they were very seasoned. Uh, one of the pilots had more than 1000 hours flight hours. The other had about 500. And this was merely an evaluation flight, an annual kind of evaluation for experienced crew. And, of course, the Army and the military fly helicopters in that area, partly as a VIP service. They are ferrying senior officials and military commanders around the Washington area, and they fly low along the Potomac River. Anyone who has spent time in D.C. will tell you about the pretty, pretty heavy helicopter traffic that flows up and down the Potomac. So it would be very misleading to think this was these were novices flying that helicopter. And also, it's very common to see that type of helicopter, the Black Hawk. That is a that is a common helicopter to see along the Potomac. So at the moment we don't know why this collision happened. And there is no evidence at this point that it was pilot error, as we've just heard.
This is a methodical, uh, effort here to investigate what happened. And mishaps and aviation accidents take time to understand. And they go through all the equipment and they interview the air traffic controllers and so on.
There are no easy answers. Of course, we have the big NTSB investigation. So, Dan, what is the Pentagon specifically going to focus on with its investigation?
Of course, they will always defer to and be helping the federal investigation, which is which is the lead. But they will be looking at, uh, the pilots, the crew, what their flight plan was going into this, for this evaluation, what path or lane they were on. There are routes for the helicopters and then routes for the planes. And, you know, were they on the right in the right lane where they shifting to another Lane did that? Was that handled properly? Did they have proper information and what kind of situational awareness did they have as that passenger jet approached?
Dan Dallas, thank you very much.
In a news conference following the collision Thursday, President Trump took the opportunity to attack hiring decisions and leadership at the Department of Transportation under the Biden administration without providing any evidence. He suggested diversity, equity and inclusion policies were to blame for the deadly crash. NBC News senior White House correspondent Garrett Hake has the details.
In a white House news conference that began with a somber moment of silence. President Trump pivoting from prayer.
I speak to you this morning in an hour of anguish for our nation to politics. I put safety first. Obama, Biden and the Democrats put policy first.
Suggesting without evidence that Democratic policies at Policies at the FAA and military, which President Trump ended last week with an executive order may have contributed to the midair collision.
We have to have our smartest people. It doesn't matter what they look like, how they speak, who they are. It matters. Intellect, talent.
At one point going after Biden, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Just got a good line of bull. He's run it right into the ground with his diversity.
But reporters pressing the president. What evidence did he have that diversity hiring caused the crash?
It just could have been.
And later, as he signed an order to review FAA hiring decisions the last four years.
Are you saying race or gender.
Played.
A.
Role in this tragedy?
It may have. I don't know. Incompetence might have played a role. Well, we'll let you know that.
The president echoed by the vice president and defense secretary.
We want the best people at air traffic control.
The era of.
D.I.
Is gone at the Defense Department.
But the comments sparking fierce backlash. Buttigieg posting despicable as families grieve. Trump should be leading, not lying. We put safety first. The top Senate Democrat responding.
For the president of the United States to throw out idle speculation as bodies are still being recovered and families still being notified, it just turns your stomach.
Our thanks to Garrett Hake for that report. The president also named a new acting FAA director last night. The position had been vacant since Inauguration Day when the previous administrator resigned.
On Capitol Hill yesterday, several of President Trump's embattled cabinet picks were on the hot seat for another round of confirmation hearings. Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel up for top jobs overseeing national security were the latest to spar with senators. Both attempted to downplay and distance themselves from controversies in their past. NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles has more.
Do you think.
A pair of President Trump's top national security nominees facing high stakes confirmation hearings.
There will be no politicization at the FBI.
Former federal prosecutor Kash Patel nominated for FBI director. The staunch Trump supporter pressed by Democrats about his independence.
Would you be willing to resign the.
Post.
Of FBI director if pressed and given no choice.
But.
To.
Obey the order or resign?
Senator, I will always obey the law.
And President Trump's pardons of violent offenders from January 6th.
I do not agree with the commutation of any sentence of any individual who committed violence against law enforcement.
Patel strongly defended by Republicans.
The reason you're here is because most of the public, almost every Republican, believes that the FBI has been used continuously in a political fashion, lying to get Donald Trump.
Across the Capitol, former Democratic congresswoman and combat veteran Tulsi Gabbard nominated for director of national intelligence.
What truly unsettles my political opponents is I refuse to be their puppet.
Gabbard pushing back on claims she parroted Kremlin talking points.
I want to make.
Certain that.
In no.
Way.
Does Russia get a.
Pass in.
Either your mind or your heart.
I'm offended by the question because my.
Sole.
Focus, commitment and responsibility.
Is about.
Our own nation.
And pressed over her previous call for a pardon for Edward Snowden, who fled the U.S. after releasing a trove of government secrets.
Is Edward Snowden a traitor to the United States of America?
I understand how critical our national security is.
You don't.
And Republicans left the hearing for Kash Patel feeling confident that he would win confirmation. They seem more skeptical about the prospects of both Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F Kennedy Jr. Although not one Republican has yet to say they will vote no.
All right, Ryan, thank you.
All right. Time to take a take a look outside. Once again, the northeast is in for some more snow and also some rain. Let's take a closer look with your morning news now. Weather.
Andrew Lassman, it's already started. Good morning.
Good morning guys. Man. Savannah, you got to sound a little more excited. It's Friday. We don't have all bad news when it comes to the weather, but yes, we do have a kind of wintry mix for some folks across the northeast and some rain that's going to stretch all the way down to the southeast. Here's the look right now at your at your radar. Plenty of rain from the Mid-Atlantic back towards Tennessee and Kentucky and stretching down to the Gulf Coast. And we do have a little bit of that wintry weather kind of settling in for New England. So no surprise, those winter weather advisories are up across this region. Those will stay with us through the day today as this system works farther to the east, big batch of rain associated with it and a little kind of sliver of some of that snow and maybe some ice accumulation that you'll see across this region, but most of it's going to fall in the form of rain, of course, because our temperatures are running above normal for a lot of this part of the country right now.
Still, though, a little bit of a travel difficulties when it comes to the rain and the ice and snow. Here's a big picture. Look at the rain. We do still have some snow on the ground in some of these spots. So the melting snow along with that heavy rain, maybe some localized flooding across this region. But overall, I think we'll pick up maybe a half of an inch of rain and some of the more widespread areas and up to an inch or maybe two inches in some of the higher, uh, in some of the higher amounts. Now, snowfall forecast, not all that impressive, but maybe an inch across this region. So again, it will be a little difficult on the roadways. And we'll see some of that ice accumulating. So make sure you have a little extra time if you're going to hit the roads across parts of New England through tonight. Big picture. Look for your weekend. It will stay mild for honestly, most of us east of the Rockies temperatures 60s 70s across the South we've got 50s and 60s for parts of the Central Plains.
Even the Midwest doesn't look bad for this time of year. Notice the heavy rain though, that's going to arrive and really is going to arrive today. For folks across the West Coast, we've got another atmospheric river taking shape. It's going to bring some much needed rain to parts of California, not Southern California. This is more central California up into parts of Oregon and Washington along the coast, and that unfortunately continues into Sunday. This is going to leave us with the potential for not just some some snow in parts of the mountainous areas, but we'll see some strong winds as well. And of course, that rain will bring the potential for some flooding concerns across that region. Specifically, Bay area out east and points into Northern California is where we'll be watching. Otherwise, great day on Sunday for the southeast guys and it will stay mild for the Midwest.
Sunday I'm just realizing we won't have a show on your favorite day of the year. Oh no.
Groundhog day.
The audacity of.
That.
Rodent.
To try.
And take my job. You know.
We'll talk about it on when you come.
Back. I'm sure I'll complain on Monday.
Yeah.
All right. Thanks, Angie. We'll have much more on that deadly plane crash throughout the morning, including what we've learned about the final moments before the collision.
First, though, chaos during a hostage release in Gaza. How it all unfolded. And when an American hostage is now set to be freed. That is next.
The NBC news mobile app. Get connected to your favorite news shows for the top stories, breaking news and live video. Download the NBC news mobile app now.
Good morning. Glad to have you with us.
I'm Savannah sellers.
I'm Joe Fryer. Right now on morning news now. Rescue teams are out helping people after two major hurricanes.
Is the.
U.S..
Being drawn deeper into this conflict?
A new study reveals that retirement balances are falling short. Why aren't people saving enough?
What are the questions that you hear the most when it comes to staying safe online? These weight loss drugs? Are we concerned about long term side effects?
A lot going on in space right now.
Make no mistake, this mission is high stakes.
Morning news now streaming weekdays at seven. Lester Holt, America's most trusted TV news anchor.
For Fox.
News, lives in the now.
All of that snow fell in a matter of days.
Food and medicine this time being dropped over southern Gaza.
It looks.
Like.
Hot lava.
News for the generation of now. Is NBC news now.
Closer to the Gaza border? The story of resilience and hope. Please take care of yourself and each other.
Breaking news tonight as we come on the air. Live tonight from New Orleans. Top story live from the Pacific Palisades. Fire like this would erupt into a blowtorch with the Santa Ana winds. So it's a race against time. As you look over to Bourbon Street, the first question is, is it safe tonight? Gas prices coming down, mortgage rates starting to come down. When will consumers feel it even more? Paris's Notre Dame cathedral finally reopening following years of renovations.
Every night it's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas. Streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now.
News lives in the now.
All of that snow fell in a matter of days.
Food and medicine this time being dropped over southern Gaza.
It looks like hot lava.
News for the generation of now is NBC news.
Now Lester Holt, America's most trusted TV news anchor.
Hey there. I'm Hallie, and we are coming on the air tonight with new developments. What's up? What do we know about these chemicals? And should we be super concerned about it or what economic policy and what the election means for it. Break it down in English. What this means for people's money.
From inside Iran, from Israel, from Tampa. Hurricane Milton is here. Where we're standing right now is covered in water. Part of our continued reporting live from Boise. Thanks for talking to me. Okay. You'll be safe.
We're back with the latest on that fragile ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Three Israeli and five Thai hostages were released in a chaotic handover by Hamas on Thursday. One release in northern Gaza went smoothly, but crowds of cheering of jeering Hamas supporters in the southern city of Khan Younis surrounded the hostages. And that created a dangerous situation. Hostages who were being escorted by armed Hamas fighters were visibly afraid.
In exchange, Israel released 110 Palestinian prisoners, including some who have been convicted of deadly attacks. This comes as President Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who helped broker the ceasefire deal, paid a visit to the region earlier this week in Tel Aviv yesterday. Witkoff said an American will be among the Among the next round of hostages set to be released tomorrow.
NBC news national correspondent Yasmin Vossoughian joins us now from Tel Aviv with more on this. Yasmin. Good morning. Let's start with that chaotic scene we all saw at yesterday's hostage exchange. Tell us more about just how this all unfolded and how those hostages are doing now.
Yeah, chaotic Joe is putting it lightly. Terrifying for many of these hostages in being released. Really? The whole process taking 90 minutes or so. Let me kind of walk you through the numbers here and the folks that were released and how it went down. We had three hostages, five Thai nationals as well, amongst those hostages. One of them was a soldier, two of them civilians. The soldier was released in Jabaliya in the north of Gaza was a fairly seamless handover to the Red cross. However, the two civilians, along with the five Thai nationals, they were released and handed over to the Red cross in front of Yahya Sinwar, the former political head of Hamas's ruined home. We know obviously he was killed as well by the IDF, by Israeli army. That scene was in fact incredibly chaotic, we are told. The hostages were were terrified during the entire 90 minute ordeal. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu was, in fact outraged by the scenes that he saw there. As you see, it was, uh, Islamic jihadist soldiers, along with Palestinians, that were crowding the entire area during the exchange, after the exchange took place, guys.
Bibi himself, in fact, held those 110 Palestinian prisoners until he was guaranteed this type of scene would not take place again for the next exchange of prisoners. Once hostages, I should say. Once that guarantee was secured, there was 110 Palestinian prisoners were in fact released. Guys.
Yasmin, let's talk about these hostages that are set to be released tomorrow, including one American. What do we know?
So, three hostages to be released tomorrow. One American, as you mentioned, Keith Siegel, 65 years old, along with Arthur Calderon, 54 years old and Bibas, 35 years old as well, all set to be released. And again, nothing is guaranteed here, guys. So we want to be clear about that, right? Set to be released in this phase of this deal tomorrow. This will be the first Israeli American hostage to be released throughout this peace deal. We know that there are two other Israeli American hostages that are still being held, and we believe they are, in fact, alive. So again, that is going to be a major day tomorrow in the kind of phase of this peace deal to see an American Israeli hostage released tomorrow, guys.
And Yasmin, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff wrapped up his trip to the region yesterday. He's the first high ranking U.S. official to visit Gaza in more than a decade. Real quick, what else came out of his visit?
Yeah. So visiting Gaza 15 years, as you mentioned, visiting Hostage Square as well. Certainly, it was a moment for the Trump administration who wants to broker a peace deal, a mideast peace deal not unlike the administration's before him. Witkoff also meeting with a far right member of, uh, of Netanyahu's government, who in fact was against brokering the peace deal from the very beginning, someone who, in fact, the Biden administration had refused to meet with, um, leading up to the brokering of the peace deal. Nonetheless, Witkoff making this trip into Gaza and certainly having important conversations along with the Prime Minister as well.
All right, Yasmin, thank you so much.
For more on this, let's bring in Aaron David Miller. He's a former adviser to multiple secretaries of state, also a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Aaron, good morning. Thanks for joining us. So I want to pick up on something we just discussed with Yasmin, um, which is Prime Minister Netanyahu's Response to those scenes, the chaotic scenes from that hostage release, he wrote in a statement. I view with great severity the shocking scenes during the release of our hostages. This is yet another proof of the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas terrorist organization. What can you tell us about the reaction within Israel to what we saw there? And also the clear kind of show of force here on the part of Hamas, knowing what some of Israel's stated goals were? What is kind of the attitude here that Hamas is re-emerging in defiance during a cease fire?
Yeah. First of all, thanks for having me, guys. Look, this is not an agreement between the United States and Switzerland. It's an agreement between two combatants who, over the last 15 months, basically have tried everything possible to inflict as much pain and trauma on one another as possible. Hamas and and and Israel. Netanyahu is presiding over a a increasingly volatile right wing coalition. The Israeli public emotionally torn with the shadow of October 7th still hanging over them. Looks at these scenes. And it's not just the Prime Minister. It's a large majority of the Israelis who I think have come to the conclusion. Those scenes demonstrate to me that Hamas is willfully, quite intentionally trying to demonstrate that they are in charge. They can protect two innocent hostages who they've abused over the course of the last year and a half from massive crowds. And it's a demonstration of power. Um, I'd like to think it was basic incompetence, but I think there was a message here. The message is it's not total victory.
Mr. Prime Minister, as you as you have suggested, we are here. We're not going anywhere. And we still have a large number of of Israelis to trade. But we want you out of Gaza and we want an end to the war. Uh, phase one, I think we'll go not smoothly, but I think it will be implemented. The problem is, is how to transition from phase one to phase two are the critical decisions need to be made by both sides?
Yeah. Aaron I want to ask you about that negotiations starting for phase two of this deal. Is there a sense that what we saw yesterday could endanger the cease fire and thus the hostages who remain in custody?
You know, the reason that this is happening, phase one is because both the state of Israel and Hamas see significant advantage. It's less certain to me a negotiations begun begin February 4th. That I think is Tuesday. That's the day that the Prime Minister is going to sit down first. Foreign visitor that President Trump is going to see. And you know, from my experience in Arab-Israeli negotiations, in relatively normal Arab-Israeli Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, they tend to have two speeds, slow and slower. So I would expect that um, getting to phase two, if you're lucky, is simply going to be dragged out without a return to the resumption of the war. But very hard to imagine all of the hostages being released. The 65 that will remain. The Israelis judge, perhaps half the soldiers are no longer alive in exchange for ending the war and withdrawal from Gaza. It's very hard for me to see that happening any time soon.
Aaron David Miller, thank you very much for your time this morning. Coming up, the latest on the investigation into that deadly midair collision.
What we've learned about the staffing levels inside the air traffic control tower. Next.
Lester Holt, America's most trusted TV news anchor.
Good morning. Glad to have you with us.
I'm Savannah sellers.
I'm Joe fryer. Right now on morning news now. Rescue teams are out helping people after two major hurricanes.
Is the U.S..
Being drawn deeper into this conflict?
A new study reveals that retirement balances are falling short. Why aren't people saving enough?
What are the questions that you hear the most when it comes to staying safe online? These weight loss drugs? Are we concerned about long term side effects?
A lot going on in space right now.
Make no mistake, this mission is high stakes.
Morning news now streaming weekdays at.
Seven.
From inside Iran. From Israel, from Tampa. Hurricane Milton is here. Where we're standing right now is covered in water. Part of our continued reporting live in Windsor. Thanks for talking to me. Okay, you can see.
More Americans.
Turn to NBC news.
Than any other.
News organization.
The NBC news mobile app. Get connected to your favorite news shows for the top stories, breaking news and live video. Download the NBC news mobile app now.
Still to come in the channel two news. Well, the waters are certainly receding now. Still too close to call. Lester Holt, reporting from Ground Zero as it's being referred to, is, in fact a taste of the Haitian people know a little something about resiliency. What's the biggest risk right now? Some of the troops who have been drowned. I want to welcome you to the first presidential debate. In fact, we've been told we can't go any further. There were some resilient folks. Let me give you a hint here.
Is it your plan to deport everyone who is here illegally over the next four years? Who do you think is the leader of the Democratic Party right now? Can you guarantee that grocery prices will, in fact come down? If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
We are back with more on the investigation into the tragic mid-air collision between an American Airlines jet and a military helicopter at Reagan National Airport Wednesday night. Federal investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder from the plane. They will provide critical details about the final moments before the accident.
Investigators also confirmed late last night that divers finished searching what they call all the accessible areas of the Potomac River. We're also learning more about the 67 victims who lost their lives.
NBC news Now top story anchor Tom llamas with us. He's live in Arlington, Virginia. Tom, thanks very much for joining us. Let's start with the investigation. What are we learning from officials that developed overnight?
Savannah and Joe, great to be with you guys this morning. There have been a lot of developments and new reporting overnight. First, we're getting our first look at the black boxes that were pulled from the passenger jet, the American Airlines plane. They were able to recover those yesterday. They were sent to the NTSB lab here in D.C. they were cleaned and looked at closely. And they're going to start that analysis. Now, as you can see here from these images, on top of that, there has been some new reporting about the elevation of the Black Hawk helicopter, essentially, how high was it flying and was it possibly flying too high? And that's what led to the collision. So that's all being looked at this morning. Today dive teams will reenter the Potomac River just behind me here at Reagan National Airport. And they have two goals, part of the same operation. They're going to try to recover victims that have been inaccessible, while also trying to salvage both the plane and the helicopter parts that are sort of all over the Potomac River this morning.
It's a very careful process because they have to preserve evidence and again, try to reach those victims that have been trapped that they have not been able to get to so far. So a lot happening today. All of this as the victims family members have now come to the to DC, the NTSB meeting with them yesterday to try to answer whatever questions they could. But the big question why is going to take some time.
Tom, talking about the divers, the recovery effort. I know you spoke with the Washington DC fire chief about the conditions that they're dealing with in the river. We know it's icy. It's cold, that the wind has been blowing that debris all over. I mean, what did he tell you about these recovery efforts and just what they're up against?
Yeah. You know, Joe, one of the interesting things he told me was when you look at that sort of horrific video and the way both aircraft crashed into the Potomac, you would assume that firefighters would come here with no hope. But he told me that was not the case. They they came here thinking they would find survivors, hoping they would find survivors. But after several hours searching in those icy waters, in the darkness, they knew that there were there would be no survivors, that all 67 people that were involved in this horrific collision would not come out of that water alive. He also told me that the conditions, obviously, as you can imagine, were terrible. Besides sort of the weather conditions and the ice, there was jet fuel all over the water and the water pushes everything downstream because it's a moving river. And so they have to be incredibly careful. They actually have boats not clustered, but actually spread out across the Potomac River in case something pops up, whether it be evidence or something else, and it floats down the river, they're able to recover that and bring it so it can be part of the investigation as well.
Tom Llamas, thank you very much for your reporting.
Dozens of federal investigators are now on the ground at Reagan Airport. They are working around the clock to figure out what happened Wednesday night.
NBC news senior correspondent Tom Costello covers aviation for us. He has details from a preliminary FAA report that shed some light on what may have gone wrong.
A source tells NBC news a preliminary FAA report on the midair crash indicates staffing at the Reagan Airport tower was not normal for the amount of traffic at that hour. Normally, one controller handles planes, while another controls helicopters. But Wednesday night, one controller was doing both at the time of the crash, though that is acceptable under established FAA standards. Investigators best clues into what went wrong may rely on those last few words, as controllers asked the chopper crew if they could see the c r j the regional jet flight.
Club has a few aircraft in operation.
The response is garbled. Does the chopper pilot say aircraft in sight.
Of the aircraft?
If so, why did they collide? Miracle on the Hudson. Captain Sully Sullenberger says that radio response is critical.
It changed the rules, and it required that they see each other until they were safely clear.
Like many airports, Reagan has had its share of close calls in recent years. March 7th, 2023 controllers ordered a United flight to abort takeoff after another plane crossed in front of it. April 18th, 2024 A southwest plane crossed a runway just as a JetBlue flight was preparing to take off. May 30th, 2024 A controller canceled takeoff after another airliner was cleared to land on an intersecting runway. Veteran pilots say flying up the river to runway 33 involves staying between 4 and 500ft, while helicopters should be flying beneath them under 200ft.
Requires a lot of skill. The runway is very small for an airport that handles this amount of traffic.
The new transportation secretary says flight activity was routine.
This was.
Not unusual.
With military aircraft flying the river and aircraft landing at DCA.
Investigators are looking into whether this helicopter was flying too low. It was apparently flying in one of those highway tracks in the sky for helicopters here outside of Reagan, going from track one to track four. It may have, according to sources, deviated and gone to a higher altitude than was assigned, and that could have put it into a direct conflict with the American Eagle flight. Back to you.
All right, Tom, thank you.
Coming up, teams, teams from around the world coming together to together to create a popular podcast.
After the break, I'll bring you the story of how it all started with a small after school club.
Kristen Welker hosts Meet the Press every Sunday on NBC.
More Americans.
Turn.
To NBC news than any other.
News organization.
Is it your plan to deport everyone who is here illegally over the next four years? Who do you think is the leader of the Democratic Party right now? Can you guarantee that grocery prices will, in fact, come down? If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
The NBC news mobile app. Get connected to your favorite news shows for the top stories, breaking news and live video. Download the NBC news mobile app now.
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From inside Iran, from Israel, from Tampa. Hurricane Milton is here. Where we're standing right now is covered in water. Continued reporting level, increasing points. Thanks for talking to me. Appreciate you. Christine.
Good morning. Glad to have you with us.
I'm Savannah Sellers.
I'm Joe Fryer right now on morning News Now. Rescue teams are out helping people after two major hurricanes.
Is the U.S. being drawn deeper into this conflict?
A new study reveals that retirement balances are falling short. Why aren't people saving enough?
What are the questions that you hear the most when it comes to staying safe online? These weight loss drugs? Are we concerned about long term side effects?
A lot going on in space right now.
Make no mistake.
This.
Mission is high stakes.
Morning news now streaming weekdays at seven. Kristen Welker hosts Meet the Press every Sunday on NBC. The NBC news mobile app. Get connected to your favorite news shows for the top stories, breaking news and live video. Download the NBC news mobile app now.
Breaking news tonight as we come on the air live tonight from New Orleans. Top story live from the Pacific Palisades. Fire like this would erupt into a blowtorch with those Santa Ana winds. So it's a race against time as you look over to Bourbon Street. The first question is, is it safe tonight? Gas prices coming down. Mortgage rates starting to come down. When will consumers feel it even more? Paris's Notre Dame cathedral finally reopening following years of renovations.
Every night it's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas. Streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now. Lester Holt, America's most trusted TV news anchor.
Top story live from the Pacific Palisades. Live in Tel Aviv.
Live tonight from New Orleans.
Every weeknight. It's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas. Streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now.
More Americans turn to NBC news than any other news organization.
In this morning's financial headlines. A new FDA approved painkiller is on the market, and it may cut down on the risk of addiction and overdose.
NBC Silvana Henao has the latest on that and other news. Savannah. Good morning.
Hey, Savannah, good morning to you and happy Friday. Yes. So Vertex Pharmaceuticals is set to rally today after the FDA approved the company's non-opioid painkiller. It's the first such drug to get the okay from the regulator in decades. Now, the vertex drug can treat moderate to severe acute pain and will be sold under the brand name Dr.. Now, the company will charge about $15 per pill or $217 for a week's prescription. Shares of Apple are rising after the company reported quarterly earnings and sales that topped analysts estimates. However, iPhone sales slipped, with China continuing to be a major weak spot, with sales dropping 11%. Now, Apple has yet to secure an AI partner in China to roll out its new Apple intelligence features. Apple does expect a rebound in sales this quarter, and it's not July, but 7-Eleven is giving customers a free treat. The convenience store chain says you can enjoy a free small Slurpee all day today to celebrate the end of January. 7-Eleven typically offers free Slurpee Day on its birthday, July 11th.
Now, the company says everyone could use a refreshing pick me up after a long winter month. Citing a study from the American Psychiatric Association finding 41% of Americans experience a decline in their mood in cooler months.
January has been a been a long year I agree with.
Exactly, exactly.
I agree with that statement.
A long.
Slurp.
Whatever you want to give me for free, I'll take it.
Right at the point.
Thanks, Ivana.
Thank you. Well, a deeply personal podcast is helping teens around the globe find community. It is called This Teenage Life, and it's creating a safe space for teens to talk about everything from the joy of a high school crush to the pain of parents splitting up. Take a look.
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California, and young people have so many big feelings. And so I ask these teenagers who.
I.
Had met if they were interested in joining an after school club, and we called ourselves this teenage life, and we would meet and we would sit around one microphone and we'd record those conversations, edit them.
And add music.
And art that they made. And then we.
Publish a podcast.
And it.
Was heard.
By, you know, ten.
People.
Enter 2020.
Covid.
Lockdowns and virtual.
School.
The podcast went.
Remote.
And teens.
From.
Illinois.
To.
India reached.
Out.
To get involved.
Everyone who has joined since the original group sent an.
Email, and.
That was initially to be like, thank you for this episode or this episode really moved.
Me.
Like I was feeling that, but I didn't know I was feeling that. And so hearing someone else say it made me.
Feel.
Less alone.
Contributors meet biweekly.
Virtually recording conversations on a certain topic. They've covered themes like body image.
Faith.
Failure.
Birthdays, academic.
Pressure, and even realizing parents are.
People.
Too.
Which topics.
Have hit home the most for.
You all? The first episode I made was the divorce episode, and I was pretty new to this teenage life, but I remember sitting there and talking to people and people were crying, but they were also just very, like, supportive of me. You just want to talk to someone. And even if our listeners can't see us, they hear us. And so I say that we're not just talking to hear ourselves. We are talking so others can hear their own thoughts. With nearly 200 episodes released, This.
Teenage Life has been.
Screened.
And.
Downloaded in over 180.
Countries.
Not only bridging cultural gaps, but generational ones too.
I think it's also really important for parents and grandparents and aunts and older siblings to listen to as well. This life kind of provides a little bit of a window into the inner workings of teenagers, and it's crazy and fun and amazing and awkward and weird and cool.
During a time when.
Mental.
Health.
Experts.
Describe Gen Z as the.
Loneliest.
Generation.
This teenage.
Life offers young people a community.
Of.
Creativity and.
Support.
What do you hear from.
People about teachers? Come up to me and be like, hey, so I used your episode to teach about this thing and I'm like, oh wow. Like you're really like listening to what I'm thinking. And I think that makes me pause because I think there are such few spaces that people take young people seriously. We're all just kids or teenagers trying to move through the world and figure out what to do with ourselves.
Aren't we all just that? Even if you're not a teenager. Also, if you're more of a reader, they've also got a Substack, but I suggest checking out the podcast, giving it a listen. It was so sweet because they all felt like they knew each other, because they've been doing this for so long, but that was their first time together in person.
First time they met. I like how the teachers use it to teach, but I also have to imagine it gives the teachers insight into how kids are feeling, which can help them deal with all the issues that they're dealing with.
Yeah, same thing that she hears from parents is like, this sparks such a good conversation for me to know how to talk to my teen. Pretty neat. Very cool. Thank you. Coming up, it's a clash of the pop powerhouses after a spectacular year in music.
We are gearing up for the Grammys. Everything you need to know about this weekend's award show. Next.
Closer to the Gaza border. The story of resilience and hope. Please take care of yourself and each other.
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Welcome back. Finally, this hour music's biggest night of the year is almost here. The 67th Annual Grammy Awards are happening live in Los Angeles this Sunday, with fierce competition for the biggest awards.
This year's album of the year category is pitting pop icons Beyonce and Taylor Swift against newcomers Chappell, Roan and Sabrina Carpenter. And this year's ceremony will do more than just entertain. The Recording Academy has partnered with several organizations in Los Angeles to help raise funds for the victims of the recent wildfires.
That's awesome. For more, let's bring in Brittany Spanos. She's a staff writer for rolling Stone, where she covers music, fandom and pop culture. Brittany, good morning. Thanks very much for being here. We are going to get into winter predictions and put you on the spot in a minute. But first, who are some of the performers and presenters we should be looking out for this weekend?
I mean, it's going to still be a really, really stacked award show. I mean, I know a lot, a lot, a lot of the show is going to be focused on the wildfires and raising awareness. So they are bringing in a lot of performers like Chris Martin and Brittany Howard are going to be performing segments that are about that, but they also have most of the Best New Artist nominees performing Chapel and Sabrina Carpenter. And they also will have other nominees like Billie Eilish and Charli XCX, hopefully doing some some really exciting and giant performances for their album.
So excited.
So rolling Stone is out with a list of predictions for the winners in all 13 categories. I'm going to give I like to do this my Grammy 101. For those who are confused. Album of the year. That's the big thing. They produce with lots of tracks. Record of the year, for reasons no one understands, is one song every year. Song of the year is a writing award. It goes to the folks who wrote a song. That being said, album of the year is usually considered the big one. Who should win? Who does rolling Stone think will actually win? This is the award. Beyonce has never won. Is this finally the year?
Yeah, I mean it is going to be really contentious. It's a tough year. I think a lot of us are kind of rooting for Beyonce to have this big win this year. I mean, it's a really great album. It's really deep into the history of country, especially into Black Country. Um, but it could be really contentious. Taylor Swift has taken home this award so many times, so it really could go to Tortured Poets department. But the new artist in the category are incredible. Sabrina, those are some of the most talked about albums of the year. So it's really surprising. But I'm kind of rooting for Beyonce this year.
And what about record of the year? As Joe noted, not album of the year.
I mean, record, of course, is about the recording of a song, which is probably the best way to remember how you know how to how this how work goes. But, you know, I think it could again, it's a tough there's a lot of huge singles from this year. I am personally rooting for Chappell. Roan. I think that song is one of the best singles of the year. Um, so that could be a really great win for a new artist.
But as you know, they really love throwing Grammys at Grammys at Billie Eilish.
Like they just give her all the Grammys.
Yeah. Yeah. Let's talk about song of the year. That's the song writing award. This is a tough one, right?
Yeah. I mean, so again, like song to I guess sort of to help again song songwriting like sort of makes it easy to think about who's going to how that award is in fact awarded. But I think Sabrina Carpenter's Please, please, please is so fun. I mean, it's a great sort of country twang to it. Um, so surprising after espresso. So, so true. Could really go to her. I think the new artist could really take home some of the the big four this year, which could be a really great sort of diversification of all of the all the awards this year.
And let's talk about that award, best New artist. What do you think?
Yeah, I mean, we had a lot of breakouts in 2024. I mean, it was a really incredible year for new artists, especially after a few years due to the pandemic where there was less touring, less opportunities for new artists to really shine in that way. So it is kind of anyone's game, but I think a lot of the industry is rooting for reading for Chapel Road. I mean, she had not only good luck, babe, but almost half of her album ended up becoming giant hits over the course of 2024. She was the name on everybody's lips.
Bottom line, kind of unpredictable year which will make it fun, right?
Yeah, I mean, it could be a lot of surprises, a lot of left field moments. I mean, we have like, someone like Andre 3000, who's won multiple times with Outkast up for album of the year for his flute album. I mean, he could easily take it home, too. There's a lot of kind of new, new opportunities for for huge surprises on the night that I'm sure.
Everyone.
Will be talking about.
Brittany Spanos, thank you so much. Happy watching. Listening.
Thank you.
For this. Our morning news now.
But the news continues right now. Good morning. I'm Savannah Sellers.
And I'm Joe Fryer. Right now on morning news. Now the grim aftermath of that deadly midair collision near DC's Reagan airport. Investigators finding a critical clue. A pair of black boxes from that American Airlines jet pulled from the icy Potomac River comes as NBC Washington reports, the bodies of 40 of the 67 victims have been recovered so far. Well, President Trump draws some sharp criticism for choosing to attack Dei efforts in his response to the disaster.
The Diversity and Inclusion hiring plan, which says diversity is integral to achieving FDA's mission of ensuring safe and efficient travel. I don't think so. I don't think so. I think it's just the opposite.
We've got team coverage as the investigation unfolds. We're also learning more about those aboard the ill fated flight. At least six passengers from the same figure skating group out of Boston, a tightly knit New England community now coming together to honor their neighbors. Elsewhere in Washington, another blistering day of heated testimony on Capitol Hill. Two of President Trump's top national security picks are facing tough questions Kash Patel and former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. But how are their answers resonating with lawmakers, including some Republicans this morning? We're going to bring you the latest in just a moment and hope from the ashes as Southern California reels from those deadly January wildfires. Some of the biggest names in music coming together in the City of Angels for a show of support like no other. Incredible how this concert came together so quickly with some of the biggest names in music. All for a good cause. We'll get to that in a moment. Let's begin, of course, with the investigation into the deadly midair collision between an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter.
It happened near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night. Officials have now recovered two crucial devices the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder. Both could provide important information about the final moments before the tragedy.
Also, as Joe mentioned, we are learning more about the dozens of victims who lost their lives and how they're being remembered by friends and family. NBC's Tom llamas has more from Arlington, Virginia.
Dive teams this morning will enter the water here in the Potomac at Reagan National Airport, just behind me with two goals, part of the same operation. They're going to try to recover victims that have been inaccessible so far. They're also going to try to salvage the parts of both the plane and the helicopter that are still underwater. This is going to be a very careful process, because they want to make sure they can preserve as much evidence as possible. This as we're getting and learning a lot more from overnight, including seeing our first images of those black boxes from the plane as they're being analyzed at the NTSB lab, and also new reporting that is raising questions about the elevation of the Black Hawk helicopter and whether it was flying too high at that moment of impact. This morning, NTSB investigators getting their first look at a critical clue. The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder recovered from the American Airlines passenger jet involved in that horrific midair collision near Reagan National Airport. These images, showing the devices being cleaned and evaluated at the NTSB labs as new video aired by CNN, shows the horrifying moments the two crashed and plunged into the icy Potomac.
I mean, how tough was it out there?
There's wreckage that can puncture your suit. There's jet fuel in the water that's contaminating your gear. So we're having to work with all of that to keep our divers safe while we're looking for people.
Audio seems to show the helicopter pilot responding to controllers, though it's hard to hear.
If he has an aircraft in sight.
As authorities try to piece together what happened. Sources tell NBC news that investigators are looking at whether the helicopter was flying above its designated altitude. While a preliminary FAA report on the crash found staffing at the air traffic control tower was not normal, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. The tower typically has one controller focusing on planes and a second on helicopters. But Wednesday night, only one person was overseeing both at the time of the collision, although that is allowed by FAA safety guidelines. And this morning, we're learning of another close encounter near the airport just a day earlier. Audio showing a plane had to change course due to a helicopter in its path.
Three 4514 what was the reason for the go around? We had an RA with a helicopter traffic below us. Three 4514.
Officials say the helicopter involved in Wednesday night's crash was on a routine training flight with three experienced crew members, including crew chief Ryan O'Hara, a young father also on board, an instructor pilot with about 1000 flight hours. Among those killed on the American flight, multiple children, their parents and coaches returning from a figure skating camp in Kansas.
There's just no words to.
Describe how awful.
It is.
The plane's captain identified as 34 year old Jonathan Campos. His co-pilot, Sam Lilly, 28 years old and engaged to be married.
He was very, just a very kind soul.
Also on the flight, a young mother, Wendy Jo Shaffer and civil rights attorney and former Miss Kansas contestant KY Duggins. Ahmad Raza was at the airport to pick up his wife, asra, who was returning from a business trip.
I always pick.
Her up from departures, had dinner waiting at home.
So many families grieving while the investigation continues. Yesterday, the NTSB was set to meet with the victims family members, and I spoke with the with the DC fire chief who was going to attend that meeting as well. I asked him what he was going to tell those relatives. He said that he was going to tell them the truth. Answer as many questions as he could. But the big question why is going to take some time to answer. Reporting from Reagan National Airport, Tom llamas, now back to you.
All right, Tom, thank you.
Let's keep the conversation going with Bruce Landsberg. He's the former vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board or the NTSB. So Bruce knows these investigations well. Thank you for joining us. Your former colleagues at the NTSB, now in possession of those two black boxes from the American Airlines plane. Walk us through what comes next, what investigators hope to learn from those devices, and just how long this analysis and really, this investigation will take.
Well, thank you for having me. And of course, condolences to all of the families who who lost loved ones. So let me preface my remarks by saying anything I say here is preliminary to the investigation. And in terms of how the investigation will go, they will be gathering, as Tom mentioned earlier, all of the perishable evidence off the bottom of the Potomac River and moving it to probably a hangar somewhere, maybe on at over at DCA. And everything will be very carefully laid out so that the investigators can see exactly what the collision angles were and that sort of thing. It the cockpit voice recorders and the flight data recorder, which are orange, by the way. They're not black and I've never seen a black one will provide us with tremendous information on the altitude, not the elevation. Elevation is ground level, but altitude of both aircraft. If the Black Hawk has any kind of recording device. So that's that's something that we will find out doubt from a human factors perspective, they're going to look very closely, as you've already mentioned, in the staffing in the tower, the fatigue levels of the controllers.
Obviously, everybody will have a drug test to make sure that they were fully functional. The key thing that will come up is the design of the helicopter route, and why it is in close proximity to the final approach course to runway 33. And of course, we will find out whether the helicopter pilots were complying with the altitude restrictions on that route. And then perhaps finally in this area, because there have been several other close calls. Why didn't our safety reporting systems pick this up? So these are all things that the NTSB will be looking at as they go through the process. The preliminary report should be available in about a month. And then the final report probably will be about a year after that, they'll issue a factual report first. There will be a full board meeting on that, and then the final report will come out a couple of weeks afterwards. And that will answer a lot more questions than than what we know at this point.
Bruce, you mentioned the airspace, how crowded several other near misses do you think that this could lead to to change in the area?
Well, that's a very good question. I can't answer it, but my sense is that having only a couple hundred feet of separation, uh, between, um, aircraft is probably not the best idea. As as we've seen here, there are a couple of operational factors we might want to very quickly touch on. One is the controller advising the helicopter pilot only 13 seconds prior to the collision. The audio is not quite clear, but it appears that the helicopter pilot said traffic in sight and something about requests or maintain visual separation. Now, what happens there is that if you're close to the altitude of the other aircraft, you are going to have a real difficult time at night, even though it's a perfectly clear night to see the other aircraft because of the background ground clutter of all of the lights, and what the pilot reported may not have been the same aircraft, because there are a lot of aircraft that are on the approaches going into DCA. And finally, I bring up the point of the geometry of any kind of collision, whether it's an automobile or whether it's aircraft, is that when you're on a collision course with something, the target will not appear to move and will only blossom literally a second or two prior to.
So it's very difficult to see how those, those kind of situations.
All right, Bruce Landsberg, we appreciate your appreciate your expertise this morning.
Thank you for joining us.
Well, over at the white House, President Trump is facing accusations he's politicizing the tragedy and making unverified claims long before the investigation is complete. Speaking yesterday, the president linked the crash to FAA diversity initiatives and criticized the actions of his Democratic predecessors, former Presidents Biden and Obama. NBC News Chief White House correspondent Peter Alexander has the latest on this angle for us. Peter. Good morning.
Savannah, good morning to the president's remarks yesterday in the white House briefing room here really felt like a flashback to five years ago, those marathon Covid 19 news conferences that he held in his first national tragedy of his second term in office. The president began with notes of unity, but quickly pivoted to go on the attack without any evidence to back up his claim. His claims of who and what is to blame for the worst air disaster in this country since 2009, with the remains of Remains of victims still being recovered from the frigid Potomac River. President Trump blamed his two Democratic predecessors.
I put safety first. Obama, Biden and the Democrats put policy first.
And diversity requirements in the military and FAA that he just ended with executive orders.
They actually came out with a directive to white, and we want the people that are competent.
Still, the president offered no evidence that diversity programs had anything to do with the deadly collision. His remarks began with a moment of silence and condolences.
We grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly.
But quickly took a sharp turn, the commander in chief criticizing the Army helicopters crew.
You had a pilot problem from the standpoint of the helicopter.
Pressed how he could conclude diversity hirings contributed to the crash before all the facts were known.
Because I have common sense. Okay. And unfortunately, a lot of people don't. We want brilliant people doing this.
Among his targets, former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg.
He's just got a good line of bull. He's run it right into the ground with his diversity.
Buttigieg calling the president's comments despicable, writing, as families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying, adding we put safety first. The president also cited language on the FAA's website about recruiting those with disabilities. It's on the website, the FAA's website. It was there in 2013. It was there for the entirety.
Of what I read.
It was there for the entirety of your administration, too. So my question is, why didn't you change the policy during your first administration?
I did change it. I changed the Obama policy, and we had a very good policy. And then Biden came in and he changed it. And then when I came in two days, three days ago, I signed a new order bringing it to the highest level of intelligence. Okay.
Later, the president dismissed a question whether he would visit the crash site.
Once the site the water, or to meet with the first.
Responders down.
There. I don't have a plan to do that.
As for President Trump's criticism of the diversity programs within the FAA, multiple former Transportation Department officials tell me that all air traffic control candidates undergo rigorous mental and physical testing before they're hired, and that very few applicants even make it to training because the process is so difficult. Joe and Savannah.
All right, Peter, thank you very much.
Among the victims on board the plane, figure skaters, their parents and coaches, they were attending the figure skating Nationals in Wichita, Kansas this morning. We know at least six were part of the same club in Boston. NBC news correspondent Sam Brock is in Massachusetts for us. Sam. Good morning.
Joe. Good morning. It's pretty incredible. For the last hour or two. There's been the first formal practice on this rink since that crash. And having spoken with the CEO of the Skating Club of Boston here, he tells me they sent 12 skaters to that elite development camp, and did not know until hours into the day after the crash how many of them were actually on board that flight. It turns out it was two skaters, Gina Hahn and Spencer Lane. Their mothers, two incredible coaches. Right now, the heartache here just unimaginable. The ripple effect of this week's D.C. plane tragedy can be seen in flowers, portraits and empty ice at the Skating Club of Boston, which learned six of their own lost their lives, this tight knit sport now uniting in grief.
It's a tragic loss for all of us.
It's just it's terrible.
That fateful flight to D.C. from Kansas, coming just days after the U.S. Championships in Wichita. Followed immediately by a developmental camp for the sport's best and brightest.
My heart is with all the families affected.
And that's the part I have no words.
For.
Among those on board members of multiple skating clubs, including coach Alexander Xander Kirsanov, 12 year old athlete. Brielle Beyer and her mother Justina, and the half dozen deeply connected to the Skating Club of Boston, including young skater Gina Hahn.
I would.
Get.
A smile on my face seeing her smiling.
And she was.
Smiling a lot.
And Spencer Lane, who had only been competing for a few years.
The amount that he has achieved in those 3 or 4 years is absolutely remarkable.
Also lost in the tragedy, their mothers, Jin Hahn and Christine Lane, and figure skating coaches Vadim Naumov and Shishkova coaches Naumov and Shishkova, who were married, won the 1994 World Championship as a pair and competed in two Winter Olympics.
Very nice.
Whose son Max just competed at nationals.
His parents were his coaches as well as his parents.
This has split parents from kids and vice versa.
Yeah, it's fractured the community.
In an emotional press conference, leaders and alumni of the club trying to come to grips with the tragedy, whose impact will be felt far beyond the rink, including former Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan.
Even when you're.
Crying, hurt, pain, get back.
Up and move forward. It's not easy, but that's what we.
All have to do now.
Together.
And for many at the Skating Club of Boston, Wednesday's crash bringing back painful memories. More than six decades after competitors from the same club died in a plane crash while traveling to the 1961 World Championships, it is obviously a cruel and ironic coincidence that you would have a situation again where half of the members on that 1961 flight of the U.S. skating team were connected directly to this rink. I did speak with the CEO again about that very matter. He said it was like growing up in the shadow of a tragedy. They felt the weight of this experience but didn't really know how to talk about it. They didn't talk about it. But this time around, sadly but potentially positively, there's going to be grief counseling and community meetings to try to allow the healing process to move forward, if that's possible.
Approach things in such a different way. Right now we're thinking of that entire community. Sam. Thank you. Appreciate it.
Well, an atmospheric river is going to bring lots of wet weather to the West Coast this weekend. For more details, let's check in on your morning news now. Weather.
Angie Larson is with us. Angie. Good morning.
Hi, guys. Good morning to you. We're heading into the weekend with plenty of alerts up across the West. Those winter alerts basically extending west of the Rockies. We're going to see this atmospheric river take shape through the day today. We've got heavy rain, snow, wind all on the table. Travel is going to be difficult today from California up into Oregon. And we've still got some of that heavy rain, the flood risk centered across California specifically as we get into tomorrow and even Sunday, the snow will continue to pile up across the Sierra mountains and stretching out to the Rockies. So we'll see some difficulty with travel when it comes to snowfall as well. Here's the area we're watching for for flash flooding. San Francisco, Sacramento, and Yosemite all included here as we get into the day tomorrow. So a heads up for folks there. We've also got some rain and snow across parts of the East, and that's leaving us with some alerts this morning, too. There's the rain that you're seeing now.
Notice what happens by the time the day goes on. We see that heavy rain working across the southeast. A mix of ice and snow for folks across New England. It's going to be difficult for travel there as well. Big picture. Look as we roll into your Saturday. Mild across the South, we've got plenty of sunshine. Honestly, East of the Rockies, that system for the northeast will be out of here. The heavy rain will be focused across the West. And then, of course, my favorite day of the year, say Groundhog Day. Here's what we've got. Science. Science. Punxsutawney Phil. Scientist. Apparently. Slight chance of showers there. Yeah, I knew. I knew you would laugh at that. Savannah. Staten island. Chuck. It's going to be chilly for him there. We've got 24 degrees there. We've got 30s.
These are the names.
These are the names. Listen.
I'm going to be honest. This is.
This is news to you.
I didn't know there was more than one.
You just thought it was Punxsutawney.
Yeah. I'm going to tell you, Woodstock was famous. Why doesn't anybody talk about. You are.
Asking of Groundhog.
The wrong person. Why these rodents?
I'm sorry. Staten Island. Chuck should get more notoriety. That's funny.
We're going to send you on assignment there, I think, on Sunday. How about.
That?
What is the one in the West? I couldn't even read that one.
Yeah, I don't know, guys.
Bring it up again.
These are my.
Enemies. Regina. Our director. Oh, good. There it is. What is it? Does that say.
Belly?
Oh, cause. Unadilla, Nebraska.
Respect to our friends in Nebraska.
Wait. I'm sorry. Phil is kind of the lamest, right?
We're.
We're focusing.
Yeah. You guys.
Are asking.
Me how they all look the same.
Normally, I get hate mail for this day, but you guys are going to get it.
For normally in the past, I was like, oh, it's Groundhog Day, but you have taught me.
What I should. I really just didn't know that. And I'm mind blown. And from now on, we are only going with Staten Island. Chuck's predictions.
I'm here to teach you.
Thanks, Andrew.
You're welcome.
After the break, a grilling on the hill for two of President Trump's top national security picks.
So what is the mood like in Washington after yet another heated day of Senate hearings? were going to take you there next.
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Welcome back this morning. Republicans are weighing whether to support several of Donald Trump's controversial cabinet nominees as he looks to fill out his administration. Yesterday on Capitol Hill, Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel and Robert F Kennedy Jr all faced tough questions over their prior statements and positions that have landed them in some hot water. We've got NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles joining us with a look at those hearings. Hey, Ryan. Good morning.
Savannah. Good morning. Now, all three of these nominees will likely not get a single vote from Democrats. So that means they need strong support from Republicans to win the job. This morning, it is still unclear if all three have cleared that threshold. A contentious day on Capitol Hill. Two of Donald Trump's top national security picks facing tough questions about their past controversial records.
Senator, I will always obey the law.
Kash Patel, Trump's pick to run the FBI, taking tough questions about his calls for political retribution against Donald Trump's opponents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. But he broke with Trump when it came to the issue of pardons for some January 6th defendants.
I'm asking, was he wrong to.
Do.
It?
I do not agree with the commutation of any sentence of any individual who committed violence against law enforcement.
The tough questions for Patel came mostly from Democrats. But for Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's choice as director of national intelligence, a great deal of scrutiny came from Republicans.
I want to make certain that.
In no way.
Does Russia get a pass.
In.
Either your mind or your heart.
Senator, I'm offended by the question because my sole focus, commitment and responsibility is about our own nation, our own security and the interests of the American people.
Gabbard pressed about her calls for a pardon for Edward Snowden.
Edward Snowden broke the law.
Who fled the U.S. after releasing a trove of government secrets.
Is Edward Snowden a traitor to the United States of America?
I understand how critical our national security.
Apparently you don't. Apparently you don't.
Republicans left the Patel hearing confident he was on the path to confirmation.
Oh, there's no question he gets confirmed.
While their support for Gabbard was tepid, only Matt Gaetz, Trump's original pick for attorney general, has dropped out of the running. And Trump has made it clear he wants all of his picks confirmed.
Sure, we want fast confirmations.
Meanwhile, Robert F Kennedy Jr. Trump's pick to run the Department of Health and Human Services is facing a new challenge. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who chairs the committee in charge of his confirmation, said yesterday that he is, quote, struggling with Kennedy's nomination, a sign he may vote no. Of course, Kennedy can only afford to lose three GOP votes and still win confirmation. Savannah and.
Joe. All right, Ryan, thank you very much.
Let's get to some international headlines, starting in Ukraine, where North Korean troops are now withdrawing after months of brutal fighting, partnering with Russia.
NBC News international correspondent Claudio Lavanga has that and more. Hey, Claudio. Good morning.
Savannah. Good morning. Well, that's right. According to Ukrainian and U.S. officials who spoke to the New York Times, North Korean soldiers have been fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, have now been taken off the front line after suffering heavy losses for the past three months. Around 11,000 soldiers from North Korea are believed to have been deployed to Ukraine. But according to the country's top military commander, around half of them have already been killed. An American official told The New York Times that with the withdrawal from the front line may not be permanent, and it's possible the North Koreans will return after additional training. Let's go to Nicaragua now, where President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, who currently serves as vice president, may soon become co-presidents. The constitutional reform approved on Thursday also expands the presidential term from 5 to 6 years. Ortega's wife said the reform strengthens the model of people's president and direct democracy. But experts say the new constitution is meant to consolidate the Ortega family's grip on power, and is meant to guarantee that Murillo will succeed him as president in the future.
Let's end this tour of the world in New Zealand, where a mountain has been granted the same legal rights as a person. The mountain, called Taranaki Maunga, is considered sacred by the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. But its name has been changed and its land seized by British colonists in the 18th century. Now the law passed by the New Zealand government on Thursday recognizes the belief by the But Maori that nature features, including mountains, are ancestors and living beings. So now the mountain will go back to its original Maori name, and its peaks and surroundings will be protected as if it was a person. Back to you guys.
All right. Welcome to the human race. Claudia, thank you so much. Coming up. Hope rising from the ashes.
In the wake of those deadly wildfires that ravaged Southern California. A rockin show of support across L.A. that brought some of music's biggest names together. All for a good cause. More on that. Next.
From inside Iran, from Israel, from Tampa. Hurricane Milton is here. Where we're standing right now is covered in water, part of our continued reporting live with increasing frequency. Thanks for talking to me. Appreciate it. Let me see.
Breaking news tonight as we come on the air. Live tonight from New Orleans. Top story live from the Pacific Palisades. Fire like this would erupt into a blowtorch with those Santa Ana winds. So it's a race against time.
As.
You look over to Bourbon Street. The first question is, is it safe tonight? Gas prices coming down. Mortgage rates starting to come down. When will consumers feel it even more? Paris's Notre Dame cathedral finally reopening following years of renovations.
Every night it's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas. Streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now.
News lives in the now.
All of that snow fell in a matter of days.
Food and medicine this time being dropped over southern Gaza.
It looks like hot lava.
News for the generation of now is NBC news now.
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Every weeknight it's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas. Streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now.
Top story live from the Pacific Palisades.
Live in Tel Aviv. Live tonight from New Orleans.
Every weeknight it's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now.
We're back now with a look at new developments in the federal sex trafficking case against hip hop mogul Sean Diddy Combs.
Prosecutors filed a superseding indictment against Combs yesterday, accusing him of dangling a person over an apartment balcony and of coercing two additional women into commercial sex acts. In a statement responding to this expanded indictment, one of Combs attorneys said, quote, the latest indictment contains no new offenses. The prosecution's theory remains flawed. Mr. Combs is as committed as ever to fighting these charges and winning at trial.
Joining us now to discuss NBC news legal analyst Danny Cevallos. Danny, good to have you with us. So explain these new allegations that Combs is facing. And real quick, kind of give us this explainer. It's something we've heard a lot recently, but what is a superseding indictment?
Basically, we're looking at new victims and an increased scope of time. And why that's why that's significant is when you have allegations like conspiracy. If a conspiracy is ongoing, then you can get around what's called the statute of limitations. You have a certain period of time in which to bring a civil claim or bring a prosecution, after which it expires. And for prosecutors alleging conspiracy allows them to essentially relate back all of this conduct, even if it might be otherwise outside the statute of limitations. Now, a superseding indictment is really just a new indictment. It happens all the time. And I had absolute certainty this was going to happen in the Combs case, because they had raided his house and a relatively short period of time after indicted him. I assumed they were going to go through evidence cell phones, laptops, other things, gather more evidence. And then that new indictment adding charges, usually superseding indictments, either add charges or victims or defendants. And for criminal defense attorneys, they are super depressing because they mean that something worse.
And there's going to be more crimes, more allegations, more time in prison for your client.
So some of the timeline here and the details of these crimes has changed. What is that?
Yeah. So in originally, the earliest possible date was 2008. That's been pushed back to 2004. So now you have an increased window in which conduct can be chargeable, whereas otherwise statutes of limitations would be a problem. But things like conspiracy, Rico charges. These allow you to say, hey, this may have happened back in 1995, but there was this ongoing effort to conceal it, and it kept going on. And all of these things were part of some global conspiracy. Therefore we are we are within the statute of limitations. Prosecutors use this, especially federal prosecutors use this with deadly efficiency. I use deadly as a as being glib. But I mean, they use this very effectively to secure convictions and use that to get evidence in that otherwise would be time barred.
Yeah. Combs and his team firmly deny the allegations. Trial is scheduled to begin in May right now. So when you add a superseding indictment like this, so close to a trial, can it have any impact on that trial?
Yes, it can push back deadlines. After all, if you had to supersede if you have a superseding indictment, you have new defendants. That's not the case here. But if you do, then they need time to prepare. So a superseding indictment can but doesn't always have had this happen to me personally. But it can push out deadlines. But if the superseding indictment basically just adds a few minor things, the timeline won't be pushed out all that much. It really is very fact specific. But yes, generally speaking, a superseding indictment is a kind of reset. In fact, everybody has to come back in for a new arraignment. So it is a reset.
Danny, we know that his team, as Joe just mentioned, is is rigorously kind of denying these allegations. Plans on defending looking forward to to winning at trial as they say with that coming up in May. So many of these details I think, have just shocked people, including things we've seen with our own eyes, like that video from a hotel surveillance camera. Do you expect that when this goes to goes to trial, just even more details come out and it kind of becomes this court of public opinion in addition.
Yeah, we're living in the modern era of digital evidence. I mean, now jurors almost expect to see tons of video, DNA, photographs, images, social media posts, recordings. This is what they expect. And the federal government is very, very good at collecting this kind of thing. They have they can use celebrate. They can get everything off your phone and use all of that against you. And they do it fairly often. So this is going to be a case I expect with a lot of video, a lot of text messages, a lot of digital communication, possibly a lot of images that may be things we haven't even seen yet. Things that were seized from the home or devices. So yes, this is going to be a case where I think we're going to see a lot of digital evidence in addition to witness testimony.
All right, Danny, thank you.
Thanks, Danny. Well, Southern California, of course, still reeling from those devastating wildfires. But last night, some of the biggest names in the music business held a benefit concert bringing the Bringing the community together and raising millions of dollars. NBC news correspondent Kaylee Hartung was there and has the highlights.
Hey there. This was a night about music and really L.A. pride and this mission of raising money for relief efforts. It was deeply personal for many of the artists and people in attendance, making for an emotional evening of great music for a great cause. Just miles from the devastation of the L.A. fires, some of the biggest names in music packed two stadiums for not one but two star studded concerts, raising millions for relief efforts.
If people have.
Lost so.
Much.
This is a very small gesture on our part.
The fire aid benefit brought dozens of artists across all genres and generations together, making beautiful music for a deeply personal cause.
We're cycling through all the stages of grief and anger and.
Disbelief.
And bouncing.
In.
A nonlinear way all around them.
Comedian Billy Crystal among the stars, sharing their own stories of loss.
Like thousands of you, our house now look like this. I stepped onto the grounds and I fell to my knees and I.
Wailed.
At the Kia forum. Green Day Pink, Stevie Nicks and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were among those who kicked things off.
Show your.
Surprise.
Performer Doctor Dre getting a huge reaction from the crowd.
He's up high.
While at the Intuit Dome. No doubt. Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Sting and Stevie Wonder kept things rocking late into the night.
Keep on flying.
Reunions.
Is the one.
You know.
Unlikely collaborations.
Anywhere cause.
He felt that.
A change would do him good.
And covers filled the air with sweet music.
All feelin good was easy when he sang the blues.
But while the performances in packed venues made for a lively atmosphere, the real reason for the night was ever present.
There are moments.
That get us through moments.
Like.
Tonight, the show featuring the stories of people whose lives and homes were destroyed by the fires and honoring first responders.
We finally got a break. I immediately went to check on my house and it was gone.
An emotional and empowering night. The music industry showing up to support their city and their community as they rise from the ashes together. And before last night's concert even began, organizers said they'd already raised $60 million off ticket sales and sponsorships alone, and donations are still pouring in. And this weekend, Sunday's Grammys, many of those same artists will still be here in L.A. that night, planning to pay tribute to the heroic first responders raise more money for relief efforts and honor the spirit of LA. Back to you.
Kaylee. Thank you.
Coming up, teens from around the world coming together to create a popular podcast.
After the break, I'll bring you the story of how it all started with a small after school club.
Still to come in the channel two news. Well, the waters are certainly receding now. Still too close to call. Lester Holt, reporting from Ground Zero as it's being referred to, is in fact a taste of freedom. The Haitian people know a little something about resiliency. What's the biggest risk right now? Some of the troops who have been crowned. I want to welcome you to the first presidential debate. In fact, we've been told we can't go any farther. There were some resilient folks. Let me give you a hint. Yeah.
Breaking news tonight as we come on the air live tonight from New Orleans.
Top story.
Live from the Pacific Fire like this would erupt into a blowtorch with those Santa Ana winds. So it's a race against time as you look over to Bourbon Street. The first question is, is it safe tonight? Gas prices coming down, mortgage rates starting to come down. When will consumers feel it even more? Paris's Notre Dame cathedral finally reopening following years of renovations.
Every night it's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas. Streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now.
Hey there. I'm Hallie, and we are coming on the air tonight with new developments. What's up? What do we know about these chemicals? And should we be super concerned about it or what economic policy and what the election means for it. Break it down in English. What this means for people's money.
Kristen Welker hosts Meet the Press every Sunday on NBC.
Closer to the Gaza border. The story of resilience and hope. Please take care of yourself and each other.
Good morning. Glad to have you with us.
I'm Savannah sellers.
I'm Joe Fryer. Right now on morning news now. Rescue teams are out helping people after two major hurricanes.
Is the U.S..
Being drawn deeper into this conflict?
A new study reveals that retirement balances are falling short. Why aren't people saving enough?
What are the questions that you hear the most when it comes to staying safe online? These weight loss drugs? Are we concerned about long term side effects?
A lot going on in space right now.
Make no mistake.
This.
Mission is high stakes.
Morning news now streaming weekdays at seven, the NBC news mobile app. Get connected to your favorite news shows for the top stories, breaking news and live video. Download the NBC news mobile app now.
Top story live from the Pacific Palisades.
Live in Tel Aviv. Live tonight from New Orleans.
Every weeknight it's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas. Streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now.
News lives in the now.
All of that snow fell in a matter of days.
Food and medicine this time being dropped over southern Gaza.
It looks like hot lava.
News for the generation of now is NBC news now.
More Americans turn to NBC news than any other news organization.
Welcome back. It is time now for some money news. Some hourly employees at big box giant Costco are getting a raise.
NBC Savannah now has that and some other money. Headlines. Savannah. Good morning.
Hey, Joe. Hey, Savannah. Good morning to you. Costco is raising pay for most of its hourly store workers to more than $30. Now, that's according to a memo sent to employees this week. And the pay hike. Well, it comes after Costco union members voted earlier this month in favor of a nationwide strike as they entered a final round of talks before their contract expires today. The union represents more than 18,000 workers at Costco. Amazon is raising the price of its Music Unlimited streaming service. Prime members will pay $11 a month, or $109 a year for an individual plan. That's up from $10 and $99 right now. non-Prime listeners will see their monthly rate go up to $12 a month. The family plan is rising from $17 to $20 a month, and $169 to $199 a year. These new prices took effect on Wednesday for new customers, and current subscribers will see the changes in their next billing cycle. And Instagram is testing a pause feature with a small group of users on reels.
The tool has been one of the top requests by users. Previously, you were only able to pause videos on reels by tapping and holding on the screen. Now you can do it with a single tap. The new feature is the latest sign. Instagram and Meta are trying to capitalize on the uncertain future for TikTok here in the U.S..
Guys, the.
Latest is right.
You could pause on a VCR so it feels like it only makes sense. You could pause on this, right?
Very interesting the way they are copying some of those features. Thanks a lot. Thank you. Well, a deeply personal podcast is helping teens around the globe find community. It's called This Teenage Life, and it's creating a safe space for teens to talk about everything from the joy of a high school crush to the pain of parents splitting up. Take a look.
Hi, I'm Matthew, I'm 17 years old and I'm from Portugal.
Hi, I'm Theo, I'm 17 and I'm from New York City.
I am.
From.
Guwahati.
Assam, India. I'm my three, a 17 year old from Sweden. And this teenage life is one of the warmest places I've found.
On.
The internet.
Teenagers from across.
The.
Globe are tuning in.
And listening.
Up to.
This.
Teenage.
Life.
A podcast.
By teens.
For teens.
We've talked about everything. We talked about the state of the world, the environment. But then also just like crushes or having like breakouts of a big school day or something and being mad that you got a pimple on your forehead.
19 year old Stella.
Sturgill, 18 year old Jaiden Dial and 15 year.
Old.
Lydia Bock are part of.
The.
International.
Editorial.
And production.
Team.
The project started as an after school club.
My name is.
Molly.
Josephs. My title on this is.
Kind of.
Hilariously.
Is the adult who.
Works on this teenage Life. How did this thing get started? I was working at a high school in.
San Diego.
California, and young people have so many big feelings. And so I ask these teenagers who.
I.
Had met.
If they were interested in joining an after school club, and we called ourselves The Teenage Life, and we would meet and we would sit around one microphone. We would record those conversations, edit them.
And add music.
And art that they made. And then we'd.
Publish a podcast.
And it.
Was heard by, you know.
Ten people enter 2020. Covid lockdowns and virtual school.
The podcast went.
Remote.
And teens.
From Illinois.
To India.
Reached out to get.
Involved.
Everyone who has joined since the original.
Group.
Sent an.
Email, and.
That was.
Initially.
To be like, thank you.
For.
This episode or this episode really moved.
Me.
Like I was feeling that, but I didn't know I was feeling that. And so hearing someone else say it made me.
Feel.
Less alone.
Contributors meet.
Biweekly, virtually.
Recording.
Conversations on a certain topic. They've covered themes like body image.
Faith.
Failure.
Birthdays, academic.
Pressure, and even realizing parents are.
People.
Too. Which topics.
Have hit home the most for.
You all? The first episode I made was the divorce episode, and I was pretty new to this teenage life, but I remember sitting there and talking to people and people were crying, but they were also just very, like, supportive of me. You just want to talk to talk to someone. And even if our listeners can't see us, they hear us. And so I say that we're not just talking to hear ourselves. We are talking to so others can hear their own thoughts. With nearly 200 episodes released.
This teenage life has.
Been.
Streamed.
And.
Downloaded.
In over 180.
Countries.
Not only bridging cultural gaps.
But generational.
Ones.
Too.
I think it's also really important for parents and grandparents and aunts and older siblings to listen to as well. This kind of provides like a little bit of a window into the inner workings of teenagers. And it's crazy and fun and amazing and awkward and weird and cool.
During a time when mental.
Health.
Experts.
Describe Gen Z.
As the loneliest.
Generation.
This teenage life offers.
Young people.
A community of creativity.
And.
Support.
What do you hear from people?
I've had teachers come up to me and be like, hey, so I used your episode to teach about this thing and I'm like, oh, wow. Like, You're really, like, listening to what I'm thinking. And I think that makes me pause, because I think there are such few spaces that people take young people seriously. We're all just kids or teenagers trying to move through the world and figure out what to do with ourselves.
I just love talking to those girls. If you're more of a reader. This Teenage Life also has a Substack, but I really suggest checking out the podcast, giving it a listen.
All right, there are just a few hours left now in dry January, and some who gave up alcohol for the month have actually found a different way to get a different kind of buzz without the booze. NBC news correspondent Priscilla Thompson has more on that growing trend.
This is all THC that's going to be going out, taking the place of beer, draft lines.
On tap or out of a bottle. Those kicking off the new year abstaining from alcohol have a new choice cannabis infused cocktails. This is the first dry January that your spirit is on the market. What has the response been like?
Even at our own brewery here, I would say upwards of 40% of our sales are now THC.
While can THC infused beverages like seltzers have been on the market for years?
This is all THC.
Bayou City Hemp CEO Ben Meggs says their product, Ocho Verdes, is one of only a handful of spirits.
Restaurants still want to sell a $15 cocktail. So how do we get that? Well, we decided let's put it in a spirit. We've got about 22 tanks here, and there are about three that are beer. The rest are full THC.
Wow.
And you know, what you need is that beer takes 3 to 6 weeks to ferment. And thc we can turn around in a week.
The 2018 farm bill removed federal restrictions on hemp products with low levels of THC, the active compound in cannabis that delivers those intoxicating, mind altering effects. Those products are now allowed for those 21 and up, not only in states where recreational marijuana is legal, but also in some places where it's not. Including right here in Texas.
These are called super sacks, and we bring in hundreds of them a year.
Industry experts say the THC infused drinks are now among the fastest growing product sales for liquor stores and restaurants, like Houston's Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice.
For many years, this was a huge no no. And then all of a sudden, these products came out into the market and we were like, are you really?
We can serve this.
Okay.
Chris Cusack is the bar's owner. We're in dry. January can be a tough month for bars like this one. Are having THC infused cocktails changing that?
Yeah, absolutely. I think it's really only going to go up from here.
All right. Cheers. It makes the bar more inviting. I don't drink anymore, so that's what I stick to.
I try to be healthy with.
Alcohol.
Intake, so I would definitely order it as an alternative.
And are you feeling anything yet?
Uh, I don't know if I feel it just yet because my tolerance is a bit high. Hey I'm.
Down. Health and safety a concern with any adult beverage over serving. That's a concern in bars. How do you navigate something like that with a drink like this?
We try to be really thoughtful of who is consuming what. That's our responsibility as bar owners and bartenders.
Consumers should also be aware. Cannabis researchers say know the product. Understand the amount of THC in each serving and how many you're consuming. Start small. See how your body reacts before ordering a second drink. It can take up to an hour to feel the effects, which could last for 2 to 4 hours. Don't mix. Combining THC with alcohol or other substances can increase impairment. And never drive under the influence. With all of that in mind, you're all set to give it a go.
Cheers.
Priscilla Thompson, NBC news, Houston.
Now, if cannabis infused cocktails aren't your speed and you need a different kind of liquid kick. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology may have a class that's just right for you. Have you ever wondered what goes into making the perfect cup of Joe? Well, MIT is trying to figure that out with a coffee class that's giving students a hands on chance to fuel their curiosity. NBC's Carla Hall, with our Boston affiliate explains.
As everybody knows, the taste of coffee is actually a very personal and complicated experience.
The perfect cup of coffee is in the eye, or rather, in the mouth of the beholder. Jeffrey Grossman is a professor of materials science and engineering at MIT.
I have a personal passion for good coffee.
A passion he's taken to the classroom creating a course called Coffee Matters, using the maker space to make the.
Perfect.
Cup. In this class you can find microscopes, computers, and, well, a $20,000 espresso machine.
So in this class, they get to, they get to think about the material. They learn about it. Coffee, right. They get to, you know, touch and feel it.
Grossman says he combines lectures on chemistry and coffee science with hands on experiments for around 60 undergrad students. Like if coffee is too acidic, students learned that you could add a pinch of baking soda to neutralize it. He tells us one of those projects was inspired by his father.
I had this fight for like, you know, running for ten years now where he makes his coffee all day.
The conclusion the students say that heating your coffee in the microwave changes the chemistry of it.
It does make a difference. And to them, it it tasted worse.
Another test they did. Comparing the liquid gold from our world renowned Dunkin Donuts and coffee. They roast and brew themselves. So do they believe that America should run on Dunkin?
As a true Bostonian, I'm not going to say anything that could that could say anything negative about Duncan.
Grossman says 2024 was the first year teaching this class, and now the second round starts next week.
Our thanks to Carla Rojo for that report. We appreciate the research.
Okay. I bet they've made some amazing cups of coffee, and I bet they've made some disgusting cups of coffee in their endeavors. All right, coming up.
Iced latte people. Exactly.
All right. Coming up. If it's Friday, you know, that could mean only one thing.
It's time for your weekly can't miss list. A full roundup of everything from the world of entertainment that's catching our eyes. Grab your popcorn. We're running through it all. Next.
Good morning. Glad to have you with us.
I'm Savannah sellers.
I'm Joe fryer. Right now on morning news now. Rescue teams are out helping people after two major hurricanes.
Is the.
U.S..
Being drawn deeper into this conflict?
A new study reveals that retirement balances are falling short. Why aren't people saving enough?
What are the questions that you hear the most when it comes to staying safe online? These weight loss drugs? Are we concerned about long term side effects?
Lot going on in space right now.
Make no mistake, this mission is high stakes.
Morning news now streaming weekdays at seven, the NBC news mobile app. Get connected to your favorite news shows for the top stories, breaking news and live video. Download the NBC news mobile app now. NBC News Daily is number one for afternoon news across all of television.
I'm Morgan Radford, I'm Vicky Wynn, I'm Kate Snow.
And I'm seeing.
What's happening around the world.
Israel's military.
Is building up their along the.
Border.
And what matters here at home.
New numbers are out.
Today.
Showing more encouraging signs for our.
Economy.
Let's zero in on exercise. We know we're supposed to be doing it. What does it do for our health?
What needs to change for social media to be a safer place?
NBC News Daily, weekdays from 12 to 4 on NBC news now.
From inside Iran. From Israel, from Tampa. Hurricane Milton is here. Where we're standing right now is covered in water. Part of our continued reporting live from downtown. Thanks for talking to me. Okay, you can see.
The NBC news mobile app. Get connected to your favorite news shows for the top stories, breaking news and live video. Download the NBC news mobile app now.
Is it your plan to deport everyone who is here illegally over the next four years? Who do you think is the leader of the Democratic Party right now? Can you guarantee that grocery prices will, in fact come down? If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
Welcome back. Dragon riders unite. Am I right?
But yes.
The third installment of the series, fourth wing. Okay. They're amazing. It's called Onyx Storm. As you can see on your screen, it has amassed an and absolutely massive following. And though Joe might not be one of them, 2.7 million people have bought this book in the first week of its release. If that wasn't enough, the author of the popular romance books, her name is Rebecca Yarros. She currently holds the top three spots on the New York Times hardcover bestseller list. There's the whole series. I guess you could say the series has taken everyone by storm, including myself, including our fabulous stage manager, Jillian.
And now a whole new group of people will be introduced to it.
I'm just telling you you would like it.
Okay, I will write that down. All right. Finally, this.
Morning.
The things that interest me more, which is the stuff I don't have to read all the time. All right, it's Friday. Means it's time for your can't miss list.
It's a wrap up of all the movies and shows that you need to see this week. And for those of you who aren't reading.
I do read. But anyway. Joining us now is Kay Ingram with NBC New York. Good to have you with us. You didn't know the book either. I feel like I'm not alone.
But I'm into it now.
We're thrilled for everyone else.
She did write it down.
So it's.
Noted. It's noted.
All right. So we're doing kind of a romance technology focus here. Our first one is a rom com horror because those two things go together.
Hello. Genre mixing. That's exactly it. We've got companion, which is essentially bringing us into the future, the near future where the solution to loneliness is by buying or renting what's called a companion. It's this android of sorts. And so essentially we have Sophie Thatcher, who is playing this android. And what she does is she provides companionship, hence the name. And they go on a weekend getaway and truly all goes to hell.
What could possibly go wrong?
Right. Everything. And so she goes haywire. You've also got Jack Quaid. If you know him from the boys, he's in it as well. And just like you said, it's whether or not humans have learned their lesson. Is the solution to loneliness. Having this android unclear, but probably not. So it is a ROM com. It's a little bit of horror.
Like Megan vibes her vibes. It sounds like.
Exactly. Kind of like a modern love story.
Horror and.
Comedy. It's always been a love story. It's horror.
Stories.
All this time, right?
This is also a love story. Kind of a weird one in terms of who's in love with each other. A new movie, though, starring Kristen Stewart, which is kind of cool. Haven't seen her in a while, if you like. What's this one?
I know, and she looks so different. I was actually excited to see her. I was huge in Twilight, so that was fun to see her.
But then you would love Fourth Wing.
I'm noting it, I promise, but in this one you've got.
A.
Satellite, you've got a boy, and they somehow fall in love. I know we've got questions, but they've got answers. But the whole big theme of it is, you know, identity and figuring out what it is about that human connection that clearly the satellite and the boy are missing and don't understand. So, as you can see, um, you know, we've got the two Kristen Stewart, Steve Young and the two of them, you know, they are doing exactly what humans do that these items don't really understand. But they're navigating that together. They're finding love. They're figuring it out. It's called Love Me. It's in theaters. And yeah, it's all about finding out what it is that they were missing since we went away. Okay.
Okay. We got kind of.
Like less than two.
Minutes. We want to try and whip through four things here. So families, dog man, Pete Davidson.
All you need to know. Half dog, half man. He's trying to save his community and he does his best Pete Davidson plays Pete the cat. It's his villainous cat who, you know, obviously is being hysterical and trying to take over the city. But the two have to team up. It's really fun. It's hilarious.
It's also huge stars in a new movie, Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon. I cannot wait to watch this.
This one's so good. Well, you are cordially invited. It's supposed to be hilarious. Two different groups, wedding groups, they get together, it's double booked on an island, so you can already imagine the chaos that ensues.
And that's streaming. Where?
Prime you can watch it this weekend in the comfort of your own home.
Exactly.
There you go. All right. Below deck down under, which is, for Bravo fans.
Season three. It's back. So for those who are big fans there in the Seychelles, which I learned is near off the coast of Africa. I do not have a big yacht such as this, but it's exciting for fans of Below Deck. You know, you've got a big boat. It's the biggest in the franchise. They're going to a location they've never been to. You've got new faces, old faces, same drama. And it's going to be huge.
All right. Finally Oscars season. Tell us sing sing now you. It's got three nods and you can now stream it.
Absolutely. And it's back in theaters as well. Colman Domingo, who just completely swept at the Oscars for himself, really breaking records. But this if you're not familiar with Sing Sing.
It's.
About this highly successful. It's awesome, isn't it? It's it's highly successful program that has this rehabilitation effort through the arts. What's awesome is more than 85% of the cast are formerly incarcerated folks. And so, yeah, it's really great to see. And we'll have to see how they do at the Oscars.
Okay. Thank you so much.
Thank you.
This our morning news now?
Stay with us though. The news continues right now. Good morning. I'm Savannah Sellers.
And I'm Joe Fryer. Right now on morning news. Now the grim aftermath of that deadly midair collision near DC's Reagan airport. Investigators finding a critical clue. A pair of black boxes from that American Airlines jet pulled from the icy Potomac River comes as NBC Washington reports, the bodies of 40 of the 67 victims have been recovered so far. Well, President Trump draws some sharp criticism for choosing to attack Dei efforts in his response to the disaster.
The FAA's diversity and inclusion hiring plan, which says diversity is integral to achieving FDA's mission of ensuring safe and efficient travel. I don't think so. I don't think so. I think it's just the opposite.
We've got team coverage as the investigation unfolds. We're also learning more about those aboard the ill fated flight. At least six passengers from the same figure skating group out of Boston. A tightly knit New England community now coming together to honor their neighbors. Elsewhere in Washington, another blistering day of heated testimony on Capitol Hill. Two of President Trump's top national security picks facing tough questions Kash Patel and former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. But how are their answers resonating with lawmakers, including some Republicans this morning? We're going to bring you the latest in just a moment and hope from the ashes as Southern California reels from those deadly January wildfires. Some of the biggest names in music coming together in the City of Angels for a show of support like no other. Incredible how this concert came together so quickly with some of the biggest names in music. All for a good cause. We'll get to that in a moment. Let's begin, of course, with the investigation into the deadly midair collision between an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter.
It happened near Reagan National Airport on Wednesday night. Officials have now recovered two crucial devices the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder. Both could provide important information about the final moments before the tragedy.
Also, as Joe mentioned, we are learning more about the dozens of victims who lost their lives and how they're being remembered by friends and family. NBC's Tom llamas has more from Arlington, Virginia.
Dive teams this morning will enter the water here in the Potomac at Reagan National Airport, just behind me with two goals, part of the same operation. They're going to try to recover victims that have been inaccessible so far. They're also going to try to salvage the parts of both the plane and the helicopter that are still under water. This is going to be a very careful process, because they want to make sure they can preserve as much evidence as possible. This as we're getting and learning a lot more from overnight, including seeing our first images of those black boxes from the plane as they're being analyzed at the NTSB lab, and also new reporting that is raising questions about the elevation of the Blackhawk helicopter and whether it was flying too high at that moment of impact. This morning, NTSB investigators getting their first look at a critical clue the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder recovered from the American Airlines passenger jet involved in that horrific midair collision near Reagan National Airport. These images, showing the devices being cleaned and evaluated at the NTSB labs as new video aired by CNN, shows the horrifying moments the two crashed and plunged into the icy Potomac.
I mean, how tough was it out there?
There's wreckage that can puncture your suit. There's jet fuel in the water that's contaminating your gear. So we're having to work with all of that to keep our divers safe while we're looking for people.
Audio seems to show the helicopter pilot responding to controllers, though it's hard to hear.
If he has an aircraft in sight.
As authorities try to piece together what happened. Sources tell NBC news investigators are looking at whether the helicopter was flying above its designated altitude. While a preliminary FAA report on the crash found staffing at the air traffic control tower was not normal, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. The tower typically has one controller focusing on planes and a second on helicopters. But Wednesday night, only one person was overseen, both at the time of the collision, although that is allowed by FAA safety guidelines. And this morning we're learning of another close encounter near the airport just a day earlier. Audio showing a plane had to change course due to a helicopter in its path.
4514 what was the reason for the go around? We had an RA with the helicopter traffic below us. 4514.
Officials say the helicopter involved in Wednesday night's crash was on a routine training flight with three experienced crew members, including crew chief Ryan O'Hara. A young father also on board, an instructor pilot with about 1000 flight hours. Among those killed on the American flight, multiple children, their parents and coaches returning from a figure skating camp in Kansas.
There's just no words to.
Describe.
How.
How.
Awful.
It is.
The plane's captain, identified as 34 year old Jonathan Campos, his co-pilot. Sam Lilly, 28 years old and engaged to be married.
He was very, just a very kind soul.
Also on the flight, young mother Wendie Jo Schafer and civil rights attorney and former Miss Kansas contestant KY Duggins Hammad Raza, was at the airport to pick up his wife, asra, who was returning from a business trip.
I always pick her up from departures, had dinner waiting at home.
So many families grieving while the investigation continues. Yesterday, the NTSB was set to meet with the victims family members, and I spoke with the D.C. fire chief who was going to attend that meeting as well. I asked him what he was going to tell those relatives. He says that he was going to tell them the truth. Answer as many questions as he could. But the big question why is going to take some time to answer. Reporting from Reagan National Airport, Tom llamas, now back to you.
All right, Tom, thank you.
Let's keep the conversation going with Bruce Landsberg. He's the former vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board or the NTSB. So Bruce knows these Knows these investigations well. Thank you for joining us. Your former colleagues at the NTSB, now in possession of those two black boxes from the American Airlines plane. Walk us through what comes next, what investigators hope to learn from those devices, and just how long this analysis and really, this investigation will take.
Well, thank you for having me. And of course, condolences to all of the families who who lost loved ones. So let me preface my remarks by saying anything I say here is preliminary to the investigation. And in terms of how the investigation will go, they will be gathering, as Tom mentioned earlier, all of the perishable evidence off the bottom of the Potomac River and moving it to probably a hangar somewhere, maybe on at over at DCA and everything will be very carefully laid out so that the investigators can see exactly what the collision angles were and that sort of thing. It the cockpit voice recorders and the flight data recorder, which are orange, by the way. They're not black and I've never seen black. One will provide us with tremendous information on the altitude, not the elevation. Elevation is ground level, but altitude of both aircraft. If the Black Hawk has any kind of recording device. So that's that's something that we will find out from a human factors perspective. They're going to look very closely, as you've already mentioned, in the staffing in the tower, the fatigue levels of the controllers.
Obviously, everybody will have a drug test to make sure that they were fully functional. Uh, the key thing that will come up is the design of the helicopter route and why it is in close proximity to the final approach course to course to runway 33. And of course, we will find out whether the helicopter pilots were complying with the altitude restrictions on that route. And then perhaps finally in this area, because there have been several other close calls. Why didn't our safety reporting systems pick this up? So these are all things that NTSB will be looking at as they go through the process. The preliminary report should be available in about a month. And then the final report probably will be about a year. After that they will issue a factual report first. There will be a full board meeting on that. And then the final report will come out a couple of weeks afterwards. And that will answer a lot more questions than than what we know at this point.
Bruce, you mentioned the airspace, how crowded several other near misses do you think that this could lead to to change in the area?
Well, that's a very good very good question. I can't answer it, but my sense is that having only a couple hundred feet of separation between aircraft is probably not the best idea. As as we've seen here, there are a couple of operational factors we might want to very quickly touch on. One is the controller advising the helicopter pilot only 13 seconds prior to the collision. The audio is not quite clear, but it appears that the helicopter pilots had traffic in sight and something about request or maintain visual separation. Now, what happens there is that if you're close to the altitude of the other aircraft, you are going to have a real difficult time at night, even though it's a perfectly clear night to see the other aircraft because of the background ground clutter of all of the lights, and what the pilot reported may not have been the same aircraft, because there are a lot of aircraft that are on the approaches going into DCA. And finally, I bring up the point of the geometry of any kind of collision, whether it's an automobile or whether it's aircraft, is that when you're on a collision course with something, the target will not appear to move and will only blossom literally a second or two prior to.
So it's very difficult to see how those, those kind of situations.
All right. Bruce Landsberg, we appreciate your expertise this morning.
Thank you for joining us.
Well, over at the white House, President Trump is facing accusations he's politicizing the tragedy and making unverified claims long before the investigation is complete. Speaking yesterday, the president linked the crash to FAA diversity initiatives and criticized the actions of his Democratic predecessors, former Presidents Biden and Obama. NBC News Chief White House correspondent Peter Alexander has the latest on this angle for us. Peter. Good morning.
Savannah. Good morning to you. The president's remarks yesterday in the white House briefing room here really felt like a flashback to five years ago, those marathon COVID-19 news conferences that he held in this first national tragedy of his second term in office. The president began with notes of unity, but quickly pivoted to go on the attack without any evidence to back up his claim. His claims of who and what is to blame for the worst air disaster in this country since 2009, with the remains of victims still being recovered from the frigid Potomac River. President Trump blamed his two Democratic predecessors.
I put safety first Obama, Biden and the Democrats put policy first.
And diversity requirements in the military and FAA that he just ended with executive orders.
They actually came out with a directive to white, and we want the people that are competent.
Still, the president offered no evidence that diversity programs had anything to do with the deadly collision. His remarks began with a moment of silence and condolences.
We grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly.
But quickly took a sharp turn, the commander in chief criticizing the Army helicopters crew.
You had a pilot problem from the standpoint of the helicopter.
Pressed how he could conclude diversity hirings contributed to the crash before all the facts were known.
Because I have common sense. Okay. And unfortunately, a lot of people don't. Uh, we want brilliant people doing this.
Among his targets, former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg.
He's just got a good line of bullshit. He's run it right into the ground with his diversity.
Buttigieg calling the president's comments despicable, writing, as families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying, adding, we put safety first. The president also cited language on the FAA's website about recruiting those with disabilities. It's on the website, the FAA's website. It was there in 2013. It was there for the entirety.
Of what I read.
It was there for the entirety of your administration. So my question is, why didn't you change the policy during your first administration?
I did change it. I changed the Obama policy, and we had a very good policy. And then Biden came in and he changed it. And then when I came in two days, three days ago, I signed a new order bringing it to the highest level of intelligence. Okay.
Later, the president dismissed the question whether he would visit the crash site.
What's the site? The water. Or to meet with the first.
Responders down.
There? I don't have a plan to do that.
As for President Trump's criticism of the diversity programs within the FAA, multiple former Transportation Department officials tell me that all air traffic control candidates undergo rigorous mental and physical testing before they're hired, and that very few applicants even make it to training because the process is so is so difficult. Joe and Savannah.
All right, Peter, thank you very much.
Among the victims on board the plane, figure skaters, their parents and coaches, they were attending the figure skating nationals in Wichita, Kansas this morning. We know at least six were part of the same club in Boston. NBC news correspondent Sam Brock is in Massachusetts for us. Sam. Good morning.
Joe. Good morning. It's pretty incredible. For the last hour or two. There's been the first formal practice on this rink since that crash. And having spoken with the CEO of the Skating Club of Boston here, he tells me they sent 12 skaters to that elite development camp and did not know until hours into the day after the crash how many of them were actually on board that flight. Joe, it turns out it was two skaters, Gina Hahn and Spencer Lane, their mothers, two incredible coaches. Right now. The heartache here just unimaginable. The ripple effect of this week's DC plane tragedy can be seen in flowers, portraits and empty ice at the Skating Club of Club of Boston, which learned six of their own lost their lives. This tight knit sport now united in grief.
A tragic loss for all of us.
It's just.
It's terrible.
That fateful flight to D.C. from Kansas, coming just days after the U.S. Championships in Wichita. Followed immediately by a developmental camp for the sport's best and brightest.
My heart is with all the families affected, and.
That's the part I have no words.
For.
Among those on board members of multiple skating clubs, including coach Alexander Kirsanov. 12 year old athlete Brielle Beyer and her mother Justina, and the half dozen deeply connected to the Skating Club of Boston, including young skater Gina Hahn.
I would.
Get a smile on my face seeing her smiling, and.
She was.
Smiling a lot.
And Spencer Lane, who had only been competing for a few years.
The amount that he has achieved in those 3 or 4 years is absolutely remarkable.
Also lost in the tragedy, their mothers, Jin Hahn and Christine Lane. and figure skating coaches Vadim Naumov and Zhenya Shishkova. Coaches. Naumov and Shishkova, who were married, won the 1994 World Championship as a pair and competed in two Winter Olympics.
Very nice.
Whose son Max just competed at nationals.
His parents were his coaches as well as his parents.
This has split parents from kids and vice versa.
Yeah, it's fractured the community.
In an emotional press conference. Leaders and alumni of the club are trying to come to grips with the tragedy, whose impact will be felt far beyond the rink, including former Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan.
Even when you're.
Crying, hurt, pain, you get back up and move.
Forward. It's not easy.
But that's what we all have to do now together.
And for many at the Skating Club of Boston, Wednesday's crash bringing back painful memories. More than six decades after competitors from the same club died in a plane crash while traveling to the 1961 World Championships. It is obviously a cruel and ironic coincidence that you would have a situation again where half of the members on that 1961 flight of the U.S. skating team were connected directly to this rink. I did speak with the CEO again about that very matter. He said it was like growing up in the shadow of a tragedy. They felt the weight of this experience but didn't really know how to talk about it. They didn't talk about it. But this time around, sadly but potentially positively, there's going to be grief counseling and community meetings to try to allow the healing process to move forward, if that's possible.
In such a different way. Right now, we're thinking of that entire community. Sam. Thank you. Appreciate it.
Well, an atmospheric river is going to bring lots of wet weather to the West Coast this weekend. For more details, let's check in on your morning news now.
Weather Angie Larson is with us. Angie. Good morning.
Hi, guys. Good morning to you. We're heading into the weekend with plenty of alerts up across the West. Those winter alerts basically extending west of the Rockies. We're going to see this atmospheric river take shape through the day today. We've got heavy rain, snow, wind all on the table. Travel is going to be difficult today from California up into Oregon, and we've still got some of that heavy rain. The flood risk centered across California specifically as we get into tomorrow and even Sunday, the snow will continue to pile up across the Sierra mountains and stretching out to the Rockies. So we'll see some difficulty with travel when it comes to snowfall as well. Here's the area we're watching for for flash flooding. San Francisco, Sacramento, and Yosemite all included here as we get into the day tomorrow. So a heads up for folks there. We've also got some rain and snow across parts of the East, and that's leaving us with some alerts this morning too. There's the rain that you're seeing now.
Notice what happens by the time the day goes on. We see that heavy rain working across the southeast, a mix of ice and snow for folks across New England. It's going to be difficult for travel there as well. Big picture. Look as we roll into your Saturday mild across the South, we've got plenty of sunshine. Honestly, East of the Rockies, that system for the northeast will be out of here. The heavy rain will be focused across the West. And then, of course, my favorite day of the year, say Groundhog Day. Here's what we've got. Science. Science. Punxsutawney Phil. Scientists. Apparently. Slight chance of showers there. Yeah, I knew. I knew you would laugh at that. Savannah. Staten island. Chuck, it's going to be chilly for him there. We've got 24 degrees there. We've got 30.
These are.
The.
Names.
These are the names. Listen.
I'm going to be honest. This is.
This is news to you.
I didn't know there was more than one.
You just thought it was Punxsutawney.
Yeah. Why don't you tell? Woodstock was famous. Why doesn't anybody talk about it? You are asking.
Groundhog.
Wrong person. Why?
I'm sorry, I. Staten Island Chuck should get more notoriety. That's funny.
We're going to send you on assignment there, I think, on Sunday. How about.
That?
What is the one in.
The.
West? I couldn't even read that one.
Yeah, I don't know, guys.
I bring it up again.
These are my.
Enemies. Regina. Our director. Oh, good. There it is. What is it? What does that say?
Unadilla. Billy.
Unadilla, Nebraska. Respect to our friends in Nebraska.
Wait. I'm sorry. Phil is kind of the lamest, right?
We're.
We're focused.
Yeah.
You guys are.
Gonna hate.
Me. Weird how they all look the same.
Normally I get hate mail for this day, but you guys are going to get it.
For normally in the past, it's like, oh, it's Groundhog Day, but you have taught me.
That I should. I really just didn't know that. And I'm mind blown. And from now on, we are only going with Staten Island. Chuck's prediction.
I'm here to teach you.
Thanks, Andrew.
You're welcome.
After the break, a grilling on the hill for two of President Trump's top national security picks.
So what is the mood like in Washington after yet another heated day of Senate hearings? We're going to take you there next.
From inside Iran. From Israel. From Tampa. Hurricane Milton is here. Where we're standing right now is covered in water. Part of our continued reporting live with Chris Christie. Thanks for talking to me. You'll be seeing.
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Snow fell.
In a.
Matter of days.
Food and medicine this time being dropped over southern Gaza.
It looks.
Like.
Hot lava.
News for the generation of now is NBC news now.
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Still to come in the channel two news. Well, the waters are certainly receding now. Still too close to call. Lester Holt, reporting from Ground Zero as it's being referred to, is in fact, the taste of freedom. The Haitian people know a little something about resiliency. What's the biggest risk right now? Some of the troops who have been proud. I want to welcome you to the first presidential debate. In fact, we've been told we can't go any farther. You are some resilient folks. Let me give you a hint here.
Kristen Welker hosts Meet the Press every Sunday on NBC. Lester Holt, America's most trusted TV news anchor.
Welcome back. This morning, Republicans are weighing whether to support several of Donald Trump's controversial cabinet nominees as he looks to fill out his administration. Yesterday on Capitol Hill, Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel and Robert F Kennedy Jr all faced tough questions over their prior statements and positions that have landed them in some hot water. We've got NBC news chief Capitol Hill correspondent Ryan Nobles joining us with a look at those hearings. Hey, Ryan. Good morning.
Savannah. Good morning. Now, all three of these nominees will likely not get a single vote from Democrats. So that means they need strong support from Republicans to win the job. This morning, it is still unclear if all three have cleared that threshold. A contentious day on Capitol Hill. Two of Donald Trump's top national security picks, facing tough questions about their past controversial records.
Senator, I will always obey the law.
Kash Patel, Trump's pick to run the FBI, taking tough questions about his calls for political retribution against Donald Trump's opponents and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. But he broke with Trump when it came to the issue of pardons for some January 6th defendants.
I'm asking, was.
He.
Wrong to do it?
I do not agree with the commutation of any sentence of any individual who committed violence against law enforcement.
The tough questions for Patel came mostly from Democrats. But for Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's choice as director of national intelligence, a great deal of scrutiny came from Republicans.
I want.
To make.
Certain.
That in.
No way.
Does Russia get a pass.
In.
Either your mind or your heart.
Senator, I'm offended by the question because my sole focus, commitment and responsibility is about our own nation, our own security and the interests of the American people.
Gabbert pressed about her calls for a pardon for Edward Snowden.
Edward Snowden broke the law.
Who fled the U.S. after releasing a trove of government secrets.
Is Edward Snowden a traitor to the United States of America?
I understand how critical our national security.
Apparently you don't. Apparently you don't.
Republicans left the Patel hearing confident he was on the path to confirmation.
Oh, there's no question he gets confirmed.
While their support for Gabbard was tepid, only Matt Gaetz, Trump's original pick for attorney general, has dropped out of the running. And Trump has made it clear he wants all of his picks confirmed.
Well, sure, we want fast confirmations.
Meanwhile, Robert F Kennedy Jr. Trump's pick to run the Department of Health and Human Services is facing a new challenge. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who chairs the committee in charge of his confirmation, said yesterday that he is, quote, struggling with Kennedy's nomination, a sign he may vote no. Of course, Kennedy can only afford to lose three GOP votes and still win confirmation. Savannah and.
Joe.
All right, Ryan, thank you very much.
Let's get to some international headlines, starting in Ukraine, where North Korean troops are now withdrawing after months of brutal fighting partnering with Russia.
NBC news international correspondent Claudio Lavanga has that and more. Hey, Claudio. Good morning.
Savannah. Good morning. Well, that's right, according to Ukrainian and U.S. officials who spoke to the New York Times, North Korean soldiers have been fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, have now been taken off the front line after suffering heavy losses for the past three months. Around 11,000 soldiers from North Korea are believed to have been deployed to Ukraine. But according to the country's top military commander, around half of them have already been killed. An American official told The New York Times that with the withdrawal from the front line may not be permanent, and it's possible the North Koreans will return after additional training. Let's go to Nicaragua now, where President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, who currently serves as vice president, may soon become co-presidents. The constitutional reform approved on Thursday also expands the presidential term from 5 to 6 years. Ortega's wife said the reform strengthens the model of people's president and direct democracy. But experts say the new constitution is meant to consolidate the Ortega family's grip on power, and is meant to guarantee that Murillo will succeed him as president in the future.
And let's end this tour of the world in New Zealand, where a mountain has been granted the same legal rights as a person. The mountain, called Taranaki Maunga, is considered sacred by the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. But its name has been changed and its land seized by British colonists in the 18th century. Now the law passed by the New Zealand government on Thursday Recognizes the belief by the Maori that nature features, including mountains, are. Ancestors and living beings. So now the mountain will go back to its original. Maori name and its peaks and surroundings will be protected as if it was a person. Back to you guys.
All right. Welcome to the human race. Claudia, thank you so much. Coming up. Hope rising from the ashes.
In the wake of those deadly wildfires that ravaged Southern California. A rockin show of support across L.A. that brought some of music's biggest names together. All for a good cause. More on that next.
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The folks here.
We're back now with a look at new developments in the federal sex trafficking case against hip hop mogul Sean Diddy Combs.
Prosecutors filed a superseding indictment against Combs yesterday, accusing him of dangling a person over an apartment balcony and of coercing two additional women into commercial sex acts. In a statement responding to this expanded indictment, one of Combs attorneys said, quote, the latest indictment contains no new offenses. The prosecution's theory remains flawed. Mr. Combs is as committed as ever to fighting these charges and winning at trial.
Joining us now to discuss NBC news legal analyst Danny Cevallos. Danny, good to have you with us. So explain these new allegations that Combs is facing. And real quick, kind of give us this explainer. It's something we've heard a lot recently, but what is a superseding indictment?
Basically, we're looking at new victims and an increased scope of time. And why that's significant is when you have allegations like conspiracy. If a conspiracy is ongoing, then you can get around what's called the statute of limitations. You have a certain period of time in which to bring a civil claim or bring a prosecution, after which it expires. And for prosecutors alleging conspiracy allows them to essentially relate back all of this conduct, even if it might be otherwise outside the statute of limitations. Now, a superseding indictment is really just a new indictment. It happens all the time. And I had absolute certainty this was going to happen in the Holmes case, because they had raided his house and a relatively short period of time after indicted him. I assumed they were going to go through evidence cell phones, laptops, other things, gather more evidence. And then that new indictment adding charges, usually superseding indictment, either add charges or victims or defendants. And for criminal defense attorneys, they are super depressing because they mean that something worse.
And there's going to be more crimes, more More allegations, more time in prison for your client.
So some of the timeline here and the details of these crimes has changed. What is that?
Yeah. So in originally, the earliest possible date was 2008. That's been pushed back to 2004. So now you have an increased window in which conduct can be chargeable, whereas otherwise statutes of limitations would be a problem. But things like conspiracy, Rico charges. These allow you to say, hey, this may have happened back in 1995, but there was this ongoing effort to conceal it, and it kept going on. And all of these things were part of some global conspiracy. Therefore we are we are within the statute of limitations. Prosecutors use this, especially federal prosecutors use this with deadly efficiency. I use deadly as a as being glib, but, I mean, they use this very effectively to secure convictions and use that to get evidence in that otherwise would be time barred.
Yeah. Gomez and his team firmly deny the allegations. Trial is scheduled to begin in May right now. So when you add a superseding indictment like this, so close to a trial, can it have any impact on that trial?
Yes, it can push back deadlines. After all, if you had a superseding, if you have a superseding indictment, you have new defendants. That's not the case here. But if you do, then they need time to prepare. So a superseding indictment can but doesn't always have had this happen to me personally. But it can push out deadlines. But if the superseding indictment basically just adds a few minor things, the timeline won't be pushed out all that much. It really is very fact specific. But yes, generally speaking, a superseding indictment is a kind of reset. In fact, everybody has to come back in for a new arraignment. So it is a reset.
Danny, we know that his team, as Joe just mentioned, is is rigorously kind of denying these allegations. Plans on defending looking forward to to winning at trial as they say with that coming up in May. So many of these details I think have just shocked people, including things we've seen with our own eyes, like that video from a hotel surveillance camera. Do you expect that when this goes to trial, just even more details come out and it's kind of becomes this court of public opinion in addition?
Yeah, we're living in the modern era of digital evidence. I mean, now jurors almost expect to see tons of video, DNA, photographs, images, social media posts, recordings. This is what they expect. And the federal government is very, very good at collecting this kind of thing. They have they can use celebrate. They can get everything off your phone and use all of that against you. And they do it fairly often. So this is going to be a case I expect with a lot of video, a lot of text messages, a lot of digital communication, possibly a lot of images. That may be things we haven't even seen yet. Things that were seized from the home or devices. So yes, this is going to be a case where I think we're going to see a lot of digital evidence in addition to witness testimony.
All right, Danny, thank you.
Thanks, Danny. Well, Southern California, of course, still reeling from those devastating wildfires. But last night, some of the biggest names in the music business held a held a benefit concert, bringing the community together and raising millions of dollars. NBC news correspondent Kaylee Hartung was there and has the highlights.
Hey there, this was a night about music and really L.A. pride and this mission of raising money for relief efforts. It was deeply personal for many of the artists and people in attendance, making for an emotional evening of great music for a great cause. Just miles from the devastation of the L.A. fires, some of the biggest names in music packed two stadiums for not one but two star studded concerts, raising millions for relief efforts.
If people have.
Lost so.
Much, this is a very small gesture on our part.
The fire aid benefit brought dozens of artists across all genres and generations together, making beautiful music for a deeply personal cause.
We're cycling through all the stages of grief and anger and.
Disbelief.
And.
Bouncing in.
A non-linear way all around them.
Comedian Billy Crystal among the stars, sharing their own stories of loss.
Like thousands of you, our house now look like this. I stepped onto the grounds and I fell to my knees and I wailed.
At the Kia forum. Green day. Pink, Stevie Nicks and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were among those who kicked things off.
Yes, to your.
Surprise.
Performer, Doctor Dre getting a huge reaction from the crowd.
California. He's up. Hey.
While at the Intuit Dome, no doubt Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Sting and Stevie Wonder kept things rocking late into the night.
Keep on flying. Reunions is the one, you know, like unlikely collaborations. And it was because.
He felt that.
A change would do him good.
And covers filled the air with sweet music.
All I'm feelin good was easy, Lord, when he sang the blues.
But while the performances in packed venues made for a lively atmosphere, the real reason for the night was ever present.
There are moments.
That get us.
Through.
Moments like tonight.
The show featuring the stories of people whose lives and homes were destroyed by the fires and honoring first responders.
We finally got.
A.
Break. I immediately went to check on my house and it was gone.
An emotional and empowering night. The music industry showing up to support their city and their community as they rise from the ashes together. And before last night's concert even began, organizers said they'd already raised $60 million off ticket sales and sponsorships alone, and donations are still pouring in. And this weekend, Sunday's Grammys, many of those same artists will still be here in LA that night, planning to pay tribute to the heroic first responders, raise more money for relief efforts, and honor the spirit of LA. Back to you.
Kaylee. Thank you.
Coming up, teens from around the world coming together to create a popular podcast.
After the break, I'll bring you the story of how it all started with a small after school club.
Closer to the Gaza border. The story of resilience and hope. Please take care of yourself and each other.
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Closer to the Gaza border. The story of resilience and hope. Please take care of yourself and each other.
News lives in the now.
All of that.
Snow fell in.
A.
Matter of days.
Food and medicine this time being dropped over southern Gaza.
It looks.
Like.
Hot lava.
News for the generation of now is NBC news now.
Kristen Welker hosts Meet the Press every Sunday on NBC. The NBC news mobile app. Get connected to your favorite news shows for the top stories, breaking news and live video. Download the NBC news mobile app now.
Closer to the Gaza border. A story of resilience and hope. Please take care of yourself and each other.
News lives in the now.
All of that.
Snow fell in a matter of days.
Food and medicine this time being dropped over southern Gaza.
It looks like hot lava.
News for the generation of now is NBC news.
Now from inside Iran, from Israel, from Tampa. Hurricane Milton is here. Where we're standing right now is covered in water. Part of our continued reporting, increasing concern. Thanks for talking to me. Okay. You'll be safe.
News lives in the now.
All of that snow fell in a matter of days.
Food and medicine. This time being dropped over southern Gaza.
It looks.
Like.
Hot lava.
News for the generation of now is. NBC news now.
From inside Iran, from Israel, from Tampa. Hurricane Milton is here. Where we're standing right now is covered in water. Continued reporting little increasing Thanks for talking to me. Okay, let me see.
Top story. Live from the Pacific Palisades.
Live in Tel Aviv. Live tonight from New Orleans.
Every weeknight. It's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas. Streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now.
More Americans turn to NBC news than any other news organization.
Welcome back. It is time now for some money news. Some hourly employees at big box giant Costco are getting a raise.
NBC Savannah now has that some other money headlines. Savannah. Good morning.
Hey, Joe. Hey, Savannah. Good morning to you. Costco is raising pay for most of its hourly store workers to more than $30. Now, that's according to a memo sent to employees this week. And the pay hike. Well, it comes after Costco union members voted earlier this month in favor of a nationwide strike as they entered a final round of talks before their contract expires today. The union represents more than 18,000 workers at Costco. Amazon is raising the price of its Music Unlimited streaming service. Prime members will pay $11 a month, or $109 a year for an individual plan. That's up from $10 and $99 right now. non-Prime listeners will see their monthly rate go up to $12 a month. The family plan is rising from $17 to $20 a month, and $169 to $199 a year. These new prices took effect on Wednesday for new customers, and current subscribers will see the changes in their next billing cycle. And Instagram is testing a pause feature with a small group of users on reels.
The tool has been one of the top requests by users. Previously, you were only able to pause videos on reels by tapping and holding on the screen. Now you can do can do it with a single tap. The new feature is the latest sign. Instagram and Meta are trying to capitalize on the uncertain future for TikTok here in the US.
Guys, the latest is right.
You could pause on a VCR so it feels like it only makes sense. You could rise on this, right?
Very interesting the way they are copying some of those features. Thanks, man. Thank you. Well, a deeply personal podcast is helping teens around the globe find community. It's called This Teenage Life, and it's creating a safe space for teens to talk about everything from the joy of a high school crush to the pain of parents splitting up. Take a look.
Hi, I'm Matthew, I'm 17.
Years old.
And I'm from Portugal.
Hi, I'm Theo, I'm 17 and I'm from New York City.
I am.
From Guwahati, Assam.
India. I'm my three, a 17 year old from Sweden. And this teenage life is one of the warmest places I have.
Found on the.
Internet.
Teenagers from across the globe are tuning in.
And.
Listening up to This Teenage.
Life.
A podcast by.
Teens.
For 14.
We've talked about everything. We talked about the state of the world, the environment, but then also just like crushes or having like breakouts of a big school day or something and being mad that you got a pimple on your forehead.
19 year old Stella Sturgill.
18 year old Jaiden Dial and 15 year.
Old.
Lydia.
Bock.
Are part of.
The.
International.
Editorial.
And production.
Team.
The project started as an after school club.
My name is Molly Josephs. My title on this is.
Kind of hilariously, is the adult.
Who works on this teenage Life. How did this thing get started? I was working at a high school in.
San Diego, California.
And young people have so many big feelings. And so I ask these teenagers who.
I.
Had met if they were interested in joining an after school club, and we called ourselves this teenage life, and we would meet and we would sit around one microphone. We'd record those conversations, edit them, and add music and art that they made. And then we'd publish.
A.
Podcast and.
It was heard by.
You know, ten people.
Enter 2020 Covid.
Lockdowns and virtual.
School.
The podcast went.
Remote.
And teens.
From Illinois.
To.
India.
Reached out to get.
Involved.
Everyone who has joined since the original.
Group.
Sent.
An email, and.
That was initially to be like, thank you for this episode or this episode really moved.
Me.
Like I was feeling that, but I didn't know I was feeling that. And so hearing someone else say it made me feel less alone.
Contributors meet.
Biweekly.
Virtually.
Recording conversations on a certain topic. They've covered themes like body image, faith.
Failure, birthdays.
Academic.
Pressure, and even realizing parents are.
People.
Too. Which topics.
Have hit home the most for.
You all? The first episode I made was the divorce episode, and I was pretty new to this teenage life. But like I remember sitting there and talking to people and people were crying, but they were also just very, like, supportive of me. You just want to talk to someone. And even if our listeners can't see us, they hear us. And so I say that we're not just talking to hear ourselves. We are talking so others can hear their own thoughts. With nearly 200 episodes released.
This Teenage Life has been.
Screened.
And.
Downloaded.
In over.
180 countries.
Not only bridging cultural gaps.
But generational.
Ones.
Too.
I think it's also really important for parents and grandparents and aunts and older siblings to listen to as well. This teenage life kind of provides like a little bit of a window into the inner workings of teenagers, and it's crazy and fun and amazing and awkward and weird and cool.
During a time when mental health.
Experts.
Describe Gen Z as the.
Loneliest.
Generation.
This teenage life.
Offers young people.
A community of creativity.
And.
Support.
What do you hear from people?
I've had teachers come up to me and be like, hey, so I used your episode to teach about this thing and I'm like, oh, wow. Like, you're really like listening to what I'm thinking. And I think that makes me pause, because I think there are such few species that people take young people seriously. We're all just kids or teenagers trying to move through the world and figure out what to do with ourselves.
I just love talking to those girls. If you're more of a reader, this Teenage Life also has a Substack, but I really suggest checking out the podcast, giving it a listen.
All right, there are just a few hours left now in dry January, and some who gave up alcohol for the month have actually found a different way to get a different kind of buzz without the booze. NBC news correspondent Priscilla Thompson has more on that growing trend.
This is all THC that's going to be going out, taking the place of beer, draft lines.
On tap or out of a bottle. Those kicking off the new year abstaining from alcohol have a new choice cannabis infused Cocktails. This is the first dry January that your spirit is on the market. What has the response been like?
Even at our own brewery here, I would say upwards of 40% of our sales are now THC.
While can THC infused beverages like seltzers have been on the market for years?
This is all THC.
Bayou City Hemp CEO Ben Meggs says their product, Ocho Verdes, is one of only a handful of spirits.
Restaurants still want to sell a $15 cocktail. So how do we get that? Well, we decided let's put it in a spirit. We've got about 22 tanks here, and there are about three that are beer. The rest are full THC.
Wow.
And you know what unique is that? Beer takes 3 to 6 weeks to ferment. And thc we can turn around in a week.
The 2018 farm bill removed federal restrictions on hemp products with low levels of THC, the active compound in cannabis that delivers those intoxicating, mind altering effects. Those products are now allowed for those 21 and up, not only in states where recreational marijuana is legal, but also in some places where it's not. Including right here in Texas.
These are called super sacks, and we bring in hundreds of them a year.
Industry experts say the THC infused drinks are now among the fastest growing product sales for liquor stores and restaurants, like Houston's Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice.
For many years, this was a huge no no. And then all of a sudden, these products came out into the market and we were like, are you really?
We can serve this, okay. Chris Cusack is the bar's owner. We're in dry. January can be a tough month for bars like this one. Are having THC infused cocktails changing that?
Yeah, absolutely. I think it's really only going to go up from here.
Cheers. It makes the bar more inviting. I don't drink anymore, so that's what I stick to.
I try to be healthy with alcohol intake, so I would definitely order it as an alternative.
And are you feeling anything yet?
Uh, I don't know if I feel it just yet because my tolerance is a bit high. Hey.
I'm down. Health and safety. A concern with any adult beverage over serving. That's a concern in bars. How do you navigate something like that with a drink like this?
We try to be really thoughtful of who's consuming what. That's our responsibility as bar owners and bartenders.
Consumers should also be aware. Cannabis researchers say know the product. Understand the amount of THC in each serving and how many you're consuming. Start small. See how your body reacts before ordering a second drink. It can take up to an hour to feel the effects, which could last for 2 to 4 hours. Don't mix. Combining THC with alcohol or other substances can increase impairment. And never drive under the influence. With all of that in mind, you're all set to give it a go. Here's Priscilla. Thompson, NBC news, Houston.
Now, if cannabis infused cocktails aren't your speed and you need a different kind of liquid kick. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology may have a class that's just right for you. Have you ever wondered what goes into making the perfect cup of Joe? Well, MIT is trying to figure that out with a coffee class that's giving students a hands on chance to fuel their curiosity. NBC's Carla Hall, with our Boston affiliate explains.
As everybody knows, the taste of coffee is actually a very personal and complicated experience.
The perfect cup of coffee is in the eye, or rather, in the mouth of the beholder. Jeffrey Grossman is a professor of materials science and engineering at MIT.
I have a personal passion for good coffee.
A passion he's taken to the classroom creating a course called Coffee Matters, using the maker space to make the perfect cup. In this class you can find microscopes, computers, and, well, a $20,000 espresso machine.
So in this class, they get to, they get to think about the material. They learn about it. Coffee, right. They get to, you know, touch and feel it.
Grossman says he combines lectures on chemistry and coffee science with hands on experiments for around 60 undergrad students. Like if coffee is too acidic, students learn that you could add a pinch of baking soda to neutralize it. He tells us one of those projects was inspired by his father.
I've had this fight for like, you know, running for ten years now where he nukes his coffee all day.
The conclusion the students say that heating your coffee in the microwave changes the chemistry of it.
It does make a difference. And to them, it it tasted worse.
Another test they did. Comparing the liquid gold from our world renowned Dunkin Donuts and coffee. They roast and brew themselves. So do they believe that America should run on Dunkin?
As a true, you know, Bostonian? And I'm not going to say anything That could that could say anything negative about Duncan.
Grossman says 2024 was the first year teaching this class, and now the second round starts next week.
Our thanks to Carla Rojo for that report. We appreciate the research.
No kidding. I bet they've made some amazing cups of coffee, and I bet they've made some disgusting cups of coffee in their endeavors. All right, coming up.
Iced latte people. Exactly.
All right, coming up. If it's Friday, you know, that can mean only one thing.
It's time for your weekly can't miss list. A full roundup of everything from the world of entertainment that's catching our eyes. Grab your popcorn. We're running through it all. Next.
NBC News Daily is number one for afternoon news across all of television.
I'm Morgan.
Radford. I'm Vicky.
Wynn. I'm Kate Snow, and.
I'm seeing.
What's happening around the world.
Israel's military is building up their along the border.
And what matters here at home.
New numbers are out today showing more encouraging signs for our economy.
Let's zero in on exercise. We know we're supposed to be doing it. What does it do for our health?
What needs.
To change for social media to be.
A safer.
Place?
NBC News Daily, weekdays from 12 to 4 on NBC news now.
Is it your plan to deport everyone who is here illegally over the next four years? Who do you think is the leader of the Democratic Party right now? Can you guarantee that grocery prices will, in fact come down? If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press. Is it your plan to deport everyone who is here illegally over the next four years? Who do you think is the leader of the Democratic Party right now? Can you guarantee that grocery prices will, in fact, come down? If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
From inside Iran, from Israel, from Tampa. Hurricane Milton is here. Where we're standing right now is covered in water. Part of our continued reporting. Level increasing. Increasing. Thanks for talking to me. Appreciate your time.
Top story. Live from the from the Pacific Palisades.
Live in Tel Aviv. Live tonight from New Orleans.
Every weeknight. It's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas. Streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now.
More Americans turn to NBC news than any other news organization.
From inside Iran. From Israel. From Tampa, hurricane Milton is here. Where we're standing right now is covered in water. Part of our continued reporting, increased focus. Thanks for talking to me. Appreciate you. Let me see.
More Americans turn to NBC news than any other news organization.
Welcome back, Dragon riders unite. Am I right?
But yes.
The third installment of the series, fourth wing. Okay. They're amazing. It's called Onyx Storm. As you can see on your screen, it has amassed an absolutely massive following. And though Joe might not be one of them, 2.7 million people have bought this book in the first week of its release. If that wasn't enough, the author of the popular romance books, her name is Rebecca Yarros. She currently holds the top three spots on the New York Times hardcover best seller list. There's the whole series. I guess you could say the series has taken everyone by storm, including myself, including our fabulous stage manager, Jillian.
And now a whole new group of people will be introduced to it.
I'm just telling you you would like it.
Okay. I will write that down. All right. Finally, this.
Morning.
The things that interest me more, which is the stuff I don't have to read all the time. All right. It's Friday, which means it's time for your can't miss list.
It's a wrap up of all the movies and shows that you need to see this weekend. For those of you who aren't reading. To be.
Clear.
I do.
Read, but like. All right. Joining us now is Kay Ingram with NBC New York. Good to have you with us. You didn't know the book either. I feel like I'm not alone.
But I'm into it now.
Thrilled for everyone else out there.
She did write it down.
She It's.
Noted. It's noted.
All right. So we're doing kind of a romance technology focus here. Our first one is a rom com horror because those two things go together.
Hello. Genre mixing. That's exactly it. We've got companion, which is essentially bringing us into the future, the near future where the solution to loneliness is by buying or renting what's called a companion. It's this android of sorts. And so essentially we have Sophie Thatcher, who is playing this android. And what she does is she provides companionship, hence the name. And they go on a weekend getaway and truly all goes to hell.
What could possibly go wrong?
Right. Everything. And so she goes haywire. You've also got Jack Quaid. If you know him from the boys, he's in it as well. And just like you said, it's whether or not humans have learned their lesson. Is the solution to loneliness. Having this android unclear, but probably not. So it is a rom com. It's a little bit of horror.
Like Megan vibes her vibes. It sounds like.
Exactly. Kind of like a modern love story.
Horror and.
Comedy.
It's always.
Been.
A love story. It's horror.
Stories.
All this time, right?
This is also a love story. Kind of a weird one in terms of who's in love with each other. A new movie starring Kristen Stewart, which is kind of cool. Haven't seen her in a while. I feel like, what's this one?
I know, and she looks so different. I was actually excited to see her. I was huge in Twilight, so that was fun to see her.
But essentially you would love fourth Wave.
I'm noting it, I promise. But in this one you've got.
A.
Satellite, you've got a boy, and they somehow fall in love. I know we've got questions, but they've got answers. But the whole big theme of it is, you know, identity and figuring out what it is about that human connection that clearly the satellite and the boy are missing and don't understand. So, as you can see, um, you know, we've got the two Kristen Stewart, Steve Young and the two of them, you know, they are doing exactly what humans do that these items don't really understand. But they're navigating that together. They're finding love. They're figuring it out. It's called Love Me. It's in theaters. And yeah, it's all about finding out what it is that they were missing since we went away. Okay.
Okay. We got kind of we.
Got less than.
Two minutes. We want to try and whip through four things here. So families, dog man, Pete Davidson books.
I saw it.
All. You need to know. Half dog, half man. He's trying to save his community and he does his best. Pete Davidson plays Pete the cat. It's his villainous cat who, you know, obviously is being hysterical and trying to take over the city. But the two have to team up. It's really fun. It's hilarious.
It's also huge stars in a new movie, Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon. I cannot wait to watch this.
This one's so good. Well, you are cordially invited. It's supposed to be hilarious. Two different groups, wedding groups, they get together, it's double booked on an island, so you can already imagine the chaos that ensues.
And that's streaming where.
You can watch it this weekend in the comfort of your own home.
Exactly.
There you go. All right. Below deck down under, which is, for Bravo fans, a season three.
It's back. So for those who are big fans there in the Seychelles, which I learned is there off the coast of Africa. I do not have a big yacht such as this, but it's exciting for fans of Below Deck. You know, you've got a big boat. It's the biggest in the franchise. They're going to a location they've never been to. You've got new faces, old faces, same drama. And it's going to be huge.
All right. Finally Oscar season. Tell us sing, sing now you. It's got three nods and you can now stream it.
Absolutely. And it's back in theaters as well. Colman Domingo, who just completely swept at the Oscars for himself, really breaking records. But this, if you're not familiar with Sing Sing, it's about this highly successful. It's awesome, isn't it? It's a highly successful program that has this rehabilitation effort through the arts. What's awesome is more than 85% of the cast are formerly incarcerated folks. And so yeah, it's really great to see. And we'll have to see how they do at the Oscars.
Okay. Thank you so much.
Thank you.
This our morning news now.
Stay with us though. The news continues right now.
Hey everybody good Friday. Thanks for being with us today I'm Vicky Wynn.
What a pleasure to join you I'm Morgan radford NBC News Daily starts right now. Today is Friday, January 31st.
Aviation disaster Reagan National Airport operating normally today following that deadly aircraft collision. What we are learning now about the investigation.
And the victims as more information comes to light. New details, prosecutors added. Two more alleged victims to the federal indictment of Sean Diddy Combs, how the media mogul is responding to claims that he dangled someone over an apartment balcony. Health trend more people.
Are people are turning.
To blood sugar monitors.
Typically used for diabetes.
To keep tabs on their.
Overall health, we're.
Going.
To look at the pros and cons.
Of.
Using these devices.
Falling behind. New data shows students test scores are continuing to drop. So we're going to talk about where the problem areas are and what experts say needs to be done to ultimately turn things around. Welcome to NBC News Daily.
This Friday, we start with Wednesday night's deadly mid-air collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport. Within just the last.
Few hours.
The FAA announced it is indefinitely.
Restricting.
Helicopter flights.
In that.
Area. Now, this is all happening as dive crews are back in the Potomac River looking for more crash victims.
41 of the.
67 bodies have now been recovered.
And a critical.
Piece.
Of evidence the black boxes from the plane are now in the hands of federal investigators. We Investigators. We are about to play new video released by CNN showing the moment both aircrafts collided. A warning however, these images may be upsetting to viewers. You can see here from this angle the chopper flying in at speed from the left.
The plane is approaching on the right before both crash and explode.
Over the icy waters.
Killing.
Everyone.
Involved.
The lives.
Lost.
Include seasoned pilots, young children, their parents, coaches returning from a figure skating camp in Kansas. NBC news correspondent Aaron.
Gilchrist.
Joins us now from Reagan National Airport. Aaron, NBC news has confirmed with a source that a supervisor led an air traffic controller leave their shift early.
On the night of the crash.
Leaving only one person to oversee flights. Where are we right now in the investigation and the details that are coming out this hour?
Well, Morgan, you're right. Typically you would have one person dealing with airplanes and another person in the tower dealing with helicopters. Our understanding is that there was just one person dealing with both of those types of aircraft during the time that this accident happened on Wednesday night. That is not ideal, but it is something that is allowed under FAA rules. And of course, it is part of the fact finding mission that the NTSB is undertaking now to put together as much information, as many details as possible about what was going on in the environment, what was going on with the people, what was going on with the machinery at the time that this accident happened. They have started that mission. They've collected the black boxes from the airplane, not yet from the helicopter, at least not at the last time that we got an update from the NTSB. But they need all that information to try to start painting a picture of how things transpired here on Wednesday night. You mentioned that divers were back in the water.
We know they did resume that work earlier today. We haven't seen much activity out on the water here at the airport in the last few minutes. I should note that it is very cloudy. It cloudy. It has been raining all night and into this morning, and the conditions out there may be a bit more difficult for these divers, who are still trying to retrieve the remains of people who are in the water, as well as any debris that may be useful to the NTSB for its investigation.
And we know a.
Ground stop was issued earlier today for the airport. What happened there and what are operations looking like today?
Yes.
So operations are back to normal today. That ground stop earlier was was totally normal. It's something that happens here at Reagan National from time to time. It was a volume ground stop, meaning they were not letting planes land here just because of the volume here on the ground. Obviously, again, the weather conditions have been rough. That has created a low ceiling. And so we are seeing some delays at the airport here. It's worth noting, though, that at this point from FlightAware, we're seeing 100 cancelations of planes coming into and out of this airport today. That may also be because of the weather conditions here. And obviously, we all this is happening against the backdrop of an investigation and a recovery effort that are ongoing.
All right.
Our thanks to.
Aaron Gilchrist there on the ground for us at the airport, Aaron, we appreciate it.
Aviation expert and former military pilot Justin Green joins us here on set now. Justin, thanks for being with us. So we mentioned the FAA is now restricting the airspace for helicopter flights near Reagan indefinitely. Give us a sense of what goes into a decision like that. And what was it like before? How busy was that airspace for helicopters? What kind of missions and activities were they carrying out?
Well, if anyone spent some time.
In DC.
They see the helicopters. They're ubiquitous.
There.
They're flying many different types of missions. HMX one flies Marine One. That's the president's helicopter. They have a whole squadron. They're flying other, the vice president and other staff members. But the Army unit also flies to the Pentagon and all places around. So it's very, very active helicopter traffic area. There's defined routes that the helicopters are supposed to fly on. They're defined geographically. They're also defined. You know how high they can go. One of the things that this investigation is going to look at is whether those routes are safe and whether the airplane was compliant. The helicopter was complying with the altitude restrictions.
Justin, it's.
Interesting because you're also an aviation attorney. So you've actually represented crash victims.
What happens.
In a case.
Like this? I mean, are we likely to see lawsuits come.
Out.
Of this?
There almost certainly will be lawsuits. The families when the family for over 20 years, I've been representing families in this circumstance. And they are devastated. You know, they've had a sudden traumatic loss. They don't know what the future holds. But the one thing that that every single one of my clients has always wanted is to make sure they find out exactly what happened and make sure it doesn't happen to someone else. That's going to take some time.
You know, yesterday there was some criticism about NTSB investigations in general and how they often take many years to come.
To.
A conclusion. Why does it take so long to get these answers for families?
Well, you know, many years, usually about 1 to 2 years. But, um, the NTSB is going to do a very, very thorough investigation. And what's I think, frustrating for the families is they under the discipline that the NTSB brings to the table, they don't want information preliminary, you know, preliminary information or people jumping to conclusions. But now, months after the accident, when the families still haven't gotten answers, it gets very frustrating. But it's really a question of the thoroughness of the investigation and the need to get everything right, not to get to the quick result, get to the right result.
So many families looking for answers, and even just the flying public that wants to feel safe again.
Justin Greene, thank you so much.
We appreciate.
Your.
Expertise.
Well, thank you for having me.
Well, the passengers aboard American Eagle Flight five, three, four two were just minutes away from landing at Reagan National when this tragedy struck. The loved ones. Of the 64 people on that plane and the three on the Black Hawk helicopter are now left to pick up the pieces of lives cut short.
More than a dozen.
People who.
Were returning.
From an elite figure skating training camp are among the dead. That includes 216 year olds, Spencer Lane and Gina Hahn. Both promising skaters at the Skating Club of Boston, they were flying there with their mothers. 12 year old Brielle Beyer, a young skater from Virginia, was killed with her mom as well. NBC news correspondent Emily joins us now from Ashburn, Virginia. Emily, you're there at a rink that was part of this skating community impacted by this crash. We're getting more details.
Now.
About the faces the young lives cut short. What are people doing now to honor them?
Hey there.
Guys, good afternoon to.
You. Yeah.
Ashburn, ice behind me was.
Directly.
Impacted by this terrible.
Tragedy.
With.
Skaters, their parents.
And coaches.
On board.
That flight.
From.
Wichita.
That had crashed.
They.
Were They were returning from a national development camp. Others from the national championships that were held in conjunction over the weekend. Inside the ice rink I'm at. You will see a growing memorial flowers. People continue to come.
By.
Throughout this morning and.
Yesterday.
As.
Well.
Placing notes, stuffed animals, remembering the.
Young.
Lives and their families, taken even people from the community with no connection to this ice rink. Some people used to skate here and then of course, those who.
Feel the loss so.
Tremendously. A statement was.
Put out by.
The Washington Figure Skating Club and Skating Club of Northern Virginia. It reads this heartbreaking accident has shaken the local the local skating community in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, as well as in Boston and across the nation. It goes on to say their presence at our rinks and in our community is deeply felt, and their absence is indescribable. Among the losses includes.
The.
Livingston family, two parents on board along with their two girls known as the Ice.
Skating sisters.
They would post.
Videos.
Of them skating online. Their last post on social media said.
Is USA.
Figure skating ready for this much Livingston? Also in Boston, another community feeling.
The loss.
So deeply and greatly. Six people, according to a.
Skating.
Club in Boston.
Where their.
Lives were lost.
Including.
Two coaches, two.
Athletes along with their parents. Skaters this morning returning.
To.
The ice. Synchronized skaters.
For.
The first time since the crash, as they continue to grieve and face this devastation. Guys.
Emily. Of course, there were dozens of other people outside the skating community who were killed on this flight. A 33 year old attorney, Elizabeth Keys, who died on her birthday, according to her partner, and a Kansas couple, Lori and Bob Schrock. They were traveling to see their daughter, who was a student at Villanova University. What else have you learned about the other people who were on that flight?
Yeah, that's right.
67.
People, 64 on the passenger plane. Three people on.
The helicopter lost.
In this terrible tragedy that happened over the Potomac, including Grace Maxwell. She was a mechanical engineering major in college in Ohio. We've learned that she.
Was.
Returning from her grandfather's funeral from her hometown in Wichita, Kansas. Also one of the pilots on the American Airlines plane. He was due to get married later.
This year.
And Hammad.
Raza was.
At the airport.
To.
Pick up.
His wife.
Returning from a business trip.
Here's more.
Of what.
He told.
NBC news. Take a listen.
It's it's just feels crazy that it.
Happened.
To us, to be honest. I mean, it's like, you see these things happen in the news. You see them happen in other countries. And then I show up to the airport and my wife's not responding. And I look on Twitter and I see that it's her flight. Kindest person I've ever met. Um, He went above and beyond and then took a giant leap over that. You know, when it came to doing things for other people, for me, for her parents, for my parents.
And the.
NTSB.
Has been meeting with.
Families.
Of.
The victims as they continue to search for them in the frigid waters of the Potomac. More than 40 victims have been recovered.
So.
Far.
Guys.
All right. Emily Akana live in Virginia. Emily. Thank you.
Let's switch gears. It is time now for our CNBC Money Minute. President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on imports from several different countries. They could go into effect as soon as tomorrow. Goods from China could see a 10% tariff, while those from Mexico and Canada, they could be subjected to 25%.
CNBC tech check anchor Deirdre Bosa joins us now. So Deirdre, experts are warning these tariffs could cause prices here in the U.S. to obviously go up. What specifically which goods are we looking at.
Hey Vicky and Morgan happy Friday. So these tariffs.
Could drive.
Up.
Prices from gasoline.
And gasoline and vehicles to even the.
Avocados for.
A Super Bowl party. Guacamole. But the tariffs.
Could also prompt.
Canada.
And Mexico to.
Retaliate. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has threatened to pull American alcohol off store shelves in the province. Canada.
Keep in mind is the.
Second largest market for.
American.
Spirits. Meanwhile, Costco is raising pay for most of its hourly.
Store workers to more.
Than $30, according to.
A memo sent to employees this week.
The pay hike comes after a Costco union members.
Voted earlier.
This month in favor of a.
Nationwide strike.
As they entered a final round of talks before their contract expires today. The union represents more than 18,000 workers at Costco. And despite briefly going offline and being pulled off the Apple and Google app stores, TikTok's traffic it has bounced back. According to Cloudflare Radar, the social media platform has maintained about 90% of its user.
Traffic in.
The US. But of course, as TikTok's future here in the US remains.
Uncertain.
Many creators are expanding their.
Presence.
To other platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. Guys. People love their TikTok.
Oh, absolutely. TikTok's Deirdre.
Bosa.
We appreciate you. Happy Friday.
Coming up, a.
Revolutionary advancement in painkillers. We're going to talk about the new FDA approved treatment that does not use opioids. You're watching NBC News Daily.
Kristen Welker hosts Meet the Press every Sunday on NBC.
More Americans turn to NBC news than any other news organization.
Hey there. I'm Hallie, and we are coming on the air tonight with new developments. What's up? What do we know about these chemicals? And should we be super concerned about it, or what economic policy and what the election means for it. Break it down in English. What this means for people's money.
Lester Holt, America's most trusted TV news anchor.
Over the past year.
The FDA just approved a first of its kind non-opioid painkiller that its drug maker says comes without the risk of addiction.
It's called Vicks, and it is the first successful effort in decades to treat moderate to severe acute pain for adults. That is something that is usually treated with opioids, which we know have caused a deadly overdose epidemic across this country. Joining us now, NBC news medical contributor Doctor Kavita Patel. Doctor Patel, great to see you. So how does this work? And then how much is it going to cost people?
Yeah Vicki Morgan this is a very big deal. We haven't had anything for decades that could really combat combat the opioid crisis. So Vicks works by.
Targeting the signaling.
Pathway.
From the end of.
Nerve receptors to.
The brain. What it does is it basically intercepts.
The pain.
Signal from even getting to the brain. Opioids as a.
Contrast.
Work.
At the level of.
The brain. So this is one.
Of the many.
Reasons that is thought to be non-addictive. Cost very.
Important.
As you can see that it's about.
$15.50.
Per dose. And there's a two dosing a day requirement, so about.
$31.
A day according to what the manufacturer has set forth.
And Doctor Patel.
What has to.
Happen sort of next in order for this drug to become widely available?
Yeah.
Most important step is what they've cleared the FDA that just just tells us that this is safe and effective with the data that we have so far. Then comes the really kind.
Of.
Slightly cumbersome process of getting it out into.
The.
Supply chain and getting.
It into pharmacies.
While.
Simultaneously.
Negotiating deals.
With pharmacy.
Benefit managers, with insurance companies, because you can put a drug out there, but you don't want to have everyone having to pay out of pocket, that just becomes a barrier to access. So all of that is going to happen. And you bet the company has been bracing for this and preparing for it, but that can take some time. But the good news is that this should not.
Be years.
Or months. This should this should happen pretty quickly to get it out into the marketplace.
Doctor Patel, when it comes to some context here, give us a sense of how many Americans are currently prescribed opioids, which is the kind of the pain medication we have. How many of those people are estimated then to develop some sort of dependency on them?
Yeah, I mean, big, big numbers here. We're talking at least 125 million Americans that are prescribed an opioid in the United States, usually around procedures or surgeries, but at least 8.6 million of them. And these are children, even 12 and above that are reporting misusing the opioids. And then.
You really.
Look at kind of how many have reported like an addiction or an opioid use disorder. About 5 million. And by the way, Vicky Morgan, I think these are the low numbers.
I think the truth.
Is that there could be even.
Double or triple.
These numbers. So it's not only a big problem, but it's something that until now, we didn't really have an alternative other than to say don't use opioids. And that again puts patients in a very difficult position.
And speaking of some of those blind spots, that information we may not have had, I mean, did the trials of this drug study its ability to treat chronic pain when we talk about arthritis or back pain.
Right?
Right. It's a great point. Right now, the trials that have been done are really looking at kind of what we would call the acute pain setting. It's been after procedures, things like a bunionectomy getting rid of bunions on your feet, for example, incredibly painful. But they really wanted to kind of target in on those. There are some trials for chronic pain, but those results have not kind of proven out to be an indication that the FDA could review. So right now it's acute. But keep on the lookout for some of those trials and other solutions in the chronic pain setting.
All right. Doctor Kavita Patel, thanks so much. We appreciate you this Friday.
Later this hour keeping it on your health a new trend blood sugar monitors traditionally used by people with diabetes are now being used to track nutrition and energy levels. How effective are they? We'll tell you. You're watching daily.
Kristen Welker. hosts Meet the Press every Sunday on NBC.
News lives in the.
Now all of that.
Snow fell in.
A matter.
Of days.
Food and medicine this time being dropped over southern Gaza.
It looks like hot lava.
Used for the generation of now is NBC news now.
The Wizard of Oz prequel wicked is continuing to captivate audiences across the country, and in about a month, it could become one that makes Oscar history.
That's because.
If.
He wins, the movie's costume director will become the first black man to take home the trophy in that category. He talked to NBC News Daily Anchor about making the clothes for the beloved musical turned movie.
This is not your.
First.
Stint.
Down the.
Big yellow.
Brick road.
You first designed costumes.
For your.
High school production of Wizard of Oz.
And then you went on to.
Do NBC's.
Live production.
Of The.
Wiz and now.
This. Yeah. Talk to me about.
How you've.
Thought.
About designing costumes in.
A way.
That doesn't compromise the.
Integrity of.
Such a classic.
But also.
Bringing your.
Own spin?
Well, I think it is.
Important to acknowledge the one, the huge fan base of the original wicked, but then also The Wizard of Oz. It's been in our lives for such a long time. Paul Tazewell.
Is.
No stranger to timeless.
Classics.
Winning a Tony.
For.
His costumes in Hamilton.
Alexander.
Hamilton.
And making history in his.
Oscar nomination.
For Steven Spielberg's West Side Story.
The first.
Green Boy who smiles at you.
As the first.
Black man nominated in a costume design.
Category.
With.
Wicked.
Tazewell could be soaring.
To new heights.
Glinda and Elphaba two.
Very.
Different women, very different color schemes. How did you go about thinking about.
The.
Textures.
And the make.
Of both of.
Their costumes.
Well, for both of those characters, for Glenda. You know, I'm giving her a backstory with Elphaba. I was trying to align her with all that was organic, all that was closer to the animals, which is the group that she's advocating for.
So often.
When we see the witch.
Just.
Like even Halloween costumes.
It's.
Frumpy.
But she was.
Given a snatched waist. She was giving us, you know, floor length box braids. Can you talk about the thought process with her?
Yeah. That's right. I mean, you know, to start with, you know, you have Cynthia Erivo, who, you know, she is a huge fashionista.
Wicked marks Tazewell's second time dressing. Cynthia Erivo the.
First time was for the period drama Harriet.
Talking her into wearing a corset. She completely embraced that, even though she was going to be singing on stage every day.
And flying around.
And flying around. Absolutely. I mean, doing all the athletics that she has to do for this character.
And Tazewell dressed the stars in the second installment of the wicked franchise. To do we get.
A little a tease.
A preview of what's coming. What should we be bracing for?
Well, let me just say, if you've seen part one, it's time, times and a half of what you will get visually. So much of our film is set in Emerald City. And and so you see that glamor today.
Tazewell is investing in the next generation with a scholarship for students of color at his alma mater. No stranger to the power of empowering students at a young age. I was moved to learn a bit more about your story, and I understand you got into your craft because as a child you had asthma and spent a lot of time inside. Can you talk about how that informs now your craft and your journey?
Sure, absolutely. Having a loving mother who was searching for ways for me to spend my time because I wasn't able to be out there with the rest of the kids on the street playing, playing. I learned to sew very young when I, uh, you know, found the world of theater, found the world of performance. Actually, I then incorporated all of that that I had learned, uh, in creating.
I love it. Well, for Simply Trending, we love to do a speed round. Would you be game to play with us?
Absolutely.
Love that. Okay, we got to start. What's your take on the big wicked debate? To sing or not to sing in the theater?
Oh, I think you should sing.
Oh, you should sing. This is a sing along.
I think. Definitely. I mean, there should be performances that are held aside for those who want to see it without singing.
I love that hold space for the singing.
Absolutely, absolutely.
What's a tip you have for any person to lean into their fashion sensibility?
Oh be courageous. Absolutely. And think about your you know, who you are and how you want to best represent what your personality is for every given moment.
Paul Tazewell bringing fashion to our screens one scene, one character, and one moment at a time. NBC news.
So talented.
And speaking of defying gravity, U.S. astronaut Suni Williams just set a new record during her spacewalk on the i.s.s. this week. That sunny is really up to all the defeating processes.
Absolutely incredible. Williams now has logged the most spacewalking time for any female astronaut, completing 62 hours and six minutes. She reached the milestone yesterday during a 5.5 hour spacewalk alongside fellow astronaut Barry Butch Wilmore.
They are incredible.
Stay with us. You are watching NBC News Daily.
Breaking news tonight as we come on the air. Live tonight from New Orleans. Top story live from the Pacific Palisades. Fire like this would erupt into a blowtorch with those Santa Ana winds. So it's a race against time.
As you look.
Over to Bourbon Street, the first question is, is it safe tonight? Gas prices coming down. Mortgage rates starting to come down. When will consumers feel it even more? Paris's Notre Dame cathedral finally reopening following years of renovations.
Every night it's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas. Streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now.
Welcome back. It is 1230 in Miami and right here in New York City I'm Morgan Radford.
I'm Vicky Wynn. Here's what's making news right now at the FBI. Several top executives who were promoted by former director Christopher Wray are now being told to either retire or resign. If they don't leave, they will be fired. This is according to current and former bureau officials who spoke with NBC news. The move comes as multiple federal agencies have faced a wave of firings in the first few days of the new Trump administration.
Hamas says American-Israeli Keith Siegel is among the three hostages set to be freed tomorrow. He was kidnapped along with some 250 others during that October 7th attack back in 2023. In exchange, Israel is expected to release another group of Palestinian prisoners.
And Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is being accused of inappropriate behavior during massage sessions. Six massage therapists shared their stories with the Baltimore banner. Five of the women say he exposed himself during the sessions. In a post yesterday, Tucker denied the accusations and called them unequivocally false.
Critical clues are now emerging in the plane crash disaster at our nation's capitol. Surveillance videos, which were first aired by CNN, are showing us new, showing us all new angles of the midair collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter. In fact, you can see that chopper. There it is. It crossed right there in front. You're watching your screen here of that plane as it was coming in for a landing.
Investigators say they have recovered two black boxes from the plane, but the search is still on for the helicopters data recorder. Meanwhile, staffing levels inside the air traffic control tower are becoming a key focus of this investigation. A source tells NBC news a single controller was handling both plane and helicopter traffic after a coworker left their shift early. NBC News senior White House correspondent Gabe Gutierrez is live near the crash site for us today. So, Gabe, aside from air traffic control staffing, the NTSB is also investigating whether this Army helicopter was flying too high at the time of the crash. What more are we now finding out about how this collision occurred?
Hi there, Vicki and Morgan.
Investigators are looking into exactly that.
Whether that Army Blackhawk was flying at too high an elevation. And what will be.
Key to that.
Is finding that flight data recorder from the helicopter, the so-called black.
Box.
But as you said.
One of the another.
Key.
Part.
Of this investigation.
Is the.
Authorities looking into whether air traffic.
Control staffing may have played.
A role in.
This.
As you said. A source familiar with the investigation.
Tells.
NBC news.
That an air traffic controller supervisor let another employee leave his shift early.
And so there was only one.
Air traffic controller.
Overseeing both the.
Plane and the helicopter.
Certainly that will be part and is part of the investigation.
At this point.
We.
Can tell you that.
The FAA.
Has issued new restrictions this morning when it comes to helicopters flying around Reagan.
National Airport in Morgan.
Yesterday, the president had a lot to say about this. How is he responding and sort of what action is the white House taking today?
Well, certainly it was a very high it was a highly.
Unusual press.
Briefing at the white House.
Yesterday where after asking for a moment of moment.
Of silence for.
The victim and offering condolences. The president pivoted to bringing politics into this and blaming the Biden administration and diversity, equity and inclusion policies, at least in part, for this crash.
He was.
Also asked whether he planned to visit.
This.
Site and raise some.
Eyebrows with that.
Answer. Let's listen.
Have you spoken to any of the families of the victims of the plane crash?
I don't want to comment on that.
Do you.
Have.
A plan to go.
Visit the site?
I have a plan to visit, not the site. Because what did you tell me? What's the site? The water. Or to meet with the first.
Responders.
Down.
There? I don't have a plan to do that, but I will be meeting with some people that were very badly hurt with their family member, obviously, but I'll be meeting with some of the families now.
In an unusual move, President Trump.
Saying it's.
Strong opinions.
About what caused.
This crash.
Even though the NTSB has not.
Said.
And won't say for many months exactly what they believe caused it. President Trump also signing an Signing an executive action naming an acting FAA administrator, Vicki Morgan.
Gabe Gutierrez joining us live from D.C.. We appreciate it, Gabe.
Well, there are new allegations in the federal sex trafficking case against Sean Diddy Combs. Federal prosecutors filed an expanded indictment yesterday accusing him of dangling a person over an apartment balcony. They also allege he coerced two additional women into commercial sex acts. Combs has denied any wrongdoing.
One of Combs attorneys released a statement in response to the new filing, and he wrote in part the prosecution's theory remains flawed. Mr. Combs is as committed as ever to fighting these charges and winning at trial. NBC news legal analyst Danny Cevallos joins us now to break down all the details. Danny, give us some of the details. What does this new filing essentially show us?
So this is called a superseding indictment. And it usually happens when prosecutors want to either add more defendants, more charges or just other information, but generally more defendants more charges. And when you're a criminal defense attorney and there's a superseding indictment, that is bad news because it's never a good result for your client. The prosecutors are never saying, hey, we've decided to drop some of these charges. It's always going to be worse. And that's exactly what's happening here. Essentially, they're expanding the timeline in which this conduct occurred, and they do that in order to expand the scope of the conspiracy and any other charges that might allow them to relate back conduct that might otherwise be barred by the statute of limitations. Conspiracy laws are devastating for criminals and criminal organizations because they bypass statute of limitations allowing for conduct that might ordinarily be chargeable because it's been too long to now be back in the mix, and they've done that. They've taken the conduct began in 2008, in the original indictment. Now it relates back to zero four and all that conduct can now come in.
So in this superseding indictment, super sized indictment, if you will, does this mean his trial date gets pushed back. It's supposed to be in May, right?
Yes, maybe. So what happens with the superseding indictment is it does reset a number of things. You have to come back in. There's another arraignment, and since there's only one defendant, I've had this come up in my own cases, the judge might say, well, we don't really need that much more time. It's federal court. We move much faster than state court. So really not a whole lot changes in terms of timeline. Or the judge might say, hey, there's some really new facts here. The defense needs to get on top of that. They may need additional time, but the general rule of thumb is in federal court, if the defendant wants it, they're going to get a trial very quickly.
All right. They may keep it moving. Danny Cevallos, thank you so much.
Thanks, Danny. Blood sugar monitors, also known as glucose monitors. They're traditionally used by people who have diabetes, but now they're actually growing in popularity with non-diabetics for tracking things like nutrition, mood, energy levels. NBC news medical fellow doctor explores this growing medical trend and some of the potential barriers to using them.
Where are you going for sushi?
I'm going to izakaya. Have you been.
There?
No.
Do you ever.
Notice.
People with those plastic circles on.
Their.
Arm? Does it hurt?
It doesn't.
Hurt.
Well, those are glucose.
Monitors.
That measure your.
Blood.
Sugar.
In real.
Time.
Continuously.
It's actually really easy.
There's an.
Applicator that you take out.
And.
You.
Basically.
Just put it on your arm.
They're usually worn by people with diabetes. Like doctor.
Mike Nader.
An.
Endocrinologist.
At NYU.
Langone.
Health.
When I was diagnosed in 1994, I would have to fingerstick and get a static data point of blood sugar in that moment. I equate this to trying to fly an airplane with a blindfold on, and these continuous glucose monitors remove that blindfold.
Here's how.
It works.
The sensor attaches to your arm.
Then.
Connects.
To.
An.
App where.
It constantly keeps you updated on your blood.
Sugar.
Even showing you how.
Things.
Like diet, exercise, and sleep can affect it.
Monitoring my.
Diet has.
Really helped figuring out what foods affect your.
Sleep and.
Your.
Mood energy. It's really interesting.
For about a year now, the continuous glucose monitors have been available over the counter and even longer in places like the UK.
Well, I think anything that.
Helps.
Someone get a.
Little.
Bit.
Healthier is such an advantage.
Where Claire Richards discovered its benefits back in 2021.
What I learnt pretty quickly is that for a kind of a food that I know is going to affect me quite a lot, maybe higher in carbohydrates or higher in sugars or something like that. Then if I go for a walk afterwards or something, that does make me feel a lot better and stops me.
Having a.
Crash.
But for all its benefits, like having the potential to identify diabetes earlier, there are also some challenges. First off, it's not cheap. With the most popular brands costing upwards of $1,000 a year, and there could be an issue about how people may interpret their results.
At the end of the day, these devices were not necessarily designed and developed and calibrated for a normal population. And so there is some variance to these blood glucose readings. And that could obviously cause a lot of alarm and a lot of emotional distress.
In other words.
Sugar spikes, especially after eating, can be normal. And in the past, similar glucose monitors have had to be replaced because of bad readings.
It was like the only like good, healthy option.
Which got us thinking. For those who don't have diabetes but want to wear one.
What number should we.
Be concerned.
About? Generally speaking, if the blood sugars remain above 180 for a period of time, that's hypoglycemia. That's something that I would be a little bit curious to want to look into more.
When you go tonight.
You're going to see your.
Sugar and it's going to be like.
160.
I'm not going to have any rules. I'm just going to have sashimi.
You got it all figured out.
I have it all figured out. Yeah.
Doctor Akshay Syal, NBC.
News.
Los.
Angeles.
There you.
Go.
Interesting. Well, some of the biggest names in music came together last night in Los Angeles for the Fire Aid benefit concert. It featured two packed stadiums and a star studded lineup of iconic performers, all of them joining to raise millions of dollars for communities devastated by the wildfires. NBC news correspondent Kaylee Hartung was there, and she has our highlights. Just miles from the devastation of the L.A. fires, some of the biggest names in music packed two stadiums for not one, but two star studded concerts, raising millions for relief efforts.
If people.
Have.
Lost.
So much, this.
Is a.
Very small gesture on our part.
The fire aid benefit brought dozens of artists across all genres and generations together, making beautiful music for a deeply personal cause.
We're cycling through all the stages of grief and anger and.
Disbelief and bouncing in a nonlinear.
Way all around them.
Comedian Billy Crystal among the stars, sharing their own stories of loss.
Like thousands of you are house now look like this. I stepped onto the grounds and I fell to my knees and I wailed.
At the Kia forum. Green Day Pink, Stevie Nicks and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were among those who kicked things off. Show your surprise performer Doctor Dre getting a huge reaction from the crowd.
Come on, y'all.
He's up. Hey.
While at the Intuit Dome, no doubt Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Sting and Stevie Wonder kept things rocking late into the night.
Keep on flying. Reunions is the one.
You know.
Like.
Unlikely collaborations.
And it was because.
He felt that a.
Change.
Would do him.
Good.
And covers filled the air with sweet music.
Feeling good was easy when he sang the blues.
But while the performances in packed venues made for a lively atmosphere, the real reason for the night was ever present.
There are moments.
That get us.
Through.
Moments like tonight.
The show, featuring the stories of people whose lives and homes were destroyed by the fires and honoring first responders.
We finally.
Got a.
Break. I immediately went to check on my house and it was gone.
An emotional and empowering night. The music industry showing up to support their city and their community as they rise from the ashes together. Kaylee Hartung, NBC news.
Coming up next. New data shows American students.
As.
Test scores in reading and in math are actually on a decline. We're going to get into why it's happening and what parents can ultimately do to help their kids achieve academic success. Stay right here. You're watching NBC News.
Closer to the Gaza border. The story of resilience and hope. Please take care of yourself and each other.
Kristen Welker hosts Meet the Press every Sunday on NBC, the NBC news mobile app. Get connected to your favorite news shows for the top stories, breaking news and live video. Download the NBC news mobile app now.
Well, we first told you about this earlier in the week. Alarming new data says students test scores in subjects like reading and math are still declining years after the pandemic.
It's often referred to as the nation's report card, and it finds average scores in reading declined for both fourth and eighth graders compared to 2022. And then in math, there was no significant change for eighth grade, and there was actually some improvement in fourth grade scores. But still, students are below pre-pandemic levels in math and in reading. Thankfully, we have Barry Norman here to join us. She is a certified educational planner and the co-founder and head Counselor of Expert Admissions. Thank you so much for being with us. When we talk sort of about the decline, frankly, that we're seeing. Why are we still seeing such low numbers post the pandemic?
So the experts.
Say it's.
Chronic absenteeism and.
Also.
Screen time. That has.
Something to do with.
This.
I was wondering about that. So what is happening? Kids aren't showing up in school. And then what are they? They're spending too much time on screens away from the classroom. So the.
Real.
Story here was amongst the lowest performers. It was the lowest performers where we saw this real decline. We're also seeing in that group chronic absenteeism. So they're not coming to school. We can do everything right in the classroom. If we can't get kids into the classroom, it doesn't really matter. And then we have screen time, which is a huge.
Issue.
As all parents know.
And when we talk.
About the screen time specifically, is it that they're not engaging with their peers in person? Is it. They're not working to do the things like writing cursive and using a pen and paper, like we grew up having to do? What is it specifically that is so dangerous about those screens?
Well, it's.
Really that they need to be reading, right? We know that you get so much from actual reading of books and they're not doing that.
So this has to do with decoding.
It has to do with inference. It has to do with creativity, and it has.
To do with.
Not just being on a screen.
Just watching things and getting that popcorn brain. What can be done to reverse these rates of absenteeism? How do we get these kids into class? You like to say we can teach them, but we need to reach them.
Exactly. So I think it's a community effort, right? Like everything is when we work together, we can do more. So it's parents being in communication with teachers. It's bringing social workers in. It's helping students and families and communities feel safe at school and see the value in going.
What do you say to parents who are hearing this, watching this, and who are worried? They're saying, look, I may not know what I don't know. I may not have all the resources or the know how here at home, but I also don't know how to sort of be vigilant about what's happening at school. What would you tell them to sort of assuage their anxiety?
It's all about communication. No matter what. You can reach out to your student's teacher, right? You can always open those lines of communication, find out what's going on, find out the struggles, try to address them as best you can with whatever resources you have or don't have. Even if it's just being supportive, but address them before they become major issues.
Is this level of absenteeism something new that we're seeing that we didn't see in years past, with the kids just not coming to school in general?
So this got really bad in the pandemic. It spiked and then it stayed elevated. And that's the real concern. It hasn't come back to where we want it to.
If there was one piece of advice you could give to any educator, any parent, anyone who has a child whom they love, what would you tell them?
I really think it's about focusing on the students. We all need to work together to give every student what they need in and out of the classroom.
Great doctor Barry Norman, thank you very much. We really appreciate your time.
My pleasure.
And stay right here. We have so much more news ahead. You're watching NBC News Daily. Remember, you can always stream us at any place that you stream for free. That includes NBC News Now, Hulu, Roku, Peacock, you name it. Stay right here.
Is it your plan to deport everyone who is here illegally over the next four years? Who do you think is the leader of the Democratic Party right now? Can you guarantee that grocery prices will, in fact come down? If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
From inside Iran, from Israel, from Tampa. Hurricane Milton is here. Where we're standing right now is covered in water. Part of our continued reporting on this. Thanks for talking to me. Appreciate your time.
Buckle up. The 67th Grammy Awards are this Sunday, and it is shaping up to be quite the night to remember.
The biggest names in music are set to perform, including Stevie Wonder, Cynthia Erivo and Sabrina Carpenter. NBC News Entertainment contributor and founder of and CEO of pop viewers Chris Witherspoon. Another big name? Yeah. Break it down for us. So, Chris, what are we expecting this Sunday? Who are you keeping your eyes on?
I mean.
So many.
Big categories.
Beyonce comes in with 11.
Nominations, 11.
Nominations and she's not.
Won the big award of the night.
We'll get there in a second. But some front runners, including Charli XCX with seven nominations.
Kendrick.
Lamar, post. Post Malone. But the big category people are looking out for is Best New Artist. That means you.
Kind of.
Arrived in the music industry. You got Sabrina Carpenter, Rae Benson, Shaboozey and then Chappell Roan up.
For.
Six nominations.
I love her.
And then all eyes are going to be on album of the year. So Billie Eilish back again for hit Hard and Soft, Hit Me Hard and Soft Chapel Rome The Rise and Fall of the Midwest, Princess, Taylor Swift, Tortured Poets Society and Beyonce for Cowboy Carter and this one for me kind of hits home, y'all. I'm a big Beyonce fan. Never has won album of the year 99 nominations. Most nominated artists 99 nominations. Most nominated of all time.
Jay-Z got on stage and kind of.
Kind of talked about.
It.
It's the ninth time a charm.
Maybe ninth.
Yeah, this is 99th, but she's up for 11 tonight or coming into Sunday, but she's been nominated five times. never has one, but she'll be going against Taylor Swift and Chapel, Rome. But I feel like this has to be Beyonce's year, or I might just quit the whole industry.
I'm going to say skirt, skirt, skirt.
Go back. I heard Kendrick.
I heard.
Like, who's your money.
On?
My money is on Chapel Road. I think that she's had a huge year. The voters love her. Her artistry is just, like, really, really high. And then Beyonce, she's leading 11 nominations, and I feel like kind of coming out of the hip hop or R&B genre and doing country was a risk that might be paying off.
And I mean, look, maybe because I've entered my like senora era, but when.
I think of.
Chapel Road, I think of Lady Gaga.
Yeah. Come on.
Okay.
Like the OG?
No, like sort.
Of OG.
Vibe.
Speaking of Lady Gaga OG vibe, isn't she dropping a single?
She's coming out with her seventh album. Yeah, it's going to be out on March 7th called mayhem, the mayhem and the madness. But what she's doing is putting out a new single. Her third single during the Grammy Awards. So there'll be a commercial. It will play her new single. You can go over to YouTube, watch the video. But this album is called mayhem. And she said it's really a return to her pop music roots. She took a took a departure and did a bunch of like, you know, soundtracks for movies. The album started as me facing my fear of returning to the pop music, my earliest, or the music that my fans loved the most.
Okay, I love that.
Let's go to TV for a second. White Lotus season three back in Thailand. Yes. Are you excited?
I am so excited for this one because this show to me has this fandom that is so huge. And Mike white, who created the series, he said, look out for this to be bigger and load it with even more surprises and secrets will be a murder. But Natasha Rothwell, she's back for her second, her second time. She was in the first season and back for the season as well.
Okay.
I love.
That. Speaking of television, can I actually make a hard right turn?
Yeah.
Can we talk about.
Love is Blind?
Oh my God. Okay.
Love is blind.
I got you turn.
I.
Did.
I.
Did, I.
Did I love this show. It's back for its eighth season. All these couples returning. Last time it was in DC. This time it will be in Minneapolis, Minnesota. But you're going to get all these couples returning all this love in Minneapolis.
Like, haven't you.
Probably seen that guy at a bar before?
Like, Isn't blind.
And that's what's been happening. If you watched last season, you find out folks knew each other.
I like.
Atlanta. It's going to happen in this season. People are going to find out that they knew each other, that they might have dated before. I mean, I've been watching you. I get a little preview. I've been watching. Yes, yes. It's so good. It's so good. I feel like it's. Each season is getting better. It kind of got bad.
It got better.
But it's kind of finding its way again.
Got a super fan right here. All right. What about rom com royalty, Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal, they're reuniting for the Super Bowl. I may have seen this commercial, and it's terrific.
Yeah. Listen, I love the movie. When Harry met Sally. It came out in 1989. They got put together for the very first time. They never have done anything since that movie. A huge rom com. They went to Katz Deli. Yeah, Lower East Side. Yes, and recreated the scene. Everyone knows that scene where she says, I'll have what she's having, or Meg Ryan is like moaning over the food she's eating. They did it again. It's for Hellmann's mayonnaise. So mayonnaise brought Billy Crystal and her back together again. But she's moaning again. I'll have what she's having. It's a great way to come back together, and it's kind of crazy to me that they haven't been back.
There's a.
Little surprise.
Moment at the end too.
Oh, yes. Yes. You see? Yes. Yeah, yeah. I'm thinking right now but. Yeah. From White Lotus.
Right. No no no.
No.
Well she's awesome.
Yeah. And, um, HBO I'm blanking right now.
I forgot we have three of us blanking.
It's one of those days.
What's her name?
Sweeney. Sydney. Sweeney.
Sydney. Sweeney.
She was in Euphoria and White Lotus. And just surprised to be at the end of the show.
Have a cup of coffee, get our brains back going again.
It is always a pleasure.
To have you. Stay right here. You're watching NBC News Daily.
Top story. Live from the Pacific Palisades.
Live in Tel Aviv. Live tonight from New Orleans.
Every weeknight it's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas. Streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now.
Is it your plan to deport everyone who is here illegally over the next four years? Who do you think is the leader of the Democratic Party right now? Can you guarantee that grocery prices will in fact come down? If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
Hi, everyone. Thank you so much for joining us. I'm Morgan Radford.
I'm Vicky Wynn. NBC News Daily starts right now.
Today is Friday January 31st mid-air disaster. New details in the tragic collision of that American Airlines flight and Black Hawk helicopter. What we're learning and how the changes it's now leading to.
I intrusion experts warning users to be careful of the information they are giving to artificial intelligence chat bots. The growing concerns about the data they're storing and how you can protect yourself.
Groundbreaking drug a new painkiller approved by the FDA. The medical breakthrough, which could help patients as the nation grapples with the opioid crisis.
The Sound of Music Some of the biggest names coming together to help victims of the devastating L.A. wildfires. Inside the massive benefit concert that raised millions of dollars.
Welcome to NBC News Daily, where we start right now with the new information on that deadly midair collision near Washington, D.C. just a few hours ago, the FAA indefinitely restricted helicopter flights in that airspace after a Black Hawk collided with an American Airlines passenger jet that was just moments away from landing.
NBC news also confirming with a source today that an air traffic controller was allowed to leave their shift early on the night of the crash, leaving one person on duty for that position. Right now, dive teams are back in the water searching for more victims who lost their lives. So far, 41 bodies have been recovered. There were a total of 67 passengers, crew and military members who died when the chopper and plane collided, then exploded over the Potomac River on Wednesday night. NBC news senior correspondent Tom Costello joins us now from Reagan National Airport. Tom, how will this decision by the FAA impact the flights in that area? And there are some exceptions for certain chopper flights.
Yeah. That's right. So the FAA is essentially limiting helicopter activity in one specific track that goes up and down the Potomac River. However, police and medevac choppers will be allowed. There are actually four tracks up and down the Potomac River. And the bottom line for this is it is likely because of the ongoing search and recovery operations right there in the Potomac River behind me. We're still awaiting word that they have found more victims in the water. As you know, everybody on board the plane and also the Will the helicopter die? In addition, this all feeds into the air traffic control staffing issue that you discussed. We now know that instead of one controller working the helicopter traffic and one on planes Wednesday night, a single controller was doing both jobs. And so as a result of that, that could, in theory, add to the workload. However, the FAA underscores. That's not optimal, but it is acceptable. It has happened before. And so that focus on air traffic control staffing is now very much key.
You know, Tom, speaking of which, federal investigators, they now have those black boxes we've been talking about from the plane. But but they really want the black box from the chopper. What specific information are they looking for?
Yeah.
Yeah. That's right. And that comes as President Trump is definitively saying that the chopper pilot was flying too high. Now, our own NBC news reporting has suggested the same that in fact, investigators are focused on the fact that the that the helicopter pilot may have been 150 to 200ft above its flight level. Right. You are not supposed to fly below a rate that above 200ft. You're supposed to be 200 and below. Now, the NTSB really wants to get the black box to find out specifically what was their altitude the entire time they were flying. Did they have a bad altimeter that was giving them bad data on their real altitude? That's going to be part of this investigation. Why was that helicopter apparently flying above its designated level, putting it really in conflict with that regional jet that was coming in for a landing on runway 33? Incidentally, let me tell you that here at Reagan Airport, runway 33 is closed because right at the end of the runway is where they are working on the water to recover the remains of the victims.
But as a result of that, we have 90 more than 90 flight cancelations into and out of Reagan Airport today. Only one airport runway, runway one is actually open and operational.
One. Okay. All right. Tom Costello reporting live from that airport. We appreciate it, Tom.
We want to bring in aviation expert and former military pilot Justin Green. Justin, thanks for being here. You know, in your experience, we know that technically it was legal for there to be just one air traffic controller in a situation like that. How common is that? Do you think that that is something that needs to be re-examined? And also, what's the communication like between the air traffic controllers and the pilots of both of those aircraft?
So, um, everybody knows that the Washington DC area is very, very crowded. And they having having an air traffic controller who just handles the helicopter traffic is kind of unique and probably a reflection of the concern about the helicopter traffic coming into contact with with the airplanes on approach to the to the runway. So, um, this is one of those endemic safety issues that the NTSB and the FAA is going to have to look at is staffing, and it takes a long time. There's been many years that the air traffic controllers have been overworked and understaffed. And I think this is maybe a watershed event and hoping to fix that problem.
Justin, I want to talk briefly about the conditions here. I think one of the most chilling details I remember thinking was that there was still ice in the water. Right. There was still ice in the river. And you think about that not only for the souls who were in the river, but now these dive teams that are going in the NTSB is now helping those dive teams go in. Besides the grim reality of recovering bodies. What other key pieces of information are they looking for in the water?
Well, you know, the key piece of information everyone has talked about are the two black boxes. But they're also, as Tom just said, they're also going to be looking at the components of both airplanes. But the non-volatile data that's being recorded in the in the helicopter. Because if the helicopter was at the wrong altitude, As Tom just said, it's important to see why. Now, if you look at the track, it seems like they were below 200ft for most of the approach. So. And the helicopter has more than one altimeter. So the helicopter will have a radio altimeter that shows a height above ground, but also a barometric altimeter that that essentially gives them height above sea level. So I think I think it's unlikely that they had the wrong altitude information. But but we have to look at every single fact.
We know that you also serve as an attorney, and you represent families who are involved in these situations. Walk us through that experience. What happens for a family in a case like this? And you said that in your experience, you've noticed they all want one thing and that is actually clarity. So this doesn't happen again from an investigation.
That's right. And it's going to be a very frustrating world going forward. Obviously they're suffering right now and maybe for the rest of their lives the losses that they just experienced. And it's going to take a long time for the NTSB. And here the Army's investigations to kind of go through. And during that time, the families are not going to get a lot of information because the NTSB tries to cabin all the information so that they don't aren't influenced by outside voices, so they won't get updates saying, hey, this is what we found this week. This is what we're looking. You know, they may get more general issues.
Which is a good reminder that the NTSB historically has been intended to be a non-political, nonpartisan organization. Right? I mean, administration, so that they can do that work without outside influence historically. All right, Justin Green, thank you so much. Thank you.
The figure skating community is mourning the loss of some of the world's most promising young skaters who died in that crash. More than a dozen of the victims were returning from an elite training camp in Wichita, Kansas.
That included 216 year olds. Spencer Lane and Gina Hahn, who were flying with their mothers, 12 year old skater Brielle Beyer from Virginia, was also killed with her mom. NBC news correspondent Sam Brock reports from Massachusetts, where the Skating Club of Boston is back on the ice for the first time since tragedy struck.
The ripple effect of this week's D.C. plane tragedy can be seen in flowers, portraits and empty ice at the Skating Club of Boston, which learned six of their own lost their lives. This tight knit sport now uniting in grief.
It's a tragic loss for all of us.
It's just it's terrible.
That fateful flight to D.C. from Kansas, coming just days after the U.S. Championships in Wichita. Followed immediately by a developmental camp for the sport's best and brightest.
My heart is with all the families affected, and.
That's the part I have no.
Words.
For.
Among those on board members of multiple skating clubs, including coach Alexander Kirsanov. 12 year old athlete Brielle Beyer and her mother Justina, and the half dozen deeply connected to the Skating Club of Boston, including young skater Gina Hahn.
I would get.
A smile on my face.
Seeing her smiling, and.
She.
Was smiling a lot.
And Spencer Lane, who had only been competing for a few years.
The amount that he has achieved in those 3 or 4 years is absolutely remarkable.
Also lost in the tragedy, their mothers, Jin Hahn and Christine Lane. And figure skating coaches Vadim Naumov and Shishkova coaches Naumov and Shishkova, who were married, won the 1994 World Championship as a pair and competed in two Winter Olympics.
Very nice.
Whose son Max just competed at nationals.
His parents.
Were.
His coaches as well as his parents.
This has split parents from kids and vice versa.
Yeah, it's fractured the community.
In an emotional press conference, leaders and alumni of the club trying to come to grips with the tragedy, whose impact will be felt far beyond the rink, including former Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan.
Even when you're crying, hurt, pain, you get back up and move forward. It's not easy, but that's what we all have to do now together.
And for many at the Skating Club of Boston, Wednesday's crash bringing back painful memories. More than six decades after competitors from the same club died in a plane crash while traveling to the 1961 World Championships. That 1961 team, along with so many others, literally on the walls inside of this facility. It is a constant reminder of the weight of that tragedy, the CEO telling me that they feel it. That it's something that was sort of unspeakable. Growing up, it just felt like living in the shadow of a tragedy. This time around, there's going to be grief counseling, community meetings, and open conversations about what happened, trying to help these families, at least on their road to healing, if it's possible. Back to.
You.
Turning now to our CNBC Money Minute. Prices in the U.S. edged slightly higher at the end of 2024. And the Fed's preferred inflation gage shows that consumer prices rose 2.6% in December compared to the year before.
CNBC senior markets correspondent Dominic Chu joins us now. So, Dom, we also got the new numbers on how much consumers spent at the end of the year. Take us through the report.
Sure.
Vicki Morgan the Commerce Department has these numbers. The report notes that.
Consumer spending increased.
Just about.
7/10 of a percent in December.
Over the prior.
Month. That's a pretty healthy increase fueled.
By.
Wage gains and also.
Higher.
Stock prices and home.
Values as well.
Consumers increased spending on goods like electronics and furniture. Many of them.
Imported ahead of potential.
Tariffs that the Trump.
Administration has.
Threatened to implement on Canada and Mexico.
Imminently. Meanwhile, shares.
Of U.P.S. continuing to fall.
Today after the package delivery giant.
Issued weaker guidance on Wednesday for the balance of the year and said it plans to.
Cut its delivery volumes with.
Amazon.
Which is its largest.
Customer now. U.P.S. said making the.
Move.
Is.
Is in.
Their.
Best interest.
Because Amazon.
Is.
Its.
Biggest.
Customer.
But.
It is not the company's most.
Profitable.
One. So hence.
The adjustment there and.
An increasing number.
Of teenagers are being misled.
Online.
By a growing.
Number of AI.
Generated.
Pictures.
Videos.
And other content. That's according to a new.
Study by.
Common Sense Media, which found that 35%.
Of those.
Asked said that they.
Had been deceived by fake content. A September.
Study.
By that.
Same group.
Found that 70% of teenagers had at.
Least tried.
Generative.
AI. So this.
Is.
A brave.
New.
World, the wild, wild West.
But I'm trying to teach.
My.
Young.
Children that pretty much everything they see online.
Is fake.
Until I tell.
Them it's not.
I think it's a good rule of thumb. I take a page from your book for sure.
Just to verify.
Trust, but verify.
That you. We appreciate you. Thanks so much.
You got it, guys.
New concerns over the growing power of artificial intelligence. How to keep your personal information safe. That's coming up next. You're watching NBC News Daily.
Breaking news tonight as we come on the air. Live tonight from New Orleans. Top story live from the Pacific Palisades. Fire like this would erupt into a blowtorch with those Santa Ana winds. So it's a race against time.
As you look over.
To Bourbon Street. The first question is, is it safe tonight? Gas prices coming down, mortgage rates starting to come down. When will consumers feel it even more? Paris's Notre Dame cathedral finally reopening following years of renovations.
Every night it's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas. Streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now.
Well, a lot of people are using super popular generative AI tools to get answers from everything to math problems and dinner recommendations. But experts say be careful about what you're telling these chatbots because they're often storing your data, so how can you avoid it? Vicki is here to walk us through some safety tips. Vicki, I know that this AI tool, ChatGPT has been so popular, but then we just have been reporting on the fact that this week the new Chinese owned chatbot Deep Sea, has made headlines for rivaling these American apps, they say, at a cheaper price. So what do people need to know about deep speak specifically?
So, Morgan Deep Sea is actually the number one free app on the App Store right now. As of this morning, 16 million downloads so far. It really rattled the tech world and the stock market, frankly, when the Chinese owned company said, hey, we created this app in two months using about 6 million bucks, compared to the hundreds of millions of dollars in investments into AI tools here in the US. Essentially, the concerns here from critics are that this is a Chinese owned app. You've heard this story before, TikTok, that tracks user keystrokes. It stores data. This is all laid out in their terms of service. And what happens to that? We don't exactly know. Deep sea did not respond to any of our requests for comment. But another concern is about censorship. The kinds of questions that you ask deep sea might not give you the same answers as if you went to Perplexity or ChatGPT or Google's Gemini. Based on what the Chinese government wants you to see. So these are some of the concerns people have.
But a lot of people who played with Deep sea say it's pretty good.
What about the numbers? I mean, do we know how many people are using these kinds of advanced AI chatbots?
Yeah, this is super interesting. So Pew Research Center did a survey of Americans last year, and those who answered said 23% of us have tried some form of using an AI tool. Most commonly it's ChatGPT, which is based in the US. But when you go to the younger age groups, it's almost half. 43% of people 18 to 29 have used an AI tool, and 23% or 26% of teenagers say we use it for schoolwork, which can be good if it's for research or for brainstorming. Not so great if you're using it to generate a wholesale essay. But that is generally where people are going with these AI tools. But they can be used for all kinds of things like you mentioned dinner reservations, math problems, but also planning a vacation itinerary, giving you meal plans and grocery shopping lists. These tools, when you play around with them, you realize just how smart they are because they've been trained on millions of documents.
Well, given that they're so smart and given the documents you just mentioned, are there any things you should be sure not to tell?
Yeah, this is important. Morgan. So Angela Zutavern over at Alixpartners. It's an AI consulting firm. Says use good cyber hygiene. The same kinds of things you wouldn't want to put out into a public square. You don't want to put into one of these AI tools. So that's your name, your birth date, certainly any financial information. But, you know, sometimes people are using these tools to generate a memo or an email or even a text response to someone. If you're doing that at work, you need to be really careful about what kind of information from your work emails you might be putting into an AI tool. Of course, keep your financial details up. And we've talked about this on our show. Morgan, when it comes to health information, you do not want AI to diagnose you. You might be able to say, hey, what are the symptoms of flu or tuberculosis? You don't want to say, I have a fever. I have a rash. I'm feeling chest tightness.
What medicine should I take? I is not a doctor.
Yeah, I'm afraid enough of Google. I'm not ready to go to a doctor. I. Vicki, thank you so much. Stay right here. You are watching NBC news now. We have more news coming up about a star NFL kicker accused of misconduct. You won't want to miss this.
Top story.
Live from the Pacific Palisades. Live in Tel Aviv. Live tonight from New Orleans.
Every weeknight it's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas. Streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now.
More Americans turn to NBC news than any other news organization.
Lester Holt, America's most trusted TV news anchor for.
The Wizard of Oz prequel wicked is continuing to captivate audiences across the country, and in about a month, it could become one that makes Oscar history.
That's because if he wins, the movie's costume director will become the first black man to take home the trophy in that category. He talked to NBC News Daily Anchor about making the clothes for the beloved musical turned movie.
This is not your first stint down the big yellow brick road. You first designed costumes for your high school production of Wizard of Oz. And then you went on to do NBC's live production of The Wiz. And now this. Yeah. Talk to me about how you thought about designing costumes in a way that doesn't compromise the integrity of such a classic, but also bringing your own spin?
Well, I think it is important to acknowledge the one, the huge fan base of the original wicked, but then also The Wizard of Oz. It's been in our lives for such a long time.
Paul Tazewell is no stranger to timeless classics, winning a Tony for his costumes in Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton and making history in his Oscar nomination for Steven Spielberg's West Side Story.
The first gringo boy who smiles at you.
As the first black man nominated in a costume design category with wicked. Tazewell could be soaring to new heights. Glinda and Elphaba two very different women, very different color schemes. How did you go about thinking about the textures and the make of both of their costumes?
Well, for both of those characters, for Glenda, you know, I'm giving her a backstory with Elphaba. I was trying to align her with all that was organic, all that was closer to the animals, which is the group that she's advocating for.
So often when we see the witch, just like even Halloween costumes, it's frumpy. But she was given a snatched waist. She was giving us, you know, floor length box braids. Can you talk about the thought process with her?
Yeah. That's right. I mean, you know, to start with, you know, you have Cynthia Erivo, who, you know, she is a huge fashionista.
Wicked marks Tazewell's second time dressing. Cynthia Erivo the first time was for the period drama Harriet.
Talking her into wearing a corset, she completely embraced that, even though she was going to be singing on stage every day.
And flying around.
And flying around. Absolutely. I mean, doing all the athletics that she has to do for this character.
And Tazewell dressed the stars in the second installment of the wicked franchise. To do we get a little a tease, a preview what's coming? What should we be bracing for?
Well, let me just say, if you've seen part one, it's time, times and a half of what you will get. Visually, so much of our film is set in Emerald City. And and so you see that glamor.
Today Tazewell is investing in the next generation with a scholarship for students of color at his alma mater. No stranger to the power of empowering students at a young age, I was moved to learn a bit more about your story, and I understand you got into your craft because as a child you had asthma and spent a lot of time inside. Can you talk about how that informs now your craft and your journey?
Sure, absolutely. Having a loving mother who was searching for ways for me to spend my time because I wasn't able to be out there with the rest of the kids on the street playing, Playing. I learned to sew very young. When I, uh, you know, found the world of theater, found the world of performance. Actually, I then incorporated all of that that I had learned, uh, in creating.
I love it. Well, for Simply Trending, we love to do a speed round. Would you be game to play with us?
Absolutely.
Love that. Okay, we got to start. What's your take on the big wicked debate? To sing or not to sing in the theater?
Oh, I think you should sing.
Oh, you should sing. This is a sing along.
I think. Definitely. I mean, there should be performances that are held aside for those who want to see it without singing.
I love that hold space for the singing. Absolutely, absolutely. What's a tip you have for any person to lean into their fashion sensibility?
Oh be courageous. Absolutely. And think about your you know, who you are and how you want to best represent what your personality is for every, every given moment.
Paul Tazewell bringing fashion to our screens. One scene, one character and one moment at a time. NBC news.
So talented.
And speaking of defying gravity, U.S. astronaut Suni Williams just set a new record during her spacewalk on the i.s.s. this week. That sunny is really up to all the the defeating processes.
Absolutely incredible. Williams now has logged the most spacewalking time for any female astronaut, completing 62 hours and six minutes. She reached the milestone yesterday during a 5.5 hour spacewalk alongside fellow astronaut Barry Butch Wilmore.
They are incredible.
Stay with us. You are watching NBC News Daily.
Lester Holt, America's most trusted TV news anchor Kristen Welker hosts Meet the Press every Sunday on NBC.
Closer to the Gaza border. The story of resilience and hope. Please take care of yourself and each other.
More Americans.
Turn to NBC news than any other news.
Organization.
Welcome back. This Friday it is 1230 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and 130 in Buffalo, New York. Thanks for being with us. I'm Vicky Wynn.
I'm Morgan Radford. Here's what's making news. Hamas says American Israeli Keith Segal is among the three hostages set to be freed tomorrow after 484 days in captivity. Segal was kidnapped in southern Israel during Hamas's October 7th attack back in 2023. He was last seen in a video released in April, and Israel is expected to free another group of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for those three hostages.
NBA legend Dwayne Wade revealed he was diagnosed with cancer at just 41 years old. In a recent episode of his podcast, Wade said doctors found a tumor on his right kidney back in 2023 after he was checked for a minor health concern. He underwent surgery, and he says the experience taught him to be more intentional about his life.
And a company that helps schools track data for tens of millions of students has been hacked. A cybersecurity audit report reviewed by NBC news shows software firm Powerschool failed to take just basic precautions to protect students data. Experts say this is the largest breach of American children's personal information to date.
New details and critical clues are emerging in the investigation of the American Airlines disaster near our nation's capital. Surveillance videos, which were first aired by CNN, are showing us new angles of the midair collision between the commercial flight and an Army Blackhawk helicopter. You can see the The helicopter crossing in front of the plane as it's coming in for a landing at Reagan National Airport.
Federal investigators say they have recovered two black boxes from the plane's wreckage in the Potomac River, but they are still searching for the data recorder from the military helicopter. Meanwhile, we are now learning that staffing wasn't normal at the air traffic control tower on the night of that crash. A source tells NBC news that a single controller was handling both plane and helicopter traffic after a coworker left their shift early. NBC News senior White House correspondent Gabe Gutierrez is live for us in Arlington, Virginia, near that crash site. Gabe, investigators are also looking into how high this helicopter was flying. What are we learning just in these early stages of this investigation?
Hi there, Vicky and Morgan. Well, yes, investigators are back.
Out.
Here at the Potomac looking for the plane's wreckage. But also, as you said, looking for that black box, that flight data recorder for that Army Blackhawk helicopter to get.
More.
Information that might lead them.
To some sort.
Of conclusion about why that helicopter slammed into that regional jet. And yes, to find out whether that helicopter.
Was.
Flying too high, higher than it was supposed.
To.
When it crashed into that regional jet. Now we're also.
Learning some more.
Information about the air traffic controllers and some part of this that is factoring into the NTSB investigation, according to an FAA preliminary report. Just one air traffic controller was overseeing both the plane and the helicopter. Usually that does not happen. There are two air traffic controllers for each of those. Now, we should point out that is not, um, that that is acceptable under FAA safety standards. And we're also hearing that an air traffic controller supervisor had let an employee leave a shift early, and that's why an air traffic controller was one of them was handling both planes and the and the helicopters. We should also point out that we just learned that American Airlines is retiring the flight number 5342.
Vicky Morgan gave the FAA is implementing some new restrictions on helicopters after this disaster. What action is the government taking?
Yeah that's right. Now, there are those new restrictions in place for helicopters known as zone one, which is an area in between some bridges and also some low altitudes. Helicopters are no longer able to fly there and some parts of the Potomac River behind me. Again, those restrictions put in place, this being such a busy airport, a busy runway, but we're told that the FAA will make exceptions for police activity and certain medical evacuations. Vicky and Morgan.
Gabe Gutierrez live in D.C. for us. Thank you Gabe.
Meanwhile, troubling new allegations against one of the NFL's best kickers. Baltimore Ravens star Justin Tucker is now being accused of inappropriate behavior during massage sessions.
Six massage therapists shared their stories with the Baltimore banner. Five of the women say he exposed himself during their sessions in a social media post yesterday. Tucker denied the accusations and called them unequivocally false. NBC news correspondent Stephen Romo joins us now. So, Stephen, I mean, objectively, Tucker is one of the greatest kickers, right? He has set a number of different records coming into the league back in 2012, I think. Break down these allegations. And is the league saying anything at this point?
Yeah, it's some great questions. We did get.
That.
Statement that you mentioned from.
Tucker. But we know.
These six women came forward.
To the and we have.
This reporting from the.
Baltimore.
Banner saying.
That he behaved.
Inappropriately during.
These.
Massage sessions. We have that statement from there saying that I maintain I did not act inappropriately at any point before, during or after a professional.
Bodywork.
Treatment session. I would never intend to offend or hurt anyone. As a.
Matter of principle.
I respect when individuals come forward as.
A result.
Of any misconduct. But the accounts that these women have are very similar. These claims that he was aroused during these sessions, and some of them saying that he brushed against them during those, some troubling things, to say the least. But we did get that response rather quickly when these allegations came out. By the way, they date from 2012 to 2016. So it does go back a bit that these women are making these allegations from.
You know, what kind of punishment ultimately could he face? And have the Ravens specifically said anything about this?
Yeah, it's.
A great question. We actually have a bit.
Of a playbook.
For how this could play out because of Deshaun Watson. A player who was with the Houston Texans is now with the Cleveland Browns. More than 20 women came forward saying that he was inappropriate with them during massage therapy sessions. Very similar. They both had to do with these massage therapy sessions. Deshaun Watson, by the way, denied those claims, but the NFL ended up suspending him for 11 games back in 2022. For this, he had to pay a $5 million fine and he had to had to get therapy before they allowed him to come back in to the league. Now his legal problems continue on. Right now, more civil claims against him. But as far as Tucker goes, the NFL saying that they are just now starting to look into this. So we'll have to see exactly what lies ahead for Tucker.
All right. Steven Romo on the case for us. We appreciate it.
Stephen thank you. For the first time in more than two decades, the FDA approved a new painkiller for adults. But unlike most pain pills, this one is not an opioid.
Yeah, it's called Vicks. And experts believe that this drug's non-addictive makeup could be a huge game changer for the deadly opioid overdose epidemic that's happening right now in this country. Joining us now to discuss NBC news medical contributor Doctor Kavita Patel. Doctor Patel I mean, this could be a game changer, right? I mean, what type of pain can it be used for and how does it ultimately work?
Yeah, Morgan, this is a game changer. Haven't had anything like this in decades. Really. So it's a game changer because it's really supposed to supposed to be used as the trials that have approved it are around acute pain. So that means like after a procedure, think like a bunionectomy or another kind of procedure where you have pain and you expect to have pain in terms of like how and when people can get it. It's actually available as soon as they can get it into pharmacies. The FDA was the first hurdle. And in terms of how it works, it's very unique because unlike opioids, which actually act at the brain level, which is why we think they can become so addictive. This acts by blocking the signal from your nerves to get to the brain. So it cuts off that highway from the peripheral nerves to the brain doesn't even cross into the brain, which is why they believe this is not addictive.
You know, you talked about how this is like it has a different makeup, attacks the pain in a different way. Help us understand why opioids, which are prescribed so widely became so addictive.
Yeah. And I have to be honest, like when I started early in my medical training, that's all we had for pain. propane. So we used it because it worked. So opioids really do act kind of at the level of the brain and the pain receptor directly on the brain. And it kind of mimics like the piece it mimics, basically a chemical that kind of relieves pain. And so of course that is something that we need to do. Pain is real. We have to find something to help people with pain. But unfortunately it also activated and wired. And now we know from scientific studies that we actually knew this. And this is part of why it's become such a crisis in the United States that this actually creates an inherent addictive mechanism. So what are opioids? I just want to make sure people understand everything from oxycodone to hydrocodone. The thing that's in Vicodin, morphine, codeine, methadone. So there is no one pill that's an opioid or one type of drug. There are many drugs that kind of come off of this.
And just to be clear, that's why this is such a big deal in so many of us are looking forward to using it.
I think that's a great just kind of re-establishment for all of our viewers there. Doctor Kavita Patel, thank you so much. We appreciate it.
Thank you.
Well, some of the biggest names in music came together last night in Los Angeles for the Fire Aid benefit concert. It featured not one, but two packed stadiums and a really star studded lineup of iconic performers.
All of them coming together to raise millions of dollars for communities devastated by the wildfires. NBC news correspondent Kaylee Hartung was there, and she has all the highlights.
Just miles from the devastation of the L.A. fires, some of the biggest names in music packed two stadiums for not one, but two star studded concerts, raising millions for relief efforts.
If people have.
Lost.
So much, this.
Is a very.
Small gesture on our part.
The fire aid benefit brought dozens of artists across all genres and generations together, making beautiful music for a deeply personal cause.
We're cycling.
Through all the stages.
Of grief and anger.
And disbelief and bouncing in a nonlinear.
Way all around them.
Comedian Billy Crystal among the stars, sharing their own stories of loss.
Like thousands of you, our house now look like this. I stepped onto the grounds and I fell to my knees and I wailed.
At the Kia forum. Green Day Pink, Stevie Nicks and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were among those who kicked things off.
I found you, to your.
Surprise.
Performer.
Doctor Dre, getting a huge reaction from the crowd. He's up while at the Intuit Dome. No doubt Katy Perry, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Sting and Stevie Wonder kept things rocking late into the night.
Keep on flying.
Reunions.
Is the one.
You know.
Unlikely collaborations.
Cause.
He felt that a.
Change.
Would do him.
Good.
And covers.
Filled.
The.
Air.
With sweet music.
It?
I'm Feeling.
Good.
Was easy love when.
He sang the.
Blues.
But while the performances in packed venues made for a lively atmosphere, the real reason for the night was ever present.
There are moments that get.
Us through moments like tonight.
The show featuring the stories of people whose lives and homes were destroyed by the fires and honoring first responders.
We finally.
Got a.
Break. I immediately went to check on my house and it was gone.
An emotional and empowering night. The music industry showing up to support their city and their community as they rise from the ashes together. Kaylee Hartung, NBC news. Now to some breaking news. The U.S. will impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China starting tomorrow. It will be 25% on Mexico and Canada and 10% on China.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt just confirmed the plan during the white House press briefing moments ago. Tariffs were a big talking point on for Trump on the campaign trail, and he'd been promising to implement them upon taking office.
Stay right there, folks. More NBC News Daily right after this.
NBC News Daily is number one for afternoon news across all of television.
I'm Morgan Radford.
I'm Vicky.
Wynn.
I'm Kate Snow.
And I'm seeing.
What's happening around the world.
Israel's military is building up their along the border.
And what matters here at home?
New numbers are out today showing more encouraging signs for our economy.
Let's zero in on exercise. We know we're supposed to be doing it. What does it do for our health?
What needs.
To change for social media to be.
A safer.
Place?
NBC News Daily, weekdays from 12 to 4 on NBC News Now. Kristen Welker hosts Meet the Press every Sunday on NBC.
The 67th Grammy Awards are this Sunday. It's shaping up to be a night to remember.
That's right. Some of the biggest names in music are set to perform, including Stevie Wonder, Cynthia Erivo and Sabrina Carpenter. Beyonce leads the way with the most amount of nominations. Luckily, we have our very own NBC News Entertainment contributor, co founder and CEO of pop viewers, Chris Witherspoon, also cousin of the show. You know, we love that.
One of our.
Favorite smiles.
And like human beings to be.
Honest.
What should we expect?
It's going to be a huge night. You mentioned Beyonce. She leads with 11 nominations. Some other big you know nominees are going to be Kendrick Lamar with seven, Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, Post Malone. Then the big category I think folks are excited about is Best New Artist. This really means you've arrived in the music industry. Dottie Ray Benson, Boone Shaboozey. Teddy swims. Chappell, Roan. She has six nominations, including all the major categories, but then the album of the year. This is the big one. You got Billie Eilish, her new album. Chappell, Roan. Taylor Swift, Beyonce for Cowboy Carter and for me, this is the big category because Beyonce has never won album of the year 99 nominations. The most the most moms in history, five in this category, but never has one. So I'm hoping this is her big night. But Taylor Swift Chappell Roan is kind of a frontrunner. We'll see what happens.
What do you think?
Well, I read something about album of the year and how the judges typically like to see pure writing. Like they don't like to see a lot of collaborations. So often the album of the year goes to someone who it's kind of like all their work, all the way through. Okay, that was one theory about why she hadn't won, but it's a fantastic album, so we shall see.
I feel like J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar should have won probably every category.
Exactly.
If that's the metric.
And don't be surprised for surprise performances. We don't know if Beyonce performed yet, but Kendrick might show up and pop off and Beyonce might as well.
Tell us about Taylor Swift. We hear she's presenting this year.
She's presenting. She'll be coming out. We don't know what category yet, but she'll be coming out probably making some sort of statement, maybe announcing a new album or a new tour. She did that last year, we don't know, but she comes in with six nominations. It'll be a big moment and they're going to be also raising funds for the fire relief in Los Angeles. So she might even talk about that cause.
Can we switch gears and talk about TV? You know, I.
Love.
We've got everything. We've got Gabby Petito, we've got Love is Blind. We've got White Lotus. Tell us about White Lotus.
White Lotus season three. They're heading to Thailand. Pack your bags. It's back for a third season. We don't know a whole lot about the plot, but we do know Natasha Rothwell is back. She's getting the, you know, the treatment Jennifer Coolidge got. She's going to be back. She was in season one. She'll be back with her character, but also Carrie Coon, Walter Goggins, Michelle Monaghan and Mike white, who created the show, said this season will be longer, bigger and crazier and new episodes. Each Sunday there'll be a new episode.
We love it. Okay, what about this Romy and Michele sequel? You got Lisa Kudrow, Mira Sorvino I mean.
I am such a fan. I watched this movie back in the day in 97. A huge fan of it. They're coming together again. They'll both be executive producing, so Mira Sorvino and Lisa Kudrow executive producing. We don't know the whole plot line, but just keep in mind, in 97, it was their ten year reunion. This might be their 40th year reunion, and they kind of faked it. Like they had these great jobs and they really didn't. So who knows the whole plot. But I love that they're yeah, they're executive producer. And Robin Schiff, who wrote the original, is back. Who's writing this one? He also wrote Emily in Paris. So we're going to have somebody who's, you know, kind of timely new tone. It should be good.
Yeah.
Well, speaking of tone, I want to shift tones here. I'm also like a true crime aficionado, and I understand that Netflix has a new documentary on something. We were reporting on this Gabby Petito case that really just transfixed the nation. What should we expect there?
It was a huge story in 2020 when she went missing. We didn't really know what happened, that her fiance actually murdered her. They're coming with all this original reporting using some of the news stories that we've seen. Also, they were on this journey where they were recording everything. So the family has, you know, footage that we haven't seen yet that will be a be a part of this series and also have interviews with her family and friends, and text messages that kind of are the receipts around what really went down that never have been released. Netflix is owning the True Crime Lane three part docu series that will break or air February 17th.
It sounds like it will be a powerful one with that new footage. Chris. Finally, what else should we be watching?
Okay, there's some great content coming out. One is called Love Me. It's this really odd, bizarre movie with Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun. There's a Bowie, a Bowie.
It takes place in the future.
But keep in mind, they're kind of transferred from their human spirits into this Bowie and also a satellite. And they inherit the earth, a very, very random concept. It will be in theaters, but also Dog Man, something animated for the family stars Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery.
Star studded.
Cast. So much good stuff. So much good stuff.
Chris Witherspoon as always, thank you so much. Happy Friday.
Of course.
Stay right here. You're watching daily.
Top story.
Live from the Pacific Palisades. Live in Tel Aviv. Live tonight from New Orleans.
Every weeknight it's your news playlist. Top story with Tom llamas. Streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now.
From inside Iran. From Israel. From Tampa. Hurricane Milton is here. Where we're standing right now is covered in water. Part of our continued reporting live from Queensland. Thanks for talking to me. Okay. You'll be safe.
What?
Have you ever wondered what goes into making the perfect cup of Joe? Well, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is helping students figure that out with a new class on coffee from NBC Boston. Looks at how they're teaching the science behind one of America's favorite drinks.
As everybody knows, the taste of coffee is actually a very personal and complicated experience.
The perfect cup of coffee is in the eye, or rather, in the in the mouth of the beholder. Jeffrey Grossman is a professor of materials science and engineering at MIT.
I have a personal passion for good coffee.
A passion he's taken to the classroom creating a course called Coffee Matters, using the makerspace to make the perfect cup. In this class, you can find microscopes, computers, and, well, a $20,000 espresso machine.
So in this class, they get to, they get to think about the material. They learn about it. Coffee, right? Um, they get to, you know, touch and feel it.
Grossman says he combines lectures on chemistry and coffee science with hands on experiments for around 60 undergrad students. Like if coffee is too acidic, students learn that you could add a pinch of baking soda to neutralize it. He tells us one of those projects was inspired by his father.
I've had this fight for like, you know, running for ten years now where he makes his coffee all day.
The conclusion. The students say that heating your coffee in the microwave changes the chemistry of it.
It does make a difference. And to them, it it tasted worse.
Another test they did. Comparing the liquid gold from our world renowned Dunkin Donuts and coffee. They roast and brew themselves. So do they believe that America should run on Dunkin.
As.
A true, you know, Bostonian? And I'm not going.
To.
Say.
Anything.
That could that could say anything.
Negative.
About Dunkin.
Grossman says 2024 was the first year teaching this class, and now the second round starts next week.
Thank you. And now I want a cup of Joe Morgan.
All right. All right. Well, listen, people who have come all over for immersive experiences at Saturday Night Live, they may just get what they've been hoping for because a new one is set to open right here at Rockefeller Center. Guests can enter the main stage doors as if they're coming out to deliver their monolog, and they can even partake in SNL's most storied sketches and even sit in the hot seat for Weekend Update. It's all part of the show's 50th anniversary celebration, and our very own Adam Cooperstein from NBC New York gives us a backstage look.
So we're so excited to have you guys as host for the evening.
For the first time, fans are.
Getting.
A.
Firsthand look at a true.
SNL experience. Yes, from the signature headshots to the dressing rooms.
And.
Cue.
Cards.
This is.
Where they make.
The cue cards.
The attention to detail in this recreation of.
Studio eight H.
Is impressive. Even the tickets.
Look like the.
Real thing, and they were.
Free. But the four day pop up sold out in ten minutes.
I've never.
Actually.
Been to.
A taping of the show, because getting tickets to that is impossible.
So I feel.
Like this is the next best.
Thing.
Every guest gets to feel.
What it's really like.
To host.
Saturday.
Night.
Live with real touches from the show.
Like the gnome.
You rub the nose of for good Luck.
And you're backstage.
You come through the door.
The band is.
Playing. The lights are.
Hot.
You got to hit your mark. Look down here and then the dolly rolls over. The camera is on and we are live from New York. It's Saturday night.
It was like playing pretend on steroids.
Ladies and.
Gentlemen.
It's going to be a great memory. It's going to be something I'm definitely going to tell my friends about.
The interactive experience uses live actors shuttling you from room to room. True to the spirit of this well orchestrated whirlwind of a show.
Every chapter.
After the monolog, you get a shot.
To host.
Weekend Update.
I'm Colin.
Jost.
And after.
You pass.
By props, many of them straight from the real studio, you step into sketches, party on like Wayne and Garth, and get gift wrap for that iconic musical sketch featuring Justin Timberlake. You know the one.
Oh, yeah, look at that.
And while this may be your first time hosting, in the end, everyone is invited to kick back and celebrate in the Five-timers club.
Our thanks to Adam Cooperstein. The 50th Anniversary Special will air on Sunday, February 16th at 8 p.m. on NBC and Peacock.
I'm Vicky Wynn.
I'm Morgan Radford. You are watching NBC News Daily.
And don't forget you can watch us free 24 over seven on our streaming network, NBC News Now wherever you stream, including YouTube, Hulu, Roku and Peacock. Stay right there. Your news continues right after this.
Still to come on the channel two news. Well, the waters are certainly receding now. Still too close to call. Lester Holt, reporting from ground Zero as it's being referred to, is, in fact, a taste of freedom. The Haitian people know a little something about resiliency. What's the biggest risk right now. Some of the troops who have been proud. I want to welcome you to the first presidential debate. In fact, we've been told we can't go any farther. You are some resilient folks. Let me give you a hint here.
Hello, everyone.
I'm Kate Snow.
Is off today.
NBC News Daily.
Starts.
Right.
Now.
Today, Friday, January.
31st.
2025. The search for answers. Investigators are now going through the black boxes from the jet that collided with an Army helicopter over Washington, DC. New flight restrictions just announced for choppers around Reagan National Airport as we learn more about the lives lost. New allegations music mogul Sean Diddy Combs facing an expanded indictment in his federal sex trafficking case. What prosecutors revealed about new people coming forward, including accusations that he dangled someone off a hotel balcony, easing the pain. A new pain medication that is not an opioid has just been approved by the FDA. How the drug works and what it could mean for patients. And the man behind the curtain sits down with the real Wizard of Oz, the Oscar nominated costume designer behind wicked, wicked.
Let me just say, if you've seen part one, there is, I would say it's time, times and a half of what you will get visually at part two is explosive.
What more he says fans can expect from the highly anticipated sequel. A great conversation coming up with, but we do begin this hour with the very latest on the investigation into that deadly midair collision in Washington, DC. One of the runways at Reagan National Airport is now closed as authorities work furiously to recover the remains. Of the 67 people believed to have been killed. On Wednesday night, local DC fire and rescue officials tell NBC news 41 bodies have so far been recovered. Search teams have also been able to recover the two flight data recorders from the plane. Two pieces of crucial evidence in finding out what might have caused this disaster. We have new video also to show you, but a warning that this may be disturbing to you. These new videos first aired by CNN, give us a clear picture of the crash, the clearest yet. You can see the military Blackhawk helicopter collide with the American Eagle passenger jet. You see that flash of light there before they both fall into the Potomac River. All of it comes as we are learning more about the many people who died.
They include several members of the professional figure skating community who were coming from a training camp in Wichita, Kansas. You're looking at some of those who have been identified so far, leading us off this hour. NBC news correspondent Gabe Gutierrez. He is at Reagan National Airport. Hi, Gabe. The investigators I know have the cockpit voice recorder, as we mentioned, and the flight data recorder from the jet. The plane. That's a major development. What kind of information might investigators hope to get from that?
Oh hi there Kate. Well, a lot of information from those from the flight data recorder. Of course, that's a black box that really shows so much information leading up to that crash and trying to figure out why that Black Hawk slammed into the regional jet. What they are still looking for, however, is the flight data recorder from the helicopter. They believe that they will find those. But behind me, Kate, here in the Potomac River, it is. Visibility is very difficult. So it's very painstaking work for them to find this. But if they were to get the flight data recorder from the helicopter, that might help them find out whether that helicopter may have been flying. Flying too high when it slammed into that jet.
Kate and Gabe. What more are we learning about the staffing at the air traffic control tower at National? On Wednesday night?
Well, there are a lot of questions around the staffing at this point. And one source familiar with the situation says that according to an FAA preliminary report, that one there was one air traffic controller overseeing both the plane and also the helicopter. So usually, Kate, there's two overseeing, one overseeing the plane, one overseeing the helicopter. But according to sources that tell NBC news that in this particular case, a shift supervisor at the air traffic control tower let an employee leave a shift early. And that's why staffing was not normal. Not typical. However, we should point out, according to FAA safety standards, It is acceptable for that to happen, but that's certainly something that's playing into this NTSB investigation at this point. Kate.
And in the meantime, Gabe, I understand there are new restrictions now being placed on helicopters around that airport.
Yeah, helicopter restrictions just announced today. And they do restrict helicopters from flying at certain low altitude. And also zone one, that's this area right between some of the bridges here surrounding Reagan National Airport. So those new restrictions for this extremely busy airport, the busiest runway really in the country. But according to the FAA, there will be some exceptions to this, for example, for police activity or medical evacuations. Kate.
Okay. Gabe Gutierrez for us with all that. Gabe. Thank you. As we mentioned, we are now learning some more about the lives that were tragically lost in this collision. They include a young American figure skaters, their parents, some of their coaches and world champion figure skaters who were a couple soldiers, pilots, flight attendants. The youngest victim we know of so far, just 12 years old. A memorial is growing inside the Ashburn Ice House that's in Northern Virginia, and that's where some of those victims used to train. NBC news correspondent Emilie Ikeda is outside that facility in Ashburn and joins us now. Emily, talk more about who these skaters were, who these people were, and how they're being remembered.
Hey there. Kate. Well, this.
Is just one of a number of ice rinks throughout the D.C. area and throughout the northeast that is hurting as a result.
Of losing.
Those members of their community. Parents, skaters, coaches.
All aboard.
That.
That.
Plane. Rather returning from the National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas throughout the day. Throughout the morning here, we've been watching skaters go inside of this ice house to pay their respects and tributes.
There.
And tearfully embracing one another there, placing flowers and notes and balloons inside this ice house. We heard from one young girl who remembered her favorite memories with her young friend and one of her coaches. Take a listen here.
And my favorite memory with you is playing games with her and talking. And I just I love all these people and they really support me. And my favorite memory with my coach was when she created my program that I have right now. And she is just like, I think it's really creative and artistic and I love it.
And you heard her talk about her coach, also her friend Everly Everly among the Livingston family who all perished on that plane, the two ice skating sisters and also their parents. And we're also beginning to learn more about some of the victims who were not part of the ice skating community. Everyone. Each person, those 67 victims with their own unique stories, their lives full of so much potential. Grace Maxwell, a mechanical engineering major who was returning from her grandfather's funeral in Wichita. There was a pilot who was due to get married later this year. A Howard University professor. Former Miss Kansas contestant. A flight attendant who was set to change her career.
Fairly.
Soon. American Airlines announcing that they will be retiring the flight number 542.
Kate. All right. Thank you so much, Emily. Really appreciate it. Let's bring in former Navy helicopter and commercial pilot Jeff Huddleston. He was with us yesterday. He's back today. Thank you Jeff. Let's talk more about the investigation as it was laid out by Gabe Gutierrez. The information we have right now. Sources telling NBC news that investigators are looking at whether the Blackhawk helicopter involved in this crash might have been flying above its designated altitude. Can you tell us more about the rules and how common that might be?
Well, there's there's two flight rules.
Two general.
Flight.
Rules.
Instrument and.
Visual.
The helicopter.
Was.
On.
A designated, uh, visual corridor through the Washington, DC area that is 200ft below passes.
On the.
Eastern shore of the Potomac. Uh, these are professional pilots. I very much doubt that they were above their altitude. Uh, of course, we don't know until the, uh, inspection is completed and we will be able to find out what altitude they were at, but I suspect they were within their within their regime. On the other hand, the jet is on an instrument approach, which means they're continually on radar control until they accept a visual approach. And that is when the pilot accepts visual responsibility for traffic separation. Runway 33 is not frequently used, and so I suspect that it was just an uncommon occurrence where an aircraft was going for runway 33, just as a helicopter was was passing underneath.
Yeah. There's this preliminary FAA report about the crash. We had it yesterday that says that the staffing at Reagan Airport at the time, Wednesday was not normal, and that a single controller was handling both plane and helicopter traffic in the area. Gabe Gutierrez just said this isn't frowned upon, but it's not normal. What is your perspective on whether that might have contributed?
I have no knowledge to that, but I've been flying with air traffic controllers for 40 years and they're always extremely professional, extremely competent. And, you know, if regulations permits one controller, that's something I can't speak to. But I've always found controllers to be extremely professional.
And when you're flying the helicopter, because that's your your experience and Experience and background. You are going through air traffic control. That's typical, right?
That's correct. When they pass that that close in proximity of an airport, they are required to to check in with the tower. And I believe we've heard recordings that the helicopter was in fact talking to the tower.
Yeah, we indeed have Jeff Huddleston for us. Jeff. Thank you. Turning to consumer news now. New numbers show inflation ticking up. And if you don't want to call for an oil change appointment, maybe artificial intelligence can do that for you. Pippa Stevens joins us now with today's CNBC Money Minute. Hi, Pippa.
Hey, Kate. Well, inflation was still running.
Strong at the end of.
2024. The Commerce Department reported today that the core PCE, or personal expenditures index for December.
Was in line with.
Expectations at 2.8%. The core PCE.
Does.
Not.
Take food and energy into consideration. The report comes just days after the Federal Reserve voted unanimously to hold interest rates Unchanged. Meantime, Costco is raising pay for most of its hourly store workers to more than $30 per hour, according to a memo sent to employees this week. The pay hike comes after Costco union members voted earlier this month in favor of a nationwide strike, as they entered a final round of talks before their contract expired today. The union represents more than 18,000 workers at Costco.
And Google is testing a new tool.
That.
Lets I call businesses to ask questions for.
You.
The ask for me feature collects information about pricing and.
Availability.
Of services, but it's only currently.
Available.
For nail salons and auto.
Shops.
When you enable the feature.
Google.
Will ask a series of questions such as.
When.
You want to book an appointment or schedule an oil change while I'm waiting for when that extends to doctor's office.
I was just on hold for 20 minutes.
Well, there is that. Although I'm thinking of it as a mom, and I need my kids to learn how to make phone calls because they don't like to do that. Pippa Stephens, thank you. Coming up, shell shock. How hundreds of endangered sea turtles were rescued from a dangerous blast of cold weather in the south. Plus, an American hostage is set to be released by Hamas this weekend after more than a year in captivity. What we can expect after a chaotic exchange earlier this week. You're watching NBC News Daily.
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Every weeknight. It's your news playlist. Top Story with Tom llamas, streaming weeknights at seven on NBC News Now.
Resign, retire or be fired. That is the new message from President Trump to several top FBI officials. It includes about a half a dozen executive assistant directors who are some of the bureau's top managers. It's just the latest in the Trump administration's federal employee shakeup. Let's bring in NBC news justice and intelligence correspondent Ken Dilanian, who covers the FBI. Ken, what do we know exactly about what is happening here, what the order is, and what does President Trump targeting? What kind of impact might there be on the FBI?
Kate, there is a massive purge going.
On.
At the nation's premier law enforcement agency. Something we've.
Never seen.
In.
The modern.
History of.
The FBI since J.
Edgar Hoover. Normally, because directors.
Serve.
Ten year terms.
You don't.
Have a.
Situation.
Where.
There's.
A new.
Director coming in with a.
New president. But in this.
Case.
You not only have.
That the Trump.
Administration has installed political appointees in the director's office before. Kash Patel is.
Even.
Confirmed as FBI director. And they are moving swiftly to take action. And they are firing a lot of people who are career civil servants and technically really can't be fired. But the practical reality is it would take years for them to contest it. And many of them are just retiring because they're retirement eligible. But this is a significant, almost seismic development inside the FBI. I'm talking to people who are very traumatized by this because, look, the FBI is not like other agencies. It's there's only one political appointee, and that's the director. Everyone else is a career civil servant, supposed to be nonpartisan. And these people have worked here for decades, and they are being shown the door. Many of them in very important jobs in charge of national security cases, criminal cases, counterintelligence cases. This could change the bureau for the foreseeable future. It's not clear exactly what the goal is here by the Trump administration, why they're doing this, but they are doing it, and it is causing a huge wave of of trauma.
Yeah. Well, the president has been clear he was going to shake things up and change things, and that's what he's doing. Ken Dilanian appreciate you. Thanks. Prosecutors filed an expanded indictment against rapper Sean Diddy Combs on Thursday. They accuse him of coercing two additional women into commercial sex acts and once dangling someone off a balcony. Combs was indicted. You remember last September in the Southern District of New York on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty and is currently in federal custody awaiting trial, which was scheduled to begin in May. Joining us now our NBC news legal analyst, Danny Cevallos. Danny, good to see you. So we should note that this expanded indictment does not add any new charges, right? It's just including additional alleged victims. How do prosecutors hope that refiling the indictment helps their case?
Well, we knew this was going to going to happen because not only did the government suggest it, but anytime you conduct a raid like they did on Diddy's home and his devices, the odds are they're going to find additional information. And when that happens, when prosecutors have new victims, new evidence, new defendants, new crimes, they will supersede the indictment. And it really is just sort of an amended indictment. It resets some of the timelines in the sense that you have to come back in, get re-arraigned. But this also gives them greater tools, broader coverage. For example, the allegations originally dated back only to 2008. Now they date back to 2004, and using the expansive reach of the law that prosecutors can bring in all of that conduct that might otherwise have been time barred by a statute of limitations.
I want to read a statement from a lawyer for Mr. Combs. They said the prosecution's theory remains flawed. The government has added the ridiculous theory that two of Mr. Combs former girlfriends were not girlfriends at all, but were prostitutes. Mr. Combs is as committed as ever to fighting these charges and winning at trial. Can I ask you, there were high profile cases, Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby. Their trials went ahead with people testifying who were not included in the charges, and that ended up leading to appeals and their convictions being reversed. Right. Is that a danger here?
You're talking about prior bad acts evidence. It is the bane of a criminal defense lawyers existence because you cannot generally introduce bad character. I can't say, hey, this defendant is guilty because look at all the other bad things he's done in his life. But there's an exception to that rule. If it has to do with the modus operandi or some habit or other evidence, it might be acceptable. And to this day, after many years, I don't know what the line is. Prosecutors use this at their own risk because it could be appealed.
Danny Cevallos, thanks so much. Much more news ahead. We'll be right back.
From inside Iran, from Israel, from Tampa. Hurricane Milton is here. Where we're standing right now is covered in water. Part of our continued reporting level increasing risk. Thanks for talking to me. You can see.
Kristen Welker hosts Meet the Press every Sunday on NBC.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be visiting Central America in his first official trip abroad as America's top diplomat this weekend. His first stop Panama. NBC news chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell is in Panama with more.
Teddy Roosevelt became president, and he spent all of that money that was made from tariffs. The money was so enormous, and they built the thing called the Panama Canal. And China essentially has taken it over, and we're not going to let that happen.
This pagoda proclaiming China's presence here in Panama, along with this bridge being built over the canal by Chinese led companies, is partly why President.
Trump is sounding the.
Alarm. But the canal itself is run by Panama, with ports along the way operated by companies from all over the world, including the U.S., even Taiwan. If majority Chinese companies run the ports at either end, does that mean they control who enters or leaves the canal?
No, not at all. The Panama Canal is the.
One.
That actually controls the access, or leaving the port by means of having the pilots on board, and by clearing the channel for them.
To pass. So when the U.S. says that because China could control the ports at both ends of the canal, they could shut down the canal, they could damage the U.S.. Is that true?
Well, first.
Of all, we are neutral. We serve the whole world.
Okay.
The neutrality treaty is all about that. The best protection of the Panama Canal can have.
Is.
Being neutral to the world, because it serves all countries of.
The world.
Andrea Mitchell reporting a troubling case out of South Carolina, a Nigerian man has been extradited to the United States to face charges for extorting a young man and his family over explicit photos. NBC news correspondent Valerie Castro has the details for.
South.
Carolina.
State Representative Brandon Guffey, the memories.
Of.
His son, Gavin.
He wanted to.
Be the class.
Clown, and.
Always working.
On bringing smile to people's faces.
Are shaded with.
Sadness for.
The.
Dreams that will never be realized.
A big.
Heart. He loved art. So many drawings and paintings. He was planning on going to college to become an art teacher.
The 17.
Year.
Old died by suicide.
In 2022.
Just after.
Graduating from.
High school.
After federal prosecutors say.
He.
Fell victim.
To a sextortion scheme over Instagram. His family says they are finally getting some justice. Authorities extraditing Hassan Hussein Abolore Lawal, a 24 year old Nigerian man. Prosecutors say orchestrated the scheme, pretending to be a woman with usernames like Bella, Janet, 28, and Alice Conner, 566. They say Lawal coerced Gavin into sending compromising photos, then threatened to leak the images and ruin the teen's reputation unless he sent money.
The defendant.
While.
In.
Nigeria, hid behind.
A screen and terrorized.
Guffey. These alleged actions are reprehensible and.
There is zero tolerance for.
Predatory behavior going.
Unchecked.
Even after.
Gavin's death.
Guffey.
Says the.
Extortion continued.
And spread.
To other.
Members of.
His family.
Once they found out that I was an elected official, to turn the heat up more and to try and extort that even further, it's just very disheartening.
In the wake of.
His son's death, Guffey mobilizing to get Gavin's law passed in South Carolina, which now makes extortion a felony offense. The FBI saying sextortion of minors is a growing problem. Reporting 13,000 incidents between October 2021 and March 2023, resulting in at.
Least.
20 suicides.
We have drawn a.
Line.
In the sand.
In the battle.
Of good and.
Evil.
For our.
Children.
And I think.
That the message.
We.
Said early.
On was that.
We would hunt somebody down to the ends.
Of the earth if.
They.
Hurt.
Our kids, and and this just proves it.
Lawal pleaded not guilty to charges of child exploitation and cyberstalking, resulting in death, among several other charges. His attorney did not immediately respond to NBC news request for comment. The extradition a major step since the crime is often perpetrated from abroad. Guffey emotional seeing the accused man brought back for trial.
This whole process.
But eager to continue pushing for justice.
It's just the beginning of the next fight.
While protecting other families before it's too late.
My ultimate.
Goal.
Is that no other child will feel the way that Gavin did before he took his life, and that no other parent will have to feel the pain that we have had to feel. Um, so regardless of.
Where.
I go in life, that will be my mission until the end of my days.
Valerie Castro, NBC news.
Coming up, a project that started as an after school club, now a global podcast.
Closer to the Gaza border. The story of resilience and hope. Please take care of yourself and each other.
Kristen Welker hosts Meet the Press every Sunday on NBC.
Bottom of the hour. Now, here are some of the stories making headlines on NBC News Daily. Remember those cold winter temperatures last week in the South? The several inches of snow that came down in Florida actually weakened endangered sea turtles so much that some of them went into cold induced comas, especially along the Florida Panhandle. But rescuers searched the shorelines to look for the turtles and rescue them. Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Center says more than 1200 sea turtles were rescued. They say most of the turtles have recovered and will be released again by the end of today. That's some good news. A U.S. appeals court has ruled that adults under 21 years old should not be banned from buying handguns. The ban was put in place by Congress in 1968, but gun rights groups started challenging it in 2020. This appeals court in Louisiana says the ban violates the First Amendment, pushing the debate one step closer to the Supreme Court. This ruling only applies to handguns. 18 year olds are already allowed to buy long guns, including assault rifles.
American figure skating icon Dick button has died. U.S. Figure Skating announced he died of natural causes yesterday at 95 years old. Button became the first American man to win a figure skating Olympic gold medal back in 1948, following it up with another gold in 1952. He then went on to cover the sport on TV for decades, earning a spot in the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. It is yet another blow for the figure skating community, with news breaking less than a day after more than a dozen young athletes were killed in that mid-air plane collision over the Potomac River. And we will stay on that topic out of Washington. And the latest on the investigation into that collision. We are awaiting a news conference. We should tell you from local D.C. fire officials. We are going to monitor that briefing and bring you updates that come out of it. Let's dig in more, though, with NBC news senior national security correspondent Courtney QB, who joins me now. Courtney, the search for answers is really just starting, right.
But the defense secretary today, Pete Hegseth, said that the Black Hawk crew on that helicopter had night vision goggles. Do we know if the crew was wearing night vision goggles at the time? And how can those goggles impact the visibility that pilots have?
No, and.
We've known that.
They.
Had.
Access.
To.
Night vision goggles because this is a nighttime flying event evaluation. But it has not been clear and still remains unclear, at least to us, whether they were in fact wearing them at the time. And why this is This is important.
Is because night.
Vision goggles, while they can.
Help.
Obviously with your.
Ability.
To see at.
Night.
That's the whole.
Purpose.
Of them.
They actually can restrict your peripheral vision. So when you think about the specific situation of this helicopter flying and an aircraft coming in for a landing right.
Near it.
It opens.
Up the.
Possibility.
That the pilots and the crew chief.
If all.
Wearing night vision goggles, could have had.
The.
Vision of.
What they could.
See.
Above them.
Somewhat restricted, and.
That could have led to what happened here. Now, Kate, we have to say all of this is in the realm of possible.
None of.
It.
Is confirmed in any way, though, at this.
Point.
Okay, Courtney. And we know the Black Hawk was taking part in a training mission, right? The military has said that. What do we know about the training that goes on near Reagan Airport generally? And how are they supposed to operate when they're near a commercial plane?
So it.
Is.
Very.
Restricted.
The airspace and.
The.
Ways that the pilots are allowed.
To.
Fly.
Are.
Extremely are mandated and.
The.
Pilots know these very well. So they are. It's a very narrow area.
A corridor or.
A route that they're.
Allowed to fly.
Along.
They're restricted from their altitude. They're not supposed to fly above 200ft. That's the max altitude within this specific route. It's known as route four.
The pilots are.
Aware.
Of this.
And army officials have assured us that all.
Three of.
The individuals who are on that Blackhawk had flown this route.
Before.
They were a well.
Well aware.
Of.
These restrictions and they all were.
Very.
Experienced. The main pilot was a pilot instructor, meaning the individual had more than 1000 hours in this kind of helicopter, and also was trained enough to train other pilots so they could become more proficient.
Kate.
Okay, Courtney, thanks so much. In the Middle East, Hamas has named the three hostages who will be released, they say to Israel tomorrow. One of them is Israeli-American Keith Segal, whose wife, Aviva, had also been held hostage in Gaza and was released in late 2023. She spoke to MSNBC in October about her release and leaving Keith in captivity.
I said goodbye to Keith and he was the saddest person on earth, and I was the saddest person on earth. But I did say to Keith, you be strong for me and I'll be strong for you. And I just thought that that's keeping him going. But people said, and I was sad. We didn't even know if we'll ever, ever see each other again.
NBC news chief international correspondent Keir Simmons joins me now from Tel Aviv. Keir. What are we expecting in this exchange happening tomorrow?
Well, it's so powerful, isn't it, to.
Hear those words.
From Keith.
Seagull's wife and think about the fact that potentially they will be reunited.
Tomorrow.
What happened on Wednesday may be instructive. The releases began.
Around 10 a.m..
Here.
So the middle.
Of the night there.
In the.
US.
On on the.
East.
Coast. And it was.
Very chaotic.
Chaotic.
On Wednesday.
It may be different today. Wednesday's handover was run primarily by Islamic Jihad. I think tomorrow will be overseen by Hamas, who maybe will be a bit more organized. Certainly what happened on Wednesday infuriated Prime Minister Netanyahu, so much so that that is tomorrow. And aside from Keith Siegel that's released, there are also there are two others. One particularly notable, Kate Jordan, because he is being released.
He is.
He's been held hostage along with his wife and his two children, including little boy who was just nine months old when they were captured, would have had his ninth birthday in captivity And neither his wife nor his two children are being released. And that, of course, is going to raise real concerns about what's happened to them.
And Keir, just quickly, the white House Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff Witkoff, was in Israel this week. What do we know about his visit?
Well, he met with many key players, if you like, in this, both here in Israel and also in in the Gulf in Saudi Arabia, for example, Prime Minister Netanyahu will be there in Washington to meet with President Trump on Monday, I suspect. Steve Witkoff will be there for that meeting. So he is keeping things on track. Look, ultimately, these families are holding out hope. So far, the ceasefire appears to be holding. Kate.
All right Keir Simmons for us. Thank you so much. A star player for the Baltimore Ravens is under fire for accusations of sexual misconduct and a warning the following information might be disturbing. Six massage therapists have accused kicker Justin Tucker of inappropriate behavior during treatments at for high end spa and wellness centers in the Baltimore area. The accusations were first reported by the website The Baltimore Banner. The banner granted the therapist anonymity to protect their privacy, fearing retaliation, unquote. Tucker has denied their allegations. NBC news correspondent Steven Romo following this story for us. Stephen, what more are you learning about these allegations that you can say on television? And how is Justin Tucker responding?
A good point. Some of these facts are not appropriate for television. That is for certain. Six women have come forward with these allegations against Tucker. The Baltimore banner reporting that they allegedly took place between 2012 and 2016. Many of the accounts from these women that they gave to the paper are very similar, saying that Tucker became aroused and or exposed himself during these massage sessions, maybe even brushing himself against these women. Tucker strongly denying that posting, saying that I maintain I did not act inappropriately at any point before, during or after a professional body work treatment session. I would never intend to make anyone to offend or hurt anyone. As a matter of principle, I respect when individuals come forward to report this kind of misconduct of any kind so you can see the strong denial that he has there.
And Stephen, the NFL says it will look into the accusations. These are these are accusations. No. No court action just yet right. What kind of punishment could he potentially face though from the league.
Yeah, it is very early on in this, but we actually have a bit of a playbook for how this could play out. Deshaun Watson back a couple years ago when he played for the Houston Texans, was accused of also inappropriate actions during massage therapy sessions. Now, more than 20 women eventually came forward with allegations against Deshaun Watson, who now plays for the Browns. Watson denies those claims, but the NFL decided to suspend him for 11 games back in the 2022 season, saying he violated their policies. He also had to pay a $5 million fine there. Okay, we also got a statement from the Ravens themselves. They said we are aware of the Baltimore banner story regarding Justin Tucker. We take any allegations of this nature seriously and we will continue to monitor the situation. So very early on in seeing how this will play out. But some strong denials here, Kate.
All right.
Stephen Romo, thank you. In today's daily health, the FDA has approved a new painkiller that could help reduce the risk of opioid addiction. It is the first new pharmaceutical drug to treat pain in more than two decades. It is also an alternative to over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen. Joining us now NBC news medical analyst Doctor Vin Gupta. Good to see you. So what is this drug? What type of pain is it supposed to be used for? Can it be used for chronic pain, for example, or something else?
This is really exciting. You know, here I am treating patients actually actively in an ICU with acute pain. That's exactly the indication. It was studied for.
This is a medication used for acute pain.
So think post surgery.
That's what.
At.
Least.
It.
Was studied for.
And so instead of using in those instances.
An opioid.
Medication like.
Oxycodone or a combination opioid medication like Vicodin.
Here we're saying potentially.
We could use something that's non-opioid.
That acts on different receptors.
In the body.
It's an entirely new class.
Of.
Drugs.
And it could be effective at treating that type of pain while reducing addiction.
That's why this.
Is a big deal.
Entirely new class of pain medications.
Yeah. I actually have reported a couple of times with people who got medication after getting their wisdom teeth pulled and right, and got opioid medication and then became addicted. So this really could be a game changer because it's not an opioid.
It's a big deal. It's 100% a big deal. We have not seen innovations and new pain.
Medications.
Especially used for for outpatient.
Potentially outpatient.
Needs.
That.
Target different receptors in the body.
Until today, and this.
Is.
Really something that.
Could be.
An.
Oral option. And maybe over time we'll have it for chronic pain needs. You ask about chronic pain needs. This was studied for post immediate post medical acute needs say post surgery. But over time that could change. So we'll have to look and see as this post approval gets there's this more patient experience with this. What different indications can we use it for.
Yeah there's a big community out there of people who have chronic pain who've been looking for alternatives to. I know that, um, some concerns about the effectiveness of the drug. What should we know before we talk to a doctor?
Yeah.
You know, it's not going to be as effective for acute pain as, say, something like an opioid.
Medication.
Like Vicodin. At least that's what the trial showed, that it was effective against a placebo, but a little less effective against a severe pain versus an opioid medication. So for moderate pain after an acute procedure like a minor surgery, this could be an option.
All right. Doctor. Vin Gupta, good to have you. Thank you. Coming up, the man behind the curtain sits down with the real Wizard of Oz, the Oscar nominated costume designer behind wicked. What he told her about the highly anticipated part two. That's up next. You're watching NBC News Daily.
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In today's Simply Trending, we are stepping into the world of Oz. You've seen his amazing, dare we say, wicked good costumes. He was just nominated for an Oscar. My co-anchor sat down with Paul Tazewell, the award winning costume designer who dressed wicked.
This is not your first stint down the big yellow brick road. You first designed costumes for your high school production of Wizard of Oz. And then you went on to do NBC's live production of The Wiz. And now this. Yeah. Talk to me about how you've thought about designing costumes in a way that doesn't compromise the integrity of such a classic, but also bringing your own spin?
Well, I think it is important to acknowledge the one, the huge fan base of the original wicked, but then also The Wizard of Oz. It's been in our lives for such a long time.
Paul Tazewell is no stranger to timeless classics, winning a Tony for his costumes in Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton and making history in his Oscar nomination for Steven Spielberg's West Side Story.
The first gringo boy who smiles at you.
As the first black man nominated in a costume design category with wicked. Tazewell could be soaring to new heights. Glinda and Elphaba, two very different women, very different color schemes. How did you go about thinking about the textures and the make of both of their costumes?
Well, for both of those characters, for Glinda, you know I'm giving her a back story. With Elphaba, I was trying to align her with all that was organic, all that was closer to the animals, which is the group that she's advocating for.
So often when we see the witch, just like in Halloween costumes, it's frumpy. But she was given a snatched waist. She was giving us, you know, floor length box braids. Can you talk about the thought process with her?
Yeah. That's right. I mean, you know, to start with, you know, you have Cynthia Erivo, who, you know, she is a huge fashionista.
Wicked marks Tazewell's second time dressing. Cynthia Erivo the first time was for the period drama Harriet.
Talking her into wearing a corset. And she completely embraced that, even though she was going to be singing on stage every day.
And flying around.
And flying around. Absolutely. I mean, doing all the athletics that she has to do for this character.
And Tazewell dressed the stars in the second installment of the wicked franchise to do we get a little a tease, a preview of what's coming. What should we be bracing for?
Well, let me just say, if you've seen part one, it's time, times and a half of what you will get. Visually, so much of our film is set in Emerald City. And and so you see that glamor today.
Tazewell is investing in the next generation with a scholarship for students of color at his alma mater. No stranger to the power of empowering students at a young age. I was moved to learn a bit more about your story, and I understand you got into your craft because as a child you had asthma and spent a lot of time inside. Can you talk about how that informs now your craft and your journey?
Sure, absolutely. Having a loving mother who was searching for ways for me to spend my time because I wasn't able to be out there with the rest of the kids on the street playing, playing. I learned to sew very young when I, uh, you know, found the world of theater, found the world of performance. Actually, I then incorporated all of that that I had learned in creating.
I love it. Well, for Simply Trending, we love to do a speed round. Would you be game to play with us?
Absolutely.
Love that. Okay, we got to start. What's your take on the big wicked debate? To sing or not to sing in the theater?
Oh, I think you should sing.
Oh, you should sing. This is a sing along.
I think definitely I mean, there should be performances that are held aside for those who want to see it without singing.
I love that. Hold space for the singing.
Absolutely. Absolutely.
What's a tip you have for any person to lean into their fashion sensibility?
Oh. Be courageous. Absolutely. And think about your. You know, who you are and how you want to best represent what your personality is for every given moment.
Paul Tazewell bringing fashion to our screens. One scene, one character and one moment at a time.
Thank you so much. And we should mention that wicked is a production of Universal Pictures, which of course is owned by our parent company, Comcast. There is much more news ahead. You are watching NBC News Daily.
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Somewhat what's happening around the world?
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And what matters here at home.
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To change for.
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NBC News Daily, weekdays from 12 to 4 on NBC News now.
Well, social media has given people access to make friends all over the world. Right now, a group of teens have created and produced a personal project to help people their age. The goal to make teens less alone. It is a podcast about the lives and experiences of modern teenagers, talking about everything from the joy of a high school crush to the pain of a parent's divorce. NBC News Now anchor Savannah Sellers has the story.
Hey there. So this teenage life has grown to a podcast with contributors and listeners from all over the world. But take a look because it started as just an after school club.
Hi, I'm Matthew, I'm 17 years old and I'm from Portugal.
Hi, I'm Theo, I'm 17 and I'm from New York City.
I am from Guwahati, Assam, India.
I'm like three a 17 year old from Sweden.
And this teenage.
Life.
Is one.
Of the warmest places I've.
Found on the.
Internet.
Teenagers from.
Across the globe are tuning in and listening up to This.
Teenage.
Life, a podcast by.
Teens.
For teens.
We've talked about everything. We talked about the state of the world, the environment, but then also just like crushes or having like breakouts on a big school day or something and being mad that you got a pimple on your forehead.
19 year old Stella Sturgill.
18 year old Jaiden.
Dial.
And 15 year old Lydia Buck are part of the.
International.
Editorial.
And production.
Team. The project started.
As an after school club.
My name is Molly Josephs.
My title on This teenage life kind of hilariously.
Is.
The adult who works on this teenage life. How did this thing get started? I was.
Working.
At a high.
School.
In San Diego.
California, and young people have so many big feelings. And so I asked these teenagers who.
I.
Had met if they were interested in joining an after school club, and we called ourselves this teenage life, and we would meet and we would sit around one microphone. We would record those conversations, edit them, and add music and art that they made. And then we'd publish a podcast and it was heard by, you know, ten people enter 2020 Covid lockdowns and virtual school. The podcast went.
Remote, and.
Teens from Illinois to India.
Reached.
Out to get involved. Everyone who has joined since the original group sent an email in that was initially to be like, thank you for this episode, or this episode really moved me. Like I was feeling that, but I didn't know I was feeling that. And so hearing someone else say it made me feel less alone. Contributors meet biweekly.
Virtually.
Recording conversations.
On.
A certain topic. They've covered.
Themes like body.
Image.
Faith, failure.
Birthdays, academic pressure.
And even realizing.
Parents are people.
Too.
Which topics have hit home the most for you all?
The first episode I made was the divorce episode, and I was pretty new to this teenage life. But like, I remember sitting there and talking to people and people were crying, but they were also just very, like, supportive of me. You just want to talk to someone. And even if our listeners can't see us, they hear us. And so I say that we're not just talking to hear ourselves. We are talking to so others can hear their own thoughts. With nearly 200.
Episodes.
Released.
This teenage.
Life.
Has.
Been streamed.
And downloaded.
In over 180 countries, not only bridging cultural gaps but generational ones too.
I think it's also really important for parents and grandparents and aunts and older siblings to listen to as well. This teenage life kind of provides a little bit of a window into the inner workings of teenagers, and it's crazy and fun and amazing and awkward and weird.
And.
Cool.
During a time when mental health experts describe Gen Z as the loneliest generation. This teenage life offers young people a community of creativity and support. What do you hear from people about teachers?
Come up to me and be like, hey, so I used your episode to teach about this thing and I'm like, oh wow. Like, you're really like listening to what I'm thinking. And I think that makes me pause, because I think there are such few spaces that people take young people seriously. We're all just kids or teenagers trying to move through the world and figure out what to do with ourselves. Now, if you're more of.
A reader, this teenage life does also have a Substack, but I highly recommend checking out the podcast giving it a listen. This was also the first time that these contributors were all meeting in person, but they said they felt like best friends from this whole experience. Back to you.
Oh yeah. You can totally see that, Savannah. Thank you. I just pulled up the podcast on my computer. It's on my list. It looks so great. I'm Kate Snow. You are watching NBC News Daily. We are always streaming for free 24 over seven on NBC news. Now you can watch us at any of the places you see on your screen wherever you stream. The news continues after this.
Is it your plan to deport everyone who is here illegally over the next four years? Who do you think is the leader of the Democratic Party right now? Can you guarantee that grocery prices will in fact come down? If it's Sunday, it's Meet the.
Press.
Closer to the Gaza border. A story of resilience and hope. Please take care of yourself and each other.
Hello everyone. I'm Kate Snow, my co-anchor is off today. NBC News Daily starts right now. Today, Friday, January 31st, 2025. Searching for answers. The plane's black boxes from that deadly midair crash over DC are now in the hands of federal investigators. What they are hoping to discover as we learn more about the dozens of lives lost. The case against Diddy. Prosecutors add explosive new details to their indictment against Sean Diddy Combs, including new claims that he once dangled someone off a hotel balcony. Relief in sight. The first new pain medication in decades just approved by the FDA. Why it's being hailed as a potential game changer for millions of Americans. And sounds of hope. Some of the biggest names in music come together to give Los Angeles fire victims a much needed boost. We will have the highlights from the star studded event. Welcome everyone! We do begin this hour with the very latest on the investigation into that deadly midair collision near Washington, DC. Two of the runways at Reagan National Airport are now closed, as authorities work furiously to recover the remains of the 67 people believed to have been killed on Wednesday night.
Local D.C. fire and rescue officials tell NBC news 41 bodies have so far been recovered. Search teams have also been able to recover the two flight data recorders from the plane. Two pieces of crucial evidence in finding out what could have caused this disaster. We also have new video to show you, but a warning it may be disturbing. These new videos first aired by CNN, give us a clear picture of the crash. You can see the military Blackhawk helicopter collide with the American Eagle passenger jet. There's that flash right there in the middle of the screen before they both fall into the Potomac River. All of it comes as we are learning more about the victims. They include several members of the professional figure skating community who are coming from. We're coming from a training camp in Wichita, Kansas. You're looking at some of those who have been identified so far leading us off this hour. NBC news correspondent Erin McLaughlin. She's at Reagan National Airport. Erin, good to see you. So we're getting some new information about salvage and recovery efforts from that briefing that's ongoing.
What have we learned?
Yeah, that's right Kate. According to officials, they have managed to search a large portion of the Potomac River. During that search, they have recovered 41 bodies. 28 of the victims have been positively identified, according to officials. Next of kin notified for 18 of the victims, but 26 remain in the waters of the Potomac. And according to officials, what needs to happen next is they need to pull the fuselage from that doomed flight from the river. And they hope that when they do that, they will manage to recover the remaining victims, which, as you can imagine, Kate, is of critical importance to the victims and their loved ones.
Of course. Yeah. This is just so awful. This is the second full day of recovery efforts on the Potomac, and I know the conditions are more foggy today. Despite that, they did find those black boxes from the plane. What do we think we might learn from those?
Well, the black boxes undoubtedly are important from that American Eagle jet. Those were recovered yesterday. But perhaps more critically at this point to this investigation, they have yet to recover the black boxes from the Blackhawk in question. Officials say they are very much focusing on that Blackhawk today as part of this ongoing NTSB investigation, there is a critical question just how high was the Blackhawk flying before that crash? Now, we do have some information answering in part that question. Transponders from the Blackhawk transmitting published on websites such as Flightradar24, indicating that the Blackhawk was flying some 350ft to 450 400ft above the Potomac, which is above the 200ft that you would normally expect a Blackhawk to be flying. But NTSB officials say, to be sure, to be precise, they absolutely need to recover that Blackhawk black box.
All right, Erin McLaughlin for us in Washington. Across the river. Thank you Aaron. As we mentioned, we are now learning more about some of those lives that were tragically lost in the collision. They include young American figure skaters, their parents and coaches, seasoned world champion figure skaters who were a couple pilots, a flight attendant, flight attendants and soldiers. The Army has now identified two of the three soldiers who were in the helicopter. They are Chief Warrant Officer two, Andrew Lloyd Eaves, who was 39 years old, and Staff Sergeant Ryan Austin O'Hara, who was 28. NBC news correspondent Emily Okita joins me now from outside the ice rink, an ice rink in Ashburn, Virginia, where some of the victims used to train. Emily, I know, talk to us about who they were, how they're being remembered.
Hey there. Kate. Good to.
Be.
With you. Well, this ice.
Rink is home to a number of elite athletes, which means they are training here, coming to practice for hours.
Five, six.
Seven days a week. Speaking to just how close knit of a community is. And so, so many.
People.
Still coming to terms with the tragedy that happened on Wednesday night. It's been an emotional day here at Ashburn Ice House. We've seen people tearfully embrace one another as they place flowers, and a makeshift memorial continues to grow inside of here. One of the people they're remembering is, as she's known here, coach Ina the Skaters, describing her as meticulous and detail oriented. They're also mourning the loss of the Livingston family, including both of the parents and their two girls, known as the Ice Skating Sisters. They post their training regularly on social media or have so done so in the past. The last post reading is USA figure skating ready for.
All of.
This? Livingston. They had gone to that national development camp in Wichita, which they were flying back from. We will be hearing from we expect to hear from this ice rink for the first time later today. Kate.
Emily 67 people in total we think are lost. It's important they're not all in the ice skating community. Tell us more about some of the others.
Yeah.
Well, as you were mentioning, there are attorneys, soldiers, college students. Also, we're learning a little bit more about the final moments of for some of the victims lives and their loved ones lives and how they're learning about it, including Hammad Raza, who went to go pick up his wife from.
DCA.
And when he realized something was wrong. Take a listen here.
I was waiting and I saw I started seeing a bunch of EMS vehicles speeding past me. Like way too many than normal. And two my texts weren't going through. Um, those were the two things that made me pull out Twitter. She was the kindest person I've ever met. Um, she went above and beyond and then, uh, took a giant leap over that, you know, when it came to doing things for other people.
And the largest recovery effort the city has seen in decades still underway. As you mentioned, the Army identifying two of the crew members who had been on the Blackhawk. They say that Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Lloyd eaves his body. They're still trying to recover at this hour. Kate.
Okay.
Thank you so much, Emily. Let me bring in Dan Rose. He's a former Navy pilot and aviation attorney. Joins me here. Dan, thank you for being with us. There are still so many questions here, right? We've got the black boxes from the jet, but not yet from the helicopter. What should we be prepared to maybe learn from? At least those black boxes they have recovered?
Yes.
Um, well, from.
The aircraft, we're going to.
Learn.
Its.
Position.
We're probably going regional jet.
Right. The regional jet.
We're going.
To learn.
What the crew.
May or may.
Not have seen any communications they had. But, you know, to the.
Point the.
The.
Helicopter.
Is helicopter is probably.
Much more.
Of interest because it'll tell.
Us.
Exactly what altitude.
They were at.
Unfortunately, we know.
They.
Were at the same altitude.
Which is the tragedy, but.
Leading up to it, we'll know its.
Position exactly where they where they're supposed to be on the route or somewhere else. Um, and.
We'll have.
That.
Critical.
Information so that we can piece together what.
Happened. If you were involved in this, what would you want it to to know right now? What would be your critical next questions?
You know, probably can't get the answer because it would be the.
Uh, wanted to know what.
The crew in the.
Helicopter was talking about, what they were.
Thinking.
And unfortunately, we're not.
Going to have that information, but we're going to be.
Able to piece it together through.
Um, would there be voice recordings from the cockpit? No, not from the Blackhawk.
Not from the Blackhawk. So, um, that'll.
Be.
Uh, unfortunate. But you know this. There's a.
Lot of information out.
There. there's, uh, there's obviously communications with.
Air traffic control and the Blackhawks.
So that has already shed.
Light on what the.
Issue is.
We've obviously heard the air traffic control communications as well. A lot of talk about what happened Wednesday night and the fact that there was only one air traffic controller who was on the helicopter, and the plane controlling both, which apparently is unusual. To your knowledge, is that is that not typical?
It is.
Could it have contributed?
Well, certainly it could have contributed. I would say that the term not normal is.
Appropriate, although we see it a lot of times.
In the.
Air traffic control cases, we see unfortunately.
There's a.
History.
Here of air traffic control being undermanned and short staffed. And this is.
Not an uncommon procedure to kind.
Of.
Try to deal with it at the discretion of, of the control tower.
Dan Rose, nice to have you with us. Thank you.
Sure.
Let's turn now to some consumer news today. the CEO of Nvidia is planning to meet with Mr. Trump at the white House, and a new sports team is coming to Denver. Angelica Peebles joins us now for CNBC Money Minute. Hi, Angelica.
Hey, Kate. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is meeting with President Trump today at the white House. Sources familiar tell CNBC that Huang and the president are expected to talk about U.S. policy on artificial intelligence and will. China's deep seek is likely to be part of the conversation. This will be more introductory, as the two have never met before. After briefly going offline, TikTok's traffic has bounced back. According to Cloudflare Radar, the platform has maintained about 90% of its user traffic in the US. But as TikTok's fate remains in limbo, creators are expanding their presence on other platforms such as Instagram, which has announced it was testing a feature on reels that allows users to pause videos with a single tap. And the National Women's Soccer League is expanding to Denver, Colorado. A source familiar told CNBC that the team is the 16th franchise.
To.
Join the league, and the additions set a new record for an expansion fee at $110 million. The team will begin playing in 2026.
All right, Angelica Peebles, thank you for that. Still ahead, more than 1000 endangered sea turtles rescued after washing up along Florida's Gulf Coast. Why it happened ahead on NBC News Daily.
Still to come on the channel two news. Well, the waters are certainly receding now. Still too close to call. Lester Holt, reporting from ground Zero as it's being referred to, is, in fact, a taste of freedom. The Haitian people know a little something about resiliency. What's the biggest risk right now? Some of the troops who have been around. I want to welcome you to the first presidential debate. In fact, we've been told we can't go any farther. You were some resilient folks. Let me give you a hint here.
We're following new allegations in the federal sex trafficking case against rapper Sean Diddy Combs. Prosecutors have filed an expanded indictment against the music mogul, alleging that he coerced two additional women into commercial sex acts and once dangled someone off a balcony. Combs was indicted last September in the Southern District of New York on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty and is currently in federal custody awaiting trial, which was scheduled to begin in May. Joining us now, NBC news legal analyst Danny Cevallos. Danny, hi. Can you walk us through the indictments, new allegations and how prosecutors may think this helps their case?
Yeah. What prosecutors may be thinking here is by adding allegations that date further back originally 2008. Now they go back to 2004. And by adding two new victims, they're not only expanding the world of evidence that they can bring in, but they're actually lengthening the time in which they can bring in conduct. So conduct an additional four years of conduct arguably can now be brought in these new victims. They can be brought in as well and all the conduct related to them. If it's in the indictment, the prosecutors are likely going to prove it up with evidence. And that's what this superseding indictment allows them to do. Normally superseding indictments have new charges or new defendants, but not always. And this is an example.
One of those. Let me read a statement from lawyers for Mr. Combs, who said in part the prosecution's theory remains flawed and Mr. Combs is as committed as ever to fighting these charges and winning a trial. Trial was set for May. Could this push that further off?
So this is an interesting issue when it comes to superseding indictments. And the answer is it depends. If you have a lot of new defendants and new charges, then yes, it yes, it could reset the speedy trial clock. But look at what they did here. That's not what the government did. That may be a glimpse into their thinking, which is we want to get to trial as fast as anyone else. So we're not going to add a bunch of complicating new allegations or indictments. This is mostly the same. And maybe they don't plan on adding any new charges or superseding again, but if they're still going through evidence, they might find something that is groundbreaking and we might see another superseding indictment.
All right. Danny Cevallos with us. Danny, thanks so much. Resign, retire or be fired. That is the new message, essentially from President Trump to several top FBI officials. It includes about a half a dozen executive assistant directors who are some of the bureau's top managers. This is the latest in the Trump administration's federal employee shakeup, which he had promised. For more, let's bring in NBC news justice and intelligence correspondent Ken Dilanian. Ken, what do we know about this order? And who exactly is President Trump talking about here? What kind of impact will there be on the FBI? Potentially.
There's an enormous impact. Kate, this is probably the biggest purge in the modern history of the FBI. And we're talking about most of the senior leadership at the bureau. You mentioned those six executive assistant directors. They're like the top supervisors on the seventh floor in here in headquarters at Washington, D.C.. But today we're learning that as many as 20 or more special agents in charge of various field offices around the country have also been removed from their posts. Now, technically, these people can't be fired legally, but the practical reality is that it's really difficult for them to fight it. And many of them are eligible for retirement. And so they are retiring. They are capitulating. But people were talking to are very alarmed. They say it's not supposed to work that way. The FBI is not staffed by political appointees, unlike many other agencies. These are career civil servants we're talking about with decades of experience at the nation's premier law enforcement agency. That's also an intelligence agency. And there's real concern here about who's going to going to fill these jobs going forward, and also why this is being done.
Is this retribution? Because the FBI investigated Donald Trump in two criminal cases?
You think you would think you lose some of the institutional knowledge just by eliminating people who've been there a long time? Switching gears, can I ask about your other reporting about the Pentagon's intelligence agency pausing observances for several annual cultural historical events? We're talking MLK day, Black History Month, LGBTQ Pride month. Tell us more about that.
Yeah. And they say in a memo that we've obtained that this is in keeping with the Trump administration's push to eliminate all Dei initiatives. And we have heard that this is it's not just that the Defense Intelligence Agency, this is going on across the government. In fact, Dan Deluce, my colleague, has a new reporting that it's happening at the CIA and other places in the intelligence community where basically they're saying any observance of these kinds of holidays, something as basic as MLK day, which is a federal holiday, they are not allowed to do anymore. More. Um, and, you know, look, this is a controversial initiative. Obviously, some people would say Donald Trump got elected to do this, but it's causing a lot of angst here among federal employees because particularly people in protected groups who feel a little bit under siege right now.
Ken Dilanian for us. Ken. Thank you. Still to come, an American hostage is set to be released by Hamas tomorrow after more than a year in captivity. What we're expecting after a chaotic exchange earlier this week. That's ahead on NBC News Daily. By the way, we are always streaming free 24 over seven on NBC news now. Watch us wherever you stream content including YouTube and Roku. The news.
Continues.
Good morning. Glad to have you with us.
I'm Savannah sellers.
I'm Joe Fryer. Right now on morning news now. Rescue teams are out helping people after two major hurricanes.
Is the U.S..
Being drawn.
Deeper.
Into this conflict?
A new study reveals that retirement balances are falling short. Why aren't people saving enough?
What are the questions that you hear the most when it comes to staying safe online? These weight loss drugs? Are we concerned about long term side effects?
A lot going on in space right now.
Make no mistake, this mission is high stakes.
Morning news now streaming weekdays at seven. Kristen Welker hosts Meet the Press every Sunday on NBC.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be visiting Central America in his first official trip abroad as America's top diplomat this weekend. His first stop Panama. NBC news chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell is in Panama with more.
Teddy Roosevelt became president, and he spent all of that money that was made from tariffs. The money was so enormous. And they built the thing called the Panama Canal and China especially has taken it over, and we're not going to let that happen.
This pagoda proclaiming China's presence here in Panama, along with this bridge being built over the canal by Chinese led companies, is partly why President Trump is sounding the alarm. But the canal itself is run by Panama, with ports along the way operated by companies from all over the world, including the U.S., even Taiwan. If majority Chinese companies run the ports at either end, does that mean they control who enters or leaves the canal?
No, not at all. The Panama Canal is the one that actually controls the access, or leaving the port by means of having the pilots on board, and by clearing the channel for them to pass.
So when the U.S. says that because China could control the ports at both ends of the canal, they could shut down the canal, they could damage the U.S. US. Is that true?
Well, first of all, we are neutral. We serve the whole world. Okay. The neutrality treaty is all about that. The best protection of the Panama Canal can have is being neutral to the world, because it serves all countries of the world.
Andrea Mitchell reporting a troubling case out of South Carolina, a Nigerian man has been extradited to the United States to face charges for extorting a young man and his family over explicit photos. NBC news correspondent Valerie Castro has the details.
For.
South Carolina.
State Representative Brandon Guffey, the memories of.
His son.
Gavin.
He learned.
To be the class.
Clown, and.
Always.
Working on bringing a smile to people's faces.
Are shaded with.
Sadness for the dreams that will never be realized.
A big.
Heart. He loved art. So many drawings and paintings. He was planning on going to college to become an art teacher.
The 17 year old died by suicide in 2022, just after graduating from high school, after federal prosecutors say he fell victim to a sextortion scheme over Instagram. His family says they are finally getting some justice. Authorities extraditing Hassan Hussein Abolore Lawal, a 24 year old Nigerian man prosecutors say orchestrated the scheme, pretending to be a woman with usernames like Bella, Janet, 28, and Alice Conner, five. 66 they say Lawal coerced Gavin into sending compromising photos, then threatened to leak the images and ruin the teen's reputation unless he sent money.
To the.
Defendant.
While in Nigeria, he hid behind a screen and terrorized Guffey. These alleged actions are reprehensible and there is zero tolerance for predatory behavior going unchecked.
Even after Gavin's death, Guffey says the extortion continued and spread to other members of his family.
Once they found out that I was an elected official, to turn the heat up more and to try and extort that even further. It's just very disheartening.
In the wake of his son's death. Guffey mobilizing to get Gavin's law passed in South Carolina, which now. Makes sextortion a felony offense. The FBI saying sextortion of minors. Is a growing problem. Reporting 13,000 incidents between October 2021 and March 2023, resulting in at least 20 suicides.
We have.
Drawn a.
Line.
In the sand.
In the.
Battle of good and evil for our.
Children.
And I think that.
The message we said.
Early.
On was that we would.
Hunt.
Somebody down to the.
Ends of the earth if they hurt our.
Kids. And and this.
Just proves.
It.
Lawal pleaded not guilty to charges of child exploitation and cyberstalking, resulting in death, among several other charges. His attorney did not immediately respond to NBC news request for comment. The extradition a major step since the crime is often perpetrated from abroad. Guffey emotional seeing the accused man brought back for trial.
This whole process.
But eager to continue pushing for justice.
It's just the beginning of the next fight.
While protecting other families before it's too late.
My ultimate.
Goal.
Is that no.
Other child.
Will feel.
The way.
That Gavin did before he took his life, and that no other parent will have to feel the pain that we have had to feel. Um, so regardless of.
Where.
I go in life, that will be my mission until the end of my days.
Valerie Castro, NBC news.
Coming up, a project that started as an after school club, now a global podcast.
More Americans.
Turn to NBC news than any other.
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More Americans.
Turn to NBC news than any other news.
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All of that snow fell.
In a matter.
Of days.
Food and medicine. This time being dropped over southern Gaza.
It looks like hot lava.
News for the generation of now is NBC news now.
Bottom of the hour. Now, here are some of the stories making headlines on NBC News Daily. Remember those cold winter temperatures last week in the South? The several inches of snow that came down in Florida actually weakened endangered sea turtles so much that some went into cold induced comas, especially along the Florida Panhandle. But rescuers searched the shorelines to look for the turtles and rescue them. Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Center says more than 1200 sea turtles were rescued. They say most of the turtles have recovered and will be released again by the end of today. A federal appeals court has ruled that adults under 21 years old should not be banned from buying handguns. The ban was put in place by Congress back in 1968, but gun rights groups started challenging that ban in 2020. The appeals court in Louisiana says the ban violates the First Amendment. Pushing the debate one step closer to the Supreme Court. This ruling only applies to handguns. 18 year olds are already allowed to buy long guns, including assault rifles. American figure skating icon Dick button has died.
U.S. Figure Skating announced that he died of natural causes yesterday at 95 years old. You remember button became the first American man to win a figure skating Olympic gold medal back in 1948, following up with another gold in 1952. He then went on to cover the sport on TV for decades, earning a spot in the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. It's yet another blow, though, for the figure skating community, with news breaking less than a day after more than a dozen young athletes were killed in that mid-air plane collision over the Potomac River. And we continue our coverage of that tragic collision with a look at the impact that it is having on that tight knit figure skating community. Our next guest knew some of the skaters who died personally. Brian Boitano is an American figure skater and world champion. He won gold at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary. And Brian Boitano joins us now. Brian, thank you so much for taking time to be with us. Um, I know you were friends with and knew many of the people who were on that flight.
I understand you were in Wichita this weekend for the competition. How are you doing?
Yeah, I mean.
As.
You.
Know, it's been.
Devastating for.
Our community. You mentioned.
That we are a tight.
Knit.
Community, so we are all connected to each other. So it's been, um, you.
Know.
Such a loss for us. Figure skating. I was.
Friends with.
Um, Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, Naoumoff who you see in the photo there. We did some TV specials together and, you know, toured as professionals. They were not only world champions and great skaters, but great representatives of the sport. And and aside from the skating part, they were just great.
People.
Great to work with. So kind and caring and just just lovely people. Their son Maxime competed at the national championships in Wichita this last weekend and actually placed fourth. And I actually gave him his award on Sunday and saw his father from a distance and kind of gave him a wave. So, um, you know, I'm feeling it and everybody's feeling it. We're just trying to figure out how to help people. You know, there have been a lot of people who have lost someone, not just the figure skating community. And we're we're, you know, hoping that, um, we can help them in some way in their mourning.
Yeah. Brian, I wonder, have you talked to Maxim since the accident?
I didn't, I reached out to the CEO of Boston Skating Club, Doug Hyde, yesterday with a text, because he's just been in my thoughts nonstop. Um, so, uh, you know, I just wrote to him and I said, if Maxim needs absolutely anything, just let us know. And that's, you know, and it's it's like, it's this is what the community is doing. We're really, um, supporting each other, banding together and, you know, reaching out.
Yeah. No, I can we can see it. We can feel it. I'm thinking about the young people here, too, Brian. I mean, so many, so many, unfortunately, who died were young, but so many in the community of of ice skating are young kids, really. And this is a lot for them.
It is a lot. It is a lot. And I think of the other kids that were on the team with them at that camp. Um, you know, this is a real benchmark for a skater to make it to. This camp is a significant accomplishment. It means that you are one of the best of your age category in the nation, so it really is the beginning of their skating life. And to lose their friends, the survivors on that plane, I mean, they will never be forgotten. And we lived through this with the 1961 plane crash. Figure skating has had two major plane crashes. In 1961, we lost our entire world team. And from that, we built back from the ashes and built up champions like Peggy Fleming and Dorothy Hamill. So hoping that these young children who lost their life will serve as that inspiration for the young kids that were associated with them on that team.
Yeah. Olympian Brian Boitano, really good to have you here today. Thank you for joining us. All the best in the Middle East. Hamas will release three more hostages tomorrow after freeing eight earlier this week, three men will be released to Israel, including Israeli American Keith Segal. Keith's wife, Aviva, had also been held hostage by Hamas. She was freed in November 2023. She spoke to MSNBC this past fall about leaving her husband in the hands of their captors.
I said goodbye to Keith and he was the saddest person on earth, and I was the saddest person on earth. But I did say to Keith, you be strong for me, and I'll be strong for you. And I just thought that that's keeping him going. But keeper said, and I was sad. We didn't even know if we'll ever, ever see each other again.
Hopefully they will now see each other again. And joining us is NBC news chief international correspondent Keir Simmons in Tel Aviv for us. So Keir, what are we expecting with this exchange of hostages tomorrow. Can we hear, Keith? Can we hear Kira? Kira, we're having trouble with your mic. We'll see if we can get you back. Thank you so much. In today's daily health, for the first time in more than 20 years, the FDA has approved a new type of painkiller. It's not an opioid, but it might actually help. And it might actually help reduce the risk of opioid addiction. Joining us now is NBC news medical analyst Doctor Vin Gupta. Good to see you. This drug sounds like it has a potential to be a game changer for people suffering with pain. What is it and what kind of pain are we talking about that it might be able to treat?
You know, Kate, there has not.
Been innovation.
In pain medication development for years. And so this is actually targeting a different receptor in the body, very different from, say, opioid narcotics that work on receptors in our brain. And so this is great news for those who have acute pain. To answer your second question right. Say after a procedure or they've just been discharged from the hospital. Acute pain that is intense and severe. This is where it could help alleviate it. But big, big news we really haven't had innovation in this space.
So for people, as you say, that are having acute pain, that sounds like something more than what you would take a ibuprofen for, right? Is it supposed to be an alternative to an ibuprofen or something more?
You know what we know from the studies that the FDA used to approve it is that this is for acute pain. So post-surgical pain sort of hospital related pain, not necessarily chronic pain that you would take an ibuprofen or Tylenol for, as you pointed out. However over time that could change. This could be an alternative for, say, pain that is resistant to one of those traditional options that we utilize but doesn't quite require something even more powerful. So I do think over time the indications for use will change.
Yeah, I'm thinking about people I've talked to Doctor Gupta, who were put on some kind of opioid after like, wisdom teeth being removed, and that actually led to substance use disorder. So that must be part of the hope here that if you don't take opioids, maybe you don't get tempted.
Yeah. Kate. Spot on. The big concern here is many people have pain medication needs addiction to opioid. Narcotics is quite high. It's a big, big problem. And so how can we help wean that off and address significant pain it needs especially after a procedure but also mitigate the risk of addiction. And that's where this gives us a lot of hope.
Are there any side effects or anything people should know about the effectiveness or the side effects?
You know, nothing that is frankly a significant side effect. There is, you know, very small minority of patients. There was a mild rash GI upset. But frankly, those are the same types of side effects we we sometimes caution for with the use of ibuprofen. So the spectrum here of side effects are minor in relative terms and rare. So I think this is something that, you know, frankly, in totality. Great news.
And last quick thing though, it sounds like it may be expensive.
Yeah. You know, right now it's about $15 for for a month's as needed supply, which is way more expensive than, say, less than a dollar co-pay for an opioid narcotic or even, say, ibuprofen or Tylenol. And so this is this is the price point here is going to be an issue.
Okay. Let me just clarify that because I think we had the wrong thing on the screen by accident. It's $15 for a a month supply.
You know, as needed supply. And so it depends. This is going to be an as needed medication. So you know how much somebody uses within a.
Pre-specified.
Time. Right.
It's not the per pill price.
That's not the.
Okay.
Yeah exactly. Exactly. So for for a set of doses. And so just like you get a pack of Tylenol or ibuprofen, this is going to be more expensive. But over time as the as the indications for use change. Hopefully that price point comes down.
Doctor Vin Gupta, thank you so much. People in Southern California are now getting some big help after the wildfires, and it's because of some of the biggest names in music artists like Billie Eilish. Stevie Nicks took part in last night's Fire Aid show. It helped raise money for the communities impacted directly by that deadly and devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Here's NBC's Kaylee Hartung.
This was a night of music and really L.A. pride. The mission to raise money for relief efforts deeply personal for many of the artists and people in attendance, making for an emotional evening of great music for a great cause. Just miles from the devastation of the L.A. fires, some of the biggest names in music packed two stadiums for not one, but two star studded concerts, raising millions for relief efforts.
If people have.
Lost.
So much, this.
Is a very.
Small.
Gesture on our.
Part.
The fire aid benefit brought dozens of artists across all genres and generations together, making beautiful music for a deeply personal cause.
We're cycling through all the stages of grief and anger and disbelief and bouncing in a non-linear way all around them.
Comedian Billy Crystal among the stars, sharing their own stories of loss.
Like thousands of you, our house now look like this. I stepped onto the grounds and I fell to my knees and I wailed.
At the Kia forum. Green day. Pink. Stevie Nicks and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were among those who kicked things off.
To your.
Surprise.
Former.
Doctor Dre getting a huge reaction from the crowd.
California.
He's up while at the Intuit Dome, no doubt. Katy Perry, Billie Eilish. Lady Gaga, Sting and Stevie Wonder kept things rocking late into the night.
Keep on flying.
Reunions is.
The.
One you.
Know.
By.
Unlikely collaborations.
Get it west.
Cause he felt that a.
Change would do us.
Good.
And covers filled the air with sweet music.
All feelin good was.
Easy love when.
He.
Sang the blues.
But while the performances in packed venues made for a lively atmosphere, the real reason for the night was ever present.
There are moments that get us.
Through.
Moments like.
Tonight, the show featuring the stories of people whose lives and homes were destroyed by the fires and honoring first responders.
We finally got a break.
I immediately went to check on my house and it was gone.
An emotional and empowering night. The music industry showing up to support their city and their community as they rise from the ashes Together. And before last night's concert even began, organizers said they'd already raised $60 million off ticket sales and sponsorships alone, and donations are still pouring in. And this weekend, Sunday's Grammys, many of those same artists will still be here in L.A. that night, planning to pay tribute to the heroic first responders, raise more money for relief efforts, and honor the spirit of L.A. Back to you.
Kaylee Hartung. Thank you. We want to clarify something that we mentioned just a minute ago. The new type of painkiller the FDA just approved is $15.50 per 50 milligram pill. There is much more news ahead. You're watching NBC News Daily.
Still to come on the channel two news. Well, the waters are certainly receding now. Still too close to call. Lester Holt reporting from ground zero as it's being referred to, is in fact a taste of freedom. The Haitian people know a little something about resiliency. What's the biggest risk right now? Some of the troops who have been around. I want to welcome you to the first presidential debate. In fact, we've been told we can't go any further. There were some resilient folks. Let me give you a hint here.
More Americans turn to NBC news than any other news organization.
In today's mental health check. It has been a tough month for a lot of Americans. Remember the year started with that deadly attack in New Orleans. We saw homes and entire communities ravaged by fire in California. And today, we're still talking about that deadly midair collision that happened Wednesday night. It is a lot for anyone to deal with, but particularly for those who survive, they can sometimes feel an intense feeling of guilt, often referred to as survivor's guilt. And joining us now is Gina Moffa to talk a little more about this. She's a clinical social worker and a trauma therapist who specializes in grief. Thank you for being here. I mean, just saying those things in a row made me tense up like it is a lot for all of us. But particularly if you survived. What causes survivor guilt?
Survivor's guilt is a psychological and physical response to either surviving or.
Having a better.
Outcome.
To a tragic.
Event than other.
People may.
Have.
And so.
Of.
Course.
It varies from person.
To.
Person, but it is something.
That.
Is a full.
Body experience.
That can really echo.
PTSD.
Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Not just mental, not just in your head. It can also have physical, physical effects too.
Absolutely.
Again, as it echoes symptoms.
Of.
Post-traumatic.
Stress disorder.
We can.
Talk.
About the emotional aspects which.
Are.
Helplessness and, you know.
Feelings.
Of flashbacks.
Or.
Nightmares that we may have. Feeling irritable. Not really sure where.
We're going to land.
Emotionally.
Not having the motivation or desire to do the things we did before.
And of course.
That age.
Old.
Question.
Of why.
Not me?
Why did I survive this?
Why did I come out better than someone else did when others may not have?
What? Um. These are complex emotions and feelings that we're talking about. What tips would you have for anyone out there? No matter what the cause, you might be feeling something like that.
I think it's really important to.
Understand.
That this is not your.
Fault. We don't choose.
To survive.
Things.
And.
It.
Can.
Be.
Really easy to judge.
Ourselves.
And.
Put blame.
On ourselves for surviving.
But I think.
It's.
Important.
To show.
Up with.
Self-compassion. It's important to honor and acknowledge our feelings because if we don't.
Allow them.
We really aren't going to know what next step to take to begin with. It's also important if you do see yourself really.
Struggling.
Or.
Stuck.
In rumination of why not me? Or what could I have done have done differently, is.
To try.
To.
Seek.
Any.
Kind.
Of trauma.
Informed mental health services. This will really help. And of course, we can put our.
Sense of responsibility to work.
By participating.
Or.
Creating some.
Sort of.
Tribute or any kind of volunteer.
Effort. Helping someone else might sort of help you.
Absolutely. I think especially.
If it's.
Connected to the event, I think it could be really helpful to lift some of our burden, to have some sense of purpose.
And just quickly, if you're the person supporting someone who's having those feelings, what do you what do you advise?
I think again, we have to show up as a safe, trusted space. Try not to brightside or look for the silver lining while they're really in the midst of struggling with their burden and being really present as much as possible. Just being that safe space.
Gina Moffa always great to have you. Thank you so much. Thank you. There's much more ahead. Stay with.
Us.
News lives in the now.
All of that.
Snow fell.
In a matter.
Of days.
Food and medicine this time being dropped over southern Gaza.
It looks.
Like.
Hot lava.
News for the generation of now is NBC news now.
Lester Holt, America's most trusted TV news anchor. Kristen Welker hosts Meet the Press every Sunday on NBC.
Well, social media has given people access to make friends all over the world. Right now, a group of teens have created and produced a personal project to help people their age. The goal to make teens less alone. It is a podcast about the lives and experiences of modern teenagers, talking about everything from the joy of a high school crush to the pain of a parent's divorce. NBC News Now anchor Savannah Sellers has the story.
Hey there. So this teenage life has grown to a podcast with contributors and listeners from all over the world. But take a look because it started as just an after school club.
Hi, I'm.
Matthew, I'm 17.
Years.
Old and I'm from Portugal.
Hi, I'm Theo, I'm 17.
And I'm from New York City.
I am from Guwahati, Assam, India.
I'm 33.
A 17 year.
Old from Sweden.
And this teenage life is one of the warmest.
Places I.
Have found on the.
Internet.
Teenagers from.
Across the globe are tuning in and listening.
Up.
To This.
Teenage.
Life, a podcast by.
Teens.
For.
Teens.
We've talked about everything. We talked about the state of the world, the environment, but then also just like crushes or having like breakouts on a big school day or something and being mad that you got a pimple on your forehead.
19 year old Stella.
Sturgill.
18 year old Jaiden Dial and 15 year old Lydia.
Buck.
Are part.
Of.
The.
International editorial and production.
Team. The project.
Started as an.
After school club.
My name.
Is Molly.
Josephs. My title on This teenage life kind of.
Hilariously, is.
The adult who works on this teenage life. How did this thing get started? I was working at a high.
School.
In San Diego.
California, and young people have so many big feelings. And so I asked these teenagers who I had met if they were interested in joining an after school club, and.
We.
Called ourselves this teenage life, and we would meet and we would sit around one microphone. We would record those conversations, edit them, and add music and art that they made. And then we'd publish a podcast and it was heard by, you know, ten people enter 2020 Covid lockdowns in virtual school. The podcast went.
Remote, and teens.
From Illinois to India.
Reached.
Out.
To.
Get.
Involved.
Everyone who has joined since the original group sent an email.
In.
That was initially to be like, thank you for this episode, or this episode really moved me like I was feeling that, but I didn't know I was feeling that. And so hearing someone else say it made me feel less alone. Contributors meet biweekly, virtually recording conversations on a certain topic. They've covered.
Themes like body.
Image, faith.
Failure, birthdays.
Academic pressure.
And even realizing parents.
Are people.
Too.
Which topics have hit home the most for you all?
The first episode I made was the divorce episode, and I was pretty new to this teenage life. But like, I remember sitting there and talking to people and people were crying, but they were also just very, like, supportive of me. You just want to talk to someone. And even if our listeners can't see us, they hear us. And so I say that we're not just talking to hear ourselves. We are talking so others can hear their own thoughts. With nearly 200.
Episodes released.
This teenage.
Life has.
Been streamed.
And downloaded in.
Over 180 countries. Not only bridging cultural.
Gaps, but.
Generational ones.
Too.
I think it's also really important for parents and grandparents and aunts and older siblings to listen to as well. This kind of provides a little bit of a window into the inner workings of teenagers, and it's crazy and fun and amazing and awkward and weird and cool.
During a time when mental health experts describe Gen Z as the loneliest generation. This teenage life offers young people a community of creativity and support. What do you hear from people?
I've had teachers come up to me and be like, hey, so I used your episode to teach about this thing and I'm like, oh, wow. Like, you're really like listening to what I'm thinking. And I think that makes me pause, because I think there are such few spaces that people take young people seriously. We're all just kids or teenagers trying to move through the world and figure out what to do with ourselves. Now, if you're more of.
A reader, this teenage Life does also have a Substack, but I highly recommend checking out the podcast giving it a listen. This was also the first time that these contributors were all meeting in person, but they said they felt like best friends from this whole experience. Back to you.
Oh yeah. You can totally see that, Savannah. Thank you. I just pulled up the podcast on my computer. It's on my list. It looks so great. I'm Kate Snow. You are watching NBC News Daily. We are always streaming for free 24 over seven on NBC news. Now you can watch us at any of the places you see on your screen wherever you stream. The news continues after this.
Is it your plan to deport everyone who is here illegally over the next four years? Who do you think is the leader of the Democratic Party right now? Can you guarantee that grocery prices will in fact come down If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
News lives in the now.
All of that.
Snow fell.
In a matter.
Of days.
Food and medicine. This time being dropped over southern Gaza.
It looks like hot lava.
Used for the generation of now is NBC news now.
Welcome to Meet the Press. Now, I'm Kristen Welker in Washington, where we are following new developments in the investigation into Wednesday's tragic midair collision that killed all 67 people aboard a passenger jet and a military Black Hawk helicopter. Amid the aftermath of the incident, the FAA today implemented new helicopter restrictions in the DC area, which comes as we are getting a look at new footage of the moment the crash happened, which we should warn you, may be may be disturbing. This video shows the moment of impact as the American Eagle jet on approach to Reagan National Airport collided with an Army Blackhawk helicopter, sending them both plunging into the icy Potomac River. NBC news has learned that investigators are now looking into whether the helicopter was flying at too high of an altitude. They won't know for sure until they recover the helicopter's black box data recorder. The NTSB so far has recovered the black boxes from the passenger jet, but is waiting on assistance and expertise from the military to recover the helicopters. In addition, a source familiar with the investigation tells NBC news an air traffic control supervisor at the airport left their shift early, leaving one controller handling both airline and helicopter traffic at the airport, which is shorthanded but acceptable under FAA guidelines.
This afternoon, local authorities gave an update on the recovery process, including the difficult and delicate effort of retrieving the remains.
We've identified 41, or we have recovered 41 sets of remains, and 28 of those victims have been positively identified. And as of 6 a.m. this morning, next of kin notifications have been made to 18 families.
Authorities say they expect to recover all of the victims, but they don't have an estimate on how long that will take. It comes as the white House is facing renewed scrutiny over the president's handling of the crisis, after he baselessly speculated that the crash was the fault of diversity initiatives at the FAA. The president yesterday signed a memo ordering an investigation in hiring decisions and safety protocol at the FAA. At today's white House briefing, Press Secretary Leavitt backed up the president's claims about diversity hiring at the FAA despite no evidence linking it to the collision.
When you are flying on an airplane.
With.
Your loved ones.
Which every one of.
Us in.
This room.
Has. Do you.
Pray.
That.
Your.
Plane.
Lands safely and gets you to your.
Destination?
Or do you pray that the pilot has a certain skin color? I think we.
All know the answer to that question. And as President Trump said yesterday, it's common sense.
Now, it is worth noting that President Trump himself said at yesterday's press conference that he was not aware of any link between diversity programs and the crash. The Washington Post reports today that a diversity hiring initiative excoriated by the president yesterday, was actually launched during his first term. The FAA has had a shortage of air traffic controllers for years, but there are no indications the agency bent their strict safety and qualification standards for new hires. I do want to bring in our NBC news team of reporters to start us off. Erin McLaughlin is on the banks of the Potomac in Virginia. Garrett Haake is outside of the white House. And Courtney Kube has the very latest from the Pentagon. Erin, I want to start with you. What's the very latest on the investigation that you are learning at this hour.
We're now hearing from my colleague Peter Alexander, that they are now in the process of pulling some of the wreckage from the Potomac River. We understand the wreckage to be the Blackhawk helicopter, which is very much the focus of this investigation. As you mentioned, Kristen, the NTSB is looking into the possibility that the Blackhawk was simply flying too high. And to know for sure. They want to recover the black box. They have yet to do that from the Blackhawk helicopter, though they have managed to recover two black boxes from the jet that was involved. And the reason this is critical is because transponder information that was being emitted from the Blackhawk indicated that perhaps the helicopter was flying anywhere from 350 to 400ft over the Potomac River, which is too high. That's well above the standard of 200ft. The issue with that transponder information that's been broadcast on websites such as Flightradar24 is that they only capture that information about every six seconds. So it's possible that that information changes, which is why authorities are really focused on trying to recover that black box in question to get a clearer picture of the altitude, which is, of course, a source of this investigation as the NTSB is looking into probable cause.
We are expecting an NTSB presser later today.
Yeah, we will.
Be watching that very closely. Erin, let's talk about another part of the investigation, the staffing at air traffic control. Of course, there are questions about whether one person may have left early, leaving one person in charge of basically monitoring the skies for helicopters and commercial aircraft. What can you tell us about that part of the investigation?
Yeah, this is another factor that the NTSB is believed to be looking at. A preliminary report from the FAA, seen by a source, told NBC news that there was an indication that the supervisor inside the airport's control tower allowed one of the controllers to leave their shift early. And that's potentially significant because generally in these scenarios, there are two controllers within an air traffic control tower, one dedicated to helicopter traffic, the other dedicated to plane traffic. And by allowing one of those controllers to leave early, that means that one controller was in charge of both the helicopter traffic and the plane traffic. Now, under FAA regulations, that is allowed. Nevertheless, there will be another thing that the NTSB is looking at going forward, because remember, they're not only going to be looking at the probable cause of this crash, but also recommendations for the future.
And, Aaron, we're also learning about some new restrictions on helicopter travel over the Potomac. What can you tell us there?
Yeah. That's right. They have today announced that they are going to no longer be allowing, at least indefinitely, helicopter traffic. Two routes along the Potomac in and around Reagan National Airport due to safety issues. Lots of questions outstanding about the volume of helicopter traffic, the congestion around the airport in general. Um, about 100 helicopters travel around the airport on any given day. And this is already a very congested airport. Some 15 million passengers, um, some 25 million passengers, rather, um, 15 million passengers are expected to be traveling through Reagan National Airport, but that has been far exceeded in recent years. Up to 25 million passengers passing through the Reagan National Airport on any given day. So, you know, congestion. helicopter traffic, staffing issues, all of that are going to be heavily scrutinized by the NTSB investigators going forward.
All right, Erin, thank you so much for your reporting. Garrett, let me head over to you at the white House. The president speaking as we are having this conversation. He's in the Oval Office. He is apparently signing more executive orders. What can you tell us about that?
Yeah. Kristen, I'm monitoring these comments via our producer who is inside the room as the president signing these orders. And he's talking again about the crash and really doubling down on his role as kind of observer in chief, continuing to complain about the helicopter having been too high in the sky on the night of the crash, and suggesting without again providing any evidence that there was somehow Biden policies here that caused this, he says, all because of weak rules in the Biden administration. And he's expressing, as he did yesterday in the briefing room, his frustration with reports that he says take too long. The criticism that has been levied against him up until now and perhaps is still valid, is that he is getting ahead of the investigators getting ahead of the NTSB, which has a very sort of strict policy for how they release information about an investigation. It's not at all clear that the president is privy to any unique information or more up to date investigation than we've gotten from the NTSB, who have pushed their briefing back until later today.
But he continues to believe this is about this helicopter being too high in the sky, regulations being too weak, he says, and that other mistakes were made. So I suppose we'll find out more later today whether there's sort of new specific data to back up those claims from the president or not.
Garrett, as you have said, as we've talked about, this is the first real crisis that President Trump has had to grapple with since taking office for a second time. What has the reaction been on Capitol Hill and beyond to how he is handling this crisis so far?
Well, look, in official Washington, I think there's a good deal of frustration about the way he's handling it, inserting himself into it, both in terms of just being the spokesperson for the investigation to a certain extent, politicizing the issue while there are still bodies in the water has been a complaint of Democrats and even some Republicans. And, you know, sort of making this about Biden policies that in some cases were actually Trump policies or about Pete Buttigieg in particular, yesterday struck many people in Washington as tonally off. But the Trump White House would say this is part of what people like about President Trump. He leads from the front. They say he doesn't act like a traditional politician, and he tells it like he sees it. Those were tributes that he had during the campaign, during his first presidency. They say this is what the American people want to see from their leader.
Garrett, if I can ask you to stick around, we're going to bring you back after we get the video of the Of the president speaking in the Oval Office will play that for our audience. We'll have you do some analysis with us. So stick around for a few more minutes if you can. Court, let me go over to you at the Pentagon, which I know mourning the loss of their colleagues as we have this conversation. The Pentagon facing questions about the helicopters path and altitude, as you heard Erin laying out. What can you tell us about that piece of the investigation? Court?
I mean, I.
Think the.
Two things that.
Are going to.
End up.
Being the most telling and maybe the most.
Critical pieces of.
Information that.
We.
Know.
About.
At this point to this.
Investigation.
Will be.
The exact altitude that that.
Helicopter was flying at and what the.
Communications.
Between the helicopter and the air.
Traffic.
Control tower.
Were.
Exactly, especially.
In.
Those last.
Few.
Minutes.
Was there a direction.
By.
ATC for.
The.
Helicopter to.
Fly higher than.
Than what is mandated for them.
To fly.
In.
That.
Area, which.
Is 200ft.
Or.
Below in altitude? We we.
Got.
As Garrett.
Was.
Just mentioning.
We had.
A truth.
Social from President Trump, where he said the Black Hawk was flying too high by a lot. It was far.
Above.
The 200 foot limit. Officials here are not confirming that to be the case there. Frankly, they are asking us to wait for the investigation and for the black box to be.
Recovered.
So that.
The.
Specifics.
The.
Details, the.
Facts can.
Come.
Out.
But the reality, Kristen.
We have we heard from.
The.
President yesterday in the white.
House.
Briefing.
Room.
We heard from Secretary.
Of Defense Pete Hegseth.
And now we.
Have this in writing from the.
President.
They have in each case, they.
Have.
Spoken.
About this.
Being an elevation.
Issue.
In terms in terms of aircraft. We usually say altitude, but they called it elevation.
But, you know.
At the end of the day it's the same thing.
They have spoken.
About this being some kind of an issue with the helicopter and the altitude at which it was flying. So but right now, officials here in the Pentagon and the military are asking us just to wait for the investigation.
To.
Actually get the facts.
And part of that is going to be recovering the black box from the helicopter. Are they confident they will be able to recover the black box? Is there a time frame for that, Courtney?
No. They're confident.
I think.
Right.
Now they're focused on.
As far as the helicopter goes. The two main lines of effort are the black box and then recovering the two. Two soldiers who are still inside there. Our understanding.
Is that.
The the way that the helicopter is in the water, the pressure from the water, it's.
Just.
It's a it's it's a little difficult right now for them.
To get it.
Out, but they're I.
Will say.
We have been asking military officials just about.
Every single.
Hour. And there is confidence.
That they will be.
Able to recover those soldiers and get the.
Black.
Box.
Still.
Absolutely heartbreaking to hear that part of it, Courtney. What do we know about the identities of the individuals on the helicopter?
Yes.
So the Army did.
Release.
The names and identities.
Of.
Two of the soldiers.
Who were killed in this this tragic.
Crash. One is.
Staff.
Sergeant.
Ryan Austin.
O'Hara from Georgia.
Um, he.
Is believed.
To be.
Deceased pending positive identification. Also, Chief Warrant Officer two Andrew Lloyd Eaves of Maryland. He has not been recovered, so he's one of the two soldiers whose remains are still inside the helicopter at this point. But Kristen, the third soldier, is not being identified still at this point. That is at the request of her family. We do know.
That this.
Third soldier is a woman.
She was one of.
The only woman.
In.
This on this crew.
For.
This.
Flight.
But we know, according to Army officials, that her family has requested not to put out her name or.
A.
Photo of her at this point.
They are not.
Saying why that is. They're giving the the family some privacy here. The reality is, the Department of Defense has a very specific policy on how these things go when someone is killed in.
In.
In uniform, in any kind of situation, whether it be training or combat. There is a very specific policy and 24 hour timeline for for when they put out the names and the and the.
Identities.
Of these individuals, in this case, the way that they are, frankly, circumventing that process is the fact that her remains still are inside that helicopter because of the nature of this crash. She may need to be identified with DNA or with further identification. So right now the army is classifying her as dust one. Duty status, whereabouts unknown. The policy is different for someone who is dust one. They do not have to be identified. So it's just a. It's unclear at this point if the Army will actually release her name again. At this point, they're trying to follow the family's wishes.
So much information about such an absolutely heartbreaking story. Courtney, thank you so much for your great reporting. Really appreciate it. Joining me now is aviation expert Keith McKay. He is also bringing us his perspective as a helicopter pilot who has flown into Reagan National more than 1000 times. Thank you so much for joining us. We really appreciate it.
Well, thank you very much for having me.
I want to start by playing some of the new images that we have of the actual collision. Again, this is disturbing. So I want to warn our viewers when you look at the new footage and of course, there have been and there you see it right there. Mr. Mackay, of course, there have been a lot of questions about whether that Blackhawk helicopter was flying too high. You see both of the aircraft going in to the water. What do you make and what do you glean from this footage?
Well, we.
Learned one thing.
Positively, and.
That's that the helicopter was.
At the.
Exact altitude.
Of.
The airplane. It will be easy to determine that by the black boxes in the airplane. That you are correct. The maximum altitude for a helicopter going down the prescribed routes on the east side of the Potomac River is 200ft. That's called a hard deck. They can't penetrate this hard deck. We know that the airplane was probably in the 400 foot range. We've heard now that the helicopter was tracked being over the 200 foot mark. And we also have learned that the helicopter is very likely about a half a mile out of position. So these things will all be investigated. Now, the controller that was, uh, allowed to leave before his, uh, shift had expired was working both only helicopters and the replacement worked helicopters and airplanes. However, I don't see any evidence to indicate that the controller that replaced him was working the accident airplane. We think that the controller that was working the helicopter was different from the airplane controller. We don't think that the airplane pilot was able to hear the transmissions of the helicopter.
But that remains to be seen and it will be found out in the investigation.
So just to be clear and to put a fine point on it. Do you have concerns when you hear that the one person left early? Could that have contributed to this horrific incident?
Well, we can make the argument that if they were there, they would have been on the radio and talked to the, uh, helicopter and airplane at the same time. But actually we have the supervisor give him permission to leave, and I'm sure that he didn't think that anything dangerous was going on. But, uh, the manning of the tower was any worse than it normally was. We know that the tower there is normally understaffed. They're always short people, so that's always what most ATC facilities are. Problem. Just having enough qualified people to do the job all the time. But I don't think we can blame that.
Okay. And there are now some new helicopter restrictions over the Potomac. There's been a lot of discussion about just how busy the air traffic is at Reagan National Airport. Can you give us your sense of how busy it is? Paint a picture for us. Is that one of your concerns moving forward?
Well, let's describe the situation there. The Potomac River, of course, divides Washington, D.C., from Virginia. It flows between the two municipalities. The Washington National Airport, the Reagan Airport is on the west side of the river and the city on the east side. The capital is probably less than two miles from the river. So everything is very close proximity. If you're going up the Potomac River north past the airport, the first thing you'll see on the left side is a pentagon. So everything there is really tied together tightly. The area is noise sensitive. So as pilots, we have to generally reduce our engine power after taking off for a period of time to keep the noise footprints down on the aircraft that are circumnavigating the airspace will need to get control or permission as well. The whole Washington area is extremely limited as far as the ability of an airplane to fly how he wants. Everything is really well controlled.
Well, I know this is an investigation that is still very much in its early days. We really appreciate you, Keith McKay, for joining us and giving us your insights. Thank you so very much.
Well, thank you very much for having me, I appreciate it.
We appreciate you being here. We are following the crash investigation closely, and we'll bring you any major updates as we get them. Coming up, bracing for a trade war. The Trump administration reaffirming today its plans to hike tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, our three biggest trading partners. That starts tomorrow. Stay with us. We'll delve into all of it. You're watching Meet the Press now.
Is it your plan to deport everyone who is here illegally over the next four years? Who do you think is the leader of the Democratic Party right now? Can you guarantee that grocery prices will in fact come down? If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
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Turning now to President Trump's plan to impose potentially sweeping tariffs on imports from America's three biggest trading partners, starting tomorrow. Just moments ago, the president took questions from reporters in the Oval Office during his signing of executive orders, saying nothing can be done by China, Mexico or Canada to stop these tariffs. It all comes as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this afternoon that Canada is prepared for a, quote, forceful and immediate response. The president of Mexico also saying they are prepared. Joining me now is NBC News senior White House correspondent Garrett Hake. Garrett, thank you for sticking around for doing double duty today. So we are waiting for this playback of what we just heard from the from the president in the Oval Office. We're going to bring that to viewers as soon as they hit play there at the white House. But break down basically what we heard from the president. He is saying these tariffs are not negotiating tactics. They are going into effect tomorrow. What are you hearing?
That's right. And he says they will be levied on top of tariffs that already exist. And Kristen, this is notable in part because we've seen pushback already from the president of Mexico, from Justin Trudeau in Canada, suggesting they believe that these were negotiating tactics, that these were things that they could eventually talk Trump out of or get him to possibly delay, warning that they would be disruptive to the U.S. economy. Trump shrugs off those concerns in the Oval Office today, saying that he still believes that tariffs will make America more powerful, more wealthy in the future. He says there may be temporary short term disruptions and people will understand that. And I think this is going to be the core of where this goes and the criticism that may come in the future. And I don't want to get too ahead of events here. But if you're talking about putting 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, two of our biggest trading partners, 10% on China, you are really going to significantly affect the cost that the American people pay.
Now, the white House is arguing this won't affect inflation because they think it can be offset elsewhere. And maybe that's true, but costs will absolutely go up. Now the president also in this meeting, and it's not entirely clear to me the specifics here suggested that oil imports from Canada and Mexico might not be taxed. And that's what a tariff is at as high of a rate as what he's saying. Otherwise that it might be lower, something like 10%. Why is that important of the oil that the United States imports? About half of it comes from Canada. And not to be too geeky about this, the refineries that we have in this country can't just switch and say, all right, well, the Canadian oil is expensive. Now we're going to go get oil from somewhere else. This is all sort of a chemical process. It's very specific. What does that all mean? If the cost to bring in Canadian oil goes up, the cost to buy gas essentially in this country will almost certainly go up as well.
So after a campaign that was hinged on, if not the single most important issue, certainly one of the most important issues on rising prices and fears of inflation. Here you have an action from the president that will almost certainly, if enacted in the way that he describes, raise costs for American consumers.
Garrett, we welcome all of your geekiness here. Thank you for that. Let's go over to Brian Chung now. Brian, I should just again remind our viewers we are going to play that video from President Trump, who is signing some executive orders. Taking questions from reporters will do that as soon as we get it. So if I cut you off, Brian, it's not personal. But give us pick up where we left off. I mean, this critical question, are prices going to go up for consumers because economists of all stripes say that's what tariffs do. That's the impact that they have. Ultimately, companies have to jack up their prices and consumers wind up paying more.
Yeah. And, you know, I think you already.
Nicely kind.
Of set the stage there when it comes to.
The.
Impacts.
Of raising the cost.
For businesses.
To bring in.
Items.
From other.
Countries.
Namely our.
Major.
Trading partners.
In the.
Form of Mexico, Canada and also China. But I think we can look at the.
Economists and.
See.
Exactly what they've already.
Projected.
After.
A Trump campaign that.
To.
Be fair.
Has.
Been.
Telegraphing.
The.
Intention.
To.
Do.
These.
25% tariffs.
On Mexico and.
Canada.
As well as the 10%.
On.
China for some time.
So if you take a look at some of the projections from.
Goldman.
Sachs, for.
Example.
They say that this will lead to inflation in those respective countries as well.
So it will.
Raise prices in Canada.
By.
About 0.4%.
And rather.
By at least.
2%.
And then in Mexico it.
Will raise.
Prices by 2.5%. And then here in the United States you have EY Parthenon projecting that there will be an increase of 0.4% in inflation. So there is no.
Scenario.
That I have seen from economists that have the ability to model this out. That shows that prices would decline.
I want to point.
Out that those projections don't necessarily include the nuance of the gas and oil prices that you were just discussing and dissecting with Garrett right there. But when it comes to gas prices, that is the thing that most Americans who, as they went to the polls in November, had top of mind. Those are the prices that they are most familiar with, because they drive past them on a daily basis to fill up their gas on a weekly basis. So I think that that's going to be the thing that people will notice almost immediately if those oil tariffs come to pass, which again, could be a separate process, maybe just weeks from now. Kristen.
Brian, it's such an important point. Just zooming out a little bit. I mean, President Trump got elected in part because he promised to bring down prices. We all know it's actually very hard for the president to bring down prices because he doesn't have direct control over prices. But, Brian, explain to people why that process is so hard. It's, of course, something that President Biden spent a lot of time talking about as well.
Yeah. Well, look, when it comes to inflation, it is unequivocally a fact that prices have gone up dramatically in this country in the post pandemic period. I think the challenge is decoupling the reasons for why certain prices, which we happen to notice the most, have gone up. Eggs have been the talking point. Let's just face it. Over the past few weeks and they have gone up. They've gone up by 20% over the last year. But the challenge with eggs is that the same reason for why egg prices are going up are not the same reason why rent prices are going up, are not the same reason why oil prices might be going up. And that's because when it comes to eggs, it is because of an avian flu that has wiped out millions of birds, forcing farms in some cases to kill the entirety of the herds that they have on their farms, who, you know, those chickens would otherwise be producing the eggs that would make those prices lower. Now, is that something that the administration or the Federal Reserve or any economist could address immediately?
Not necessarily, unless we magically find a million birds somewhere, but those are the prices that people feel at the store because they see them so frequently. Now, when it comes to the overall picture, you have the Federal Reserve that has been lowering interest rates until last year. Just this Wednesday, they opted not to do anything with interest rates as they kind of navigate the uncertainty around tariffs as one of the factors. But look, when it comes to inflation coming down, it's already on a yearly basis much lower than it was in 2022. But those price increases are still uncomfortable for a lot of Americans that still still feel the pinch.
Garrett, we have about 30s. It's always possible he does wind up negotiating, renegotiating that trade deal that he negotiated during his first term. Right. Just about 20s now.
I think it's absolutely possible, probably bordering on likely. Certainly, the presence of the president of Mexico, the prime minister of Canada, are going to want to see that happen, especially if that's the only way to get out from underneath new tariffs. But it's also, I think, an acknowledgment whether the president wants to frame it this way or not. Kristen, of flaws in that original agreement.
All right. Garrett. Brian, thanks so much for hanging out to help us dissect all of this. And again, just moments from now, we are going to hear from President Trump in the Oval Office. Here's the president. Anything. China, Canada and Mexico can do.
Tonight.
To.
Forestall your implementation.
Of tariffs tomorrow.
No, no, not right now.
No.
Not a negotiating tool.
No it's not. No. It's a pure economic we have big deficits with, as you know, with all three of them. And in one case they're sending massive amounts of fentanyl, killing hundreds of thousands of people a year with the fentanyl. And in the other two cases, they're making it possible for this poison to get in number one. And number two, we have big deficits. And it's something we're doing. And we'll we'll possibly very substantially increase it or not. We'll see how it is. But it's it's a lot of money coming to the United States, as you know. We have about a $200 billion deficit with with Canada getting close to $200 billion. It's they've treated us very unfairly. And I say, why should we be subsidizing Canada? They you know, it's wonderful. I have so many friends in Canada. It's a great place.
Is there a concession you're looking for, sir?
No, we're not looking for a concession. And we'll just see what happens. We'll see what happens. With Mexico, it's the same thing. We have a $250 billion deficit, and we have a lot of people coming into the border. And now we've largely stopped that, but we've stopped that ourselves. And I think they've done a fantastic job. You've seen the numbers. They've dropped to almost zero. But we've suffered under the past administration for years and years. We've suffered with millions of criminals coming into our country, criminals, people from jails, from all over the world. They come through Mexico and they come through Canada, too. A lot of them come through Canada and a lot of lot of fentanyl comes through Canada, and China makes the fentanyl. You know, China makes the fentanyl, gives it to Mexico, puts it through Canada, puts it through different different places, mostly Mexico, but also a lot through Canada. And so all three haven't treated us very well.
There were.
Significant I.
Ask you about your meeting.
With Nvidia.
What did you talk about.
And do.
You think you need to.
Ban more of the chips that they're.
Selling to China?
Well, he's a great gentleman and I hadn't met him. He's the biggest in the world in terms of chips. And, uh, I can't say what's going to happen. We had a meeting. It was a good meeting. But eventually we're going to put tariffs on chips. We're going to put tariffs on oil and gas. That will happen fairly soon I think around the 18th of February. And we're going to put a lot of tariffs on steel. We already have tariffs on steel. And we've saved our steel industry. But that was relatively small compared to what it will be. But we're going to be putting tariffs on steel and aluminum and ultimately copper. Copper will take a little bit longer and that will happen pretty quickly. It will mean it will be a great boost for our steel industry. It will make our steel industry very strong. If I didn't put the tariffs on years ago on steel, which actually Biden left because there was so much money that they couldn't do anything about it, I think we would have lost.
We wouldn't have one steel mill in this country if I didn't do that. We saved the steel industry, so it was an honor to do it. And I think the people that love me most in the whole world are people that make steel. But we're going to be putting sometime this month. Next month we're going to be putting tariffs on steel and aluminum. And we'll give you an announcement as to what the exact date is. But it will be a tremendous amount of money for our country, a tremendous amount. These are big numbers. And in addition to that. And you see the power of the tariff. I mean, the tariff is and nobody can compete with us because we have by far the biggest piggy bank. And so that will take place very quickly. But also we'll be doing pharmaceuticals and to bring our industry back, we want to bring pharmaceuticals back to the country. And the way you bring it back to the country is by putting up a wall, and the wall is a tariff wall.
We were the richest country in the world. We were at our richest from 1870 to 1913. That's when we had we were a tariff country. And then they went to an income tax concept. And, you know, how did that work out? It's fine. I mean, it's okay, but it would have been very much better. So we'll be doing pharmaceuticals importantly and drugs, medicines. ET cetera. All forms of medicine and pharmaceuticals. And we'll be doing very importantly steel. And we'll also be doing chips and things associated with chips.
And so.
What.
Do you plan on talking with.
The Japanese.
Prime Minister about next Friday when you all.
Meet?
Well, he's coming in next week. I don't know if he asked for a meeting. And I have great respect for Japan. I like Japan. Prime Minister Abe was a very close friend of mine. What happened to him was so sad. One of the saddest days. But they're coming in to speak to me and I look forward to it.
Mr. president.
On.
The crash, do you have any concerns that your commentary about.
Things.
You have described as.
Common.
Sense.
Or your.
Observations.
Could in.
Any way interfere with the thorough investigation of the crash?
No, I think they'll do an investigation. It'll probably come out the way I said it. I like to put it up front. I'm so tired of listening to things happen to our country. And then people say, we'll do an investigation. And three years later, they come out with a report that nobody looks at, especially not in all cases. Can you do that? But in this case, you know, you had a you had a had a helicopter? That was the Black Hawk was too high. It was above the 200 limit by double. It shouldn't have been there. And there were some other mistakes made too. And I pointed them out also, and I was right on all of it. But they'll still do an investigation just to check it out. But I think that's commander in chief.
Are you at all concerned about opining.
About the.
Army and.
The conduct of that aircraft when you are.
Commander.
In chief.
And these are the people who report.
To.
You.
And there is an.
Investigation.
Ongoing?
This was all caused by bad rules, regulations and other things by Biden. The Biden administration. And when you look at the way they ran things, in fact, if you look, we hired one of the first things I told them to do. I said, get talented people in those in those beautiful towers overlooking runways. You better get them in there fast, because we don't have people there that are qualified. And you knew that because planes were landing very, very late. They were circling all over the over the place. We had people that didn't know what the hell they were doing. And so there are planes in the air everywhere.
And and there are other air traffic.
Pardon me.
Sir.
They, uh, we have to have the best people, the smartest people, the sharpest people as control tower experts. And that's what they have to be. They have to be experts and they have to be very smart. And we didn't have our best. And if you read the quote that I read yesterday at the news conference, it talked about people that were psychologically injured, were okay, and people that had lots of problems were okay. I'd read it again if you'd like me to, but I don't think I have to waste your time.
Concerned, though, sir, with planes in the air all around the country, people relying on that as safety. Are you suggesting there's an ongoing risk?
No, I think there's very little risk. But I think that we have to make sure that this never happens again. Very, very little risk. And we're taking actions that this can't happen again. The helicopter, as you know, was out of its own shouldn't have been out of its own. It was at the same height as the airplane. Now the airplane was coming down on its track. It was perfect. It was in perfect shape, coming down, and something was in its way. You can't let that happen, and it won't be happening again. And this was all because of weak rules in the Biden administration, and we're just not going to let that kind of thing happen again and again. I could wait and I could, you know, give a report in two years like they always do. And sometimes it's obvious. In this case, to me, it was very obvious. And I think I've been proven. Proven to be very correct. Yeah.
What do you expect from your meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu next week?
I expect a lot of good things from all meetings. I expect good things. Marco Rubio, as you know, is going to make a tour of various countries in South America. He's going to be meeting in Panama, where Panama has treated us very badly. They gave him rather them rather foolishly. A thing called the Panama Canal. The most expensive project we ever built, if you look at today's numbers. Most expensive ever built. We lost 38,000 men. In that case, all men. Just about all men. 38,000 to the mosquito, to malaria and various other problems that you get from jungles. It was a tremendously costly event. We built the Panama Canal 110 years ago. Think of it. The most expensive development we ever did. And really, one of the wonders of the world. One of the great wonders of the world. And we didn't give it to China. We gave it to Panama. And Panama has been ripping down all the China language signs. They've been working like mad to try.
But about 70% of the signs were up and they were written in Chinese. And that's not the deal. So we're going to take it back. They've already offered to do many things, but we think it's appropriate that we take it back. They've totally violated the agreement. We have an agreement. They violated the agreement. And Marco Rubio is going over there to talk to the, uh, to the gentleman that's in charge.
Do you still think it's a good idea for.
Jordan and Egypt to be taking in Palestinians when they reject the idea? And the Palestinians who are living now in Egypt?
I think Jordan will take people. Yeah, people from Gaza. And I think Egypt will take them also. I mean, I heard somebody said they're not going to, but I think they will. I feel confident they will.
Mr. president.
Will you will tomorrow's tariffs.
Include oil.
What will.
Tomorrow's.
Tariffs be include inclusive of Canadian crude.
Uh I'm probably going to reduce the tariff a little bit on that. We think we're going to bring it down to 10% on the oil. So it's 25% on the on the Canada side.
Mr. president, are these tariffs.
Stacking on top of already existing tariffs.
On top of whatever may be existing.
Mr. president.
I ask a question about Venezuela. Ric Grenell.
Was seen on state TV.
Shaking.
Hands with.
President.
Maduro. Is there any concern that that might lend legitimacy to the Maduro administration?
No. We want to do something with Venezuela. We've been I've been a very big opponent of Venezuela and Maduro. They've treated us not so good, but they've treated more importantly, the Venezuelan people very badly. We have tremendous Venezuelan population. I got 92% of the vote. The Venezuelans vote. Now we want to see what we can do to get people back in their homeland safe and free and all. He's meeting with a lot of different people, but we're we are for the people of Venezuela. We're for the Venezuelan Americans. If you look at it, we have them all in Florida, right around the Doral area. That's where that's really they call it Little Venezuela, right? And they voted for me close to 100%. So we'll see what we can do to straighten out the situation in Venezuela. Venezuela is, uh, has been very unfortunate. I was very surprised when I saw that Biden agreed to buy a lot of oil from Venezuela, because Venezuela was just about finished. The the dictator.
And when that happened, it brought him back to life. You know, Biden went out and they they buy millions of barrels of oil. I said, what's that all about? So we're not going to let that stupid stuff happen. So we'll see what happens. We're not happy with Venezuela. We don't like the way they've treated, uh, the Venezuelans at all.
Mr. president, there is some.
Uh.
Warnings or.
Messages.
That government websites will be shut down this evening to scrub them.
Of die content.
Can you confirm.
If that's.
Actually shut.
Down? Government websites, excuse me.
Will be shut down this evening to scrub them of die content.
Can you.
Confirm whether that's accurate and if there are any.
Concerns? I don't know, it doesn't sound like a bad idea to me. I would have ruined our country, and now it's dead. I think the AI is dead. So if they want to scrub the website, that's okay with me. But, uh, I can't tell you. I guess probably certain people handle it certain ways, but I'll tell you who's very happy about it. The military, the real leaders, the real generals in the military. They're very happy about it. Doug is very happy about it. He's got a big, big, uh, group of people that are going to be working for him are really starting right now. You just got signed up, and, uh, they're very happy about it. He had a lot of die. Everybody did. But he has not been a fan. It would have really. It was really hurting our country badly. It was costing a lot of money to do. You see the kind of money we're talking about? Hundreds of millions of dollars for nonsense.
Now we have a we have our country back. Now our country is back. And it's a it's a nice thing to say. I've never seen such love. I've never had anything like it. I've never seen anything like it. People are coming up, sir. Thank you for bringing our country back. We were losing our country, and I think we're stronger now than we've been in many, many decades.
At the Department.
Of State.
On your call with Vladimir Putin.
Well, we'll be we'll be speaking. We've been we'll be speaking. And I think we'll perhaps do something that will be significant. We want to end that war. That war would have never started if I was president. And we want to end that war. That war is a horrible war. Millions of young people are being killed, mostly on the lines now, mostly at soldiers. But the cities have been largely destroyed. Many of them. They're like demolition sites, but the soldiers are just shooting at each other, you know, it's a very flat land. I said this the last time. Very, very flat land. The only place that a bullet stops is when it hits a person and they're hitting a lot of people. They're hitting a lot of soldiers on both sides. You know, I think Russia would probably say close to 800,000 and Ukraine 6 or 700,000. And it's it's just a senseless situation and it's got to stop. So whatever I can do to stop it and we are having discussions.
Yes.
Ongoing.
Already scheduled and ongoing.
Are you talking?
Yes.
So you've already spoken to Vladimir Putin?
I don't want to say that, but we are having very serious discussions.
The reason.
You don't want.
To. We are. Well, I just don't want to say that we're having very serious discussions about that. We're trying to get it ended.
With Russia.
With Russia. Yeah.
At the Department of Justice.
And the FBI.
There are a number of high level people who are being asked to resign or are being told they are going to be fired. Did you specifically request any actions at the bureau or DOJ with respect to respect to those employees?
No, but we have some very bad people over there. It was weaponized at a level that nobody's ever seen before. They came after a lot of people like me, but they came after a lot of people. No, I wasn't involved in it. I'll have to see what is exactly going on after this is finished. But if they fired some people over there, that's a good thing, because they were very bad. They were very corrupt people, very corrupt. And they hurt our country very badly with the weaponization they used. They used the Justice Department to go after their political opponent, which in itself is illegal. And obviously it didn't work.
Are you.
Going.
To impose tariffs on the European Union?
What does that mean?
Are you going to impose tariffs on European Union like you did? You are going to do for Mexico and Canada?
Well, you're asking me a question because I'm sure you didn't hear. Am I going to impose tariffs on the European Union. Do Do you want the truthful answer or should I give you a political answer? Absolutely. Absolutely. The European Union has treated us so terribly.
You promised Americans to try to reduce costs in so many of the products that would.
Be.
Tariffed when they come into the country. The outgoing country is not paying the tariff. The buyers in the United States pay that.
And then.
That's passed on.
To consumers.
In most.
Instances.
Sometimes.
How would.
You.
Expect to.
Have.
Prices come down if you.
Have such a broad plan for tariffs? And what do you say to the voters who.
Want.
To see.
You reduce.
Everyday.
Costs?
Well, let me just tell you that I got elected for a lot of reasons. Number one was the border. Number two was inflation because I had almost no inflation. And yet I charged hundreds of billions of dollars of tariffs to countries. And I think of it, I had almost no inflation and took in $600 Hundred billion dollars of money from other countries. And tariffs don't cause inflation. They cause success. Cause big success. So we're going to have great success. There could be some temporary short term disruption and people will understand that. I had that when I negotiated some of the good deals for the farmers. And unfortunately, those deals have been led astray by Biden and his people because they didn't enforce the deals. We have a deal with China, which is phenomenal for the farmers, but there was nobody to enforce it in the Biden administration. They let them get away with murder. So that's another thing we're going to be bringing. Do you accept? Wait a minute. They committed to buying $50 billion worth of farm product, and they did it when I was president.
As soon as I left, they stopped doing it because there was nobody in Biden to enforce it. But the tariffs are going to make us very rich and very strong, and we're going to treat other countries very fairly. But if you think about it, Other countries charge US tariffs. We don't charge them tariffs. And it's about time that that changes.
Do you are you.
Concerned about the market reaction around tariffs.
No. No tariffs. The word tariff is a very misunderstood word. You've heard me say I say it kiddingly. But uh it's one of the most beautiful words in the dictionary. Really is. And we've been taken advantage of because others have charged us VAT. As an example, the European Union charges us 20% plus plus plus a VAT tax called a VAT tax. Very similar. And it costs us an absolute fortune. We are treated so badly. They don't take our cars, they don't take our farm products. Essentially, they don't take almost anything. And we have a tremendous deficit with the European Union. So we'll be doing something very substantial with the European Union. We're going to bring the level up to where it should be. And if you think of the European Union, then you go to NATO. It's largely the same group of countries. Until I came along, I mean, we were paying almost 100% of NATO only to get bad trade deals. And now, uh, it's been evened out, but very unfair.
Having to do it was evened out pretty good. Actually, I did a good job. They paid, uh, $440 billion. If you look at the secretary general's report, and he was here recently and he said that he said one of the most amazing things I've ever seen is what President Trump was able to do with these countries of Europe, of which he was in charge of them, but he couldn't get them to pay. I went over and said, you got to pay, and if you don't pay, we're not going to protect you. It's very simple, but, uh, very unfair is with Ukraine because we're in for $300 billion plus and they're in probably for 100 billion. There's a $200 billion difference, and they need it more than we do. You know, we have an ocean in between. They don't. And so they're going to have to step it up a little bit.
With efforts to reduce the federal.
Workforce.
Whether.
It's offering.
What we've called the buyout package or other efforts, do you have any concerns that there will be employees broadly across the federal government who might take that up? And they're a part of the many different ways that agencies protect the.
Public, from.
Food inspections to water safety to.
Everybody's replaceable, and we'll get very good people to replace them. If it turns out to be more than we thought, it could be a lot. It could be a little. We don't know. But we'd love to have them leave. We're trying to remember this. We want them to go into the private sector. It's our dream to have everybody almost working in the private sector, not in the public sector. We have many people. Very few people came to work. They were, you know, it started more or less with Covid, but actually even before Covid. But it started with, with the Covid, they didn't come back. And then Biden let them get away with murder. And they you know, we had a federal workforce like 4% coming into the office, and that just doesn't work. You know, people can say it does, but it doesn't work. You have to be unified in a group in the office. It's just it was crazy. You don't know what they're doing.
And then at some point, we may ask them to certify that they didn't have two jobs. Meaning, were they really getting a check from us, the government? And then were they also working a second job and a third job? And, you know, on on government time. And many of them will say that they did you know, which is which is not legal, but it's a problem. It's a problem. No, we want to get that out. We want to clean it out. You know, people have been trying to reduce federal government now for 40 years, 45 years, and they haven't been able to do it. And this is a way of doing it, I think very nicely. It's sort of a buyout too. I think we're treating people very good, but people don't come to the office. They won't have a have a job starting on that very special date. So we'll see how that works out. I mean, nobody knows how that's going to turn out.
Everybody might show up to the office and maybe a large number won't show up. But if they don't show up, we've accomplished a very serious goal. We're trying to reduce government.
Does Mr. Musk or any of those associated with your Doge effort? Do they have any direct access through the government systems to how money is dispersed?
No. Nothing? No. They are. This has nothing to do also with the federal cutting, you know, with this federal cutting. This is very separate. This is if you don't show up, you don't get paid. But Doge, I think great progress has been made. We're talking about cutting, uh, over $1 trillion of waste. We're talking about waste. We're not talking about we're going to love and cherish Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid. We're not going to do anything with that other than if we can find some abuse or waste. We'll do something, but the people won't be affected. It will only be more effective and better. And our country, as our country gets richer, the people on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, those people are going to be more secure. If Biden had gotten elected, Social Security was going to fail because the country was failing. It was going to fail. The country was going to fail. And therefore their Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and all of the other things that you may get would not be able to be paid.
Our country is getting very strong and you see it. I think more progress has been made in the last 2 or 3 weeks than has been made in the last four years, I think not only has more progress been made in the last four years, it's I call it deep progress. We went way backward as a country in so many different ways, from woke to all of the other things that took place that were so bad. You look at Afghanistan, how embarrassing that was. I think Afghanistan really started the problem with Russia and Ukraine when Putin looked over and he saw how incompetently that was handled. I was getting out, but I was going to keep Bagram. Right now China has Bagram. I was going to keep one of the biggest air bases in the world. They left it. But I was other than Bagram, I was going to get out and I wasn't keeping Bagram for Afghanistan. I was keeping it for China because it's one hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons. And we were keeping it.
So we have a lot of great things happening in our country. And we appreciate that you're here. And I'm really thrilled about Doug, and I'm really thrilled about his friend Chris Wright, who's a legend in the oil business. Right. They keep telling me, Kathryn, he's like a legend and he's a legend too in a lot of businesses. And we have an amazing group of people working with us. There's a man behind me who became a tremendous success. He was not a was not a wealthy man. He didn't start off a wealthy man, and he ended up a wealthy man. And, you know, that's a great talent. And he's willing to sacrifice so much and to put it to work for our country. Watch the job he job he does on the interior, but in particular on really making our country very, very wealthy by utilizing it properly and at the same time, environmentally. He does it very. He's very much an environmentalist. He's going to do it very carefully and very painstakingly.
Good. But you just watch what happens. And working with the Department of Energy, where his compatriot, his friend, and also consider the most talented man in the oil business is the head of the Department of Energy. And they work together. It's almost like a partnership. It really is a partnership. And watch what that does for our country. It will be a fantastic thing to see. Thank you very much, everybody.
Thank you. Thank you Fred.
Thank you.
You are listening there to President Trump taking questions from reporters in the Oval Office, including our colleague Kelly O'Donnell, there with a number of questions. Just a couple of key takeaways in our. Garrett Hake is still with me to break down what we just heard. He doubled down on his decision to impose tariffs, saying he wouldn't rule out tariffs against the European Union. But he defended imposing tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, which will be going into effect. He said, as soon as he announces it this weekend. Also defending his handling of the horrific crash here in Washington. His baseless claims that somehow diversity programs may have played a role again, saying no, he's not aware of a direct link. But defending his response broadly, also saying he wasn't tuned into the decision to potentially purge some of those who work at the FBI, but saying there are very bad people who work there. So he'll get briefed on that after he said he finishes his remarks to reporters, saying it would be fine with him if diversity programs, so-called diversity and equity inclusion programs are removed from government websites and then notably saying that we'll be speaking.
When asked whether he had spoken to Vladimir Putin, saying that perhaps something significant could happen. We want to end the war, he says. So a number of headlines there. Garrett, let's start on that last one with Russia and Ukraine. I thought that was a very notable headline. Kelly O'Donnell pressing him repeatedly. Have you spoken to Vladimir Putin? Why don't you want to say he wouldn't say whether they've spoken, but making it very clear that this is a key priority.
Yeah. And Kristen, that's been his position for months now. On Putin neither confirming or denying any conversation. The Kremlin has long denied that they've spoken. I think since Trump left office after his first term, I think is the Kremlin's position on this. But it's very clear from the context around that, the way that he talked about it, that there has been clearly some government level or sort of middle man level outreach here between the United States and Russia. The president has sort of shifted his tone on Russia in the last couple of weeks. During the campaign, he would talk about how Putin and Zelensky both had to give if there was going to be peace, and he said that there would be peace on day one, a metric. He's our goalpost. He's now missed entirely. But he started to say recently that Zelenskyy is ready to make a deal, and that Putin needs to be willing to come to the table. Putin needs to be willing to make a deal. I don't know whether there's been a sort of an actual change behind the scenes in the posture with Putin, or the prospects of there being a meeting between the president and Putin, or perhaps a trilateral meeting between all three leaders, or whether this is just a big tease.
But it is at least that from the president suggesting that there could be something more in the works here, which is something he's wanted to do for quite some time.
All right. Garrett Haake, thank you for sticking with us for the hour. We very much appreciate it. We will be back Monday with more Meet the Press now. And if it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press on your local NBC news station. I'll have exclusive interviews with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Senators Mark Kelly and Eric Schmidt. The news continues with Ellison Barber in for Hallie Jackson right now.
We're coming on the air with a new update any minute now from.
The.
NTSB on the.
Deadly.
Air.
Collision.
Over the Potomac.
Those black.
Boxes, apparently.
In good.
Condition as we get disturbing new video.
Showing the.
Moment.
Of impact.
The stories of some of the lives.
Lost, including.
The helicopter pilots, will take.
You to that press conference.
Live this.
Hour.
We're also live tonight at the white House with the tariff Two-Step from President Trump.
New moves.
Against.
Canada and Mexico.
To.
Go into effect.
Tomorrow and they might give.
You sticker shock the next time.
You hit up the grocery store.
Plus, the.
New pressure.
Against some big name media organizations that could cost them.
Millions. What it might say about what.
You watch in the Trump administration.
Then, in tonight's.
Original, how.
Some.
Activists are.
Aiming at target's bullseye over its.
Decision to walk back from its Dei.
Policies and the racist.
Post from.
The lead actress of the.
Top nominated.
Film.
At the.
Oscars.
Completely.
Shaking.
Up the awards season. How she's.
Responding.
Later in.
The show.
Hey, I'm Allison in for Hallie, and any minute we will hear from investigators looking into that deadly collision between an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter which killed 67 people. We're going to bring you that live. The tragedy caught on video in this new clip first obtained by CNN.
Which shows.
In.
Clearer detail the moment of impact. But we will warn you, it is very disturbing.
Take a look. The helicopter approaches the American Airlines jet as it gets ready to land.
Then a huge.
Fireball, both aircrafts plummeting into the water.
Right now you can see crews.
On the Potomac preparing to lift some wreckage out of the water. They've already recovered at least 41 bodies, but the fire chief said that they do expect to pull more from the plane's fuselage.
In.
The coming days. We told you last night.
Crews.
Recovered the black boxes from the commercial plane, but the black boxes from the helicopter, those are apparently still out of reach. We are also learning tonight the identities.
Of two.
Of the soldiers on board that helicopter, both decorated with several.
Medals.
And awards. As we.
Mentioned.
67 people lost their lives in this tragedy. Many of them highly competitive figure skaters, among others, that came from all.
Different.
Walks of lives.
You can see some of their names and faces here, and we are going to tell you more.
About them, at.
Least what we.
Know right now. In just a minute. Our teams are covering all angles.
We're joined by NBC's Courtney.
Kube and Emily Akita. But we're going to start with Erin McLaughlin, who is at Reagan Washington National Airport in.
Arlington, Virginia.
So, Erin, the NTSB.
Is telling NBC news that.
These black boxes, the ones they recovered from the plane, are in good condition. Should we expect to learn anything at this upcoming press conference about what is actually on them?
Yeah, we understand from sources from the NTSB that they have had an opportunity to analyze those two black boxes, seen as essential pieces of information from the jet in question that will be able to tell them things such as the speed of the plane, its trajectory, its altitude at the time of the collision. Still question marks, though, over the black boxes from the Blackhawk helicopter. Those black boxes have yet to be recovered, and that's critical information. Given that the NTSB is currently investigating whether that Black Hawk helicopter was flying simply too high. Now, there has been some information from the Black Hawk transponder's signal to flights such as Flightradar24 that indicate that perhaps it was flying too high, some 350ft to 400ft over the Potomac. The standard is 200ft. The question, of course, would be why was it flying that high if in fact, that is the case? And NTSB officials are saying they need those black boxes to build a more precise picture about the helicopters altitude. One of the critical pieces to establishing the the probable cause of the collision.
Allison and.
Erin, the FAA.
Is.
Adding new restrictions.
They.
Say, on.
Helicopters flying.
In.
The D.C. area.
Airspace.
You mentioned there about these questions.
Surrounding.
How high the helicopter was.
We've also.
Been learning about a close call that happened just 24 hours before this.
When a different.
Plane had to abort a abort a landing because a helicopter.
Was flying.
Nearby. What can you tell us about that incident?
Yeah, that has to do with the Republic Airways flight that was landing at Reagan National Airport, proceeding to land, and had to abort that landing. It said because of a helicopter below. I want to play a piece of the audio exchange between that jet in question and air traffic control. Take a listen.
We had an RA 4514 going around three 4514. What was the reason for the go around? We had an RA with a helicopter traffic below us.
Now they're talking there about an RA. That's a resolution advisory, which is an emergency airline code indicating that a plane needs to make an emergency maneuver for safety reasons. So that begs even more questions. That incident likely to also play into what will be an exhaustive NTSB investigation. Remember, there's about 100 helicopter flights that fly around Reagan National Airport on any given day. Those flights having been suspended along two separate routes, save for emergency purposes for safety reasons. Remember, the NTSB not only is going to be working to establish the positive the probable cause of this collision, but also making key recommendations going forward so that this never happens again.
And, Erin.
One of.
The things that.
NBC.
You included, have been reporting on for quite a while.
Are the.
Staffing challenges that all airports have faced in.
Recent years.
The Air Traffic Controllers union has said that they are still short.
Of the number they need to be.
Fully staffed, and that right now thousands of controllers are still in the training stages. Talk to us about that. How has that issue? Even prior to this impacted Reagan.
Airport.
Specifically?
Yeah, well, according to the New York Times, they had some pretty shocking reporting on this. According to data that The New York Times New York Times saw from 2023, Reagan National Airport employs 19 air traffic controllers. The optimal level for that is 30 air traffic controllers, so they were well short of the optimal levels. And we know that across the country, at airports across the country, they have been sounding the alarm. Officials inside of these airports screaming, in fact, that they're short staffed. And the question being, you know, when will that training come into fruition? When will these staffing levels? A lot of it has to do with the pandemic and the shortfalls during the pandemic. When will they be able to catch up to restore that sense of safety? Again, all of that also likely to be part of this ongoing investigation.
All right. Erin McLaughlin, thank you.
Courtney, let's bring.
You in here. And for our viewers.
They are also.
Looking.
At.
On their screen right now, in addition to the setup.
For the NTSB.
Press conference that.
We expect.
To get coming up soon, there is also a live look right now at the recovery efforts.
On.
The.
Potomac.
As Erin was just talking about that helicopter, the black box inside of the Black Hawk, that is.
Seemingly.
The main focus of the investigation right now.
Do we know why.
Crews haven't been able to recover it so far?
Yes.
So it seems.
There is.
There is a part of the.
Helicopter.
That was.
Sort of flipped upside down.
There's additional.
Water pressure. Obviously, it's.
In.
The water that has made recovery of both the two soldiers.
Who are.
Still inside the wreckage and the black box more difficult and more dangerous for rescue crews. So it has taken longer than expected. But I will say military officials who we've spoken with are very confident that they'll both be able to get the remains of those two fallen soldiers and the black box out safely.
We are also.
Learning.
Tonight from.
The.
Army. The identification of.
Two of the soldiers who were killed in the crash, is that going.
To offer.
Any clues as to their.
Backgrounds and experience.
Levels before they embarked on this training mission?
Well, Allison.
We were.
Already hearing a lot about their backgrounds.
From Army officials even before we had their names. You can see them there on the screen. Chief Warrant Officer two Andrew Lloyd is from Maryland. He's one of the soldiers who is still in that wreckage. Unfortunately, Staff Sergeant Ryan Austin O'Hara from Georgia, he was the chief on the on the helicopter. And he was recovered earlier on yesterday. Now, the third soldier's identity. The family has requested that she not be. Her name not be and photo not be released, frankly. And I did say she she was the one woman on the crew. We know that she is a captain. That's based off of what we heard from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in the white House briefing room yesterday, when he didn't identify the soldiers by name. But he did provide the ranks. So it's not clear why the family is asking to keep her name out of the media. But at this point, the Army and the Pentagon are respecting those wishes. So what we do know about them is, um, the one of them was an instructor pilot.
He. With more than 1000 hours in the cockpit. One was also a very experienced pilot. Army officials told us that each of the two, the pilot and the co-pilot, was perfectly capable of conducting this evaluation, this mission on their own. They were both very experienced. The chief was as well. But what's really critical here, Allison, is the fact that in addition to their flying hours that they had, they were experienced in flying in this area. It's a very restricted area as far as where helicopters and aircraft in general can go. And they were familiar with the routes and the corridors and the, the, the restrictions as far as altitude. So the big question we've been talking about the black box in this, in this Blackhawk helicopter, the two big pieces of information that are going to be really critical to this investigation include exactly how high was that helicopter flying at the point of the collision, and why was it flying at that height? So what were the communications between the Blackhawk and the air traffic control?
Those are going to be two very critical pieces of information that I think are going to shed a lot of light on exactly how this collision happened.
Yeah.
And we're seeing in these live.
Pictures.
Here a.
Crane.
Where.
They seemingly are.
Preparing.
Or have the apparatus at least to lift things out of the water as they.
Continue the.
Search. I want to ask you a little more, Courtney, about that third person.
Because.
There was a lot of.
Misinformation, a debunked.
Theory tied to this.
Individual who was aboard that flight.
I understand you have.
Some reporting.
That can help us sort of sift through the facts and the.
Fiction here. What is true.
About this.
Third person.
Who is unnamed at the family's request?
Yeah.
So late yesterday.
Social media started circulating a photo and some information about a soldier named Joe Ellis, also a black member of a Blackhawk crew in Virginia. A couple of differences. Virginia National Guard. We have verified with the U.S. military that this woman is a member of the Virginia National Guard, is assigned and is a part of a Blackhawk crew. But she was not on this flight. In fact, she has put out a video dispelling the rumors. And the reason that this has gotten so much traction on social media is because she happens to be a transgender service member. So there was a lot of hateful comments being made about her and accusations that she was one of the pilots or someone on this aircraft. And then, of course, we heard President Trump now on numerous occasions talking about how diversity issues may have been a part, played a part in this terrible, tragic, fatal collision. And she was getting the brunt of some of the people who agree with the idea of diversity may be playing a part here, but we have some video that she put out to dispel these rumors.
I think we have some of that we can play here.
I understand some people have associated me with a the.
Crash in.
DC.
And that is.
False. It is.
Insulting to the families.
To try to tie this to some sort of political agenda. They don't deserve that. I don't deserve this.
Ellison. Another tragic example of misinformation and disinformation taking hold online and it really impacting someone's life, an innocent person's life.
Courtney Kube at the Pentagon.
Thank.
You for.
Helping us understand all.
Of the facts.
Here.
We really.
Appreciate.
It.
Let's go to Emily now. She is in Ashburn, Virginia.
So, Emily.
The Ashburn Ice house, that's where you have been. They lost several.
People.
Here.
A.
Coach.
Young skaters. Talk to us about what you are learning from that community and the reaction from people there.
Well, Alison, just moments ago, we're learning just to what degree of loss they're facing. The general manager here revealing that they lost 14 people, 14 people between this ice rink. And one other one that they manage in the D.C. area were on that plane. Including skaters, their families and coaches, among them the entire. Livingston family. Two parents and their two young girls, Olivia and Everly. Who were known as the Ice Skating Sisters. I spoke with one of their dear friends alongside her mother, who remembered the special moments, the small details, especially about her friend Olivia, known as Lizzie. She said she liked to carry Stanley Cups. She had a lot of those Stanley Cups, and they would make a makeshift ice skating rink in the backyard. Here's more of what she had to say.
Olivia. She was always very, like, talkative and loud and so crazy. She was always very happy, and she would always help people if they were, like, sad or hurt.
And you can't help but feel for this community. The loss is so great, so many people and they all spent so much time together. This is an elite training program, so they're spending five, six, seven days a week, hours a day together. They do have therapy dogs and consultants on the ground here to help with this grieving process.
Emily Akita, thank.
You.
For.
Bringing us some.
Of the victim's stories here.
We really appreciate.
It.
And a.
Reminder, we are going to bring you.
This.
NTSB.
Press conference. As soon as it starts live.
We're going.
To keep.
Monitoring that.
And we're going to turn to.
Some white House news while we wait.
For.
That press conference to get underway.
Any minute.
Now.
We do also expect President Trump.
To.
Head down to Mar a Lago for the weekend as he prepares.
To implement.
Big tariffs on America's two biggest trading partners, Mexico.
And.
Canada. The white House says tariffs will go into effect tomorrow 25% on Mexico, 25% on Canada, 10% on China. Remember, despite the president's claims that other countries would pay for tariffs, that is not how they work. Importers pay them and then they pass them along to consumers. Christine Romans will explain how they may hurt your wallet in just a second. But let's start with Garrett Haig at the white House. Garrett. The president has put a lot of blame on immigration. But as our Kelly O'Donnell learned in the room with him not long ago, it sounds like there really wasn't anything that could be done to stop these tariffs. Right. Bring us up to speed here.
That certainly seems to be the case. Allison, look, this was a campaign promise from then candidate Trump to impose some version of these tariffs on not just these countries, but on others around the world for various policy reasons. The reasoning has shifted along the way. Even earlier today, his press secretary arguing this was more about drugs coming over the border about fentanyl than it was about economic reasons. But whatever the cause may be, the president has been committed to this as an economic tool and told my colleague Kelly O'Donnell in O'Donnell in the Oval Office just a few minutes ago. He's not changing his mind. Listen.
Is there anything China, Canada and Mexico can do tonight to forestall your implementation of tariffs tomorrow?
No, nothing. Not right now.
No.
Not a negotiating tool.
No it's not. No, it's a pure economic we have big deficits with, as you know, with all three of them.
The challenge for the president going forward, Alison, is he uses tariffs as like a Swiss army knife as a solution to so many different problems. But they can't solve the same problems at the same time. You can use them as a negotiating tactic or he can use them to address the trade deficit. But if he wants to keep them up, he can't really negotiate against them. Where this ends and how far it goes, I think is very much an open question.
And Garrett, the president has also carved.
Out.
Oil, at least for now, but says that he could implement.
Those tariffs.
In a couple.
Of.
Weeks. And that is something.
That would be a really big deal, right.
Because we get a lot of oil from Canada.
Yeah, that's right. About half the oil that we bring into this country does come from Canada. And U.S. refineries are essentially geared to specific products. The specific kinds of oil they get from specific places around the world. So if he were to put tariffs in place on Canadian oil, it's not like American refiners could just go shopping for a similar blend somewhere else, the the shell station or the Exxon station across the street. They would essentially have to pay those higher taxes on Canadian oil, a cost that would almost certainly be passed along to consumers. And as we have all learned over the last couple of years, one of the first places people notice rising costs, sort of see the signs of inflation is at the gas pump with those big price signs on every corner in America.
Garrett Haake at the white House.
Thank you.
NBC's senior business correspondent Christine Romans is here with us now to break down how these.
Tariffs.
Could.
Impact.
You. Okay. Let's start with because there's a lot of levels to this right. Let's start with the grocery store because people are already frustrated with the price of eggs. Where else could they see sticker shock when they head to the grocery store?
Specifically from.
Mexico. There's a.
Lot that the U.S..
Imports.
From Mexico.
I mean, you look at the.
Ingredients.
For guacamole, for example.
All of those things.
Cross.
The border.
Here.
So you could see.
Prices rise.
For.
A whole bunch of.
Different fruits.
And vegetables.
Here.
We've been watching the.
Stocks of the of the beer companies because so much of, you know, America imports so much beer, beef, fresh fruit fresh. I mean, the list goes.
On and.
On. And we do have recent data. Recent information. We look at the goods that had tariffs in the first Trump administration compared with those that didn't. And you could very.
Easily.
See there was greater inflation in the parts of the economy where there were.
Tariffs.
In the first Trump administration than in the.
Second.
Trump administration.
But the president is emphatic.
He and I love the Swiss army knife metaphor, because that is exactly how.
The.
President is using it. It's gone from fighting fentanyl to now fighting trade imbalances. The president is going.
To do this, and he's going.
To put big.
Tariffs on a lot of different.
Countries.
Let's talk about what could happen with cars, because I was struck by I think it was earlier in the week reading a quote from Mexico's economic minister where he said, look, a lot of the pickup trucks that you guys are driving that comes from here. I think he said pickup trucks specifically, in their estimation, could.
See an.
Average of a $3,000 price increase. What could really.
Happen?
President Trump himself negotiated Usmca, the Mexico-canada America Accords, to get rid of NAFTA. He's the one who negotiated how cars and trucks crossed the border in their parts. So the actually, the Mexican president has suggested he would be in violation of his own trade deal by doing this. If you look at a typical vehicle, it's probably had parts that have crossed the border maybe multiple.
Times.
Because this is a really North American supply chain here. So that's where I think there could be the biggest, most dramatic impact right away. But everything from smartphones to fruits.
And.
Fruits and vegetables, to machinery, to bicycles, to cars. All of these things could be more expensive if the president really does go out and put all these very big tariffs on.
And then there's the question of retaliation.
There's a lot the U.S. exports to. So we would expect other countries then to turn around and put tariffs on U.S. goods as well. So I think the near-term impact is uncertain.
And uncertainty.
Is what's.
Really.
Kind of roiled a.
Roiled a lot of people.
In.
Global markets, buyers.
And sellers.
Yeah. Let's talk about that, because there was a bit of a sell off after the tariff announcement today. Just if you look at.
The.
If you just look at the graphs, right, red across the board, though not necessarily dramatically so, there was also some confusion because Reuters reported that these would be pushed back to March initially. We also heard the president.
Just a moment.
Ago when he was speaking in the Oval Office, saying that he isn't going to rule out tariffs on the EU at some.
Point.
That's right. What do we expect to see in the coming days in terms of market impact?
So there was a reaction I would call that reaction muted. And here's why. It's No, this is no surprise. The president has been singing from this hymn book for months. So we knew that this was going to be happening. Some companies have already been starting to pivot. They've been shifting their production out of, for example, China. Other companies have been stockpiling things on the West Coast in warehouses. That's the business to have been in in the last year. The warehouse business on the West Coast where.
People.
Are bringing stuff in early ahead of tariffs. I think we just don't know what the long term effect is going to be, and that is going to be an uncertainty hanging over the stock market.
All right. Christine Romans, thank you.
Parts of.
Hawaii.
Today dealing with.
Heavy rain, strong winds.
And flash flooding as a massive winter storm.
Drenches.
The island. The rain.
And wind making it.
Almost impossible to see. Cars carefully trying to drive through high water. And all of that weather is going to head to the west.
Coast.
Bringing lots of rain to Washington, Oregon and Northern California. Meteorologist Bill Karins joins us now with more on it. Bill, this is a good thing, right, because the because the Pacific Northwest does need water. But could it be a bad thing as well?
Yeah, too much at one time is never a good thing. But we need these storms desperately. I mean, Hawaii took it on the chin, too. They picked up a foot of rain in one spot in Maui. So here's the huge storm. These are the Hawaiian islands down here. It's still pouring on Hilo. Hilo. We have a do have flood warnings in place. So another couple hours there and that will clear out later on tonight. So this atmospheric river is the same one that's heading for California. We haven't talked about atmospheric rivers that much this winter because we've had a huge area of high pressure that's been blocking storms from heading to the West coast. You all know what happened in California with all the fires in January. So we desperately need these storms. This is our time to get water in the West because in the summer it doesn't rain in Las Vegas. It hasn't rained in almost nine months now. So we desperately like to get some wet weather. So the current storm track this weekend takes it up in the Northern California and into the Pacific Northwest, and we call this atmospheric river.
Pineapple express starts in Hawaii and comes into California. And this one is going to have a have a pretty good area of rain with it. They're calling this a strong atmospheric river. The scale goes all the way up to extreme and 15 million people are included. And you know, we will see significant rain. Some areas will get five to even almost ten inches in the mountains.
Bill, it is also the last day of January.
Right there were. So what's coming?
I know. Tell us about it. Because what should we be expecting in February? Will there be any surprises.
Come Groundhog.
Day?
All right. So this weekend obviously we're starting February. And then as we head towards, you know, Groundhog Day. So let's first start with just the last day. First day of February. Very cold northern New England. Pretty quiet. Of course we've got that atmospheric river. So then when we start talking about groundhogs, we've got a lot of them. The most famous one is Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania. A slight chance of seeing its shadow 27, by the way, if the groundhog sees its shadow, it means it's sunny. Typically in the winter when it's sunny, it's cold. That means we're going to have additional six more weeks of winter. So we like to see that you did not see the shadow before we get that earlier spring. But yeah, maybe Woodstock Willie or Buckeye Chuck and, uh, check that out. So here's the actual forecast for Groundhog Day, and there will be some clouds in the northern portions of the Great Lakes. So we'll have to wait and see what Punxsutawney says.
If the rodent sees his shadow or not, we will be watching. And I just.
Learned if we don't like what the OG.
Groundhog says, we can just flip over to the other ones. Yeah. Staten Island Chuck, we love that bill Karins.
Thank you.
Tonight, NBC news has obtained.
A.
Memo ordering that all references to quote gender ideology be removed across the federal government. The deadline was about 20 minutes ago at 5 p.m. eastern time. The memo orders agencies to do things like take down all public websites and social media accounts that promote and these are their words promote gender ideology and turn off Microsoft Outlook features that prompt staff to write out their pronouns. It also orders an end to any employee resource groups that promote gender ideology. This happening right after.
The CDC scrubbed a.
Bunch of HIV related content from its website as a part of the president's efforts to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the federal government.
The agency started.
Taking down all content related to gender.
Identity.
Today, according to one government staffer. And HIV related pages were apparently part of that. Remember, earlier this week, the Trump administration started telling organizations and other countries to stop giving out HIV drugs bought with U.S. aid, even if they've already received the medications and are sitting in local clinics. So let's bring in Berkeley Lovelace, who has been reporting on this for us. Berkeley. What pages.
Were.
Taken down and what are you hearing from people inside of the agency on these new policies?
Yeah.
So as of this afternoon, several CDC.
Pages have.
Disappeared as officials moved to rush to meet today's deadline. So key resources.
For health.
Care providers are gone. Information about gay and bisexual men and transgender people are gone. Pages on racial disparities in HIV.
Are.
Gone. Resources on risk behaviors for youth are gone. And that's just some of the pages that have disappeared. There are many more that we're finding right now. One government staffer I spoke with called the process demoralizing. They said the officials or employees were initially unsure of how to implement this new policy, but as the deadline loomed, they were left with no choice but to take down almost everything. And so, according to them, this new policy has effectively shut down the CDC's ability to combat HIV in the very groups most impacted by this virus. And right now, they have no idea if or when these pages will be restored.
And in terms of what you've heard from experts, how have they said this will impact Aids care, particularly when it comes to minority communities?
Yeah.
So experts are deeply concerned about this change. The CDC's HIV prevention work dates back to the early 1980s. Experts warned that the moves by the Trump administration could essentially dismantle the CDC's efforts to prevent HIV because addressing disparities based on race and sex and gender identity are fundamental to their work. So HIV has long disproportionately impacted minority groups, including black and Latino people, gay and bisexual men, and transgender people. And the CDC plays a crucial role in tracking HIV infections nationwide, providing millions of grants to state and local health departments and helping lead.
On the.
Ground efforts to combat the virus. So one staffer I spoke with kind of, put it plainly, put it plainly, put it plainly. The words kind of put it plainly that like, how are we going to be able to talk about the risk if we can't acknowledge it? And so this is something that we'll have to follow very closely.
All right.
Berkeley Lovelace, thank you so much. We appreciate.
It.
Coming up, we are awaiting.
That.
Update from the NTSB on the deadly collision between an American Airlines.
Plane.
And a military helicopter, which killed 67 people.
We're going to.
Bring.
You.
That live.
Plus records showing a school software firm failed to.
Take a basic security.
Step. And it led to what may be the biggest.
Breach.
Of children's data in U.S. history. That NBC news exclusive reporting coming up in a few minutes. And how about going.
Phone.
Free? Some say it could impact your health.
Lester Holt, America's most trusted TV news anchor.
For Fox.
News, lives in the now.
All of that.
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Dry January is over, so.
Maybe.
Actually, we're going to go back a little bit. We're going to. Yeah. There we go. Phone free February.
Dry January.
Is over, so maybe it is time to try phone.
Free.
February. We are not talking about going completely cold turkey, of course.
But we've.
All gone on.
Our phone to check.
One notification and then end up scrolling through like three different apps for the next.
30 minutes. Well, that.
Is where this nonprofit campaign phone free February comes in. The goal is to get people screen times.
Down, whether.
That's before bed, at work, or.
When you are.
Out with friends or even with your family.
There.
And there is a good reason for it, right? Studies they show higher screen time is linked to higher rates of obesity, sleep problems and mental health issues. Doctor Van Gupta.
Is.
Joining us now. Doctor Gupta, just full disclosure to start.
Did not do dry January.
Not sure I can be convinced of a phone free February, but I am willing to see if you.
Can change my.
Mind.
Talk to us about what sort of issues being on your phone causes.
And.
How much of an impact. Actually lowering cell phone usage, even just a little bit, could have on us.
Well, also.
I think we're just learning the health impacts of over utilizing our phones. And you mentioned it obesity, mental health problems, just creating a sedentary life. Sleep disturbances. There's this whole gamut of health issues that, again, we're just learning about. It's an evergreen space. But exactly to your point, you know, I enjoy my occasional glass of wine. I think going from 0 to 100 or back just doesn't make sense for the vast majority of people. And so how do we mitigate our use of phones? I mean, this is where there is becoming more and more of an emphasis on do not disturb notifications when you go to bed so the phone doesn't just start popping up and causing light disturbances. Ideally, for all your viewers out there, the hours of six and 8 p.m. completely app free can completely phone free would be would be really critical. You know using screen time limits Allison something as well. When we're thinking about limiting phone use, tracking how much you utilize actually can be very alarming.
If you get this notification saying you've used your phone for six hours on average every day, that those are the types of data points that help us become more aware of what we do and what we don't do. But again, these very simple things actually can make an impact.
Yes.
So it sounds like you're saying really like we could cut our screen time by an hour, preferably at least two, as you noted in that 6.
To.
8 p.m..
And that would make a difference, right? Because the.
Average.
Screen time for American adults, at least between the ages of 16 to 64, is over seven hours.
Per day. How much.
Do we need to cut back to.
Really have an impact?
You know, I would say begin with that 6 to 8 p.m. window. There's no reason to be on it. That's dinnertime afterwards. You know, if you have a family or if you have that time to yourself, you can think about structuring it to do an evening workout followed by dinner. You have a family that's good play time. Pre bedtime routines. You don't need your phone between the hours of six and eight. And you're right, for most people that's a 33% immediate reduction. Um, also, I know it's easier said than done, but charging your phone in a place that's not directly at bedside really important. again. Ideally you don't unless you're in an emergency services you don't. Or if you're a journalist, you don't necessarily need to be on your phone between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.. So try to think about removing your phone physically from your bedroom premises. That's really important. And frankly, deleting unnecessary apps or rearranging your home screen. Distracting apps that you know you're going to go to.
Actually putting them on the second fold of your of your phone so you don't immediately go to it when you look at your phone can be another strategy.
Okay. Those are workable little tips. You may have convinced me.
Doctor Gupta. I will try it for you. Phone free. February. Thank you so.
Much.
We appreciate.
It.
Thank you.
Okay. We're going.
To bring.
In NBC's Erin McLaughlin here because officials with the National Transportation Safety Board are about to give an update on that deadly DC collision. We're going to go to that as soon as it starts. But, Erin, for now, bring us up to speed as we wait for this on what we expect to hear. And forgive us if I cut you off.
Hey, Alison. Well, this will be the first briefing from the NTSB of the day. What we know from sources is that a focus of this briefing will be on the black boxes that were recovered from the American Eagle passenger jet. According to these sources, we know that those black boxes which were recovered yesterday were in good condition, that they took the black boxes to the NTSB headquarters about a mile from where I am now. And they've been analyzing the data. So we're looking out in this press conference for a potential update in terms of what information they have gleaned from those black boxes. In particular, the black box is critical to understanding, for example, what was going on in the cockpit at the time of the crash, the plane's trajectory, the airspeed, really critical information to this ongoing investigation. Also hoping to get an update on the Black Hawk helicopter that was involved in the collision. We understand that they have yet to recover the black boxes, the flight recorder, the cockpit voice recorder from the Black Hawk, that that has been a source of focus for investigators on the Potomac today.
We saw that they were beginning to pull some of the wreckage from the Potomac. So hopefully during this press conference, we will also get an update on that. That is seen as critical, because we know from our sources at the NTSB that the altitude that the Black Hawk was flying is a major point in this investigation, in this investigation. Now, today, we have heard from officials here in the Washington, D.C. area providing what is a critical update for the families in terms of the recovery of the of the bodies involved in this collision. We know that, according to D.C. officials, they have recovered 41 bodies. Of those bodies, 28 have been positively identified. The next of kin have been notified for 18 of the victims, but critically. Alison, 26.
All right, Aaron.
We're going to pause here for an NBC special report as that.
NTSB.
Briefing gets underway.
This is an NBC news special report.
Here's Tom.
Llamas.
And good day from Washington. We are coming on the air with an update on that deadly plane crash which killed 67 people. The NTSB is about to hold its second briefing on the investigation into what caused this horrific crash. We're now learning that investigators have recovered two flight data recorders, also known as the black boxes. Let's listen.
In.
We had to.
Move this back, but they.
Are one of our.
Primary concerns.
Along.
With making sure.
We get factual information.
Out. They are having a very it's a hard time for them. Obviously we want to do everything.
We can.
To make sure they get the most accurate information and factual, and has always been at the.
Core of.
The NTSB mission. Our job is to just come out with the probable cause. But then, more importantly, make recommendations so that this type of tragedy never occurs again. So today.
I know yesterday you saw the chairman, myself and all the board.
Members here. I just want.
To let you.
Know.
They are still actively involved.
With this. We're just trying to make sure we're.
Dividing and.
Conquering.
The chairman.
And I have.
Had multiple.
Conversations.
Today. She's helped out a lot.
In making sure we're getting the investigative needs we have. And she's at the command post right now working with.
Some of our people. I'd like to start by just thanking the first responders when this first happened. A unified command was.
Set up, and we had a.
Lot.
Of important.
People that came and worked with us.
In Virginia, the Fairfax County.
Fire.
And Rescue, Fairfax.
County Fire and.
Fire and Rescue Department.
Arlington County fire and rescue. Arlington County.
Emergency management. Arlington police. Alexandria city fire.
Alexandria police. Virginia State.
Police.
The NCR Incident Management Team. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management.
The Virginia.
Department.
Of Transportation. The Virginia.
Senator Warner's.
Office. Uh.
Fire and.
Rescue team. Police. A special shout out to every one of them.
Has been amazing.
In.
Helping and working.
With us, and we're.
Truly.
Appreciative.
Along with D.C. Fire and Rescue.
Just extraordinary. Taking the lead.
Prince William fire and.
Rescue in Maryland. The Montgomery Fire and Rescue, Prince George's.
Fire.
And rescue.
Charles County fire.
And rescue.
Baltimore.
Fire.
Baltimore.
Police.
And Arundel Fire.
Department, Maryland.
State Police.
Maryland.
Natural Resource.
Police, MPD, PD.
Dcfd from the federal.
Side, the US Coast Guard, US Army, US Air Force, FBI Secret Service, Customs and Border Patrol, Park Police, DoD, Naval District, Washington, American Medical Response, and yes, the US Department of Labor. All of those.
Have been amazing.
Partners and are one of the.
Reasons why that.
This investigation continues to progress the way we want it to. As I said.
We did.
Family.
Briefings last night and today there are over 100 family members.
That.
Are now in the.
Area receiving briefings and as part of a legislative.
Requirement, receiving family.
Assistance.
They have been briefed by the.
Medical.
Examiner. The fire.
Chief.
NTSB chairman and myself, along with.
The Family Assistance Unit from.
PSA Airlines.
In regard to NTSB staff.
All staff are.
Now on.
Scene that have been.
Requested.
And I want to.
Point out one specific staff member, because we're.
Doing a joint NTSB and DoD.
Investigation. The NTSB.
Actually.
Has a Blackhawk.
Certified.
Pilot on staff.
On our personal staff.
Based.
Out.
Of Alaska. Once we realized.
The dynamics.
And the intricacies.
Of the Blackhawk.
We brought that member.
In. And they are on scene.
Now.
Providing direct.
Technical.
Assistance to the NTSB. That does not mean that the.
DoD is not working and helping with this. But in order to.
Maintain our.
Independence.
We have our own Blackhawk certified.
Pilot in.
The.
Working group.
For.
Helicopters.
Regarding salvage at this.
Point. The Navy's supervisor of salvage is conducting salvage operations at the current time.
Barges are in.
Route from Virginia Beach and we anticipate them to be.
On scene early tomorrow morning After their.
Arrival, they will.
Be secured, located and then.
Significant.
Salvage operations.
Will continue.
They are ongoing right now, but this will be the main lifting. It's being done in conjunction with the DC Medical Examiner's Office in.
Order to make sure.
Simultaneously, that any additional.
Victims.
Are.
Recovered.
And immediately turned over to them for identification and return to their families.
Which is the supervisor.
Of salvage.
Is.
Also conducting.
A.
Debris mapping right now. This will help in our post accident analysis of how the machine actually reacted to the incident. It will also.
Help.
Us with understanding.
Some of the.
Airworthiness and crashworthiness and human factors we have right now. Two distinct debris fields, Is one that houses the Sikorsky.
Which is a in.
Comparison to the.
CRJ.
A little bit similar to the CRJ is in another distinct area.
And we.
Consider a little bit.
Larger.
The good news is based upon the initial mapping. While there are some small.
Aspects of.
That debris field, there are large chunks that will be easily recoverable and it will aid in the investigation.
When we bring.
It into the secured facility that will be located here on MOA. That will help us.
In.
The close proximity to be able to review and evaluate. Yesterday, we outlined for you a number of groups that have been stood up.
A few.
Of.
Them in.
Particular, I want to call out.
Although.
Every one of them have been working very hard for your edification. The ATC Group Air Traffic Control has been conducting interviews today. They're ongoing. Tonight. They will be ongoing for probably the next few days. We've had full cooperation in getting the witnesses that we need to to gain those interviews. We will then take that information and match it with other data that we're receiving and, if necessary, conduct follow up interviews at a later time. Our operations group now has on site an exemplar airplane similar to the CRJ 700. It's on a hard stand here at NOAA. They will use that to evaluate cockpit configuration, seating, things like that. So whenever the salvage comes up, we're able to use an exemplary aircraft to match it against examples such as where maybe switches are navigational aids. Electronics. It is almost the exact same configuration as the incident aircraft. I want to clarify one thing. there's been a lot of questions and discussion regarding manifest. Let me make this very clear. The NTSB will not and has not released a manifest.
We have not in our history, not in our past. We will not be in this accident. In fact, there's specific congressional language that whenever it is in our possession, it is not available through the Freedom of Information Act. It will not be included in our report. We will not be putting any names of any of the victims. Any release of that information will come from other individuals or groups. Regarding the reporters. As many of you saw last night, we recovered from the two separate recorders. One was a FDR. That is a flight data. Recorder. 50. That was actually in what we consider good condition as part of that process. It was soaked in alcohol overnight. It was then opened today, and we have a high level of confidence that we will be able to get a full download in the very near future. Now, once we do have that download, we will not be releasing immediately the information regarding it. We will have to go through, correct the data sets, make sure they're synchronized.
This has approximately up to possibly 2000 data points.
So right.
So all of that has to be synchronized and looked at. It's a very laborious practice. It takes a lot of time. Regarding the A cockpit voice recorder. Once it was recovered and opened, we found that it had water intrusion. That is not uncommon. It is not an unusual event for us to receive a recorder with water intrusion. We deal with that all the time. Our recorder division is one of the best in the country. In the world, actually. We have recorders sent everywhere, so there's a step. The CVR was soaked overnight and ionized water, at which point the team put the CVR into a vacuum oven in order to extract moisture. They are still checking electrical connections to determine if they are ready to try a download. It is one step of many steps that we will take in order to get that data, but we have a very high level of confidence that we will have it. We just have to work through a number of steps. Lastly on reporters, the Sikorsky, where the CG has two separate reporters.
The Sikorsky has a combined cockpit voice recorder and digital flight data recorder. It's in one box. I can report to you now. We have recovered the Sikorsky Black box. It is safely at the NTSB headquarters. It will begin an evaluation, just as the other two recorders did last night, to determine when and how to take action. I can tell you from a visual inspection, we saw no exterior damage that would indicate that it was compromised at this time. So we have a high level of confidence that we will be able to have a full extraction from that as well. Those are some of the significant updates we have right now. Obviously, we'll be doing some more in the In the essence of time and making sure our team gets back, I think we're going to be able to take maybe 4 or 5 questions. I'll call on you and I'll repeat it. So we'll try to play that game a little bit, please. Right here.
Thank you.
Very much. Your name and outlet, please.
Jonathan Kerzner.
Channel nine.
Australia.
Captain Sully.
Sullenberger, one of the.
Heroes.
Of.
The.
Incident.
On the Hudson, has.
Said.
That.
He has said we.
Absolutely.
Should be reviewing airspace, not.
Just here.
But.
In other.
Places. It is.
A complex mix.
Of traffic.
Is he.
Right? He's dead. Time for.
A.
Permanent shift.
In DC.
And across the country to keep airspace safe and separated between military and civilian aircraft.
So the question for those watching, is it this time now for us to possibly deconflict or change some of the airspace where military aircraft operate with commercial aircraft? I can't give can't give you a definitive answer on that. What I can say is in this incident, it should not have happened. We have an aviation what's called a Swiss cheese approach, wherein if something fails, a backup should catch it. Multiple layers of redundancy. It's been a very long time since we've had a major aviation incident in the United States. And that's the reason why it's one of the safest forms of transportation in the country. But the only way they do that is by investigating what happens now and then making recommendations in the future. Again, the NTSB has made 100,000 aviation investigations. We've issued 15,000 recommendations. Over 84% have been accepted. Once this investigative report comes out, we will be advocating probably for years for changes that need to be made, but will not speculate on what needs to be done until we have the facts.
What is the.
Right.
Thing? Hey, I'll call on Calling people sorry.
For.
Warriors.
Can you talk.
About how long.
It will take to recover.
The debris?
How long you plan.
To be on.
Site? And have you got any early data.
Yet off.
The the ATC.
Tapes?
I think that was 3 or 4 together. Um, how long the debris will take? How long will be on site? And have we gotten any information off of the air traffic control tapes? The debris. We are hopeful once the mapping is done, that it will be done in what I would call quick order. I can make no guarantees of that, because first and foremost, we need to make every effort and to make sure we're recovering every one of the people that perished in this accident. We'll have some cranes that will be coming up. And once that happens, you'll see a lot more activity and we'll be moving that in. But I don't want to give you a definitive time. I would say it will start in earnest probably on Sunday, and it will go through next week. And some of that's contingent upon weather and other things regarding the ATC tapes. We received a lot of different information on ATC, and so I'm going to let people I'm just going to preempt it off the shelf.
Software programs are not always as accurate as the data we specifically get from Ads-b from the black boxes. All of that are factors that come into our investigation. So we will not speculate about ATC tapes that you may have heard and seen online or snippets. We are getting the full cooperation that we need to be able to make an accurate assessment and to make sure what we are saying is factual and that it will help and aid in the entire investigation.
Keith Cooper from channel seven in Boston. Is there anything glaring.
From the videos.
That we've.
All seen that.
Would tell.
You that the pilot in the Black Hawk helicopter made.
A.
Mistake?
The question is, based on the videos, have we drawn any Conclusions we have not. We know that there was a significant incident in which the two aircraft collided. A pretty significant fireball, if you will recall, even after the first day, we only had maybe 1 or 2 grainy images that were coming out. We're seeing more and more at this time. So we're still collecting data, but we are not going to opine until we see a lot of other things in there. A couple more. Yes, sir.
CNN.
How critical is.
It to interview.
The.
Controller and.
The tower cab? And how concerning.
Is it to you the.
Reports that that.
Controller.
Was working.
Two positions at the same time?
So the question was, how critical are the air traffic control interviews and basically staffing? So air traffic control interviews are critical. That's the reason why there's a process in place that began immediately after the accident. It was preservation of that evidence was immediately taking down notes, getting logs, all that information. We will go back and look at any air traffic controller that was involved in this. We will go back and look at their past, probably 72 hours, even 2 or 3 weeks. We'll look at their training, their hiring, everything, what they probably ate that day. But it is not one point that tells us everything. It's layered into a lot of other information that's very critical regarding staffing. The FAA has had a very robust plan in looking at staffing. Obviously, we'll be looking at not only staffing that day, but progressively staffing. How many people what job functions they were doing. Were they being confined? Were they not? What was the weather outside? What was the number of landings?
I recall back during Covid one runway was being used, runway one. That was the only 133. As traffic came back, started being opened up. So we would look at changes in traffic patterns. Construction at the airport, all of that. It all paints a very big picture. Follow up on that.
Have.
Who are you? Sorry.
We have investigators interviewed air traffic controllers.
Okay.
The question is, have we interviewed air traffic controllers? Yes. I think I started with sorry. I'm sorry, the clarification. Was it an air traffic controller that was working at the time of the accident? Yes. Yes, sir. Now, I'm not going to speculate. Sorry. Nope, sorry. I'm not going to speculate. The next question is, was there. One. Two. Three. I don't have the answer for that right now. I know that the controller that was working at the time has been interviewed, and his interviews are ongoing throughout the day. Yes, ma'am. Last one.
CNBC Has President.
Trump.
Reached out to you.
Personally or anyone else from the white.
House.
To you or.
Anyone.
Else on the board?
And if so, can you.
Describe.
The nature of those.
Communications?
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