Nightly News Elephantine Broadcast – March 8

Tonight President Biden hitting the campaign Trail after his fiery State of the Union speech the president launching a Battleground tour after making his case for a second term to the American people and going on the attack against former president Trump over January 6 abortion rights and Russia and tonight our interview with vice president kamla.

Harris on whether we'll see a Biden Trump debate and given the concerns about Mr Biden's age would she be ready to serve and one of the major of the president's address the Border crisis our NBC News exclusive with Republican Texas governor Greg Abbott how he grades the president's speech and why he calls The Surge at the border an invasion the.

Terrifying moments of United Airlines plane sliding off the Runway in Houston just a day after the tire fell off another United plane on takeoff the deadly Aid drop in Gaza a parachute failing to open Witnesses say at least five people on the ground were killed tracking the severe storms on the move tonight former president Trump posting a.

Nearly $92 million Bond as he appeals the egene Carol verdict the house set to vote on a bill that could ban Tick Tock would President Biden sign it what he said about that today and the mythical mystery who's leaving unicorns all around this American city this is NBC Nightly News with Lester.

Hol good evening and welcome this has been a consequential week in American politics from the super Tuesday primary Landslide setting the stage for November to the State of the Union speech last night in which President Biden found the voice Democrats had hoped for and forcefully framed the fight ahead the president touted the economic recovery.

Or as he called it The Greatest Story never told on Reproductive Rights he vowed to restore roie Wade as the law of the land and he blame Republicans for not grabbing on opportunity to secure the Border but there was no mistaking that it was also a speech about Donald Trump time after time last night Mr Biden drawing a sharp contrast between.

Himself and the former president Republican house Speaker Mike Johnson today blasting the speech as hyperparakeratosis a former Republican president tells Putin quote do whatever the hell you want I think it's outrageous and sparred with Republicans in the room you're saying L look at the.

Facts I know I know you know how to read vice president kamla Harris tonight insists the president put to rest voter concerns the 81-year-old is too old for another term did he answer those questions last night he was absolutely on fire and he answered any question that anyone might have we also asked about Republican.

Criticism of her Readiness for the job listen as it relates to me I'm ready if necessary but it's not going to be necessary the president vowing to protect abortion rights when reproductive Freedom was on the ballot we won in 2022 and 202 and we win again in 2024 and slamming Republicans for.

Rejecting a bipartisan border security bill at the urging of Mr Trump Republicans say President Biden could solve the crisis on his own by executive order the former president told the leadership of the Republican party in Congress don't put it on the floor for a vote because he has been very Unapologetic and clear he'd prefer to.

Run on a problem instead of fix a problem given the Republicans aren't going to fix those problems with Democrats why not do it by executive order the American people deserve leadership that's about fixing problems and that's why he's going to lose in November we have have a lot of work to be done but let us not negate.

The role and responsibility of leaders in Congress one of the most dramatic moments Republican Marjorie Taylor green challenging the president to say the name of lakan Riley a Georgia nursing student police say was murdered by a Venezuelan migrant who crossed into the US illegally not really I the president then picking up a button.

Green gave him Lincoln Lincoln Riley an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal that's right but how many thousands of people being killed by legals to her parents I say my heart goes out to you having lost children myself I understand after Mr Trump this week challenged President Biden to.

Debate any time anywhere any place the president today would not commit to one it depends on his behavior we pressed the vice president I haven't talked to the president yet about that but I'll tell you something on the one hand you've got Joe Biden someone who is competent who is principled and on the other side of that split screen you've.

Got the former president who glorifies dictators and has said he'll be a dictator on day one will you commit to do a debate Peter we just got through with the state of the union and I am just so excited about what we accomplished last night and our president so Peter what's some of the reaction to the speech.

You're hearing from Republicans well former president Trump was reacting in real time he described the president's address as angry and crazy top Republicans last calling the speech both divisive and partisan meanwhile as it relates to President Biden tonight already in Philadelphia he's going to be hitting five swing states in the next.

Seven days all right Peter Alexander thank you and as Peter mentioned some of the most dramatic moments in last night's speech were on immigration and nowhere is it more intense than in Texas where the governor is in illegal battle with the Biden Administration he spoke late today with our Gabe Gutierrez at the center of the Border.

Battle is Texas governor Greg Abbott repeatedly taking on the Biden Administration which he says caused the crisis there's a number one issue in America and that's securing the Border it's an issue on which uh he has failed we spoke with him late today in Austin on a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate President Biden State of the Union.

Address I give it an F for failure the governor fiercely opposes the bipartisan border security bill that President Biden is calling out Republicans for killing we can fight about fixing the Border or we can fix it Governor when did compromise become a dirty word so compromise should be effective the house has passed an.

Effective border security plan if if if Joe Biden really believes in compromise he would work with the house chamber and work with the Republicans in the Senate why not pass that bill now because the the the Senate Bill codifies illegal immigration and actually promotes even more illegal immigration Governor abbit has grabbed headlines with controversial.

Moves including busing migrants to democrat-led cities to relieve overcrowded border Towns now he's forging ahead with court battles over buoys in the real grand razor wire in Eagle Pass and the new LW which would allow local police to arrest migrants for entering Texas illegally a judge recently wrote surges in Immigration do.

Not not constitute an invasion isn't that word Invasion dangerous Governor so the the word invasion is the word that is used in the United States Constitution these are people who are coming across the border in violation of federal law in in the state of Texas meanwhile the White House has slammed many of his actions here in Texas as.

Political stunts Lester all right gab Gutierrez thank you here at home yet had another incident today involving a United Airlines jet the plane sliding off the Runway in Houston Houston then one of its landing gear collapsing Tom Castello reports on what went wrong Off The Runway tipped over and stuck in the grass a United 737 Max 8 its landing.

Gear collapsed flight 2477 Memphis to Houston touch down just before 8:00 a.m. Runway 27 land with another plane following close behind the pilots were told not to slow too much uh keep your speed up that's proof okay 24 but the plane slid off a wet Runway as a tried turning onto a taxi way another United flight close behind ordered to.

Cancel the landing United 1383 go around at 2477 I see in the grass rolling the uh trucks in route United says no passenger or crew injuries were reported the runway closed as investigators look into what happened and whether the plane's landing gear failed it comes one day after this incident in San Francisco the last departure lost the wheel on.

Departure so we're going to have to shut the runway down a United Triple 7 headed to Japan lost one of Six Tires from its main gear assembly as it took off Thursday morning the tire crashed through a fence crushing several parked cars no injuries Runway 28 right is temporarily closed the flight then diverted to LAX with investigators.

Looking into how that tire came loose ladies and gentlemen we realize and United says the Flames from that midair engine stall on Monday day may have happened after the plane's engine ingested bubble wrap debris left on the runway every flight landed with passengers safe but shaken Tom Costello NBC News Washington we are tracking.

Storms on the move tonight in the Midwest and Southeast Millions under severe risk across the Lower Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast the main threat will be damaging wind gusts large hail and flooding overnight tornadoes also a possibility tomorrow the storms move farther into the South Southeast from Florida to North Carolina want to turn.

Now of the war in Gaza the United States says all of its air drops of food have landed safely in the territory but that wasn't the case with another country's airdrop and the results were deadly Richard Engel has late details this is what an aid drop into Gaza is supposed to look like as today a Jordanian military cargo plane Drop.

Pallets of food near Gaza City they fall slowly but this also happened today as the pallets are dropped by another aircraft one of the parachutes on the right of the screen f ails to open the package comes apart in midair the pieces falling down with heavy thuds the other pallets also drop very quickly Palestinian medical officials.

And Witnesses say five people were crushed to death to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean last night President Biden announced the US military will build a pier to improve and expand the delivery of humanitarian Aid NBC News has learned it could take up to 60 days for it to be fully operational but Washington also supplies.

Israel with weapons instead of telling us they will build a port to help us stop giving the weapons they used to kill us this man said we were on an aid drop yesterday as a Jordanian military C130 flew over Northern Gaza they've just given the signal that they're ready to drop the carried tens of thousands of meals our.

Crew filmed as hungry people went searching for food as they searched they approached Israeli troops because that's where the food Aid was not long after an explosion can be heard and an injured man is taken from the area the Israeli military says its troops have opened fire on those who appear to pose a threat gazin face an.

Impossible dilemma do nothing and go hungry and maybe starve or search for food at the risk of being shot or hit by raining pallets Lester Richard angle thank you the military's troubled Osprey Aircraft has been cleared for return to flight even before investigators fully determine how recent deadly crashes happen Courtney Cub reports tonight.

After grounding all v22 Osprey Aircraft following a fatal crash last year the Pentagon is now putting them back in the sky the secretary confident in the Osprey Aircraft that it's safe I think the secretary is confident in the steps that have been taken uh to return it to flight the Marine Corp plan includes three phases extensive maintenance.

Checks refresher training for Pilots with a goal of all aircraft flying again by summer but tonight officials still do not fully understand the fatal crash in Japan that led to the grounding last month NBC News reported the Japan crash centered around a problem in the prop RoR gearbox according to officials familiar with the investigation Pentagon.

Officials not publicly confirming that but acknowledging the part that failed on the aircraft was unprecedented and they still don't know why it happened there have been four other Osprey crashes in the last 2 years we don't even know about Spencer's Black Box Spencer Coller was the crew chief on an osprey that crashed in Australia last.

August 23 Marines were on board Spencer and two others were killed the cause is still under investigation just 3 months later that crash off Japan killed eight Airman when you heard that the Osprey had crashed mhm what I mean what went through your mind I just wish maybe that the Ospreys have been grounded sooner and tonight card's family has new fears.

His sister Gwyneth now engaged to an osprey crew chief she met through her late brother they lifted the band and I I just my heart sank that's so scary to me still searching for answers as they remember Spencer he was the kid who would fight off anybody who was bullying or sorry um so absolutely being a hero makes sense to me a lot of sense on the.

Japan crash Osprey manufacturer Bel Textra writing quote we are steadfast in our commitment to safety and are fully supporting the investigation Lester courney CU at the Pentagon thank you here in New York Lawyers for former president Trump posted a $91 million Bond today in the defamation case he lost to writer egene Carroll an.

Insurance company provided the bond this comes after a federal jury awarded Carol 83 Mill ion Dollar in Damages the bond prevents her from collecting that money while Trump appeals the verdict we'll take a break in 6 seconds The Showdown emerging over Tik Tock as a bill that could ban the app and the US gains momentum in Congress what's at stake.

Right after this back now with Tik Tock the wildly popular app with 170 million users in the US and many of them are outraged over a bill set for a vote vot next week that could ban Tik Tok Nationwide if it doesn't cut its Chinese ties here's Savannah sers themselves their ideas.

Tonight the battle to ban Tik Tok intensifying in Washington with house leaders confirming they'll vote next week on a bill that would effectively ban the app unless it's sold by its Chinese parent company bite dance we can't have a foreign controlled social media app pushing misinformation certainly not to our children after the.

Bill was introduced earlier this week t talk blasted out this message urging users to call their members of Congress and demand they vote against it Sydney rosak who makes her money as an influencer did just that what would it mean for you if Tik Tok were to be banned first of all that is my career so my career would be gone lawmakers say.

Their phones rang off the hook well I kind of went into mom mode right because I I know that Tik Tok has really weaponized our young people I took it into my own hands got on the phone and tried to explain to our young people why uh we're doing what we're doing Tik tok's pressure campaign appears to have backfired in a rare show of.

Bipartisanship a house committee voted unanimously in favor of the legislation this isn't the first time the US has tried to limit Tik Tok in 2020 former president Donald Trump attempted to ban the app with an executive order last year Tik tok's top executive was grilled on the hill have seen no evidence that the Chinese government has access to.

That data they have never asked us we have not provided well you know what find that I find that actually Preposterous tonight Tik Tok saying this will damage millions of businesses and destroy the livelihoods of countless creators Mr Trump now expressing concerns about the new legislation saying it could make meta CEO Mark.

Zuckerberg more powerful while President Biden says he supports it if they pass it I'll sign it Savannah sers NBC News and up next UFOs and alien beings what the Pentagon now says about all those reports it sounds straight out of Science Fiction but today the Pentagon released an extensive report on whether.

There is evidence of life beyond Earth and whether it's been covered up let's get more from Gotti Schwarz tonight eight months after that out of this world testimony on Capitol Hill were they I guess human or non-human biologics non-human the official word from the Pentagon no dead alien bodies no crashed alien craft and.

No government cover up in a 63-page report the dod's UAP office saying they've interviewed more than 30 people including heads of aerospace companies CIA and defense officials and found no credible firsthand information supporting the claims claims of hidden programs are largely the result of circular reporting by a small group also.

Detailed the government's long history with UFOs going back to the 40s even touching on former President Bill Clinton's interest in Roswell but the dod insisting that was a mix of confusion over high altitude test dummies fatal plane crashes and a program to detect nukes but when it comes to some of the.

Recent Mysteries involving Pilots or surveillance video the report was short on specifics we have a serious issue that Pilots are dealing with they still don't know if these are potentially adversaries the reports response to the UFO hype a long list of Earthly explanations saying there was no evidence of extraterrestrials but a.

Small percentage of cases had potentially anomalous characteristics or concerning characteristics and Lester yes there are still a number of cases under investigation with a DOD saying they are now developing special sensor kits that they call Gremlins to send out whenever new UFO hotspots are reported Lester.

Continues to Fascinate GTI thank you coming up another mystery tiny unicorn springing up all over one city we investigate next well finally we can't go without telling you about the the colorful creature spreading joy in one American city Emily aeta on The Mystery of the.

Unicorns it's a typical Blue Sky day here in Providence Rhode Island well at first glance look closer near the ledge this is where Betha wood stumbled upon her first unicorn right here standing not even 2 in tall it was the Mythic BEAST's Chrome Sheen that caught betha's eye what was it like when you first stumbled upon a unicorn it.

Like it's such an unexpected surprise recently these figurines have been mysteriously appearing all over Providence on sidewalks window sills Planters stirring up a Citywide scavenger hunt are you going to try to find these yeah it's kind of like a little Easter egg hunt despite scouring the.

Streets all morning long unicorns after all do have a reputation for being hard to find it was when we sat down on this bench that we finally stumbled upon one The Burning question now who is behind the colorful creatures some locals point to the nearby Rhode Island School of Design I have no idea who is behind this project and that's great anyone can make.

Art anyone can find Art anyone can interact with it artists inspiring communities and surprising places is an age-old practice in Chicago potholes have been transformed into mosaics and a Brooklyn artists anonymously redesigned business Flyers whoever is responsible for the Magic in Providence Betha is grateful for the reminder that sometimes.

The smallest gestures carry big impacts it's just spreading Joy the world needs more more joy Emily ketta NBC news Providence Rhode Island and there you go that's Nightly News for this Friday thanks for watching I'm Lester Holt please take care of yourself and each other good night everyone thanks for watching stay.

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