TREND AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN
FOR THE JOB MARKET LONG TERM.
GOOD MORNING. THANKS SO MUCH
FOR BEING HERE. I'M SAVANNAH
SELLERS, JOE'S OFF TODAY, BUT
CHRISTINE ROMANS IS GOING TO
JOIN US LATER IN THE HOUR. WE
ARE GOING TO GET STARTED,
THOUGH, WITH THE PRESIDENT'S
EFFORT TO ENERGIZE HIS BASE
AHEAD OF THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.
SO THE PRESIDENT WAS IN LAS
VEGAS YESTERDAY TO TOUT HIS
ECONOMIC POLICIES AND HIGHLIGHT
TAX CUTS. BUT POLLS SHOW VOTERS
ARE NOT HAPPY WITH HIS HANDLING
OF THE ECONOMY, ESPECIALLY
RIGHT NOW WITH THE HIGH PRICES
FROM THE WAR IN IRAN. PRESIDENT
TRUMP DID SAY, THOUGH, ONCE
AGAIN, THAT A DEAL IS NEAR TO
REOPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.
NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT CHRIS
PALLONE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE
ON THIS. CHRIS. GOOD MORNING,
SAVANNAH.
>> GOOD MORNING TO YOU. LESS
THAN THREE MONTHS TO GO UNTIL
THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS. AND
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MESSAGE FOR
VOTERS IS COMING INTO SHARPER
FOCUS. THE PRESIDENT IS
BATTLING LOW POLL NUMBERS AS
REPUBLICANS TRY TO HANG ON TO
CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AND THE
SENATE. PRESIDENT TRUMP
RETURNING FROM LAS VEGAS AFTER
TOUTING HIS ECONOMIC RECORD
THERE. WITH THE FALL MIDTERM
ELECTIONS IN VIEW.
>> IN JUST 18 MONTHS, WE'VE
TURNED THIS COUNTRY COMPLETELY
AROUND.
>> THE PRESIDENT AND HIS PARTY
FACING HEADWINDS IN CONVINCING
VOTERS THINGS ARE AS ROSY AS HE
CLAIMS. POLLS CONSISTENTLY
SHOWING AMERICANS GIVE THE
PRESIDENT LOW MARKS ON THE
ECONOMY AND THE WAR IN IRAN.
TRUMP, NOW SEIZING ON A TUG OF
WAR AMONG DEMOCRATS FOR
DIRECTION OF THAT PARTY BETWEEN
MODERATES AND PROGRESSIVES.
>> ABDUL EL-SAYED, LOVELY
GENTLEMAN, HE'S A MAN OF HATE.
>> THE PRESIDENT TAKING AIM AT
THE LATEST PROGRESSIVE
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY WINNER,
ABDUL EL-SAYED, A MICHIGAN
DOCTOR RUNNING FOR SENATE ON A
PLATFORM OF MEDICARE FOR ALL
AND ABOLISHING ICE, A CANDIDATE
TRUMP BASELESSLY CALLS A
COMMUNIST.
>> WE DO BETTER AGAINST THE
COMMUNISTS, ACCORDING TO EVERY
POLL. THE POLL SAYS WE DO
BETTER AGAINST THE COMMUNISTS.
SO HE WON. AND SO I THINK I'M
HAPPY.
>> EL-SAYED HITTING BACK AT A
SOFT SPOT IN THE PRESIDENT'S
RECORD.
>> THIS IS A GUY WHO CAN'T EVEN
FOCUS ON OUR AFFORDABILITY.
HE'S MORE INTERESTED IN SAYING
MY NAME IN AN INTERESTING WAY,
OR CALLING ME A LOVELY
GENTLEMAN THAN HE IS INTERESTED
IN ACTUALLY SOLVING OUR
PROBLEMS.
>> AAA REPORTING THE AVERAGE
GAS PRICE IN THE U.S. NOW
TOPPING $4.08 A GALLON, LARGELY
BECAUSE OF THE IRAN WAR, WHICH
THE PRESIDENT INSISTS IS
NEARING AN END.
>> I'M NOT LOOKING TO KILL
PEOPLE AND TOTALLY OBLITERATE
EVERYTHING. AND THAT'S WHERE WE
WERE HEADED. AND THEY WANTED TO
NEGOTIATE. AND WE'RE DOING THAT.
AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING OUT
QUITE WELL.
>> WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THIS
WILL BE DIFFERENT? BECAUSE THEY
TEND TO NEVER.
>> IT MAY BE. IT MAY NOT BE.
>> IRAN DENIES THERE ARE
ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE
U.S. TO END THE WAR, AND A
SPOKESPERSON FOR IRAN'S FOREIGN
MINISTRY SAYS NEGOTIATIONS WITH
OMAN OVER CONTROL OF THE STRAIT
OF HORMUZ ARE IN THEIR FINAL
STAGES. IRAN INSISTS THE STRAIT
WILL NOT GO BACK TO BEING AN
OPEN INTERNATIONAL WATERWAY
LIKE IT WAS BEFORE THE WAR. THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS
PREVIOUSLY RULED OUT ANY DEAL
THAT WOULD GIVE IRAN CONTROL
OVER THE STRAIT, AND THE U.S.
NAVY STILL HAS A BLOCKADE ON
IRAN'S PORTS. SAVANNAH, BACK TO
YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT, CHRIS, THANK YOU
SO MUCH. WELL, OVER ON CAPITOL
HILL, DOCTOR FAUCI IS IN MORE
HOT WATER THIS MORNING. IN JUST
A FEW HOURS, A SENATE COMMITTEE
IS SET TO VOTE ON WHETHER TO
HOLD ANTHONY FAUCI IN CONTEMPT
OF CONGRESS TODAY, AFTER HE
PLED THE FIFTH SEVERAL TIMES
DURING A HEARING LAST WEEK ON
HIS HANDLING OF THE COVID
OUTBREAK. THIS COMES AS
FLORIDA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL
JOINED OTHERS IN LOUISIANA AND
WEST VIRGINIA YESTERDAY IN
ISSUING SUBPOENAS FOR RECORDS
FROM DOCTOR FAUCI. THEY ALLEGE
DOCTOR FAUCI PROFITED FROM THE
RECOMMENDATIONS HE GAVE DURING
THE COVID PANDEMIC. NBC NEWS
POLITICAL REPORTER MEGAN BRAND
JOINS US WITH MORE ON THIS AND
SOME OTHER HEADLINES FROM
WASHINGTON. MEGAN, GOOD MORNING.
TO JUST START BY BREAKING DOWN
THESE REASONS FOR THE SUBPOENAS
AGAINST DOCTOR FAUCI.
>> GOOD MORNING SAVANNAH. YEAH.
SO AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE WERE
THREE STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL
IN REPUBLICAN LED STATES IN
FLORIDA, WEST VIRGINIA AND
LOUISIANA WHO HAD ISSUED THESE
SUBPOENAS TO DOCTOR FAUCI
YESTERDAY, ARGUING THAT HE MADE
MONEY OFF OF THE WAY THAT HE
HAD ADVISED HANDLING OF COVID
19 DURING THE PANDEMIC, WHEN HE
WAS THE FACE IN MANY WAYS OF
THE U.S. RESPONSE TO COVID. SO
THE FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL
HAD SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT
WAS RELEASED YESTERDAY THAT
THIS WAS RELATED TO AN OFFICIAL
INVESTIGATION INTO AWARDS,
PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES,
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES, GRANTS
AND COVID 19 GUIDANCE THAT
IMPACTED FLORIDA BUSINESSES AND
CONSUMERS. SO THE SUBPOENA HAD
ASKED DOCTOR FAUCI TO PROVIDE
DOCUMENTS RANGING FROM 2020
UNTIL NOW, BY THE END OF THE
MONTH, THINGS THAT INCLUDE
GRANTS OR BOOK DEALS THAT
DOCTOR FAUCI WAS CONSIDERED FOR
OR THAT HE RECEIVED. AND OF
COURSE, THIS ALL COMES RIGHT
BEFORE A SENATE COMMITTEE IS
GOING TO VOTE IN JUST A COUPLE
OF HOURS ON WHETHER TO HOLD
DOCTOR FAUCI IN CONTEMPT OF
CONGRESS. SAVANNAH.
>> YEAH, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.
MEGAN. SO ON THAT VOTE TODAY,
WHAT ARE REPUBLICANS ARGUMENTS
FOR THAT? AND WHAT HAPPENS IF
THE VOTE DOES PASS.
>> SO REPUBLICANS ARE BASICALLY
BREAKING THIS DOWN IN TWO WAYS.
THEY'RE ARGUING THAT DOCTOR
FAUCI WAS NOT ABLE TO ASSERT
HIS FIFTH AMENDMENT PRIVILEGES.
ONE OF THOSE REASONS THAT THEY
ARGUE, IS BECAUSE DOCTOR FAUCI
HAD RECEIVED A PREEMPTIVE
PARDON FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN IN
THE FINAL HOURS OF PRESIDENT
BIDEN'S TERM. AND THEY ARGUE
THAT BECAUSE OF THAT, HE WAS
NOT ABLE TO ASSERT HIS FIFTH
AMENDMENT PRIVILEGES. NOW,
ANOTHER REASON AS WELL, THEY'RE
ARGUING, IS THAT BECAUSE DOCTOR
FAUCI HAD DELIVERED OPENING
STATEMENTS THAT THEY SAY ARE
RELEVANT TO THE SUBJECT MATTER,
THAT SENATORS THEN WENT TO GO
QUESTION HIM ON. THEY SAY THAT
THAT EFFECTIVELY WAIVED HIS
FIFTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS. NOW,
THAT IS UP FOR SOME LEGAL
DEBATE IN THE LEGAL COMMUNITY.
BUT I WANT TO I WANT TO POINT
YOU TO WHAT SENATOR RAND PAUL,
HE'S THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE, HAD SAID IN A
STATEMENT. HE SAID, I ORDERED
HIM TO ANSWER AND WARNED HIM
ABOUT CONTEMPT, YET HE STILL
REFUSED. THAT IS OBSTRUCTION OF
A CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION.
THE COMMITTEE WILL ACT
ACCORDINGLY. SO TODAY, THIS
NEEDS A SIMPLE MAJORITY TO PASS.
AND CHAIRMAN PAUL HAS SAID THAT
IF IT DOES PASS AS IT SEEMS, IT
IT MIGHT, BECAUSE REPUBLICANS
HAVE A MAJORITY ON THAT
COMMITTEE, THEN HE WOULD REFER
IT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
NOW, IF THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE THEN DECIDES TO PURSUE
THIS CASE, THEN U.S. ATTORNEY
FOR D.C. JEANINE PIRRO WOULD
HAVE TO SECURE AN INDICTMENT
FROM A GRAND JURY.
>> SAVANNAH MEAGAN, I DO WANT
TO ASK YOU ABOUT A COUPLE OTHER
THINGS BEFORE I LET YOU GO. ONE,
THE FAA SAYS THAT THEY'RE
REVIEWING AN INCIDENT. THIS WAS
ON TUESDAY INVOLVING MARINE ONE.
THAT IS THE PRESIDENT'S
HELICOPTER. WHAT DO WE KNOW?
>> YEAH. SO FIRST THINGS FIRST,
SAVANNAH. THE FAA AND THE WHITE
HOUSE HAVE BOTH SAID THAT THE
PRESIDENT WAS NEVER IN ANY
DANGER DURING THIS INCIDENT.
THIS HAD STEMMED FROM WHEN
COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS WERE NOT
PAUSED BY REAGAN NATIONAL
AIRPORT, THE D.C. AREA AIRPORT,
WHEN MARINE ONE, WHICH HOLDS
THE PRESIDENT, WAS TAKING OFF.
YOU CAN SEE THAT ON YOUR SCREEN
NOW. THE FAA HAD CREATED MORE
FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS IN THE AREA
AFTER THAT DEADLY CRASH LAST
JANUARY, WHEN A MILITARY
HELICOPTER AND A FLIGHT HAD
COLLIDED, KILLING 67 PEOPLE.
AND NOW THE WHITE HOUSE HAD
RELEASED A STATEMENT ON THE
SITUATION YESTERDAY SAYING THAT
MARINE ONE FLIGHTS ARE PILOTED
BY SOME OF THE BEST AVIATORS IN
THE WORLD, AND AT NO POINT WAS
THE PRESIDENT IN HARM'S WAY.
>> SAVANNAH MEAGAN ONE OTHER
THING. HAVE WE LEARNED ANYTHING
MORE ABOUT THE MAN ARRESTED
OUTSIDE THE PRESIDENT'S GOLF
COURSE IN CALIFORNIA OVER THE
WEEKEND?
>> SO THE MAN WHO WAS ARRESTED,
HE WAS 38 YEAR OLD JANINE JOHN
TEAL. AND NOW INVESTIGATORS ARE
TURNING TO GET WARRANTS FOR
THINGS LIKE THE SUSPECT'S
DIGITAL DEVICES AND EMAILS TO
TRY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIM.
BUT A FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIAL TOLD NBC THAT TEAL IS
A DISABLED VETERAN AND THAT HE
IS DESCRIBED AS SOMEONE WHO HAS
PTSD AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES
AS WELL. RECORDS INDICATE THAT
THE MAN WHO WAS ARRESTED HAD
BEEN DEPLOYED TO IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN, AND THE SUSPECT
ALSO DOES NOT HAVE RECENT
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY, AND A COURT
APPEARANCE HAS NOT YET BEEN
SCHEDULED. SO WE'RE NOT SURE
YET WHEN WE WILL SEE HIM IN
COURT. SAVANNAH.
>> ALL RIGHT. MEGAN BRAND
COVERING QUITE A BIT FOR US
THIS MORNING. WE APPRECIATE IT.
THANKS, MEGAN. WELL, THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE STATE
OF NEW MEXICO IS NOW SUING THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, ACCUSING
IT OF BLOCKING THE STATE FROM
INVESTIGATING SEX CRIMES AT
JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S ZORRO RANCH
NEAR SANTA FE. AT LEAST TEN
WOMEN SAY EPSTEIN GROOMED OR
ABUSED THEM AT THE TEN 000 ACRE
RANCH GOING BACK DECADES. SOME
WERE TEENAGERS WHEN THEY SAY IT
HAPPENED. RIGHT NOW, STATE
PROSECUTORS IN NEW MEXICO HAVE
THE ONLY ACTIVE CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION OPEN INTO EPSTEIN.
BUT THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL
SAYS THE FEDS ARE STONEWALLING
THEM.
>> IT'S BEEN 173 DAYS SINCE WE
FIRST ASKED FOR UNREDACTED
ACCESS TO THE COMPLETE EPSTEIN
FILES, AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE
THAT ACCESS. DESPITE REPEATED
ASSURANCES FROM MR. BLANCHE,
JAY CLAYTON AND OTHERS THAT
THEY WOULD COOPERATE WITH THIS
INVESTIGATION AND HELP US MOVE
THINGS FORWARD SO WE COULD TRY
AND HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE
HERE IN NEW MEXICO.
>> NBC NEWS JUSTICE REPORTER
RYAN REILLY JOINS US NOW FROM
WASHINGTON, DC ON THIS. RYAN.
GOOD MORNING. SO WHAT EXACTLY
DOES NEW MEXICO WANT AND HOW
ARE THEY THE ONLY JURISDICTION
WITH AN ACTIVE CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION?
>> YEAH. WELL, THE STATUTE OF
LIMITATIONS FACTORS PLAY A
MAJOR ROLE HERE. AND OBVIOUSLY
THE FACT THAT JEFFREY EPSTEIN
IS DEAD ALSO COMPLICATES IT.
RIGHT. BECAUSE YOU'RE MAYBE
LOOKING FOR ASSOCIATES, SOMEONE
WHO COULD ACTUALLY, CHARGE. BUT
WHAT NEW MEXICO WOULD WANT HERE
WOULD BE THOSE UNREDACTED FILES
THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO PIECE
TOGETHER MORE OF THIS
INVESTIGATION AND TO FILL IN
SOME OF THE BLANKS HERE. AND,
YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN THIS
ONGOING EFFORT AND REALLY
COMING OUT OF NEW MEXICO THAT
WE'VE SEEN, AS YOU SAID, SORT
OF THE ONLY ONGOING SORT OF
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION RELATED
TO THIS. AND BASICALLY THEY'RE
TRYING TO PUSH FORWARD SOME NEW
ANSWERS FROM THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT.
>> HOW IS THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT RESPONDING? RYAN.
>> YEAH. SO DOJ SAID IN A
STATEMENT THAT THERE'S NO
LAWFUL BASIS TO JUSTIFY
SWEEPING DISCLOSURES OF THIS
VICTIM, IDENTIFYING INFORMATION.
AND THEY'RE BASICALLY SAYING
THAT THEY CAN'T PROVIDE THIS,
THAT THERE'S THESE BINDING
COURT ORDERS THAT PREVENT THEM
FROM BEING ABLE TO GIVE OVER
MORE INFORMATION. THEY HAVEN'T
FORMALLY RESPONDED TO THE
LAWSUIT YET, BUT WE SHOULD SEE
THAT IN THE IN THE COMING DAYS,
IT'S GOING TO ALL OF THIS IS
GOING TO PLAY OUT IN FEDERAL
COURT FILED THIS LAWSUIT TO
BEGIN WITH.
>> SAVANNAH RYAN, WHAT ARE
EPSTEIN'S SURVIVORS SAYING
ABOUT THIS?
>> YEAH, SO THEY ARE ENCOURAGED
BY THIS INVESTIGATION IN NEW
MEXICO. AND OBVIOUSLY, SOME OF
THEM HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF THE
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF TODD
BLANCHE, IN PARTICULAR ABOUT
THE HANDLING OF THESE FILES.
AND THEY WOULD LIKE THEIR
CONTRASTING THE ACTION THAT
THEY SAW. THEY'RE SAYING THAT
UNLIKE ACTING AG TODD BLANCHE
AG TORREZ IS REQUESTING
EVIDENCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF
ACTUALLY PURSUING JUSTICE. SO
THEY'RE SUPPORTIVE OF, OF THIS
INVESTIGATION MOVING FORWARD.
AND THERE'S BEEN SOME
DISAPPOINTMENT FROM THEM ABOUT
HOW THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
HANDLED ALL OF THIS.
>> RYAN REILLY, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. WELL, A DANGEROUS,
RAPIDLY SPREADING SALMONELLA
OUTBREAK HAS NOW BEEN DETECTED
IN 27 STATES. FEDERAL HEALTH
OFFICIALS ARE INVESTIGATING IT.
IT'S BEING LINKED TO JALAPENO
PEPPERS. AND NOW TWO OF THE
NATION'S MOST POPULAR MEXICAN
RESTAURANT CHAINS ARE
RESPONDING BY REMOVING
JALAPENOS FROM HUNDREDS OF
THEIR LOCATIONS. NBC NEWS
CORRESPONDENT ANNE THOMPSON HAS
MORE.
>> THE ISSUE OF TAINTED
JALAPENOS IS MUCH BIGGER THAN
JUST MINNESOTA AND CHIPOTLE,
THE CDC SAYING. 27 STATES NOW
REPORTING SALMONELLA CASES
RELATED TO THE PEPPERS
MINNESOTA, COLORADO AND
ILLINOIS TOPPING THE LIST. MORE
THAN 300 PEOPLE SICKENED, 36
HOSPITALIZED. NOW, ANOTHER FAST
FOOD CHAIN, QDOBA, SAYS IT'S
REMOVED JALAPENOS FROM ITS
RESTAURANTS, SAYING FOOD SAFETY
IS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY.
CHIPOTLE DID THE SAME AFTER
MINNESOTA OFFICIALS TRACED MANY
OF THEIR SALMONELLA CASES TO A
LOT OF PEPPERS USED BY THE
CHAIN, CHIPOTLE SAID IT
REPLACED THE SUSPECT JALAPENOS
WITH ONES FROM DIFFERENT
GROWERS. HOW DO PEPPERS GET
SALMONELLA?
>> TYPICALLY THROUGH A VARIETY
OF WAYS, BUT MOST LIKELY
CONTAMINATED WATER THAT IS USED
TO IRRIGATE OR COME INTO
CONTACT WITH THAT FOOD?
>> UNLIKE THE LETTUCE LINKED
CYCLOSPORIASIS TRIGGERED BY A
PARASITE, SALMONELLA IS A
BACTERIA THAT CAUSES FEVER,
STOMACH CRAMPS, AND DIARRHEA
SYMPTOMS. MOST PEOPLE DEVELOP
WITHIN 8 TO 72 HOURS OF EATING
THE BAD FOOD. THESE HIGH
PROFILE OUTBREAKS, INVOLVING
THREE POPULAR FAST FOOD CHAINS
TACO BELL FOR THE LETTUCE,
CHIPOTLE, AND QDOBA FOR THE
JALAPENOS HAVE SOME CONCERNED
ABOUT OUR NATION'S FOOD SUPPLY.
>> WE HAVE TO REMIND OURSELVES
THAT OUR FOOD SUPPLY IS FAIRLY
SAFE, BUT THINGS HAPPEN,
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN, AND
CONTAMINATION CERTAINLY CAN
HAPPEN AT ANY POINT IN THE FOOD
SUPPLY.
>> ANNE THOMPSON, NBC NEWS.
>> WELL, IN THE MIDST OF THAT
OUTBREAK, THERE'S A NEW LEADER
TAKING THE HELM AT THE CDC THIS
MORNING. YESTERDAY, THE SENATE
CONFIRMED DOCTOR ERICA SCHWARTZ
TO BE THE NEWEST DIRECTOR,
MAKING HER THE AGENCY'S FIRST
PERMANENT DIRECTOR IN ALMOST A
YEAR. THE 51 TO 44 VOTE IN THE
REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED SENATE
WAS LARGELY SPLIT ALONG PARTY
LINES. FOR MORE ON THIS, LET'S
WELCOME IN NBC NEWS HEALTH
REPORTER ARIA BENDIX. ARIA,
GOOD MORNING. ALWAYS GREAT TO
HAVE YOU. SO FIRST, JUST TELL
US ABOUT DOCTOR SCHWARTZ'S
BACKGROUND.
>> YEAH. SO SHE HAS THE
CREDENTIALS TO FIT THIS ROLE.
SHE WAS THE DEPUTY SURGEON
GENERAL ACTUALLY UNDER THE
FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. AND
THEN SHE HAS A RECORD OF PUBLIC
SERVICE GOING BACK THROUGHOUT
HER CAREER, A NAVY PHYSICIAN, A
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER IN THE
COAST GUARD. SO THERE'S REALLY
NO QUESTION ABOUT HER RESUME AT
HER CONFIRMATION HEARING, THE
QUESTIONS WERE MORE ALONG THE
LINES OF, WOULD SHE BE ABLE TO
STAND UP TO SECRETARY KENNEDY
IF HE ENCOURAGED HER TO GO
AGAINST SCIENTIFIC TRUTH AND
QUESTION VACCINE SAFETY?
>> AND HOW WERE HER RESPONSES
ON THAT? BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME
CONCERN ABOUT IS SHE DISTANCING
HERSELF ENOUGH FROM THAT? LIKE,
WHAT DO YOU THINK HER
LEADERSHIP MEANS IN THAT REGARD?
>> SO I THINK MANY EXPERTS WERE
HOPING SHE WOULD MORE
EMPHATICALLY DENOUNCE SOME OF
THE SCIENTIFIC MISINFORMATION
WE'VE SEEN FROM THIS
ADMINISTRATION, AND
PARTICULARLY FROM THE HEALTH
SECRETARY. WE HAVE A STATEMENT
FROM AN ADVOCACY GROUP THAT'S
MADE UP OF FORMER CDC OFFICIALS.
THEY SAID THEY WERE HOPING FOR
MORE CLEAR COMMITMENTS ABOUT
HOW SHE WOULD PROTECT CDC FROM
POLITICAL PRESSURE. THEY FOUND
HER STATEMENTS OFTEN VAGUE. SHE
DID DODGE QUESTIONS FREQUENTLY
AT THE HEARING, BUT SHE WAS
CLEAR ON ONE THING THAT
VACCINES ARE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE.
SO I THINK SOME EXPERTS ARE
APPROACHING HER TENURE WITH
SOME CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM. SHE'S
WELL-LIKED BY HER COLLEAGUES.
AGAIN, SHE HAS THIS RECORD OF
PUBLIC SERVICE, AND THEY'RE
HOPING THAT PRIVATELY SHE MIGHT
BE ABLE TO RESIST SOME OF THAT
POLITICAL PRESSURE.
>> OKAY. AND IT'S THERE'S A LOT
GOING ON. I MEAN, WE WERE JUST
TALKING ABOUT A NEW SALMONELLA
OUTBREAK, CYCLOSPORA OUTBREAK
THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT
FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW THAT HAS
SICKENED OVER 10,000 PEOPLE IN
THIS COUNTRY, AT LEAST. ALSO,
BY THE WAY, DON'T FORGET ABOUT
MEASLES ONGOING CRISIS IN THIS
COUNTRY. I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT
TO STEP INTO THIS JOB. JUST HOW
IMPORTANT WILL THESE FIRST FEW
MONTHS COINCIDING WITH THINGS
LIKE THAT BE FOR HER SORT OF
FUTURE IN THE ROLE, FOR THE
PERCEPTION FROM THE PUBLIC OF
HER IN THE ROLE?
>> YEAH. SHE HAS, AS YOU
MENTIONED, SOME BIG TESTS AHEAD.
I THINK CONGRESS AND QUITE
FRANKLY, THE PUBLIC IS GOING TO
BE WATCHING CLOSELY TO SEE HOW
SHE PERFORMS FOR MEASLES IN
PARTICULAR. WE'LL SEE HOW
EMPHATICALLY SHE SORT OF
RECOMMENDS THE MMR VACCINE. I'M
WATCHING THAT VERY CLOSELY. AND
THEN HOW SHE ADDRESSES, REALLY,
THESE GROWING RATES OF VACCINE
HESITANCY IN THIS COUNTRY. AT
HER CONFIRMATION HEARING, SHE
SAID SHE ESSENTIALLY WANTS TO
BE THIS BRIDGE BETWEEN VACCINE
SKEPTICS AND MAINSTREAM
MEDICINE. THAT'S A TOUGH FEAT
UNDER ANY ADMINISTRATION, BUT
PARTICULARLY THIS ONE, I THINK
EXPERTS ARE WILLING TO GIVE HER
THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND
SEE HOW SHE DOES THERE.
>> NO KIDDING. ALL RIGHT. THANK
YOU SO MUCH. WE WANT TO BRING
YOU AN UPDATE ON THOSE HISTORIC
WILDFIRES BURNING IN WASHINGTON
STATE. NOW, WHILE PROGRESS IS
BEING MADE IN FIGHTING THEM,
INVESTIGATORS NOW BELIEVE ALL
THREE FIRES THAT HAVE DESTROYED
HUNDREDS OF HOMES NEAR SPOKANE
WERE CAUSED BY HUMANS. AND
WHETHER THEY WERE STARTED
INTENTIONALLY IS STILL UNDER
INVESTIGATION. NBC NEWS
NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT MORGAN
CHESKY HAS THE LATEST.
>> AIR AND GROUND CREWS
FIGHTING FOR EVERY INCH IN A
FIERY BATTLE. AS ONE OF
WASHINGTON'S MOST DESTRUCTIVE
WILDFIRES EVER RAGES ON.
>> AND EVERYTHING I CAN TO SAVE
MY HOUSE, I LLAMAS HOUSES ARE
GONE.
>> THE RACE FOR CONTAINMENT
CREEPING FORWARD.
>> OUR FIRE TEAMS RIGHT NOW ARE
WORKING ON ESTABLISHING FIRE
LINES AROUND ALL OF THESE FIRE
ZONES.
>> PROGRESS HERE LARGELY
DEPENDENT UPON THE WIND. BUT AN
EMERGING HEAT WAVE NOW BRINGS
NEW RISK.
>> WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF
INTERIOR HEAT, AND EVEN A
LITTLE GUSTS CAN GRAB AN EMBER
AND THROW IT.
>> HOLLYWOOD STAR AND SPOKANE
NATIVE SYDNEY SWEENEY WAS BACK
HOME HELPING WITH COMMUNITY
RELIEF EFFORTS. MORE THAN 1500
FIREFIGHTERS ARE ON THE GROUND
TAKING ON THE THREE FIRES THAT
OFFICIALS NOW BELIEVE WERE ALL
HUMAN CAUSED. WE BELIEVE THAT
TO BE INTENTIONAL.
>> THAT'S WHY IT'S UNDER
INVESTIGATION. THERE WAS
CLEARLY NO LIGHTNING IN THE
AREA, SO IT'S A HUMAN CAUSED
FIRE. BUT TO BE DETERMINED
WHETHER IT WAS ACCIDENTAL.
>> KORNACKI, THE MAN CHARGED
WITH STARTING THE MOST
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IS DUE IN
COURT TO ENTER A PLEA.
AUTHORITIES CREDITING WITNESSES
IN CATCHING HIM.
>> MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING ON
THE PORCH OUT THERE AND SHE
SAYS THERE'S A FIRE. SO I RAN
OUT AND LOOKED AND SAW A COLUMN
OF SMOKE RISING EXACTLY WHERE
THAT INDIVIDUAL WAS STANDING AT.
>> THE SPOKANE FIRES HAVE NOW
BURNED MORE THAN 10,000 ACRES,
WITH FIRE OFFICIALS TELLING US
FULL CONTAINMENT COULD TAKE
WEEKS. WE'LL SEND IT BACK.
>> TO YOU. MORGAN, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. WELL, FOR MORE ON
THE FIRE AND THE HEAT THREAT
ACROSS MUCH OF THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST, LET'S BRING IN OUR
ANGIE LASSMAN. HEY, ANGIE. GOOD
MORNING.
>> HI THERE. SAVANNAH. GOOD
MORNING TO YOU. NOT MUCH OF A
CHANGE WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE
SAME KIND OF INGREDIENTS THAT
WE'VE BEEN WATCHING OVER THE
PAST COUPLE OF DAYS FOR THE
FIRE ISSUES ACROSS THE WEST.
HERE'S THOSE AIR QUALITY ALERTS
THAT YOU CAN SEE ALL THE FIRES
BURNING SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED
ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
AND ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN.
THOSE ARE GOING TO BE ONGOING
TODAY. WE STILL HAVE PLENTY OF
SMOKE THAT IS GOING TO DRIFT
ACROSS THOSE REGIONS, LEAVING
US WITH AIR QUALITY ISSUES FOR
A LOT OF FOLKS, AGAIN, FOCUSED
MAINLY ACROSS THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST, WHERE WE'VE BEEN
SEEING THOSE AIR QUALITY ISSUES
FOR DAYS AND DAYS. NOW, THAT
DOESN'T CHANGE TODAY. WE'RE
ALSO GOING TO SEE OUR
TEMPERATURES KIND OF SURGING
OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.
73 MILLION PEOPLE UNDER THESE
HEAT ALERTS. MOST OF IT IS
STRETCHED ACROSS THE WEST, SALT
LAKE CITY TO RENO, DOWN THROUGH
LOS ANGELES. PHOENIX,
ALBUQUERQUE INCLUDED OKLAHOMA
CITY AS WELL. INCLUDED IN THESE
HEAT ALERTS AS WE GEAR UP FOR
WARMER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES
YET AGAIN, YET AGAIN IN SOME OF
THOSE AREAS. LAS VEGAS AT 111
99 FOR SALT LAKE CITY, EL PASO,
YOU TOP OUT AT 101 TODAY. THESE
TEMPERATURES, OF COURSE, ABOVE
WHERE THEY SHOULD BE FOR THIS
TIME OF YEAR. AND IT'S NOT
GETTING ANY BETTER AS WE LOOK
TO TOMORROW. BOISE, SALT LAKE
CITY 100 PLUS MEDFORD 104. THAT
TEMPERATURE MORE THAN TEN
DEGREES ABOVE WHERE THEY SHOULD
BE FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. SO
NOT, OF COURSE, HELPING WITH
THAT INTENSE HEAT AND ALL OF
THE FIRE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE
ACROSS THAT REGION WILL STILL
REMAIN HOT WELL INTO THE
WEEKEND AND INTO OUR UPCOMING
WORKWEEK, 100 DEGREES ACROSS
THE BOARD FOR SATURDAY AND
SUNDAY IN SALT LAKE CITY. AND
WE ONLY IMPROVE A LITTLE BIT
WITH A HIGH OF 98 DEGREES ON
MONDAY. SO YOU GET THE PICTURE.
IT'S GOING TO BE WARM OUT
ACROSS THE WEST. WE'RE ALSO
GOING TO SEE SOME CHANGES
ACROSS PARTS OF THE NORTHEAST,
SPECIFICALLY IN THE
MID-ATLANTIC, WHERE WE'VE KIND
OF BEEN ENJOYING MILDER, MORE
COMFORTABLE CONDITIONS. WE HAD
LOWER HUMIDITY KIND OF WORK
INTO THIS REGION THANKS TO THAT,
THIS FRONT THAT HAS BEEN KIND
OF HANGING AROUND THAT FRONT
MIGRATES A LITTLE BIT FARTHER
TO THE NORTH. THAT ALLOWS US TO
SEE SOME OF THIS HUMIDITY BEING
PUMPED IN BY THIS HIGH THAT'S
SITTING ACROSS PARTS OF THE
ATLANTIC. THAT IS REALLY GOING
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHEN IT
COMES TO THE LATER PARTS OF OUR
WORKWEEK. BUT EVEN TODAY,
YOU'LL NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE.
PHILADELPHIA HEADS TO 91
DEGREES, WILL FEEL LIKE 102.
WE'VE GOT NEW YORK CITY AT 89,
BUT LOOK AT THAT HEAT INDEX
VALUE 99 DEGREES FARTHER DOWN
THE COAST, NORFOLK, WASHINGTON,
D.C. YOU WILL FEEL LIKE 100
PLUS THROUGH THE DAY TODAY. AND
THAT CONTINUES AS WE GET EVEN
INTO TOMORROW. BUT WE'LL GET A
LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF ON THE
BACK END OF THE WEEKEND. SO
HIGH 90S FRIDAY IN NEW YORK
CITY, 94 IS GOING TO FEEL A
WHOLE LOT BETTER BY SUNDAY. AND
WE'LL SEE THAT HUMIDITY LEVEL
KIND OF GRADUALLY DROP ACROSS
THIS REGION AS WE GET THROUGH
OUR WEEKEND. ONE NOTE, WE'VE
GOT A COUPLE OF AREAS OF
POTENTIAL STRONG TO SEVERE
STORMS TODAY. WIND GUSTS ARE
GOING TO BE OUR MAIN THREAT
THAT CENTERED ACROSS PARTS OF
SPRINGFIELD. AND WE'LL SEE SOME
GENERAL THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS
PARTS OF THE NORTHEAST.
WASHINGTON, D.C. UP THROUGH
UNION WILL BE INCLUDED IN THAT.
AND THAT'S PART OF THIS KIND OF
BROADER SYSTEM THAT'S SLIDING
TO THE EAST AND LEAVING US WITH
SOME SHOWERS AND SOME
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF
THE GREAT LAKES AND THE OHIO
VALLEY. BUT WE'LL ALSO SEE SOME
OF THAT KIND OF SCATTERED
ACTIVITY ACROSS THE NORTHEAST,
STRETCHING DOWN THROUGH THE
MID-ATLANTIC, POTENTIALLY
LOOKING AT SOME LOCALLY HEAVY
RAIN THAT COULD CAUSE SOME
TRAVEL DELAYS. SAVANNAH,
THROUGH THE DAY TODAY, WE'LL
STILL BE LOOKING AT SOME
POCKETS OF RAIN EVE