WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.820 Good morning. Thanks so much for being here. I'm Savannah Sellers. Joe's off today, 00:00:03.940 --> 00:00:07.780 but Christine Romans is going to join us later in the hour. We are going to get started, 00:00:07.880 --> 00:00:12.680 though, with the president's effort to energize his base ahead of the midterm election. So the 00:00:12.680 --> 00:00:17.660 president was in Las Vegas yesterday to tout his economic policies and highlight tax cuts. 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:23.220 But polls show voters are not happy with his handling of the economy, especially right now 00:00:23.220 --> 00:00:27.420 with the high prices from the war in Iran. President Trump did say, though, once again, 00:00:27.420 --> 00:00:32.980 that a deal is near to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. NBC News correspondent Chris Pallone joins us now 00:00:32.980 --> 00:00:37.540 with more on this. Chris, good morning. Savannah, good morning to you. Less than three months to go 00:00:37.540 --> 00:00:42.280 until the midterm elections, and President Trump's message for voters is coming into sharper focus. 00:00:42.440 --> 00:00:47.120 The president is battling low poll numbers as Republicans try to hang on to control of the 00:00:47.120 --> 00:00:54.600 House and the Senate. President Trump returning from Las Vegas after touting his economic record 00:00:54.600 --> 00:00:59.160 there with the fall midterm elections in view. In just 18 months, we've turned this country 00:00:59.160 --> 00:01:04.000 completely around. The president and his party facing headwinds in convincing voters things are 00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:09.260 as rosy as he claims. Polls consistently showing Americans give the president low marks on the 00:01:09.260 --> 00:01:14.960 economy and the war in Iran. Trump now seizing on a tug of war among Democrats for direction of that 00:01:14.960 --> 00:01:21.320 party between moderates and progressives. Abdul El-Sayed, lovely gentleman, he's a man of hate. 00:01:21.320 --> 00:01:25.320 The president taking aim at the latest progressive Democratic primary winner, 00:01:25.480 --> 00:01:30.580 Abdul El-Sayed, a Michigan doctor running for Senate on a platform of Medicare for all 00:01:30.580 --> 00:01:34.540 and abolishing ICE, a candidate Trump baselessly calls a communist. 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:37.420 We do better against the communists, according to every poll. 00:01:38.180 --> 00:01:41.880 The poll says we do better against the communists. 00:01:42.060 --> 00:01:44.360 So he won, and so I think I'm happy. 00:01:44.500 --> 00:01:47.700 El-Sayed hitting back at a soft spot in the president's record. 00:01:48.080 --> 00:01:50.320 This is a guy who can't even focus on our affordability. 00:01:50.320 --> 00:01:54.580 affordability, is more interested in saying my name in an interesting way or calling me a lovely 00:01:54.580 --> 00:01:59.360 gentleman, than he is interested in actually solving our problems. AAA reporting the average 00:01:59.360 --> 00:02:05.000 gas price in the U.S. now topping $4.08 a gallon, largely because of the Iran war, 00:02:05.320 --> 00:02:10.960 which the president insists is nearing an end. I'm not looking to kill people and totally 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:15.080 obliterate everything, and that's where we were headed. And they wanted to negotiate, 00:02:15.320 --> 00:02:19.140 and we're doing that, and it seems to be working out quite well. What makes you think this will 00:02:19.140 --> 00:02:24.720 be different because they tend to never. It may be. It may not be. Iran denies there are ongoing 00:02:24.720 --> 00:02:30.380 negotiations with the U.S. to end the war. And a spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry says 00:02:30.380 --> 00:02:35.060 negotiations with Oman over control of the Strait of Hormuz are in their final stages. 00:02:35.480 --> 00:02:40.560 Iran insists the strait will not go back to being an open international waterway like it was before 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:45.320 the war. The Trump administration has previously ruled out any deal that would give Iran control 00:02:45.320 --> 00:02:50.840 over the strait, and the U.S. Navy still has a blockade on Iran's ports. Savannah, back to you. 00:02:51.160 --> 00:02:56.140 All right, Chris, thank you so much. Well, over on Capitol Hill, Dr. Fauci is in more hot water 00:02:56.140 --> 00:03:00.420 this morning. In just a few hours, a Senate committee is set to vote on whether to hold 00:03:00.420 --> 00:03:05.600 Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress today after he pled the fifth several times during a hearing 00:03:05.600 --> 00:03:11.180 last week on his handling of the COVID outbreak. This comes as Florida's attorney general joined 00:03:11.180 --> 00:03:16.460 others in Louisiana and West Virginia yesterday in issuing subpoenas for records from Dr. Fauci. 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:20.900 They allege Dr. Fauci profited from the recommendations he gave during the COVID 00:03:20.900 --> 00:03:25.560 pandemic. NBC News political reporter Megan Brand joins us with more on this and some other 00:03:25.560 --> 00:03:28.820 headlines from Washington. Megan, good morning. So just start by breaking down these reasons for 00:03:28.820 --> 00:03:34.300 the subpoenas against Dr. Fauci. Good morning, Savannah. Yeah. So as you mentioned, there were 00:03:34.300 --> 00:03:40.080 three state attorneys general in Republican-led states in Florida, West Virginia, and Louisiana 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:46.100 who had issued these investigative subpoenas to Dr. Fauci yesterday, arguing that he made money 00:03:46.100 --> 00:03:53.500 off of the way that he had advised handling of COVID-19 during the pandemic when he was the face 00:03:53.500 --> 00:03:58.640 in many ways of the U.S. response to COVID. So the Florida attorney general had said in a statement 00:03:58.640 --> 00:04:04.040 that was released yesterday that this was related to an official investigation into awards, 00:04:04.440 --> 00:04:09.780 professional opportunities, financial incentives, grants, and COVID-19 guidance that impacted 00:04:09.780 --> 00:04:16.280 Florida businesses and consumers. So the subpoena had asked Dr. Fauci to provide documents ranging 00:04:16.280 --> 00:04:23.660 from 2020 until now, by the end of the month, things that include grants or book deals that 00:04:23.660 --> 00:04:29.480 Dr. Fauci was considered for or that he received. And of course, this all comes right before a 00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:35.860 Senate committee is going to vote in just a couple of hours on whether to hold Dr. Fauci in contempt 00:04:35.860 --> 00:04:39.720 of Congress, Savannah. Yeah, let's talk about that, Megan. So on that vote today, what are 00:04:39.720 --> 00:04:42.960 Republicans' arguments for that? And what happens if the vote does pass? 00:04:43.560 --> 00:04:47.660 So Republicans are basically breaking this down in two ways. They're arguing that 00:04:47.660 --> 00:04:53.380 Dr. Fauci was not able to assert his Fifth Amendment privileges. One of those reasons 00:04:53.380 --> 00:04:58.620 that they argue is because Dr. Fauci had received a preemptive pardon from President Biden in the 00:04:58.620 --> 00:05:02.940 final hours of President Biden's term. And they argue that because of that, he was not able to 00:05:02.940 --> 00:05:06.940 assert his Fifth Amendment privileges. Now, another reason as well that they're arguing 00:05:06.940 --> 00:05:13.460 is that because Dr. Fauci had delivered opening statements that they say are relevant to the 00:05:13.460 --> 00:05:17.740 subject matter that senators then went to go question him on, they say that that effectively 00:05:17.740 --> 00:05:22.740 waived his Fifth Amendment rights. Now, that is up for some legal debate in the legal community, 00:05:22.740 --> 00:05:27.580 but I want to point you to what Senator Rand Paul, he's the chairman of the committee, 00:05:27.980 --> 00:05:32.080 had said in a statement. He said, I ordered him to answer and warned him about contempt, 00:05:32.460 --> 00:05:36.000 yet he still refused. That is obstruction of a congressional investigation. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:41.660 the committee will act accordingly. So today, this needs a simple majority to pass. And 00:05:41.660 --> 00:05:47.440 Chairman Paul has said that if it does pass, as it seems that it might, because Republicans have 00:05:47.440 --> 00:05:51.980 a majority on that committee, then he would refer it to the Department of Justice. Now, 00:05:52.040 --> 00:05:58.360 if the Department of Justice then decides to pursue this case, then U.S. Attorney for D.C., 00:05:58.360 --> 00:06:01.640 Jeanine Pirro, would have to secure an indictment from a grand jury, Savannah. 00:06:02.300 --> 00:06:05.120 Megan, I do want to ask you about a couple of things before I let you go. One, 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:09.560 the FAA says that they're reviewing an incident. This was on Tuesday involving Marine One. That 00:06:09.560 --> 00:06:14.340 is the president's helicopter. What do we know? Yeah. So first things first, Savannah, the FAA 00:06:14.340 --> 00:06:18.580 and the White House have both said that the president was never in any danger during this 00:06:18.580 --> 00:06:26.420 incident. This had stemmed from when commercial flights were not paused by Reagan National 00:06:26.420 --> 00:06:33.160 Airport, the D.C. area airport, when Marine One, which holds the president, was taking off. You 00:06:33.160 --> 00:06:39.240 can see that on your screen. Now, the FAA had created more flight restrictions in the area 00:06:39.240 --> 00:06:47.860 after that deadly crash last January when a military helicopter and a flight had collided, 00:06:48.080 --> 00:06:53.600 killing 67 people. Now, the White House had released a statement on the situation yesterday 00:06:53.600 --> 00:06:58.520 saying that Marine One flights are piloted by some of the best aviators in the world 00:06:58.520 --> 00:07:01.700 and at no point was the president in harm's way, Savannah. 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:03.340 Megan, one other thing. 00:07:03.520 --> 00:07:05.420 Have we learned anything more about the man arrested 00:07:05.420 --> 00:07:07.900 outside the president's golf course in California over the weekend? 00:07:08.780 --> 00:07:13.140 So the man who was arrested, he was 38-year-old Janine John Thiel. 00:07:13.320 --> 00:07:16.600 And now investigators are turning to get warrants 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:20.040 for things like the suspect's digital devices and emails 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:22.700 to try to learn more about him. 00:07:22.960 --> 00:07:26.020 But a federal law enforcement official told NBC 00:07:26.020 --> 00:07:33.700 that Teal is a disabled veteran and that he is described as someone who has PTSD and mental 00:07:33.700 --> 00:07:39.800 health issues as well. Records indicate that the man who was arrested had been deployed to 00:07:39.800 --> 00:07:45.200 Iraq and Afghanistan, and the suspect also does not have recent employment history, 00:07:45.440 --> 00:07:50.480 and a court appearance has not yet been scheduled. We're not sure yet when we will see him in court, 00:07:50.600 --> 00:07:53.820 Savannah. All right, Megan Brand covering quite a bit for us this morning. We appreciate it. 00:07:53.820 --> 00:07:58.100 Thanks, Megan. Well, the attorney general for the state of New Mexico is now suing the Department 00:07:58.100 --> 00:08:03.760 of Justice, accusing it of blocking the state from investigating sex crimes at Jeffrey Epstein's 00:08:03.760 --> 00:08:10.620 Zorro Ranch near Santa Fe. At least 10 women say Epstein groomed or abused them at the 10,000 acre 00:08:10.620 --> 00:08:16.360 ranch going back decades. Some were teenagers when they say it happened. Right now, state prosecutors 00:08:16.360 --> 00:08:21.900 in New Mexico have the only active criminal investigation open into Epstein. But the state 00:08:21.900 --> 00:08:24.360 Attorney General says the feds are stonewalling them. 00:08:25.392 --> 00:08:33.312 It's been 173 days since we first asked for unredacted access to the complete Epstein files. 00:08:33.492 --> 00:08:38.572 And we still don't have that access, despite repeated assurances from Mr. Blanche, 00:08:38.572 --> 00:08:43.312 Jay Clayton and others, that they would cooperate with this investigation and help us 00:08:43.312 --> 00:08:47.072 move things forward so we could try and hold people accountable here in New Mexico. 00:08:48.232 --> 00:08:52.232 NBC News Justice reporter Ryan Riley joins us now from Washington, D.C. on this. Ryan, 00:08:52.272 --> 00:08:56.352 good morning. So what exactly does New Mexico want and how are they the only jurisdiction 00:08:56.352 --> 00:09:00.452 with an active criminal investigation? Yeah, well, the statute of limitations 00:09:00.452 --> 00:09:06.312 factors play a major role here. And obviously, the fact that Jeffrey Epstein is dead also 00:09:06.312 --> 00:09:09.732 complicates it, right? Because you're maybe looking for associates, someone you could actually 00:09:09.732 --> 00:09:15.592 charge. But what New Mexico would want here would be those unredacted files that will allow them to 00:09:15.592 --> 00:09:21.432 piece together more of this investigation, to fill in some of the blanks here. And this has 00:09:21.432 --> 00:09:27.272 been this ongoing effort and really coming out of New Mexico that we've seen, as you said, 00:09:27.272 --> 00:09:32.752 the only ongoing criminal investigation related to this. And basically, they're trying to push 00:09:32.752 --> 00:09:37.152 forward some new answers from the Justice Department. How is the Justice Department 00:09:37.152 --> 00:09:44.592 responding, Ryan? Yeah, so DOJ said in a statement that there's no lawful basis to justify sweeping 00:09:44.592 --> 00:09:51.832 disclosures of this victim identifying information. And they're basically saying that they can't 00:09:51.832 --> 00:09:57.192 provide this, that there's these binding court orders that prevent them from being able to give 00:09:57.192 --> 00:10:01.292 over more information. They haven't formally responded to the lawsuit yet, but we should see 00:10:01.292 --> 00:10:07.432 that in the coming days. All of this is going to play out in federal court in D.C. where they 00:10:07.432 --> 00:10:12.012 filed this lawsuit to begin with, Savannah. Ryan, what are Epstein survivors saying about this? 00:10:13.212 --> 00:10:17.912 Yeah, so they are encouraged by this investigation in New Mexico, and obviously some of them have 00:10:17.912 --> 00:10:22.892 been critical of the Justice Department, of Todd Blanch in particular, about the handling of these 00:10:22.892 --> 00:10:29.572 files. And they're contrasting the action that they saw. They're saying that unlike acting A.G. 00:10:29.572 --> 00:10:34.332 Todd Blanch, AG Torres is requesting evidence for the purpose of actually pursuing justice. 00:10:34.332 --> 00:10:39.672 So they're supportive of this investigation moving forward. And there's been some disappointment 00:10:39.672 --> 00:10:43.272 from them about how the Justice Department handled all of this. 00:10:43.932 --> 00:10:49.472 Ryan Riley, thank you very much. Well, a dangerous, rapidly spreading salmonella outbreak has now been 00:10:49.472 --> 00:10:55.232 detected in 27 states. Federal health officials are investigating it. It's being linked to jalapeno 00:10:55.232 --> 00:11:01.272 peppers. And now two of the nation's most popular Mexican restaurant chains are responding by 00:11:01.272 --> 00:11:06.012 removing jalapenos from hundreds of their locations. NBC News correspondent Anne Thompson 00:11:06.012 --> 00:11:13.232 has more. The issue of tainted jalapenos is much bigger than just Minnesota and Chipotle. 00:11:13.232 --> 00:11:19.332 The CDC saying 27 states now reporting salmonella cases related to the peppers. 00:11:19.892 --> 00:11:23.032 Minnesota, Colorado, and Illinois topping the list. 00:11:23.572 --> 00:11:27.252 More than 300 people sickened, 36 hospitalized. 00:11:27.872 --> 00:11:33.432 Now another fast food chain, Qdoba, says it's removed jalapenos from its restaurants, 00:11:33.432 --> 00:11:36.532 saying food safety is our highest priority. 00:11:37.012 --> 00:11:43.912 Chipotle did the same after Minnesota officials traced many of their salmonella cases to a lot of peppers used by the chain. 00:11:44.392 --> 00:11:49.072 Chipotle said it replaced the suspect jalapenos with ones from different growers. 00:11:49.332 --> 00:11:51.332 How do peppers get salmonella? 00:11:51.952 --> 00:12:00.352 Typically through a variety of ways, but most likely contaminated water that it's used to irrigate or come into contact with that food. 00:12:00.352 --> 00:12:09.652 Unlike the lettuce-linked cyclosporiasis triggered by a parasite, salmonella is a bacteria that causes fever, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. 00:12:10.272 --> 00:12:15.372 Symptoms most people develop within 8 to 72 hours of eating the bad food. 00:12:16.012 --> 00:12:20.212 These high-profile outbreaks involving three popular fast food chains, 00:12:20.372 --> 00:12:24.412 Taco Bell for the lettuce, Chipotle and Qdoba for the jalapenos, 00:12:24.792 --> 00:12:27.632 have some concern about our nation's food supply. 00:12:28.212 --> 00:12:32.112 We have to remind ourselves that our food supply is fairly safe. 00:12:32.112 --> 00:12:37.432 But things happen, accidents happen, and contamination certainly can happen at any point in the food supply. 00:12:37.892 --> 00:12:39.892 Anne Thompson, NBC News. 00:12:40.572 --> 00:12:45.112 Well, in the midst of that outbreak, there's a new leader taking the helm at the CDC this morning. 00:12:45.112 --> 00:12:52.692 Yesterday, the Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz to be the newest director, making her the agency's first permanent director in almost a year. 00:12:53.212 --> 00:12:58.532 The 51 to 44 vote in the Republican-controlled Senate was largely split along party lines. 00:12:58.992 --> 00:13:01.872 For more on this, let's welcome NBC News health reporter Aria Bendix. 00:13:01.952 --> 00:13:03.292 Aria, good morning. Always great to have you. 00:13:03.352 --> 00:13:05.212 So first, just tell us about Dr. Schwartz's background. 00:13:05.752 --> 00:13:08.772 Yeah, so she has the credentials to fit this role. 00:13:09.072 --> 00:13:12.552 She was the deputy surgeon general, actually, under the first Trump administration. 00:13:12.552 --> 00:13:20.172 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. 00:13:20.332 --> 00:13:24.612 So there's really no question about her resume at her confirmation hearing. 00:13:24.712 --> 00:13:34.572 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, you know, question vaccine safety. 00:13:34.572 --> 00:13:40.572 And how were her responses on that? Because there was some concern about is she distancing herself enough from that? 00:13:40.572 --> 00:13:43.072 What do you think her leadership means in that regard? 00:13:43.232 --> 00:13:51.652 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. 00:13:51.932 --> 00:13:56.212 We have a statement from an advocacy group that's made up of former CDC officials. 00:13:56.632 --> 00:14:02.252 They said they were hoping for more clear commitments about how she would protect CDC from political pressure. 00:14:02.492 --> 00:14:04.572 They found her statements often vague. 00:14:04.572 --> 00:14:10.752 She did dodge questions frequently at the hearing, but she was clear on one thing, that vaccines are safe and effective. 00:14:11.132 --> 00:14:14.292 So I think some experts are approaching her tenure with some cautious optimism. 00:14:14.732 --> 00:14:16.032 She's well-liked by her colleagues. 00:14:16.212 --> 00:14:21.952 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. 00:14:22.312 --> 00:14:24.092 OK, and there's a lot going on. 00:14:24.152 --> 00:14:33.472 I mean, we were just talking about a new salmonella outbreak, a 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. 00:14:34.112 --> 00:14:37.592 Also, by the way, don't forget about a measles ongoing crisis in this country. 00:14:37.712 --> 00:14:39.332 I mean, there's a lot to step into this job. 00:14:39.512 --> 00:14:43.732 Just how important will these first few months coinciding with things like that be 00:14:43.732 --> 00:14:48.932 for her sort of future in the role, for the perception from the public of her in the role? 00:14:48.932 --> 00:14:51.912 Yeah, she has, as you mentioned, some big tests ahead. 00:14:52.072 --> 00:14:55.272 I think Congress and quite frankly, the public is going to be watching closely 00:14:55.272 --> 00:14:58.412 to see how she performs for measles in particular. 00:14:58.732 --> 00:15:03.052 We'll see how emphatically she sort of recommends the MMWR vaccine. 00:15:03.052 --> 00:15:05.052 I'm watching that very closely. 00:15:05.192 --> 00:15:08.812 And then how she addresses really these growing rates of vaccine hesitancy in this country. 00:15:09.152 --> 00:15:15.312 At her confirmation hearing, she said she essentially wants to be this bridge between vaccine skeptics and mainstream medicine. 00:15:15.532 --> 00:15:19.112 That's a tough feat under any administration, but particularly this one. 00:15:19.352 --> 00:15:22.512 I think experts are willing to give her the benefit of the doubt and see how she does there. 00:15:22.632 --> 00:15:23.052 No kidding. 00:15:23.272 --> 00:15:24.372 All right, Arya, thank you so much. 00:15:25.032 --> 00:15:29.192 We want to bring you an update on those historic wildfires burning in Washington state. 00:15:29.192 --> 00:15:39.432 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. 00:15:39.872 --> 00:15:43.052 And whether they were started intentionally is still under investigation. 00:15:43.712 --> 00:15:46.412 NBC News national correspondent Morgan Chesky has the latest. 00:15:48.785 --> 00:15:52.945 Air and ground crews fighting for every inch in a fiery battle. 00:15:53.945 --> 00:15:58.085 As one of Washington's most destructive wildfires ever rages on. 00:15:58.545 --> 00:16:00.765 I've done everything I can to save my house. 00:16:00.765 --> 00:16:04.825 The race for containment creeping forward. 00:16:05.425 --> 00:16:12.585 Our fire teams right now are working on establishing fire lines around all of these fire zones. 00:16:12.945 --> 00:16:18.385 Progress here largely dependent upon the wind, but an emerging heat wave now brings new risk. 00:16:18.385 --> 00:16:22.825 We still have a lot of interior heat, and even a little gust can grab an ember and throw it. 00:16:23.305 --> 00:16:28.565 Hollywood star and Spokane native Sidney Swinney was back home, helping with community relief efforts. 00:16:28.565 --> 00:16:36.425 More than 1,500 firefighters are on the ground, taking on the three fires that officials now believe were all human-caused. 00:16:36.885 --> 00:16:38.305 Do we believe that to be intentional? 00:16:38.945 --> 00:16:40.305 That's why it's under investigation. 00:16:40.725 --> 00:16:45.705 There was clearly no lightning in the area, so it's a human-caused fire, but to be determined whether it was accidental. 00:16:46.445 --> 00:16:51.345 Aaron Farnacci, the man charged with starting the most destructive fire, is due in court to enter a plea. 00:16:51.885 --> 00:16:54.125 Authorities crediting witnesses in catching him. 00:16:54.125 --> 00:16:58.905 My daughter was sitting on the porch out there and she says there's a fire. 00:17:00.005 --> 00:17:06.925 So I ran out and looked and saw a column of smoke rising exactly where that individual was standing at. 00:17:07.465 --> 00:17:15.005 The Spokane fires have now burned more than 10,000 acres with fire officials telling us full containment could take weeks. 00:17:15.745 --> 00:17:16.585 We'll send it back to you. 00:17:16.725 --> 00:17:17.805 Morgan, thank you very much. 00:17:17.885 --> 00:17:23.345 Well, for more on the fire and the heat threat across much of the Pacific Northwest, let's bring in our Angie Lastman. 00:17:23.345 --> 00:17:26.645 Hey, Angie, good morning. Hi there, Savannah. Good morning to you. Not much of a change when 00:17:26.645 --> 00:17:30.485 it comes to those same kind of ingredients that we've been watching over the past couple of days 00:17:30.485 --> 00:17:35.165 for the fire issues across the West. Here's those air quality alerts so you can see all the fires 00:17:35.165 --> 00:17:40.285 burning specifically focused across the Pacific Northwest and across the Great Basin. Those are 00:17:40.285 --> 00:17:45.085 going to be ongoing today. We still have plenty of smoke that is going to drift across those regions, 00:17:45.225 --> 00:17:49.645 leaving us with air quality issues for a lot of folks. Again, focused mainly across the Pacific 00:17:49.645 --> 00:17:54.705 northwest where we've been seeing those air quality issues for days and days now. That doesn't change 00:17:54.705 --> 00:17:58.685 today. We're also going to see our temperatures kind of surging over the next couple of days. 00:17:58.805 --> 00:18:03.725 73 million people under these heat alerts. Most of it is stretched across the west, Salt Lake City, 00:18:03.845 --> 00:18:08.525 Torino, down through Los Angeles, Phoenix, Albuquerque included, Oklahoma City as well 00:18:08.525 --> 00:18:14.065 included in these heat alerts as we gear up for warmer than normal temperatures yet again in some 00:18:14.065 --> 00:18:20.565 of those areas. Las Vegas at 111, 99 for Salt Lake City, El Paso, Utah out at 101 today. 00:18:20.925 --> 00:18:24.805 These temperatures, of course, above where they should be for this time of year. And it's not 00:18:24.805 --> 00:18:30.565 getting any better as we look to tomorrow. Boise, Salt Lake City, 100 plus. Medford, 00:18:30.685 --> 00:18:35.285 104. That temperature more than 10 degrees above where they should be for this time of year. So 00:18:35.285 --> 00:18:39.765 not, of course, helping with that intense heat and all of the fire concerns that we have across 00:18:39.765 --> 00:18:44.965 that region. We'll still remain hot well into the weekend and into our upcoming work week, 00:18:45.065 --> 00:18:50.105 100 degrees across the board for Saturday and Sunday in Salt Lake City. And we only improve 00:18:50.105 --> 00:18:54.605 a little bit with a high of 98 degrees on Monday. So you get the picture. It's going to be warm out 00:18:54.605 --> 00:18:59.385 across the west. We're also going to see some changes across parts of the northeast, specifically 00:18:59.385 --> 00:19:04.405 in the mid-Atlantic, where we've kind of been enjoying milder, more comfortable conditions. 00:19:04.405 --> 00:19:11.105 We had lower humidity kind of work into this region thanks to this front that has been kind of hanging around. 00:19:11.305 --> 00:19:13.845 That front migrates a little bit farther to the north. 00:19:14.145 --> 00:19:20.025 That allows us to see some of this humidity being pumped in by this high that's sitting across parts of the Atlantic. 00:19:20.205 --> 00:19:23.825 That is really going to make a difference when it comes to the later parts of our work week. 00:19:23.885 --> 00:19:25.625 But even today, you'll notice the difference. 00:19:26.045 --> 00:19:28.725 Philadelphia heads to 91 degrees, will feel like 102. 00:19:28.725 --> 00:19:33.085 We've got New York City at 89, but look at that heat index value, 99 degrees. 00:19:33.085 --> 00:19:38.405 farther down the coast, Norfolk, Washington, D.C., you will feel like 100 plus through the day today. 00:19:38.905 --> 00:19:43.645 And that continues as we get even into tomorrow. But we'll get a little bit of relief on the back 00:19:43.645 --> 00:19:48.765 end of the weekend. So high 90s Friday in New York City, 94 is going to feel a whole lot better by 00:19:48.765 --> 00:19:53.925 Sunday. And we'll see that humidity level kind of gradually drop across this region as we get 00:19:53.925 --> 00:19:59.925 through our weekend. One note, we've got a couple of areas of potential strong to even severe storms 00:19:59.925 --> 00:20:03.365 today. Wind gusts are going to be our main threat. That's centered across parts of Springfield, 00:20:03.405 --> 00:20:07.925 and we'll see some general thunderstorms across parts of the Northeast. Washington, D.C., 00:20:07.925 --> 00:20:11.965 up through Union will be included in that. And that's part of this kind of broader system that's 00:20:11.965 --> 00:20:16.365 sliding to the east and leaving us with some showers and some thunderstorms across parts of 00:20:16.365 --> 00:20:21.545 the Great Lakes and the Ohio Valley. But we'll also see some of that kind of scattered activity 00:20:21.545 --> 00:20:26.005 across the Northeast stretching down through the mid-Atlantic, potentially looking at some locally 00:20:26.005 --> 00:20:30.665 heavy rain that could cause some travel delays, Savannah, through the day today. We'll still be 00:20:30.665 --> 00:20:36.065 looking at some pockets of rain even as we get through tomorrow as well. All right, Andrew Lassman, 00:20:36.125 --> 00:20:41.025 thank you so much. We thank you for watching and remember, stay updated on breaking news and top 00:20:41.025 --> 00:20:44.665 stories on the NBC News app or watch live on our YouTube channel.