The president is, of course,
eager to deliver these benefits to americans and red states and blue states
that theyve long been waiting for seeing momentum. The white house has high
hopes the debate on the bipartisan infrastructure bill is come in. What more
were hearing from the white house and fired the director of the tokyo olympics
opening ceremony ousted over an insensitive joke that he made during a comedy
show back in 1990 able have the latest from tokyo. And this is going to and its
a result the more what we keep calling in a perfect storm. Factors. I think the
u the cuban people. Is on the front lines. Demanding change in the
communist country. We have a preview of tonights fight for freedom. Special
right here on news now. News now.
We start today, though, with
the rocky road, of course, to infrastructure. Thats where we find news white
house correspondent mike meme leaders joined now, my great to see this
afternoon. Thanks for joining us on as we well know, the president, the vice
president meeting with union business leaders on this bipartisan infrastructure
just one day. Of course, after the first procedural vote failed in the senate.
Talk us through mike, whos in the room with them and is the white house at this
point still comment. They can get something done. What has been the white house
hasnt said who is going to be part of this meeting specifically.
But it is an interesting
pairing, isnt it. We dont often talk about union members, labor leaders and
business executives in the same room. But this is a pairing that the white
house and the biden campaign and the transition before it really love to bring
together to try to make the argument as it has throughout this process that
what the president is talking about here. What hes proposing with both some of
the elements of the bipartisan infrastructure deal, but also some of american
families plan and that reconciliation measure are popular with both parties.
Both a traditional in a way that we dont typically see in washington.
And so as weve saw the failed
test vote yesterday and in the senate. The white house has really been reacting
with a collective shrug downplaying the significance and really maintaining
that theyre confident about what throughout this process is moving forward. We
heard that confidence this morning from the secretary of transportation, pete
buttigieg. It feels as things are still headed in a good direction. You are
witnessing all of that procedural complexity of the united states congress that
can be messy. But over the coming days will cost a minimum of 5 reaching the
point where this can get to the floor and the sooner this can get to the
presidents desk signature the better president positive bipartisan moment for
this.
As weve seen again and again in
washington, nothing moves in a straight line and theyre going to be more twists
and turns to get the stop. Other thing i find interesting hearing has been
remember for weeks were talking were looking at the president who was engaged
bringing lawmakers to the white house. He was appearing with that bipartisan
group when they announced that deal, we really havent seen him rolling up his
sleeves, getting his hands dirty in terms of that kind of internal washington
game trying to move this process forward. And instead i spoke with some white
house officials this afternoon who said they really are moving much more into
this kind of public pressure campaign.
They are supremely confident
that the politics here are on their side and thats more effective in view of
trying to pressure lawmakers to get to a deal here than anything the president
might be doing behind the scenes. Hey, mike, lets talk. Why have you about
covid funding here in the administration. Obviously announcing that theyre
going to increase funding for testing across the country as we are seeing cases
spike now with this new delta variant. This point is teams over 80% of the
cases covid positive cases in this country are from that delta variant.
How much money are we talking
here and wheres the focus going to be. Yeah. The white house announcing that a
100 million dollars in funding will go to 2000 rural health clinics across the
country. The goal here is to both increased testing but also help with those
vaccination efforts in these parts of the country where we have seen the
vaccination rates lag, but it was so interesting to me as the white house covid
relief team was speaking to reporters earlier today. They talked about the 5
states that have had the highest case rates in the past week.
Also have the highest
vaccination rates in the last week. Surpassing the national average. I thought
that was so interesting because perhaps we talk about all the incentives that
have been offered to try to get people vaccinated maybe in the states they
arent really seeing the delta variant increased hospitalizations and cases as a
real specter and reason to get vaccinated after all. Maybe thats whats turning
the tide here. The other part that was interesting today. The white house was
really a little bit on the defensive as there was a report in the washington
post. They are may be reconsidering some of the masking guidance for the
public. White house press secretary jen psaki hall. That report breathless. She
said you would you should be concerned if members of the federal government
here.
Were not talking about these
kinds of things at all times. But she insisted there has been no change to this
idea that if you are vaccinated, you do not would need to wear masks in public.
It might. Before i let you go, i do want you to touch on something else for us.
The president signing a to boost funding for the victims of the crime act.
Explain to us what this program does and what the president actually had to say
about at the signing ceremony. Yes, but i have to admit i wasnt familiar with
this program. And as the more i learned about it, the more interested i was be
and why it was running out of money here.
This is actually a reagan era
program that was initiated to basically take money. That was collected as far
part of criminal penalties for domestic abuse, child abuse cases and then make
that funding available to state sonic brand. Basis to make available to clinics
to health centers that provide services for the victims of child abuse for the
victims of domestic abuse. And interestingly, as we saw during the pandemic,
unfortunately arise in these kinds of incidents. The funding was really running
out. And so that was the legislation that the president signed into law to help
replenish that funding.
And as we know, the violence
against women act. This has been a cause of the president throughout his public
career. Take a listen to him talking about the significance of this bill. Going to
enable us to provide more help and support to victims of domestic violence
sectional saw child abuse, trafficking and other crimes all across america. In
order provide more access and safety and services for victims of gender-based
violence. Its long past time and strengthen the protections to the violence
against women act. Please. Please worth noting at a time when were often
talking about washington gridlock.
This was an overwhelmingly
bipartisan piece of legislation and republicans joined democrats at the white
house for the signing ceremony today has been. And as you emily of the timing
for this could not be better considering the increase in violence against women
during this. A pandemic in the year and a half lockdown that we all just went
through my memory for us. Thanks, mike. Great to see this afternoon. Thanks.
Theyre there to get a truce, not to get tru that seems to be. But the other
side is obsessed with.
So on capitol hill, house
speaker pelosi vowing that partisan politics will not stop a panel of lawmakers
from getting to the bottom of the january 6 attack. Pelosi is looking to fill 5
spots on the select committee after rejecting to republicans for the job on
wednesday. Nbc news capitol hill. But slightly uncalled was running with this.
Leanne, good to see pelosi given some more details today about that decision
also saying she didnt necessarily disqualify representative jim banks and jim
jordan because they voted against certifying the 2020 election results. What
you learning about some of her reasoning here.
Hey, and thats right. Thats not
the reason she says, because theres another member on that committee appointed
by mccarthy who was on that committee who also voted against certifying
election results. Now is representative nails and is what she is saying is that
its about use the word antics. I referring to statements that both members have
made about january 6 about the election, talking about how the election was not
legitimate theres also been a lot of talk about how representative jordan met
with the former president in december leading up to january 6 to talk about
january 6 and theyre saying that he could be a material for the so hes just unable
to serve.
They she also talks about the
facts that there she is also denying the fact that this is a partisan move.
Lets listen to what she said. These people dont act up cause a problem and
people said put him one and then when they act up, you can pick them off.
Nobody saying that its all should be one point of view going on the committee.
But it is when statements ridiculous and fall into the realm of all. You must
be kidding theres no way that theyre going to be on the committee. Speaker
pelosi also says that its the republicans to put them in that position because
they voted to object to the creation of an independent several months
ago.
And thats the reason the select
committee was formed. So but speaker pelosi is standing by her decision and it
looks like shes going to not have any of mccarthys choice is moving forward so
so what does that mean when it comes landis on those. 5 spots. Well, theres a
lot of talk now about perhaps adding more republicans on the committee that
speaker pelosi chooses and there is discussions. Our sources are saying about
representative adam kinzinger he someone who you know, come down very harshly
against the former president talks about how the election was not stolen that
it was legitimate and that january 6 was a very horrible day in our countrys
history as speaker pelosi said that theres a lot of people and her
caucus.
And theres a lot of people who
are already serving on the select committee who are recommending adam kinzinger
to serve in one of those people recommending is representative liz cheney so we
could see another republican on this it just wont be the choice of leader
mccarthy yasmin. Liam, before i let you go, want to talk infrastructure
for a moment. I was just discussing this a over at the white house. Talk me
through where were at with another procedural vote. She were indicating he may
want to have another one next week after sailing.
This week. Thats right. Vote
failed theres another opportunity perhaps next week. If this vote comes up
again, just to open debate. This is not a vote on the final package of
legislation. Were still waiting for that. And you know what, late today were
finding out there is a very, very big complication that republicans and
democrats have not agreed to in this bipartisan infrastructure bill and that
has to do with the breakdown of how much money is spent on highways compared to
how much money is spent on transit like mass transit.
And this is something that
republicans and democrats have not been able to agree on. And so this could be
a major complication moving forward despite the fact these bipartisan group of
members have been insinuating that they are close. But this is a big one
overcome yasmin. And caldwell. Thank you as always. Good to see you. Yet. All
right. A veteran intelligence officer who helped to hunt down osama bin laden
will lead the cia task force on the havana syndrome. The mysterious illness
affecting hundreds of american diplomats around the world and whether they are
being targeted in attacks. News chief foreign affairs correspondent andrea
mitchell joins me now.
And my friend. So good to see
you. On the talk us through some of the details as to what you know. Of course,
we know obviously the officers name has not yet been revealed because this
officer is under cover. This officer and the role they have in the task force.
Hes going to be heading the task force year. She i should point out because we
dont know the identity of this veteran cia officer. And its significant that he
was is so experience. So will a guarded. Critical for this rigorous hunt for
years and years for bin laden. That was successfully cheat because this
signifies the importance. But cia director bill burns is putting on this.
This whole mystery of so-called
havana syndrome, something that started at our embassy in havana back in 2016
was mysterious. It was the cause for all us diplomats spies and other personnel
from havana. Virtually all. Its just a show right now at with that, a handful
of people they cant do. The says they can to other consular work and that has
led to worse. The situation where relations under president trump for president
trump are downgraded significantly by mike pompeo and others at first because
of this mystery disease. But we now know so many years later that it is
extremely unlikely that cuba was the cause began in cuba.
But you believe russia is
probably the most likely suspect. No hard evidence of that. The russia back in
the 1970s was working on this direction. Microwave energy. The kind of
radiation that. Could conceivably be what is use of national academy of
science. Its science for the panel last year saying that that is the most
likely cause and this is something that russia is must most experienced and
anywhere in the world. The other fact is that it popped up in russia in china
all over the world. Now an news reported this week that there have as
many as 200 possible cases in every continent except antarctica. So now the
state department again confirming today.
They are considering sending
some diplomats back to havana. All right. Well. A lot of things we dont know.
But a lot of things we do as well. Obviously this investigation ongoing andrea
mitchell has always good to see you, my friend. Thank you welcome
back. Lets go to nbc news now correspondent symone voice. Shes following the
latest headlines from nbc news, dot com heisman. Good to news, dot com heisman.
Good to see you. Hey, has been great to see you as well.
Unfortunately, start with a pretty scary story out of kentucky where an explosion
at a dippin dots facility left 10 people injured so it happened while the truck
was unloading liquid nitrogen, which is that secret ingredient in those dippin
dots.
The company saying their
primary focus is the recovery of the employees who were injured. Now back in
2019. 4 people were injured in a different building with an explosion that
happened there actually at the same facility and some sad news from california
and nevada man was found dead after he didnt return from a weekend hike in
yosemite national park 61 year-old fred zalokar was actually an experience
indoors athlete and his death is still under investigation and former florida
state legendary football coach bobby bowden releasing a statement saying he has
a terminal medical condition.
So the announcement coming
after a bad leg infection that left him hospitalized as well as a battle with
covid-19 about him saying, quote, ive always tried to serve gods purpose for my
life on and off the field and im prepared for what is to come. Well, chinas top
health officials rejecting plans will world health organization world health
organization to dig deeper into the theory that the virus might have leaked
from a chinese lab in wuhan the organization already looked into the lab
earlier this year and concluded that the coronavirus most likely jumped from
animals to humans.
However, since then calls for
more transparency have grown louder as some think its time to revisit the lab
leak theory and daimler mercedes-benzs parent company aiming to become a fully
electric by the year 2030. The german carmaker is planning to invest 47 billion
dollars over the next 8 years to develop battery powered vehicles. Their plan
includes a new production plans by 2025 that will produce electric vehicles
only. Yeah. And ill send it only. Yeah. And ill send it back to you. Thank you.
Smile. The state reporting over 1400 coronavirus cases yesterday alone. The
governor says the delta variant now accounts for more than 80% of cases there.
And officials there.
Theyre sounding the alarm about
this uptick in children. Testing positive for the virus children. 15% of
infections during the past week were kids 14 and younger up from percent just
last year. Here in durham county. Those under the age of 17 make up about a 3rd
of in the last month. And this is top timing for schools as theyre trying to
plan for the fallen here in durham county. Theyve had this year round school
program where they just brought kids back to school like the one behind me here
this week right around the time of this increase in cases, the governor made an
announcement yesterday giving new guidance to schools saying that middle
schools and elementary schools should require masks regardless of vaccination
status, but he did say that for a high schools for those who are
vaccinated.
They dont have to wear the
mask. Now, this work was strongly recommended. But yes, but, you know, at the
end of the day, this all does come down to the local and district level in
force. And its not clear at the state level, whether or not they and how they
were planning in force this in districts where maybe folks are a little bit
more hesitant to to mask up. And so these are all of the conversations that,
you know have been flash points nationally and theyre going to be tackling in the
next several weeks of the school year really is coming up here. And as i said,
some of these kids are already in classrooms. Yasmin. I to
talk to me about how theyre planning on getting more kids vaccinate obviously
kids under the age of 12 cant get vaccinated as of yet. The timeline for
that.
We dont necessarily know when
thats going to approved. But there is kind of a sweet spot between 1214 in
which kids can get vaccinated. What are they doing to encourage kids and
parents at that to get their parents at that to get their kids ahead of the
school year. I mean, everyone been talking to here is
thinking about safety and protocols and how to make this work because it is so
important to have kids in the classroom and you know, the governors announcement
around masks will here in durham county. Theyre actually requiring masks for
high schools as well.
So it could be mass across the
board, at least as of now here. And they say thats because those kids that are
not eligible to get vaccinated but also yasmin because the vaccination rates
among kids 12 to 17 that are eligible are quite low in the state about 24%
fully vaccinated. I talked to the county public health director about this,
take a list of what he had to say. Our younger students cant get vaccinated. So
of course, were continuing with sking. Every staff member will be vaccinated
not every older student will be vaccinated and it is simpler.
2 deal with the inconvenience
of wearing a inconvenience of wearing a mask and 2 try then to try to identify
how whether every single person in this school. Single person in this school. Is vaccinated.
And
has been at that. That was the chief communications officer durham public
schools on their decision require masks across the board. I do want you to
hear, though, from the county public health director about how to get more of
these kids who are legit eligible vaccinated. Take a listen. Lets say
the clock is certainly ticking far state trends. We know that the state is
seeing a lot of defections in the cereal to 17 year-old age range and those are
all students. So as it stands right now, we certainly as many people to get
vaccinated as possible.
Were delighted kid girls to
know that theres a lot of back to school campaigns back to school events and
which they want to promote vaccinations are hopeful that families who are on
the sidelines or a crest. They may be take the time to get back and has
been at the end of the day, the message from the district is 12 year-old who is
eligible get vaccinated. Theyre helping to protect those younger kids who are
not yet eligible. Thats something theyre hoping that families well, take into
account has been. Yeah. A lot of parents me being one of them.
Certainly worried about sending my back to school, especially when theyre under
the which they can get vaccinated. Currently this thing is not over. That is
for shores. Were hearing from the cdc.
Dasha burns for us. Thanks so
much. Good to hear from you. So we have an urgent warning from the surgeon
general about vaccine misinformation, that its exploding online at the
dangerous false claims, putting more pressure on social media companies to stop
bad actors from undermining public health efforts as new covid cases spike
among the on vax new nbc news investigative and consumer correspondent vicky
wynn takes a look at the problem and what the big tech giants are doing to stop
the spread. An intense push to vaccinate as covid numbers
rise across the country.
Vaccine misinformation is also
spreading online on facebook, twitter and instagram. We easily found dozens of
posts promoting theories. The vaccines alter your dna diminish fertility and
even make you magnetic them. According to multiple public health agencies and
doctors. That information is false. Its so bad. The surgeon general issued a
rare formal advisory usually reserved for warnings on tobacco drugs and
obesity. Agreed with the surgeon generals advisory tweeting as the covid-19
pandemic evolves around the world will continue to do our part to elevate
authoritative health information how is it possible that we can all look at the
same facts and arrive and radically different conclusions.
Sander van der linden is a
professor of psychology at cambridge university in england. He studies how
false hood spread online. He also advises facebook to to help the company d
bunk misinformation on everything from covid to climate change. What did you
think of the u.s. Surgeon generals. What statement was very strong, important
statement misinformation about vaccines going from public health several ways.
He said although the social networks have taken significant measures to quash
false statements. Their algorithms give misinformation more chances to go
viral. And in fact, the public finding anti-vaccination groups on facebook is
harder than it used to be.
But look what happens when were
on one of these pages. Facebooks formula wants to keep us engaged. So. It shows
us more related pages with groups that have questionable vaccine information
and a similar experience here on twitter. When we start on the robert f kennedy
junior a prominent vaccine critic. Twitter shows us i like other profiles with
people who are critical of vaccines. Multiple studies found polarizing post
tend to generate more likes comments and shares. Which means more people will
see these types of posts.
What should they be doing. Well,
one of the things that should be looking into is how people for sharing
actually information, but he warns social media companies may not be motivated
to erase all misinformation because thats the way the business model runs as
they they profit off of engagement and negative content does promote
engagement. And thats not going to change every part of the solutions as long
as it doesnt the profitability of the platform. So what can you do to reduce
junk information, get your news from diverse sources. Dont engage
in online debates which can boost engagement and spread misinformation further
instead create a new post and share accurate information while accurate
information while addressing the myths.
News senior reporter ben
collins is following the latest on facebooks battle against some of this
misinformation is joining us now. Ben, good to see you. Theres so much. I want
to unpack on this and first and foremost is the way in which some of these
anti-vax groups avoiding detection on social media going so far as to avoid
detection. So they continue to new to spread this misinformation. How are they
doing that? Yeah, theyre changing their theyre not out
there to not take the vaccine in groups that say dont take the vaccine. The
group aims are things like dance party or swim club and once youre in a group,
you change the like a legend at the top of the page that says dont say i got
the vaccine say i went dancing.
Or do you dont call moderna
column alanna there are code words now all throughout these pages to make sure
these people do not. Theres that list right there. You can see a for example,
pfizer when they bring that. But i want pizza in these pages. It its a way to
make sure not only are they not caught manually by facebook centers. Theyre the
bots that automate facebook that search for anti-vaccine misinformation. Never
catch this. So i actually want to read from what facebook
is saying because theyre pushing back hard against some critics pan.
Who believe that theyre not
necessarily doing enough. And they say this. Reduce the visibility of more than
a 167 million pieces of covid content debunked by network of fact checking
partners that facebook has done this. But i cant help but go back to what they
could just send her package in in that they dont necessarily have motivation to
shut these groups down because its only doing what they were built to do. What
the social media sites are built to do that being said, by spreading this had
missed misinformation is killing folks. Yeah. Its really it in part because.
Like people can people go into
your friends and going under their post say, hey, you just said iran as point
out that thats more engagement set up even further into your news feed. And
thats what facebook wants to use of facebook. Want you know, constantly
interacting on the platform getting really angry or really happy, really a
motive in some capacity. So the more outrageous stuff that you see the better
off it is unfortunately anti-vaccine conspiracy theories are incredibly there.
Theyre very quick about things they provide you really simple answers to
complex complex solution.
So thats the thats the thats
the issue here is that this sort of things that are into what the algorithm
would want. Certainly it on facebook extraordinary steps to stop this out and
they have. Thats the thing is, you know, facebook has taken down a lot of stuff
and they, you know, downright a lot of stuff. But as the actors will persist,
they really believe in that stuff. Is there a way bent identify that youre
reading something thats not. Accurate. If you dont necessarily know the facts
yourself. Well, theres a lot of just first of all, you
know, personal standpoint, it just just google.
It does look it up. Something
seems way too simple to be true. Sometimes it it often is just that. Facebook
has 5 labels and basically were very viral mega viral false claims about
covid-19. The issue is it sometimes now started out in time. Actors use that
label is sort of like a. Weve been banned. Look at how cool is this labels are
working that youre out there hiding the real sure. So thats not what facebook
asked him at like stage for 5 of this. Its going to get more and more blacks. Ben collins
for us. Thanks so much for this really important.
Sporting, appreciate it. All
right. Your vaccine card. It could be in your office or or the glove
compartment of car or maybe that pile of papers on your kitchen counter. But
what if you cant find it. Nbc news now correspondent more barrett shows us what
exactly to do. Hes jack lew. While it got hes
jack lew. While it got it. Vaccine card. Vaccine
card. Vaccine as
things get back to normal around the country. Places like concert venues,
universities and even some workplaces are requiring you to show proof of
vaccination but the better vaccine for a few months now, you may have misplaced
this little 3 by 4 in acc vaccine card just be on facebook.
I lost my vaccine card one
tonight new that is our number one question on our frequently asked questions
right now. The cdc says if youve lost your card, your first stop should be
contacting the provider of your vaccine, whether that was a local pharmacy or a
mega site. Theyre not going to give you a new those are held tightly, but they
will a printout and something that will be valid where you are needing to year
near proof you can contact or vaccine, provider directly. Maybe because it was
a pop-up shop thats no longer there reach out to your state health departments,
immunization information system. All of the contact information is organized on
the cdcs website.
Most states will give you a
copy of your immunization records and sends vaccination providers were required
to report covid-19 vaccinations to the state. It should be on the record. They
give you states have apps or websites where you can access your proof of
immunizations pretty quickly like in california. The other someones going a 50
per he had covid-19 vaccine record by the convenient but it may take a few
business days and other states. If you know your card is nowhere to be found.
The its best to start the process sooner rather than later. So you dont have
that card take a deep breath youre not really are shot.
If you just need to take a few
extra steps to get that the bottom line, our daily look at whats going
on in the business world and be on weekly jobless claims are out and the
numbers theyre disappointing 419,000 americans filed for first-time
unemployment benefits just last week. A significant job from the week before
nbc news senior business correspondent stephanie ruhle explains why. Hey there,
yasmin. Its thursday. So the weekly jobless report is out. 419,000 americans
filed new unemployment claims in the last week. Now that number is ticking up
from where it was a week ago which is surprising to many because over the last
couple of months since we become vaccinated and the economy has reopened.
Weve seen more more people go
back to work and those jobless numbers go down so why is it on up in the last
week. Well, this one is something special in a couple states, michigan and
kentucky a few major auto plant shut down for several weeks now. They do this
every year to retool the plant and put it in better shape. And during his
period of time, some of their workers are eligible to file for unemployment. Thats
why we saw the numbers go up. The good news in a few weeks when the plans to
reopen those back on the job now overall, the jobs picture is getting better in
this country. And for those without jobs, wages are improving as employers in
all sorts of industries specifically low-wage jobs are looking for workers.
Theyre continuing to offer better and more incentives that are paying more
flexibility.
Paying more flexibility. Thats
good news. There has been the argument that because of expanded unemployment benefits
tied to covid some states believe that people have not gone back to work
because theyre getting paid so well with their benefits so we have seen a
number of states terminate those benefits early. But the data shows that hasnt
brought more people back to work, at least not yet. Were seeing people go back
to work at the same pace across many states and its taking time because covid
isnt behind us. Many people are still home. Their kids are home and theyve got
issues to work out over the next few months.
As for now, the picture is
looking good, but were not back to where we were pre pandemic, at least not
yet. For companies agreeing to a settlement to resolve thousands of lawsuits
for their role in the the opioid epidemic, the price tag. 26
billion dollars. An important step to confronting the scourge
good addition across connecticut and across the country. Nbc news
investigative producer laura strickler has been following the story for us and
shes joining us now. Lauren, great to see this afternoon. This settlement is
actually be in the works for quite some time. Breakdown. This major agreement,
this major settlement for us.
Mean, basically this is the 26
billion dollar between 4 separate companies. You have 5 billion dollars coming
from johnson and johnson and the rest are split between 3 drug distributors. I
think one thing the highlighted that this deal is that its very bipartisan in
an era of you know, fierce partisanship. This is an agreement that was hashed
by a bipartisan group state attorneys general from around the country and its
very significant because companies amerisourcebergen and cardinal health. They
were the ones that funneled opioids to communities around the country. They are
the middlemen in terms of distributing.
Drugs to pharmacies and the
accusation here is that they working attention to the extreme amounts of
opioids separate being distributed to communities around the country. Now they
will have to pool their data. You have to identify any suspicious orders become
and this is really critical because we have just last year 93,000 americans
died from the epidemic. Now he said. 30,000 person increase over the year
before. Such a huge and troubling number.
Talks about where this money is
going and how its going to be distributed to get a lawyer for some cities and
counties calling the settlements a game changer. Yeah, i
think i think whats really important here is a lot of the state attorneys
general learned from the settlement from which, you know, decades ago, which basically
require tobacco companies to pay money to the state. A lot of that money went
to things like potholes and infrastructure. This money will go toward
abatement. And with that means is they will go towards prevention treatment and
recovery and thats clearly whats needed.
And thats what the bees
attorneys general want to address. What are you hearing from the companies on
this. What is their response? To the companies are, you know, johnson and
johnson has come out saying that they are you know, very to people are dealing
with the opioid crisis. And you know, there there importantly, there is no
admission of guilt by any of the companies in the but the tennessee state
attorney general came out and said he thinks there are, you know, 26 billion reasons
why the companies there was some real wrongdoing and certainly you know this is
not im not a done deal just yet.
A lot of the state have to sign
on cities and counties to sign on. So well have to wait and see. But it is a
very strong indication. Money is going to go in this community. Sen. Laura strickler,
thank you. Thank you. Welcome back ev-d homeland and life. It is the
rallying cry in cuba as historic protests grow in the communist nation tonight
and nbc news now and tell them special takes an in-depth look at the fight for
freedom. Heres a fight for freedom. Heres a preview. A cuban
american and i was born and raised in this country and all of us that were we
dont realize we were born privileged and in the face of whats happening right
now. We realize that more than ever.
And it is our duty and it is
our right to exercise that freedom of speech for those that cant. Our parents
that immigrated to this country doesnt have to be. You dont have to be the son
or the daughter of cuban immigrants just have to be the son and daughter of
immigrants. First generation hispanic americans need to understand this is our
battle because your dad covid to moms battle and it was your grandparents
battle. It is our battle to its our duty to honor their sacrifices in a moment
like this. And speak up about these injustices.
Theres been a. Strong response
by the cuban regime to tamp down whatever may be going on in the streets. Is
future for the cuban people. Of course that if you share and that future also
needs the support of think an astronaut, a community, the cuban people is is is
the man in human rights is a matter and in the man in the end of day, their
chips, highest possible which chips, highest possible which kids. And life. And
megan but now the 5 day and motion of a given nation that lives outside island.
We have the responsibility to make worth at the people had it.
As you know, the people in the
streets of cuba now are not saying send us money or send this or send us
vaccines although they need all that, of course, and that we should provide
that for them. But thats not what theyre saying in the street is saying give me
my liberty. Give me liberty in the life give me
liberty in the life enough with repressive regime. This is it tour to tyranny.
Whats been going on there for for now, 62 years. And the people i said that
said do you think its a moment or is it a movement.
And
i think its i think its a movement thats created the moment.
And i think thats its my
feeling that its not its not going to go away. The culmination
of decades long poverty and of course the pandemic now ravaging the island of
cuba. Joining me now, jose diaz-balart egger on telemundo nbc nightly news
saturday and the host of tonights special. Jose, so good to see you on this.
Thanks for joining forward to seeing the seeing
somewhat of a preview on it just now the white announcing new sanctions against
cuban officials to crack down on protesters. Today the administration has been
facing a lot of pressure to take action here. Is this the right first step. Its a
first step and the sanctions im low base me.
Another secretary or mister of
defense as well as this paramilitary group that is part of the armed forces of
the cuban regime that has been carrying out these atrocities since the 11th of
july. By pointing them out here essentially pointing out part of the
infrastructure of repression that exists in cuba. You somebody who we just saw
just a second ago was a human rights activist president of cuba. This eat it
today. Her father 9 years ago today was killed in cuba. He was a human rights
activist in that island. So efforts to ask for freedom have been ongoing for 62
years, but it seems as though no one listens.
And now because of the advent
of the internet. People are able to see with their own eyes. What were seeing
right here, which is people going out to the streets asking for freedom and the
idea you just mentioned, the beginning of our conversation is a song thats
become an anthem, an inside cuba. If you sing that song in cuba today, youre
going to go to jail. Though the singer it was that the song was a semi 5 people
i i speak today at 8 oclock with the author of that song. But the idea in south
florida. But 2 of the 5 singers sang that song in cuba for the video. One of
them is in jail.
The director of the video in
cuba in jail. The director of the civil rights movements. Rdc little in havana
jailed. So just for saying that the idea people or go to jail hundreds of them
are going to jail. So as i asked and he is in a moment or is it a movement it
may be both. It may be that this is the beginning of something big 62 years of
silence is a lot of silence and so lets see how you know this. Bears out in the
future. But todays statement by president biden is a step. Its a message, but a
lot of people are saying that what they really need is more than a
message.
The internet is controlled
fully 100% in cuba by the cuban government. They restrict it. They stop it. And
make it slow be eliminated altogether. They dont want those images to come out,
but theyre coming out and well talk about that tonight at 8 oclock. Why is it
if people are willing risk their freedom. Living inside of that to take that
haters ship to film something that could come back and has come back to effect
and why are they doing it because of their call for freedom is more important
than anything else in their lives. It has.
Its its interesting because its
similar to a story that weve heard around the world and are so many oppressive
regimes. But cuba having its own unique story as well and actually been to cuba
and seeing kind of what it once was. You can tell in the streets that are now
somewhat a bad in certain areas. How vibrant it once was. And now. How that
the doors are shuttered on so many shops and restaurants no longer there remain
in business. You spoke about some of the guests that you interviewed for
tonights special to talk about the plight of cuba. Who are we going to hear
from. Well, john who actor singer and an we have and
you can those who is the c e o. Of i heart. Latino has his nationally
syndicated show. Were from laz.
Alonso is an actor from
the award series the boys on on we have from somebody up the activist. Andy garcia.
Any guy who was a young lady, a model who taken to the airwaves to talk about
what is going on in her country when she was born outside of cuba. But her
blood is very cuban and she has been talking about that you know, you talk
about how havana when you visited it, you could see what it once was it just
recently celebrated 5 100th anniversary and it looks as though in large part of
that city. A bomb has gone off well.
The bomb is 62 years old well.
The bomb is 62 years old and its called castro regime. An important
conversation to have. Were all going to be watching. Thank you for your work
work. Jose diaz-balart. Its good seeing ate it. Good to see you. Thank you.
Good to see you as well. You can watch our special cubas fight for freedom.
Tonight at 08:00pm eastern streaming right here on nbc news now. The director
of the opening ceremony for the tokyo olympics out of a job today can
kobayashi, who was also a comedian fired over a joke that he made back in 1998
about the holocaust.
One person who never seems to
disappoint olympic gymnast simone biles. She previewed her olympic routine
practice given the world a sneak peek. Nbc news senior national correspondent
tommy on this is in tokyo. He has been great to be with you. So today in
tokyo, we got our first glimpse at a group that maybe team usa is best chance
at winning gold. The u.s. Womens gymnastics team. You can see all these women
are fierce competitors with just one day to go before the opening ceremony.
Simone biles and team usa drilling down in practice and giving the world a look
behind the biles warming up on the uneven bars and on the
balance beam practicing those acrobatic skills and showing off some explosive
moves that means with smaller than an iphone.
Drawing applause from coaches
and fist bumps from fellow providing us with this bold even though its a
practice run. Why shes the goat session taking place in tokyo with the brand
new key gymnastics im kayla skinner pride to see her floor routine going
airborne with a perfect landing. And sunni lee showing off her mesmerizing
skills of you and even bars. Team usa also posing for photos along with their
coaches seeming to be in good even the one of the road alternate care aker now
in quarantine after testing positive for covid competition gets underway this
and excitement is building here and outside the olympic stadium where the
opening ceremony is taking place.
We found lines of people taking photos by the olympic rings. Photos by the olympic rings. What are you most excited to want to see the though. Most polls in tokyo show a majority of people in favor of postponing or canceling the games. The fans we spoke to here want to watch the games but understand the reasoning behind a strict covid measures. I wish. People can watch it for guarding coalition is the wisest one yeah. Was his decision to wait. Just be sure that they meet, i guess so from that conversation from having talks with other people throughout hokie over the last few weeks that weve been here. People are excited to watch the olympics. Theyre just not happy. Its in tokyo because of the rising covid rates, of course, is pandemic that never seems to end. So definitely to watch. They just wish it wasnt in their wish it wasnt in their backyard.
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