>> SOME BREAKING NEWS NOW
ALABAMA CONGRESSMAN MO BROOKS
ACCUSING FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.
VERY EXPLICITLY TELLING HIM TO
TRY TO RESCIND THE 2020
ELECTION AND TO PUT HIM BACK
IN THE WHITE HOUSE EVEN SAYING
THAT LIKE A YEAR AFTER THAT
ELECTION THE FORMER PRESIDENT
WAS INSISTING THERE WILL BE
ANOTHER ONE TO GET HIM BACK IN
THE OVAL OFFICE. COMES AFTER
MR. TRUMP PULLED HIS SUPPORT
TODAY FOR THE CONGRESSMAN
SENATE CAMPAIGN SAYING IN A
STATEMENT THE CONGRESSMAN
BROOKS MADE, QUOTE, A HORRIBLE
MISTAKE RECENTLY WHEN HE WENT
WOKE AND STOLE VOTERS TO PUT
THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
BEHIND GET OUT A LEGITIMATE
ELECTION IN WHICH PRESIDENT
BIDEN WAS LEGITIMATELY ELECTED
WITH NO WIDESPREAD VOTER
FRAUD. WE HAVE TO SAY THAT
EVERY TIME WE TALK ABOUT THIS
ONE HELLER'S JOINING US NOW
LONG, YOU ARE LEADING THE WAY
ON COVERAGE OF THIS STORY
BECAUSE I THINK YOU JUST GOT
OFF THE PHONE WITH CONGRESSMAN
BROOKS. RIGHT. WHAT DID HE
TELL YOU? YEAH, DID. JUST GET
UP THERE WITH THE CONGRESSMAN
IN BEFORE WE PLAY A LITTLE BIT
OF THAT AUDIO OF OUR PHONE
CONVERSATION THERE.
>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
SET UP A Y YOU DO WE CARE
ABOUT MO BROOKS, THE
CONGRESSMAN FROM ALABAMA.
WELL, HE'S RUNNING FOR THE
U.S. SENATE AND HAD THE
ENDORSEMENT LAST YEAR OF
DONALD TRUMP. BUT REALLY
THERE'S 3 MAJOR CONTENDERS
HERE AND MO BROOKS WAS WAS AND
HAS BEEN ONE OF THE STAUNCHEST
DEFENDERS OF THE FORMER
PRESIDENT ON JANUARY 6 JUST
HOURS BEFORE THAT INSURRECTION
TOOK PLACE. HE WAS THAT SAVE
AMERICA RALLY THAT TRUMP
DUBBED IT AND HE SPOKE THE
WORDS, QUOTE, TODAY IS THE
DAY. AMERICAN PATRIOTS START
TAKING DOWN NAMES AND KICKING.
THOSE WERE THE WORDS OF MO
BROOKS. NOW FAST FORWARD TO
TODAY. DONALD TRUMP HAS
RESCINDED HIS ENDORSEMENT IN
LARGE PART BECAUSE IT'S
PULLING NUMBERS HAVE FALLEN.
BUT NOW MO BROOKS IS OPENING
UP ABOUT WHAT THE FORMER
PRESIDENT IS ASKED OF HIM IN
THE PAST. TAKE A LISTEN.
>> HE DIRECTLY TELL YOU TO
FIGHT TO DECERTIFY THE
ELECTION. TWENTY-TWENTY
ELECTION. THEY DID USE THE
WORD THE SERVICE. IT IS THE WORD SAID REESE. WHAT DID THAT
WORD SAID REESE. WHAT DID THAT
MEAN TO YOU. I GUESS THAT
WOULD BE THROUGH IMPEACHMENT.
ELECTION RESULTS.
>> NOW MO BROOKS IS ALLEGING
THAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT
URGED TO ESSENTIALLY TRY TO
GET JOE BIDEN OUT OF OFFICE.
RESCINDING HIS WORDS, THE 2020
ELECTION AND HE MAKES QUITE
THE CLAIMANT ALLEGATION WHICH YOU CAN HEAR LATER ON IN OUR
YOU CAN HEAR LATER ON IN OUR
CONVERSATION. TAKE A LISTEN.
>> THEY STATE CONSTITUTION.
>> HE DIRECTLY SAY THAT THERE
SHOULD BE A NEW SPECIAL
ELECTION FOR THE PRESIDENCY.
>> PATIENTS THE MISSION HAVING
BASIS OF ELECTIONS FOR THE
BRIDGE AND STING. >> IN THIS DISASTER. THIS
>> IN THIS DISASTER. THIS
LABOR DAY.
>> WE NOW HAVE ON THE RECORD
HOWIE, ONE OF PRESIDENT
TRUMP'S LOYALISTS SAYING IN
LATE 2021, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST
9 MONTHS AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP
HAD LEFT OFFICE THAT HE WAS
STILL TRYING TO FIND A WAY
BACK IN, AS YOU HEARD MO HE
TOLD THE PRESIDENT FORMER
PRESIDENT DIRECTLY THAT IT WAS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL. NOW, I DID
ASK MO BROOKS WHETHER HE'D BE
OPEN TO SPEAKING WITH THE
JANUARY 6 RIGHT COMMITTEE
THERE THAT IS REALLY LOOKING
AT THE EVENTS AROUND ALL OF
THIS AND HE DID NOT EXPLICITLY
SAY NO.
>> TO BE CLEAR. AND I I THINK
FOLKS WATCHING KNOW THIS, BUT
YOU CAN'T HAVE A PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION, RIGHT. WHATEVER YOU
WANT TO HAVE A PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION THAT THERE ARE TIMES
AND PLACES FOR THOSE DONALD
TRUMP LOST. WE KNOW HE'S BEEN
UPSET ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE'S
LOST DID COME FROM BROOKS
EXPLAIN IN ANY WAY VAN WHY HE
WAITED UNTIL NOW. UNTIL TRUMP
PULLED BAD FOR A POOR
PRESIDENT PULLED BACK
ENDORSEMENT TO GO PUBLIC WITH
THESE. YOU KNOW, AS YOU SAY,
EXPLOSIVE ACCUSATIONS HERE.
>> BROOKS ISN'T GOING TO WALK
BACK HIS OWN POSITION THAT THE
ELECTION WAS STOLEN. HE'S NOT
DOING THAT HERE, BUT THIS IS
THAT FINE LINE THAT I THINK A
LOT OF OTHER REPUBLICANS, ALI,
YOU KNOW THIS IN 2022 WILL BE
LOOKING AT IS THAT FORMER
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS WILLING TO
THROW EVEN HIS CLOSEST ALLIES
OFF THE SHIP WHEN THEY BECOME
NO LONGER AND EYES NECESSARY
TO HIS PATH TO POLITICAL
PROMINENCE IN THE BROOKS. HE'S
BEEN FOLLOWING IN RECENT WEEKS
IN THE POLLS AND IS THERE IS A
GREAT MANY ALABAMA. THE
BELIEVE THAT HE WAS NOT GOING
MAKE IT TO THE RUNOFF
ELECTION. JUST 2 MONTHS FROM
NOW WHICH WOULD ESSENTIALLY
GIVE DONALD TRUMP A LOSS AMONG
CANDIDATES WHO HE ENDORSES.
NOW, THE BIG QUESTION IS HOW
MANY OTHERS RUNNING FOR OFFICE
ARE GOING TO BE WILLING TO
SEPARATE THEMSELVES FROM THE
FORMER PRESIDENT. YOU KNOW, SO
FEW AT THIS POINT STILL HAVE
YET TO DO SO. ALI, AS WE'VE
BEEN ON THE AIR, EVEN VAN
ANOTHER STATEMENT IN FROM
FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP
SLAMMING NOT JUST MO BROOKS
BUT SENATE MINORITY LEADER
MITCH MCCONNELL TOO FAMILIAR.
>> THANK YOU MUCH. LET'S GET
OVER THE 5. THINGS ARE 10
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
TONIGHT. NUMBER 1, 100'S OF
PEOPLE HAD TO EVACUATE
LONDON'S FORMER OLYMPICS
AQUATIC CENTER TODAY.
>> BECAUSE OF A CHLORINE GAS
LEAK. YOU HAD EMERGENCY
RESPONDERS WHO TREATED SEVERAL
PEOPLE THERE. THEY WERE HAVING
BREATHING PROBLEMS. DOZENS OF
PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO THE
HOSPITAL. WHY DID THIS LEAK
HAPPENED? OFFICIALS SAY WITH
SOME KIND OF CHEMICAL
REACTION. NUMBER 2, A BLACK
BOX HAS BEEN RECOVERED FROM
THAT AWFUL CHINA EASTERN PLANE
CRASH THAT WE SHOWED YOU
EARLIER THIS WEEK.
>> THE REPORT ARE SO DAMAGED
THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT'S
THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER OR
THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER.
THEY'RE STILL LOOKING FOR THE
SECOND BLACK BOX. BOTH OF THEM
ARE IMPORTANT TO TRY TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT WENT WRONG AND WHY
THIS PLANE DROPPED OUT OF THE
SKY THIS WEEK. NUMBER 3, THE
SUPREME COURT HAS BLOCKED A
PLAN FOR LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS
IN WISCONSIN TODAY. THE
STATE'S DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR
DREW IT UP. IT WOULD HAVE
CREATED A NEW BLACK MAJORITY
STATE HOUSE DISTRICT THE
REPUBLICAN-RUN LEGISLATURE.
THEY'RE POSTED. NUMBER 4,
MORTGAGE RATES ARE GOING UP
FASTER THAN EXPECTED. SO SOME
ECONOMISTS MEAN. THINK THAT
MEANS THAT FORECAST FOR HOW
MANY HOLMES WOULD PUT ON SALE
SHOULD DROP THE AVERAGE RATE A
30 YEAR FIXED MORTGAGE AT 4.7
2% YESTERDAY. THIS TIME LAST
YEAR IS AROUND 3.4 5% NUMBER 5
NOAA, THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND
ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
SAYS A WHALING SHIP THAT SUNK
MORE THAN 200 YEARS AGO. GUESS
WHAT HAS BEEN AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE GULF OF MEXICO, OK. WHY DO
WE CARE? WHY IS THAT A BIG
DEAL. NOAA SAYS IT GIVES A
GLIMPSE INTO A TIME WHEN
DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES AND
NATIVE AMERICANS SERVED AS
ESSENTIAL CREW AND MARINERS IN
THE WHALING INDUSTRY SO REALLY
HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT. YOU
KNOW, SCIENTISTS ARE GOING GET
A CLOSER LOOK AT STILL TO
COME, BABIES AND KIDS UNDER 5
ARE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER
TONIGHT TO GETTING PROTECTED
AGAINST COVID. WE'LL TALK
ABOUT WHEN MODERNA'S VACCINE
MIGHT BE AVAILABLE COMING UP.
PLUS THE BIRD FLU IS SPREADING
FAST AMONG CHICKENS AND MAYBE
YOUR FOOD PRICES COULD GO UP
EVEN MORE. WE'LL EXPLAIN WHY
COMING UP.
>> NOT TOO LONG AGO. DOCTOR
ANTHONY FAUCI SAYING THE DATA
FOR MODERNA'S VACCINE TRIAL
FOR YOUNG KIDS LOOKS
PROMISING. THAT'S AFTER THE
COMPANY ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT
ITS COVID VACCINE DOES WELL IN
KIDS 6 MONTHS TO 6 YEARS OLD.
MODERNA SAYS THE ANTIBODY
RESPONSE WAS KIND OF SIMILAR
TO WHAT YOU WOULD SEE IN A
CLINICAL TRIAL OF ADULTS. BUT
THE SHOTS WERE ONLY UP TO 43%
EFFECTIVE AT PREVENTING
INFECTION FROM OMICRON IN
THESE KITS. SO IF YOU'RE
LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS AND
YOU'RE LIKE, WELL, WAIT A
SECOND. THESE NUMBERS SEEM
KIND OF LOW. BUT THERE IS VICE
PRESIDENT SAYS THE TRIAL IS
SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE LISTEN, 43%
IS HIGHER THAN 0. IT'S BETTER
THAN NOTHING. THE COMPANY NOW
PLANS TO ASK THE FDA
AUTHORIZED THIS VACCINE. I
WANT TO BRING ALSO MAG, YOU
KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE ARE
LOOKING AT THIS. I TELL YOU, A
MOM OF A KID UNDER THE AGE OF
5 BEEN DOING SOME REPORTING ON
THIS FOR A STORY THAT WILL AIR
ACTUALLY ON THE SHOW NEXT WEEK
AND I'VE BEEN TALKING TO
PARENTS WHO ARE REALLY
FRUSTRATED THAT THERE'S NOT
MORE TO BE DONE. THERE'S NOT
MORE HELP COMING FOR THEIR
KIDS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO GET
THE VACCINE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE
THEY'RE STILL TOO YOUNG. THIS
FEELS LIKE IT'S PROMISING
NEWS, BUT GIVE ME THE GUT
CHECK HERE. IS IT OR DO WE
NEED TO KNOW MORE.
>> WELL, WE NEED TO SEE WHAT
THE FDA IS GOING TO DO WITH
THIS. BUT ON ITS FACE, IT DOES
SEEM LIKE PROMISING NEWS.
MODERNA SAYS THAT WITH 2
DOSES. THIS STUDY MET ITS GOAL
WHICH WAS SHOWING THAT SIMILAR
IMMUNE RESPONSE IN THESE KIDS
AGES 6 MONTHS TO JUST UNDER 6
YEARS WITH A QUARTER OF THE
DOE'S AS YOU WOULD SEE IN
YOUNG ADULTS, AGES 18 TO 25
WITH THE FULL ADULT THEY MET
THE GOALS OF THE TRIAL. THE
OTHER MAIN GOAL OF COURSE, IS
SAFETY AND FEVERS IS SOMETHING
THEY LOOKED REALLY CLOSELY
HERE BECAUSE THAT'S WHY PFIZER
ACTUALLY WENT DOWN TO SUCH A
LOW DOSE. YOU DON'T WANT TO
CAUSE HIGH FEVERS AND SUCH
YOUNG KIDS. AND THEY SAID HERE
THE TOLERABILITY LOOKED
SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU WOULD SEE
WITH OTHER PEDIATRIC VACCINE.
SO BASED ON THAT THEY'RE
FILING WITH THE FDA, BUT
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HIT THAT
50% EFFICACY THRESHOLD. WE'RE
GOING TO HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE
FDA DOES WITH US. WHEN ARE WE
GOING TO FIND OUT. IN OTHER
WORDS, WHAT IS THE TIMELINE
FROM WE'RE GOING HEAR MORE
FROM THE FDA. AND FOR ONE
POTENTIALLY GIVEN THIS NEWS
TODAY.
>> YOU COULD SEE SHOTS IN LIKE
BABY, YOU KNOW, BABIES AND
TODDLERS ARMS.
>> MODERNA SAYS WITHIN THE
COMING WEEKS THEY'RE GOING TO
FILE. SO WE'LL WAIT TO SEE
WHEN THEY'VE ANNOUNCED THAT
THEY'VE DONE THAT AND THEN
WE'LL SEE HOW QUICKLY THE FDA
PLANS TO REVIEW THIS. THE
OTHER KIND OF WILD CARD HERE
IS, OF COURSE WE'RE WAITING
FOR PFIZER'S DATA ON 3RD DOSE
OF ITS REGIMEN AFTER THAT
WHOLE ROLLER COASTER. WE'RE
EXPECTING THAT IN APRIL. SO
IT'LL BE REALLY INTERESTING TO
SEE IF THE FDA KIND OF WANTS
TO LOOK AT THESE TOGETHER AND
BE ABLE TO POTENTIALLY GIVE
PARENTS AND PEDIATRICIANS THE
ABILITY TO CHOOSE WHICH ONE
MIGHT LOOK BETTER FOR THEIR
KID WILL JUST HAVE TO SEE WHAT
THOSE DAY TO LOOK LIKE AND
THEN HOW QUICKLY THEY'RE
AIMING TO REVIEW EACH OF THESE
INDIVIDUALLY OR TOGETHER AND
THEY'RE IN THAT COVID BRIEFING
TODAY. GLAD TO HAVE YOU WITH
US AND BRINGING US YOUR
REPORTING. THANK YOU.
>> ANY DAY NOW, FLORIDA
GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS COULD
SIGN WHAT OPPONENTS OF DON'T
SAY BILL, EVEN AFTER PROTESTS
THAT INCLUDED A WALKOUT BY
DISNEY WORKERS. BUT EVEN WITH
THIS CONTROVERSY, HE'S NOT
SHYING AWAY FROM ISSUES
RELATED TO THE LGBTQ PLUS
COMMUNITY. HE'S NOW SAYING THE
FLORIDA NATIVE HAWAIIAN OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA IS THE
WINNER OF LAST WEEK'S NCAA
SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP. SHE
ACTUALLY CAME IN SECOND AFTER
TRANSGENDER ATHLETE, LIA
THOMAS WON FIRST PLACE. THE
BILL DESANTIS APPEARS READY TO
SIGN BANS TEACHERS FROM
TALKING WITH YOUNG STUDENTS
ABOUT ORIENTATION OR GENDER
IDENTITY. ASKED THEM TO DO SO
INTO AGE APPROPRIATE WAY. SOME
TEACHERS AND PARENTS ARE
GETTING MORE AND MORE VOCAL
ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL CAUGHT IN
THE MIDDLE OF THIS POLITICAL
FIGHT. OUR KATE SNOW INTO ONE
COUNTY IN FLORIDA WHERE
PARENTS ARE REALLY DIVIDED ON
THIS AND THIS ELECTION,
ACTUALLY GETTING ORGANIZED TO
DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. KATE IS
JOINING US NOW, OF COURSE, AND
KATE, THIS FEELS LIKE AN
EXPLOSIVE ISSUE IN THAT
COMMUNITY. BUT IT'S WHAT A LOT
OF THINGS THAT HE'S THAT HAS
TAKEN ON YOU KNOW, THE
POLITICAL POLITICAL COLOR IN
FLORIDA, YOU WENT TO A SCHOOL
BOARD MEETING YOURSELF RIGHT.
YEAH.
>> YEAH. IT'S FUNNY HOW WHEN
WE FIRST STARTED SETTING UP
THIS STORY THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN
REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE
SO-CALLED DON'T SAY BILL YET.
THAT WASN'T EVEN ON THE RADAR.
WE WERE GOING THERE BECAUSE
BREVARD COUNTY IS A PLACE
WHERE YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF
VIRAL VIDEOS OF PEOPLE
SPEAKING UP AT SCHOOL BOARD
MEETINGS YELLING AT EACH OTHER
AT ONE POINT LAST FALL, THE
EVEN HAD TO CLEAR THE ROOM
BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE SO INTO
IT. AND PARENTS WERE BEING SO
VOCAL IN AN ANGRY EACH OTHER.
THE CHAIRWOMAN WAS WORRIED
THAT PEOPLE MIGHT HIT EACH
OTHER. SO I SAT DOWN WITH THE
CHAIR. WE WENT TO A BOARD
MEETING, AS YOU SAID. AND WE
SAW WE SAW A LOT. WE SAW A LOT
OF DEBATE THAT NIGHT ABOUT
BOOKS AND WHETHER THEY SHOULD
BE, WHETHER SOME BOOK SHOULD
BE ELIMINATED FROM SCHOOL
LIBRARIES OVER CONCERNS ABOUT
APPROPRIATENESS, ICE. TALK TO
THE CHAIR WOMAN OF THE BOARD
IS DOWN THE BOARD FOR 8 YEARS.
SHE SAID SHE'S NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THIS. TAKE A
LISTEN.
>> YOU HAD A MEETING IN
OCTOBER WHEN YOU HAD TO
LITERALLY KICK EVERYBODY
>> WE DID IN THE AUDIENCE
STARTED TO VERY LOUD. I WAS
REACHING THE POINT OF BEING
UNSAFE BELFORD IS WORRIED
ABOUT THE IMPACT ON TEACHERS
AND ADMINISTRATORS. I'M
BLESSED TO BE SERVING A GROUP
OF 9,000 PEOPLE THAT WAKE UP EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND POUR
EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND POUR
THEIR HEART AND SOUL. WHAT
UPSETS YOU? OUR PEOPLE ARE
GETTING PETE UP. AND THERE'S
NO MORE NOBLE JOB. AND YOU
WON'T FIND. GREW MORE
COMMITTED TO OUR KIDS. THEY ARE A FOLLOW UP. AND ALL OF
ARE A FOLLOW UP. AND ALL OF
US. UNFORTUNATELY.
>> SO HIGHLY THAT GIVES YOU A
SENSE FOR SOME OF WHAT PEOPLE
ARE FEELING DOWN THERE. THIS
IS A REALLY ACTIVE COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, ONE OF MANY IN THIS
COUNTRY WHERE THAT'S HAPPENING
OUT.
>> IT NEEDS ARE JUST A COUPLE
OF PARENTS WALKING INTO A
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. THESE
ARE ORGANIZED GROUPS LIKE IT.
>> YEAH. AND SO ONE GROUP THAT
WAS FORMED IN BREVARD COUNTY.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF THEM
NOW. IS THERE NOW IN 34
STATES. THEY'RE CALLED MOMS
FOR LIBERTY FOUNDED BY A WOMAN
WHO USED TO SERVE ON THAT
BREVARD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
AND WAS ACTUALLY OUSTED IN THE
LAST ELECTION AND THEN WENT ON
TO FOUND THIS VERY
CONSERVATIVE MOMS GROUP ON THE
OTHER SIDE, YOU'VE GOT A GROUP
CALLED FAMILIES FOR SAFE
SCHOOLS THAT ORGANIZED IN
RESPONSE TO MOMS FOR LIBERTY.
THERE ARE MORE LEFT-LEANING
GROUP. IT'S INTERESTING,
THOUGH. HOLLYWOOD MOMS FOR
LIBERTY IS, AS I SAID NOW ALL
OVER THE COUNTRY AND THEY HAVE
AN OPERATING BUDGET ANNUAL
BUDGET OF ABOUT A HALF, ALMOST
A HALF MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE
LEFT-LEANING GROUP FAMILIES
FOR SAFE SCHOOLS. I ASK THE
LEADER OF THAT GROUP COUNTY
HOW MUCH MONEY THEY HAVE. HE
SAID OUR BUDGET IS 0 AND THEY
DON'T THEY HAVE NOT EXPANDED
BEYOND BREVARD COUNTY. KATE
SNOW. KATE, THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING US THAT STORY THAT
REPORTING. WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY WATCH
MORE OF KATE STORY TOMORROW
NIGHT RIGHT HERE ON NBC NEWS
NOW ON MEET THE PRESS REPORTS
CLASSROOM CULTURE WARS. THAT'S
1030 EASTERN ON WHATEVER
YOU'RE WATCHING NOW, HOWEVER,
YOU'RE WATCHING STILL TO COME,
THE 26 YEAR-OLD WOMAN ACCUSED
OF SHOVING AN 87 YEAR-OLD TO
HER DEATH HAS BEEN ARRESTED
AND POLICE SAY THEY'RE
SUSPECTS STUCK AROUND AFTER
THE CRIME BEFORE TRYING TO
COVER HER TRACKS. WE'VE GOT
THAT STORY. PLUS.
>> THE FOUNDER OF A MEGACHURCH
THE BROUGHTON STARS FROM KYRIE
IRVING TO JUSTIN BIEBER IS OUT
AFTER YET ANOTHER SCANDAL IN
THE CHURCH HAS BEEN PLAYING
GOT THOSE DETAILS COMING UP.
♪ ♪
>> ONE OF THE WORLD'S BIGGEST
EVANGELICAL CHURCHES IS
DEALING WITH ANOTHER SCANDAL.
THIS TIME INVOLVING ONE OF ITS
FOUNDERS. WE'RE GOING TO GET
INTO THAT IN A COUPLE MINUTES.
BUT FIRST, NBC NEWS COVERS
HUNDREDS OF STORIES EVERY DAY.
>> AND BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T
POSSIBLY READ OR WATCH OR
LISTEN TO THEM ALL OUR BUREAU
TEAMS HAVE DONE IT FOR YOU.
THIS IS WHAT THEY TELL US IS
GOING DOWN IN THEIR REGIONS IN
A SEGMENT WE CALL THE LOCAL.
>> SOME ARE MIDWEST BUREAU
MORE AND MORE CASES OF BIRD
FLU ARE POPPING UP IN
NEBRASKA. IT'S BEEN CONFIRMED
TO THE VIRUS AND A HUGE
CHICKEN FARM AND THAT MORE
THAN HALF A MILLION BIRDS WILL
BE EUTHANIZED IN TOTAL MORE
THAN 12 AND A HALF MILLION
CHICKENS HAVE BEEN KILLED
ACROSS 8 STATES TO TRY TO HOLD
OFF MORE SPREAD OF THIS BIRD
FLU. EXPERTS SAY THIS RUNS THE
RISK OF HIKING UP PRICES OF
POULTRY AND EGGS. SOME OF THAT
IS ALREADY UP BECAUSE
INFLATION FROM NORTHEAST.
WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE
WOMAN ACCUSED OF SHOVING AN 87
YEAR-OLD WOMAN IN NEW YORK
CITY WHICH LED TO HER DEATH.
PROSECUTORS SAY LAUREN HAS THE
ENDS OF TWITTER JOB KID. HER
PARENTS, HOUSE AND THEN
DELETED HER WEDDING WEBSITE
AND SOCIAL MEDIA AFTER
ALLEGEDLY SHOVING BARBARA
GUSTERN, AN ELDERLY SINGING
COACH TO THE GROUND. SHE'S
BEEN CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER
AND ASSAULT. FROM OUR WEST
COAST BUREAU TEACHERS IN
SACRAMENTO WENT ON STRIKE
TODAY AFTER THE DISTRICT AND
UNIONS DID NOT COME TO A DEAL.
SO THAT MEANS ALL SCHOOLS ARE
CLOSED CLUBS. OTHER ACTIVITIES
ARE CANCELED. THIS AFFECT
SOMETHING LIKE 43,000
STUDENTS, TEACHERS THERE WANT
BETTER BENEFITS AND FOR THE
SCHOOL TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE
SAYS THEY'RE DEALING WITH A
STAFF SHORTAGE. SO WE'VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN
GOING ON WITH WNBA STAR
BRITTNEY GRINER HAS BEEN
DETAINED IN RUSSIA AND NOW
TODAY, FINALLY, THE STATE
DEPARTMENT SAYS IT HAS BEEN
GIVEN ACCESS TO HER.
>> SPOKESPERSON NED PRICE
TODAY SAYING SHE'S DOING
PRETTY WELL GIVEN THE
CIRCUMSTANCES. WATCH.
>> DOING AS WELL AS CAN BE
EXPECTED UNDER THESE VERY
DIFFICULT WILL CONTINUE TO
WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH HER
LEGAL WITH HER BROADER TO SEE
TO IT THAT SHE IS TREATED
FAIRLY AND THAT HER RIGHTS ARE
RESPECTED.
>> HE ALSO SAID THE U.S. WANTS
CONSISTENT AND TIMELY VISITS
IN HIS WORDS, MOVING FORWARD.
REMEMBER, WE FOUND OUT ON
FEBRUARY 21ST FROM RUSSIAN
OFFICIALS THAT SHE'D BEEN
DETAINED OR ARRESTED. THEY SAY
AFTER THEY FOUND CANNABIS OIL
IN HER LUGGAGE AT A MOSCOW
AIRPORT WHEN SHE FLEW IN FROM
NEW YORK. WE HAVEN'T HEARD
FROM GRINER'S FAMILY YET THEY
PREVIOUSLY ASKED FOR THEIR
PRIVACY TO BE RESPECTED. CAME
BACK IS JOINING ME NOW TO TALK
ABOUT THIS AND KATIE, WHAT'S
SO INTERESTING HERE IS THAT
THE EMBASSY IN MOSCOW WAS
REPEATEDLY. THEY SAID DENIED
THIS WHAT THEY CALL CONSULAR
ACCESS THE ABILITY TO GO IN
AND SPEAK TO GREINER UNTIL
JUST 24 HOURS AGO. WHAT
CHANGED?
>> WE ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT CHANGE TALLY. WE
DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A
PERMANENT CHANGE OR THIS WAS
JUST SORT OF AREA CITING
STATE. YEAH, EXACTLY. STATE OF
THE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS ARE
SAYING WE HOPE THIS IS GOING
TO CONTINUE. WE HOPE WE'RE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
CONTINUED ACCESS TO HER AND
PER INTERNATIONAL LAW. WE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE HER AND
COMMUNICATE WITH HER, BUT THEY
DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO
BE SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW,
SHE HAS BEEN IN DETENTION
SINCE FEBRUARY. 17TH. THAT'S A
LONG TIME. AND UP UNTIL THIS
POINT THE COMMUNICATIONS AND
THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE
RECEIVED HAS ALL BEEN THROUGH
A RUSSIAN LAWYER COMMUNICATING
WITH HER SPOKES PEOPLE AND HER
FAMILY AND HER CAMP HERE. SO
IT HAS NOT COME DIRECTLY FROM
THE STATE DEPARTMENT. THEY
HAVE KIND OF A BIG STANCE ON
THIS WHOLE THING, YOU KNOW,
SAYING THAT THEY'RE ADVOCATING
FOR HER AND THEY AS THEY
ADVOCATE FOR EVERY AMERICAN
BUT ALSO SAYING THAT THEY'RE
CERTAINLY IN VIOLATION OF
INTERNATIONAL LAW, WHICH
REQUIRES THEM TO HAVE THAT
ACCESS. SOME OF THIS IS IS
STRATEGIC SILENCE. I THINK THE
CALL AT KATY, RIGHT AND NOT
WANTING TO GET TO PUBLIC OR
TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT FOR
FEAR THAT THAT MAY ACTUALLY IN
DANGER. GRINER, FURTHER HERE.
>> WHICH MEANS YOU KNOW WHAT?
WHAT LITTLE WE'VE HEARD IS
FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO
HAVE.
>> TALK ABOUT SCARY THIS HAS
BEEN.
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY. AND YOU
KNOW, A LOT OF THINGS ARE IN
PLAY HERE. THE BIG QUESTION IS
WILL HER DETENTION BE USED AS
SOME KIND OF LEVERAGE IN A
POLITICAL FIGHT. OBVIOUSLY
ESCALATING TENSIONS WITH
RUSSIA ARE ON THE TABLE. WE'RE
WATCHING WHAT'S GOING ON
THERE. AND WE'RE WONDERING
THIS IS A VERY, VERY AT
SERIOUS CHARGE. HE'S FACING.
THIS IS A CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION THAT CAN CARRY
UP TO 10 YEARS. AND IN A
RUSSIAN PRISON IS THAT IS THE
CRIME REALLY FIT THE
PUNISHMENT. IS SHE REALLY
BEING FAIRLY TREATED OR IS
THIS GOING TO BE USED FOR SOME
TYPE OF EXCHANGE DOWN THE ROAD
AS THESE TENSIONS ESCALATED.
SHE, YOU KNOW, SOME TYPE OF
BARGAINING CHIP. AND THAT IS
YET TO BE SEEN.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS TO THE
PEOPLE MIGHT WONDER WHY WAS
BRITNEY GRINER AND RUSSIA.
IT'S ACTUALLY NOT THAT UNUSUAL
RIGHT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT
BASKETBALL PLAYERS AND WHAT
THEY CAN EARN OVERSEAS
SPECIFICALLY IN THE WNBA
VERSUS WHAT THEY CAN LEARN,
WHAT THEY CAN EARN A HOME.
WE'RE SEEING IT ON THE SCREEN.
I MEAN, IT'S IT'S NEARLY 4
TIMES THE BASE SALARY OVERSEAS
VERSUS CERTAINLY. YES,
CERTAINLY VERY COMMON FOR THE
WOMEN. I MEAN, THE TOP PLAYERS
CAN MAKE.
>> A MILLION DOLLARS A SEASON.
THAT'S 4 TIMES THEIR NORMAL
SALARY IN THE WNBA. WE KNOW
THAT GRINER HAD BEEN DOING IT
FOR 8 SEASONS. SHE HAD BEEN
GOING OVER TO RUSSIA TO PLAY.
AND A LOT OF THESE E-MAILS
PLAYERS DO THAT. THEY GO TO
EUROPE. THEY GO TO TOKYO. THEY
GO TO RUSSIA. THEY CAN
OBVIOUSLY INCREASE THEIR
EARNINGS AND EXPOSURE AND
STILL STAY IN SHAPE. SO THIS
WAS NOT SOMETHING OUT OF THE
ORDINARY FOR HER ROUTINE AND
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT OUT OF THE
ORDINARY FOR FEMALE BASKETBALL
PLAYERS IN GENERAL KATY BACKES
AND ON TOP OF THIS STORY FOR
US. KATIE, THANK YOU. I
IMAGINE WE MAY HEAR MORE ABOUT
QUIETER SITUATION IN THE
COMING WEEKS. PRE SHIP.
>> A MEGA CHURCH KNOWN AROUND
THE WORLD FOR BRINGING IN
CELEBRITIES LIKE JUSTIN
BIEBER, EVEN A CARD THAT SHE
AND IS FACING ANOTHER SCANDAL
TO THE BOARD OF HILLSONG
CHURCH SAYS ITS LEADER AND
CO-FOUNDER BRIAN HOUSTON HAS
RESIGNED AFTER ACTING
INAPPROPRIATELY TOWARD 2
PEOPLE. THE CHURCH THAT
HOUSTON SENT AN ACCEPTABLE
TEXT MESSAGES. THEIR WORDS TO
A STAFF MEMBER AND WAS IN THE
HOTEL ROOM OF ANOTHER WOMAN
WHO WAS ALSO INVOLVED WITH THE
CHURCH AFTER AN EVENT WHICH
THEY FOUND VIOLATED THE CODE
OF CONDUCT. HOUSTON IS ALREADY
FIGHTING ALLEGATIONS. HE
COVERED UP ABUSE BY HIS FATHER
IN THE 1970'S. AND THIS WHOLE
THING COMES AFTER THE FIRING
OF ANOTHER HIGH-PROFILE PASTOR
CARL LENTZ WHO WORKED IN NEW
YORK'S HILLSONG CHURCH BEFORE
HE WAS FIRED AFTER THEY
LEARNED HE HAD EXTRAMARITAL
AFFAIRS. HOUSTON HASN'T SPOKEN
SINCE HIS RESIGNATION WAS
ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR. HE TOLD
THE TODAY SHOW HE WAS
COMMITTED TO CLEANING UP THE
CHURCH'S PROBLEMS.
>> IN MY MIND. IF ONE IT'S
TRUE THAT THAT'S ONE TOO MANY.
IF IT
>> THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
TREATED THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
COMMITTED MOVE IN AND OUT OF
>> KATHY SHOWING OUT SOME OF
THESE DETAILS. SO KATHY,
HOUSTON WAS ALREADY ON LEAVE
OVER THE ALLEGATIONS THAT HE
KNEW HIS FATHER WAS HIDING.
YOU KNOW, ABUSE BASICALLY.
>> WAS IT EXPECTED THAT HE
WOULD RESIGN HERE OR IS THIS
COMING AS A SURPRISE.
>> WELL, HALLE, I THINK FOR A
LOT OF PEOPLE IT'S IT'S NOT A
SURPRISE THAT HE RESIGN,
RIGHT. SO HE WAS CLOAKED IN
CONTROVERSY AS YOU TIED TO HIS
FATHER. BUT AFTER FURTHER
INVESTIGATION BY THE CHURCH
POOL OR OBVIOUSLY THAT HE
BROKE THAT THE CHURCH CODE OF
CONDUCT AND MORE THAN ONE
OCCASION. OVER THE SPAN OF 10
YEARS IT FIRST HAPPENED IN
2013 WHEN HE SENT
INAPPROPRIATE TEXT MESSAGE TO
A WOMAN AND THEN ANOTHER
INCIDENT HAPPENED NOT TOO LONG
AGO IN 2019 WHEN HE ALLEGEDLY
WALKED INTO A WOMAN'S HOTEL
ROOM AND EVENT. APPARENTLY
ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT WAS
RELEASED BY THE CHURCH. HE WAS
ON ANTI ANXIETY MEDICATIONS
ALSO MAKES THAT WITH WITH
ALCOHOL. SO OBVIOUSLY THESE
CONTROVERSIES, THE SCANDALS
CAME TO A HEAD AND THEN HIS
RESIGNATION.
>> SONGS BOARD. YOU MENTIONED
A STATEMENT RELEASED THIS
STATEMENT SAYING THEY WERE
GRATEFUL FOR HOUSTON AND HIS
WIFE'S PART IN BUILDING THE
CHURCH AND ASKED SUPPORTERS TO
TO PRAY FOR THEM. TALK ABOUT
WHERE THIS GOES FROM HERE,
PARTICULARLY GIVEN SOME OF
WHAT WE LAID OUT IN THE
INTRODUCTION, RIGHT THAT THIS
CHURCH HE'S FACED ITS SHARE OF
SCANDALS BEFORE.
>> SO THAT THAT IS A GREAT
QUESTIONS SO THAT THE HEAD OF
CHURCH RIGHT NOW IS STILL
DOOLEY AND HE IS DOING A WHOLE
LOT OF DAMAGE CONTROL. RIGHT
NOW. HE HAS COME OUT PUBLICLY
APOLOGIZING FOR THE ACTIONS OF
BUT BUT LOOKING AHEAD RIGHT
NOW THIS IS A SCANDAL THAT HAS
REALLY AND WORLD THAT THIS
MEGACHURCH ALI, YOU MIGHT
REMEMBER, THIS IS A CHURCH
THAT REALLY EXPLODED IN SIZE
EVER SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED BY
HOUSTON BACK IN IN 1983. AND
ACTUALLY HERE IN CENTRAL
LONDON RIGHT NOW IN FRONT OF
THE DOMINION THEATER AND THEY
HAVE A FOOTPRINT HERE AS WELL.
WE LOOK ON THE WEBSITE BE THE
WEEK MEET HERE ON A WEEKLY
BASIS AND THEY HAVE THE
CAPACITY TO FILL UP TO 2000
SEATS. BUT MOVING FORWARD, THE
SAYS IT WILL LOOKING AT JUST
KIND OF HOW THEY DO THINGS
MOVING AHEAD FAR AS THE
PROCEDURES AND THE STRUCTURE
GOES. BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A
STAIN ON ON THIS MEGA CHURCH
TO SO MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT.
>> ALI AT THE 5 LIVE FOR US
THERE IN LONDON WITH THAT
STORY. KATHY, THANK YOU SO
MUCH. AND THANK YOU ALL AS
ALWAYS FOR JOINING US FOR THIS
HOUR. IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK
HERE ON NBC NEWS. NOW WE'VE
GOT MORE AHEAD FOR YOU
TOMORROW. SAME TIME, SAME
PLACE WHERE LEDGER WITH US
COVERAGE PICKS UP RIGHT NOW.
♪