Morning News NOW Full Episode – April 30

[0:00] Right now on Morning News Now, doubling down. [0:03] President Trump showing no signs of easing that blockade on Iranian ports, [0:08] even as the regime now proposes a path to begin nuclear talks. [0:12] Defense Secretary Hegseth going before Congress defending the president and the unpopular war. [0:18] Your hatred for President Trump blinds you to the truth of the success of this mission [0:25] and the historic stakes that the president is addressing. [0:28] The grilling he faced from lawmakers on the war's endgame, with more questions to come today. [0:35] Also in Washington, limiting the Voting Rights Act, the conservative majority of the Supreme Court [0:40] delivering a major blow to the landmark act meant to protect minority voters. [0:45] A redrawn Louisiana map declared unconstitutional. [0:49] We're talking with a legal expert on the serious impact this ruling could have [0:53] with the high-stakes midterm elections quickly approaching. [0:56] Plus, going too far, a bizarre social media trend on the rise. [1:03] TikTok users running inside buildings tied to the highly secretive Church of Scientology. [1:09] But one of the first creators to do it now says Scientology's speedrunning might be going too far. [1:16] And spotlight on industry superstars. [1:19] Time magazine revealing its latest list of the most influential companies. [1:23] We're getting one of the first looks at this year's honorees. [1:27] We're revealing who made the cut as time spotlights companies across several industries [1:32] making meaningful contributions. [1:35] Good morning. Good to have you with us. [1:36] I'm Joe Fryer. Savannah is on assignment. [1:39] We begin this hour with President Trump warning the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz [1:43] could go on for months unless Iran agrees to a nuclear deal. [1:47] The president says the blockade is more effective than bombing. [1:52] Now they have to cry, uncle. [1:55] That's all they have to do. [1:56] Just say, we give up. [1:58] We give up. [2:00] But their economy is really in trouble. [2:02] Now his comments sent global oil prices soaring to their highest level in four years. [2:08] June futures for benchmark Brent crude soared past $120 a barrel. [2:14] It comes as the Pentagon puts a public price tag on the conflict for the first time. [2:18] At an annual budget hearing for the Department of Defense, officials revealed [2:21] the now 61-day-long war has cost an estimated $25 billion. [2:27] They could not forecast how much the total cost will be or how long it could last. [2:33] That price tag was the focus for Democrats who grilled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Capitol Hill [2:38] yesterday. In response, Hegseth argued the U.S. is winning the war and claimed the biggest [2:44] obstacles we now face are the words of, quote, congressional Democrats and some Republicans. [2:49] Here are some highlights from that hearing. [2:52] Well, their nuclear facilities have been obliterated underground. [2:55] They're buried and we're watching them 24-7. [2:57] We had to start this war, you just said, 60 days ago, because the nuclear weapon was an [3:05] imminent threat. Now you're saying that it was completely obliterated? [3:09] They had not given up their nuclear ambitions and they had a conventional shield of thousands [3:14] of... [3:14] So Operation Midnight Hammer accomplished nothing of substance. [3:18] It left us at exactly the same place we were before. [3:20] Do you have either, A, a cost estimate coming to us anytime soon, or B, a specific supplemental [3:27] request? [3:28] Thank you for that question. [3:30] So approximately at this day, we're spending about $25 billion on Operation Epic Fury. [3:35] Most of that is munitions. [3:37] Yeah, my concern here is, Mr. Hegseth, you've testified repeatedly that you're going to be [3:42] accountable for each and every American taxpayer dollar that you spend, that you're going [3:46] to be accountable for the rationale. [3:48] Here we are, 60 days in, to your war of choice in Iran, and you can't give us an answer on [3:54] a breakdown, a basic breakdown of American taxpayer dollars that have been spent in your [3:58] war of choice? [4:01] That's a question for Mr. Hegseth. [4:02] Right now, as you sit here now, you cannot... [4:04] We're happy to give you a breakdown. [4:05] We'll provide you a product after this hearing. [4:07] Secretary Hegseth, you have been lying to the American public about this war from day [4:12] one, and so has the president. [4:14] You have misled the public about why we are at war. [4:18] You and the president have offered ever-changing reasons for this war. [4:23] You've misled the public about the progress of the war. [4:29] While the military has executed this war with tactical success, the strategy has been an [4:34] astounding incompetence. [4:37] So, listen, how is this war going? [4:39] Do you think we're winning? [4:41] Militarily on the battlefield, it's been an astounding military success. [4:44] But are we winning the war? [4:46] Absolutely. [4:47] Okay, so do you call Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz winning? [4:51] Well, I would say the blockade that we hold that doesn't allow anything to come in or out of [4:56] Iranian ports... [4:57] Okay, so they blockaded us, and then we blockaded their blockade. [5:01] That's like saying, tag, you're it. [5:02] Or, you know, if President Madison had said, well, the British just burned down Washington. [5:06] But don't worry, we're going to burn it down as well. [5:09] All right, for more, let's bring in NBC News senior national politics reporter Jonathan Allen. [5:12] John, good morning. [5:13] This was a hearing to discuss the Pentagon's record-breaking budget request for the next fiscal year. [5:20] They're asking for $1.5 trillion to cover the military's budget, also other DOD priorities. [5:26] It's the first time Defense Secretary Higgs has faced questions from lawmakers since the war with Iran began. [5:30] So walk us through some of the takeaways here. [5:34] Yeah, Joe, and you heard some of them right there. [5:36] Obviously, the Pentagon's price tag there of $25 billion is the first time we've heard that number from the Defense Department. [5:45] At the same time, there's been talk of requesting emergency funding of $100 billion, [5:49] close to $100 billion, about four times that month, much to cover the war. [5:53] The original price tag that was coming out of the administration was $200 billion for this war. [5:59] And, of course, you see the greater annual budget request, the non-emergency funding swelling by so much. [6:05] So it'll be interesting to see how the Pentagon actually breaks that money down [6:08] and whether there are costs that are not being included in that $25 billion. [6:12] In addition to that, you heard the Defense Secretary repeat the idea that the enemy will not be given any quarter, [6:19] which means that the United States would not take prisoners of war, that they would kill anybody that it encountered on the battlefield. [6:26] Democratic members of Congress noting that that would be a violation of the Geneva Conventions. [6:31] And some of the other items you heard in there, it was difficult at times in the hearing to distinguish between reality and satire. [6:39] The blockade of the blockade that you just heard Congressman Moulton talking about. [6:43] But, obviously, members of Congress have grown frustrated with this, [6:47] and they feel somewhat emboldened because their constituents, many of their constituents, are not pleased with this war. [6:53] And one reason they're not pleased is because of oil, John. [6:56] And we're learning more about a meeting President Trump had with oil executives earlier this week. [7:00] There are reports the president could receive a military briefing today. [7:03] What is all of this suggesting about the direction of this conflict? [7:07] I think it suggests two things, Joe. [7:09] One is that the president wants to figure out exactly where the boundaries are for him economically. [7:16] You heard Defense Secretary Hanks talk about winning this war militarily, [7:22] and then said, you know, absolutely the United States is winning the war. [7:25] But the question in between was an important one, which is, you know, [7:29] you can win tactically on the battlefield, but does that mean the war is being won? [7:32] And I think the president's testing the outer edge of all the policies that he might put in place [7:37] to try to temper the cost of oil soaring, talking to oil executives. [7:41] And, you know, he has already previewed a little bit the idea that he might want this to continue for some time. [7:48] So we will have to see how that plays out. [7:52] You know, some days the president sounds like he wants to pull back as soon as possible, [7:56] and some days he sounds like he wants to go until he can get a full regime change. [8:00] And while we're talking about calendars, John, tomorrow is May 1st. [8:04] That means 60 days since President Trump officially notified Congress of the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran. [8:09] So we know under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, [8:13] a president can only launch a war without approval from Congress for 60 days. [8:17] So what happens next? [8:18] Is Congress planning on taking any action to try and assert some sort of authority here? [8:22] It seems really unlikely, Joe, that Congress is going to do that in a way that's effective. [8:27] We've seen several war resolutions, war powers resolutions, attempted on the House and Senate floor, [8:34] and they just haven't gone anywhere. [8:35] They've been blocked. [8:36] The votes are close, but they've been blocked. [8:38] So I'm not sure that's going to happen. [8:40] Number two, the president does have the ability to basically do a 30-day extension if he wants under the War Powers Act. [8:47] And the constitutional constitutionality of the War Powers Act has not been cemented. [8:53] I think the White House position would certainly be that it's an impingement on the president's constitutional powers [8:58] as commander-in-chief to conduct war on behalf of the United States [9:02] or to conduct defense of the United States. [9:05] So we'll have to see what happens. [9:08] But it seems very unlikely that this president is going to be deterred without, you know, without the Congress and the Supreme Court acting. [9:16] All right, John, good to have you with us. [9:17] Thank you so much. [9:18] A new Supreme Court ruling is giving Republicans a win in the fight over the way congressional maps are drawn across the country. [9:25] That could potentially impact the upcoming midterm election, which is just over six months away. [9:29] This was a 6-3 ruling along ideological lines with the court's conservative majority further weakening the Voting Rights Act. [9:37] Those justices found that a 2024 redrawn congressional map, which created majority black voting districts for Louisiana, is unconstitutional. [9:46] The court's majority called it a racial gerrymander. [9:49] About a third of Louisiana's residents are black. [9:52] But before this map, only one of the state's six congressional districts had a majority black population. [9:58] NBC News legal analyst Danny Savalos is here to break down the decision. [10:01] Danny, good morning. [10:02] All right, so in this one, the court rules basically states can almost never consider race when maps are drawn or redrawn in this case to comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. [10:11] We know this was enacted originally to protect minority voters who faced discrimination, had their political power diluted in elections. [10:17] So walk us through the decision here, what it means now. [10:20] Well, yes, you mentioned minority voters. [10:22] But interestingly enough, the case was filed by people who described themselves as non-African Americans. [10:28] So these are folks who say that they were affected. [10:31] They were racially discriminated against. [10:33] And while the court said race can almost never be a good reason for discrimination, including redistricting, what it also held, it didn't completely gut the Voting Rights Act. [10:45] But it took away a lot of the powers, the procedural powers, for enforcement. [10:50] And really, the core holding is that as long as a state can come up with any non-discriminatory reason, any non-racial reason, then that redistricting is likely to be upheld. [11:02] And in a way, it makes it a little harder to prove. [11:04] By the way, this has always been a challenge with all forms of racial discrimination law. [11:08] Employment discrimination, for example. [11:10] Someone claims they were fired because of their race. [11:13] The employer gets to come up with some non-discriminatory reason, and they just go to the laboratory and say, well, what can we think of that is non-discriminatory? [11:21] So here's the thing. [11:21] The clock is ticking. [11:23] Louisiana has to redraw its congressional map. [11:24] But I believe, what, just over two weeks from now is May 16th. [11:28] That's the state's primary. [11:30] What does that mean for Louisiana when it comes to this? [11:33] What could this mean for just states everywhere? [11:35] It means chaos. [11:36] It means a lot of late nights. [11:37] But going forward, the message to states is that as long as they can articulate a political reason, because as strange as this may sound, if you can come up with a political reason why you've redrawn your districting lines as opposed to a racial reason, then at least according to this decision, you may be in the clear as a state. [11:56] So, again, they just go back to the drawing board and say, well, if anyone says this was racial, then what are some of our any political reasons? [12:04] Because political is ultimately not racial. [12:07] The three liberal justices were in the minority here. [12:10] Justice Elena Kagan writing that the, quote, consequences are likely to be far-reaching and grave. [12:15] She also says this ruling effectively renders Section 2 all but a dead letter. [12:19] So, long-term, what is this going to mean for these congressional maps we see all over the country, which ultimately determine control of Congress? [12:26] Yeah, sometimes statutes are overruled or struck down without actually being struck down because they're gutted. [12:32] You take away all the procedural innards of them, and it makes them really hard to enforce in the first place. [12:37] And that's exactly what Justice Kagan is saying here. [12:40] So, going forward, it really becomes a blueprint for an end run around the Voting Rights Act and the protections it was originally intended to provide to people against discrimination when it comes to redistricting. [12:53] All right, Danny Savalos, good to have you with us. Thank you. [12:56] We are getting our first look at the chilling moments just before the alleged gunmen opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner over the weekend. [13:04] NBC News senior White House correspondent Gabe Gutierrez has more on these new images coming from inside the suspect's hotel room. [13:10] New images inside the alleged plot to assassinate President Trump. [13:16] Prosecutors say this is Cole Allen taking a selfie in his Washington Hilton hotel room that he checked into the day before the White House Correspondents' Dinner. [13:25] The Justice Department highlighting an ammunition bag, a shoulder holster, as well as pliers. [13:30] Plus, the arsenal he was allegedly carrying, including a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, a .38-caliber pistol, and six knives. [13:38] But it's these higher-resolution screenshots of surveillance video obtained by the Washington Post that capture the chaos of the breach. [13:46] You can see when prosecutors say Allen sprinted through a magnetometer with the intent of bursting into the ballroom to kill the president. [13:53] The images appear to show him holding a shotgun, followed by a Secret Service officer firing at least four shots. [13:59] The first thing that happened that actually freaked me out a little bit, Will, is that we heard that an agent had been shot. [14:06] And in the fog of war, I thought, you know, oh my God, this guy's actually seriously injured or maybe worse. [14:11] And then we found out later, of course, that he was uninjured or not seriously injured. [14:15] Three law enforcement officials familiar with the case tell NBC's Kelly O'Donnell investigators have now determined that Allen did fire his weapon, striking a Secret Service officer, [14:24] and that it was not friendly fire from another member of law enforcement. [14:28] Allen's public defenders are asking a judge for confidential access to their client in accordance with the Sixth Amendment, ahead of a detention hearing. [14:37] And we're also learning more about how the suspect may have been tracking President Trump in real time. [14:42] Prosecutors say just minutes before the attack, Allen used his cell phone to view live media coverage of the president exiting his vehicle to attend the dinner. [14:51] As for the event itself, a source familiar with the planning tells NBC News, the White House Correspondents Association Board is having active conversations about rescheduling. [15:01] Back to you. [15:02] All right, Gabe, thank you. [15:03] In economic news, oil prices are soaring again after it became public that President Trump is weighing new military options for what to do about the Strait of Hormuz. [15:12] That important waterway remains closed. [15:15] Members of the president's national security team presented him with a number of options this week for how to handle the ongoing bottleneck after talks with Iran's stall. [15:23] That's according to a U.S. official and a person familiar with the meeting. [15:27] These rising oil prices are expected to keep gas prices high as we head into the summer season. [15:32] NBC's Dana Griffin has more on the sting at the pump. [15:37] With oil now at a four-year high, gas prices surging. [15:41] The gas prices are insane. [15:43] They are too high. [15:45] Gas prices now at their highest level this year and since the war with Iran began. [15:49] Here in California, the state with the highest gas taxes, the average nearing $6 a gallon. [15:56] Premium users shelling out 40 cents more. [15:59] Global oil prices soaring with Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz. [16:03] President Trump meeting with energy industry executives about minimizing the impact for American consumers, including increasing domestic production, a White House official tells NBC News. [16:14] It's pretty painful. [16:15] But experts warn the ripple effect of the Strait's closure could last for weeks, even when it reopens. [16:21] Oil prices could in theory drop 10 or 15 percent, but it still may take 60 weeks for oil inventories to completely heal from this. [16:29] Americans will be lucky to see a sub-$3 price before the end of the year. [16:34] Right now, the most affordable states include Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana, with prices below $3.80 a gallon. [16:40] The most expensive out west, California, Oregon, and Washington state. [16:45] One hopeful sign long-term, the United Arab Emirates, a major oil exporter and U.S. ally, saying it's leaving OPEC and will pump more oil. [16:54] Ultimately, it's a good thing for getting the price of gas down. [16:59] But for dog walker Kim Zuckert, who drives across L.A. for appointments. [17:03] This is my only source of income, and I've been doing it for years, so it's not like there's anything else I can do. [17:10] Even if the Strait of Hormuz were to reopen, experts tell us best-case scenario for summer gas prices would be in the mid-$3 range, [17:18] adding that even within the next 24 hours, we are likely to see gas prices increase yet another nickel. [17:24] Back to you. [17:25] All right, Dana, thank you. Let's get more on all this with Brooke De Palma. She's a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance. [17:31] So first of all, let's talk about the energy markets. What are we seeing here? Why are we seeing it? [17:35] Energy markets surging overnight, and it's because of the fact that we saw that re-escalation of possible attacks on Iran by the U.S. [17:43] based upon this report that we heard from Axios. [17:45] And so what we saw was that international benchmark Brent surged to as much as $126 per barrel. [17:51] We also had a U.S. benchmark crude now sitting around $106 a barrel. [17:56] And so that is elevating the energy markets even higher. [17:59] Now there is a fear that this is going to severely disrupt supply. [18:03] It's going to be a sustained, prolonged impact year. [18:05] And that has a lot of people thinking about this summer, their travel plans. [18:09] We just heard about gas prices bothering people, also jet fuel prices impacting airline ticket prices. [18:14] What's it looking like for this summer? [18:16] This summer, everything's going to be more expensive, not only the cost to travel, but also the cost to shop at your local grocery store as well. [18:23] When you think about those jet fuel costs, we've heard from some executives like United that they are paying hundreds of millions of dollars more in jet fuel costs. [18:31] In order to offset that, guess who's going to pay for it? You and me. [18:34] We're going to pay more to travel through the skies this summer. [18:38] United Airlines saying that ticket prices could go up by about as much as 20 percent. [18:42] That's pretty significant this summer. [18:44] But of course, if this goes on for longer, we could see that tick even higher. [18:48] And that is the real fear among Americans right now. [18:50] And that's one of the things that the Federal Reserve was looking at yesterday when deciding on interest rates, deciding to keep things unchanged as we expected. [18:58] The Fed chair, Jerome Powell, gave some comments afterward. [19:00] Let's listen to that. [19:01] Inflation has moved up and has elevated, in part, reflecting the recent increase in global energy prices. [19:09] Developments in the Middle East are contributing to a high level of uncertainty about the economic outlook. [19:14] And we will remain attentive to risks to both sides of our dual mandate. [19:18] So interesting, this was the first decision to see four members dissent since 1992, which shows there is some disagreement here. [19:26] Walk us through the Fed's decision yesterday, but maybe this dissent is a sign we could see something different later this year. [19:31] Right. Well, we are still expecting that rates will remain unchanged throughout this year. [19:36] Fed chair Jerome Powell largely saying that inflation is sort of misbehaving, but we are seeing job gains remain relatively low. [19:43] He also went on to say that because of this, we're seeing those higher airline tickets. [19:47] We're also seeing this disruption. [19:48] But at the same time, he said this leaves us in a very good place to wait and see. [19:53] There can't really take much action because of the fact that there is still so much uncertainty. [19:58] And that's why we saw one Fed governor, Stephen Myron, he dissented the vote saying that he wanted a quarter point cut. [20:05] We also had three others saying that because there was this easing bias that there could be potential rate cuts. [20:10] They offset that. They said because of this inflation, maybe that would even lead to rate hikes. [20:14] And that's why you saw those four dissents. [20:16] So Fed chair Jerome Powell ultimately handing off a very fractured Fed to Kevin Warsh potentially. [20:21] And let's talk about that, this handoff here. [20:23] So we expect this was probably Powell's last meeting. [20:25] Right. [20:25] As a person in charge, he's expected to stay on the board of governors. [20:29] There's this whole issue of the DOJ probe where we know that there's still the potential for an investigation. [20:34] But walk us through what happened here and where things stand. [20:37] So this is something that we haven't seen in about 80 years, a Fed chair's term expiring. [20:41] His term ends on May 15th. [20:43] And he's actually deciding to stay on. [20:45] That was what the press conference, the first question, opened up with. [20:48] We haven't seen it since about 1948. [20:50] At that time, the Fed governor stayed on for three years. [20:53] Typically a tradition. [20:54] When your term expires, you then step down from the governor, from the board overall. [20:59] But he's deciding to stay because of these legal attacks that he said the Federal Reserve is up against. [21:03] And that's because of the DOJ investigation into the renovations at the Federal Reserve's headquarters. [21:09] Ultimately, those investigations, that case was dropped. [21:13] But if they found more evidence, then it could return. [21:17] And ultimately, he's saying that he's not leaving until it is truly over, until it's absolutely finite that this will not be the case moving forward. [21:24] Ultimately, this is a fight against the Fed's independence. [21:27] All right, Brooke. [21:27] Good to have you with us. [21:28] Thank you so much. [21:29] Clean-up efforts continue this morning in North Texas, following an outbreak of severe weather this week that has left widespread damage. [21:36] The epicenter is in the town of Mineral Wells. [21:39] That's just outside of Dallas. [21:40] It felt the wrath of an EF3 tornado, destroying several homes. [21:45] Now, the storm system also brought rain. [21:46] Some people needed to be rescued from high floodwaters. [21:50] Officials say at least two people were sent to the hospital, with several others suffering minor injuries. [21:55] NBC News correspondent George Solis has the latest. [21:57] In Mineral Wells, Texas, a rain-wrapped tornado sending debris sky-high, with life-threatening winds up to 145 miles per hour, turning highways dangerous for drivers. [22:11] The severe storm leveling homes and buildings, flattening this warehouse, injuring five. [22:17] This video is showing the vast destruction. [22:20] It's not hard at all, like, if you hit us from the side. [22:23] Chris Hester and his girlfriend Rebecca Scott survived the storm inside their home, according to this video of the aftermath. [22:29] We went outside to collect our stuff so it didn't blow away. [22:32] They say the tornado ripped their roof off. [22:35] We just saw, like, the walls being torn away piece by piece, and then all of a sudden just a torrential downpour of water just came in all of a sudden. [22:43] Because we should not be alive right now. [22:44] The couple alive, but devastated. [22:48] That's everything, man. [22:50] Oh, a tornado right there on the road. [22:52] Across the south and midwest, the past 24 hours alone, seeing more than 200 storm reports. [22:58] I'm going to give you some tables. [22:59] In White Settlement, Texas, authorities say these officers jumped into action to rescue a family stranded in rushing floodwater on Saturday. [23:09] Across the south, large hail wreaking havoc, punching through this skylight at a Walmart in Missouri. [23:16] God was watching over us. [23:18] Back in Mineral Wells, Macy Nix is working to help her neighbors find a place to lay their heads. [23:23] The focus is on the people that lost everything. [23:26] It's a miracle with what happened that so many people were able to make it out. [23:32] And officials right now are in the process of surveying all of the damage to make sure that nobody is inside any of these homes. [23:39] Officials are urging people to stay away as this cleanup continues. [23:43] Still, families are working to get as many of their belongings as they can. [23:47] Back to you. [23:48] George, thank you. [23:49] In the aftermath of that storm, Texas, Gulf Coast now gearing up for some more heavy rain. [23:53] Let's get a closer look with your morning news now, weather and meteorologist Angie Lassman. [23:57] Angie, good morning. [23:57] Hey, Joe. [23:58] Good morning to you. [23:59] We've got multiple days of kind of heavy rain on tap for folks across parts of the south and the southeast. [24:04] And it's kind of a difficult situation because we need the rain, but not all at once. [24:08] And this is going to create some flooding concerns. [24:10] Already ramping things up this morning with some of those thunderstorms working along and ahead of this kind of stationary front. [24:16] That is just going to be sitting around here over the next couple of days. [24:20] We've got plenty of gulf moisture. [24:21] We've got moisture from the tropics or from the Pacific, rather, kind of working its way across this region. [24:27] And that leaves us with the chance for multiple rounds of rain across the southern plains, but also some of these isolated, stronger storms that could develop into this evening across parts of central Texas. [24:37] By tomorrow, notice all of that rain that's still kind of just along that front across some of these same areas that have already dealt with the soaking rain over the past couple of days. [24:46] We'll see us do it all over again tomorrow from Texas to Mississippi. [24:50] And then part of this works across more of a focus for the southeast as we get into Saturday. [24:55] We'll still see some of those stronger storms, maybe gusty conditions possible from Georgia to South Carolina. [25:01] But overall, folks across parts of Texas will finally get a break as we work into the weekend. [25:06] In the meantime, though, this is the area today that we're watching for a slight risk for flash flooding. [25:10] Really impressive hourly rainfall rates, not just today, but into tomorrow as well. [25:14] San Antonio stretching to New Orleans, Alexandria, Houston, all included in that flash flood risk for tomorrow as well. [25:20] So this is kind of the general area that we'll be watching. [25:23] We could see upwards of maybe five inches in some of these spots. [25:26] And again, we need the rain. [25:28] You can see that 100 percent of the southeast is in at least a moderate drought. [25:33] Notice some of the exceptional drought across there, across parts of southern Georgia and Florida. [25:37] Either way, we need some of this rain and we're going to get it in a short amount of time with that flooding concern with us. [25:44] As we look to our temperatures, pretty cool conditions for most of the country. [25:48] We're running below normal. [25:49] The chill is in the air in Detroit today with just a high of 54. [25:52] Nashville tops out at 69 degrees. [25:55] We've got low 60s in Amarillo. [25:56] And we keep that same trend going tomorrow. [25:58] Close to normal in New York City where we'll see a high of 66 degrees, upper 60s for Paducah and 50 degrees in Chicago tomorrow. [26:05] And then we kind of see a milder pattern setting up as we roll into our weekend and into early next week in some spots. [26:12] So we go from the low 60s in D.C. on Saturday back to those mid-70s by Monday. [26:17] Feeling much warmer as we look ahead from Saturday to Monday in Raleigh with the high 70s on tap. [26:23] And then upper 60s on Sunday in Louisville ending up into those mid-70s by Monday, Joe. [26:29] Walking around yesterday, I was like, oh, normal? [26:31] This is what it's supposed to feel like right now? [26:33] It has been. [26:34] And we've been saying it for weeks and weeks, the roller coaster ride. [26:37] So normal almost feels atypical. [26:39] You're like, wait, is this what it's supposed to feel like? [26:41] Yeah, we're on the teacups, not the roller coaster right now. [26:43] We're just cruising along. [26:44] All right, Angie, thank you so much. [26:46] The final day of the royal tour is underway. [26:48] King Charles and Queen Camilla are returning to the White House later this morning for a farewell from President Trump and the First Lady. [26:54] Then they'll head to Virginia for a block party marking America's 250th birthday. [26:59] Yesterday, the king spent the day in New York City. [27:01] He began at the 9-11 memorial where he paid his respective victims of that tragedy and met with families and first responders. [27:08] Then a very different scene uptown. [27:10] The king and queen stepped out. [27:12] Ray Starr studied gala benefiting the king's trust. [27:15] That's Charles Charity, which has been helping young people for nearly 50 years. [27:19] The event showcased the U.K.'s cultural impact on New York. [27:23] At this reception, we can celebrate both my king's trust and the enduring cultural bond between the people of the United Kingdom and the United States, [27:35] which, of course, is a relationship rooted in shared creativity, enterprise, and values. [27:41] Queen Camilla also stopped by the New York Public Library, joining Sarah Jessica Parker and our own Jenna Bush Hager to spotlight the power of books. [27:51] Jenna spoke with the queen about her charity, The Queen's Reading Room, [27:54] and we're going to have more of their exclusive conversation in our next hour. [27:59] Much more to come here on Morning News Now. [28:01] Later this hour, scaling back support. [28:04] The rift is growing between Make America Healthy Again moms who helped the president get elected and the Trump administration. [28:11] At issue, a controversial pesticide they say is making their kids sick. [28:16] They're bringing their fight all the way to Washington. [28:19] A first harrowing rampage. [28:21] We have details from a stabbing attack in London that police are calling a terrorist attack. [28:30] Welcome back. [28:31] Police in the U.K. say a Somali-born British national was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. [28:37] He's accused of stabbing two Jewish men yesterday in North London. [28:41] Police say they're treating it as a terror incident. [28:43] NBC's Danielle Hamamgin has the latest in a warning. [28:46] Some of the video in this report might be distressing. [28:51] This is the terrifying moment officers armed only with tasers came face to face with a man on a ramp. [28:57] Stabbing two Jewish men, one in his 70s, the other in his 30s, in a suburb of northwest London, home to a large community of Jewish Brits. [29:08] The suspect refusing to drop his weapon. [29:12] Police releasing blurred body camera footage showing officers tasing him and pinning him to the ground before finally arresting him. [29:21] Minutes earlier, CCTV shows the exact moment the suspect lunged towards one of his victims, appearing to stab him. [29:29] This has now formally been declared a terrorist incident. [29:33] Police say the 45-year-old suspect is a British national born in Somalia and has a history of serious violence and mental health issues. [29:42] It is worrying to walk on the streets, not knowing what's going to happen next. [29:46] In this same neighborhood last month, four Jewish volunteer ambulances were set on fire in the middle of the night. [29:53] Police now investigating whether the stabbings are linked to previous attacks on other Jewish sites in London. [30:00] On the streets here, there is fear, but also anger. [30:05] It's the root cause of anti-Semitism and that needs to be unacceptable in this country. [30:09] Anti-Semitism equates issues in Israel with Jews everywhere in the world. [30:13] And as a result, we are subject and we are the recipients of this anger and oppression and abuse. [30:23] The suspect is now in custody, held on suspicion of attempted murder, and authorities say those victims remain in hospital. [30:30] All right, Danielle, thank you. [30:31] Coming up, Scientology speedrunning. [30:35] Police are investigating a social media trend that involves people running inside buildings belonging to the Church of Scientology, [30:42] and then filming what they see, the details and why some creators involved say it may have gone too far. [30:48] That's next. [30:48] We are back with a growing political rift inside the Make America Healthy Again, or Maha Movement. [31:01] Some moms who say they helped President Trump win in 2024 are now scaling back support. [31:07] They say a controversial pesticide is making their kids sick. [31:10] Now they're taking that fight to Washington. [31:13] NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Julie Serkin spoke to a couple of these moms. [31:18] What began as a movement focused on health, now causing a political rift on the right. [31:24] Glyphosate in our cereal, in our oatmeal, in our breads. [31:27] You're in your garden. [31:28] Be sure you're not using things like Roundup. [31:31] Make America Healthy Again, or Maha Moms, helped elect President Trump and Republicans in 2024. [31:37] I'm thrilled about some things that have happened. [31:39] Many say they're not getting what they voted for when it comes to pesticides and food, [31:44] specifically calling out glyphosate, the active ingredient in the weed killer Roundup [31:48] that sprayed on many crops before harvest. [31:51] The pesticide issue has been severely disappointing. [31:54] It's been a huge slap in the face. [31:55] Michaela Bardosa is a self-described Maha mom and nutritionist, [31:59] says she thinks RFK Jr. built a bridge between mothers and the government. [32:04] But some Maha moms feel like that road now leads to nowhere. [32:07] We're seeing a huge coordinated push at every level of government [32:10] to shield pesticide companies from accountability. [32:12] President Trump in February signed an executive order to prioritize production of glyphosate, [32:18] declaring it critical to national security. [32:20] RFK Jr. defending the move last week. [32:23] It's not increasing production. [32:25] It's increasing domestic production to displace the Chinese production. [32:30] People versus poison. [32:32] On Monday, Bardosa's and other activists rallied outside the Supreme Court [32:36] amid arguments in a case involving allegations that the Roundup weed killer contains an ingredient [32:42] linked to cancer. [32:44] Roundup is manufactured by Monsanto, owned by Bayer. [32:47] If our leaders won't protect our children, we will. [32:51] Fani Hari, a key influencer in the Maha movement who supported RFK Jr.'s confirmation [32:56] as health secretary, now says there is a clear line in the sand. [33:00] Do you feel like Secretary Kennedy is doing everything he can? [33:05] Secretary Kennedy is in a unique position. [33:08] I think he could do more and push more at the executive branch. [33:11] Bayer telling NBC News it stands behind the safety of its glyphosate-based products, [33:16] which have been tested extensively, approved by regulators, [33:19] and used around the globe for more than 50 years. [33:22] The EPA has maintained glyphosate is not a carcinogen. [33:26] The WHO and other scientists disagree. [33:28] Some Maha-aligned Republicans have threatened to withhold support for the long-debated farm bill, [33:33] which provides key assistance for farmers, unless the pesticide provision is stripped. [33:38] The president was asked about it. [33:39] We want the farm bill. [33:41] The Democrats don't. [33:43] Now some in the Maha movement are making it clear that in the lead-up to the midterm elections, [33:48] their votes are not guaranteed. [33:49] If you want to stay in power, then listen to the people that voted for you. [33:54] Listen to the moms. [33:55] Julie Serkin, NBC News. [33:58] Los Angeles police are now looking into a bizarre new social media trend called Scientology speedrunning. [34:05] TikTok users are trying to get inside buildings that are affiliated with the highly secretive Church of Scientology [34:12] and recording everything. [34:14] Well, now one of the first creators to do it says the trend may have gone too far. [34:18] NBC News correspondent Sam Brock explains. [34:23] This is just one snapshot of so-called speedrunners, [34:27] including a man dressed like Jesus stampeding right through security at a Scientology building on Hollywood Boulevard, [34:37] screaming as they sprint into the organization's notoriously clandestine halls. [34:42] Others taking a more subtle approach, even signing in looking for access. [34:51] Oh, no. Let me do that real quick. [34:56] Or apparent content for social media videos that are suddenly everywhere. [35:01] They're calling it speedrunning Scientology. [35:03] Inspired by video game slang, here the players are not just confronting guards, but unlocking maps of the buildings. [35:12] Former Scientologist turned critic Leah Remini slamming the efforts as failing to highlight anything substantive. [35:18] It feels like it's about clicks, and it's turning something serious into content, and in doing so, it completely loses the point. [35:29] Their purpose isn't entirely clear, and some participants appear to be teenagers. [35:36] One creator, credited with beginning the trends known only as Swiley, telling the Hollywood reporter, [35:41] I didn't do this whatsoever to come out against them or anything. [35:44] I do not condone what I did, even though I didn't break any laws. [35:49] With the Scientology spokesperson telling NBC News, [35:52] these are peaceful spaces, turning them into targets for viral stunts is not journalism, protest, or civic activity. [35:59] It is trespass, harassment, and disruption of religious facilities. [36:03] The spokesperson adding they're taking protective security measures and reporting the incidents to police. [36:08] After a recent incident last weekend, the L.A. Times reporting that the L.A. PD's major crimes division [36:17] has been tasked with investigating it as an alleged hate crime. [36:23] As Remini has cautionary words for the content creators and their legal exposure. [36:31] This trend creates chaos. It creates a spectacle. [36:33] And worst of all, it hands Scientology exactly what they want, the ability to position themselves as the victim. [36:40] Sam Brock, NBC News. [36:43] Coming up, the world's most influential companies. [36:45] We're getting one of the first looks at Time Magazine's list of the companies it says [36:49] are making meaningful contributions in their field. [36:52] So who made the list? That's next. [36:58] Welcome back. Just moments ago, Time Magazine officially revealed its sixth annual list [37:02] of the world's 100 most influential companies. [37:05] Well, now we have one of the first looks at this year's honorees. [37:08] The list, to be clear, unranked. It spotlights companies across several industries. [37:13] They all have different missions, but the one thing they have in common, [37:16] making meaningful contributions in their fields. [37:19] Time editorial director Emma Barker Bonomo joins us here with more on this. [37:24] She oversees the Time 100 companies list. [37:27] Emma, good to have you with us. [37:29] First of all, let's just walk through kind of the basics. [37:30] How do you even go about compiling this every single year? [37:34] Yeah, well, Time is covering the news throughout the year. [37:36] So a lot of these companies are companies we've been following for a year, if not longer. [37:43] So some of the companies are ones that just immediately come to mind. [37:46] These are the biggest companies in the world. [37:48] They're ones that are influencing our daily lives every single moment. [37:53] Other companies are a lot smaller, kind of more surprising picks. [37:58] Some of those submit themselves for consideration. [38:01] If they think they had a really big year, they reach out to us. [38:04] Others come to us from our global network of correspondents. [38:08] People are pitching things from all over the world. [38:10] All right. [38:10] So we've got 100 of them. [38:11] Three of them get lucky enough to make the cover. [38:14] And those are some pretty high-profile ones. [38:15] Walk us through who made the cover of this. [38:17] Yeah. [38:17] So actually, this is the first year we've ever had three on the cover. [38:20] In the past, we usually have two covers. [38:22] This year, we have three. [38:23] And the first one we can talk about is Alphabet, obviously one of the largest companies in the world. [38:32] If you Googled who are Time 100's most influential companies, there you go, right? [38:37] Yeah, exactly. [38:38] And they're on for kind of an interesting reason. [38:42] Despite them being so huge, they had kind of fallen behind in the AI race and weren't really seen as a leader there since the, you know, ChatGPT came out and changed the world in 2022. [38:54] And Sundar Pichai, the CEO, has really played the long game on AI. [39:01] He started in 2016 reshaping the company as an AI forward company before anyone was thinking about it. [39:08] And now they've kind of come to the front of the pack. [39:11] And then you have two kind of more recognizable faces there, especially the younger people, Mr. Beast and Hailey Bieber. [39:17] Yes, exactly. [39:18] So Mr. Beast, 480 million followers on YouTube. [39:21] He's the biggest YouTuber in the world, and he has created a company around that called Beast Industries, which has faced a lot of backlash over the years. [39:31] But it's kind of growing up now. [39:33] They hired a CEO who's kind of a lifelong CEO executive. [39:39] They hired a studio executive who's running all their TV shows. [39:44] And, yeah, it's really a multimedia conglomerate at this point. [39:49] And Hailey Bieber? [39:50] Hailey Bieber runs R.O.D., which is a beauty brand, something a lot of celebrities do, launch a beauty brand. [39:57] But last year she sold that beauty brand to ELF, the drugstore beauty company, for a billion dollars. [40:06] Not bad. [40:06] Which is pretty shocking. [40:07] Yeah. [40:08] And a pretty rapid rise. [40:11] And she did that by really crafting the brand around her personality, which is not something other celebrities often do. [40:18] You alluded to it, and we're not going to name names here, but some of the companies on this year's list do have high-profile legal battles, either relating to how they treat employees or allegations they're causing harm. [40:27] This is about impact mostly. [40:28] But do you weigh controversies into some of your decisions like this or legal battles? [40:32] Yeah, definitely, especially legal battles, I think, can be really impactful. [40:38] They influence the law. [40:39] They influence how other companies do business. [40:42] One company on the list is Learning Resources, which is a tiny company that makes essentially toys for learning for schools. [40:53] My daughter brought one home from school the other day, a little clock. [40:57] They brought the Supreme Court case that got Trump's tariffs knocked down. [41:02] And that obviously had impact for global trade. [41:06] So some of those can be really interesting as well. [41:08] Alongside this list, last year you introduced the inaugural Impact Awards for influential companies. [41:13] Who are this year's recipients? [41:14] And talk about this. [41:15] Yeah, so the Impact Awards, that's really looking at a company that is going beyond their own business success to have broader influence. [41:25] Yeah, one of these is Waystar. [41:28] So Waystar is an AI company that uses AI to essentially fight insurance denials on the back end, health insurance. [41:38] And they've had huge impact in that space, which I think is really interesting. [41:42] We also have Depop, which won the Impact Award in culture. [41:48] They really, they're a fashion resale site that really made secondhand clothing cool for the youngest generation. [41:56] And that is huge right now. [41:57] Which is huge. [41:59] Yeah. [41:59] And so the cultural impact of that we felt was worthy. [42:03] Real quickly, I know Time editors-in-chief said the 100 companies list reflects the power of narrative. [42:08] Quickly tell us why that is so important, especially right now, to tell these stories. [42:14] Yeah, I think there's just such a flood of companies and information out there that crafting your story is the only way you're going to get any traction at this point. [42:24] There's just so many that people can't keep track. [42:28] You know, this is why influencers got big. [42:30] Essentially, they're telling the story. [42:33] They're out there on social media. [42:34] And companies, some companies are better at telling their own story than others. [42:39] Emma Barker Bonomo, good to have you with us. [42:40] Thank you so much. [42:41] And congrats on the list. [42:42] Thanks for having me. [42:42] All right. [42:43] More money news now. [42:44] Spirit Airlines fighting to stay in the skies as high-stakes rescue talks continue. [42:49] NBC News Business and Economy reporter, Allie Canal, is here with your Money Minute. [42:52] Allie, good morning. [42:53] Good morning, Joe. [42:54] That's right. [42:54] Time's a-tick-in for Spirit Airlines. [42:56] According to a new court filing, the budget carrier says there will be no bankruptcy court hearing today. [43:02] And that talks with lenders are ongoing over a potential $500 million government rescue plan. [43:09] President Trump suggested last week that the administration would step in at the right price. [43:15] Now, if this is confirmed, the deal could leave the government owning up to 90 percent of the airline. [43:21] That plan has raised bigger questions over competition and government involvement in U.S. businesses. [43:26] As reports say, Spirit has just days before it runs out of cash. [43:31] And another cash crunch. [43:33] The Wall Street Journal says Saudi Arabia is pulling its funding from LibGolf after this season, putting the league's future at risk. [43:41] Remember, the league had spent billions of dollars to lure top players, but now it's scrambling for investors. [43:47] And those players could face a pretty tough road back to the PGA Tour. [43:51] In a statement released earlier this morning, Lib alluded to some sort of sale or deal, saying it's, quote, evaluating the range of strategic opportunities. [44:01] NBC News has reached out to Lib for more, but this could be the beginning of the end. [44:06] And finally, it's Thursday, which means the weekend is in sight. [44:10] And happy hour just got a little sweeter at Chili's. [44:13] The restaurant chain is taking its Margarita of the Month in a fresh direction for May and adding popping boba for the first time. [44:20] The $6 drink made with tequila, vodka, and dragon fruit boba follows past flavors like the peachy dream marg and a lemon drop option. [44:29] So there you go. [44:30] I think the boba move is maybe to attract some of those younger consumers. [44:35] I know it went viral on TikTok, Instagram. [44:38] But, you know, $6 for a marg, I'll take it. [44:40] I'll take that. [44:41] I'll take that. [44:41] Maybe if I can remove the boba. [44:43] I agree. [44:44] Let's do some of the lemon margs or some of the other options. [44:46] Perfect. [44:47] All right. [44:47] Thank you so much. [44:48] Appreciate it, Allie. [44:49] If you're heading to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby this weekend, you may want to stop by one of the most popular spots at the track. [44:55] That's the Derby Cafe at the Kentucky Derby Museum. [44:59] There you will find Johnny Arnett whipping up his famous mint juleps. [45:03] Reporter Fernando Garcia-Francis Shinny from our affiliate Louisville introduces us to the man who's affectionately known as Johnny Bourbon. [45:11] If you go eat or drink at the Derby Cafe and Bourbon Bar at the Kentucky Derby Museum. [45:17] I'm going to make you a mint julep from scratch. [45:20] You'll likely run into Johnny Arnett. [45:22] First thing we're going to do, one and a half ounces of bourbon. [45:25] Known by many as Johnny Bourbon. [45:28] I'm going to take six mint leaves. [45:29] Making his famous mint juleps. [45:32] Everyone wants a mint julep because a lot of people, especially when they come from out of town, they've never had one and they want the experience. [45:40] Johnny Bourbon has been working as a bartender for 45 years. [45:44] The last six of those at the Derby Museum, where he's become a popular attraction. [45:50] This is by far being a bartender, my best gig ever. [45:53] His nickname comes from his vast knowledge of, you guessed it, bourbon. [45:58] To be a bourbon, it has to be 51% corn. [46:01] If it's not 51% corn, it's not a bourbon. [46:03] Even though he hasn't been behind the bar at the Derby Cafe for that long, [46:08] Johnny's relationship with horse racing dates back to his childhood. [46:12] As a kid, we would go to the races with our parents just to have a good time. [46:16] I was in infield in 1973 when Secretary won the Kentucky Derby. [46:22] I think for Kentucky, we have a lot of history of bourbon and horse racing kind of merging together. [46:30] Johnny Bourbon is actually a great representation of that intrinsic relationship, [46:36] especially thanks to his now iconic mint juleps. [46:40] Go back in the 1920s during Prohibition, [46:42] and you have riders that are lamenting the fact that they can't enjoy a mint julep when they're at the Derby. [46:48] But thankfully, in 2026, people don't have to worry about that, [46:53] which means Johnny Bourbon can look forward to many more decades behind the bar of the Derby Cafe. [47:00] How does it feel knowing that you play such an important role in their visit? [47:03] It feels great. [47:04] What I like is that the repeat customers that I get, you know, [47:07] they come in year after year, they're looking for me. [47:09] You know what I'm saying? [47:10] And they say, there's Johnny Bourbon there today. I need to go see him today. [47:13] And that's how you make your mint julep from scratch. [47:16] And our thanks to Fernando Garcia, Francis Schinney for that report. [47:19] You can watch the 152nd Kentucky Derby live from Churchill Downs on NBC and Peacock this Saturday. [47:26] Coverage starts at 2.30 p.m. Eastern time. [47:29] We have a horse just out back here. [47:31] All right, coming up, a wish come true. [47:32] One dad giving his son the birthday surprise of a lifetime. [47:35] That was the best thing that ever happened to me. [47:41] What the 10-year-old wished for and his family's story next. [47:44] Stick around, Morning News Now. We'll be right back. [47:51] We're ending this hour with a father making his son's birthday wish come true. [47:56] Here's NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Yalmas. [47:59] What is going on? [48:02] What's going on? [48:02] For his 10th birthday, Noah Samayoa wanted one thing, his dad home safe. [48:09] He's been deployed with the Army for more than 250 days. [48:12] Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. [48:13] Why stand? [48:14] Yeah. [48:15] That was so cute. [48:16] How about this? [48:17] But finally, after months apart, this incredible moment. [48:24] His dad, Urban, back home, and Noah running full speed straight into his arms. [48:31] I could just hear him from the top of his line, just yell, Dad, very loudly. [48:36] It was really emotional. I felt like my heart was going to come out of my chest. [48:41] For Noah, that first moment back with his dad meant everything. [48:44] That was the best thing that ever happened to me. [48:48] This was Urban's first deployment. [48:51] I loved it. [48:51] He says service to his country is a sacrifice, but it's one he and his family are proud to make. [48:57] I wouldn't change it for anything. [48:59] Happy birthday to you. [49:04] The family back together again, just in time for Noah's birthday. [49:08] Now I can do all these things with him, and it's been awesome having him back. [49:17] This emotional reunion, a birthday wish come true. [49:22] Tom Yamas, NBC News. [49:24] And that is going to do it for this hour of Morning News Now. [49:27] Stay with us. [49:27] The news continues right now. [49:29] Right now on Morning News Now, deal or no deal, a decisive end to the war with Iran, perhaps looking hazier than ever before. [49:38] President Trump signaling the two sides may never come to an agreement unless Iran's nuclear weapons capabilities are taken off the table. [49:46] It's all happening as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spars with congressional leaders over just how much the conflict is costing American taxpayers. [49:55] We're covering it all, including more testimony from the secretary as he returns to Capitol Hill today. [50:01] Also this morning, a chilling new look at the suspect in last weekend's White House Correspondents Dinner Chaos. [50:06] The mirror selfie that prosecutors say was taken mere moments before he stormed security. [50:14] Plus, running on empty. [50:16] America's agony at the pump ramping back up. [50:20] AAA says the national average for a gallon of regular now topping $4.30. [50:26] And some spots out west get this more than six bucks a gallon. [50:30] So is there an end in sight, or will the ongoing war with Iran keep throttling drivers heading into that busy summer travel season? [50:38] We're watching your wallet. [50:40] And later in the hour, let's head a few floors up here at 30 Rock for a blast from the past. [50:45] We're digging into the old school mystery behind one of America's most famous photographs taken hundreds of feet above our own NBC studio. [50:55] Let's begin this hour with the latest developments in the war with Iran. [50:58] As President Trump doubles down on the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, his Pentagon chief was grilled on Capitol Hill yesterday for the first time since the war began. [51:08] Democrats pressed Pete Hegseth on everything from the multibillion-dollar cost of the conflict to the war's endgame. [51:14] NBC News Chief Capitol Hill Correspondent Ryan Nobles joins me with more highlights. [51:19] Ryan, good morning. [51:20] For the first time, the Pentagon put a price tag on the conflict up until this point, [51:24] but they could not forecast how much the total cost will be and how long it might last. [51:29] This, as prices for everyday goods here at home are on the rise. [51:33] This morning, the cost of the Iran war hitting home and under debate. [51:40] Gas prices continue to soar to $4.30 on average as the standoff over the war and the world's oil continues. [51:49] Now they have to cry uncle. That's all they have to do. [51:52] President Trump saying the war and the U.S.'s blockade on the Strait of Hormuz will go on unless Iran gives in. [52:00] At this moment, there will never be a deal unless they agree that there will be no nuclear weapons. [52:07] On Capitol Hill, Pentagon officials putting a price tag of $25 billion on the war to this point, [52:13] but could not say how much it could potentially cost going forward. [52:17] Secretary Pete Hegseth pushing back criticism of the administration's war strategy. [52:21] The biggest adversary we face at this point are the reckless, feckless, and defeatist words of Congressional Democrats and some Republicans two months in. [52:33] In contentious exchanges with Congressional Democrats. [52:37] Are we winning the war? [52:38] Absolutely. [52:39] OK, so do you call Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz winning? [52:43] Well, I would say the blockade that we hold that doesn't allow anything to come in or out of Iranian ports. [52:48] OK, so we've blockaded their blockade. [52:51] So they blockaded us, and then we blockaded their blockade. [52:55] Also pressing Hegseth on those rising costs. [52:58] Do you know how much it will cost Americans in terms of their increased cost in gas and food over the next year because of the Iran war? [53:07] I would simply ask you what the cost is of an Iranian nuclear bomb. [53:11] I'm going to give you that opportunity. [53:12] I would simply ask you what the – you're playing gotcha questions about domestic things. [53:16] I'm not – [53:16] You're asking – you're saying it's a gotcha question to ask what it's going to be in terms of the increased cost of gas? [53:21] Why won't you answer what it costs to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear bomb? [53:24] And Secretary Hegseth is not done answering questions. [53:28] He will be back on Capitol Hill today to appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee. [53:33] All right, Ryan, thank you. [53:34] Let's move now to the new images released by the Justice Department showing the suspect in the White House Correspondents' dinner shooting. [53:41] Prosecutors say Cole Allen photographed himself with weapons minutes before the attack. [53:46] We're also learning new details about evidence that authorities say links the suspect's shotgun to the bullet that hit an officer's ballistic vest. [53:55] NBC News Chief Justice and National Affairs Correspondent Kelly O'Donnell joins us from Washington with the latest details. [54:01] Kelly, good morning. [54:03] Good morning, Joe. [54:04] Well, coming up today, a hearing in which federal prosecutors will argue that they believe Cole Allen should remain in custody without a chance for bail as the next steps in the prosecution move forward. [54:17] He is accused of plotting to assassinate the president, top officials, cabinet leaders who were in that ballroom Saturday night in what prosecutors say was an attempt for an anti-democratic act of political violence. [54:32] New today, the man behind this mirror selfie returns to court, charged in the attempted assassination of President Trump. [54:41] The Justice Department says these photos show Cole Allen armed in his hotel room before the event. [54:49] NBC News has learned, according to three law enforcement officials, investigators have now resolved a key question. [54:56] A review of evidence now links the suspect's shotgun to the round that hit an officer's protective vest, ruling out friendly fire. [55:05] Today, more video of the incident is expected to be made public in court. [55:09] The Washington Post obtained these enhanced images that the Post says show Allen charging through a security checkpoint. [55:17] Officials say the officer, seen here, was hit. [55:21] Those flashes visible as he returned fire five times. [55:25] One Secret Service officer was shot in the chest but was wearing a ballistic vest that worked. [55:31] Another update, an official says investigators are examining multiple computers and weapons recovered from Allen's California home. [55:40] Inside the hotel room where he was staying, a laptop and hard drive. [55:44] Authorities write they also recovered additional weapons, a pistol, two knives, four daggers, and a significant amount of ammunition for reloading. [55:54] There will be additional charges as this investigation continues to unfold. [55:59] According to a prosecution memo, Allen used his cell phone to check websites with information about the correspondence dinner and the president's public schedule. [56:09] In fact, on Saturday night, just minutes before the attack, prosecutors say Allen had pulled up live coverage of the dinner on his phone. [56:18] Also today, we're learning more from the federal public defenders who are going to lead the defense for Cole Allen. [56:28] They're asking the court to give them access to some of the evidence that prosecutors have amassed so far. [56:34] And they're also trying to say some things in official court documents that appear to be an attempt to humanize Allen, [56:41] calling him a loved, respected Christian man who had no criminal record. [56:47] Joe? [56:47] All right. Kelly, thank you. [56:48] The Supreme Court's latest ruling could have major impacts on states' efforts to redraw their congressional maps. [56:55] The conservative-led high court ruled 6-3 yesterday that a Louisiana congressional map from 2024 is unconstitutional, [57:02] calling it racial gerrymandering. [57:04] This decision comes just over six months before this year's midterm elections. [57:09] NBC News senior White House correspondent Garrett Haake joins us now with more on what the ruling means going forward. [57:13] Garrett, good morning. [57:15] Yeah, Joe, good morning. [57:15] In some ways, the ruling is narrow. [57:17] The court ruled that a majority black district in Louisiana, currently controlled by a Democrat, was illegally created. [57:22] It must be redrawn. [57:24] But the fallout from the ruling could now have significant and long-lasting impacts on both the partisan and the racial makeup of Congress. [57:32] The Supreme Court escalating an intense back-and-forth battle for control of Congress, [57:38] with a landmark ruling that's already affecting some elections. [57:42] The court's conservative majority ruling 6-3 that Louisiana's current congressional map, [57:48] with two majority African-American districts, is unconstitutional, [57:52] saying lawmakers allowed race to play a part in government decision-making. [57:56] This is exactly what we've been looking for, is some clarity and certainty from the courts. [58:01] Democrats blasting the ruling, arguing it weakens a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, [58:07] aimed at prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, [58:10] adding that other majority black districts are now vulnerable to being erased. [58:15] Today is a devastating day in the history of our American democracy. [58:22] Former President Barack Obama accusing the court of, quote, [58:25] abandoning its vital role in ensuring equal participation in our democracy. [58:29] President Trump calling the decision a, quote, big win, [58:33] which comes as he's urged GOP-controlled states to redraw their maps to boost Republicans. [58:39] Some states don't need to redraw, and some do. [58:42] That push creating a legislative tit-for-tat, both parties angling to win more seats, [58:48] which will be key for the rest of Trump's presidency, [58:51] with Congress currently narrowly controlled by Republicans. [58:54] Eight states have already approved rare mid-decade map changes. [58:58] Drawing lines on the basis of race is wrong and unconstitutional. [59:02] Most recently, on Wednesday, the Florida GOP making a change [59:06] that will lead to more Republican-leaning districts. [59:09] Experts say the real implications will come in future elections. [59:13] But lawmakers on both sides say this fight won't end [59:16] until politics are removed from the entire process. [59:20] The Democratic caucus has tried to pass nonpartisan gerrymandering for 10 years. [59:25] Republicans have rejected it. [59:26] And so we have to all abide by the same rules. [59:29] I don't believe there should be guaranteed districts for anybody. [59:34] In the short term, experts think only a handful of states [59:37] will have both the political will and the time to change their maps now ahead of the midterms. [59:41] I'd watch Tennessee and South Carolina, [59:44] both of which have similar majority black districts, which could now be withdrawn. [59:48] What I think seems more likely is that before the next election in 2030, [59:51] we'll see another long process of politicians redrawing the maps to pick their voters [59:56] before voters pick their next set of politicians. [59:59] Joe? [1:00:00] All right. [1:00:00] Garrett, thank you. [1:00:01] The royal state visit is winding down. [1:00:04] King Charles and Queen Camilla are spending their final day in Virginia [1:00:07] before heading back to the U.K. [1:00:09] Yesterday, they made a series of high-profile stops here in New York City [1:00:12] from the 9-11 Memorial to the New York Public Library [1:00:16] and right here at 30 Rock. [1:00:17] NBC News correspondent Erin McLaughlin has more. [1:00:22] Overnight, an Empire State send-off fit for a king. [1:00:26] King Charles and Queen Camilla wrapping up a whirlwind visit to New York City [1:00:32] with a star-studded event. [1:00:34] At this reception, we can celebrate both my King's Trust [1:00:39] and the enduring cultural bond between the people of the United Kingdom [1:00:43] and the United States. [1:00:45] Actors, designers, and musicians among the invited guests. [1:00:49] We are bringing together the best of cultural experience. [1:00:53] A glamorous end to a day that began on a more somber note [1:00:57] with a visit to the 9-11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan. [1:01:00] The royals laying a bouquet alongside the reflecting pool [1:01:04] to honor victims, including 67 British nationals, [1:01:08] among them Jonathan Egan's father and aunt. [1:01:11] They did a lot more than just graces with their presence. [1:01:13] They were so approachable. [1:01:15] First responders also greeting the couple, [1:01:18] along with New York City's Mayor Zoran Mamdani [1:01:20] and the governors of both New York and New Jersey. [1:01:24] Later, Queen Camilla, a passionate patron of literacy, [1:01:27] with her charity, The Queen's Reading Room, [1:01:30] celebrating the power of books at the New York Public Library [1:01:33] with Sarah Jessica Parker, Anna Wintour, [1:01:36] and our own resident bookworm, Jenna. [1:01:39] Books are the best friends you can have in good times and in bad. [1:01:45] While King Charles went uptown to tour Harlem-grown urban farm, [1:01:49] even helping feed the chickens. [1:01:50] And then it was back to decidedly more glitzy business [1:01:55] at the home of NBC News, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, [1:01:59] where the King hosted a U.S. and U.K. trade event. [1:02:02] Today, the King and Queen will spend their last day in Virginia [1:02:05] and wish a final farewell to President Trump, [1:02:08] who praised the King's visit. [1:02:10] And he's a great King, and he's a great friend of mine. [1:02:14] Aaron, thank you. [1:02:15] And still also ahead for the King and Queen today, [1:02:17] a visit to Arlington National Cemetery [1:02:19] before joining festivities marking America's 250th birthday. [1:02:24] Later this hour, we're going to bring you more of today anchor [1:02:27] Jenna Bush Hager and her exclusive conversation with Queen Camilla. [1:02:33] Looking forward to hearing more about what they had to say [1:02:35] as they share their passion for books and for reading. [1:02:38] All right, you might want to grab your jackets. [1:02:40] Below-average temperatures are in store [1:02:42] from the Rockies to New England today. [1:02:44] So let's get some details with your morning news now weather. [1:02:47] Angie Lassman has the forecast. [1:02:48] Angie, good morning. [1:02:49] Hey there, Joe. [1:02:49] Good morning to you, folks. [1:02:51] I hope they didn't put their coats away [1:02:52] across parts of the Midwest [1:02:53] and interior areas of the Northeast [1:02:55] and down through the Appalachians. [1:02:57] We've got 14 million people [1:02:58] under these frost and freeze alerts this morning [1:03:00] as our temperatures sit for some into the 30s and 40s. [1:03:04] We've got 32 in Duluth. [1:03:06] We've got 30s across parts of the Plains. [1:03:08] Notice Chicago O'Hare sitting at 41 degrees right now. [1:03:11] So an extra layer going to go a long way this morning. [1:03:13] It is still only April. [1:03:15] We're going to start to see things kind of moderating out [1:03:18] and becoming more mild here [1:03:20] as the next couple of days go on. [1:03:22] But in the meantime, sitting below normal [1:03:23] for our afternoon temperatures, too. [1:03:25] Detroit tops out at 54 degrees, [1:03:27] upper 60s for Little Rock, 61 for Amarillo. [1:03:30] Farther to the east, Roanoke, [1:03:31] you're just going to get 68 degrees. [1:03:33] Farther into portions of the Northeast, [1:03:35] Lake Placid, 50 degrees. [1:03:37] We're running about 10 degrees below normal [1:03:39] across most of these locations. [1:03:41] That goes for tomorrow, too. [1:03:42] Dallas, check out your afternoon high temperature, 59 degrees. [1:03:46] We've got just 50 in Chicago for tomorrow's afternoon temperature [1:03:49] and into the 70s for Atlanta. [1:03:52] Here's the milder conditions I mentioned. [1:03:53] We go from the 60s on Saturday in Louisville [1:03:55] to the mid-70s by Monday, [1:03:57] following a similar trend for Washington, D.C. [1:03:59] It's the 60s on Saturday to the mid-70s by Monday. [1:04:03] So we'll finally start to see some more spring-like [1:04:05] and even summer-like temperatures in some of these spots [1:04:07] by the time next week gets underway. [1:04:09] In the meantime, we are watching a whole lot of rain setting up [1:04:12] across parts of the south. [1:04:13] You'll notice this morning already ramping up. [1:04:15] We've got some thunderstorms active across parts of Texas [1:04:18] and Louisiana, and this is kind of the general area [1:04:20] that we're going to see the rain stick around [1:04:22] for the prolonged period. [1:04:23] So notice this stationary front that is doing exactly [1:04:27] what stationary fronts do, just hanging around. [1:04:29] And this is creating some instability [1:04:31] and really some targeted kind of repeated rounds [1:04:34] of soaking rain across these regions, [1:04:36] anywhere from Texas to Mississippi. [1:04:38] We'll see those thunderstorms and the heavy rain [1:04:41] last into your Saturday as well. [1:04:43] Much of this starts to work to the southeast. [1:04:45] And we do have an ongoing drought. [1:04:46] So 100% of the southeast is under some form [1:04:50] of drought right now. [1:04:51] So we need this rain. [1:04:52] But again, when it happens all at once, [1:04:53] we have a concern for some flooding, [1:04:55] specifically flash flooding today. [1:04:57] Anywhere from Austin to Del Rio, up through Brady, [1:05:01] including San Antonio as well, [1:05:02] we'll see some impressive hourly rainfall rates [1:05:04] up to three inches. [1:05:05] The area of concern for flash flooding shifts [1:05:08] a little farther to the east tomorrow. [1:05:10] San Antonio stretching into portions of Mississippi. [1:05:12] We've got New Orleans, Alexandria, Houston, [1:05:14] all included in there. [1:05:16] And this, of course, as we gear up for, [1:05:18] by the time we get through Saturday, [1:05:19] anywhere from two to three inches for a widespread area. [1:05:22] You can see anywhere from New Mexico to the Carolinas, [1:05:26] we'll see at least an inch of rain. [1:05:28] And then there could be spots, Joe, [1:05:30] where we get upwards of five inches of rain. [1:05:32] Again, it's kind of a double-edged sword [1:05:34] because we need the rain, [1:05:35] but it's also problematic when it happens all at once. [1:05:38] So we'll watch for the flooding concerns, [1:05:39] but also hopefully make a dent in that drought. [1:05:41] No one wants five inches at once. [1:05:43] Yes, over a prolonged period, yes. [1:05:45] There you go, there you go, exactly. [1:05:46] All right, Angie, thank you so much. [1:05:47] Of course. [1:05:48] Much more to come on this hour of morning news now, [1:05:50] including that spring sting at the pump. [1:05:53] Could it bleed over into the summer? [1:05:55] The Middle East uncertainty that's causing chaos [1:05:57] on Wall Street and Main Street. [1:05:59] First, after the break, families from overseas [1:06:02] stuck with some uncertainty of their own [1:06:04] after attempting to flee Iran's regime. [1:06:07] Their fight for freedom right here in America next. [1:06:12] We're back with the new details [1:06:13] about an often overlooked group [1:06:15] directly impacted by the conflict in the Middle East, [1:06:17] Iranian asylum seekers. [1:06:20] Many families who fled the regime [1:06:21] traveled to the U.S. for refuge, [1:06:24] but now they're stuck in limbo. [1:06:25] Some are in and out of ICE detention centers. [1:06:28] Others fear for relatives back home, [1:06:30] but they're all fighting for a chance [1:06:32] at freedom in the U.S. [1:06:34] NBC News national correspondent Yasmin Masugian [1:06:36] spoke to one mother whose husband has been detained [1:06:39] for at least 10 months. [1:06:48] Farzan and Nazi knew she had to leave Iran in 2022 [1:06:51] during the Women Life Freedom protests. [1:06:54] It was in a street protest like these [1:06:56] when she says her sister, standing right next to her, [1:07:00] was shot in the face by government forces. [1:07:02] Her sister survived the less lethal rounds, [1:07:05] but lost vision in one eye. [1:07:07] Also, Farzan's husband, Assad, [1:07:09] worked for a banned Kurdish opposition party, [1:07:12] drawing harassment and beatings from the government. [1:07:14] Then, in early 2025, [1:07:16] charging documents show Assad facing imprisonment [1:07:19] for, quote, betrayal, propaganda, and disturbance. [1:07:23] That is when they finally decided to flee. [1:07:25] They left a happy life and a close family, [1:07:32] but they say it was impossible to stay. [1:07:41] Their route to the U.S. took them through Venezuela, [1:07:44] Panama, and Mexico. [1:07:45] They shared messages with NBC News [1:07:47] showing how, along the way, [1:07:49] they were extorted by gangs, [1:07:50] also saying they were detained by government forces. [1:07:53] They arrived at the U.S. border at Eagle Pass, Texas. [1:07:56] And crossed. [1:07:57] They were apprehended and claimed asylum. [1:08:00] It was March of 2025. [1:08:02] My administration has launched [1:08:03] the most sweeping border and immigration crackdown. [1:08:11] ICE status shows hundreds of Iranians [1:08:13] were detained in the last year of the Biden administration. [1:08:16] Then the government stopped regularly reporting numbers [1:08:19] after President Trump was inaugurated. [1:08:21] The Department of Homeland Security [1:08:22] declined to tell NBC News [1:08:24] how many Iranians are currently in custody. [1:08:27] Farzaneh and Assad are essentially invisible [1:08:30] in government statistics, [1:08:31] but their circumstances are very real. [1:08:34] The couple was separated in detention. [1:08:36] Farzaneh was soon released. [1:08:38] She was seven months pregnant. [1:08:39] It would have been the best day. [1:08:55] It was the best day of your life [1:08:56] when you gave birth to your son. [1:09:00] But you were alone. [1:09:01] Their son, Rasan, now 10 months old, [1:09:04] has never known his father's touch. [1:09:06] Assad regularly FaceTimes with his family from detention. [1:09:11] Just a month after fleeing Iran, [1:09:15] Assad was sentenced to 25 years in jail there [1:09:18] without a trial. [1:09:20] Now in the U.S., he sits in ICE detention. [1:09:22] It has been a year. [1:09:23] He says he's worried for his family's safety [1:09:26] as he watches the war play out. [1:09:28] Despite his asylum claim [1:09:29] and a legal challenge to his imprisonment, [1:09:32] Assad is marked for removal. [1:09:34] With his home country at war with the United States, [1:09:36] he fears for his life being sent back to the region [1:09:38] and says the judges here [1:09:40] don't believe his documents or anything that he says. [1:09:43] They just want to deport him [1:09:44] and the other Iranians in detention with him. [1:09:49] Even during a ceasefire, [1:09:50] the family watches the conflict unfold, [1:09:53] fearing for relatives, their homeland, [1:09:55] and their own chance at freedom. [1:09:57] In a statement to NBC News, [1:10:03] DHS said that Assad will, quote, [1:10:05] receive full due process, [1:10:07] adding, being in detention is a choice, [1:10:10] and encouraged all people [1:10:11] who enter the United States illegally [1:10:13] to accept the government stipend [1:10:15] of $2,600 and a free flight to self-deport. [1:10:19] It did not answer our questions [1:10:20] about removing Iranian asylum seekers [1:10:22] during a war. [1:10:23] Yasmina Vasugyan, NBC News. [1:10:34] Coming up, we've already heard [1:10:36] from King Charles this week. [1:10:37] Now let's hear from the queen herself. [1:10:39] When Morning News now returns, [1:10:41] our Jenna Bush Hager goes one-on-one [1:10:43] with Her Majesty Camilla [1:10:44] right here in New York. [1:10:46] Her message to America [1:10:47] and what else? [1:10:48] Her love of reading. [1:10:50] That's next. [1:10:51] We are back now with a closer look [1:11:00] at what's making news [1:11:01] in the world of politics this morning, [1:11:02] starting with former Attorney General Pam Bondi [1:11:05] set to testify about the Epstein files. [1:11:08] NBC News senior national politics reporter [1:11:10] Jonathan Allen joins us with the details. [1:11:12] John, good morning. [1:11:13] Hey, good morning, Joe. [1:11:14] You know, it might have been reasonable [1:11:15] for Pam Bondi to think [1:11:16] that she was done with Congress [1:11:18] when she was fired from her job [1:11:20] as attorney general nearly a month ago. [1:11:22] But Congress is not done with her. [1:11:24] House Republicans announced Wednesday [1:11:26] that Bondi will testify [1:11:27] about DOJ's Jeffrey Epstein files after all. [1:11:31] Bondi had been subpoenaed [1:11:32] by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee [1:11:34] back in March. [1:11:36] Several Republicans had joined with Democrats [1:11:38] to vote for that subpoena. [1:11:40] But Bondi's unceremonious exit [1:11:42] from the administration [1:11:43] cast doubt on whether she would actually appear. [1:11:46] Now, with Democrats threatening [1:11:47] to force a vote on holding her in contempt, [1:11:50] Bondi is scheduled May 29th [1:11:51] to talk to lawmakers under oath. [1:11:54] President Trump and Russian leader [1:11:56] Vladimir Putin spoke by phone Wednesday [1:11:58] about Russia's war in Ukraine [1:12:00] and the U.S. war in Iran. [1:12:02] Trump told reporters later [1:12:03] that he would like to see the Russians' war end, [1:12:06] quote, relatively quickly. [1:12:07] He's been saying that for a while. [1:12:09] Trump also said he suggested [1:12:11] a brief ceasefire in Eastern Europe, [1:12:13] an idea that Russian officials have embraced. [1:12:16] But with no details about the terms [1:12:18] of a temporary pause and hostilities, [1:12:20] it was not immediately clear [1:12:21] whether Ukraine would agree [1:12:23] to a plan backed by Russia [1:12:24] and the United States. [1:12:25] And finally, the Live Golf Tour. [1:12:29] It ain't dead yet. [1:12:31] Emphasis on yet. [1:12:32] The upstart rival to the PGA Tour [1:12:34] never attracted the talent or money [1:12:36] or audience that it had hoped to. [1:12:38] And now its biggest backer, [1:12:40] the Saudi government, [1:12:41] is pulling out after this season. [1:12:43] The Saudis spent big and lost big, [1:12:46] with some estimates ranging [1:12:47] as high as $5 billion since 2022. [1:12:51] Though the tour was able to attract [1:12:53] some of those big-name golfers, [1:12:54] guys like Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, [1:12:57] it wasn't able to compete with the PGA. [1:13:00] Live will continue to seek other investors. [1:13:03] But you know, Joe, for now, [1:13:06] as John Francis Bon Jovi Jr. would say, [1:13:08] the tour is living on a prayer. [1:13:11] There we go. [1:13:12] All right. [1:13:12] John, thank you so much. [1:13:14] Appreciate it. [1:13:14] Take care, Joe. [1:13:15] Now to an exclusive one-on-one [1:13:16] between today anchor Jenna Bush Hager [1:13:18] and Queen Camilla. [1:13:20] Fittingly, it happened at the New York Public Library, [1:13:22] where Jenna and Her Majesty [1:13:23] spent the afternoon talking about books [1:13:26] and the power of storytelling. [1:13:28] Jenna, good morning. [1:13:30] Hey there. [1:13:30] It was an honor to be invited [1:13:31] to that special event. [1:13:33] Her Majesty, the Queen, and I [1:13:34] got to spend the afternoon [1:13:35] celebrating the joy of reading [1:13:37] through each of our book clubs. [1:13:39] And she had a special message [1:13:41] for all Americans. [1:13:43] It was a historic day in New York. [1:13:46] Crowds gathered outside [1:13:48] one of the city's most beloved landmarks, [1:13:50] the New York Public Library. [1:13:52] All waiting to catch a glimpse [1:13:54] of Her Majesty, Queen Camilla. [1:13:56] Majesty. [1:13:57] So good to see you. [1:13:58] Inside, I had the honor [1:14:00] of welcoming the Queen [1:14:01] for a special event [1:14:02] celebrating literature, [1:14:04] something close to both of our hearts. [1:14:06] Second time. [1:14:07] Second time. [1:14:09] It's been since 2005. [1:14:11] It is. [1:14:12] The first trip to America. [1:14:13] Your very first trip to America. [1:14:15] Yeah, it was with your parents [1:14:17] and your grandmother. [1:14:19] More than 20 years ago, [1:14:20] the then Prince of Wales [1:14:22] and Duchess of Cornwall [1:14:23] made their first trip to the U.S. [1:14:25] as a married couple, [1:14:26] visiting Washington, D.C. [1:14:28] in the White House [1:14:28] for a dinner with my parents. [1:14:30] I had the privilege of attending [1:14:32] with my now husband, Henry. [1:14:34] I love it that we can be back together. [1:14:37] Oh, loving books. [1:14:38] And loving books. [1:14:39] And loving books. [1:14:40] And you're here [1:14:41] on this historic visit, [1:14:43] 250 years of our country. [1:14:47] That's extraordinary. [1:14:48] How has your trip been? [1:14:49] Well, it's been... [1:14:50] It's been really good fun, [1:14:54] but we have moved quite fast. [1:14:56] You've been to a lot of places, [1:14:58] to quite a few. [1:14:59] We have, [1:15:00] but it's been wonderful [1:15:01] and everybody's been very kind [1:15:02] and welcoming. [1:15:04] Well, it's always a pleasure [1:15:05] to be here [1:15:06] and always lovely [1:15:07] to be back in New York. [1:15:09] Well, we brought you [1:15:11] to our place [1:15:11] where you would feel at home. [1:15:13] To come to this wonderful library. [1:15:14] The New York Public Library. [1:15:16] For Her Majesty, [1:15:17] this state visit [1:15:18] has also been about [1:15:19] sharing her love of reading [1:15:20] on both sides of the pond [1:15:22] through her charity, [1:15:23] The Queen's Reading Room. [1:15:25] I know that we share [1:15:26] this great love of reading. [1:15:28] You started a charity [1:15:29] called The Queen's Reading Room, [1:15:31] which is a book club of sorts. [1:15:33] It is. [1:15:34] It was started in lockdown. [1:15:36] During COVID, [1:15:37] Her Majesty started [1:15:39] an online book club [1:15:40] with a simple belief [1:15:41] that reading [1:15:42] has the power [1:15:43] to make life better. [1:15:45] We're all sitting there [1:15:46] twiddling our fingers, [1:15:47] not quite knowing what to do. [1:15:49] And I just gave [1:15:51] eight of my favorite books [1:15:52] to a local newspaper [1:15:54] and bingo. [1:15:55] You know, [1:15:55] all these people [1:15:58] reach me from all over the world. [1:15:59] So we thought, [1:16:00] why not try and take it [1:16:02] a step further [1:16:02] and start the book, [1:16:05] The Reading Room. [1:16:05] Five years later, [1:16:07] The Queen's Reading Room [1:16:08] has grown, [1:16:09] reaching 180 countries [1:16:11] with its podcast, [1:16:12] world-class literary festivals, [1:16:14] and thousands [1:16:15] of book donations. [1:16:17] The Queen says [1:16:18] that the joy of reading [1:16:19] has long been part [1:16:21] of her DNA. [1:16:22] And your father gave you [1:16:23] this great gift of reading. [1:16:25] Oh, but he was wonderful. [1:16:26] He used to sit [1:16:27] at the end of our beds [1:16:29] every night. [1:16:30] And he did these incredibly [1:16:31] exciting stories, [1:16:33] some of them quite frightening. [1:16:34] He used to listen [1:16:37] to the hymns [1:16:37] that that basketball is [1:16:38] and go to bed [1:16:39] with the pillows [1:16:40] over our head. [1:16:41] But he just gave us [1:16:42] this incredible interest. [1:16:45] One of the Queen's [1:16:45] favorite stories [1:16:46] is a little girl [1:16:47] America knows well. [1:16:49] I love Winnie the Pooh. [1:16:51] Winnie the Pooh, [1:16:52] now creating new memories [1:16:54] for the next generation. [1:16:56] Her Majesty read the story [1:16:57] to a group of local kids. [1:16:59] Just bussy, bussy, [1:17:01] with eyes of Minnie's up. [1:17:02] And brought a gift, [1:17:04] a replica of Rue, [1:17:06] to complete the [1:17:06] library's collection. [1:17:08] I think we're reuniting [1:17:11] a certain member [1:17:12] of the... [1:17:12] I heard. [1:17:13] ...of the Winnie's family. [1:17:14] It was a special day [1:17:16] honoring the Queen [1:17:17] in one of her greatest passions. [1:17:19] This is a beautiful place [1:17:20] to celebrate the work [1:17:22] of Her Majesty. [1:17:24] I joined the Queen's [1:17:24] Reading Room [1:17:25] to host a discussion [1:17:26] with best-selling authors [1:17:27] Min Jin Lee [1:17:28] and Harlan Coben [1:17:30] about the importance [1:17:31] of reading. [1:17:31] I think that it is [1:17:33] through reading fiction [1:17:35] I learned about courage. [1:17:37] Reading increases [1:17:38] critical thinking. [1:17:39] It increases empathy. [1:17:40] Many notable guests [1:17:41] turned out in support [1:17:43] of the Queen's cause, [1:17:44] including celebrities [1:17:45] and fellow book lovers [1:17:47] Sarah Jessica Parker [1:17:48] and Anna Wintour. [1:17:50] And I had the honor [1:17:51] of introducing [1:17:52] Her Majesty [1:17:53] to the room. [1:17:54] I am so thrilled [1:17:56] to this afternoon [1:17:58] to introduce [1:17:58] a great friend [1:18:00] friend for all of us [1:18:01] who love literature [1:18:02] and exactly [1:18:04] the kind of friend [1:18:05] we all wish [1:18:06] could be a member [1:18:07] of one of our book clubs. [1:18:09] Please welcome [1:18:10] Her Majesty [1:18:11] Queen Camilla. [1:18:19] Of many of us [1:18:20] have long suspected [1:18:21] books really are [1:18:23] good for us. [1:18:26] They also have [1:18:27] a magic way [1:18:27] of bringing people together [1:18:29] with their ability [1:18:31] to transcend [1:18:32] any barrier. [1:18:33] That message of unity [1:18:35] has been on full display [1:18:36] during the King [1:18:37] and Queen's [1:18:38] historic trip. [1:18:40] Her Majesty [1:18:40] sharing her hope [1:18:41] for both of our nations. [1:18:44] Well finally [1:18:44] on this 250 anniversary [1:18:47] what is your message [1:18:48] to Americans? [1:18:49] Well I'd like to say [1:18:51] keep reading. [1:18:52] That's my message too. [1:18:54] I think it's very important [1:18:55] and you know [1:18:56] especially as statistics [1:18:58] are showing [1:18:59] reading is falling [1:19:00] in children. [1:19:01] Yes. [1:19:01] We've got to find a way [1:19:02] of bringing you top of it. [1:19:03] Let's work together. [1:19:05] Shall we? [1:19:06] The Queen's Reading Room [1:19:08] has also commissioned [1:19:09] some important research [1:19:11] about the benefits [1:19:11] of reading. [1:19:12] One of the studies [1:19:13] found that reading fiction [1:19:15] for just five minutes [1:19:16] can reduce your stress [1:19:18] by 20%. [1:19:19] Back to you. [1:19:20] Keep reading. [1:19:21] Jenna thank you so much. [1:19:22] Coming up [1:19:22] the pinch at the pump [1:19:24] and a foggy future [1:19:25] in the Middle East. [1:19:26] It's fueling anxiety [1:19:27] on Main Street [1:19:28] and Wall Street. [1:19:30] Now the latest bump [1:19:31] in oil prices [1:19:31] might cause even more [1:19:33] headaches ahead of [1:19:33] that busy summer travel season. [1:19:35] So just how expensive [1:19:36] could gas get [1:19:37] in the near future? [1:19:38] We're watching [1:19:38] your wallet next. [1:19:44] We're back with [1:19:45] some economic news. [1:19:46] Oil prices are surging [1:19:47] again following reports [1:19:48] that President Trump [1:19:49] is weighing new military [1:19:50] options over the [1:19:51] Strait of Hormuz [1:19:52] which remains closed. [1:19:54] Members of the [1:19:55] President's [1:19:55] National Security [1:19:56] Team presented him [1:19:57] with multiple options [1:19:58] this week for how [1:19:59] to handle the ongoing [1:20:00] closure after talks [1:20:01] with Iran's stall. [1:20:02] That is according [1:20:03] to a U.S. official [1:20:04] and a person familiar [1:20:05] with the meeting. [1:20:06] These rising oil prices [1:20:07] are expected to keep [1:20:08] gas prices elevated [1:20:10] as we head into [1:20:11] the summer travel season. [1:20:13] Patrick DeHaan is the head [1:20:14] of Petroleum Analysis [1:20:15] at GasBuddy. [1:20:16] He joins me now for more [1:20:17] on this. [1:20:17] Patrick, good morning. [1:20:18] So the roller coaster [1:20:19] in oil prices continues. [1:20:22] Talk us through what we're [1:20:23] seeing in energy markets [1:20:24] right now. [1:20:25] How are investors [1:20:26] digesting all the latest [1:20:27] developments? [1:20:29] Well, certainly not [1:20:30] great developments. [1:20:31] We've seen the price of oil [1:20:32] now elevating [1:20:32] on that exact headline [1:20:34] that is the blockade [1:20:35] will likely continue [1:20:36] and it could [1:20:37] for several weeks [1:20:38] and that has pushed [1:20:39] WTI crude oil prices [1:20:40] back closer to the [1:20:42] $106 a barrel mark [1:20:43] with Brent crude oil [1:20:44] hovering at about [1:20:45] $116 a barrel. [1:20:47] That's having a profound [1:20:48] impact on wholesale [1:20:49] gasoline prices, [1:20:51] diesel and jet fuel, [1:20:52] all of which spiked [1:20:53] earlier this week. [1:20:55] In fact, coupled [1:20:55] with refinery outages, [1:20:57] we're now seeing [1:20:57] some areas of the country [1:20:58] with gas prices [1:20:59] that have risen [1:21:00] a dollar a gallon [1:21:01] in the last 48 hours. [1:21:03] Areas of Michigan, [1:21:04] Indiana, Ohio, [1:21:05] Wisconsin and Illinois [1:21:06] seeing an extended [1:21:07] amount of refining issues [1:21:09] pushing up prices [1:21:09] and that's where [1:21:10] we'll likely see [1:21:11] the national average [1:21:12] go, simply higher. [1:21:13] We could head [1:21:14] towards $4.50 a gallon [1:21:16] over the next week [1:21:17] or two so long [1:21:17] as the situation [1:21:18] remains unchanged [1:21:19] and the strait [1:21:20] remains closed. [1:21:21] How are we thinking [1:21:22] about this summer [1:21:23] beyond a week or two? [1:21:25] How bad could gas [1:21:26] prices get? [1:21:28] Well, in theory, [1:21:29] as long as the [1:21:29] Strait of Hormuz [1:21:30] continues to be closed [1:21:31] as we get into [1:21:32] Memorial Day [1:21:33] in the weeks ahead, [1:21:34] we could see gas prices [1:21:35] breaking all-time record [1:21:37] highs this summer. [1:21:38] It's really a question [1:21:39] of whether or not [1:21:40] the strait will be reopened. [1:21:42] If it does reopen, [1:21:43] that may prevent [1:21:44] all-time record highs [1:21:45] from happening. [1:21:46] If it doesn't reopen [1:21:47] by Memorial Day, [1:21:48] we could see new [1:21:49] all-time record highs. [1:21:51] That record set [1:21:51] back in 2022 [1:21:52] when the national average [1:21:54] hit $5.04 a gallon, [1:21:56] that is a potential [1:21:57] that we could go [1:21:58] beyond that this summer. [1:21:59] This is a hypothetical here, [1:22:01] but if we were [1:22:02] to suddenly see a drop [1:22:03] in oil prices [1:22:04] over the next few days, [1:22:05] would we see [1:22:06] an immediate impact [1:22:07] from that? [1:22:08] It likely would start [1:22:09] within a couple of days, [1:22:11] but it would likely [1:22:11] take a week or two [1:22:12] to fully be passed along, [1:22:14] depending on the degree [1:22:15] of decline. [1:22:16] So, you know, [1:22:17] we've seen oil sharply higher. [1:22:19] If there is good news, [1:22:20] it likely could pull [1:22:21] oil prices down [1:22:22] below the $100 barrel mark, [1:22:24] and that could push [1:22:25] the national average [1:22:26] lower starting [1:22:27] in a few days, [1:22:27] and it may take [1:22:28] a week or two [1:22:29] for us really [1:22:30] to regain that [1:22:31] downward momentum [1:22:32] if something positive [1:22:33] does happen. [1:22:34] Very quickly, Patrick, [1:22:35] while we have you, [1:22:36] I want to ask you [1:22:36] about the decision [1:22:37] by the United Arab Emirates [1:22:38] to quit the oil-producing [1:22:40] cartel OPEC. [1:22:41] What could be [1:22:42] the impact of that? [1:22:44] It can't be understated. [1:22:45] That is a huge crack [1:22:47] in the foundation [1:22:47] of OPEC, [1:22:48] a member leaving [1:22:49] to increase oil production. [1:22:51] Keep in mind, [1:22:51] the UAE has a million [1:22:52] and a half barrels [1:22:54] of spare capacity. [1:22:55] They've wanted to increase [1:22:56] production for quite some time. [1:22:58] Now they're going [1:22:59] to be getting their chance, [1:23:00] and it could be a sign [1:23:01] of other countries [1:23:02] that may consider [1:23:03] leaving the group [1:23:04] in the months and years ahead. [1:23:05] Something to keep an eye on. [1:23:06] Patrick DeHaan, [1:23:07] thank you so much. [1:23:08] More money news now. [1:23:09] Jeep maker Stellantis [1:23:10] just posted some pretty rosy [1:23:12] first-quarter earnings, [1:23:13] but shares are sliding [1:23:14] on Wall Street. [1:23:15] NBC News Business [1:23:16] and Economy reporter [1:23:17] Allie Canal is here [1:23:18] with your Money Minute. [1:23:18] Allie, good morning. [1:23:19] Good morning, Joe. [1:23:20] That's right. [1:23:20] We're seeing Stellantis [1:23:21] shares lower this morning, [1:23:22] even after that big [1:23:23] earnings beat here. [1:23:25] Now, the automaker [1:23:26] nearly tripled [1:23:27] its operating income, [1:23:28] but investors, [1:23:29] they're questioning [1:23:30] how real that gain [1:23:31] actually is, [1:23:32] with one-time benefits [1:23:33] from expected tariff refunds [1:23:35] and price cuts [1:23:36] doing some of the heavy lifting. [1:23:38] So the translation here, [1:23:39] at least on Wall Street, [1:23:40] is that they're not buying [1:23:41] the turnaround story, [1:23:42] at least not yet. [1:23:44] Meanwhile, [1:23:44] the world's largest music label, [1:23:46] Universal Music Group, [1:23:47] is selling half [1:23:48] of its equity stake [1:23:49] in Spotify. [1:23:50] The move comes [1:23:51] after pressure [1:23:52] from activist investor [1:23:53] Bill Ackman, [1:23:54] but UMG is also sharing [1:23:56] the proceeds with artists [1:23:57] under a so-called [1:23:59] Taylor Swift clause [1:24:00] that dates back to 2018, [1:24:02] and it's when Swift [1:24:03] re-signed with the label [1:24:05] on the condition [1:24:05] that if UMG [1:24:07] sold its Spotify stake, [1:24:09] artists would share [1:24:09] in the profits. [1:24:10] You can call it a little [1:24:11] you-belong-with-me moment [1:24:12] for the industry. [1:24:14] And speaking of music, [1:24:15] let's end on a high note here. [1:24:16] Chipotle is handing out [1:24:18] free meals to teachers [1:24:19] and health care workers. [1:24:21] It's all part of [1:24:21] Teacher Appreciation Week [1:24:23] and National Nurses Week [1:24:24] early next month. [1:24:26] Eligible workers [1:24:27] can enter online [1:24:28] through May 12th [1:24:29] with winners [1:24:30] randomly selected [1:24:31] and verified [1:24:32] before getting [1:24:32] that free meal. [1:24:33] We're talking a lot [1:24:34] of burritos here, guys. [1:24:35] Up to 200,000 people [1:24:37] will win free entree [1:24:38] e-gift cards [1:24:39] totaling up to [1:24:40] $2 million. [1:24:42] That's a lot of burritos. [1:24:43] A lot of burritos. [1:24:43] I think we could [1:24:44] handle it, though. [1:24:45] Between that [1:24:46] and the Margs [1:24:47] some chilies [1:24:48] from the last hour. [1:24:49] With the boba in it. [1:24:50] Yeah, we'll do great. [1:24:51] Thanks, Ellie. [1:24:52] I appreciate it. [1:24:53] Now to a new interview [1:24:54] with the Artemis II crew [1:24:55] nearly three weeks [1:24:56] after they splashed [1:24:57] back down on Earth. [1:24:58] Their mission made history, [1:25:00] captivating and inspiring [1:25:01] millions of people [1:25:02] all across the country [1:25:03] and the world. [1:25:04] The Artemis II crew [1:25:05] became the first humans [1:25:06] in more than 50 years [1:25:07] to travel to the moon [1:25:08] and set a new record [1:25:10] for the farthest distance [1:25:11] traveled from Earth, [1:25:12] 252,756 miles [1:25:16] to be exact. [1:25:18] Commander Reed Weissman, [1:25:19] pilot Victor Glover, [1:25:21] admission specialist [1:25:21] Christina Cook [1:25:22] and Jeremy Hansen [1:25:23] spoke to our friends [1:25:24] at Today This Morning. [1:25:25] Here's some of that conversation. [1:25:28] Good morning to all of you. [1:25:29] Good morning, guys. [1:25:30] It's lovely to have you [1:25:31] on this part of Earth [1:25:32] with us this morning. [1:25:34] I mean, you know, [1:25:35] you came back. [1:25:36] It's a lot to process. [1:25:37] Have you had that moment [1:25:39] to kind of sit alone, reflect? [1:25:42] And what are your takeaways? [1:25:43] I'll start with you. [1:25:44] Last Friday, [1:25:45] we did get a day off. [1:25:46] We actually asked [1:25:46] for a day off, [1:25:47] so we got a day off. [1:25:48] And I did take a little time [1:25:49] just to go sit by myself [1:25:50] and reflect. [1:25:51] And just, it's hard to be proud. [1:25:53] Sometimes you just got to sit back [1:25:54] and be proud of the accomplishment. [1:25:55] And we had an amazing crew. [1:25:57] We had a great vehicle [1:25:58] put together by just [1:25:59] an incredible team. [1:26:00] And we should be proud. [1:26:02] Yeah. [1:26:03] What about you? [1:26:04] The last two weeks [1:26:05] have actually been quite nice. [1:26:06] I have tried to stay [1:26:07] in that hole. [1:26:07] You know, on the mission, [1:26:08] we didn't have access [1:26:09] to the Internet. [1:26:10] And so it was only [1:26:10] our families telling us [1:26:11] what was going on. [1:26:12] And I knew there was going [1:26:13] to be the public to face [1:26:15] at some point. [1:26:16] And so I just spent [1:26:16] the last two weeks, [1:26:17] you know, staying home [1:26:18] and going to work [1:26:19] and that's it. [1:26:20] And now that we're out [1:26:21] in the public, [1:26:21] it's great to see [1:26:22] how much this was inspiring [1:26:23] to other folks. [1:26:24] Well, Christina, [1:26:25] we know you had a beautiful [1:26:25] reunion with your pup. [1:26:29] Yes, exactly. [1:26:30] How has reentry been for you? [1:26:32] It's been amazing. [1:26:33] I have to tell you, [1:26:33] I think my dog would greet [1:26:34] all of you the exact same way [1:26:36] if he came to the door. [1:26:37] But, you know, [1:26:38] I think connecting [1:26:38] with family, [1:26:39] connecting back with the earth, [1:26:40] going to the beach, [1:26:41] making sure I solidified [1:26:43] the memories [1:26:43] of this incredible journey [1:26:44] and just focusing [1:26:46] on what's important [1:26:46] for a little while. [1:26:47] Yeah. [1:26:47] And Jeremy? [1:26:49] I still feel like [1:26:50] I have some processing [1:26:51] to do, [1:26:51] need to give that [1:26:52] some more space. [1:26:53] But when I reflect [1:26:54] for just a moment, [1:26:55] a lot of gratitude. [1:26:57] Like, what an extraordinary [1:26:58] experience as a human being. [1:27:00] The things we saw, [1:27:01] what we experienced together. [1:27:02] I'm really grateful for that. [1:27:04] So, Victor, [1:27:04] I so enjoyed seeing [1:27:06] that really emotional moment [1:27:08] when you returned, [1:27:09] your street line with folks, [1:27:12] welcoming you back to earth. [1:27:14] What did that mean to you? [1:27:16] You know, [1:27:16] it meant I didn't get [1:27:17] to go in the house right away. [1:27:20] You know what? [1:27:21] I talked about [1:27:22] how important it was [1:27:23] for us to be neighborly, [1:27:24] and it was just great [1:27:25] to see my neighborhood step up. [1:27:27] And I just felt like [1:27:27] the whole neighborhood [1:27:28] was giving you a big hug. [1:27:30] And so, it was really special. [1:27:31] Reed, if America [1:27:32] could only have watched [1:27:33] like just a snippet, [1:27:34] like a minute of what you saw, [1:27:37] what would you want us to have seen? [1:27:38] I think I would want them [1:27:40] to see two things. [1:27:41] First, I would want them [1:27:41] to see this crew. [1:27:42] This crew was very special. [1:27:43] From the moment [1:27:44] the boosters lit, [1:27:46] we really became best friends [1:27:47] and we all showed up [1:27:48] for each other, [1:27:48] which to me was, [1:27:49] that was the shining example [1:27:51] of this mission. [1:27:52] And then I would just want them, [1:27:53] if they could just step back [1:27:54] and look out the window [1:27:55] and see how beautiful [1:27:56] this place is that we live [1:27:58] in this solar system [1:27:59] in this galaxy. [1:28:00] It's just very, very, [1:28:01] Earth is a very special place. [1:28:02] You have that vantage point [1:28:04] that most of us will never get. [1:28:06] You saw the moon up close. [1:28:08] What from that vantage point [1:28:09] did you notice and take away? [1:28:11] Anybody can grab that one. [1:28:13] You know, [1:28:14] one of the most amazing things [1:28:16] to notice is actually [1:28:16] how much blackness [1:28:17] there is around the Earth [1:28:19] because it just highlights [1:28:20] how special it is. [1:28:21] And you can look at it [1:28:22] as a whole, [1:28:22] but at the same time, [1:28:23] see each individual part [1:28:25] that's so special. [1:28:26] You see the factory floors, [1:28:27] you see the forges [1:28:28] that we visited [1:28:28] in our training time. [1:28:30] You see the baseball fields, [1:28:31] you see the mistakes, [1:28:32] you see the successes, [1:28:33] and they're just all down there [1:28:34] because that's what we have. [1:28:36] That's our world. [1:28:37] Of all of the incredible moments [1:28:39] that you undoubtedly had up there, [1:28:42] was there a moment [1:28:43] for each of you [1:28:44] where you became somewhat emotional? [1:28:47] Was there a moment [1:28:47] where you really... [1:28:48] Every single day. [1:28:49] Every single day. [1:28:51] Truly, truly every day. [1:28:53] I have to say that, [1:28:53] you know, [1:28:54] the moment where we named [1:28:56] the two craters, [1:28:57] but specifically Carol Crater, [1:28:58] and knowing Jeremy [1:29:00] didn't have it planned [1:29:01] to what he was going to say, [1:29:03] and then as he started speaking, [1:29:04] I think all of us [1:29:05] just fell into that moment [1:29:07] in different times. [1:29:08] And when he said [1:29:08] she was a bright spot, [1:29:11] the actual crater [1:29:12] is a bright spot [1:29:13] because it's a new, [1:29:14] fresh crater. [1:29:15] It just... [1:29:16] That's when I realized [1:29:17] I wasn't doing a good job [1:29:18] of keeping my emotions [1:29:19] to myself, [1:29:20] and it was... [1:29:21] Remind folks. [1:29:22] Remind folks [1:29:22] who may not be familiar [1:29:23] with that story, [1:29:23] why that was so significant? [1:29:25] So we... [1:29:26] Actually, Christina's idea [1:29:27] suggesting naming [1:29:29] the crater after Carol, [1:29:30] and then we actually [1:29:32] found two spots, [1:29:33] and so we named one [1:29:34] Integrity after the crew [1:29:35] and the spacecraft, [1:29:36] but we named a crater [1:29:38] after Reed's late wife, [1:29:39] and that was a team effort, [1:29:41] but we talked it over [1:29:43] as a crew, [1:29:44] and it was just [1:29:45] an amazing opportunity [1:29:46] and a very special moment [1:29:48] on the mission. [1:29:49] Well, you have, [1:29:50] obviously, [1:29:50] emotional tightness. [1:29:51] That was evident throughout. [1:29:53] You also had physical tightness. [1:29:56] So, I mean, [1:29:57] honestly, [1:29:57] we're sitting in this room. [1:29:58] If they take a... [1:29:59] It's kind of the size [1:30:00] of, like, this carpet, right? [1:30:02] I mean, you... [1:30:03] How do you do that? [1:30:04] How do you... [1:30:05] Are you like, [1:30:05] excuse me, pardon me, [1:30:06] all day long? [1:30:07] Right now, [1:30:08] I feel a little too far away [1:30:09] from that. [1:30:09] We're far apart right now. [1:30:11] Yeah. [1:30:11] This is pretty spacious. [1:30:12] How do you manage [1:30:15] that kind of close quarters? [1:30:19] You know, [1:30:19] there's an interesting... [1:30:20] We talk a lot about privacy. [1:30:22] We have medical conferences [1:30:23] and whatnot, [1:30:23] and so we have this [1:30:24] really important concept [1:30:26] of privacy, [1:30:27] and a word I've been trying [1:30:28] to get people to consider [1:30:29] is intimacy. [1:30:30] I know that's a weird word [1:30:31] because we don't use it a lot, [1:30:32] but it was, [1:30:33] the entire mission. [1:30:34] So, just flipping that paradigm [1:30:36] and thinking about [1:30:36] how do you operate [1:30:37] when everything is a group activity, [1:30:39] when everything involves [1:30:40] all four of us. [1:30:41] It was an intimate mission. [1:30:43] I mean, the whole time. [1:30:44] What did you guys miss first [1:30:46] from Earth? [1:30:47] Food, fresh air, or gravity? [1:30:49] Oh, wow. [1:30:51] I don't think we missed any of those. [1:30:54] Really? [1:30:54] The food was better? [1:30:55] Food was pretty good. [1:30:57] Really? [1:30:57] Easy to prepare. [1:30:59] Wow. [1:31:00] I thought it would be, like, [1:31:01] tubes of space food. [1:31:02] No? [1:31:02] Okay. [1:31:03] You got to ask... [1:31:04] Yeah, about that hardship. [1:31:04] No, exactly. [1:31:06] Let's ask about this. [1:31:07] You got to talk about it, too. [1:31:08] There was just reports [1:31:09] that it was working, [1:31:10] it wasn't working, [1:31:10] it was partly working. [1:31:11] Those were all cracked. [1:31:12] Yeah. [1:31:13] We got those reports. [1:31:14] Are you prepared [1:31:15] to troubleshoot that [1:31:16] of all the things [1:31:16] you have to troubleshoot? [1:31:17] We were definitely prepared [1:31:18] to troubleshoot it, [1:31:19] but, you know, [1:31:20] we really can't take [1:31:21] a ton of credit on board. [1:31:22] I was the person [1:31:23] that set it up. [1:31:24] It didn't initially [1:31:25] come up correctly. [1:31:26] The ground teams [1:31:27] figured out a way [1:31:28] to get it going, [1:31:28] and then we had some other issues [1:31:30] a little bit later in the flight. [1:31:31] One quick one is, [1:31:32] is a NASA mission too serious [1:31:33] for a road trip playlist? [1:31:34] Is anybody in charge of music? [1:31:36] Yes. [1:31:36] Oh, actually, [1:31:38] like around the sixth day, [1:31:39] we had this little [1:31:40] commercial off-the-shelf speaker [1:31:42] and it had some crazy wires on it. [1:31:43] It was really to rebroadcast [1:31:45] mission control, [1:31:46] and Victor repurposed that thing. [1:31:47] We plugged it into our computer, [1:31:49] and then we had one. [1:31:50] We didn't, for some reason, [1:31:51] songs didn't get uploaded [1:31:52] to us as individual songs. [1:31:54] It was one, like, [1:31:54] 18-hour playlist, [1:31:56] and so we would just [1:31:57] pick some spot in there, [1:31:58] hit play, [1:31:59] and then we all had music. [1:32:01] Really quickly, [1:32:02] this came up yesterday, [1:32:03] and I wanted to ask all of you, [1:32:04] because, again, [1:32:04] you have this unique perspective. [1:32:06] Considering all the stars, [1:32:07] the galaxies, [1:32:08] the far side of the moon [1:32:09] that you've seen right now, [1:32:11] is there other life out there? [1:32:13] There has to be. [1:32:14] Well, it's interesting. [1:32:15] Yeah, I don't know [1:32:16] if you want to take this one, [1:32:17] but just my reflections are [1:32:19] that one of the primary questions [1:32:22] we ask ourselves as humans [1:32:23] is, are we alone? [1:32:24] And this journey [1:32:25] that we were privileged [1:32:26] enough to start, [1:32:27] I think, is the best way [1:32:28] that we can start [1:32:29] to answer that question. [1:32:30] Going back to the moon, [1:32:31] taking what we learned there [1:32:32] to learn about [1:32:33] how all solar systems form, [1:32:34] going to Mars [1:32:35] where we might find evidence [1:32:36] of past life in our own. [1:32:38] It's pretty exciting stuff, [1:32:39] and we have a chance [1:32:39] to answer those questions. [1:32:41] You could listen [1:32:42] to those four talk all day. [1:32:43] Thanks to our friends [1:32:44] at Today for bringing us. [1:32:45] that conversation. [1:32:47] Coming up, [1:32:47] you could say we're [1:32:48] living the beam [1:32:49] here at 30 Rock this morning. [1:32:51] After the break, [1:32:52] we're diving into [1:32:53] the decades-old mystery [1:32:54] behind one of America's [1:32:55] most iconic photos [1:32:56] taken hundreds of feet [1:32:58] above our heads. [1:32:59] Don't look down. [1:33:00] That's next. [1:33:05] Let's end this hour [1:33:06] with a new book [1:33:07] that digs into an old story. [1:33:09] As you probably know, [1:33:09] our show comes to you [1:33:10] from an iconic building [1:33:12] known as 30 Rock. [1:33:13] It's part of Rockefeller Center, [1:33:15] which was built in the 1930s [1:33:16] during the Great Depression. [1:33:18] That project produced [1:33:19] not only a set [1:33:19] of Art Deco skyscrapers, [1:33:21] but also an iconic photo [1:33:23] that has stood [1:33:24] the test of time, [1:33:25] even inspired [1:33:26] a new experience [1:33:27] at 30 Rock's observation deck [1:33:29] called The Beam. [1:33:31] As for that original photo, [1:33:32] it's a group of 11 guys [1:33:33] eating lunch [1:33:34] while sitting on a beam [1:33:35] that dangles [1:33:36] over midtown Manhattan [1:33:37] some 850 feet [1:33:39] above the ground. [1:33:41] That picture is the focus [1:33:42] of this new book [1:33:43] titled Lunch on a Beam, [1:33:45] The Making of an American Photograph. [1:33:47] Here to tell us all about it [1:33:49] is the author, [1:33:50] Christine Roussel. [1:33:51] She's also the longtime archivist [1:33:52] here at Rockefeller Center [1:33:53] and a legend here. [1:33:54] Christine, good morning. [1:33:56] Good to have you with us. [1:33:57] Congrats on the new book. [1:33:59] Thank you so much. [1:34:00] It's a pleasure to be here. [1:34:01] This photo is shrouded [1:34:03] in so much mystery, [1:34:04] and we'll get to that [1:34:05] in a second. [1:34:05] But why did you decide [1:34:07] you needed to write this book? [1:34:09] The reason I wrote the book [1:34:11] was so many people [1:34:11] would come to the archive [1:34:13] looking at me for answers [1:34:15] to who are the men [1:34:16] on the beam [1:34:17] or my grandfather [1:34:19] is the third man [1:34:20] on the beam [1:34:20] and you don't mention that. [1:34:22] Well, what do you say [1:34:24] to people who you have [1:34:25] no proof to say, [1:34:27] yes, your grandfather [1:34:28] is the third man [1:34:29] on the beam. [1:34:30] So you said, [1:34:31] I need to try to find [1:34:32] these answers. [1:34:33] Who are these guys? [1:34:34] And also, [1:34:35] who took the photographs [1:34:37] too, right? [1:34:38] Crazy man took the photographs. [1:34:39] Yes, exactly. [1:34:40] You see those pictures [1:34:42] of them up on top [1:34:43] of the grillage [1:34:44] with the iron workers [1:34:45] straddling beams [1:34:47] at incredible heights [1:34:49] and really, really [1:34:50] dangerous situation [1:34:52] and lugging [1:34:53] all their camera equipment. [1:34:55] Think of the day 1932 [1:34:57] when the cameras [1:34:58] were not little [1:34:59] fast shooting cameras. [1:35:01] No iPhones back then. [1:35:03] No iPhones. [1:35:04] I think every HR department [1:35:06] in the country [1:35:06] looks at the pictures [1:35:07] of those guys [1:35:08] standing on those beams [1:35:09] and has a heart attack nowadays. [1:35:11] Absolutely. [1:35:12] How hard was it [1:35:13] to solve these mysteries [1:35:14] of figuring out [1:35:15] who these guys are? [1:35:17] Well, it was difficult. [1:35:19] At first, [1:35:20] it wasn't so difficult [1:35:21] because we did have [1:35:22] some clues in the archives [1:35:23] on some of the original photographs, [1:35:26] some of the original prints. [1:35:27] On the back of it, [1:35:28] the PR department [1:35:29] had very kindly [1:35:30] listed the names [1:35:32] of the people [1:35:32] in the picture. [1:35:34] Hooray. [1:35:35] That's incredible. [1:35:36] But then at a certain point, [1:35:37] it stopped. [1:35:38] So we managed to, [1:35:41] through examination [1:35:42] and comparison, [1:35:44] to identify [1:35:45] about seven people [1:35:46] on the beam. [1:35:48] And that's also [1:35:48] because two families [1:35:50] contacted us [1:35:51] with proof [1:35:52] that their ancestor [1:35:53] was on the beam. [1:35:55] And that started [1:35:56] the whole thing rolling. [1:35:58] And then we kind of [1:35:59] hit a dead end [1:36:01] in the sense of, [1:36:02] is this guy [1:36:03] the right guy [1:36:03] or is this guy [1:36:04] the right guy? [1:36:05] Or are we not [1:36:06] finding the right guy yet? [1:36:08] So you were conclusive [1:36:09] in some elements [1:36:10] and others. [1:36:11] The mystery maybe [1:36:11] still remains a little bit. [1:36:13] I love that. [1:36:14] The mystery still remains. [1:36:16] For the next book. [1:36:17] A lot of people assume [1:36:19] it's a spontaneous photo. [1:36:20] Is that true? [1:36:21] No. [1:36:22] No. [1:36:22] What was it? [1:36:23] Okay. [1:36:24] In those days, [1:36:25] there was a PR man [1:36:26] working for the Rockefellers [1:36:28] named Merrill Krull. [1:36:30] Merrill Krull set this, [1:36:32] set the stage [1:36:34] for these pictures [1:36:35] to be taken. [1:36:36] And he sent up [1:36:37] three stringers, [1:36:39] Charlie Ebbets, [1:36:41] Thomas Kelly, [1:36:42] and Leftwich, [1:36:43] three photographers [1:36:45] to the top [1:36:46] of the structure, [1:36:48] to the iron beams, [1:36:49] to take pictures. [1:36:50] He also provided [1:36:51] lunchboxes [1:36:53] to some of the ironworkers. [1:36:55] I don't think [1:36:55] they all got a lunchbox, [1:36:57] but most of them did. [1:36:58] So there was a set-up day [1:37:01] of shooting pictures [1:37:03] of the ironworkers [1:37:04] at work. [1:37:04] Well, obviously, [1:37:06] the ironworkers [1:37:06] participated [1:37:07] because you see [1:37:09] pictures of them [1:37:10] lying down, [1:37:11] you see them [1:37:11] eating lunch, [1:37:12] you see them [1:37:13] standing there [1:37:13] casually looking around [1:37:15] like every daddy [1:37:16] does a stroll [1:37:17] on a beam [1:37:18] at 850 feet [1:37:20] for midday lunch, [1:37:22] lighting a cigarette, [1:37:23] whatever they were doing. [1:37:25] They participated [1:37:26] with, I think, [1:37:27] probably joy [1:37:28] because they were [1:37:29] getting paid also [1:37:30] to purchase it. [1:37:31] It was the ultimate [1:37:32] publicity shoot, [1:37:33] and it clearly worked [1:37:33] because we're talking [1:37:34] about it more than [1:37:35] 90 years later. [1:37:36] We have less than [1:37:37] a minute here, [1:37:38] but I think it's [1:37:38] important to know [1:37:39] you came to Rock Center [1:37:40] because you were working [1:37:41] with Vice President [1:37:42] Nelson D. Rockefeller, [1:37:44] helping him build [1:37:44] his art collection. [1:37:46] Quickly tell us the story [1:37:47] about how you became [1:37:48] a part of the Rock Center [1:37:49] family. [1:37:50] Well, that's kind [1:37:51] of interesting. [1:37:51] He approached me [1:37:52] when I was leaving [1:37:53] the Metropolitan Museum [1:37:54] to work with him [1:37:56] on his art collection [1:37:57] and to provide a new business [1:38:01] that he wanted to start [1:38:02] about art, [1:38:03] and we got started [1:38:05] on this, [1:38:05] and I will say [1:38:08] I did not know [1:38:09] as much about the center [1:38:11] as many New Yorkers. [1:38:13] I'd gone to the dentist [1:38:14] at the Rock Center [1:38:15] as a kid. [1:38:16] I'd gone skating, [1:38:17] but that was it [1:38:18] until the day [1:38:19] he invited me [1:38:20] for lunch [1:38:20] on a tour [1:38:21] to have a tour [1:38:23] of Rock Center. [1:38:25] And he took you [1:38:25] on a whirlwind tour. [1:38:26] He took me [1:38:27] on a whirlwind tour [1:38:29] from the trash collecting [1:38:30] to the gardens [1:38:31] of the nations [1:38:32] to every nook [1:38:34] and cranny [1:38:34] you can think of [1:38:35] or not even think of. [1:38:37] And that really [1:38:38] knocked my socks off. [1:38:40] It was a fabulous tour. [1:38:41] And here we are today. [1:38:42] Christine Roussel, [1:38:43] congratulations [1:38:44] on the book [1:38:45] and everything. [1:38:46] We want to tell you [1:38:47] Lunch on a Beam. [1:38:48] It's available [1:38:48] in stores [1:38:49] and online now. [1:38:50] That's going to do it [1:38:50] for this hour [1:38:51] of morning news now, [1:38:52] but don't go anywhere. [1:38:52] The news continues [1:38:53] right now. [1:38:54] We thank you for watching [1:38:58] and remember, [1:38:59] stay updated [1:39:00] on breaking news [1:39:00] and top stories [1:39:01] on the NBC News app [1:39:03] or watch live [1:39:04] on our YouTube channel.