About this transcript: This is a full AI-generated transcript of Morning News NOW Full Episode – June 11 from NBC News, published June 15, 2026. The transcript contains 16,234 words with timestamps and was generated using Whisper AI.
"Developing right now on Morning News Now, firing back overnight, the U.S. and Iran exchanging new attacks days after the takedown of a U.S. military helicopter by Iranian forces. We're going to be attacking them, attacking them very hard. Based on the helicopter, I guess we have the right to do..."
[00:00:01] Savannah Sellers: Developing right now on Morning News Now, firing back overnight, the U.S. and Iran exchanging new attacks days after the takedown of a U.S. military helicopter by Iranian forces.
[00:00:12] Speaker 2: We're going to be attacking them, attacking them very hard. Based on the helicopter, I guess we have the right to do that. You know, they shot down a very, very incredible, actually an incredible machine.
[00:00:26] Savannah Sellers: Now, uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz after Iran's military announced it shut down the key waterway while U.S. Central Command insists it's still open. We'll bring you the latest. Also, developing devastation across the Midwest after several days of severe storms. And it's not over yet. Our friend Al Roker joins us with your Thursday forecast. Plus, off the books, staggering new numbers show a steep decline in kids reading for fun. We'll look at what's behind the trend that has many teachers concerned. And you can call them the comeback kings. That is right. The New York Knicks now just one win away from becoming NBA champions after pulling off the greatest come from behind win in finals history. And meanwhile, in Mexico City, the FIFA World Cup set to kick off later today. We will have all the excitement, plus what to expect when the tournament comes to the U.S. That is happening tomorrow. I am in my Knicks blue.
[00:01:24] Joe Fryer: A lot of sports. If you went to bed, well, the Knicks were trailing by 29 points last night. Can you even? You were disappointed or thrilled to wake up this morning. And I didn't go to bed. There you go.
[00:01:33] Savannah Sellers: Which is why I feel the way I do right now.
[00:01:35] Joe Fryer: Probably like many of our viewers.
[00:01:36] Savannah Sellers: But we got to see it. I mean, oh, God, it's so, what a time to be a New Yorker.
[00:01:40] Joe Fryer: We'll dive in in a little bit. Good to have you with us this morning. I'm Joe Fryer.
[00:01:43] Savannah Sellers: And I'm Savannah Sellers. Thank you so much for starting your Thursday morning with us. And we're going to begin with the U.S. launching the second day of what the Trump administration is calling self-defense strikes on Iran. For its part, Iran is firing back at U.S. targets in the Middle East.
[00:01:56] Joe Fryer: The new strikes come in response to that U.S. Army Apache helicopter that President Trump says was shot down by an Iranian drone. That happened earlier this week near the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command released this video. The military says the footage shows strikes on targets inside Iran. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did warn yesterday that U.S. forces would be attacking Iran. Now, in response to these new attacks, the Iranian military said the Strait of Hormuz would be closed off to all marine traffic. But U.S. Central Command said last night the Strait was open. This after Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed it attacked two oil tankers in the Strait. In a moment, we'll check in with NBC News military analyst Colonel Steve Warren. Let's begin, though, with NBC News correspondent Alice Barr, who is in Washington with the latest. Alice, good morning.
[00:02:41] Alice Barr: Good morning, Joe and Savannah. While U.S. Central Command said the American military was responding to Iran's continued aggression, Iran's foreign ministry said this morning the new wave of strikes have rendered the ceasefire practically meaningless, raising concerns we could see a return to all-out war. The U.S. and Iran trading fire again overnight after President Trump made clear.
[00:03:07] Speaker 2: We're going to be attacking them, attacking them very hard.
[00:03:10] Alice Barr: U.S. Central Command said it completed attacks targeting Iran's military surveillance, communication systems, and air defense in response to Iran's unwarranted and continued aggression. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. When someone's trying to tap, tap, tap on a deal, instead they're going to have tap, tap, tap bombs dropping. Iran fired back against U.S. allies in the Gulf, forcing Kuwait to temporarily close its airspace. Iran's Revolutionary Guard released this video Wednesday that NBC News cannot verify. Now for a second day, Iran's state media reporting attacks on U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. It all follows Iran's downing of an American Apache helicopter and President Trump's post that Tehran had waited too long to make a deal and would now have to pay the price, even as he reasserted.
[00:04:04] Speaker 2: We want a deal that's meaningful. We want a deal that works.
[00:04:07] Alice Barr: The president also contending with a new report showing inflation hitting 4.2 percent in May, the highest in more than three years, driven largely by soaring fuel costs. The president downplaying the numbers that he said would drop when the war ends.
[00:04:23] Speaker 2: I love the inflation.
[00:04:24] Alice Barr: Later telling the New York Post he meant inflation is lower than anticipated despite the war, while he also revealed what he says was a secret mission to reduce energy costs. With the U.S. military guiding oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.
[00:04:39] Speaker 2: We took out the other night 22 ships late at night with no lights.
[00:04:44] Alice Barr: Saying they brought out more than 100 million barrels of oil. For context, 100 million barrels of oil covers roughly five days worth of what Americans use and one day around the world. A U.S. official tells NBC News the American military has coordinated more than 200 transits, helping ships find a safe path through the Strait of Hormuz. Sven and Joe.
[00:05:07] Joe Fryer: Alice, NBC News also has some exclusive new reporting about defense industry leaders who are preparing to meet with President Trump amid some concerns about the American supply of missiles. What do we know about that?
[00:05:18] Alice Barr: Yeah, this new reporting from some of our NBC News colleagues found that the leaders of roughly seven defense companies are expected to meet with President Trump at the White House as soon as this week and be pressed to find ways to quickly speed up production of weapons for the Pentagon. That's according to three sources familiar with the upcoming meeting. It does come amid concerns that missile supplies may be dwindling. A White House official, though, said there was no meeting with leaders of defense companies on the president's schedule at this time and that the American military has what it needs to do the job, guys.
[00:05:50] Joe Fryer: All right. Alice Barr, thank you.
[00:05:52] Savannah Sellers: Well, let's now bring in Colonel Steve Warren. He's an NBC News military analyst and former Pentagon spokesperson. Colonel, good morning. Thank you, as always, for being with us. So these latest strikes, they come just 24 hours after this first round. We're saying that it is this response to Iran's unwarranted and continued aggression was what U.S. Central Command said. And then President Trump said yesterday that the U.S. would hit back hard again. What do you make of his strategy to telegraph these strikes, to talk about them before they happen?
[00:06:22] Speaker 5: Well, there's two things happening here at the same time, right, Savannah? Number one, the president, I believe, ran out of patience with the Iranians at the negotiating table, and simultaneously, the Iranians blundered by downing that Apache helicopter, whether it was intentional or accidental, one way or another. It gave the president good reason to begin striking. The president's telegraphing these strikes, I believe, because he does not want this to spiral completely out of control and become a return to all-out combat operations.
[00:06:54] Joe Fryer: So, Colonel, after a briefing from CENTCOM, Louisiana Republican Senator John Kennedy said yesterday he doesn't believe that Iran's regime will make a deal. He also says that the only option left for the president is to decide whether troops will actually need to go into Iran to recover any nuclear materials. Do you think that's at all likely at this point?
[00:07:12] Speaker 5: Well, a mission to invade Iran in order to gain control of those nuclear materials would be a massive mission. I won't say it's impossible, but I will say it's on the edge of impossible. This would be a very difficult, very costly and high-risk operation. I don't see the president willing to take these types of chances just for this nuclear material.
[00:07:37] Savannah Sellers: Colonel, let's talk about this trade of Hormuz. So, Iran had said once again recently it closed it off and it claimed it attacked two oil tankers that we're trying to pass through. U.S. Central Command has continued to say that they have the straight open. And then we have the president's comments yesterday about having helped some of these oil tankers sneak out of the straight in the dead of night, in the dark. What is really going on here?
[00:08:01] Speaker 5: Savannah, what's going on here is everyone is telling their own story, right? The Iranians are claiming this straight is closed, yet 200 ships have gone through, not exactly closed. The Americans, the president, is saying the straight is open, but only at night and in secret. That's not exactly fully open either, is it? So, everyone's still kind of jockeying here for position, whether it's informationally, tactically, or strategically. And it's all about whether or not we can get to the negotiating table and begin to make a deal.
[00:08:31] Savannah Sellers: All right. Colonel, as always, we appreciate your time.
[00:08:33] Joe Fryer: Back here at home, it was another day of severe storms sweeping across the Midwest, spawning several tornadoes. That includes this funnel cloud, which was spotted tearing across Missouri yesterday. And in Wisconsin, the winds were so strong, they ripped the roof off this apartment building that forced residents to take shelter in the building's basement. NBC News correspondent Shaquille Brewster has the latest from Chicago. Shaq, good morning.
[00:08:58] Speaker 6: Hi there, Joe and Savannah. Well, you're seeing the impact of that violent round of storms right here in downtown Chicago. I mean, look at this, this roof falling down off of one of these buildings onto some of these cars. Look at the impact that it had when it landed on the windshield of this car. You now see cleanup crews here doing what they can. And look, this is something that you're seeing across the area, not just here in Chicago, but really throughout the region. We have some video, I believe, of what you saw yesterday afternoon with this storm coming through. People running for cover, debris flying through the air. We know that a lot of this was connected to the wind and the wind speeds that you saw tied to this storm. Up in Wisconsin, we saw wind speeds being clocked in at 94 miles an hour, just a dangerous system that also brought some tornadoes. In Missouri, we saw those menacing funnel clouds sweeping through fields, something similar that you saw in Iowa as well. A dangerous system that's continuing to move east and also brought a lot of rain. We saw drivers stuck in some of that flooding in Pennsylvania. Now, the problem is we're dealing with the threat of similar weather again today here in Chicago for many states across the Midwest. The threat of more of those winds, more of the possible tornadoes. We know about 400,000 people across the country are waking up without power. Those power outages are expected to only increase with another round of this severe weather. And then you have to talk about what's going on out east. The temperatures are increasing. Heat advisories, in effect, later this week. The very likely possibility that we're going to be talking about some record-setting temperatures. But back to today, another round of storms hitting some major transportation hubs here in Chicago, New York, D.C. You could be seeing a lot of flight delays tied to this dangerous and violent severe weather. Joe and Savannah. Busy day ahead, Shaq. Thank you.
[00:10:56] Joe Fryer: Well, for more, let's bring in our friend Al Roker. He's got a closer look at where things stand ahead of the weekend. Al, good morning.
[00:11:03] Speaker 7: Good morning, Savannah and Joe. Well, we've got more severe weather again today. After yesterday's outbreaks, we're looking at more. Again, we've got severe thunderstorm watches, warnings, even some tornado warnings this morning as this first line starts to make its way in here. 92 million people at risk for dangerous weather, intense tornadoes, wind gusts of over 75 miles per hour, damaging winds, Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Des Moines, Iowa. There are going to be big airport delays today in Chicago. They're going to ripple across the country. We've got a tornado risk from Saginaw, Michigan, down to Quincy, Illinois, EF0 to EF2 or greater tornadoes. Then tomorrow, that shifts to the east from Burlington, Vermont, down to Knoxville, Tennessee, New York City, 65 million people at risk, wind gusts of over 60 miles per hour. Tornado risk is low. That's the good news. We are looking at a lot of wet weather. Some places, hourly rainfall rates, two to three inches likely, especially as you get up into Chicago, Des Moines, Davenport, Iowa. And the heat is on. We are looking at records through tomorrow from Glens Falls, New York, all the way down to Columbia, South Carolina, Craig Melvin's hometown. Look at these temperatures. We're talking records, heat and humidity. Could be 98 degrees in Norfolk today. Same in Roanoke. Johnson City could tie a record at 92. Same for Bryson City. That heat and humidity continue all the way up the coast. It's going to feel like 94. The record today, 94 degrees in Manchester. Philly, 95, could set a record today as well. The rest of the country, hot and humid here in the east. That severe outbreak in the Mid Plains. And then hot and dry weather from Seattle all the way down to San Diego.
[00:12:46] Joe Fryer: Joe and Savannah, back to you. All right, Al, thank you so much. In Washington, President Trump is claiming a major victory for his immigration agenda.
[00:12:53] Savannah Sellers: Yeah, flanked by top Republicans, the president signed the Secure America Act into law yesterday. The $70 billion in the bill funds ICE and Border Patrol through the end of his term. And the signing really brings an end to this month-long fight we've seen on Capitol Hill over funding for the Trump administration's immigration operations.
[00:13:11] Joe Fryer: NBC News political reporter Megan Leibovic joins us now with more on this. Megan, so this was the end of a truly long journey. It included a government shutdown, battles over ballroom funding. So break down what's actually in this law now.
[00:13:23] Speaker 8: Yeah, hey, Joe and Savannah, good morning. So as you mentioned, this is $70 billion to fund ICE and Border Patrol through the end of President Trump's term. And it comes after this months-long fight on Capitol Hill over the future of immigration enforcement funding. So I want to take you back to April. That is when lawmakers had passed a bill to reopen the Department of Homeland Security. After that record-long shutdown, as you mentioned, that bill had funded most of the department, but it did not fund ICE. It did not fund Border Patrol. So the bill that was signed yesterday by President Trump did just that. Now, President Trump had signed that bill one day after House lawmakers had passed it very narrowly. The Senate had previously passed that through something that's called the reconciliation process, which is a budget process that allows the lawmakers, that allows Republicans to basically circumvent Democrats, to pass that with a majority of votes instead of needing to hit that 60-vote filibuster-proof threshold. And so this bill, as well, it hit a snag when President Trump, too, had previously said that he wanted it to include that so-called anti-weaponization fund. That ultimately was not included in the bill after pushback from Democrats, but also Republicans as well, Joan Savannah.
[00:14:41] Savannah Sellers: Megan, also we want to talk about housing official here, Bill Pulte. So President Trump, he's continuing to face backlash over the decision to put him here as acting director of national intelligence. This is after Tulsi Gabbard stepped down. He's a Trump loyalist, but he has no background in intelligence. This has really been making a stir in Washington. What are some of the concerns that lawmakers have about this choice, and what have we heard from the president?
[00:15:06] Speaker 8: Yeah, so Democrats have expressed a lot of concern about Pulte being appointed for a couple of reasons. One, as you mentioned, is the fact that Pulte is a housing official. He does not have a background in the intelligence field. Another reason is the fact that as Pulte has been a housing official, he has made multiple criminal referrals against political enemies of President Trump. People like New York Attorney General Letitia James, Senator Adam Schiff, accusing them of things like insurance fraud and mortgage fraud, for example, which they've denied the allegations that were made against them. But it's raising a lot of concerns from Democrats. So yesterday as well, House Intelligence Committee Democrats had wrote a letter to President Trump urging him to rescind Pulte's appointment. They wrote, and you can see on your screen, that Pulte has distinguished himself only as someone who will do or say anything to stay in your good graces, qualities that are precisely the opposite of what our nation needs in a DNI, meaning Director of National Intelligence. Now, President Trump yesterday had defended his pick of Pulte, telling NBC's Garrett Haake that smart people are smart people. And he also said that he'd rather have smart than experience, but experience is good, too. Now, he also said that Pulte would be there for a short while as they're going to ultimately pick another candidate. And he said that they are interviewing about five other people ultimately for that post, guys.
[00:16:35] Joe Fryer: Megan, one more headline that we've been following from Washington is that so-called anti-weaponization fund. The attorney general, Todd Blanche, of the administration is now abandoning the plan. At the same time, it is still working its way through the courts. A federal judge weighed in yesterday, basically denying a bid by those who oppose the fund. It would have temporarily stopped the administration from moving forward with the fund. So what does this all mean?
[00:16:56] Speaker 8: Yeah, that's right. So yesterday, a district judge had declined to temporarily block that fund. The argument basically being that he said that it was basically a moot point now that the administration has said that they're not going to move forward with that so-called anti-weaponization fund. Now, at the same time, that judge with a warning to the administration, warning them not to play possum with him is how he put it. Now, that judge had also asked that Justice Department official during that hearing why the DOJ didn't just rescind the memo that had created that fund rather than having the court and the public rely on the administration, saying that they weren't going to move forward with that fund anymore. And that official said that he did not know the reason for that. So, remember, this comes after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche had said that the administration was no longer moving forward with that so-called anti-weaponization fund. That came after pushback from both Democrats as well as Republicans as well. I do want to note here, though, that there are a couple of lawsuits regarding that so-called anti-weaponization fund. And while this judge did not decline to temporarily block it, the anti-weaponization fund is still temporarily blocked by a different judge in a different lawsuit until at least Friday. And that is when there's going to be another hearing on this. It could ultimately be blocked even longer than that, Joe and Savannah.
[00:18:21] Joe Fryer: All right. Megan, thank you so much.
[00:18:23] Savannah Sellers: Well, in other news from Capitol Hill, billionaire Bill Gates was questioned yesterday by members of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform over his connections to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Gates, who appears thousands of times in the Epstein files, faced more than five hours of heated questioning from both sides of the aisle behind closed doors. NBC News Now anchor Hallie Jackson has the latest.
[00:18:46] Speaker 9: Billionaire Bill Gates leaving Capitol Hill after accusing Jeffrey Epstein of blackmailing him. The Microsoft co-founder, grilled by lawmakers over his ties to the notorious sex offender.
[00:18:57] Speaker 10: I hope my testimony is helpful to the work, important work of the committee to find justice for the victims.
[00:19:04] Speaker 9: Gates, who appears thousands of times in the DOJ's Epstein files, including in photos alongside women, says he met Epstein in 2011 to help raise money for his victims. Gates, as well as global health charities. Gates is referenced in emails Epstein appears to have drafted to himself in 2013, suggesting he helped Bill get drugs after sex with Russian girls, allegations Gates has denied. The Microsoft co-founder telling lawmakers he cut off Epstein when it became clear his philanthropic pledges were a dead end, but says Epstein became aware of his extramarital affairs. And, in his words, was working to use information about my infidelities, in addition to many lies that he layered on top, to pressure me to reengage with him. Gates says he never witnessed nor had any indication that Epstein was engaged in ongoing criminal conduct and never victimized anyone. He's not been accused of criminal wrongdoing. Gates' interactions with Epstein began years after a controversial sweetheart deal in which Epstein served just 13 months, including work release, on Florida charges, including soliciting minors for prostitution. Gates, saying he should never have met with Epstein in the first place.
[00:20:11] Speaker 11: Obviously, I think we would agree it was a horrific judgment call.
[00:20:14] Speaker 9: The Gates Foundation now doing its own investigation, and those in Gates' orbit unable to escape headlines about him, including his ex-wife, Melinda.
[00:20:23] Speaker 12: Brings back memories of some very, very painful times in my marriage.
[00:20:28] Savannah Sellers: Our thanks to Hallie Jackson for that report. Well, earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal reported that Gates apologized to employees of the Gates Foundation for his past ties to Epstein during a town hall meeting.
[00:20:38] Joe Fryer: The execution of a death row prisoner in Alabama scheduled for today has been halted. A federal appeals judge issued a decision permanently blocking the state from executing Jeffrey Lee through the use of nitrogen gas, citing the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The Alabama state attorney general now plans to appeal the decision. NBC News senior legal correspondent Laura Jarrett has Lee's reaction to the judge's decision.
[00:21:04] Speaker 13: Sitting on Alabama's death row, Jeffrey Lee breathing a sigh of relief, at least for now, after a federal judge, in a rare move, blocked the state's plan to execute him with nitrogen gas.
[00:21:17] Speaker 14: You still just got to stay, maintain your focus to continue to fight this.
[00:21:21] Speaker 13: The legal fight over Alabama's method of execution coming to a head now after a federal appeals court on Monday agreed with Lee's attorneys that the state's use of nitrogen presents a substantial risk of serious harm, severe pain over and above death itself, violating the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment. In an exclusive phone interview from prison, the 49-year-old sentenced to death for killing two people during a pawn shop robbery back in 1998, processing the news in real time. The case now winding its way through the courts, with the latest judge now ordering the state to turn to an alternative method, such as lethal injection or a firing squad. But Alabama's Attorney General Steve Marshall has appealed, arguing supplies and staffing needed for those methods are more limited, and that Lee is just trying to delay justice. Writing, "Lee knows it hurts to be shot. He shot Jimmy Ellis in the chest and Elaine Thompson in the head." Lee's case now drawing renewed attention to the state's use of nitrogen, as eight men have been executed with the gas since 2024, while defense lawyers allege it induces conscious suffocation. Lee says, despite his crimes, no matter what happens, he believes he will find redemption in heaven.
[00:22:52] Speaker 14: Lee says, "I'm not scared to die. I don't fear dying and nothing like that, because I know where I will be."
[00:22:59] Speaker 13: Laura Jarrett, NBC News.
[00:23:01] Joe Fryer: For more on this case, let's bring in NBC News legal analyst Danny Savalos. Danny, good to have you with us. And no surprise, we know the Alabama Attorney General is going to appeal this case, so where do things go from here?
[00:23:10] Speaker 15: Right back up to the 11th Circuit, which sent it down originally, and this is that ping-ponging process that's accelerated often in cases of execution because of the urgency. But even on appeal, Lee will face some serious obstacles. First, the Supreme Court, if it makes it to the Supreme Court, has generally upheld virtually every form of state execution. And in addition, nitrogen executions have already been allowed to go forward. And then thirdly, unfortunately for Lee, that the court has left open alternative methods of execution that Alabama could use. So if you're a betting person, and not to sound too grim or cavalier about it, James Lee, the odds are, will die and die soon.
[00:23:56] Savannah Sellers: To talk about some of the difficult details of something like this, a media witness to the last nitrogen execution, it was in October, described it as a prolonged process. What does that mean legally when you put it in the context of cruel and unusual punishment?
[00:24:13] Speaker 15: Right. So the Constitution, the Eighth Amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. But that is not a fixed meaning from the 1700s because, as we all know, we were a little bit more barbaric a couple hundred years ago. But we can, and courts can consider, evolving standards of decency. The problem is, though, for this defendant, or for Lee, is that the court has generally upheld methods of execution. And it is a high burden to me. Interestingly enough, one of the prongs of the test is whether there's a substantial risk of harm. Yeah, it's an execution. There's a massive risk of harm during an execution. That is kind of an odd element. But yet, that is what the Eighth Amendment and the test applied looks for.
[00:24:55] Joe Fryer: So the ruling has blocked nitrogen gas executions in Alabama. Laura sort of laid out there that this is what Alabama has been using to execute many men over just the past couple of years here. What does this mean, this ruling right now, for the future of executions then in Alabama and potentially other states, too?
[00:25:11] Speaker 15: Here is what it is not. This court's decision is not a nationwide injunction. It really only applies to Lee's case and to the nitrogen protocol in Lee's case. That means that nitrogen executions can go on in other states and presumably a different protocol, a different process would be acceptable. So the mere fact that different courts have weighed in differently on this issue shows you that this is not something that should be taken as anything with presidential value or anything that suggests that nitrogen executions are going to go away forever in the United States. All right, Danny Savalos.
[00:25:44] Joe Fryer: Thank you. Thank you.
[00:25:46] Speaker ?: Appreciate it.
[00:25:46] Savannah Sellers: All right. The Knicks are one win away from winning the NBA championship after completing the biggest comeback in NBA finals history last night. Look at this. The look on comedian Jerry Seinfeld. I mean, this is all of us. It captured how all of New York was feeling last night. There's Seinfeld when blue and orange took the lead after some unbelievable drama in the final seconds. I mean, shock, disbelief, joy, pandemonium.
[00:26:12] Joe Fryer: It was one of those games. It's going to be remembered for generations. The Knicks actually erased a 29 point deficit against the Spurs in front of their own faithful fan base, Jerry Seinfeld and more at MSG. In a moment that could define the series, Spurs player De'Aaron Fox went in for a layup. Instead, he should have just been killing the time because the Spurs had the lead. The hero of the night was OG and an OB. He blocked that layup and seconds later tipped in the basket that gave the Knicks the lead with just over one second left on the clock. This now gives the Knicks a commanding 3-1 series lead. Knock on wood, not jinxing it here. The series now heads back to Texas for game five with the Knicks on the verge of their first title since 1973. I think there'd be a party in New York if that happened.
[00:26:57] Savannah Sellers: I know. It's like obviously just, okay, if it's five, fine. But if it wasn't six and it was at home.
[00:27:02] Joe Fryer: But then you open the door to San Antonio who can win three games in a row. They are a very good team and they might be a little angry.
[00:27:09] Savannah Sellers: I'm just so excited about this. Like the bandwagon drove by and I ran right after it and I flew on and now I just can't get enough.
[00:27:17] Joe Fryer: I'm enjoying seeing the color. I'm still a Timberwolves fan so I have to pledge my loyalty to them.
[00:27:21] Savannah Sellers: But now that they're not in it and you live in New York and you win for a long time. Of course, I'd like to see the Knicks win.
[00:27:24] Joe Fryer: Yes, of course. All right. Much more to come here on Morning News Now. Later this hour, let's keep the sports theme going. Goal! That's right. Soccer fans, the wait is over. The FIFA World Cup kicks off today in Mexico City. We'll take you there for a look inside the iconic stadium hosting tonight's first match.
[00:27:40] Savannah Sellers: Up first, though, after the break, unrest in Northern Ireland. Protesters taking to the streets of Belfast after the arrest of an immigrant after video of a knife attack goes viral. We'll bring you the latest that's next. Stay with us. We're back now with the latest on the violence that has broken out in Northern Ireland.
[00:27:59] Joe Fryer: It was another night of unrest as protesters torched cars and lit homes and buildings on fire. The violence is aimed largely at immigrant communities. This after a viral video came out showing a knife attack where you can see the man on the ground. He's blurred and others around trying to pull the attacker off him. A Sudanese man has been charged with attempted murder.
[00:28:19] Savannah Sellers: For more on this, let's bring in NBC News Chief International Correspondent Keir Simmons. He joins us from London with the latest. Keir, good morning. So, first, just what are we seeing in Belfast this morning? Have things come down at all?
[00:28:28] Speaker 16: Well, they're clearing up after another night of violence in Belfast. The numbers so far, 16 arrested, 12 police officers injured. It wasn't as bad as the previous night, but still violent protests. In some cases, riots with barricades erected. The police are bringing out water cannon and vehicles set on fire. It has been a very, very difficult week in Northern Ireland after that attack that you described. There have been protests there and in other parts of the United Kingdom. But it is the clashes with police and these masked gangs. According to lawmakers, they're looking for people they believe are immigrants that are making their headlines for obvious reasons.
[00:29:19] Joe Fryer: Keir, how are police trying to manage this? What are they doing to try and stop the violence and keep people as safe as possible?
[00:29:26] Speaker 16: Well, they're urging people to, if they are going to protest, to protest peacefully. They have brought in reinforcements, hundreds actually, into Northern Ireland and into Belfast in order to police this better. There has been some criticism of the policing, of a lacklustre initial response to the demonstrations. It seems to have caught police by surprise. Certainly it is, you know, Joe, just another example of the way that a piece of video like the one that you showed ends up being spread on the internet. Even Elon Musk online, on X, on his own platform, encouraging people to protest. The Prime Minister, on the other hand, urging politicians not to inflame the situation. There is tension here in the UK over immigration. And this, what happened in Northern Ireland, has ignited it again.
[00:30:26] Savannah Sellers: Keir, let's talk about what happened. Tell us about the attack and what we know about the suspect involved in it.
[00:30:32] Speaker 16: Yeah, so the suspect is a Sudanese man who claimed asylum here in the UK back in 2023. The video, which was blurred, not by NBC News, does show him on top of the victim, who, according to police, according to police in court, the suspect appeared in court this week. The victim has lost an eye, had damage to another eye, has back injuries, injuries to his back. So substantial injuries, a very, very violent attack.
[00:31:10] Joe Fryer: Bigger picture, Keir, just anti-immigrant violence is on the rise in the UK and across Europe. Are there attempts being made to try and calm things down?
[00:31:23] Speaker 16: Absolutely, of course. And at the same time, there is also a political debate raging about the question of immigration. You will know, of course, that the United Kingdom, for example, is a country that has welcomed people from around the world for a long time, not least people coming here from what was previously, you know, the British Empire, places that were once part of the British Empire. So there is that history here. But it has become a political hot potato in recent years. And that's true not just here in the UK, but also in France, where at some point ahead there will be an election in Germany. Again, elections down the road. Immigration has, you know, kind of got to, if not the top, certainly very high in terms of voters' concerns. And I think that is fueling a debate. And moments like these, combined with the Internet, ending up with these kind of violent scenes. I mean, all mainstream politicians are condemning it. But at the same time, there is this debate about what level of immigration is appropriate. I will say that one of the things that has politicians, lawmakers speaking out are these stories of people of colour being targeted. So, for example, we're hearing a story of a nurse who was chased by a masked gang simply because of her skin colour overnight.
[00:32:50] Savannah Sellers: All right. Keir Simmons, thank you so much.
[00:32:53] Joe Fryer: If you've been to Barcelona, you've almost certainly seen the Sagrada Familia and the construction that has surrounded it for almost a century and a half. Last night marked a major moment for the Basilica, receiving the blessing of Pope Leo. NBC News international correspondent Molly Hunter was there for the celebration.
[00:33:11] Speaker 17: It's a spectacular vision day or night. The Sagrada Familia towering above Barcelona. Welcoming Pope Leo, today marks 100 years since the death of visionary architect Anthony Gaudi. And 144 years after construction began, it's finally on the verge of completion. The final spire now making it the tallest church in the world. The newly completed tower of Jesus Christ, blessed by the American Pope. 120,000 people filling the streets.
[00:33:48] Speaker 13: Unbelievable. Like breathtaking.
[00:33:49] Speaker 18: Words can't describe.
[00:33:51] Speaker 17: And a finale even Gaudi couldn't have imagined. Fireworks illuminating the sky. A drone show with Gaudi's face. A dramatic way to mark a symbolic milestone for a global icon. A symbolic milestone because there is still work to be done. The Basilica may not be truly completed until 2034. The Pope wraps up this Spanish trip in the Canary Islands this week.
[00:34:16] Joe Fryer: All right, Molly, thank you.
[00:34:18] Savannah Sellers: Well, coming up, controversy outside the classroom. A new report shows a big drop in kids reading for fun.
[00:34:24] Joe Fryer: When we come back, we'll look at what's driving that decline and why critics warn the trend could have long-term effects. Morning News Now will be right back.
[00:34:35] Savannah Sellers: We're back now with a trend that may feel familiar for many parents. Between sports, summer activities, and endless screen time, it feels many kids are spending less time reading outside of school.
[00:34:47] Joe Fryer: A new federal data shows a truly significant decline. Get this, the share of nine-year-olds who say they read for fun has dropped from 53% in 2012 to just 37% last year. Among 13-year-olds, daily reading has fallen by nearly half. Experts are warning this trend could have lasting effects on how kids learn and how they perform in school.
[00:35:08] Savannah Sellers: So what is driving this decline and why does reading for pleasure matter so much? We want to bring in a long-time English teacher, Carol Jago. She's a former member of the National Assessment Governing Board and a past president of the National Council of Teachers of English. Carol, it's great to have you with us on this. Let's just start on these numbers. I mean, how concerning is this decline? Do you think screens are really behind this?
[00:35:32] Speaker 19: First of all, it's an alarming moment. This should be a hair on fire news for America. Is it a result of the pandemic? Is it a result of screens? Either way, that's an excuse. An excuse doesn't get us to progress. We know that reading for pleasure correlates closely with reading proficiency. Students who score well on these assessments report readings regularly for pleasure. Students in the lower percentiles say they rarely or hardly ever read for pleasure. Most students simply aren't reading enough to become competent, confident readers. We need to turn this around.
[00:36:24] Joe Fryer: So, Carol, a lot of parents out there might say, oh, my kid reads all the time. It's just not books. Reading on screens or social media, does it provide anywhere near the same benefits as just sitting down with a good old-fashioned book?
[00:36:37] Speaker 19: It's different. Clearly, screens are with us. They're not going anywhere. But to do the kind of deep reading that involves analysis, synthesis, comprehension, research, it's harder to do that on a screen. We have research that supports that. And so it's not either or. It's and and both. But we need to be very intentional in schools and at home in bringing more reading, more books into students' lives.
[00:37:13] Savannah Sellers: You touched on what this does just for reading proficiency in general. But I know. I mean, I want to hear some more benefits because we know students who read for fun, they do end up performing better academically, right?
[00:37:25] Speaker 19: When when students read for pleasure, they're reading a wide variety of groups. You know, sometimes we think about reading is only novels, but many students, many, many students really love reading about real things. And we need to make sure we've got lots of those books in in our classrooms. We need to send those books home with students. We got all America's kids are going going home for summer vacation. I have a 99 year old mother who still remembers she went to school in Brooklyn, not speaking English. She still remembers her second grade teacher who sent her home with a grocery bag full of books and these things change lives. And I think there are many things schools can do initiatives to make reading a daily occurrence, not just in English class, but across disciplines. And we need to get kids talking about what they're reading. The best sellers of a book are kids to other kids.
[00:38:27] Joe Fryer: The best kind of peer pressure possible there. Let's talk about how we can try and spark that joy. Because I would have to imagine a lot of parents out there maybe also aren't reading for fun because they're spending more time on their phones and on social media. So just what are some simple things you think parents can do to help kids rediscover that joy of reading?
[00:38:45] Speaker 19: The first thing is we need ourselves to put down our phones and pick up a book, get kids, see, have our children see us reading for pleasure because we need to think about pleasure kind of like eating. We don't just take pleasure in eating candy. Pleasure is an intellectual pleasure of taking you somewhere you've never been different times, different places, and then wanting to share with somebody else what you're learning, what you're thinking about it. So it's both more reading, put the phone in the other room while you're reading and let students see you doing this app.
[00:39:30] Savannah Sellers: Model it for our kids. So important. Carol, thank you for being here. Really good conversation. Important stuff.
[00:39:37] Joe Fryer: Thank you. Coming up, countdown to kickoff. That's right, the FIFA World Cup is finally here.
[00:39:43] Savannah Sellers: Up next, we're going to take you inside the new and improved stadium where the first match is set to take place. And we'll tell you what to expect as the U.S. prepares to host Don't Drop the Ball. Morning News Now. We'll be right back.
[00:40:00] Joe Fryer: All right, soccer fans, the moment is upon us. The FIFA World Cup kicks off today in Mexico City. The opening match pits host country Mexico against South Africa. It's going to be played at Mexico's iconic stadium, the Estadio Azteca, after some major renovations. NBC News correspondent George Solis gives us a first look at the venue's $300 million upgrades.
[00:40:27] Speaker 20: One of soccer's most sacred stages is ready for its next act. After almost 300 million and two years of massive renovations, historic Estadio Azteca is ready for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. And die-hard fans like Ricardo Rivera, who traveled to Mexico from Detroit, are pumped. It is worth every single cent. This is my third World Cup. The famous footballing venue, built in 1966, will be referred to as Mexico City Stadium, per FIFA sponsorship rules. More than concrete and steel, this stadium's identity goes beyond just a name. It's all about passion and supporting your team, especially in home soil. It's hosted the World Cup finals in both 1970 and 1986, where Soccer Royal Tipele and Maradona won the cup for Brazil and Argentina. Maradona produced the hand of God and the goal of the century during the 1986 tournament inside the now transformed Coliseum. More than 2,000 workers, some working around the clock to get the stadium up to par. And while some aren't crazy about the sport, they are celebrating.
[00:41:38] Savannah Sellers: I'm excited more of the guys that I'm coming because the tourists are coming, so that's exciting.
[00:41:43] Speaker 20: Among the multi-million dollar renovations added, a hybrid playing surface, improved video boards, LED lighting, speakers, and thousands of new seats. Capacity now stands at more than 87,000 fans, the most loyal of which is already seated. That stone-faced, technically bronze facade belongs to Ignacio Villanueva, or Nachito. To celebrate the stadium's 35th anniversary, the eternal spectator was forever immortalized and sure to draw a crown during the tournament. A testament that for all the new, the magic made at Azteca remains unchanged. How special is it to be here with your family for the opener?
[00:42:20] Speaker 19: Oh, it's very special because it's a life memory for us.
[00:42:24] Speaker 20: The stadium will host five matches, three group stage matches, and two knockout matches, where today's stars will aim to leave their mark on this hallowed ground. And proving that while other stadiums may host games, this one hosts history. George Solis, NBC News.
[00:42:41] Joe Fryer: All right, so if you're looking for everything you need to know about the upcoming World Cup, don't worry, we've got you covered.
[00:42:46] Savannah Sellers: Every four years, the World Cup ignites an energy unlike anything else in sports. It is this global celebration of pride and passion when entire nations put everything else on hold to watch their team over the next several weeks. Billions of people will turn their attention to cities in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, where legends will be made and some fancy footwork will be on full display.
[00:43:08] Joe Fryer: All right, for a preview of what to expect in the World Cup this summer, we are lucky. We're joined on set by our friend Michael Gargiulo, who's a World Cup superfan, the co-anchor of Today in New York. So we pass the halls every morning with Michael, but I love that we get to tap your expertise. I think people may not realize this, the final in July, 1.5 billion people are going to watch this. And I think a lot of people in America still aren't huge soccer fans, so help them understand why this is such a big deal, why winning the World Cup is such a big deal for countries.
[00:43:36] Speaker 21: Here's why. It's the most elite sports trophy in the world. Soccer is a global sport. 200 countries competed for the right to be in the World Cup, 48 are left. Since 1930, only eight nations have won the World Cup. So that's eight out of 200. And that's why it's such an elite club and everyone wants to be part of it.
[00:43:57] Savannah Sellers: Okay, there's like so much going on, though, for people, you know, who aren't sure how to follow this. It's in all these different countries. So let's just focus on the U.S. Nationals. Right. How do you think they're going to do? They get started?
[00:44:07] Speaker 21: I think they're going to do pretty good. So here's the difference. Like the U.S. national team now, a lot of the players, like everyone might know Christian Pulisic. That's a famous name there. They are playing pretty high level soccer here in the U.S. and around the world. So they're probably going to do pretty good. Okay. It's like a combination of NFL playoffs and March Madness. So you play the group stage where you play the other three teams in your group. Okay. And then the top two teams move on and then you go to the knockout like March Madness. So we think the U.S. will get out of the group and hopefully go one or two steps into the knockout stage.
[00:44:42] Joe Fryer: The story was they got a lucky group. They got a little lucky with their group. It wasn't as competitive as maybe it could have been. You don't want to be in the group of death. Exactly. So Spain and France are the early favorites right now.
[00:44:52] Speaker ?: Right.
[00:44:52] Joe Fryer: Help us understand why that is and just who are the teams that could threaten to win instead of those.
[00:44:56] Speaker 21: Yeah. So I looked at Spain and France's roster. Usually you've got like two or three good players. They have like nine good players on each team. Yeah. Mbappe is a famous player for France. 18-year-old Lamine Yamal for Spain. And they're so good. When you have that many, 11 people on the field and nine of them are global superstars, it's hard to knock them off. But you've got to look for England is always a favorite, right? They always have the song, "It's Coming Home." It hasn't come home since 1966, but they think this could be their year.
[00:45:27] Savannah Sellers: All right, so not to, I don't know if you're okay with us revealing this detail, but you were at the World Cup.
[00:45:32] Speaker 21: That's okay.
[00:45:33] Savannah Sellers: Back in '94. I was.
[00:45:36] Joe Fryer: Ageless. Exactly. He was three at the time, so he doesn't remember well.
[00:45:40] Savannah Sellers: Yeah, yeah. The last time that the United States hosted. Yeah. What do you think are like the biggest changes or the biggest storylines this edition, now that it's back here on our soil?
[00:45:50] Speaker 21: Well, Alec, '94, there was, by the way, when I went to get tickets in '94, like I called on the phone. Oh my gosh, wow. And someone sent me tickets. Right, right.
[00:45:58] Savannah Sellers: Okay. Okay, you're aging yourself now, not me.
[00:46:00] Speaker 21: But the difference was, there was no pro league in the United States, no major league soccer back then. It didn't start until '96. The league that Pele had played in when he came in the '70s had folded. So there was really not a big place for the U.S. players to get that experience. So I went to the games. The games were really well attended. I went to Chicago, and I went to a game in then-Giant Stadium. But there was interest, but not really fan fever. Does that make sense? Yeah, yeah. So that's the difference. Americans were looking at it like, oh, this is kind of curious that this game is here. And now it's a totally different thing 26 years later.
[00:46:38] Joe Fryer: This year, no doubt it's going to be that. Real quick, we should, the orange is not just for the Knicks, by the way. Of course it's for the Knicks, but your favorite team?
[00:46:44] Speaker 21: My favorite team is the Netherlands. The best team ever to win the World Cup. Three times runners-up, and they did not win the World Cup. I said they're the Buffalo Bills of soccer. But hopefully this year will change.
[00:46:54] Savannah Sellers: Hopefully. But by the way, go Knicks. Go Knicks.
[00:46:57] Speaker 21: Oh, yeah. Go Knicks.
[00:46:59] Joe Fryer: Knicks in five. That's what we said. Michael, good to have you with us. Thank you so much. The World Cup officially kicks off in just a few hours. Make sure to catch every match, every moment live in Spanish on Telemundo and on Teacock.
[00:47:12] Savannah Sellers: Coming up on Morning News Now. Rumble on Route 66.
[00:47:24] Speaker 22: You know, you hear that all day.
[00:47:26] Joe Fryer: We return the unique new exhibit along America's most famous highway that has some locals plugging their ears. We'll be right back.
[00:47:33] Savannah Sellers: Finally this hour, an interactive exhibit in Springfield, Missouri along Route 66 is causing some headaches for locals. A musical rumble strip along the highway is meant to celebrate its 100th birthday. I don't know what that is.
[00:47:50] Joe Fryer: We're about to find out. Some locals are not totally tuned into the idea. Reporter Francis Watson from our affiliate there has the story.
[00:47:56] Speaker 22: Well, I'm a musician and so I kind of like any idea of music. I like all the traditional Route 66, Chuck Berry style stuff.
[00:48:08] Speaker 23: David Smith says he was excited when Visit Springfield installed rumble strips on St. Louis Street to celebrate the 100th birthday of Route 66. Created by Chris Hill and Peter Thompson, the interactive exhibit comes alive when vehicles traveling along the road hit the bumps. And out comes America the beautiful.
[00:48:31] Speaker 24: There are exactly 2,309 strips. It covers 855 feet. And if you drive at the intended 30 miles an hour, it will take you 19.45 seconds to complete the tune.
[00:48:44] Speaker 23: But David says the musical road has worn out its welcome.
[00:48:48] Speaker 22: You know, you hear that all day.
[00:48:52] Speaker 23: David and many of his neighbors say the noise produced by the rumble strips have been disrupting their daily lives.
[00:48:58] Speaker 22: It's been really hard. It seems really weird. It seems almost like, um, I don't, I don't know even how to describe it. Like, like just chaos.
[00:49:11] Speaker 23: He says in addition to the sound becoming a nuisance, the road itself has become dangerous.
[00:49:17] Speaker 22: We also like take walks up there. And so it's weird when you're walking down the sidewalk with a kid and somebody swerves toward the sidewalk to try to hit the rumble strips. Um, it was just a really bad idea.
[00:49:31] Speaker 23: It's why some living on East Olive Street, one block over from the art installation, want to see it go.
[00:49:37] Speaker 22: This is a residential neighborhood. We like to, uh, feed the birds and listen to the birds songs during the day rather than extra traffic noise.
[00:49:47] Savannah Sellers: Okay. Our thanks to Francis Watson for that story. City officials say the exhibit is temporary. Plans to remove it at the end of the summer. I'm sorry. That's not soon enough.
[00:49:55] Joe Fryer: It's like the big piano, only bigger. Yeah, no.
[00:49:58] Savannah Sellers: That's a no. I feel for those people.
[00:50:00] Speaker ?: No kidding.
[00:50:00] Joe Fryer: All right. That's gonna do it for this hour of morning news now.
[00:50:02] Savannah Sellers: Stay with us so the news continues right now. Good morning. Thanks so much for being with us this Thursday. I'm Savannah Sellers.
[00:50:19] Joe Fryer: I'm Joe Fryer right now on morning news now under fire. That shaky ceasefire in the Middle East under even more pressure. President Trump ordering more attacks on Iran overnight. Tehran retaliating, announcing it is completely siphoned off the Strait of Hormuz. Back home, fresh inflation worries over the war, reaching heights not seen in years. We'll have the latest in a moment. Plus, on the record, billionaire Bill Gates facing an intense, hours-long grilling on Capitol Hill over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The revelations over their ties and where the congressional push for answers in the Epstein case could go from here. A late spring sting walloping millions across the Midwest. A deluge of heavy rain hammering several states, spawning dangerous flash floods. Take a look at this terrifying footage of a funnel cloud tearing across Missouri. More bad news. The chaos is not over yet. Our Al Roker has your full forecast in just a moment. And don't call it a comeback. An MSG stunner overnight with some history-making flair from the New York Knicks. It could now just be four quarters away from their first championship title in more than half a century. We're reliving all the show-stopping highlights as we also look ahead to game five later this weekend. Plus, from the paint to the pitch, the Americas are prepping to welcome fans from across the globe in just hours. The FIFA World Cup officially kicks off. So if you're a sporting fan, sometimes June can be a little bit of like, all you got left is baseball. Well, no, you still got the NBA Finals. He's got the FIFA World Cup. There's a lot going on right now. Stanley Cup is wrapping up right now, too. The fact that you asked it that way, no answer to your own question. But I knew that. You did know that. That's right.
[00:52:09] Savannah Sellers: Who's playing? Vegas.
[00:52:11] Joe Fryer: Vegas?
[00:52:12] Savannah Sellers: Yeah.
[00:52:13] Joe Fryer: Very good.
[00:52:14] Savannah Sellers: Vegas.
[00:52:15] Speaker ?: And Carolina, right? There you go.
[00:52:17] Joe Fryer: We begin this hour with another day of strikes by the U.S. military on Iran in response to the downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.
[00:52:25] Savannah Sellers: A U.S. Central Command released this video we're showing you last night. It says it shows strikes on targets inside Iran that it's calling, quote, self-defense strikes. In response, Tehran says it's retaliated against American targets across the Middle East. Iran is also claiming the Strait of Hormuz has been closed off, later attacking two oil tankers in the waterway. U.S. Central Command is disputing that, saying the Strait has remained open. NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel has the latest. Richard, good morning.
[00:52:55] Speaker 25: Iran's foreign ministry in a statement says the latest American strikes not only violate Iran's sovereignty, but have also rendered the ceasefire reached in April effectively meaningless. President Trump ordered more strikes against Iran, the U.S. military firing dozens of Tomahawk missiles overnight from warships and launching fighter jets. U.S. Central Command said Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy assets fired precision munitions at surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air defense sites across Iran. Iran fired back retaliating for the second straight day against U.S. military locations in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait. No reports of casualties. The long shaky ceasefire has broken down and become negotiations under fire. President Trump overnight telling Fox News he would bomb the S out of them tonight unless Iran signs a deal. A point he stressed in the Oval yesterday to NBC's Garrett Haake. Well, we're going to be attacking them, attacking them very hard.
[00:54:01] Speaker 26: You're resuming bombing?
[00:54:03] Speaker 2: Yeah, well, we are.
[00:54:04] Speaker 25: Under pressure from rising gas prices, the president also touted what he said was a secret U.S. effort to guide oil through the Strait of Hormuz.
[00:54:13] Speaker 2: You know, we've been taking out millions of barrels of oil. Nobody knows it.
[00:54:19] Speaker 25: According to a U.S. official, the military has been working with the shipping industry to coordinate the movement of tankers through the strait. The effort has been previously reported about. The president also expressing frustration with the negotiations with Iran.
[00:54:34] Speaker 2: We're really close to a deal, but they keep tapping us along. They keep playing us for suckers.
[00:54:38] Speaker 25: But Iran and the U.S. still disagree on terms. Iran insists a peace deal must also stop Israel's war on Hezbollah in Lebanon that has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians. Mediators from Qatar have been trying to broker a deal left Tehran overnight without reporting progress. Iranian media also report that a recent U.S. attack damaged a water treatment facility servicing 20,000 people. The Pentagon has said it's aware of those reports. All right, Richard, thank you.
[00:55:11] Joe Fryer: The war with Iran is also having a major impact on prices here at home. New federal data shows inflation spiking to its highest level in three years. It's driven in large part by soaring gas and oil prices related to the war. Now, the president is pushing back on those numbers. NBC News Chief White House correspondent Garrett Haake is at the White House with that part of the story. Garrett, good morning. Hey, Joe. Good morning.
[00:55:32] Speaker 26: Look, if you drive a gas-powered car, none of this will be surprising. Prices at the pump have been on a roller coaster ride due to the war. And that means that anything that has to be trucked or shipped or refrigerated is probably more expensive, too. The president pressed by reporters insisting it'll all be temporary. The cost of war with Iran hitting Americans hard in the wallet, with inflation surging to 4.2 percent in May, its highest level since early 2023. The numbers driven in large part by soaring fuel costs driven by the Iran war. Groceries like coffee, lettuce and baked goods getting more expensive, too, as is dining out and taking off as jet fuel prices push up airfares. With President Trump trying to put a positive spin on the tough economic news.
[00:56:24] Speaker 2: The numbers were great. You know what I really love? I love the inflation.
[00:56:27] Speaker 26: The president adding a few moments later.
[00:56:29] Speaker 2: When the war is over, it's coming down. I know you can't. It's going to come down like a rock.
[00:56:35] Speaker 26: The president later telling the New York Post his words were taken out of context and that he meant, quote, despite the fact that we're in a war, the numbers are much lower than anticipated. Still, President Trump's focus on Iran, including comments like this last month.
[00:56:50] Speaker 27: I don't think about American financial situation. I don't think about anybody. I think about one thing. We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.
[00:57:00] Speaker 26: Opening the door to Democratic critiques that he's mismanaging the economy.
[00:57:05] Speaker 28: I think the reality is the only conclusion that we can draw is that he doesn't give a damn about making life better for everyday Americans.
[00:57:14] Speaker 29: The war itself imposes cost, but uncertainty and chaos and start, stop, start, stop, start, stop, not helping anybody.
[00:57:21] Speaker 26: At the end of the day, all of this could have significant political implications for the president's party. Our NBC News polling shows that less than a third of Americans approve of President Trump's handling of inflation and the cost of living. That is a flashing red warning sign for Republicans as the fall midterms approach. Joe. All right, Garrett, thank you so much.
[00:57:40] Savannah Sellers: Well, Microsoft founder Bill Gates is expressing regret for his relationship with late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, even accusing Epstein of blackmail. This is as lawmakers on Capitol Hill grilled Gates for several hours yesterday as part of their wider investigation into the Epstein files. NBC News now anchor Hallie Jackson has the details. Hallie, good morning.
[00:58:01] Speaker 9: Hey there, Joe and Savannah. Good morning to you. Bill Gates says he answered all the questions the House Oversight Committee had in a closed-door session one lawmaker called intense. Others describing Gates as cooperative but occasionally combative. As the Microsoft co-founder reveals Jeffrey Epstein, he says, tried to use knowledge of his affairs to pressure him. Billionaire businessman Bill Gates taking no questions from reporters after answering plenty from lawmakers during six hours behind closed doors pressed on his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
[00:58:32] Speaker 10: I hope my testimony is helpful to the work, important work of the committee to find justice for the victims.
[00:58:39] Speaker 9: Gates accusing the notorious sex offender of possible blackmail over Gates' extramarital affairs, saying he first met Epstein in 2011 in the interest of soliciting more donations for his philanthropic organizations. But Gates says he cut Epstein off when it became clear that was a dead end, acknowledging his affairs, saying Epstein was working to use information about my infidelities, in addition to many lies that he layered on top, to pressure me to reengage with him.
[00:59:07] Speaker 30: I think that Epstein saw a vulnerability and tried to use that as leverage.
[00:59:12] Speaker 31: It's pretty clear to me, though, that Epstein was a friend collector. You know, he just liked to have people around him that were big deal.
[00:59:19] Speaker 9: Lawmakers say Gates was asked about emails Epstein appeared to have drafted to himself in 2013, suggesting he helped Bill get drugs after sex with Russian girls. Allegations Gates has denied.
[00:59:32] Speaker 11: Mr. Gates does believe that Mr. Epstein would write emails that were oftentimes untrue.
[00:59:38] Speaker 9: Gates has not been criminally accused of wrongdoing and says he never saw nor had any indication of Epstein's criminal conduct. Quote, I never went to his island, his ranch or his Florida home. I have never victimized anyone. Gates does acknowledge meeting with Epstein was a grave error in judgment. The two first connecting well after that controversial 2008 sweetheart plea deal that saw Epstein serving 13 months, including work release on two state charges in Florida.
[01:00:07] Speaker 32: He said he knew that Epstein had been convicted of some kind of sexual misconduct and he regretted not researching the details of it.
[01:00:17] Speaker 9: The House Oversight Committee now wants to hear from the acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as the Epstein controversy continues to hang over the Trump administration. Joe, Savannah. All right, Hallie, thank you.
[01:00:27] Joe Fryer: Another major story we're following this morning, the outbreak of severe weather sweeping across the country. Parts of the Midwest were hit by powerful storms overnight that produced several tornadoes. Heavy rain also hammering some areas, causing more flooding in places hit by a lot of rain over the past several days. Here in the East Coast, it's sweltering temperatures that are the biggest concern. Al Roker will have your forecast in just a moment. First, NBC's Shaquille Brewster joins us from Chicago with the latest. Shaq, good morning.
[01:00:56] Speaker 6: Good morning. And the cleanup is well underway even here in downtown Chicago. You see some of that damage behind me after a violent round of storms overnight. There was a roof on top of these cars. Crews are working to clean it up right now. But look at that front car right there. The windshield put in. You see some of the tree apparently pushing in or crashing through that front car. You have scenes like this across the Midwest where we know across the country there are more than 400,000 people this morning waking up without power. This morning, violent storms barreling across America's midsection. With more than 90 million people in the path of the wild weather. From a string of tornadoes. Wow, beast. With funnel clouds sweeping through fields. To damaging winds littering neighborhoods with fallen trees. In Wisconsin, some gusts hitting 90 miles per hour. While the windy city was living up to its name. People sprinting for cover in Chicago. As powerful gusts sent debris flying through the air. Parts of a building crushing a car. Elsewhere, a roof ripped off. And a window even breaking on this high rise.
[01:02:09] Speaker 33: I have never seen it over the road like this so quickly.
[01:02:13] Speaker 6: The storm system also knocking out power to hundreds of thousands across the Midwest. Farther east, drivers in Pennsylvania slammed with torrential rain and flooding. With ground stops and delays stacking up at airports across the country. All the while, dangerous heat baking millions.
[01:02:31] Speaker 34: Yeah, I saw this morning and said the heat index was going to be in the hundreds.
[01:02:35] Speaker 6: With heat advisories on both coasts. And some areas expecting record highs. A dangerous patchwork of extreme weather nationwide. Now, unfortunately, there is even more severe weather in the forecast. Cities like Chicago, other Midwestern cities under threat for more of this dangerous wind. Those thunderstorms, even possible tornadoes. We also know this system is moving through some major transportation hubs. You can probably expect delays in cities like Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C. Joe? All right, Jack, thank you.
[01:03:11] Savannah Sellers: And it looks like Jack could be out there covering the weather again with more on the way.
[01:03:14] Joe Fryer: Yeah. Let's get your morning news now forecast from today's Al Roker. Al, good morning.
[01:03:20] Speaker 7: Good morning, Savannah and Joe. Well, we've got more severe weather again today. After yesterday's outbreaks, we're looking at more again. We've got severe thunderstorm watches, warnings, even some tornado warnings this morning as this first line starts to make its way in here. 92 million people at risk for dangerous weather. Intense tornadoes. Wind gusts of over 75 miles per hour. Damaging wind. Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago, Des Moines, Iowa. There's going to be big airport delays today in Chicago. They're going to ripple across the country. We've got a tornado risk from Saginaw, Michigan, down to Quincy, Illinois. EF0 to EF2 or greater tornadoes. Then tomorrow, that shifts to the east from Burlington, Vermont, down to Knoxville, Tennessee. New York City, 65 million people at risk. Wind gusts of over 60 miles per hour. Tornado risk is low. That's the good news. We are looking at a lot of wet weather. Some places, hourly rainfall rates, two to three inches likely, especially as you get up into Chicago, Des Moines, Davenport, Iowa. And the heat is on. We are looking at records through tomorrow from Glens Falls, New York, all the way down to Columbia, South Carolina, Craig Melvin's hometown. Look at these temperatures. We're talking records, heat and humidity. Could be 98 degrees in Norfolk today. Same in Roanoke. Johnson City could tie a record at 92. Same for Bryson City. That heat and humidity continue all the way up the coast. It's going to feel like 94, the record today, 94 degrees in Manchester. Philly, 95, could set a record today as well. Rest of the country, hot and humid here in the east. That severe outbreak in the Mid-Plains. And then hot and dry weather from Seattle all the way down to San Diego. Joe and Savannah, back to you.
[01:05:04] Joe Fryer: All right, Al, thank you.
[01:05:06] Savannah Sellers: We're back with an update on that deadly Hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship. This morning, an American passenger who was on board now says she's being held in federal quarantine against her will. Caught in the middle of a growing dispute between the CDC and the state of Florida. NBC News correspondent Maggie Vespa joins us with more on this. Maggie, good morning.
[01:05:25] Speaker 35: Savannah, good morning. Angela Perryman tells me she cries every day desperate to finish out her six-week quarantine in her home state of Florida. The problem is, she and her attorneys say, state officials and the CDC can't agree on what that quarantine should look like, leaving her caught in the middle. For retired nature lover and photographer Angela Perryman, it was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime. But ever since the World Health Organization announced last month the MV Hundius cruise ship was struck with a deadly Hantavirus outbreak, Perryman says her personal nightmare was just beginning. If you had to describe these last weeks in quarantine in Nebraska, maybe just in one word, how would you describe it?
[01:06:16] Speaker 36: Prison. Prison.
[01:06:18] Speaker 35: Prison. Solitary confinement. This is a prison. The 47-year-old Florida native is one of 18 American passengers initially transported to the National Quarantine Unit in Omaha, Nebraska to begin isolating for the duration of the virus's six-week incubation period, which is set to end June 22nd. Last week, the CDC gave passengers the option of finishing quarantining at home.
[01:06:43] Speaker 36: When they told me I was here voluntarily, I believed them.
[01:06:46] Speaker 35: But Perryman, who has never tested positive or shown any symptoms, is stuck, saying her home state of Florida is pushing back on CDC requirements that states place law enforcement or public health workers outside the homes of those in quarantine and check their temperature twice a day in person. This letter from Florida's Surgeon General deeming those conditions not necessary.
[01:07:09] Speaker 36: I'm caught in a power struggle between the federal government and the state of Florida, and I'm being held hostage.
[01:07:16] Speaker 35: The CDC confirms eight passengers have left so far, some going to New York, California, Arizona, and Oregon. Others, including Jake Rosemarin, who's been posting on social media about life in isolation, opting to stay.
[01:07:30] Speaker 26: I'm afraid to leave this room until I know that I will not get sick.
[01:07:35] Speaker 36: Everybody else that's requested being transferred home has been transferred. I remain here.
[01:07:41] Speaker 35: Now, NBC News has reached out to the CDC and the state of Florida. So far, neither have responded to our requests for comment. It is worth noting the CDC previously threatened passengers with criminal charges if they tried to leave quarantine. So it's not like Perryman can just walk out. She has hired an attorney. And so she hopes to be home in her home state of Florida before the six weeks are up. Savannah. All right, Maggie Vespa, thank you very much.
[01:08:06] Savannah Sellers: Along with the growing excitement for the World Cup, there are also increased safety concerns here in the U.S. 12 men have been arrested after an undercover sting operation targeted human traffickers in South Florida. Authorities say they took the suspects into custody on Tuesday after they were caught trying to pay for sex with minors. NBC News national law enforcement correspondent Tom Winter has more on the challenges authorities face as they try to crack down on criminal activities ahead of and surrounding the tournament.
[01:08:33] Speaker 18: In the air and on the ground, law enforcement is getting ready for the World Cup and not just at the stadiums, but for the party. Historically, big parties bring big concerns about human trafficking, drugs and fake merch. Former FBI Special Agent in Charge Tim Gallagher says it's a lot for law enforcement to look at.
[01:08:55] Speaker 37: It's a Herculean task. And the bad guys are banking on the fact that maybe law enforcement is just so focused on the violent threat that they may not be looking for the criminal activity that's going on outside the stadium. And they're wrong.
[01:09:09] Speaker 38: We anticipate the World Cup will be the largest human trafficking location in world history.
[01:09:15] Speaker 18: Florida's attorney general says they've already made more human trafficking arrests this year than ever before. And they're ready to keep going.
[01:09:22] Speaker 38: We will leave no stone unturned when it comes to rooting out evildoers, people that want to traffic and go after our women and kids. And we will prosecute and we will send them away for a long time.
[01:09:33] Speaker 39: Florida authorities say they're making good on that promise. We have stepped up our undercover operations. Announcing the arrest of 12 people for trying to pay for sex.
[01:09:43] Speaker 18: They say this is an effort to disrupt trafficking activity in advance of the World Cup. Why is there such a focus around these sporting events?
[01:09:50] Speaker 37: Those who are trafficking human beings, they know that there's going to be big crowds, people who are away, people who are looking to exploit other human beings. And they will use this as an opportunity to make money off of those who they are exploiting.
[01:10:04] Speaker 18: Even the U.S. Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is on alert, issuing this warning to banks to track payments online from ATMs and apps, which could be used by traffickers. There is some good news. Recent research on large scale events like the World Cup and Super Bowl shows that not all of the human trafficking fears materialize. Thanks to the flashlight effect, when everyone is focusing on the problem, it can be harder for it to exist in the shadows. But there is precedent.
[01:10:33] Speaker 36: Sex trafficking has been a focus of law enforcement the last few weeks.
[01:10:35] Speaker 18: With 169 people arrested in a human trafficking sting ahead of the Super Bowl in 2019. There are other concerns. The DEA says they're worried fans from overseas may not know that counterfeit prescription pills can be laced with the deadly drug fentanyl. They're out with a World Cup specific website just to warn visitors that one of those counterfeit pills can kill. Then a less deadly problem, but still a big economic crime, counterfeit merch. Law enforcement agencies going after these fakes in California and north of the border.
[01:11:09] Speaker 40: The largest seizure of counterfeit soccer jersey in Canadian history.
[01:11:13] Speaker 18: Toronto police charging two men with selling 16,000 counterfeit World Cup jerseys and flags worth millions.
[01:11:20] Speaker 40: This was a large scale operation designed to exploit fans and take advantage of their love for sports.
[01:11:26] Speaker 18: Law enforcement agencies trying to score with fan safety, not just at the field, but off of it.
[01:11:32] Savannah Sellers: All right, our thanks to Tom Winter for that report. Just in case you don't know, we'll keep reminding you.
[01:11:38] Joe Fryer: The first World Cup match is just hours away. All right, coming up, the budding leadership crisis impacting some of the nation's top health agencies.
[01:11:45] Savannah Sellers: When we come back, we'll dig a little deeper into what's driving the exodus of executives and what the future could hold if those positions remain vacant. That's next. Stick around.
[01:11:53] Joe Fryer: Back now, the closer look at what's making news in the world of politics this morning, starting with a former New York City comptroller standing trial after a protest at an ICE facility.
[01:12:09] Savannah Sellers: NBC News political reporter Megan Lebowitz is back with us for more on all this.
[01:12:13] Speaker 8: Hey, Megan. Hey, Joan Savannah. Good morning. Yeah, let's start in New York City where congressional candidate and former comptroller Brad Lander was in court yesterday for a trial on his arrest last year. Remember back in September, Lander was arrested with dozens of others while protesting conditions at an immigration holding facility. Lander faced misdemeanor charges and pleaded not guilty. His campaign spokesperson said that we could expect a verdict this morning. This also comes as Lander is also trying to unseat Congressman Dan Goldman in a primary race. Let's go next to Maine where we're still waiting on results in the Democratic primary for the state's second congressional district. That district is expected to be one of the most competitive House races to watch this fall. There's a handful of people vying to be the Democratic candidate, and none of them are projected to win a majority of the votes. That means that we move on to the ranked choice tally stage. That's where votes are reallocated based on voters' second, third, and fourth picks. Now, whoever wins will face off against former Governor Paul LePage, who's the Republican candidate. Finally, let's turn to the war in Iran. Leaders of the defense industry have been preparing to meet with President Trump at the White House this week. That's according to two people familiar with the plans. Now, it comes amid concerns about the missile supply level, and the defense company leaders are expected to be urged to increase weapons production. A White House official, though, said that there was not a meeting planned between President Trump and those defense company leaders, quote, at this time. And that's a look at what's making news in politics this morning, guys. All right, Megan, thank you so much.
[01:13:50] Savannah Sellers: Well, top health agencies in the U.S. appear to be in sort of a leadership limbo. It includes the CDC, the FDA, and the National Institutes of Health. Get this, nearly half of the positions listed on the leadership pages for those agencies are temporary appointments or they're just vacant altogether.
[01:14:07] Joe Fryer: Since last August, the CDC has been led by three different directors. The FDA commissioner was fired last month, and the agency's second-in-command seat is still empty. Also, no surgeon general has been appointed yet during President Trump's entire second term.
[01:14:21] Savannah Sellers: For more on this, we are joined by NBC News health reporter Aria Bendix. Aria, good morning. Always great to have you here on set with us. So you really reported this out. You spoke with 10 current and former officials across these agencies. What do they say is going on here?
[01:14:34] Speaker 12: Right, so this is a highly unusual situation to have so many open roles across all these agencies at once. I think we have a breakdown of the numbers. 15 positions at NIH, 14 at CDC, 10 at FDA either have temporary leaders or just none at all. Of course, not all these vacancies are connected. But one thing I heard over and over in my conversations is that the Trump administration appears to be getting rid of some of the outsiders or disruptors that were installed last year as part of the Maha movement. And then putting in or at least nominating more conventional candidates ahead of the midterm elections.
[01:15:05] Joe Fryer: So what's the reaction or response we're getting from the White House, from HHS about all these vacancies?
[01:15:10] Speaker 12: So the White House told us in a statement that they are still aligned with the Maha agenda. HHS told us it's aggressively recruiting new candidates and these vacancies have not slowed down their work. But one of the fears I've heard from former officials is that the Trump administration might be slow walking the appointment of new leaders either to maintain its influence over these agencies or even maybe weaken their power in federal government.
[01:15:32] Savannah Sellers: And Joe just mentioned how we're still without a surgeon general. We're a year and a half into Trump's term here. I mean, how unusual is that?
[01:15:38] Speaker 12: Right. So believe it or not, actually, under the Obama administration, we actually waited 17 months for a surgeon general then. We're about that same milestone right now. But this is kind of a different situation because Trump has nominated three people for this role under his second term so far. The first two didn't advance because there were concerns about their academic credentials. This new candidate, Nicole Safir, appears to be a bit more traditional in the sense that she holds an active medical license and largely supports vaccination with some exceptions. So she might have a greater chance of getting nominated by the Senate. And that actually might be why she was picked recently.
[01:16:10] Joe Fryer: You spoke, I think, with a former CDC director compared the federal health infrastructure right now to Swiss cheese, saying, quote, the holes are getting bigger and bigger. What's at stake if these positions aren't filled permanently?
[01:16:22] Speaker 12: Right. It's an important question. I mean, we can think about what happens when anyone gets a temporary boss. Everyone knows that they're going to leave at some point. And so they might not have the authority to make long term decisions for the agency. The broader concern here is what happens in a public health crisis like we're seeing with Ebola or measles. Is the CDC or NIH being sidelined? Are we able to tap into their full resources? And that's important because these are the experts that are really guiding us through those public health responses.
[01:16:48] Savannah Sellers: All right, Aria, thank you so much. Great to have you with us. Good reporting. Coming up, June is finally upon us, right? And in New York City, that means one big thing.
[01:16:56] Joe Fryer: Yeah, we are just a few weeks away from NYC showstopping annual pride parade. So after the break, I'm going to sit down with one of this year's distinguished grand marshals, drag race favorite Peppermint. Talk about the meaning of pride in today's combative cultural moment. That is next on Morning News now.
[01:17:14] Savannah Sellers: Right now with the challenges facing many recent college graduates as they enter a tough job market. A growing number of Gen Z job seekers are blaming artificial intelligence for the disappearing entry level opportunities they once expected to find. NBC News Daily anchor Kate Snow has more. Hey Kate, good morning.
[01:17:31] Speaker 34: Hey there, recent polls do show that younger people are increasingly less optimistic about what AI means for their future. And yes, there are certainly jobs being replaced, but experts say AI can't be blamed for all the job losses in the U.S. It's a bit more complicated. Trying to find a job in this job market as a new crowd sucks. A lot of young job seekers blaming artificial intelligence for not getting entry level roles. Gen Z's view of AI growing less hopeful and more angry. 59% of young Americans view AI as a threat to their job prospects. When older commencement speakers hailed AI this spring.
[01:18:08] Speaker 41: The rise of artificial intelligence is the next industrial revolution.
[01:18:15] Speaker 34: They were booed.
[01:18:16] Speaker 26: It was the architects of artificial intelligence. Interesting.
[01:18:21] Speaker 42: To see it so, so lovingly embraced comes off as tone deaf.
[01:18:26] Speaker 34: Ansh Bhutani just finished his freshman year at Rutgers University. Do you worry that when you get to senior year you're going to have trouble finding a job because of AI? Yes. Why?
[01:18:37] Speaker 42: Because theoretically I'm a college graduate. All I have is my degree. Why would a company hire me when they can just spend $200 on an enterprise anthropic subscription and completely replace my job?
[01:18:48] Speaker 34: The unemployment rate for young grads is 5.6% higher than the overall rate of 4.3. A recent Stanford study found young workers in areas like software development and customer support have seen employment drop 16% since AI tools became widely available. Companies cite AI as the reason they're laying off thousands. Do you think we're in the middle of an apocalypse where entry level jobs just can't be found?
[01:19:14] Speaker 33: No, I wouldn't call it an apocalypse. I would say it's a wobbly career ladder that risks being broken.
[01:19:21] Speaker 34: Harvard economist David Deming says he has empathy for graduating seniors, but AI is also easy to blame.
[01:19:28] Speaker 33: I think there are some companies that are genuinely replacing workers with AI, but there are also many companies who aren't really doing that but are using AI as a scapegoat rather than their own decision making.
[01:19:37] Speaker 34: As an excuse?
[01:19:38] Speaker 33: Yes.
[01:19:39] Speaker 34: And there are other factors taking jobs away. Companies may still be correcting for overhiring after the pandemic. And employers shifting to more remote workers might be hesitant to hire younger people who need training and mentoring. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said last week he actually expected more job losses.
[01:19:57] Joe Fryer: I think that the impact on jobs has been less than many people in our field expected.
[01:20:02] Speaker 34: Teachers and healthcare workers are in high demand. Bank of America touted hiring 2000 interns this summer and IBM says it will triple entry level hiring this year. Gen Z uses artificial intelligence more than any other generation and Deming says that's an advantage.
[01:20:19] Speaker 33: Every past technological revolution has benefited in the long run. Young, talented, ambitious, educated people.
[01:20:27] Speaker 34: He encourages his students to get creative.
[01:20:30] Speaker 33: It might be a time to maybe bet on yourself, take a little risk, do something that is interesting to you but feels less secure.
[01:20:36] Speaker 34: Anshbatani is majoring in business analytics with a minor in physics, but he wants to be a freelance writer. Are you concerned about your own future of getting a job in writing? No.
[01:20:46] Speaker 42: Why not? Because I'm a better writer than AI.
[01:20:50] Speaker 34: So these AI companies are very aware and they are responding to Gen Z and that whole backlash that we're seeing. Meta is investing 115 million to train skilled workers for AI infrastructure jobs. Microsoft last year committed cash and tech donations to expand access to AI education and skills training. Back to you. All right, Kate, great report.
[01:21:12] Joe Fryer: Thank you. We are now less than three weeks away from the NYC Pride Parade happening on June 28th right here in Manhattan. It's one of the biggest and longest running marches in the world celebrating LGBTQ+ rights every year. The parade features a powerhouse lineup of queer trailblazers who serve as grand marshals. These folks are nominated by their communities and allies to honor the work they do to fight for equality. Our next guest is one of this year's grand marshals for NYC Pride, Peppermint. You might know her from a little show called RuPaul's Drag Race where she was an international fan favorite and the first openly trans contestant on the show. Peppermint is no stranger to breaking glass ceilings. Recently made history as the first openly trans woman to originate a principal role on Broadway. Also serves as the first artist ambassador for trans justice with the ACLU. The icon herself is here in studio with me, Peppermint. Thanks so much for being here.
[01:22:07] Speaker 43: Happy Pride. Happy Pride.
[01:22:09] Joe Fryer: Welcome to our big gay apartment here that we have all set up for you. All right, so we have some beverages. We're going to get to that in a moment before we drink the tea. Let's spill the tea a little bit here. When you found out you were going to be one of the grand marshals, what was your reaction?
[01:22:21] Speaker 43: What did that mean to you? I was over the moon. I've done the parade several times over the years. New York City Pride, there's nothing like it. But getting a chance to be a grand marshal, carrying the legacy and being at the front of the parade. It's just, it's a dream come true because it's an opportunity to really highlight the needs of the trans community. Each of the grand marshals is asked to work together with a charity group. And so we have the opportunity to sort of focus on something.
[01:22:47] Joe Fryer: Let's talk more about that because you're working with GLAAD and also the advocates for trans equality. And one of the issues that you're focused on right now is fair housing for the LGBTQ+ community. That's really important right now, right?
[01:22:57] Speaker 43: A hundred percent. I mean, I think a lot of people hear about trans issues and they think it feels maybe foreign to them because they maybe don't know someone who's personally trans. But at the end of the day, all the things that the trans community wants are the same thing that everybody else wants. Access to housing, health care, the ability to make their own decisions about their own bodies and health and safety, you know?
[01:23:17] Joe Fryer: Yeah, we've seen so much anti-LGBTQ legislation over the past few years. Do you feel Pride has taken on a new or different meaning over the past few years? Maybe less of a focus on the party and more of a focus on what really started Pride at Stonewall more than 50 years ago?
[01:23:32] Speaker 43: Back to our roots. Absolutely. I mean, Pride started as what people say the slogan is Pride was a riot, you know, because it's inspired by the Stonewall riots, who in 1969 police came and raided the legendary Stonewall bar, Stonewall Inn, which is now a national monument. And, you know, the community fought back. And that was the beginning of the Pride, what we would call the Pride parade. Every single year we've done it to commemorate that moment. And Marsha P. Johnson, along with Sylvia Rivera, were both there as two trans women who were leading the charge. And so this year, the theme of Pride is for all of us, which is inspired by a Marsha P. Johnson quote, "No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us."
[01:24:16] Joe Fryer: You mentioned something that I think is important. A lot of people may not personally know a trans person in their life, but they see you on RuPaul or on your shows on Netflix and Hulu or they see you on Broadway. And that makes a difference in the world and just how we move forward, right?
[01:24:30] Speaker 43: I hope so. I mean, visibility is important and it's something that we have to keep, keep, keep up with. But at the same time, we also have to really focus on the quality of life issues that the trans community are facing, the threats. You know, right now, next week, I think we're getting ready to hear from the Supreme Court three determinations or three decisions. Access to gender-forming care, access to passports and access to sports on television. So the visibility is important, but then so is getting allies to march along with us so that we can all have equal rights. Before we get to the tea here, your Netflix show is coming out again. What should we know about it? "Survival of the Thickest," season three is the third and final season, starring Michelle Buteau. I am so excited. July 2nd is when it drops, all eight episodes.
[01:25:20] Joe Fryer: What do we need to know about the tea here? You were kind enough to bring us a little morning beverage.
[01:25:23] Speaker 43: Yes, having a summer beverage. This is called Peppermint's Transcendence. I partnered with Moody Tees, which is a small queer-owned tea company. And a portion of, yes, a portion, it's a deep blue vanilla mint tea. And a portion of every sale goes to advocates for trans equality. How'd you come up with this idea? Well, I knew, I didn't want to do like a t-shirt or something weird. I wanted to do something refreshing. You know, I am Peppermint. And so, having this tea, I think it speaks to me. It speaks to my flavor and style. But also, it focuses on advocates of trans equality, which is a trans-led national organization that focuses on quality of life issues, passports, identification, healthcare, the things that trans people need.
[01:26:05] Joe Fryer: Talk about where we're at right now in that moment. What are some of the biggest challenges, the biggest shifts you've seen, even in just the last couple of years, with what the trans community is facing? And what do you think are the solutions to try and help get over those things?
[01:26:19] Speaker 43: I think, I mean, I think we've seen, over the past few years, people starting to get familiar with the idea, maybe, of someone who's trans. But ultimately, we've seen a pushback, obviously led by this current administration, federally, and we're seeing all types of rights and sort of access to different things being rolled back, everything from healthcare to housing, as we said. And that's detrimental. If somebody doesn't have healthcare and housing and, you know, physical safety, then it's really tough to live. And so I think the important thing is that people understand that trans people are just like everybody else. We are human beings. We want the same things that everybody else wants. And so when you see a trans person who is in your space or you're hearing about that, it may feel foreign. But honestly, this is someone who's just trying to be safe and secure, just like everyone else is.
[01:27:05] Joe Fryer: Such an important message. So when you're riding in the front of that pride march in just a few weeks, have you thought about what you're wearing, what's going to be, or is it a surprise?
[01:27:15] Speaker 43: I mean, I'm auditioning a few things. Last week, I had the chance to try an all-leather get-up, which is not my normal style. But famously, Dykes on Bikes rides at the front of the parade, of course, to commemorate the lesbian championing of the LGBT community during the AIDS crisis. And so I don't know if leather is for me. Stay tuned.
[01:27:41] Joe Fryer: Peppermint, thank you so much. Congrats again. Oh, my gosh. Cheers. Cheers. All right. Coming up, it is a very special anniversary of one man's struggle to take it easy. When Morning News now returns, we're going to mark 40 years. Yes, 40 since the day off that helped define a generation. You could say life moves pretty fast. Don't worry. We're still here right after the break. We're back now with the major milestone and proof that life moves pretty fast. Today marks four decades since Ferris Bueller's day off first hit theaters. Since then, the beloved comedy has been translated into about 20 languages. And in 2014, it was entered into the Library of Congress's National Film Registry.
[01:28:21] Savannah Sellers: To commemorate the milestone, NBC News Entertainment correspondent Chloe Millas sat down with Ferris and Cameron themselves, Matthew Broderick and Alan Ruck, to reflect on the film's enduring legacy.
[01:28:33] Speaker 44: You just mind your P's and Q's, Buster, and remember who you're dealing with. Bueller. Ferris Bueller.
[01:28:41] Speaker 45: 40 years has moved fast since Ferris Bueller took his infamous day off. Does it feel like 40 years? Yoy.
[01:28:50] Speaker 44: It's just, it's mind-boggling, really. Yeah, it's a long time. If you're not over here in 15 minutes, you can find a new best friend.
[01:28:57] Speaker 46: You've been saying that since the fifth grade.
[01:29:00] Speaker 45: Matthew Broderick as the charismatic Ferris, and Alan Ruck as his neurotic best friend Cameron. The classic teen romp that made skipping class cool. Bueller.
[01:29:11] Speaker 26: Bueller.
[01:29:12] Speaker 45: The movie was an instant success, and one of 1986's highest grossing movies. What were you guys like as teenagers?
[01:29:22] Speaker 44: I was not much like Ferris, I guess. My idea of skipping school was to sit on a bench, and then at some point get a Snapple. That's, that was about the big day off. So you weren't stealing a car.
[01:29:36] Speaker 8: Wasn't stealing a car, right?
[01:29:38] Speaker 44: I did school for seven days in the fifth grade.
[01:29:41] Speaker 46: You serious? Seven days?
[01:29:43] Speaker 45: In the fifth grade?
[01:29:44] Speaker 46: You go to jail for that. I almost did. Wow. Got a whooping.
[01:29:48] Speaker 45: Come on, run a little. In the movie, Cameron lets Ferris take his dad's precious Ferrari out on a joyride that ends disastrously. What do you think Cameron's dad said to him when he found the car?
[01:30:06] Speaker 46: I don't think Cameron survived that day. I think his dad spent the rest of his life in Joliet prison.
[01:30:12] Speaker 44: I think it woke his dad up to that there was a problem and things got better. You're so positive.
[01:30:19] Speaker 45: Behind the scenes, the bomb between the two actors was unmistakable.
[01:30:23] Speaker 5: Are you sick of working with me yet? I'm not sick of working with you. I'm sick of hanging out with you. Yeah.
[01:30:29] Speaker 45: Talk to me about this friendship right here.
[01:30:31] Speaker 46: We did this play, Biloxi Blues, about a year before we did Bueller. I just think it's a similar sense of humor. So that was easy.
[01:30:40] Speaker 44: I remember first meeting you. So he was like the cool guy from Chicago, you know, with the grease in his hair.
[01:30:46] Speaker 45: After Ferris Bueller, Broderick became an '80s icon and took on Broadway. While Rockstar has risen thanks to HBO's succession.
[01:30:54] Speaker 46: If Willa doesn't come back, that's fine. Because I don't need love.
[01:30:58] Speaker 45: They've always stayed in touch. And now they're teaming up once again. You all are working together again on a movie called The Best Is Yet To Come. What was it like to film together again after all these years?
[01:31:10] Speaker 44: It was great, I thought. Yeah. And like no time had passed. He's great. I love working with him. He's so fun to talk to between, but you're also good when you're reading scripted dialogue. You're giving me money. Thank you. I'm not giving that back either. This worked out.
[01:31:29] Speaker 45: Four decades later, this duo's still going strong. And so is Ferris Bueller's popularity. The movie remains a cult classic that helped shape a generation.
[01:31:39] Speaker 46: I recall a circle parking fall. My joke always was when people said, will there be a sequel? I said, we're going to wait until we're in our 70s. And Cameron's in a home. And then Ferris comes and like, you know, liberates him. Get out of that bed. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think that we go do a bunch of nasty stuff.
[01:31:59] Speaker 44: And then Cameron dies. I'm dying. You're not dying. You just can't think of anything good to do.
[01:32:05] Speaker 45: As for that famous last line.
[01:32:07] Speaker 44: Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while. You could miss it.
[01:32:13] Speaker 45: What does it mean to you, those words, now looking back?
[01:32:16] Speaker 44: I think it is moving and I think it's that fleeting feeling of when everything was in front of you, hope. All things were possible. Yes.
[01:32:26] Speaker 46: If you just stay in the moment and enjoy what you have, you'd be all right. It's over. Go home.
[01:32:34] Speaker ?: Go.
[01:32:35] Speaker 44: What a way to end it.
[01:32:37] Speaker ?: Gotta watch that again. No kidding. Thanks to Chloe for that.
[01:32:40] Speaker 44: That's going to do it for this hour of morning news now.
[01:32:43] Joe Fryer: Stay with us though. The news continues right now.
[01:32:50] Speaker 5: We thank you for watching and remember, stay updated on breaking news and top stories on the NBC News app or watch live on our YouTube channel.