NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Episode Date: February 14, 2024

Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas impeached in a historic vote, a major winter storm slams the Northeast, and President Biden slams former President Trump over NATO comments.

Breaking news tonight, two major stories. The historic vote to impeach the Homeland Secretary and the biggest snowstorm to hit parts of the Northeast in more than two years. After failing the first time, the House GOP impeaching DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over border security by one vote. Democrats calling it a sham.

It comes after the Senate passed funding for Ukraine and Israel without new border security measures. calling it a sham. It comes after the Senate passed funding for Ukraine and Israel without new border security measures. But is it already dead on arrival at the House? What Speaker Mike Johnson is saying. Also tonight, that powerful winter storm, more than a foot of snow across multiple states. New York City deploying clouds for the first time in two years. Driving dangers up and down the I-95 corridor. A deadly snowmobile accident in Pennsylvania. More than a thousand flights canceled. We're tracking it all. New Yorkers braving the snow to vote in the special election to replace George Santos. Can Democrats flip his

seat? What it means come November. President Biden slamming former President Trump, calling his recent comments about NATO allies shameless and un-American. The slide on Wall Street, the Dow falling more than 500 points after the new report on inflation, what it means for your money, and the team building connections in his community, Lego by Lego. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome everyone. The standoffs in Congress on everything from funding the war in Ukraine to immigration policy are taking on historic proportions tonight as Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has become the second cabinet secretary in U.S. history to be impeached. Just a week after their first vote to impeach Mayorkas over his handling of the border went

down in flames, Republicans tonight had the votes. But another big showdown drawing attention tonight, President Biden's rebuke of Donald Trump over his recent remarks about NATO. The president calling the Republican frontrunner's comments un-American. Ryan Nobles is at the Capitol. Ryan, break it all down for us. Lester, for the first time in close to 150 years, a sitting cabinet secretary has been impeached by the House of Representatives. It was a close vote, 214 to 213.

And it comes just one week after House Republicans failed to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas. Tonight, just one week after House Republicans failed attempt to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, round two. This time they have the votes, accusing the Biden cabinet official of unlawfully allowing millions of migrants to cross the border, which Mayorkas denies. What he's done is violated the statutes. He hadn't enforced what the laws of the land. All as there's a new showdown tonight over aid to Ukraine. After the Senate muscled through a massive bipartisan $95 billion spending package in the early morning hours, including $60 billion for Ukraine. President Biden demanding the House pass it immediately.

Failure to support Ukraine at this critical moment will never be forgotten. Biden slamming these comments from Trump, where he recounted a conversation with a NATO member encouraging Russia to attack countries who'd not met their financial pledges to the alliance. I said, you didn't pay, you're delinquent. He said, yes, let's say that happened. No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You got to pay. Can you imagine a former president of the United States saying that? The whole world heard it. The worst thing is world heard it. The worst thing is he means it.

And delivering this blistering rebuke. No other president in our history has ever bowed down to a Russian dictator. Let me say this as clearly as I can. I never will. For God's sake, it's dumb. It's shameful. It's dangerous. It's un-American.

Many Republicans defending Mr. Trump. I'm 100% behind him. It's dangerous. It's un-American. Many Republicans defending Mr. Trump. I'm 100% behind him and have been. He started this years ago when he even went over there to their face and said, listen, what American taxpayers can't afford to keep paying your bills. Meanwhile, that package in the Senate also contained more than $14 billion for Israel. But it does not include any funding for domestic border security. After Republicans, with Trump's backing, killed a bipartisan border security bill, saying it was not tough enough.

Tonight, House Speaker Mike Johnson saying that's the price for any new money for Ukraine. National security begins with border security. We have said that all along. Ryan Nobles, NBC News, Capitol Hill. And this evening, Mr. Trump's last remaining GOP opponent, Nikki Haley, is also slamming the Republican frontrunner's remarks about NATO and what he said about her husband, who is serving overseas. It's part of an exclusive interview with The Today Show. But you said he's no longer qualified to be president. If you don't know the value of our men and women in uniform, if you don't know the sacrifice that they go through, why should I, as a military spouse and all our military families, trust you to know you're going to keep them out of harm's way?

If you are saying you're going to side with Putin, that I know is going to cause a war, not stop a war. Why would any military family feel like you could go and keep our men and women protected? Because you can't. The reality is he's never been anywhere near a military uniform. He's never had to sleep on the ground. He's never known how to sacrifice. And the most harm he's ever possibly had is getting hit by a golf ball when he's sitting in a golf cart.

That's the truth. And you can see much more of Craig Melvin's interview with Nikki Haley tomorrow morning on Today. And while Washington fights over that foreign funding, Ukraine says the delay is having an impact on the battlefield in its fight against Russia. Richard Engel is in Ukraine for us tonight. I returned today to the city of Kherson, near the front line in southern Ukraine. It was largely empty. Russian troops just a few hundred yards away now attack

with artillery and drones about 30 times every day. It wasn't always this dire. Two years ago, when Russian troops invaded Ukraine, they quickly occupied Kherson until Ukrainian troops found their feet and liberated the city. It turned out to be Ukraine's last major victory. The counteroffensive fizzled. Russia still holds about 20 percent of Ukraine's territory and now has the advantage of momentum. Vlad Nedostop works with Ukraine's civilian defense here. They're firing a lot all the time. If you don't get more ammunition, are you going to lose this war? Yes. Down here in the basement, they've organized a small show for the kids underground. Under a theater, volunteers dressed like angels play Pass the Hat.

If the music stops and you have the hat, you have to get on stage and do a crazy dance. Eva Dubovia is 11 years old. What's it like to live like that? To live here with that weight, that burden? Every day could be your last because bombs are falling close by and you have to run to a shelter. This is our life, our reality.

And it's a nightmare, she says. And this is the only safe place in the city where children can play. President Zelensky tonight called on Congress to approve more aid, saying the world is waiting for American leadership. Lester. Richard Engel tonight. Thank you. And just in this evening, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is out of the hospital after his third stay in two months. Austin returned to Walter Reed Sunday for a bladder issue following treatment for prostate cancer in December. He was also hospitalized last month after experiencing complications and later apologized for keeping it secret. Also tonight, the Northeast is reeling from a fast-moving and, dare we say, unusual snowstorm.

Unusual in that it's been two years since many of the cities in its path have seen much in the way of measurable snow. Emily Aketa reports. A swift-moving snowstorm bearing down on the Northeast today, burying neighborhoods, walkways, and roads. New York deployed plows to parts of the city for the first time in two years. I really want to thank New Yorkers for taking this seriously. We want to urge New Yorkers to continue to do so. Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New Jersey all clocking in well over a foot of snow, falling up to two inches an hour during the morning commute. Plows at times having trouble keeping up with the pace of the snowfall, making roadways treacherous. Take a look at this car that slid off the roadway into this embankment, almost down into the ravine

below. The storm took a deadly turn in Pennsylvania, where police say a 20-year-old on a snowmobile was killed when he collided with a Downs utility line. Across the state, more than 140,000 people lost power. A tree slamming into this car in Harrisburg. It is slippery. We were fortunate to have our ace truck here this morning. The winter wallop captured by a satellite prompting a ground stop at JFK and canceling roughly 1,200 flights. Paige Jacobs among the discouraged travelers. It was a little stressful because we didn't know how many times it was going to get delayed. Across the region, schools closed.

An attempt at remote learning in New York City was met by a series of tech issues and frustration from parents. I mean, there's a lot of glitches, so it was really difficult. New York City Schools Chancellor saying IBM wasn't prepared. We'll be doing a full analysis of what happened here because we don't expect this to be the last remote day that we have. While the February nor'easter has been a headache for many, others are embracing the winter wonderland after a lackluster season. You can't believe how much snow there is.

Emily Ikeda, NBC News, Ridgewood, New Jersey. In New York, voters braving that snow to vote in the special election to replace expelled Republican Congressman George Santos. Democrats hoping to flip the seat and further chip away the House GOP's majority. Here's Stephanie Gosk. Even in the driving snow, New York's 3rd District came out with purpose. Because you can't complain about the way things are if you're not going to do something bad. Why was it important for you to come out even in this crazy weather? Oh, because I want Maisie to win. That's why. Republican Mazie Pillip,

an Orthodox Jew born in Ethiopia, served in the Israel Defense Forces and then immigrated to the U.S. I know there's one option. This is Mozzie. Tom Swazie created this mess. Democrat Tom Swazie is a longtime fixture in Long Island politics, holding this congressional seat for six years before a failed run for governor. She's Santos 2.0. We don't really know anything about her. Whoever wins will replace disgraced Congressman George Santos, one of four New York Republicans to flip congressional seats in the 2022 midterms, helping the party secure a narrow majority. But then scandal hit.

The New York Times uncovering lies Santos told about his education and employment history, followed by a federal indictment. Santos pleaded not guilty to charges including wire fraud and theft of public funds. Congressman, did you take campaign donations and use that money to buy expensive suits? No, I did not. After a blistering House ethics report, Santos was expelled from Congress. Now one of the top issues in the special election to replace him, immigration. I'll work across the aisle to do what our leaders haven't, secure our border.

Because Tom Suozzi repeatedly weakened America's borders. Part of the third district is in Queens, where Pillip campaigned outside a temporary migrant shelter. New York has become a border state. Who these New Yorkers blame for the mess at the border may decide this election and be a sign of what's to come nationwide in November. Stephanie Gosk, NBC News, Long Island, New York. Well, turn now to the thousands of flight attendants walking picket lines today, just as the nation's ride-sharing services are

preparing for a driver's strike tomorrow. Tom Costello is watching it all for us. Tom, good evening. Hey, Lester. So let's start with the flight attendants today. Roughly 5,000 walked picket lines at about 30 airports nationwide, including Orlando, Miami, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Dallas. The three unions are in contract talks with big airlines, Alaska, Southwest, United, JetBlue, Frontier, Wisconsin, and American Airlines. They are demanding better pay and working conditions. This was only a picket today, not a strike, so flights should have still been fully staffed. Meanwhile, Uber, Lyft and some delivery drivers are planning to strike tomorrow in about 10 cities and targeting airports.

They're also demanding better pay and improved driver safety. Lester. Tom, thanks. In 60 seconds, the dramatic new video, a plane crashing right onto the highway in Florida and the jitters on Wall Street, the new inflation report and what it means for your money. We're back with terrifying new video from Florida showing a private plane crashing onto a busy interstate. You can see the moment of impact and smoke billowing on the road. The crash happened Friday, killing two of the five people on board. Now to the economy and a rough day for the markets. The Dow falling more than 500 points after inflation slowed last month, but not as much as expected. The January consumer price index rose 3.1 percent, still far from the Federal

Reserve's target. Our senior business correspondent, Christine Romans, is here to explain what drove the surprise. You know, Lester, gasoline and used car and truck prices fell. Housing, groceries, car insurance and health care, among the biggest costs for most people, well, they all rose. And when you look at the cumulative effect, overall prices are almost 20 percent higher today than four years ago before the pandemic. And grocery prices, they're up 25 percent. That's hitting people when they go to the store. It's part of the disconnect we are seeing between recent progress on inflation and strong economic numbers and how people are feeling. And with inflation not coming down more sharply last month, you saw that big drop in the markets today, in part because the Fed

is now less likely to lower interest rates anytime soon. All right, Christine, thank you. We're back in a moment with a proposed crackdown on driverless cars in California and a new warning about their safety. Driverless cars in California could be forced to follow a new set of laws after an NBC News investigation exposed a lack of penalties when they violate the rules of the road. Bagad Shaban of our Bay Area station has details and new reporting on safety concerns. Close call in the crosswalk as these adults in San Francisco rush two kids out of the way to avoid being hit and then do a double take as they watch the car cruise by with no driver. This so-called robo taxi is operated by Cruise, the embattled driverless car company

largely owned by General Motors. That's now the subject of at least five separate government probes. And just one day after that near miss last summer, seven-year-old Luke says the same thing happened to him and his parents across town. I started to like go a little faster. Because it was heading towards you? Yeah. Then it swerved this way. Did you worry it was going to hit you? Yeah. If I didn't run, it would have hit me probably.

So this is where you crossed that day? Exactly. Sasha Retio is Luke's dad. You thought it was safe to cross here because you saw the cruise car stop at the stop sign? Fully stopped. Fully stopped. And then it started when we had gotten maybe a third of the way or halfway across the intersection. And it started to accelerate. Transportation documents we obtained showed that California DMV is now investigating. But Cruise, which pulled its entire fleet off the road last fall amid

safety concerns, says its records show none of its driverless cars traveled through that specific intersection around the time the family says they were almost hit. Cruise adding, we are committed to operating with safety and transparency and continue to investigate this incident. Sasha says there's no mistaking the logo he saw. And I was just angry, super angry that my kid could have been hurt or killed by this cruise vehicle. Critics argue driverless cars lack oversight. Late last year, we reported on a loophole that's been allowing some of the nation's driverless cars to avoid penalties when they break the rules of the road. Here in California, we discovered traffic tickets

have to be issued to an actual person. So driverless cars have pretty much been immune to those fines. It's really been a very glaring hole in the law. California Assemblyman Phil Ting wants companies held liable and traffic tickets sent to them. So he's pushing for a new state law following our investigation. Really appreciate that story for coming out and highlighting, frankly, the need for the legislation that I'm introducing. The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association says it's open to change. Jeff Farah is the group's CEO. If there is clarification that needs to be made in California, we are committed to sitting down and working that through with the appropriate policymakers.

But even if the bill gets the green light, driverless cars will likely be able to continue steering clear of those traffic fines until the new law goes into effect next year. Bigachaban, NBC News, San Francisco. Up next for us tonight, the scaffolding coming down on the historic Notre Dame Cathedral, plus how this team is inspiring equality to build a better future, one Lego at a time. We're back with good news in Paris, where the Notre Dame Cathedral Spire is back in view, now featuring a golden rooster and a cross. Construction workers took down the scaffolding around it today, nearly five years after a devastating fire. More scaffolding is sent to come down in the weeks ahead. Finally tonight, a teen builder with a bright idea,

inspiring through the gift of so many of our childhoods, Legos. Here's Steve Patterson. Like all 17-year-olds, Charlie Jeffers is trying to make all the pieces fit together. On top of school, work, and everything else, Charlie is laying a larger foundation. And no, I don't just mean building Legos. Charlie is the head of his very own non-profit, Pass the Bricks, taking discarded Lego sets and rebuilding them for donations to local charities. Every brick has the opportunity to get kind of like another life,

and that every person who wants lego has a has access to that he came up with the idea after noticing so many of those beloved tiny pieces end up in a landfill might as well just kind of reuse what we have instead of making more for charlie so these are all the donated bricks that we haven't sorted through yet that means collecting hundreds of donations sanitizing the Legos, designing new sets, and delivering them to children in need. What started as a small way to give back to his community is being built out more than he ever imagined. Charlie now has volunteers in 38 cities around the world, collecting 1,500 pounds of bricks and donating over 3,500 sets.

Did you think it would be so big? I hoped, but I didn't know. It's been, I mean, awesome. But for Charlie, it's simple. I definitely always feel that same joy when I build. If even one kid that gets one of these sets can feel that same thing, I think that's all I need. If even, you know, one kid that gets one of these sets can feel that same thing, I think that's all I need. That's awesome. One teen's repurposed passion, bridging the gap,

brick by brick. Steve Patterson, NBC News, Marin County, California. What a gift. That is nightly news for this Tuesday. Thank you for watching, everyone. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.