Nightly News Full Broadcast - Sept. 5

Introduction >>> TONIGHT, HUNTER BIDEN PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL TAX CHARGES. THE STUNNING CHANGE BY PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SON ON THE DAY HIS TRIAL WAS TO BEGIN. HUNTER BIDEN PLEADING GUILTY TO NINE TAX OFFENSES AFTER PROSECUTORS MADE IT CLEAR THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE TO A TRIAL WAS A GUILTY PLEA. THE PUNISHMENT HE NOW FACES AND WHAT HE IS SAYING TONIGHT. >>> ALSO, THE 14-YEAR-OLD GEORGIA SCHOOL SHOOTING SUSPECT CHARGED WITH FOUR COUNTS OF MURDER IN THE KILLING OF TWO STUDENTS AND TWO TEACHERS. THE SUSPECT AND HIS FATHER INTERVIEWED BY THE FBI LAST YEAR ABOUT ONLINE THREATS. COULD MORE HAVE BEEN DONE? AND HOW TEACHERS PRESS A BUTTON ON THEIR BADGES TO ALERT AUTHORITIES. WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW THE TECH WORKS. BUT CAN IT SAVE LIVES? >>> THE FBI SEARCHES THE HOMES OF SOME TOP DEPUTIES TO NEW YORK MAYOR ERIC ADAMS, SEIZING THEIR TELEPHONES. WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION. >>> FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP PITCHING HIS ECONOMIC PLAN. COULD ELON MUSK PLAY A ROLE IN A GOVERNMENT OVERHAUL? >>> THE BATTLE OVER U.S. STEEL. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TRYING TO PREVENT IT FROM BEING SOLD TO A JAPANESE COMPANY, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S WHAT SOME WORKERS WANT. AN ASSI NFL SEASON KICKS OFF. Hunter Biden pleads guilty to tax charges >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. THERE HAS BEEN A MAJOR LATE-BREAKING DEVELOPMENT IN THE FEDERAL CRIMINAL TAX CASE AGAINST PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SON HUNTER, WHO IN A DAY OF SURPRISE LEGAL TURNABOUTS HAS JUST CHANGED HIS PLEA TO GUILTY, ADMITTING TO ALL NINE COUNTS RELATED TO FILING FALSE TAX RETURNS AND NOT PAYING MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS IN TAXES, ALL WHILE PAYING FOR AN EXTRAVAGANT LIFESTYLE ON WHAT WAS TO BE THE FIRST DAY OF HIS TRIAL IN A LOS ANGELES COURTROOM, THE YOUNGER BIDEN'S ATTORNEYS CAUGHT PROSECUTORS OFFGUARD WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED HUNTER BIDEN WOULD FORMALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE STRENGTH OF THE GOVERNMENT'S CASE AGAINST HIM WHILE MAINTAINING HIS INNOCENCE, A RARELY USED PLAY IN FEDERAL COURT. BUT BY THIS AFTERNOON HE HAD CHANGED HIS PLEA TO GUILTY WITH NO CONDITIONS, AVOIDING WHAT WOULDDAY IF HE HAD RECONSIDERED, THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY SAID THE ANSWER WAS NO. HUNTER BIDEN WILL NOW FACE TWO DIFFERENT SENTENCING HEARINGS ON TWO DIFFERENT COASTS, BOTH AFTER THE ELECTION, LESTER. >> LET ME ASK YOU WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN ANOTHER FEDERAL COURTROOM TODAY. DEVELOPMENTS INVOLVING DONALD TRUMP. >> YES, HOLDING THE FIRST HEARING SINCE THE SUPREME COURT GRANTED HIM LIMITED PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY. BUT THE JUDGE LAYING OUT A TIMELINE HERE, LESTER, THAT ALL BUT GUARANTEES HE WILL NOT FACE ANY SUBSTANTIVE 14-year-old shooting suspect charged with murder TRIAL ON THIS ISSUE AND THE IMMUNITY ISSUE LIKELY NOT TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE NOVEMBER EITHER, LESTER. >> LAURA, THANK YOU FOR THAT. >>> NOW TO GEORGIA WHERE THE 14-YEAR-OLD SUSPECT IN THAT HIGH SCHOOL MASS SHOOTING WAS CHARGED WITH FOUR LITTLE BIT, I JUST CLOSED MY EYES AND I WAS HUGGING THE GIRL NEXT TO ME. >> AND PRIYA, THE SUSPECT HAD PREVIOUSLY SHOWN INTEREST IN SHOOTINGS. WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW ABOUT THAT? >> THAT'S RIGHT, LESTER. ACCORDING TO TWO SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WHO WERE BRIEFED ON THE INVESTIGATION, THE SUSPECT HAD SHOWN AN INTEREST IN THE PARKLAND MASS SHOOTING BACK IN 2018. Panic buttons alerted authorities to GA shooting OFFICIALS SAY THE SUSPECT'S FIRST APPEARANCE IN COURT WILL BE TOMORROW MORNING. LESTER. >> ALL RIGHT, PRIYA, THANK YOU. MORE NOW ON THE PANIC BUTTONS WE SHOWED YOU A MOMENT AGO, TEACHERS USING THEM IN GEORGIA YESTERDAY. IT'S TURNED OUT THAT THE SYSTEMS ARE INCREASINGLY BEING GIVEN TO TEACHERS TO USE WHEN THERE ARE EMERGENCIES IN THE CLASSROOM. HERE IS TOM WINTER NOW WITH HOW THEY WORK. >> Reporter: JUST A WEEK BEFORE THE SHOOTING AT APALACHEE HIGH SCHOOL, THE COUNTY PUT IN A NEW SYSTEM TO ALERT LAW ENFORCEMENT DURING EMERGENCIES. SO WHEN TEACHERS HEARD SHOTS YESTERDAY, SEVERAL IMMEDIATELY PRESSED WHAT AMOUNTS TO A PANIC BUTTON. >> THE TEACHERS EACH HAVE AN ID WITH THEIR PICTURE ON IT AND THEY HAVE A BUTTON ON THAT ID. THEY PRESS IT SO MANY TIMES. IT ALERTS US WHERE THAT IS OCCURRING. >> IT'S CALLED CENTEGICS. GINA DEVELOPED A SYSTEM CALLED SAFER WATCH. >> I POP THIS APP OPEN AND HIT THIS BUTTON RIGHT HERE AND SAY IT'S AN ACTIVE SHOOTER YOU. SAY HOLD THIS DOWN FOR THREE SECONDS? >> YES. >> Reporter: OKAY. INSTANTLY NOTIFYING LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND THEY'RE ABLE TO SEE WHO REPORTED THE EMERGENCY, EXACTLY WHERE IT'S HAPPENING. >> LET ME GIVE YOU A REAL LIFE EXAMPLE. AN ARMED INDIVIDUAL JUMPED OVER THE SCHOOL FENCE. THE PRINCIPLE PRESSED THE BUTTON THAT ALERT FROM SAFER WATCH GOES TO 911. >> Reporter: LORI'S DAUGHTER ALYSSA WAS KILLED DURING THE MASS SHOOTING IN PARKLAND, FLORIDA. SHE NOW PUSHING FOR STATES TO PASS LAWS MANDATING EVERY CLASSROOM HAVE A PANIC BUTTON TYPE DEVICE. >> IT HELPS TO HONOR MY DAUGHTER ALYSSA, AND EVERY TIME THAT PANIC BUTTON IS PUSHED, I KNOW THAT ALYSSA IS SAVING LIVES. >> Reporter: SEVEN STATES HAVE PASSED THE Federal agents search homes of top officials in NYC LAW, WHICH IS NAMED AFTER HER DAUGHTER. TOM WINTER, NBC NEWS. >>> NOW TO DRAMATIC NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN NEW YORK CITY. FEDERAL AGENTS SEARCHING HOMES OF OFFICIALS CLOSE TO MAYOR ERIC ADAMS. CHIEF JUSTICE CONTRIBUTOR JONATHAN DIENST JOINING US HERE. THERE IS ALSO NEWS INVOLVING THE POLICE COMMISSIONER NEW YORK. >> THAT'S RIGHT, LESTER. FEDERAL PROSECUTORS HAVE SEIZED THE CELL PHONE OF NYPD COMMISSIONER EDWARD CABAN ACCORDING TO THREE SOURCES. THE U.S. ATTORNEY LEADING THE INVESTIGATION HAS DECLINED TO COMMENT. WE WERE TOLD THIS DEVELOPMENT IS NOT RELATED TO THE SEPARATE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE PAST CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING OF NEW YORK'S DEMOCRATIC MAYOR ERIC ADAMS. ALSO TODAY, WE LEARNED THE HOMES OF MULTIPLE PEOPLE CLOSE TO ADAMS, INCLUDING TWO DEPUTY MAYORS WERE ALSO SEARCHED BY THE FBI. AND NUMEROUS PHONES SEIZED. CITY HALL SPOKESPERSON SAYS THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION THE MAYOR OR HIS STAFF RA THE TARGETS OF ANY Trump backs Musk 'efficiency commission' INVESTIGATION. IMPORTANT TO NOTE NO CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED IN ANY OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS, LESTER. >> OKAY, JONATHAN, THANK YOU. >>> LET'S TURN NOW TO THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP LAYING OUT PART OF HIS ECONOMIC VISION FOR A SECOND TERM WHICH COULD INCLUDE A ROLE FOR ELON MUSK. HERE IS VAUGHN HILLYARD. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, JUST DAYS FROM HIS CRITICAL FACE-OFF WITH VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP ZEROING IN ON A TOUGH ISSUE FOR VOTERS, THE ECONOMY. >> WE DELIVERED AN ECONOMIC MIRACLE, WHICH KAMALA AND JOE TURNED INTO AN ECONOMIC DISASTER. >> Reporter: AMONG TRUMP'S PLANS, INCREASING TARIFFS ON IMPORTS AND ELIMINATING TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AND TIPS. HARRIS RECENTLY ADOPTED HIS NO TAX ON TIPS PROPOSAL. >> SHE IS ACTUALLY COPYING A LOT OF MY PLAN. IN FACT WE'RE GOING TO SEND HER A MAGA CAP. >> Reporter: TRUMP TAKING A SUGGESTION FROM A REPORTER AND TECH BILLIONAIRE ELON MUSK TO CREATE A GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY COMMISSION WHICH WOULD AUDIT THE ENTIRE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CUT WASTE. >> AND ELON, BECAUSE HE IS NOT VERY BUSY, HAS AGREED TO HEAD THAT TASK FORCE. >> Reporter: TRUMP SIGN AND EXECUTIVE ORDER IN 2020 THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED FOR HIS ADMINISTRATION TO FIRE A SEGMENT OF THE FEDERAL CIVIL WORKFORCE AND HIRE HIS POLITICAL APPOINTEES IN THEIR PLACE. TODAY MUSK WRITING "I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING AMERICA IF THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES," BUT THAT COULD RAISE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST SINCE HE OWNS COMPANIES REGULATED BY THE GOVERNMENT. MEANWHILE, THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN ALSO FOCUSING ON THE ECONOMY IN THIS NEW AD. >> WHILE CORPORATIONS ARE GOUGING FAMILIES, TRUMP IS FOCUSED ON GIVING THEM TAX CUTS. BUT KAMALA HARRIS IS FOCUSED ON YOU. >> BUILDING UP THE MIDDLE CLASS WILL BE A DEFINING GOAL OF MY PRESIDENCY. >> Reporter: ALSO, FORMER REPUBLICAN CONGRESSWOMAN AND MEMBER OF THE JANUARY 6th SELECT COMMITTEE LIZ CHENEY WHO ONCE LABELED HARRIS A Harris and Trump oppose U.S. steel sale some workers want RADICAL LIBERAL SAYS SHE'LL NOW VOTE FOR HER, WARNING THAT TRUMP POSE AS DANGER. LESTER? >> OKAY, VAUGHN HILLYARD, THANK YOU. ONE OF THE FEW THINGS TRUMP AND HARRIS AGREE ON, THEY BOTH OPPOSE THE SALE OF U.S. STEEL TO A JAPANESE COMPANY. BUT SOME LOCAL WORKERS ARE DESPERATELY TRYING TO CHANGE THEIR MINDS. GABE GUTIERREZ EXPLAINS. >> Reporter: THIS IS U.S. STEEL, RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME 4,000 JOBS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA. AND NOW AT THE CENTER OF A FIGHT THAT'S GROWING MORE HEATED. WHAT FRUSTRATES YOU THE MOST ABOUT ALL THIS? >> I THINK THAT IT'S A LACK OF CONCERN, YOU KNOW. YOU'RE RIGHT, I'M PISSED. >> Reporter: CHRIS KELLY, A DEMOCRAT IS THE MAYOR OF WEST MIFFLIN, A SMALL TOWN NEAR WEST PITTSBURGH WITH THE STEEL PLANT. HIS GARAGE IS ALSO HIS OFFICE. AT FIRST HE WAS SKEPTICAL WHEN A JAPANESE COMPANY, NIPPON SAID IT WANTED TO BUY U.S. STEEL. BUT HE SAYS NIPPON WON HIM OVER BY PROMISING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LOCAL INVESTMENTS. >> I LEARNED WHAT THE DEAL IS ABOUT, WHAT THE OFFER IS, THE PROTECTION OF JOBS, TO PROTECT PENSIONS, PROTECTION AND MODERNIZATION. >> Reporter: NOW TWO PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH THE MATTER TELL NBC NEWS THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN IS PREPARING TO ANNOUNCE THAT HE WILL FORMALLY BLOCK THE SALE. EARLIER THIS WEEK, VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS SAID SHE OPPOSED IT TOO. >> U.S. STEEL SHOULD REMAIN AMERICAN-OWNED AND AMERICAN-OPERATED. >> Reporter: FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ALSO AGAINST THE SALE, BUT U.S. STEEL CEO IS WARNING WITHOUT NIPPON'S MONEY, SHEILA TO PULL OUT OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, COSTING THOUSANDS OF JOBS, INCLUDING PERHAPS TROI STEVENSON'S. HE HAS WORKED AT U.S. STEEL FOR 27 YEARS. HOW WORRIED ARE YOU ABOUT YOUR JOB IF THIS DEAL FALLS THROUGH? >> VERY, VERY. I MEAN WE WORRY ABOUT OUR JOBS ALL THE TIME. RIGHT NOW WITH WHAT WE KNOW, WE FEEL LIKE NIPPON IS THE BETTER DEAL. >> Reporter: STILL, UNION LEADERSHIP ARGUES THAT DEAL WOULD BENEFIT STOCK HOLDERS, NOT WORKERS, AND IT DOESN'T BELIEVE THE CEO'S THREAT. >> I THINK IT IS THE MOST BASELESS, IRRESPONSIBLE THREAT AND STATEMENT THAT ANY CEO COULD POSSIBLY MAKE. >> Reporter: MAYOR CHRIS KELLY, THOUGH, THINKS HIS TOWN IS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. >> I BELIEVE EVERYBODY IS BEING PLAYED AS A PAWN. >> Reporter: AND AS THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN INTENSIFIES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, THE MAYOR SAYS HE HAS A MESSAGE FOR HARRIS AND DONALD TRUMP. JAPANESE INVESTMENT IS BETTER THAN NONE AT ALL. LESTER? >> GABE GUTIERREZ IN PITTSBURGH, THANK YOU. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, SO MANY STUDENTS USE THEIR CELL PHONES TO CALL LOVED ONES DURING School shooting ignites debate over cell phones THE MASS SHOOTIN >>> THIS SCHOOL YEAR, MANY DISTRICTS HAVE NEW RESTRICTIONS ON PHONE USE. BUT THE SHOOTING IN GEORGIA IS NOW RE-IGNITING THE DEBATE OVER WHETHER PHONES SHOULD BE ALLOWED. REHEMA ELLIS REPORTS. >> Reporter: WHEN SHOTS RANG OUT IN WINDER, GEORGIA, SHE CALLED HER MOTHER TABITHA FROM INSIDE THE SCHOOL. >> IT'S SCARY, AND I'M THANKFUL SHE DID HAVE HER PHONE SO I COULD KNOW THAT SHE WAS IN THIS SITUATION. >> Reporter: INCREASINGLY, SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE ARE PUTTING LIMITS ON KIDS' CELL PHONES. TONIGHT, THE TRAGIC SCHOOL SHOOTING HAS A LOT OF PARENTS CONCERNED ABOUT STAYING IN TOUCH. CARRIE RODRIGUEZ IS PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL PARENTS UNION. WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM PARENTS? >> DEEP FRUSTRATION, DEEP FEAR, DEEP ANXIETY THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THEIR CHILD IF AN EMERGENCY ARISES. AND FRANKLY, IF A CHILD NEEDS TO REACH OUT TO A PARENT FOR HELP AND SUPPORT, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO SO. >> Reporter: 2100 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MARIETTA, GEORGIA, HAVE BEEN LOCKING THEIR CELL PHONES IN POUCHS SINCE LAST SPRING. >> WHAT WE WANT IS STUDENTS TO BE FOCUSED AND PRESENT AND FREE FROM DISTRACTIONS IN CLASS. >> Reporter: SUPERINTENDENT DR. GRANT RIVERA SAYS THE DECISION CAME AFTER EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ABOUT WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY. >> ONE OF THE DYNAMICS THEY'VE SHARED WITH US IS WE DON'T WANT STUDENTS BEING DISTRACTED BY CELL PHONES WHILE THEY ARE LISTENING TO THE DIRECTIVES AND COMMANDS OF ADULTS WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED ON HOW TO RESPOND. >> Reporter: DR. RIVERA SAYS UNLIKE SOME OTHER SCHOOLS, IN MARIETTA, EVERY CLASSROOM HAS A DEVICE TO QUICKLY UNLOCK THE POUCHS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY AND WHEN IT'S SAFE TO DO SO. TONIGHT, PARENTS AND Airline rewards investigation >>> TONIGHT, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS LAUNCHING AN INVESTIGATION INTO AIRLINES' LOYALTY REWARDS PROGRAMS AND IF THOSE MILES YOU'VE BEEN SAVING UP WILL TAKE YOU AS FAR AS YOU THINK. HERE IS TOM COSTELLO. >> Reporter: THE AIRLINES NOW THE FOCUS OF A D.O.T. INVESTIGATION UNITED AMERICAN, DELTA, AND SOUTHWEST, ALL FOUR ORDERED TO PROVIDE DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR REWARDS PROGRAMS, PRACTICES, AND POLICIES. IN A LETTER TO AIRLINE CEO'S TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY GENERAL PETE BUTTIGIEG WRITES THE GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT CUSTOMER REWARDS ARE PROTECTED FROM ANY PRACTICES THAT WOULD DIMINISH THEIR VALUE, BENEFIT OR AVAILABILITY. >> MANY CONSUMERS CULTIVATE MILES OR BALANCES JUST LIKE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. BUT UNLIKE THE DOLLARS IN OUR SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, THE VALUE OF POINTS AND MILES IS COMPLETELY UP TO THE COMPANIES THAT ISSUE THEM. >> Reporter: CUSTOMERS EARN REWARDS BY FLYING OR USE AGCO BRANDED CREDIT CARD. BUT MANY AIRLINES RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE TERMS AND VALUE OF ACCRUED POINTS, WITH AMERICANS RELYING ON ACCRUED POINTS FOR FAMILY VACATIONS, THE PROBE IS FOCUSED ON AIRLINES THAT DEVALUE AWARD POINTS, THE TRUE HIDDEN VALUES OF REWARDS, EXTRA FEES TO MAINTAIN OR REDEEM AWARDS AND WHETHER PROGRAMS REDUCE COMPETITION AND CHOICE. PASSENGER LAUREN RANDALL SAYS IT OFTEN FEELS LIKE BAIT AND SWITCH. >> IT FEELS THERE IS AN ALGORITHM STACKED AGAINST ME WHEN I'M TRYING TO BOOK THE FLIGHTS THROUGH MY MILES AND I'M NOT GETTING ANY BENEFIT OUT OF IT. >> Reporter: MILLIONS OF AMERICANS USE LOYALTY PROGRAMS AND AIRLINES ARE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THE PROG BUSINESS. >> ON THREE, ONE, TWO, THREE! >> Reporter: JESSE KIRSCH, TENNESSEE. >> A LOT OF PRIDE THERE. >>> SUPER BOWL IS BACK. THE CHIEFS TAKE ON THE RAVENS TONIGHT. COVERAGE KICKS OFF AT