Nightly News Full Broadcast - Aug. 27

Intro >>> TONIGHT, THE NEW INDICTMENT AGAINST FORMER-PRESIDENT TRUMP. THE SPECIAL COUNSEL TAKING ANOTHER SWING AT PROSECUTING DONALD TRUMP FOR ELECTION INTERFERENCE. SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH SECURING A SUPERSEDING INDICTMENT AGAINST THE FORMER PRESIDENT, A NEW GRAND JURY HEARING THE EVIDENCE AND DETERMINING CRIMES WERE COMMITTED. BUT THE KEY DIFFERENCE TONIGHT, SOME KEY CLAIMS REMOVED. WHAT IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH THAT BLOCKBUSTER SUPREME COURT HEARING ON PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY. >>> PLUS, AFTER WEEKS, THE HARRIS-WALZ TICKET AGREEING TO A SITDOWN INTERVIEW. WHAT WE JUST LEARNED. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE EXTREME HEAT ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY. MORE THAN 70 MILLION ON ALERT. IN CHICAGO, THE HEAT INDEX HITTING A SWELTERING 115 DEGREES. >>> PLUS, SEVERE STORMS DOWNING TREES, UNLEASHING HAIL AND SENDING STATE FAIR GOERS RUNNING FOR COVER. >>> IN THE NORTHEAST, THE STATE REPORTING ITS FIRST DEADLY CASE IN TEN YEARS OF A RARE MOSQUITO-BORNE VIRUS. >>> THE DEADLY ACCIDENT AT ATLANTA'S AIRPORT. A PLANE TIRE REPORTEDLY EXPLODING. TWO WORKERS KILLED, A THIRD SERIOUSLY INJURED. WHAT WE'RE LEARNING. >>> THE HOSTAGE RESCUED FROM GAZA AND BACK ON ISRAELI SOIL AFTER 326 DAYS IN CAPTIVITY. HIS FAMILY SEEN RUNNING TO GREET HIM. >>> THE DRUGMAKER SLASHING PRICES ON ONE NEWS FROM THE FAMOUS FEUDING BROTHERS BEHIND OASIS. ♪ ♪ Trump charged in new election indictment >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> AND GOOD EVENING. I'M TOM LLAMAS IN FOR LESTER. >>> IN THIS ALREADY EXTRAORDINARY ELECTION SEASON, THERE IS ANOTHER STUNNING DEVELOPMENT TO REPORT TONIGHT. SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH OBTAINING A NEW INDICTMENT FROM A FEDERAL GRAND JURY IN THE ELECTION INTERFERENCE CASE AGAINST FORMER-PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. IT FOLLOWS THE RECENT SUPREME COURT RULING THAT FOUND PRESIDENTS HAVE BROAD IMMUNITY FOR OFFICIAL ACTS WHILE IN OFFICE. THIS NEW INDICTMENT REMOVES PART OF THE CASE COVERED BY THAT SUPREME COURT RULING, AND IT COMES THE DAY AFTER WE LEARNED THAT THE SPECIAL COUNSEL HAS ASKED A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT TO REINSTATE THE CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS CASE AGAINST THE FORMER PRESIDENT. IT ALL ADDS UP TO NEW COMPLICATIONS FOR TRUMP, JUST OVER TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION. AS WE GET NEW REACTION FROM THE FORMER PRESIDENT TONIGHT, WE START WITH SENIOR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT LAURA JARRETT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TRYING TO BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO THE CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST FORMER-PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR TRYING TO REVERSE THE LAST ELECTION AS HE RUNS FOR REELECTION. THE GOP NOMINEE NOW FACING A SUPERSEDING INDICTMENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WITH THE SAME CORE CHARGES BUT STRIPPED AWAY OF SOME OF THE ALLEGED ACTS THE SUPREME COURT HAS SAID ARE OFF LIMITS AND IMMUNE FROM PROSECUTION. PROSECUTORS HAD ACCUSED MR. TRUMP OF A SWEEPING PLOT TO STAY IN OFFICE, LEANING ON HIS DOJ, VP AND STATE OFFICIALS TO HELP HIM OVERTURN THE ELECTION RESULTS, ALL CULMINATING IN THE VIOLENT ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL ON JANUARY 6th. >> MY OFFICE WILL SEEK A SPEEDY TRIAL SO THAT OUR EVIDENCE CAN BE TESTED IN COURT. >> Reporter: BUT THE CASE WAS MARRED IN APPEALS AND DELAYS. THE SUPREME COURT'S CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY DEALING THE REAL BLOW IN JULY, FINDING MR. TRUMP CANNOT BE PROSECUTED FOR ANY OFFICIAL ACTS AS PRESIDENT, SENDING THE CASE BACK TO THE LOWER COURT TO PARSE OUT WHAT HE CAN BE PROSECUTED FOR, IF ANYTHING. >> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING IF YOU DON'T HAVE IMMUNITY, BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE PROSECUTED AFTER YOU LEAVE OFFICE. >> Reporter: THE FORMER PRESIDENT PLED NOT GUILTY TO ALL CHARGES, AND TONIGHT A SOURCE FAMILIAR WITH HIS LEGAL STRATEGY TELLS NBC NEWS HE WILL DO THE SAME FOR THIS REVISED INDICTMENT, AS HIS DEFENSE BELIEVES IT INCLUDES THE SAME FATAL FLAWS INCLUDING MR. TRUMP'S PRESSURE ON HIS FORMER VP. HIS NEW RUNNING MATE POUNCING ON THAT. >> I THINK IT IS A CLEAR EFFORT TO TO DO MORE ELECTION INTERFERENCE FROM JACK SMITH. HE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF HIMSELF AND IT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE SHOULD WIN BECAUSE HE SHOULD NOT BE NEAR POWER. >> LAURA JARRETT JOINING US LIVE IN STUDIO. WE ARE GETTING REACTION FROM THE FORMER PRESIDENT? >> YES, MR. TRUMP CRANKING OUT ON HIS SOCIAL PLAT FOREIGN SAYING THAT THE SPECIAL COUNSEL REWROTE IT TO TRY TO BE IN LINE WITH THE SUPREME COURT DECISION WHEN, IN FACT, CONVERSATIONS WITH DOJ AND OTHER ADVISERS WERE STRIPPED OUT, BUT THEY LEFT IN CONVERSATIONS WITH PENCE AND THAT'S WHY THEY WILL TRY TO DISMISS THE ELECTION. IT WILL TAKE TIME. >> WE HAVE DEBATES AND ELECTIONS AROUND THE CORNER, WILL IT KEEP HIM OFF THE CAMPAIGN TRIAL? >> NO, THERE WILL BE ROUNDS OF BRIEFINGS, ROUNDS OF ARGUMENTS. WE ARE TALKING WEEKS, Trump: 'Reached an agreement' to debate IF NOT LONGER, BUT IT WILL BE IN FRONT OF THE TRIAL COURT ON SEPTEMBER 5th. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT, LAURA. >>> SPEAKING OF THE DEBATE, EARLIER TODAY THE FORMER PRESIDENT SAID HE WILL TAKE PART IN FIRST DEBATE WITH VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS SET FOR TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY. NEWS TONIGHT, THE HARRIS-WALZ TICKET WILL SIT DOWN FOR THEIR FIRST INTERVIEW. GARRETT HAAKE IS FOLLOWING IT ALL TONIGHT. GARRETT, GOOD EVENING. >> Reporter: HEY, TOM. GOOD EVENING. A DAY AFTER CASTING DOUBT ABOUT HIS PARTICIPATION, DONALD TRUMP SAYS HE IS ONCE AGAIN IN AGREEMENT WITH THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THE DEBATE ON SEPTEMBER 10th. WHILE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AIDES SAY THE RULES WILL BE THE SAME AS THE LAST DEBATE WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN, INCLUDING MICROPHONES MUTED FOR THE CANDIDATE NOT SPEAKING, THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN SAYS NEGOTIATIONS ON THE MICS ARE ONGOING. IN A STATEMENT MOCKED TRUMP FOR, QUOTE, LETTING HIS HANDLERS OVERRULE HIM ON THAT ISSUE. SEPARATELY, WE LEARNED TONIGHT THAT HARRIS AND HER RUNNING MATE TIM WALZ WILL SIT FOR Extreme heat and storms impact millions THEIR FIRST JOINT INTERVIEW THURSDAY IN GEORGIA ON CNN. TOM. >> GARRETT HAAKE FOR US. GARRETT, WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. >>> WE WANT TO TURN NOW TO THE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS OUTSIDE FOR SO MANY. MUCH OF THE COUNTRY DEALING WITH EXTREME LATE SUMMER HEAT, IN SOME CASES BREAKING RECORDS, AS WELL AS FLASH FLOODING. MAGGIE VESPA IS FOLLOWING IT ALL AND HAS THE LATE DETAILS. >> Reporter: THIS SUMMER OF SEVERE WEATHER SLAMMING COMMUNITIES FROM COAST TO COAST. >> WHOLE TREE JUST WENT DOWN. IT IS DONE. >> Reporter: FROM HAIL IN NEW ENGLAND TO A TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR IN MINNESOTA THAT SENT STATE FAIR GOERS RUNNING, AND TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT INDEX VALUES BROILING TENS OF MILLIONS ACROSS THE MIDWEST AND NOW EXPANDING EAST. IN PHILADELPHIA, CLOSE TO 60 SCHOOLS ARE CLOSING EARLY TODAY AND TOMORROW WITH NEAR 100-DEGREE TEMPS EXPECTED TOMORROW. >> NOT FULLY EQUIPPED AS FAR AS AIR CONDITIONING AND PREPARED FOR THE CHILDREN TO COME BACK. >> Reporter: CHICAGO TODAY FEELING LIKE A MIND-BLOWING 115 DEGREES. >> THAT'S CRAZY. >> ISN'T THAT CRAZY? >> YES. >> HORRIBLE. >> Reporter: HOW DOES THAT HIT YOU? >> IT IS TERRIBLE. >> Reporter: CROWDS RETREATING TO LAKE MICHIGAN. >> WE HAVE AVAILABILITY STARTING TODAY. >> Reporter: AND CALLING AC REPAIR SHOPS LIKE DELL JOE HEATING AND COOLING IN DROVES. >> OUR CALL VOLUME IS PROBABLY UP 30% VERSUS LAST WEEK. >> Reporter: DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE REALLY HOT STRETCHES HAVE BECOME MORE COMMON? ARE YOU SEEING MORE OF THEM? >> YES, I THINK THEY'VE BECOME MORE COMMON WHERE WE'VE HAD, LIKE, WEEKS AT A TIME WHERE WE'RE SEEING 100 DEGREES. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, WITH THE THREAD OF A SECOND LANDSLIDE LOOMING, THE TOWN OF KETCHIKAN MOURNS A FATHER AND HUSBAND KILLED SUNDAY AFTER A HILLSIDE CAME CRASHING DOWN. HE IS REMEMBERED FOR HIS DEDICATION, POSITIVE SPIRIT AND UNWAVERING DEVOTION TO HIS FAMILY. A SEVERE SUMMER STRETCH TOUCHING FAMILIES NATIONWIDE. >> MAGGIE VESPA JOINS US LIVE. MAGGIE, THE SEVERE YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT IS MOVING EAST? >> Reporter: YEAH, TOM, EXACTLY. THE DANGEROUS HEAT IS TRACKING EAST AS IS THE POSSIBILITY FOR SEVERE STORMS. 27 MILLION AMERICANS TOMORROW WILL BE AT Rare mosquito virus death in Northeast RISK FOR POSSIBLY DAMAGING WINDS, EVEN HAIL FROM OHIO UP THROUGH THE NEW JERSEY COAST. TOM. >> BE CAREFUL OUT THERE, MAGGIE. THANK YOU. >>> LAST NIGHT WE TOLD YOU ABOUT THE GROWING CONCERN FROM THE SPREAD OF THOSE MOSQUITO-BORNE VIRUSES. TONIGHT NEW HAMPSHIRE NOW REPORTING SOMEONE HAS DIED FROM ONE OF THE INFECTIONS. REHEMA ELLIS REPORTS ON HOW CITIES ARE TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE. >> Reporter: AS NEW YORK SPRAYS FOR MOSQUITOS CARRYING DANGEROUS VIRUSES, EEE, CONCERN IS SPREADING NATIONWIDE. CASES POPPING UP IN MASSACHUSETTS, VERMONT, NEW JERSEY, WISCONSIN AND TONIGHT NEW HAMPSHIRE. NEW HAMPSHIRE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY ONE ADULT RESIDENT DIED OF EEE AFTER BEING HOSPITALIZED FOR SEVERE NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASE. IT IS NEW HAMPSHIRE'S FIRST HUMAN CASE OF THE VIRUS IN A DECADE. THE WEST NILE VIRUS IS A THREAT, TOO. 33 STATES HAVE REPORTED 289 CASES OF WEST NILE. >> THIS IS WORRISOME AND DISCOURAGING. >> Reporter: EPIDEMIOLOGIST AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST DR. RICHARD ELLISON SAYS EEE VIRUS IS ESPECIALLY TROUBLING. >> WE HAVE 30% TO 40% OF THE PATIENTS WHO GET THIS AND BECOME SICK WITH IT WILL DIE FROM IT. >> Reporter: IS THERE ANY AGE GROUP THAT'S PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO THESE VIRUSES? >> THE VERY YOUNG AND THE VERY OLD ARE THE ONES WHO HAVE THE WORST OUTCOME. >> Reporter: OFFICIALS NATIONWIDE ARE TAKING ACTION, SPRAYING, TESTING TO IDENTIFY MOSQUITO-BREEDING AREAS. >> I'M GLAD THAT THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING PROACTIVE ABOUT IT. >> Reporter: SAFETY PRECAUTIONS INCLUDE WEARING LONG SLEEVES AND PANTS, USING INSECT REPELLENT AND GETTING RID OF STANDING WATER. TAKE EXTRA CARE DURING DUSK AND DAWN, OFFICIALS SAY. Delta plane tire reportedly explodes, 2 killed THAT'S WHEN MOSQUITOS ARE MOST ACTIVE. REHEMA ELLIS, NBC NEWS, NEW YORK. >>> IN ATLANTA TONIGHT OFFICIALS ARE INVESTIGATING A GRUESOME ACCIDENT INVOLVING THE TIRE OF A DELTA AIRLINES JET THAT LEFT TWO MAINTENANCE WORKERS DEAD AND ANOTHER INJURED. PRIYA SRIDHAR HAS THIS ONE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT TWO PEOPLE ARE DEAD AND ONE INJURED FOLLOWING AN EARLY MORNING ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN AIRCRAFT TIRE AT ATLANTA'S HARTSFIELD-JACKSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. THE THREE VICTIMS WERE DELTA EMPLOYEES WORKING AT THE TECHNICAL OPERATIONS MAINTENANCE FACILITY NEAR THE INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL. A UNION REPRESENTING AIRLINE INDUSTRY WORKERS ISSUED A STATEMENT, CITING REPORTS OF A TIRE EXPLOSION AS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT AND EXTENDING CONDOLENCES TO THE VICTIMS. ATLANTA'S FIRE-RESCUE DEPARTMENT WHICH RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT, SAY WORKERS THERE DESCRIBED RUNNING AWAY FROM AN EXPLOSION. IN A STATEMENT, DELTA COULD NOT CONFIRM THE TIRE EXPLODED, BUT DID SAY THE TIRE WAS BEING DISASSEMBLED AND WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT AT THE TIME. >> AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS JOBS THAT THERE IS. >> Reporter: JOHN GOGLIA IS A FORMER NTSB BOARD MEMBER. >> THE TIRE ITSELF VERY OFTEN DOESN'T DISINTEGRATE. IT IS THE RIM THAT LETS GO. AND THOSE BOLTS THAT GO AROUND THE RIM, IF THEY WERE TO FAIL OUTWARD IT IS LIKE A PROJECTILE. IT CAN BE LIKE A BULLET COMING OFF THE RIMS. >> Reporter: THE INJURED WORKER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL Israel hostage rescued from Gaza IN STABLE CONDITION. THE FAA IS IN COMMUNICATION WITH DELTA TO DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED. TOM. >> ALL RIGHT, PRIYA. WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. >>> WE WANT TO TURN OVERSEAS NOW TO THE RESCUE OF THE ISRAELI HOSTAGE IN GAZA. ONE OF THE FEW TO BE BROUGHT HOME ALIVE ALMOST 11 MONTHS AFTER THE HAMAS TERRORIST ATTACK IN ISRAEL. MATT BRADLEY WITH MORE ON THE INCREDIBLE RESCUE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT FREEDOM FOR A HOSTAGE HELD CAPTIVE IN GAZA. AFTER 326 DAYS IN CAPTIVITY, HOSTAGE QAID FARHAN ALKADI WAS RESCUED BY ISRAELI COMMANDOS AND SAFELY RETURNED HOME, A RARE MOMENT OF CELEBRATION. ALKADI IS ONLY THE EIGHTH HOSTAGE RESCUED ALIVE IN A MILITARY OPERATION. DOZENS MORE ARE THOUGHT TO REMAIN IN CAN'T AT THIS TIME. HE WAS RESCUED BY WHAT IS CALLED A COMPLEX OPERATION FROM INSIDE HAMAS'S VAST TUNNEL NETWORK WHERE SOLDIERS SAY THEY FOUND HIM ALONE. THE 52-YEAR-OLD FATHER OF 11 HAD BEEN WORKING IN SECURITY AT A KIBBUTZ IN SOUTHERN ISRAEL WHEN HE WAS CAPTURED ON OCTOBER 7th. ALKADI IS A BEDOUIN, A MOSTLY MUSLIM MINORITY IN ISRAEL, ALMOST 17 WERE KILLED IN HAMAS'S TERROR ATTACK IN OCTOBER. HIS FAMILY OVERWHELMED WITH JOY AND RELIEF. WE PRAYED FOR HIM, HIS BROTHER SAYS. MY MOTHER PRAYED FOR HIM MORE. HER PRAYER REACHED THE SKY. THOSE STILL IN CAPTIVITY HOPING FOR ALKADI'S KIND OF LIBERATION. TOM, AMERICAN DIPLOMATS ARE MEETING IN CAIRO THIS WEEK, TRYING TO GET ISRAEL AND HALLS TO AGREE TO A DEAL TO FREE THE REMAINING HOSTAGES. TOM. >> MATT BRADLEY FROM ISRAEL. WE THANK YOU. >>> WE WILL TAKE A BREAK, AND IN 60 Price cut for popular weight loss drug >>> WELCOME BACK. IF YOU WANTED TO TRY ONE OF THOSE POPULAR WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS BUT THE HIGH COST HAS BEEN HOLDING YOU BACK, SOME POTENTIALLY GOOD NEWS TONIGHT. BUT IT COMES WITH SOME CATCHES AND WITHOUT THOSE AUTO INJECTOR PENS. HERE IS STEPHANIE GOSK. >> Reporter: ZEPBOUND IS GETTING A PRICE CUT. ELI LILLY ANNOUNCING IT WILL OFFER LOW-DOSAGE VERSIONS OF THE WEIGHT LOSS DRUG IN VIALS WITH SYRINGES INSTEAD OF AUTO INJECTOR PENS THAT COST MORE THAN $1 $1,000 A MONTH. NOW PATIENTS WITHOUT INSURANCE WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPLY A 2.5 MILLIGRAM DOSE FOR $399 AND THE 5 MILLIGRAM DOSE FOR $549 DIRECTLY FROM ELI LILLY. >> WE HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED. WE CAN'T MEET THE INCREDIBLE DEMAND FOR THIS MEDICINE AND IT IS A WAY WE CAN DO IT MORE QUICKLY, BUT ALSO WE ARE TRYING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF PATIENTS WHO DON'T HAVE INSURANCE COVERAGE. >> Reporter: BUT TO BE CLEAR, IT WON'T HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE ON HIGHER DOSES OF ZEPBOUND? >> WELL, IF THEY HAVE COVERAGE IN THEIR INSURANCE, THERE'S NO CHANGE FOR THEM. IF THEY DON'T HAVE COVERAGE WITH THEIR INSURANCE, THEY COULD TALK TO THEIR DOCTOR ABOUT MOVING TO THE 5 MILLIGRAM DOSE. >> Reporter: FORMER POLICE OFFICER JOHN KELLER IS ONE OF THOSE PATIENTS PAYING $1,100 A MONTH. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY A MONTH. HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO DO IT? >> I'M PUTTING IT ON CREDIT CARDS HONESTLY. >> Reporter: YOU ARE GOING INTO DEBT TO TAKE THIS MEDICATION? >> I AM, YES. >> Reporter: HIS DOCTOR WANTS HIM ON A HIGHER DOSE STARTING NEXT MONTH. THE NEW CHEAPER VERSION WON'T HELP HIM. >> IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT I STILL HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS. THAT IF THEY CAN SELL IT FOR LESS, WHY DON'T THEY? >> Reporter: ELI LILLY'S ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AS COMPOUNDING PHARMACIES ARE DISPENSING WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS THEY SAY ARE ESSENTIALLY A COPY OF ZEPBOUND, A CHEAPER OPTION FOR PATIENTS. STATE LICENSED FACILITIES LIKE THIS ONE ON LONG ISLAND ARE ABLE TO LEGALLY PRODUCE THEM BECAUSE THE FDA HAS ZEPBOUND ON A SHORTAGE LIST. SOME HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ARE RECOMMENDING THOSE VERSIONS FOR THEIR PATIENTS AS LONG AS THEY COME FROM A TRUSTED SOURCE, CREATING COMPETITION. ELI LILLY STRONGLY OPPOSES THE PRACTICE. >> THEY'RE NOT INSPECTED BY THE FDA, THEY'RE NOT APPROVED BY THE FDA. IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE INVENT THE PRODUCT. THAT'S WHY THERE'S A PREMIUM FOR THE REAL THINK MADE BY LILLY. >> STEPHANIE JOINS US NOW IN STUDIO. HOW MUCH MORE DIFFICULT IS FOR THE PATIENTS TO GIVE THE SHOTS WITH THE VIALS? >> WELL, THERE ARE OTHER MEDICATIONS THAT USE SYRINGES LIKE INSULIN AND FERTILITY DRUGS BUT IT IS DEFINITELY A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT. PATIENTS HAVE TO ACTUALLY DRAW THE DOSE ACTUALLY DRAW THE DOSE SAY ♪ >> AND WHEN WE COME BACK, MORE GREAT MUSIC. A JOYFUL NOISE AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF WAR. THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT AN ORCHESTRA THAT REFUSED TO BE SILENCED AND BROUGHT THEIR LOVE OF MUSIC TO ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST HALLOWED STAGES. Afghan orchestra plays on despite Taliban crackdown >>> FINALLY, THEY COME FROM A PLACE WHERE MUSIC HAS BEEN BANNED, BUT AFTER A DARING ESCAPE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE FINDING HARMONY IN A WHOLE NEW PLACE. HERE'S RICHARD ENGEL. ♪ ♪ >> Reporter: IN THE CITY OF BRAGA, KNOWN AS THE ROME OF PORTUGAL WHERE TRADITION AND HISTORY RUN DEEP, MEMBERS OF THE AFGHAN YOUTH ORCHESTRA ARE KEEPING THEIR COUNTRY'S RICH MUSICAL TRADITIONS ALIVE. BECAUSE IN AFGHANISTAN NOW, THIS -- IS A CRIME. THREE YEARS AGO AS U.S. TROOPS LEFT AFGHANISTAN, THE TALIBAN SEIZED POWER. >> IT WAS LIKE WE WERE DEAD. >> Reporter: YOU FELT LIKE YOU WERE DEAD? >> YES, OF COURSE. >> Reporter: FOR COUSINS FRIDA AND ZORA AHMADI, IT WAS A THREAT TO THEIR VERY EXISTENCE. THEY WERE STUDENTS AT AFGHANISTAN'S NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MUSIC, ESTABLISHED IN 2010 IN KABUL. THE SCHOOL WAS A DIRECT CHALLENGE TO THE TALIBAN'S EXTREMISM. FOR YEARS THE GROUP TRIED TO SILENCE THEM, EVEN DISPATCHING A SUICIDE BOMBER TO A PERFORMANCE. SO WHEN THE TALIBAN RETURNED AS RULERS -- THE MUSIC STOPPED. THE SCHOOL'S DIRECTOR, DR. SAMAS, ORCHESTRATED A MIRACLE, A MASS EVACUATION OF STUDENTS AND STAFF. >> IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS AGAIN. >> Reporter: TODAY THE SCHOOL AND ORCHESTRA LIVE ON IN PORTUGAL, AND THEIR SACRIFICES ARE BEING RECOGNIZED WITH AN INVITATION TO PLAY CARNEGIE HALL. IT WAS BITTERSWEET FOR ZORA. >> WE WERE HAPPY AND SAD AT THE SAME TIME. >> Reporter: SAD FOR THOSE LEFT BEHIND IN AFGHANISTAN WHERE MUSIC REMAINS BANNED AND GIRLS ARE NOT ALLOWED MORE THAN A SIXTH GRADE EDUCATION. THE ORCHESTRA IS FIGHTING BACK WITH INSTRUMENTS. THIS AUGUST, THEY MADE IT TO NEW YORK CITY. >> WELCOME TO CARNEGIE HALL! ♪ ♪ >> NO ONE HAS SILENCED US. >> EACH CONCERT IS A PROTEST. >> EACH NOTE IS A PROTEST. >> Reporter: BRINGING THEM ONE STEP CLOSER PERHAPS TO RETURNING MUSIC AND HOPE TO THEIR HOMELAND. RICHARD ENGEL, NBC NEWS. >> WE THANK RICHARD FOR THAT SPECIAL STORY. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS TUESDAY. I'M TOM LLAMAS. WE THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NBC NEWS, HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. ♪ ♪