♪ GOOD MORNING. I'M JOE FRYER. AND I'M SAVANNAH SELLERS RIGHT NOW ON MORNING NEWS NOW, DEADLY AIRSTRIKES, DOZENS KILLED IN ROCKET FIRE ACROSS GAZA CITY IN THE MOST SEVERE OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE SINCE THE 2014 MORE. >> THE LATEST ON THE UNREST IN THE MIDDLE EAST AS TENSIONS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS GROW. >> A PARTY DIVIDED. LIZ CHENEY CRITICIZING HER OWN COLLEAGUES OVER THEIR SUPPORT OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. THE REMAINING SILENT AND IGNORING THE LIE EMBOLDENS THE LIAR. I WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THAT. THE VOTE TODAY THAT'S EXPECTED TO STRIP HER OF HER LEADERSHIP ROLE WITH THE GOP RUNNING ON EMPTY DRIVERS SCRAMBLING TO GET GAS STATIONS REPORT. A SHORTAGE. A LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT AS THE COLONIAL PIPELINE SHUTDOWN CONTINUES. AND KEEPING AN EYE ON THE TIGER, A BIG CAT STILL ON THE LOOSE AFTER IT WAS LAST SEEN ROAMING A HOUSTON NEIGHBORHOOD. THE LATEST ON THE SEARCH. THAT I CAN'T BELIEVE IS STILL GOING ON. WE WILL HAVE NONSTOP CONTINUING COVERAGE OF DURING THE DAY IT SHOULD WE FIND WE'LL GET TO THE LATEST IN THAT WILD STORY A LITTLE BIT LATER. BUT WE BEGIN IN THE MIDDLE EAST, WHICH IS SEEING THE BIGGEST ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE BETWEEN ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS AND 7 YEARS. >> BUT BOTH SIDES SHOWING NO SIGNS OF BACKING DOWN HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY THAT 43 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED, INCLUDING THE 13 CHILDREN ISRAELI FIGHTER JETS CONTINUE TO STRIKE GAZA. >> 5 ISRAELIS HAVE ALSO DIED FROM ROCKET ATTACKS. FIRED 4 TOWNS IN CENTRAL ISRAEL. NBC NEWS FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT MATT BRADLEY JOINS US NOW. SOME AT FIRST OF ALL, BRING US UP TO DATE WITH HOW THINGS HAVE ESCALATED OVERNIGHT. >> YEAH. WHAT WE SAW WAS A BARRAGE OF MISSILES FIRED IN ISRAELI AIR STRIKES AGAINST GAZA. AS YOU MENTIONED, SOME 43 GAZANS KILLED, SOME 13 CHILDREN AND 6 ISRAELI. SO THESE ARE TIT-FOR-TAT ATTACKS AND IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE. YOU KNOW, THIS IS FALLING ALONG SOME VERY FAMILIAR LINES. I MEAN, I'M SURE YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN THESE SORTS OF IMAGES BEFORE. AS YOU MENTIONED BACK IN 2014 AND SOME OF THAT STREET FIGHTING IN JERUSALEM THAT WE'VE SEEN. THIS IS ONCE AGAIN LOOKING LIKE IT'S GOING TO KICK OFF TO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHEN TALK ABOUT TIP FOR TAT. THAT IS SUCH A RECIPE FOR AN ESCALATING CONFLICT. AND THAT'S WHY SO MANY ANALYSTS, SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE SEEN THIS STORY BEFORE AND THEY'RE REALLY WORRIED THAT WITHOUT SOME KIND OF INTERVENTION FROM SOME POLITICAL FORCE MIGHT BE THE NEW BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THAT THIS IS GOING TO ESCALATE TO BACK IN 2014 WE SELL THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE KILLED. MATT ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU HAS VOWED TO INTENSIFY ATTACKS ON GAZA WHILE THE LEADER OF HAMAS SAYS. >> HE'S READY FOR ANY ESCALATION. SO ANY IDEA AT THIS POINT WHAT IT MIGHT TAKE TO TRY AND GET BOTH SIDES TO BACK DOWN. >> YEAH. I MEAN, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, BOTH SIDES ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING TOWARDS THE WHITE HOUSE. AND THAT'S THE ISSUE WITH BIDEN. THIS NEW AMERICAN PRESIDENT WAS TAKING OVER FROM A FIERCELY PRO ISRAEL PRESIDENT'S PREDECESSOR. DONALD TRUMP. MADE SOME OF HIS MOST CONSEQUENTIAL MOVES AROUND THIS CONFLICT. AND NOW IT'S GOING TO REALLY DIFFICULT FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO CHOOSE A PATH. HERE'S THE ISSUE FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. IT LOOKS KIND OF LIKE A POLITICAL LOSER. THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH TO GAIN. AND THERE'S A WHOLE LOT TO LOSE BY INTERVENING IN THIS CONFLICT. AND SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT COMING UP FROM HERE. YOU KNOW, LAST COUPLE OF DAYS LAST WEEK, ALL WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE IS ESSENTIALLY THAT THE ISRAELIS HAVE A RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES THAT ALL SIDES TRIED TO BE CALM BUT PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS AND LEFT WING PEOPLE WHO HAVE SO FAR PREVAILED WITHIN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THERE PUSHING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE A STRONGER LINE IN FAVOR OF THE PALESTINIANS AND AGAINST THE ISRAELIS. BUT FOR SO MANY TRUST SO MUCH TIME FOR GENERATIONS BEING PRO. ISRAEL HAS BEEN A BIPARTISAN ISSUE IN THE UNITED STATES. AND SO THAT'S WHY IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH TO SEPARATE FROM THAT ONCE AGAIN, IT'S LOOKING LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE A FAMILIAR DANCE BETWEEN THE ISRAELIS AND THE PALESTINIANS AND ONE THAT'S GOING TO SEE A LOT OF LIVES LOST BEFORE IT'S OVER, GUYS. AND NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE GLOBAL RESPONSE THE U.S. MIDDLE EAST ENVOY IS EXPECTED TO BRIEF THE SECURITY COUNCIL TODAY. >> HE IS WARNING OF A FULL-SCALE WAR. WHAT ARE THE INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING MADE TO TRYING ESCALATE THE SITUATION. WELL, NORMALLY IN THESE SORTS OF SITUATIONS. WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST IS THAT ACTUALLY EGYPT AND SOME OTHER ARAB COUNTRIES HAVE PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE. HAMAS. IT IS CONSIDERED A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION THAT SHOWN BY A LOT OF ARAB LEADERS AND ARAB GOVERNMENTS. THEY DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH HAMAS. BUT THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT HAS HISTORY OF NEGOTIATING BETWEEN THE ISRAELIS AND THE PALESTINIANS IN A WAY THAT HAS LEAD TO SOME KIND OF TENUOUS PEACE, THOUGH NOT ANYTHING NEAR A RESOLUTION TO THIS JUST FOREVER CONFLICT. SO IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THE EGYPTIANS AND THE COUNTRIES AND THE UNITED NATIONS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO NEGOTIATE SOME SORT OF RESOLUTION. BUT AGAIN, GUYS, YOU KNOW, THIS ISN'T ABOUT GAZA VERSUS ISRAEL. THIS IS REALLY ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD OF SHAPE. IN JERUSALEM AND THAT'S SUPREME COURT CASE THAT WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT PALESTINIAN FAMILIES WILL BE EVICTED FROM THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT'S BEEN DELAYED. SO ONCE WE ACTUALLY HEAR FROM THE SUPREME COURT ONCE THEY MAKE A DECISION. YOU COULD EITHER SEE SOME OF THIS GO DOWN. SOME TENSIONS SORT OF RELAXED OR YOU COULD SEE THIS BALL FLARE UP ONCE AGAIN AND GO BACK INTO THE CYCLICAL PATTERN OF VIOLENCE THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING FOR GENERATIONS GUYS. ALL RIGHT. MATT BRADLEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> DEMAND FOR GAS IS SPIKING IN SEVERAL STATES OVER FEARS OF A SHORTAGE. THE 5500 MILE COLONIAL PIPELINE THAT RUNS FROM HOUSTON TO NEW YORK IS STILL OFFLINE FOLLOWING A CYBER ATTACK. GEORGIA, VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA HAVE DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY, BUT ENERGY SECRETARY JENNIFER GRANHOLM IS URGING AMERICANS NOT TO PANIC BUY FUEL SAYING THERE IS NO GAS SHORTAGE. JUST A SUPPLY CRUNCH. >> THERE SHOULD BE NO CAUSE FOR HARDIN ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THE PIPELINE SHOULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY OPERATIONAL. >> BY THE END OF THIS WEEK. >> LET'S BRING AN MSNBC ANCHOR LINDSEY RISER. SHE'S IN FORT MILL, SOUTH CAROLINA COVERING THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF THE RANSOMWARE ATTACK. LINDSEY. GOOD MORNING. SO THE ENERGY SECRETARY, WE JUST HEARD HER THERE AND THE WHITE HOUSE ARE TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO PANIC BUY. BUT I DO UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE. SOME STATIONS ARE IN FACT ALREADY RUNNING OUT OF FUEL. NOW MAYBE THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE PANIC BUYING. BUT IF YOU SEE A STATION DOES NOT FUEL IT MAKES YOU THINK THERE'S A SHORTAGE. AND I KNOW THERE'S A LONG LINES AT STATIONS THAT DO HAVE GAS. WHAT ARE PEOPLE TELLING YOU? HOW LONG ARE THEY WAITING. WHAT DO SAN. >> HEY, SAVANNAH, GOOD MORNING. GOOD TO BE WITH YOU. YET. EXPERTS ARE SAYING DON'T PANIC BUY. BUT TRY TELLING THAT TO PEOPLE HERE WE ARE SEEING LONG LINES RIGHT NOW. THINGS ARE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD HERE. WE ARE SEEING A BIT OF A LIGHT NOW SNEAKING DOWN THE ROAD. BUT YESTERDAY, BOY, IT WAS PRETTY BAD AND GAS PRICES WERE ALREADY CREEPING UP BECAUSE OF SPRING TRAVEL. THERE'S ALREADY THAT DEMAND THAT WAS INCREASING. NOW YOU ADD THIS RANSOMWARE ATTACK TO AIMING KEEP IN MIND, COLONIAL PIPELINE. SUPPLIES, ABOUT HALF OF THE EAST COAST FUEL. SO PEOPLE ARE HEARING STATE OF EMERGENCY THERE HEARING ALL OF THIS NEWS. THE RUSHING OUT TO BUY GAS AND THE RUNNING OUT. SAVANNAH. LINDSAY. LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT STATE OF EMERGENCY. A MENTION SEVERAL STATE GOVERNORS HAVE ALREADY DONE NOT. WHY IS THAT? >> SO THE GOVERNOR BOTH JOIN ISSUED A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND THAT HELPS LIFT SOME REGULATIONS AND SOME OF THESE TANKER DRIVERS. THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ALSO DID THAT LIFTING REGULATIONS ON DRIVERS IN 17 STATES AND THAT MEANS THEY CAN DRIVE LONGER HOURS. I KEEP IN MIND THERE'S ALREADY BEEN A NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF TANKER DRIVERS AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR ALSO HENRY MCMASTER HAS TWEETED DON'T RUSH OUT TO TOP OFF YOUR DESK, DON'T FOR GAS. WE HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLY. WE JUST NEED THOSE TRUCKS TO COME OUT AND MAKE THOSE DELIVERIES. BUT OF COURSE, TRY TELLING THAT TO PEOPLE GASBUDDY IS REPORTING 8% OF SOUTH CAROLINA GAS STATIONS ARE OUT OF FUEL. 16% IN NORTH CAROLINA. I'M RIGHT HERE ON THE STATE LINE. PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE FOR 45 MINUTES. AN EVEN YESTERDAY WE SAW PEOPLE HIGH ONLY TO GET TO THE FRONT LINE TO BE TOLD. HEY, GUYS WERE AT A GAS SORRY, THEY HAD TO BE TURNED AWAY. I THINK WE HAVE SOME OF THE INTERVIEWS THAT WE SHOT YESTERDAY. LET'S LISTEN TO THAT. ♪ >> LAST COUPLE DAYS AT HOME. >> SO IS AND I JUST TALKED TO A JUDGMENT HERE AT THE GAS STATION. THEY GOT A TRUCKLOAD OVERNIGHT. THEY HAVE GUESSED THAT YOU'RE EVEN ARE ANSWERING THEIR PHONES YESTERDAY SENDING MILLER'S WE HAVE GAS BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE WERE CALLING HIM HIS JOB. AND I SPOKE WITH SAID THEY WERE ALL THAT BRIGHT AND EARLY 05:00AM HE WANTED TO BE FIRST IN LINE AT THE PUMP AND HE WAS ABLE TO PASS A AND LINDSAY JUST QUICKLY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DRIVERS. BUT THIS IS ALSO IMPACTING ANYBODY GETTING ON A FLIGHT POTENTIALLY. YEAH, THERE ARE SOME RIPPLE EFFECTS HERE AMERICAN AIRLINES CONFIRMING THAT 2 LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS OUT OF THE CHARLOTTE AIRPORT ONE TO HONOLULU WHEN DYLAN WILL HAVE TO MAKE EXTRA STOPS THE LOAD UP ON STILL I WANT THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> TODAY IS THE CONSEQUENTIAL VOTE TO STRIP. CONGRESSWOMAN LIZ CHENEY EVERY LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. BUT THE WYOMING LAWMAKER IS NOT GOING AWAY QUIETLY LAST NIGHT SHE GAVE A BLISTERING FLOOR SPEECH TO A MOSTLY EMPTY CHAMBER SLAMMING THE GOP HAS CRUSADE AGAINST THE 2020 ELECTION RESULTS. >> TODAY WE FACE A THREAT. AMERICA HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE. A FORMER PRESIDENT WHO PROVOKED A VIOLENT ATTACK ON THIS CAPITOL IN AN EFFORT TO STEAL THE ELECTION. HAS RESUMED HIS AGGRESSIVE EFFORT TO CONVINCE AMERICANS THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN FROM HIM. >> KEEP IN MIND, AN ANALYSIS BY 5.38 FINDS THAT CONGRESSWOMAN CHENEY VOTED WITH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP ALMOST 93% OF THE TIME WHILE HER LIKELY SUCCESSOR REPRESENTATIVE ELISE STEFANIK VOTED FOR THE TRUMP AGENDA AT A LOWER RATE ALMOST 78%. JOINING US NOW IS NBC NEWS CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT LEIGH ANN CALDWELL. SO LEIGH ANN, HE TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT CONGRESSWOMAN CHENEY SAID ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND HOW THE VOTE MIGHT GO TODAY. >> WELL, THAT VOTING SCORE THAT YOU JUST REFERENCED IS ALSO ONE OF REPRESENTATIVE CHENEY'S MESSAGES. SHE KNOWS THAT IT'S NOT ABOUT POLICY. IT'S ABOUT LOYALTY TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT. LET'S TAKE A LISTEN. >> IS NOT ABOUT POLICY. THIS IS NOT ABOUT PARTISANSHIP. THIS IS ABOUT OUR DUTY AS AMERICANS. REMAINING SILENT AND IGNORING THE LIE EMBOLDENS THE LIAR. I WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THAT. I WILL NOT SIT BACK AND WATCH IN SILENCE WHILE OTHERS LEAD OUR PARTY DOWN A PATH THAT ABANDONS THE RULE OF LAW AND JOINS THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S CRUSADE TO UNDERMINE OUR DEMOCRACY. >> SO THAT WAS ALSO A MESSAGE TO HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP, INCLUDING KEVIN MCCARTHY WHO HAS REALLY ORCHESTRATED THE REMOVAL OF CHENEY FROM THIS POSITION BECAUSE OF HER POSITION ON THE FORMER PRESIDENT. HOW THE VOTE IS GOING TO GO TODAY. IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS MORNING. IT SHOULD BE VERY QUICK. IT EXPECTED TO BE A SECRET BALLOT. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY VOTES OF SUPPORT SHE'S GOING TO GET BECAUSE IT'S SECRET BALLOT. PEOPLE COULD BE LYING UP UNTIL NOW. BUT I'M HEARING SHE COULD ONLY GET 10 VOTES AND HEARINGS. GET UP TO 50 WOULD BE WATCHING FOR THAT VOTE TALLY, JOE. YEAH. WE ALL WELL, OF COURSE, LEE AND EVEN IF CONGRESSWOMAN CHENEY IS STRIPPED OF HER LEADERSHIP ROLE. SHE IS GOING TO REMAIN IN CONGRESS. >> AND ALL SIGNS INDICATE SHE'S GOING TO ESCALATE HER BATTLE AGAINST TRUMPISM WITHIN THE PARTY BUT WITH NO LEADERSHIP ROLE IN FEW PUBLIC ALLIES. WHAT DOES FUTURE HOLD. >> SHE DOES PLAN TO CONTINUE TO TALK OUT. THAT'S WHY SHE GAVE THAT'S DEFIANT SHOWING HER STEADFAST LAST NIGHT ON THE HOUSE FLOOR. SHE'S NOT GOING TO GO DOWN QUIETLY AND SHE'S NOT GOING TO GO DOWN TO TOSS. YOU MIGHT LOSE LEADERSHIP POSITION, BUT SHE INSISTS THAT SHE'S GOING TO REMAIN IN CONGRESS. SHE'S GOING TO BE A VOICE FOR TRUTH. SHE SAYS SHE'S GOING TO RUN FOR REELECTION AND WYOMING EVEN THOUGH THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG CHALLENGE AT THIS POINT RIGHT NOW AND WE'LL SEE WHERE THE FUTURE HOLDS WHAT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS JUST A FEW YEARS FROM NOW. HER TEAM'S NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT YET, BUT SHE IS DEFINITELY SETTING HERSELF UP TO BE HAVE A CLEAR MESSAGE AND POSITION WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY JOE. ALL RIGHT. LEE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> TODAY THE CDC COULD SIGN OFF ON PFIZER'S COVID VACCINE FOR 12 TO 15 YEAR OLDS. BUT SOME STATES ARE ALREADY OFFERING SHOTS TO THIS YOUNGER AGE GROUP. THAT'S RIGHT. GEORGIA STARTED OFFERING THE VACCINE YESTERDAY TO KIDS UNDER 16. >> MAKING THAT CALL AFTER THE FDA AUTHORIZED THE VACCINE FOR EMERGENCY USE FOR THAT AGE GROUP. ON MONDAY. TODAY'S CDC MEETING COMES A DAY AFTER TOP HEALTH OFFICIALS TESTIFIED ON CAPITOL HILL, FULL OF CONTENTIOUS EXCHANGES ON THE ORIGINS OF COVID-19 AND THE GUIDANCE ON MASKS. BUT TO REPORTERS THIS MORNING, NBC NEWS NOW CORRESPONDENT PRISCILLA THOMPSON ON THE CDC HEARING TODAY AND NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT ALLISON BARBER IS IN GEORGIA WHERE KIDS, 12 AND OLDER, AS WE JUST MENTIONED, ARE NOW GETTING VACCINATED. LET'S BEGIN WITH PRISCILLA THOMPSON PURCELL A GOOD MORNING. SO WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM TODAY'S HEARING WITH THE CDC ADVISORY COMMITTEE. >> GOOD MORNING, SAVANNAH. WILL THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION CACTUS IS GOING TO NEED AND THEY ARE EXPECTED TO GO AHEAD AND EXPAND ELIGIBILITY FOR THE PFIZER VACCINE TO INCLUDE CHILDREN AGED 12 TO 15 YEARS OLD. SO UPDATING THAT RECOMMENDATION. AND AFTER THAT WE EXPECT THAT THE CDC DIRECTOR ROCHELLE WALENSKY WILL ULTIMATELY SIGN OFF ON THAT RECOMMENDATION REALLY CLEARING THE WAY FOR A NATIONWIDE ROBUST EFFORT TO GET THOSE SHOTS INTO THE ARMS OF YOUNGER AMERICANS. SAVANNAH. >> NOW TOP HEALTH OFFICIALS TESTIFIED ON CAPITOL HILL YESTERDAY. AS I MENTIONED JUST A MOMENT AGO AND IT GOT PRETTY CONTENTIOUS CDC DIRECTOR ROCHELLE WALENSKY DEFENDED HER AGENCY'S GUIDANCE ON MASKS. WHAT HAPPENED THERE? >> YES. AND THEN A REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS CAME OUT SWINGING SWINGING THIS HEARING CALLING GUIDANCE OF THE CDC HAD PROVIDED EACH OUTDATED AND ALSO OVERLY CONSERVATIVE SAYING THAT THEY HAD LOST THE TRUST OF THE AMERICAN NOW, OF COURSE, WE'LL IN SPEECH TO THE DECISIONS MADE BY HER AGENCY IN THEIR GUIDANCE SAYING THAT AS MORE AMERICANS ARE BECOMING VACCINATED AS THE CASE COUNTS ARE CHANGING. THE GUIDANCE IS CHANGING AS WELL. AND SHE REALLY EMPHASIZE THAT. TAKE A LISTEN TO A BIT OF THAT EXCHANGE. >> THEY HAVE ABOUT A 3RD OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY WHO ARE VACCINATED. WE HAVE ABOUT A 3RD OF COUNTIES IN THIS COUNTRY THAT STILL HAVE OVER A 100,100 CASES PER 100,000. WE ARE WORKING IT TO REVIEWER GUIDANCE AND TO UPDATE OUR GUYS GIVE ACTIONAID AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS IN THE ROOM IS VACCINATED. BUT YOU'RE WEARING A MASK. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE JUST LOST. JUST LOST PATIENCE WITH US. BUT YOU GUYS. I JUST ASK YOU JUST KIND OF BE AWARE OF THEIR FRUSTRATION AND GET A LITTLE REAL TIME INTO UPDATING THESE THINGS. >> OF COURSE, THIS COMES AFTER THE CDC LIFTED THAT OUTDOOR MASK MANDATE CITING THAT LESS THAN 10% OF TRANSMISSION IN THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS A NUMBER OF EXPERTS HAVE COME OUT AND SAID THAT IS A BIT MISLEADING THAT IT MAY ACTUALLY BE FAR LESS THAN 10 PER HEAD PERCENT, PERHAPS EVEN LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF TRANSMISSION THAT IS OUTDOORS. YEAH, NEWS YESTERDAY. NOW PRISCILLA LET'S TALK ABOUT THE VACCINE ROLLOUT. SO WE'RE SEEING STATES TO THINGS LIKE PROVIDE VACCINE SITES AT. STATIONS. THINGS LIKE THAT. PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GET THE SHOT WHEREVER THEY ARE. AND NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION STEP IN HERE. BUT THE PLAN TO SPEED UP THE PACE OF VACCINATIONS THAT HAS TO DO WITH FREE RIDES TO THOSE SHOTS. TELL US ABOUT THAT. THAT'S RIGHT. FOLKS WHO ARE WANTING TO GET THE VACCINE ARE NOW GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAIL AN UBER OR A LYFT FOR FREE IN ORDER TO GET THAT SHOT. A LIVE SAYS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE OFFERING $15 PROMO CODES FOR EACH LEG OF THE TO AND FROM WHICH THE VACCINE FOLKS CAN CHOOSE TO GET THERE BY HARSH, BUT THEY CAN ALSO USE THOSE SCOOTERS AND BIKES THAT LIFT PROVIDES IN CERTAIN CITIES. SO ALL IN EFFORT TO A SPEED OF THIS VACCINE. ROLLOUT. AND OF COURSE THOSE PROMOTIONS ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING FROM AGE 24 THROUGH JULY 4TH SOME HAVE ABOUT A MILE TO GET THOSE GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF. SAVANNAH RIGHT. PRISCILLA THOMPSON, THANKS SO MUCH. >> AND LET'S GO TO NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT ALLISON BARBER IN STONE CREST GEORGIA, WHERE THEY'RE ALREADY VACCINATING ALLISON, THE CDC IS SUPPOSED TO ISSUE THAT RECOMMENDATION ON THE PFIZER VACCINE FOR AGES 12 TO 15 TODAY AS WE JUST REPORTED. SO HOW IS GEORGIA ALREADY VACCINATING AGE GROUP. >> AS YOU SAID, THE FCA AMENDED THE EMERGENCY USE USE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE PFIZER VACCINE TO INCLUDE 12 TO 15 YEAR-OLD THAT HAPPENED ON MONDAY. BUT THE THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT THE FDA DID NOT ISSUE A NEW EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION. THEY AMENDED AND EXPANDED ON THE ONE THAT WAS INITIALLY ISSUED FOR PFIZER BACK IN DECEMBER. AND IF YOU CAN REMEMBER BACK TO DECEMBER THE CDC ADVISORY BOARD ACTUALLY DID MEET AT THAT TIME AS WELL BEFORE PFIZER VACCINE STARTED BEING GIVEN TO PEOPLE TO ISSUE USAGE GUIDANCE ALREADY EXIST AND IS OUT THERE. AND REALLY THE ONLY THING THAT HAS CHANGED HERE FROM THE FDA IS THAT THEY ARE NOW ALLOWING 12 TO 15 YEAR OLDS TO GET VACCINATED. IT'S STILL THE SAME DOSES, THE SAME 2 SHOT PRIOR. SO REALLY WE'RE NOT KIND OF STARTING TOTALLY FROM SCRATCH HERE. SO IN SOME WAYS THERE'S THAT ASPECT PLAYING HERE. THE STATE OF GEORGIA ALSO SAYS THAT THEY WERE WORRIED THAT IF THEY TOLD YOUNG PEOPLE MAY BE SHOWED UP TO GET VACCINATED TODAY OR YESTERDAY. HEY, COME BACK IN 2448 HOURS THAT THEY MIGHT NOT ACTUALLY COME BACK AND THAT THEY REALLY JUST NEED TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED. SO WHAT GEORGIA'S DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH DECIDED TO DO IS THEY SAID, OK, IF ANYONE SHOWS UP AT A VACCINATION SITE THAT WE RUN OR IS ASSOCIATED WITH US. THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND THEY'RE IN THAT AGE GROUP 12 TO 15 AND THEY HAVE PARENTAL OR LEGAL GUARDIAN CONSENT FORM SIGNED WITH SOUND, THEN THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND BE VACCINATED IN GEORGIA, BY THE WAY, IS NOT THE ONLY STATE TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THIS STEP A LITTLE EARLY. WHEN YOU THINK THAT THE CDC ADVISORY BOARD IS MEETING LATER TODAY. THERE ARE 2 OTHER STATES DOING THIS AS WELL. DELAWARE AND ALSO ARKANSAS. >> JOE, GOOD POINT TO MAKE THERE NOW. ALISON, WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THE PARENTS AND KIDS WHO GOT THE SHOT ALREADY. WHY WAS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO DO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. >> I MEAN, THIS ISN'T AN EASY DECISION FOR ANY FAMILY AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE TALKED TO, EVEN THE ONES WHO ARE REALLY EAGER TO GO AHEAD AND GET THIS. THEY SAID THERE WAS A LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF RESEARCH IN THE PAST MONTHS WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT TO ACTUALLY HAPPEN. WE SPOKE TO ONE MOTHER AND HER 13 YEAR-OLD SON. SHE COULD NOT WAIT TO GET HIM VACCINATED. HE'S BEEN DOING VIRTUAL SCHOOLING AT HOME. HE STARTS HIGH SCHOOL IN THE FALL BOTH HE AND HIS MOM WANT TO GO BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING. BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, BOTH OF THEM FELT LIKE SHE NEEDED TO BE VACCINATED FIRST, HERE'S SOME MORE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. >> AND THE EXPERIENCE REALLY WAS NOT THAT I JUST HATE NEEDLES. SO THAT WASN'T FUN. >> SHOT BEEN HER AT ALL SOURCE OF OUR IS KIND OF ANNOYING. BUT NOT REALLY THAT BAD. >> I REALLY JUST HOPE GET BACK TO A SENSE NORMALCY. AND I KNOW THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE IN GEORGIA THAT HAVE FELT COMFORTABLE DOING THAT. AND THAT'S WORKED FOR THEM. MY KIDS HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, IN SCHOOL VIRTUAL THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS FOR HAVING PLAY DATES. AND SO I REALLY HOPE THAT THIS CAN GET US BACK TO THAT SENSE OF NORMALCY. >> SO BEEN WHO YOU HEARD FROM THERE IS 13, BUT HE TOLD US ALMOST 14. WE ASKED HIM WHAT HE IS ABSOLUTELY LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE THAN ANYTHING. ONCE HE IS FULLY VACCINATED. HE SAID HE IS REALLY EXCITED AND ALREADY PLANNING TO HAVE A SLEEPOVER WITH FRIENDS. HE SAID THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO IN A YEAR AND A HALF. HE JUST WANTS TO HAVE A SLEEPOVER WITH SOME FRIENDS BE SOCIAL AND MAYBE GO TO A MOVIE THEATER. >> JOE YEAH. BE A KID. SO GOOD TO HEAR BENN HATES NEEDLES. BUT THE SHOT DIDN'T HURT AT ALL GOOD MESSAGE TO PASS ALONG NOW ISN'T. THANKS SO MUCH. >> YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO CHECK ON MORNING NEWS NOW. WEATHER. GOOD MORNING. BILL KAREN'S. >> GOOD MORNING. YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT'S RAINING THIS THAT LIVE YOU TO HEAR IT ON THE HEAD. THAT WAS OVER HER HEAD THOSE OF RAIN JUST. YEAH, EXACTLY. YEAH, IT WAS JUST OUTSIDE OF ATLANTA THAT WE'RE WATCHING THOSE DOWNPOURS. SO THE SOUTH IS WHERE ALL THE RAIN IS. IT'S BEEN THAT WE HAD SOME THUNDERSTORMS AND EVEN PRODUCED A TORNADO IN NORTH CAROLINA. AND THIS IS EXAMPLE THIS EXAMPLE NUMBER 1, MILLION BY WHAT YOU WHERE YOU DON'T WANT TO BE WHEN STORM ROLLS THROUGH. AND THAT'S A MOBILE HOME THIS TREE SLICED RIGHT THROUGH THIS MOBILE HOME. THE FAMILY WAS INSIDE. THEY WERE TRAPPED FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS. WELL, THEY HAD TRIED TO REMOVE THE TREE, BUT THEY WERE ON THE INJURED, WHICH IS PRETTY AMAZING. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DECIDE ONE INSTEAD OF THE THEY WOULDN'T BE TELLING THIS STORY. YEAH, IT'S A BIG STORM ROLLS ALL THE ADVICE FOR HURRICANES AND TORNADOES AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS JUST GET OUT. >> ALL RIGHT. SO HERE'S WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH THIS MORNING WHO SAYS THAT RAIN NEAR ATLANTA. ALSO A LOT OF HEAVY RAIN UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA AND ROLLING TO NORTH CAROLINA. THE LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS THAT HAS PRODUCED A LITTLE BIT OF WIND DAMAGE AND ALSO SOME FLASH FLOODING IS ROLLING RIGHT TO PENSACOLA LOT OF LIGHTNING STRIKES WITH THAT LINE, TOO. SO THE DRIVE RIGHT NOW DOWN INTERSTATE 10 FROM MOBILE. THE PENSACOLA HEADING TOWARDS PANAMA CITY IS NOT A FUN ONE AND THAT LINE OF STORMS WILL EVENTUALLY WEEKEND. WE'RE ALSO WATCHING FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS JUST NORTH OF BILOXI. IN A LITTLE AREA JUST NORTH OF THE FLASH FLOODING WILL END DURING THE DAY. TODAY. WE STILL WILL SEE ISOLATED TOTALS OF ONE TO 3 INCHES, ESPECIALLY SOUTHERN GEORGIA AREAS IN JACKSONVILLE, NORTH UP TO SAVANNAH. SO TODAY'S FORECAST. IT'S A CHILLY MORNING ONCE AGAIN IN THE GREAT LAKES. OHIO VALLEY AND NORTHEAST. BUT WHAT A BEAUTIFUL AFTERNOON. IT'S GOING TO BE ONCE AGAIN TEMPERATURES IN THE 60'S. VERY COMFORTABLE AIR FROM DC ALL THE WAY UP TO BOSTON AND THE HEAT BEGINNING TO BUILD IN THE WEST. 100 TODAY IN PHOENIX AND LOOKS LIKE DRY CONDITIONS LOOK AT THE EXTENDED FORECAST. GUYS LIKE GREAT LAKES, OHIO VALLEY AND THE NORTHEAST. I THINK THIS AIR MASS CONTINUES RIGHT INTO THE WEEKEND. MAKE YOUR OUTDOOR PLANS. >> GOOD FOR THEM. RIGHT. BILL, THANK YOU. >> COMING UP, MEDINA SPIRIT HEADING BACK TO THE TRAFFIC. KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER CLEARED TO RACE AFTER FAILING A POST-RACE DRUG TEST. DETAILS ARE UP NEXT ON MORNING NEWS NOW. ♪ >> IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE FAMILY OF ANDREW BROWN JUNIOR IS CALLING FOR JUSTICE AFTER VIEWING MORE BODY CAMERA VIDEO SHOWING HIS DEADLY ENCOUNTER WITH SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES. THE FAMILY AND THEIR ATTORNEYS WERE ALLOWED BY A JUDGE TO VIEW 20 MINUTES OF FOOTAGE SHOWING THE MOMENT BROWN WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY DEPUTIES IN ELIZABETH CITY LAST MONTH. THE DEPUTIES HAD SOUGHT TO SERVE A WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST ON FELONY DRUG CHARGES. FAMILY LAWYERS SAY THE VIDEO PROVES THE SHOOTING WAS AN AMBUSH. >> CONCORD IS NO WAY THAT THIS COULD BE JUSTIFIED. THERE'S NO WAY POSSIBLE. HE WAS IN THE WRONG. IT WAS IN THE LIGHT WILSON A COME TO LIGHT. >> FOR MORE NOW, I WANT TO BRING IN NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT KATIE BECK JOINING US FROM ELIZABETH CITY. KATIE, GOOD MORNING. SO A LAWYER REPRESENTING THE DEPUTIES SAID THEY WERE JUSTIFIED IN BROWN'S KILLING. BUT AS WE JUST HEARD BROWN'S FAMILY CLAIMS HE DID NOTHING WRONG. WHAT MORE DID THEY SAY AFTER VIEWING THAT NEW VIDEO. >> WELL, THAT WAS REALLY THE START CONTRAST YESTERDAY, RIGHT. WHAT THE DIA HAD PRESENTED IN COURT AS THE SCENARIO AND WHAT ROUNDS, FAMILIES AND ATTORNEYS SAY THEY SAW ON THAT VIDEOTAPE. THE DIA IN A COURT HEARING JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO SAID THAT BROWN HAD MOVED FORWARD AND BACK IN HIS VEHICLE MAKING CONTACT WITH DEPUTIES AND THAT'S WHEN SHOTS WERE FIRED YESTERDAY BROWN'S FAMILY LAWYERS CAME OUT AND SAID THAT WAS NOT THE CASE THAT SHOTS WERE FIRED PRIOR TO ANY MOVEMENT IN THAT VEHICLE AND THAT AT NO POINT TO BROWN'S VEHICLE MAKE CONTACT WITH OFFICERS. THEY WERE VERY CLEAR TO SAY THAT THEY FELT THIS WAS AN AMBUSH THAT HE WAS MURDERED USING THE STRONGEST LANGUAGE IN TERMS TO PAINT A PICTURE OF WHAT THEY FEEL WAS AN UNJUSTIFIED POLICE SHOOTING. NOW THEY HAVE PREVIOUSLY SEEN 20 SECONDS YESTERDAY. THEY SAW ALMOST 20 MINUTES. THEY FEELS VALIDATED AND VINDICATED FROM WATCHING MORE OF THAT VIDEO AND SAY IT RAISES MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONDUCT OF THESE POLICE OFFICERS. HERE'S WHAT A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY HAD TO SAY. >> ABLE TO SEE MISTER BROWN SITTING IN HIS VEHICLE AS HE WAS AMBUSHED AND. >> AS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE MADE THEIR WAY TO HIS RESIDENCE APPEARING TO BE SURPRISE. IT APPEARS THAT HE WAS POSSIBLY ON THE PHONE. AT ALL TIMES. YOU HIS HANDS WERE VISIBLE. THE DOW TIMES. YOU CAN SEE THAT HE WAS NOT A THREAT. >> NOW, THEY WERE ALSO SAYING AROUND IN THIS VIDEO WAS ACTUALLY TURNING HIS CAR AWAY FROM POLICE AT NO TIME WAS HE DRIVING TOWARDS THEM. SO THE PERCEIVED THREAT, THEY SAY WAS NOT IN QUESTION IN THIS VIDEO AT ALL. AND THEY REALLY DO DRAW A STARK CONTRAST TO WHAT THE DIA HAD PREVIOUSLY SAID IN COURT IN FRONT OF A JUDGE. NOW WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT VIDEO. ALL OF THIS IS SPECULATION AT THIS THE PUBLIC RELEASE, WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN THAT COULD BE. ALL RIGHT. KATIE BACK, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> A NEW VIDEO TAKEN AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER SHOWS A GROUP OF ABANDONED MIGRANT CHILDREN. THE YOUNGEST IS JUST 11 MONTHS OLD. NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT GABE GUTIERREZ TAKES A CLOSER LOOK. >> NOW MOTHER NO FATHER, THEY WERE FOUND ABANDONED BY SMUGGLERS ON THE BORDER 5 UNDOCUMENTED GIRLS FROM HONDURAS AND GUATEMALA RANGING FROM JUST 11 MONTHS OLD TO 7 YEARS DISCOVERED BY A TEXAS FARMER WHO GAVE THEM WATER AND FOOD IN THE SWELTERING HEAT THAT ARE OUT THERE IN THE DARK ON I TOTALLY ALLOWED FOR THE BORDER PATROL SAYS THE CHILDREN ARE IN GOVERNMENT CUSTODY AND DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION, BUT IT'S ANOTHER HEARTBREAKING REMINDER OF THE STAKES IN THIS BORDER SURGE. YOU LAST MONTH THIS 10 YEAR-OLD NICARAGUAN BOARD WAS FOUND ALONE AND CRYING. ANOTHER VIDEO SHOWED SMUGGLERS DROPPING 2 TODDLERS FROM ECUADOR OVER A 14 FOOT HIGH BORDER FENCE DESPITE REPEATED REQUESTS CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION HAS NOT YET RELEASED UPDATED APPREHENSION NUMBERS FOR APRIL IN MARCH. AGENTS STOPPED MORE THAN 172,000 MIGRANTS AT THE BORDER. A 20 YEAR HIGH. THE RECORD SURGE OF CHILDREN BEGAN AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN CHAIN BORDER POLICY BEGAN ALLOWING UNACCOMPANIED MINORS AND MANY FAMILIES TO STAY IN THE U.S.. >> THIS MESSAGE TO MIGRANTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. THAT BORDER IS CLOSED. BUT NO, I I KNEW ROMA TEXAS LAST WEEK. THIS WOMAN OUT OF BREATH TOLD HER SHE WAS DESPERATE. >> THE FOLLOWING BREAKING NEWS ON CAPITOL HILL. CONGRESSWOMAN LIZ CHENEY HAS BEEN OUSTED FROM HER LEADERSHIP POSITION BY HOUSE REPUBLICANS. MULTIPLE SOURCES TELL NBC NEWS IT WAS DONE BY A VOICE VOTE. NO ROLL CALL, NO SECRET BALLOT. THE MEETING LASTED LESS THAN 20 MINUTES. LET'S GO RIGHT TO NBC NEWS CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT LEIGH ANN CALDWELL. SO LEE AND FIRST OF ALL, TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. AND THIS VOICE VOTE WAS THIS WHAT WAS EXPECTED OR WAS THAT A SURPRISE. >> HEY, JOE. SO WE'LL START WITH WHAT HAPPENED TODAY. REPRESENTATIVE LIZ CHENEY STARTED THE CONFERENCE MEETING BECAUSE THIS WAS ACTUALLY HER CONFERENCE MEETING AS GOP CONFERENCE CHAIR FOR THE MOMENT AND SHE MADE A FEW REMARKS AND IN THOSE REMARKS, SHE SAID IN PART. OUR NATION NEEDS IS REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS A STRONG PARTY BASED ON TRUTH SO WE CAN SHAPE THE FUTURE AND SHE CONTINUED TO REALLY REPEAT WHAT SHE SAID LAST NIGHT THAT THE PATH OF FORMER DONALD PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS NOT THE PASTS OF THE PARTY MOVING FORWARD. AND AFTER THAT THEN THEY DECIDED NOT TO HOLD A SECRET BALLOT. A ROLL CALL OF WHERE MEMBERS STAND ON ON THE ON THE ISSUE OF LIZ CHENEY. INSTEAD THEY JUST DID IT BY A VOICE VOTE SO PEOPLE AREN'T ON THE RECORD OF NOVEMBER HAD TO ACTUALLY SAY WHAT THEY THOUGHT. EVEN IF IT WAS A SECRET BALLOT, BUT IT WAS A VOICE VOTE IN OUR SOURCES TELL US THAT IT WAS A RESOUNDING SUPPORT TO REMOVE HER FROM THIS CASE IHSAN JOE KNOW WE DIDN'T REALLY EXPECT IT TO HAPPEN THIS WAY. BUT IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT MEMBERS DID NOT WANT TO TAKE THIS VOTE. THERE IS AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY WANTED HER TO BE REMOVED FROM THIS POSITION. AND SO THEY JUST TOOK OUT NECESSARY PAGE HAVING THEIR NAME DOWN ON A POSITION THAT THEY WOULD RATHER JUST. RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY EXACTLY HOW THEY FELT JOE. YES, ONLY. AND WE KNOW SHE MADE SOME STRONG COMMENTS YESTERDAY TO A NEARLY EMPTY HOUSE CHAMBER AND WASN'T SURPRISING THAT SHE DECIDED TO SPEAK AGAIN TODAY. AND WHAT MORE CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT SHE TOLD THE GROUP. >> SO IT WASN'T REALLY SURPRISING. SHE WANTED TO SPEAK TODAY, BUT WE WEREN'T SURE SHE WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO THE SHOW IS RUN BY HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER KEVIN MCCARTHY. WE WEREN'T SURE IF HE WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW HER TO SPEAK. BUT WHEN SHE'S OPENED UP THE CONFERENCE WITH THAT RIGHT PLACE AT THE PLEDGE AND THE PRAYER. SHE SAID THAT SHE WANTS TO TAKE A COUPLE MOMENTS IT TO GIVE HER THOUGHT. SHE SAID SHE HAS A LOT OF RESPECT FOR MANY PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AFTER THIS VERY SHORT MEETING THAT ONLY LASTED ABOUT 20 MINUTES. SHE DID COME TO THE CAMERAS AND TOOK A COUPLE QUESTIONS INCLUDING ON THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND WHAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S ROLE IS. I THINK WE HAVE SOME OF THAT SOUND LET'S PLAY IF NOT STOP. THERE. >> HAVE HAD THE CONFERENCE MEETING. I AM ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED. AS I SAID LAST NIGHT AS AS I SAID JUST NOW TO MY COLLEAGUES. THAT WE MUST GO BASED ON TRUCE. WE CANNOT EMBRACE THE BIG LIE AND EMBRACE THE CONSTITUTION AND GOING THE NATION NEEDS IT. THE NATION NEEDS A STRONG REPUBLICAN PARTY. THE NATION NEEDS A PARTY THAT IS BASED UPON FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CONSERVATISM AND I'M COMMITTED AND DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT. THAT'S HOW THIS PARTY GOES FORWARD. AND I PLAN TO LEAD THE FIGHT TO DO THAT. >> AND THAT IS BUSINESS CONSISTENT MESSAGE FROM REPRESENTATIVE CHENEY THAT SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT SHE SAID ON THE HOUSE FLOOR LAST NIGHT THAT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT SHE TOLD HER MEMBERS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS EARLIER THIS MORNING AND IS SHE IS NOW DETERMINED TO CONTINUE TO BE THAT VOICE WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO CONTINUE TO STAND UP AGAINST THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND THE LIES. HE CONTINUES TO TOUT ABOUT THE PAST ELECTION REGARDLESS OF WHAT SORT OF CONSEQUENCES THAT BRINGS HERE. OF COURSE SHE DEALT A MAJOR CONSEQUENCE BY LOSING HER SEAT AND LEADERSHIP. BUT I WILL SAY ONE MORE THING, JOE, SHE DOES HAVE SOME SUPPORT. REPRESENTATIVE ADAM KINZINGER OF ILLINOIS HAS BEEN A VOCAL VOCAL SUPPORTER OF REPRESENTATIVE CHENEY. HE'S STANDING RIGHT BY HER AND THEN ANOTHER MEMBER WHO HASN'T BEEN VOCAL TEXTED ME AND SAID AFTER THIS VOTE, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE HOUSE IS DONE. THEY FEAR FOR THE FUTURE OF THE PARTY BECAUSE OF THE STANCE THAT IT IS TAKING. SO THERE IS STILL BELLY ACHING AMONG REPUBLICANS WHO THINK THIS IS ABSOLUTELY. >> THE SHOW. ALL RIGHT. LEIGH ANN CALDWELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> RESEARCHERS HAVE FOUND THAT A SHRUNKEN HEAD THAT WAS USED AS A PROP IN 1979 MOVIE ISRAEL, THE HEAD OR SANSA AMAZONIAN LANGUAGES HAD BEEN ON DISPLAY AT MERCER UNIVERSITY IN GEORGIA FOR DECADES AND EVEN APPEARED IN THE MOVIE WISE BLOOD WHERE IT WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT WAS GLUED ON TO A FAKE BODY. RESEARCHERS SPENT YEARS AUTHENTICATING THE SANSA BY PERFORMING TASKS LIKE WE CONSTRUCTING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODEL AND PERFORMING C T SCANS. IT WILL NOW BE SENT BACK TO ECUADOR WHERE RESEARCHERS HOPE IT WILL BE PROPERLY PRESERVED. MANY MUSEUMS, INCLUDING THE SMITHSONIAN HAD BEEN REPATRIATING HUMAN REMAINS FROM THEIR COLLECTIONS AS ATTITUDES HAVE CHANGED SOME AND A LOT OF INTEREST IN THIS ONE. IN FACT, IT WAS THE NUMBER ONE STORY AT NBC NEWS, DOT COM. OH, WOW, THAT'S KIND OF INTERESTING. IT IS KIND OF WOW. THAT JUST ABLE TO BE USED AS A PROP FOR MOVIE. IF IT THEY THOUGHT MAYBE THERE WAS A CHANCE YOU. I'M AND MAYBE I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE TIME. BUT NOW THEY'VE DONE THE WORK AND FIGURED IT OUT CHECK. EXACTLY. VERY COOL. THANKS TO. >> WE GOT A LITTLE EXTRA TIME TO DO OUR TAXES THIS YEAR. BUT THE DEADLINE IS APPROACHING. NBC NEWS SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT STEPHANIE RUHLE HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU FILE. >> AND SAMANTHA THE TAX MAN COMMENTS A BIT LATER THAN USUAL THIS YEAR. APRIL 15TH IS NOW MAY 17TH LESS THAN ONE WEEK TO FILE YOUR TAXES. BUT THIS YEAR THE DUE DATE ISN'T THE ONLY BIG CHANGE WHEN IT COMES TO TAXES. TAKE A LOOK. >> FOR FINANCIAL PLANNERS LIKE MILTON RODRIGUEZ, IT'S GO TIME. >> I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE WITHOUT THE EXTRA MONTHS. >> THE IRS SAYS TAX DEADLINE IS NOW LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHETHER I FILE ON PAPER OR SHOULD I DO IT ONLINE. IT'S ALWAYS MUCH MORE SCARED TO DO IT ONLINE. AND IT'S QUICKER TO GET A REFUND, A DIRECT DEPOSIT AND MAILING IS NOT THE IDEAL OPTION BETWEEN STIMULUS CHECKS. MILLIONS ON UNEMPLOYMENT AND A WORK FROM HOME SURGE. TAXES ARE LIKELY TO BE MORE CONFUSING THAN EVER. KEY THINGS TO KNOW AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL YOUR STIMULUS CHECK IS TAX FREE. AND IF YOU CLAIMED UNEMPLOYMENT, THE FIRST $10,200. ALSO TAX FREE AND THE CHILD TAX CREDIT. NOW $3,000 FOR KIDS 6 AND UP AND 3600 FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN. IF YOU OWE TAXES, YOU WATCH. I MAY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BY ME SOMEHTING DEADLINE. ANYTHING THAT IS AN MADE DOES HAVE PENALTIES AND INTEREST ASSESSED. AND REMEMBER, IF YOU OWE MONEY, YOU CAN WORK OUT A PAYMENT PLAN WITH THE IRS. >> IF YOU MAKE LESS THAN $72,000 A YEAR. THE IRS WILL HELP YOU FILE FOR FREE. AND IF YOU MOVE STATES CONSIDER HIRING A PROFESSIONAL. >> AND REMEMBER, GUYS, YOU MUST HIT SUBMIT BY MIDNIGHT ON MAY 17TH JOE SAVANA AND COUNTING ON. >> THE PANDEMIC HAS MADE CELL PHONES AND LAPTOPS OUR LIFELINES. WE'VE RELIED ON THEM TO WORK TO GO TO SCHOOL AND TO ESCAPE OR CONNECT WITH OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. BUT RISING NUMBER OF AMERICANS ARE FINDING IT HARD TO PUT THEIR DEVICES DOWN. NBC'S LESTER HOLT TAKES A LOOK AT THE SOCIAL CHALLENGE OF INTERNET ADDICTION. >> JOE AND SAVANNAH. MANY OF US HAVE TURNED TO OUR SCREENS AND DEVICES TO NAVIGATE LIFE WITH COVID. BUT FOR SOME A PRACTICAL NECESSITY BECAME SOMETHING MORE THIS MORNING. MORE ON THE SOCIAL CHALLENGE WITH A LOOK AT INTERNET ADDICTION. >> IN OUR PANDEMIC ISOLATION. THE INTERNET BECAME A LIFELINE. BUT FOR LIFE ALTERING PORTAL TO WHAT SOME DESCRIBE AS A RABBIT HOLE. SCOTT IS I AT SAYS HE'S BEEN DOWN IT I WOULD IMAGINE IT'S LIKE WHAT ANY ADDICTION FEELS LIKE. YOU THINK ABOUT ACTUALLY GIVING IT UP BECAUSE I IT'S FOUND HIMSELF SPENDING MORE AND MORE TIME ONLINE. IN HIS CASE FEEDING AN INSATIABLE APPETITE FOR POLITICS. THE ELECTION AND CAPITAL SEES PARTICULARLY DREW MEN. IT FEEL LIKE YOU JUST SPEAK SWEPT DOWN THIS TITLE. YEAH. >> YEAH. THEY CYCLE. THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO SEE ARE THEY THEY KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO READ. AND SO THEY THEY FEED YOU MORE AND MORE OF THAT. SO I KNOW I FEED INTO IT RIGHT. I KNOW IT'S HAPPENING AND I STILL. >> CLICK AND WHEN THAT NEXT ARTICLE PSYCHIATRIST DOCTOR HOWARD FOREMAN SAYS INTERNET ADDICTION IS REAL. JUST BASED ON THE VOLUME OF CALLS. I'M GETTING VOLUME OF CALLS OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE GETTING. >> IT IS CERTAINLY GROWING. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT. IT'S A MURDER ONE OF THE MAJOR BEHAVIORAL ADDICTIONS AND UNITED STATES, THOUGH PUBLISH RESEARCH IN THE U.S. IS SCARCE. >> OVERSEAS. STUDIES HAVE NOTED SHARP INCREASES IN INTERNET DEPENDENCE DURING THE PANDEMIC WITH LINKS TO ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. I'VE HAD A COLD BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICINE SCIENTIFICALLY WHAT IS WHEN WE CROSS THIS LINE ON ON THE COMPUTER IN A DIRECTION. EVERY TIME YOU'VE GOT TO LIKE OR FOLLOW OR SOMEONE COMMENT ON SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE POSTED. YOU GET A SURGEON WHO DON'T MEAN IN A PART OF THE BRAIN THAT WE CALL LAYMAN'S TERMS. THE PLEASURE CENTER AND VERY GOOD ONCE YOU GET MORE AND MORE OF THIS SURGE OF PLEASURE ATTEMPTS TO STOP COLD. HE SAYS GENERALLY FAIL. ARE A FEW THAT I WE START WITH. >> IS THAT. >> YOU? >> START WITH A SIMPLE DO IN A SIMPLE AND THE SIMPLE DO IS DO ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES THAT PREVIOUSLY WERE PLEASURABLE TO YOU BEFORE THE INTERNET TOOK OVER YOUR LIFE AS FOR SCOTT, A HEALTH CARE WORKER ONLINE DISINFORMATION AND LIES ABOUT COVID ARE STILL TRIGGERS. I KNOW IT'S HAPPENING. >> AND I STILL CLICK AND WHEN THAT NEXT ARTICLE A STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE HEALTHY NEED TO KNOW AND ENGAGE AND THE UNHEALTHY FALL INTO THAT RABBIT HOLE. >> TIME FOR OUR MEDICAL ROUND UP A LOOK AT THE LATEST HEALTH STUDIES. YOU MAY HAVE MISSED NBC NEWS MEDICAL CONTRIBUTOR DOCTOR NATALIE AZAR JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THIS. NATALIE, GOOD MORNING. SO FIRST OF ALL, LET'S START WITH THIS STUDY THAT SAYS DRINKING 2 OR MORE SUGARY DRINKS DOUBLES THE RISK OF COLON CANCER IN WOMEN WHO ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 50. WHAT MORE CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS IN IN QUITE BE TRUE FOR MEN TOO. >> WELL TO GET TO THE SECOND PART. FIRST SHOW RESEARCH WAS DONE PARTICIPANTS IN THE WOMEN'S HEALTH STUDY, WHICH I'M SURE YOU'VE ALL HEARD OF, WHICH IS JUST GIVE US GIVING US VALUABLE INFORMATION ON WOMEN'S HEALTH THAT COULD BE EXTRAPOLATED MEN. SURE. SO WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT WHAT WE KNOW THAT THE INCIDENCE OF COLORECTAL CANCER HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS INDIVIDUALS YOUNGER THAN 60. BUT WE DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHY EXPERTS HAVE. SUGGESTED THAT PERHAPS ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS DIET COULD PLAY A ROLE. AND WE KNOW THAT THE INTAKE OF SUGARY DRINKS CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF OBESITY AS WELL AS DIABETES WE WERE UNSURE ABOUT A LINK TO CALLING CANCER. SO IN THIS PARTICULAR STUDY WHAT THEY FOUND THAT WOMEN WHO CONSUMED LEAST ONE SUGARY EXTRA SUGARY DRINK PER DAY INCREASE THE RISK FOR COLON CANCER BY ABOUT 16% AS YOU KNOW, SUGAR-SWEETENED DRINKS MAKE UP THE LEADING SOURCE OF ADDED SUGARS IN THE U.S. DIE AND ROUGHLY DOLLARS POURED IN 1990 HAVE ROUGHLY TWICE THE RISK OF COLON CANCER AND INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE BORN DECADES BEFORE SOME DOCTORS ORDERS. GRAB A GLASS OF WATER FLAVORED SELTZER INSTEAD OF THAT SUGARY DRINK DEFINITELY CHECK THE LABEL TO SEE HOW MUCH SUGAR, HOW MUCH CARBOHYDRATE YOU'RE CONSUMING AND TRY TO CUT BACK. I'M MIXING SWEETENED WITH SWEETENED DRINKS TO SORT OF TAPER YOURSELF OFF THAT SUGARY HIGH SLOWLY JOB. >> GOOD ADVICE THERE. LET'S MOVE ON TO A STUDY THAT SAYS SLEEPING PILLS DON'T SEEM TO WORK LONG TERM FOR INSOMNIA AND MIDDLE AGE. WOMEN. DOES THIS MEAN THEY WORK IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS BUT SHOULDN'T BE TAKEN LONGER THAN THAT. WHAT'S THE TAKE AWAY HERE. >> SO JOE, YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING. OBVIOUSLY AS WE GET ESPECIALLY WOMEN AROUND DO START TO EXPERIENCE SOME SLEEP DISTURBANCE AND IT'S VERY NORMAL TO WANT TO TRY TO HAVE A SLEEP AID TO ASSIST US IN FALLING ASLEEP AND THERE IS A NUANCED DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TAKING SOMETHING TO HELP YOU FALL ASLEEP AS OPPOSED TO TAKING SOMETHING THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO COME TRUE. THE QUALITY OF YOUR SLEEP AND THEN TO RATION OF YOUR SLEEP. SO THIS STUDY AS THE OTHER WAS ALSO DONE IN WOMEN AND THEY FOUND BASICALLY THAT SLEEPING SUCH AS NBN AND YOU KNOW, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS DO WORK IN THE SHORT TERM, MAYBE UP TO ABOUT 6 MONTHS. BUT AFTER 2 YEARS THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF THEM THE ABILITY TO FALL ASLEEP TO STAY ASLEEP OR WAKING EARLY BETWEEN 2 GROUPS OF WOMEN WHO EITHER TALK SLEEPING AIDS OR DIDN'T TAKE SLEEP. TAKE SLEEPING AIDS. SO DOCTORS ORDERS AND THIS IS BASIC SLEEP HYGIENE. JOE, YOU WANT TO USE THE BENCH FOR SLEEP AND INTIMACY ONLY. IT'S NOT A TIME FOR, YOU KNOW, BEING ON THE COMPUTER AND BEING ON YOUR PHONES AND ESPECIALLY WITH PHONES AND DEVICES. YOU WANT TO GET RID OF LEAST 30 MINUTES BEFORE BED. YOU WANT TO AVOID CAFFEINE INTAKE LATER IN THE DAY AND ONE REALLY IMPORTANT SAYING IS THAT IF YOU FIND YOURSELF AWAKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. YOU CAN'T FALL BACK ASLEEP. DON'T LIVE THERE FOR MORE THAN 30 MINUTES STARING AT THE CLOCK YOU CAN GET UP GRAB A BOOK SOME DIM LIGHT AND RED UNTIL YOU GET TIRED AND THEN TRY TO GO TO SLEEP AGAIN. THAT'S GOOD ADVICE. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT ONE. SO IT'S GOOD TO KNOW. ALL RIGHT. >> NOW WE'VE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH THE NEW NORMAL OF MASKING AND DISTANCING. BUT AS WE START TO EMERGE IN RE ENTER THE WORLD. SOME FEAR IT COULD BE IN STORE FOR A BAD FLU SEASON. HOW WORRIED SHOULD WE BE ABOUT THIS. >> SO, YOU WE'RE ALWAYS WE ALWAYS HAVE THIS EXPECTATION OF A DOOMSDAY MEMBER LAST YEAR WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TWINDEMIC AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. AND THE REASON THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN IS THAT ALL THE BEHAVIORS THAT WE USED TO MITIGATE AGAINST CORONAVIRUS. >> ENDED UP HELPING US PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THE FLU. LAST YEAR. THIS PAST SEASON. WE HAD ROUGHLY 2000 CASES OF FLU AS OPPOSED TO THE YEAR BEFORE WE HAD 200. >> 1000 CASES. NOW, THE CONCERN HERE AMONG EXPERTS IS THAT BECAUSE WE WERE NOT EXPOSED OUR POPULATION IN THE U.S. RIGHT NOW IS VERY LOW IMMUNITY AGAINST CERTAIN FLU STRAINS GOING INTO NEXT YEAR AND THAT IS VERY CONCERNING. ONE THING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP. YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR AROUND FEBRUARY THE W H IDENTIFIES THE STRAINS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IN THE FLU SHOT FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED WHICH STRAINS THEY ARE GOING TO BE. HOWEVER, WE HAVEN'T DONE A LOT OF SAMPLING JUST BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF CASES. SO EXPERTS ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED FOR NEXT YEAR THAT WE COULD HAVE THAT VACCINE STRAIN MISMATCH THAT WE TALK ABOUT A LOT. ONE OF THE DOCTORS ORDERS FOR THIS. I KNOW. I SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD WE ALL DO. BUT GET YOUR FLU SHOT IS THE THING THAT WILL SAVE YOU FROM HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH. NOW WE KNOW SOCIAL DISTANCING WASHING OUR HANDS NOT TOUCHING OUR FACES. AND BY THE WAY, MAYBE STILL WEARING THE MASK, EVEN IF WE DON'T HAVE TO BECAUSE OF COVID-19 IN CERTAIN AREAS INDOORS MIGHT STILL BE RECOMMENDED. JUST WAIT AND SEE. AND CERTAINLY IF YOU'RE STAY HOME. >> SO WE'VE ALL GOTTEN REALLY GOING TO WASH YOUR HANDS IN THE LAST YEAR. SO AREAS ARE AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS TO. >> KEPT ASTRA TIGER SEEING FILING IN A TEXAS NEIGHBORHOOD IS STILL MISSING. THE LATEST ON THE SEARCH AFTER THE BREAK. ♪ >> TIME CNBC MONEY MINUTE. THE BIGGEST FINANCIAL HEADLINES OF THE DAY AND WHY THEY MATTER TO YOU. CNBC'S BERTHA COOMBS IS WITH US THIS MORNING. HI, BERTHA. HIGH. DON'T SAVANNAH THIS ONE MATTERS TO YOU IF YOU'RE INTO CRUISING, CARNIVAL IS PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON. >> SOME POSSIBLE TIMING OF THEM RESTARTING SALES. THEY EXPECT PERHAPS IN JULY TO BEGIN SAILING ON 3 SHIFTS FROM FLORIDA AND TEXAS. THE CARNIVAL CAR WAS ALSO SEARCHING FOR A WAY FOR SHIPS TO VISIT ALASKA, WHERE THEY'RE CURRENTLY UNABLE TO SAIL THROUGH FEBRUARY DUE TO CANADA'S CREWS FAN GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTY, THOUGH TRAVELERS ARE ALLOWED TO CANCEL WITHOUT PENALTY BY MAY 31ST TO GET A FULL REFUND. TIKTOK. MEANTIME IS TESTING A RECRUITING TOOL TO HELP PEOPLE FIND JOBS AND RECRUITERS AND BRANDS TO DISCOVER SOLID CANDIDATES. ACTIVES IS REPORTING THAT THE FUTURE WILL BE OUTSIDE OF THE COURT TIKTOK APP AND WILL BE ON A WEBSITE WHERE JOBLESS TO WHAT STINGS ARE POSTED MOST LIKELY WILL BE ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO POST A VIDEO RESUME AND THAT TO YOUR PROFILE AS WELL. AND MOET HENNESSY IS ANTICIPATING A POST COVID RENAISSANCE AS CONSUMERS FLOCK TO REOPEN BARS AND RESTAURANTS AND SPLURGE ON PRICE YOUR DRINKS TO CELEBRATE COMPANY WHICH AND SEAN PROVED CLICKO HENNESSY AND OTHER BRANDS THAT JOE DRINKS ALWAYS TIME SAYS THAT PEOPLE ARE CLEARLY TRADING UP AND NOW HAVE MONEY TO BURN SINCE THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN SEATED AND PARTS OF THE U.S. AND THIS HAS LED TO A BOOM FOR THINGS LIKE COGNAC, WHICH IS LEFT HAND OF SEE STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND LONG AS THE KEEPS FLOWING. I'M ALL HIGH COGNAC IS MAKING A COMEBACK ALBUM. I KNOW IT'S. >> SOMETHING. ALL RIGHT. GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> AUTHORITIES IN TEXAS ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR THAT LARGE TIGER LAST SPOTTED SUNDAY IN HOUSTON SUMMER. NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENT MORGAN CHESKY HAS THE LATEST. >> THIS MORNING. AUTHORITIES STILL ON THE PROW SEARCHING FOR A MISSING TIGERS SEEN ROAMING THE STREETS OF HOUSTON MAKES US. >> TO ALL OF US. JUST, KNOW, THERE'S A WHYNELL AT LARGE. OH, MY GOODNESS. >> THE BIG CATS UNEXPECTED APPEARANCE. AND UNUSUAL GETAWAY IN AN SUV LEAVING NEIGHBORS AND EVEN HOUSTON'S MAYOR. >> BAFFLED THIS FIND THE AND THIS PLACE, THE TIGER IN THE MOST APPROPRIATE PLACE. >> WHILE THE HUNT FOR THE BENGAL TIGER CONTINUES. AUTHORITIES DID TRACK DOWN. VICTOR, QUITE US. THE MAN WHO WAS ALLEGEDLY HOUSING THE ANIMAL. HE'S NOW IN A TEXAS JAIL CHARGED WITH FELONY EVADING ARREST AFTER POLICE SAY HE SPED OFF WITH A TIGER INSIDE HIS VEHICLE. BUT HIS ATTORNEY DENIES QUITE A SAYS THE OWNER OF THE 9 MONTH OLD MALE TIGER THAT HE SAYS IS NAMED INDIA. WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS A REASONABLE DEDUCTION FROM LOOKING AT THE VIDEO. >> THAT MY CLIENT HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THIS ANIMAL BEFORE DOESN'T MEAN IT'S HIS. THAT TIGER CREEK ANIMAL SANCTUARY OUTSIDE DALLAS. DIRECTOR EMILY OWEN OVERSEES THE CARE OF 17 TIGERS NURSING. THE OFTEN ABANDONED OR NEGLECTED BIG CATCH BACK TO HEALTH. HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT THEY FIND THIS TIGER. >> THE LONGER THE CAT GOES WITHOUT PROPER CARE, THE MORE DANGEROUS AND THE MORE DANGER THE PEOPLE AROUND IT ARE IN. >> AFTER WATCHING THE NOW VIRAL VIDEO FROM HOUSTON. OWEN SAYS THE CATS COME FOR LEVEL AROUND PEOPLE LEADS HER TO BELIEVE IT'S NOW TOTALLY RELIANT ON THOSE TAKING CARE OF IT IN SECRET. >> I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT THINK THE ANIMALS JUST ROAMING AROUND. I THINK IT'S BEEN HIDDEN SOMEWHERE. >> BACK IN HOUSTON WITH A MAN BEHIND BARS AND A TIGER ON THE LAM. THOSE LIVING NEARBY CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHAT'S NEXT. >> YEAH. AND YOU KNOW THAT SCARES YOU TO BECAUSE IT'S LIKE IF HE IF THE TIGER WAS WITH THE GUY AND HE'S IN CUSTODY. >> WHERE IS THE TIGER? >> PRESIDENT BIDEN RELEASED HIS AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL PLAN LAST WEEK PLEDGING TO CONSERVE A 3RD OF THE NATION'S LAND AND WATER BY 2030, DOUBLING THE CURRENT AMOUNT. WELL, IN ONE SMALL CALIFORNIA TOWN, THERE IS A FIGHT BETWEEN THOSE HOPING TO PROTECT THE LAND. AND THAT CLASSIC CALIFORNIA QUEST FOR GOLD. NBC'S GADI SCHWARTZ TRAVELED TO THE EASTERN SIERRAS TO FIND OUT MORE. >> WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS SORT OF THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE MAY SOUND THE NORTHERN AND IT IS A HIGH DESERT CLIMATE OASIS FOR JOSHUA TREES WITH THE SCHNEIDER IN GEORGIA FOG OR HIKING THROUGH A SLICE OF PIE, CALIFORNIA DESERT CALLED CONGLOMERATE MESA. >> AND ENVIRONMENTALIST ARE SEARCHING FOR PATCHES LIKE SO THIS IS THE OF A DRILL PAD THAT WAS PART OF K 2 GOLDS. >> PHASE ONE EXPIRATION. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S COMPLETELY DENUDED HAVE ANY PLANT LIFE. BUT IT'S A PRETTY LARGE AREA. YOU CAN SEE HOW THIS WOULD START TO THEY THINK THIS COULD MARK THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR THE MESA ECOSYSTEM BECAUSE HERE IN THE DIRT AND ROCKS ARE TINY SPECKS OF GOLD. THE PRECIOUS METAL THAT PUT CALIFORNIA ON THE MAP. >> I WOULD SAY THE JUICE IS NOT WORTH THE SQUEEZE. THERE WOULD BE A FEW LOW PAYING JOBS THAT WOULD LAST FOR ABOUT A DECADE. AND IN EXCHANGE FOR THAT, WE WOULD DESTROY CONGLOMERATE MESA FOREVER. IT IS NOT A GOOD TRADE. ONE OF THE BIGGEST FEARS DANGEROUS CHEMICALS COULD BE USED IN EXTRACTING THE GOLD. IF YOU RAISED BY COUNTY SUPERVISORS AND REGULAR CITIZENS. THAT MINING COULD COME IN THE FORM OF WHAT'S CALLED AN OPEN PIT CYANIDE HEAP LEACH. ROCKS CONTAINING GOLD ARE BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE, THEN BASICALLY MELTED DOWN WITH CYANIDE TO SEPARATE OUT THE GOLD. WE KNOWN THAT. >> MINING BRINGS LOTS AND LOTS OF JOBS AND COULD BRING 10'S OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE LOCAL ECONOMY KEEP COOL REPRESENTS A COMPANY THAT'S ALREADY STARTED EXPLORATORY DRILLING EVEN THOUGH WE'RE DRILLING VERY SMALL HOLES LOOKING FOR THE GOLD. WE'RE STILL REQUIRED TO PUT EVERYTHING BACK AND REPLANT TO RESTORE THE ENVIRONMENT BACK TO WHAT IT WAS BEFORE WE STARTED. >> QE 2 AND ITS LOCAL SUBSIDIARY MOJAVE PRECIOUS METAL SAY THEY'RE JUST EXPLORING TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH GOLD THIS YEAR AND THEY'RE DRILLING AROUND, NOT ON TOP OF THE THEY SAY IF THEY FIND ENOUGH A LARGER COMPANY WOULD BY THE MINING RIGHTS FROM THEM AND THEY WOULD BUILD THE MINE AND IF NOT MINE DOES USE MATERIALS LIKE CYANIDE. THOSE ARE HEAVILY REGULATED. >> TYPES OF CHEMICALS. THEN WOULD BE SUBJECT TO LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATION. AGAIN, WE DON'T USE THOSE TYPES OF MATERIALS RIGHT NOW IN THE EXPLORATION PHASE. BUT BUT WE'RE TALKING WE'RE TALKING HEAP, LEACH, MINING WITH CYANIDE POSSIBLY IN THE FUTURE. THOSE THOSE WORDS ALL TOGETHER. I MEAN, THEY'RE CONCERNING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. AND THERE ARE MINES RIGHT NOW THAT ARE USING THOSE TECHNOLOGIES. BUT WE JUST DON'T KNOW FOR THE FUTURE, RIGHT. WHEN THIS EXPLORATION IF IT EVER BECOMES A MINE IF THAT TYPE OF MINING TECHNOLOGY, IF THAT HEAP LEACH MINING WOULD BE USED. SO IT WOULD BE UP TO THE MINING COMPANY TO FOR MANY. THE MESA IS WORTH MORE THAN GOLD. >> IT'S SECRET TO SEVERAL TRIBES IN THE AREA WHO HAVE OCCUPIED THE REGION FOR OVER 10,000 YEARS. >> YOU COULD COMPARE IT TO, YOU KNOW, ARLINGTON CEMETERY OR OR IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL. THINGS LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW, THIS IS ALL NATURAL, YOU KNOW, BUT WE HAVE A HISTORY. WE HAVE A SPIRITUAL CONNECTION TO IT. >> KATHY BEEN CROFTON GENNA'S CAN SOLACE OR TRIBAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICERS FOR THE LONE PINE PAIUTE SHOSHONE TRIBE AND TIMBER. SHE SHOULD TRIED. OKAY TO PAY THE TRIBES TO ASSESS HOW CULTURAL ARTIFACTS WOULD BE IMPACTED BY EXPLORATORY MINING CONGLOMERATE MESA. >> THEN WE GOT TO THE MESA AND I STARTED GETTING OUT AND YOU ADD UP TO BAD. I JUST STARTED FINDING THINGS ARE FACTS. >> THE COMPANY SAYS THEY'RE MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO PROTECT CULTURAL HERITAGE AND CONSULT WITH THE TRIBES ON PROTECTING ARTIFACTS. BUT SOME LOCAL LEADERS SAY EVEN MORE IS AT STAKE. >> THIS IS THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO WITH CLEAN ENERGIES. THEN WE NEED THESE TYPES OF MINERALS WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO COME FROM. >> ULTIMATELY LOCALS WON'T HAVE THE FINAL SAY A CONGLOMERATE MASON IS FEDERAL PUBLIC LAND AND COULD BECOME A TESTING GROUND FOR HOW THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, DEB HAALAND. WE LOCAL CONCERNS NATIVE VOICES IN RENEWABLE ENERGY WITH A DECISION ON CONGLOMERATE. ME SAID HE EXPECTED THIS FALL. ♪
