>> I TRY TO CLICK THAT LITTLE BUTTON THAT SAYS SHOW ME THE FEEDS OR WHATEVER, BUT SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO FIND! GOOD MORNING! >> I AM SAVANNA SELLERS. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WE WILL BEGIN WITH HOLLYWOOD GRINDING TO A HALT AS THOUSANDS OF ACTORS HEAD TO THE PICKET LINE TODAY. >> THE UNION WAS NOT ABLE TO REACH A DEAL ON A NEW CONTRACT WITH THE INDUSTRY'S LEADING STUDIO. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FILM AND TV PERFORMERS HAVE HAD A WORK STOPPAGE LIKE THIS SINCE 1980. SAG AFTRA'S PRESIDENT FRAN DRESCHER SPOKE ABOUT THE STATE OF THE BUSINESS. >> I AM PROFOUNDLY DISAPPOINTED. I THINK I WAS NAO■E TO THINK THAT THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE PROBABLY BEEN IN BUSINESS WITH FOR DECADES THROUGHOUT MY CAREER COULD BEHAVE IN THIS WAY. ACTORS WANT TO WORK! PERFORMERS WANT TO WORK! WORKERS WANT TO WORK! >> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE SEEN BOTH ACTORS AND HOLLYWOOD WRITERS ON STRIKE AT THE SAME TIME SINCE 1950. THAT IS ONE RONALD REAGAN WAS THE SAG PRESIDENT. DANA GRIFFIN HAS MORE ON WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR FAVORITE MOVIES AND SHOWS. >> Reporter: AN UNPRECEDENTED HOLLYWOOD SHUTDOWN. SAG AFTRA SAYING THAT THEY WILL STRIKE AFTER FAILING TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE ALLIANCE OF MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION PRODUCERS WHICH REPRESENTS STUDIOS INCLUDING NBC UNIVERSAL. >> HOW THEY PLEAD POVERTY, THAT THEY ARE LOSING MONEY LEFT AND RIGHT, WHEN GIVING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THEIR CEOs. IT IS DISGUSTING. >> Reporter: ACTORS WILL JOIN WRITERS WHO HAVE BEEN PICKETING SINCE MAY THE FIRST JOINT STRIKE SINCE 1960. THE BREAKDOWN CAME DOWN TO STREAMING RESIDUALS AND A.I. PROTECTIONS. DISNEY CEO ROB EICHER RESPONDED TO THE DEMANDS IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH CNBC. >> THERE IS A LEVEL OF EXPECTATION THAT THEY HAVE THAT IS JUST NOT REALISTIC AND IS QUITE FRANKLY VERY DISRUPTIVE. >> Reporter: MATT DAMON AND EMILIE BLUNT WALKED OFF THE RED CARPET FOLLOWING NEWS OF THE STRIKE. >> THEY ARE FIGHTING NOT FOR THEMSELVES BUT FOR THE REST OF THE GUILD BECAUSE THE MOST POWERFUL MEMBERS CAN PICK UP THE LEAST POWERFUL MEMBERS. >> Reporter: THIS IS UNLIKE ANYTHING WE HAVE SEEN IN DECADES. FILMS CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION ARE EXPECTED TO IMMEDIATELY COME TO A HALT. MOVIES ALREADY SET TO BE RELEASED LIKE BARBIE WILL STILL HIT THEATERS, BUT A-LIST CELEBRITIES WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PROMOTION, WHICH WILL IMPACT STUDIO PROFITS. THIS COMES AS STUDIOS SCRAMBLED TO CATCH UP TO STREAMING, WHILE AT THE BOX OFFICE INDIANA JONES AND THE FLASH HAVE FAILED TO BREAK IN EVEN. QUESTIONS REMAIN HOW LONG IT COULD TAKE TO GET THE SHOW BACK ON THE ROAD. DANA GRIFFIN, NBC NEWS LOS ANGELES. >> WE ARE JOINED NOW BY SENIOR TV EDITOR FOR VARIETY. BRIAN , AFTER FOUR WEEKS OF NEGOTIATING, THE GUILD SAYS THE PRODUCTION STUDIOS REMAIN, QUOTE, UNWILLING TO OFFER A FAIR DEAL ON KEY ISSUES. BREAKDOWN WITH SOME OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS ARE THAT LED TO THIS STRIKE. >> MORNING. MAKING TV AND MOVIES HAS BECOME A LOT HARDER. STREAMING IS NOT AS REWARDING AS EARLIER TV AND MOVIES HAVE BEEN. THE WAY THAT ACTORS MADE MONEY WAS WITH RESIDUALS AND THE LIKE HAS DECLINED AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR MORE SECURITY AND A NEW SYSTEM. >> SO THIS GROUP ON THE STUDIO SIDE IS CALLED THE ALLIANCE OF MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION PRODUCERS. PART OF WHAT THEY HAVE SAID IN RESPONSE TO ALL THIS IS THAT THIS WAS CERTAINLY NOT THE OUTCOME WE HOPED FOR. I THINK IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THERE ARE NO ACTORS OR ACTRESSES OR ANYTHING. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE PARENT COMPANY COMCAST IS ONE OF THE COMPANIES REPRESENTED BY THIS GROUP, BUT THEY SAY THAT THEY PRESENTED A DEAL THAT OFFERED HISTORIC PAIN RESIDUAL INCREASES. OBVIOUSLY WE JUST HEARD FROM BOB IGER SAYING THAT IT WAS NOT REALISTIC. I THINK WE ARE KIND OF TREATING THIS AS A HE SAID SHE SAID. DO YOU THINK THE GROUP REPRESENTING THE STUDIOS WILL HAVE TO RECONSIDER IF ALL THESE ACTORS ARE WALKING OFF? >> FROM THE STUDIO SIDE THEY ARE UNDER TREMENDOUS PRESSURE RIGHT NOW. IT IS HARD O MAKE MONEY OFF OF THEM. THINGS HAVE NOT GONE THAT GREAT THIS YEAR. THIS IS A PERFECT STORM OF ECONOMIC HEADWINDS FACING THESE BIG COMPANIES. THAT IS ONE REASON WHY THEY ARE UNWILLING TO OPEN THEIR PURSESTRINGS RIGHT NOW. >> WE WILL SEE THE ACTORS ON THE PICKET LINE STARTING AT NOON EASTERN ON BOTH COASTS. AS FOR VIEWERS HO LOVE THESE SHOWS, HOW WILL THINGS CHANGE? RIGHT AWAY WE MIGHT NOT SEE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE, BUT WHAT WILL BE THE IMPACT? >> SOME MOVIES ARE ALREADY IN THE CAN AND THERE ARE TV SHOWS STILL AROUND, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOLIDAY SEASON YOU MIGHT SEE FEWER ORIGINAL SHOWS, MORE NEWS, MORE SPORTS, MORE REALITY OR UNSCRIPTED PROGRAMMING. YOU MIGHT EVEN SEE THINGS FROM CANADA, THE UNITED KINGDOM, SHOWS THAT MIGHT BE LICENSED FOR A LESSER FEE AND PUT THAT ON THE AIR AND IT MIGHT BE INTERESTING. BUT THE CUPBOARDS ARE NOT BARE. >> BRIAN STEINBERG, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE IT. >>> TURNING NOW TO THE WEATHER. FROM SEVERE STORMS AND FLOODING TO DANGEROUS HEAT, MUCH OF THE WEATHER COULD SEE SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS TODAY. >> THIS MORNING 80 MILLION PEOPLE ARE UNDER HATE ALERTS SOME STATES ARE SEEING TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES FOR DAYS AND EVEN WEEKS. THEY ARE NOW BRACING FOR RECORD HIGH HEAT OVER THE WEEKEND. MANY AREAS EXPECT TEMPERATURES WELL OVER 110 DEGREES. PHOENIX IS ONE OF SEVERAL CITIES BAKING, BUT OTHER CITIES IN THE SOUTHWEST COULD SEE RECORDS FALL AS TEMPERATURES RISE. FLOODING IS A MAJOR CONCERN IN THE SOUTHEAST. TORRENTIAL RAIN TRIGGERED FLASH FLOODING YESTERDAY. THUNDERSTORMS DUMPED OVER A FOOT OF RAIN, WASHING OUT ROADS, HOMES AND BUSINESSES. OF COURSE WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE NORTHEAST, AND JUST WHAT WE DO NOT NEED IS COMING OUR WAY, MORE HEAVY RAIN AFTER THE UNPRECEDENTED FLOODING EARLIER THIS WEEK. CLEANUP IN MONTPELIER, VERMONT IS EXPECTED TO TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS. CITY OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THAT CITY HALL IS CLOSED INDEFINITELY DUE TO HAZARDOUS FLOOD WATER DAMAGE. >> SO LET'S GET YOUR MORNING NEWS NOW WEATHER. >> HEY ANGIE, GOOD MORNING. >> OF MORNING, GUYS. WISH I HAD GOOD NEWS WHEN IT CAME TO COOLING TEMPERATURES, BUT WE JUST DON'T. WE ARE ONCE AGAIN WAKING UP TO HEAT ALERTS. THAT INCLUDES MORE THAN 80 MILLION PEOPLE FROM PLACES STRETCHING TO PORTLAND TO SACRAMENTO TO PHOENIX, DOWN THROUGH HOUSTON. LET'S START IN THE SOUTHWEST, WHERE THIS HEAT WARNING THAT YOU SEE FROM LAS VEGAS TO PALM SPRINGS AND SOUTH TOWARDS PHOENIX IS GOING TO LAST UNTIL AT LEAST TUESDAY. SO INTO THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE THESE TEMPERATURES REMAIN OPPRESSIVE. ALONG THE GULF COAST IT IS THE FEELS LIKE TEMPERATURE WITH MOIST AIR IN PLACE, WHERE TRIPLE DIGITS WILL FEEL LIKE 112, 102 FOR MEMPHIS, 97 DEGREES FOR FEELS LIKE IN MYRTLE BEACH. IT IS REALLY SUMMER -LIKE AND UNCOMFORTABLE, PROMPTING MANY PEOPLE TO POTENTIALLY STAY IN THE AC OR HEAD TO THE POOL. FOR TOMORROW THESE TEMPERATURES DO NOT CHANGE A LOT. STILL TRIPLE DIGITS FOR THE WEEKEND AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. ON THE OTHER HAND WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THE HEAT DOWN IN THE SOUTHWEST. PALM SPRINGS, 119 FOR YOUR AFTERNOON HIGH TODAY. 121 BY SATURDAY, AND WE KEEP THAT TEMPERATURE FOR SUNDAY. VEGAS GOES TO 111 THIS AFTERNOON, 115 TOMORROW, AND SUNDAY IT IS 117 DEGREES. CHECK OUT SOME OF THESE POTENTIAL RECORDS WE COULD BE SEEING. 117 ON SUNDAY THAT WE MENTIONED, THAT WOULD BE AN ALL- TIME HIGH FOR THE CITY OF LAS VEGAS. DEATH VALLEY IS EXPECTED TO HIT 130 DEGREES. THAT WOULD PUT IT IN THE TOP FIVE GLOBAL RECORDS. THAT MEANS TOP FIVE ANYWHERE ON EARTH, ANY DAY SINCE WE HAVE BEEN KEEPING RECORDS. THAT WOULD BE ONE OF THE WARMEST TEMPERATURES. PHOENIX IS GOING ON 14 CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF 110 DEGREES OR HIGHER, AND EL PASO, 28 STRAIGHT DAYS OF 100 OR HIGHER. SO THERE IS NO RELIEF FROM THE HEAT. MEANWHILE IT IS THE HEAVY RAIN, SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN PARTS OF THE NORTHEAST. WE COULD BE LOOKING AT MORE FLOODING CONCERNS. THE MOST UNSETTLED DAY WILL BE SUNDAY. >> I DO NOT WANT TO KNOW WHAT 130 DEGREES FEELS LIKE. >> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DOES. IT IS SCARY. >> I KNOW DEATH VALLEY IS KNOWN FOR TEMPERATURES LIKE THAT, BUT TOP FIVE GLOBAL RECORD? INCREDIBLE. >>> THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE FLOODING ON TOP OF THE CATASTROPHIC FLASH FLOODS WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING ALL WEEK. MEANWHILE, THE SOUTHWEST IS DEALING WITH RECORD-BREAKING HEAT. ERIN McLAUGHLIN HAS MORE ON THE EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS INCLUDING THE LATEST ON THE STORMS THAT TOUCHED DOWN NEAR CHICAGO. >> Reporter: FROM COAST-TO COAST, MOTHER NATURE'S ONSLAUGHT IS UNRELENTING. MULTIPLE TORNADOES TOUCHING DOWN NEAR CHICAGO, WREAKING HAVOC AT O'HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND LEAVING A TRAIL OF DISRUPTION. DOZENS OF HOMES DAMAGED. >> IT IS GOING ALL AROUND. IT IS BLOWING ALL OVER. THERE WAS NO WAY TO GO TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM IT. >> Reporter: MAGGIE VESPA IS THERE. >> YOU SEE THE ROOF OF THIS MOTEL IS COMPLETELY GONE. HERE IS THE SAME SHOT FROM ABOVE. THE OWNER SAID THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS INSIDE WHEN THE STORM CAME THROUGH. >> Reporter: FLASH FLOODING IN MISSISSIPPI, TRIGGERED BY TORRENTIAL RAIN. MULTIPLE BUILDINGS AND ROADS SUBMERGED. THIS COMES AS MORE THAN 84 MILLION AMERICANS SWEAT THROUGH TRIPLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES, DRIVEN IN PART BY A HEAT DOME THAT ONLY TIGHTENS ITS GRIP ON THE SOUTHWEST. TEXAS, THE DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY REACHING ITS HIGHEST POINT EVER. AFTER THE ROLLING BLACKOUTS, THERE IS FRESH CONCERN FOR THE STATE POWER GRIDS. MIAMI, NOW 33 CONSECUTIVE DAYS WITH A HEAT INDEX OVER 100 DEGREES. SIN CITY IS SCORCHING. LAS VEGAS POISED TO REACH 117 DEGREES THIS WEEKEND. ON THE STRIP, THE PAVEMENT IS DANGEROUS. >> IT IS SUPER HOT OUT HERE. THE BOTTOM OF MY SHOES, I AM WORRIED THAT IT WOULD GET STUCK TO THE CONCRETE. >> NEVADA'S ONLY LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER REPORTING A RISE IN SEVERE BURNS. >> THINGS COULD HEAT UP TO 160, 170 DEGREES ON THE SIDEWALK. >> Reporter: 73-YEAR-OLD AIR FORCE VETERAN CHRISTOPHER MALCOLM WAS WAITING FOR THE BUS WHEN HE SUDDENLY FELT FAINT. >> I WAS FEELING OVERHEATED, SO I SAT DOWN ON THE SIDEWALK. >> Reporter: UNABLE TO GET UP, THE SIDEWALK SEARED THROUGH HIS PENCE, CAUSING THIRD-DEGREE BURNS AND REQUIRING SURGERY. >> I FEEL LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. >> Reporter: YET ANOTHER CASUALTY OF THE SUMMER HEAT THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE THE DEADLIEST YET. >> ARE THANKS TO ERIN McLAUGHLIN FOR THAT REPORT. >>> PRESIDENT BIDEN IS BACK AT THE WHITE HOUSE FOLLOWING A WEEK OF IMPORTANT SUMMITS. FOLLOWING THE NORDIC SUMMIT IN FINLAND, PRESIDENT BIDEN PANNED THE U.S. SENATOR WHO HE SAYS IS JEOPARDIZING NATIONAL SECURITY. PETER ALEXANDER REPORTS. >> Reporter: AS THE FIGHTING RAGES ON IN UKRAINE, PRESIDENT BIDEN DECLARED THAT THE OUTCOME IS ALREADY CLEAR. >> PUTIN HAS ALREADY LOST THE WAR. >> Reporter: IN HELSINKI, BIDEN WELCOMED THE NEWEST MEMBER TO THE ALLIANCE, BRINGING IN FINLAND, WHICH SHARES A BORDER WITH RUSSIA. THIS DEMONSTRATED, HE SAID, HOW PRESIDENT PUTIN'S INVASION HAS BACKFIRED. >> EVENTUALLY PRESIDENT PUTIN WILL DECIDE THAT IT IS NOT IN HIS INTEREST ECONOMICALLY, POLITICALLY OR OTHERWISE, TO CONTINUE THIS WAR. >> Reporter: FIVE YEARS AGO IN THIS ROOM, PRESIDENT TRUMP SEEMED TO ACCEPT PUT IN'S DENIALS OF RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE OVER THE WORDS OF HIS OWN INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES. >> WE ARE NOT EVEN SURE WHERE PRIGOZHIN IS. IF I WERE HIM I WOULD BE CAREFUL WHAT I ATE. >> Reporter: ALSO TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE GROWING CONTROVERSY IN WASHINGTON WITH TOMMY TUBERVILLE BLOCKING HUNDREDS OF SENIOR MILITARY PROMOTIONS TO PROTEST THE PENTAGON'S RECENT POLICY CHANGE ON ABORTION. >> HE IS JEOPARDIZING U.S. SECURITY. IT IS TOTALLY IRRESPONSIBLE IN MY VIEW. >> Reporter: HE SAYS THAT THE CHANGE REQUIRES SENATE APPROVAL. >> YOU CANNOT CHANGE A LAW WITH A MEMO. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING. ALL I ASK IS WE VOTE ON THE FLOOR. >> Reporter: WE JUST LEARNED SECRETARY AUSTIN SPOKE WITH TUBERVILLE ABOUT MILITARY READINESS. >>> LET'S BRING IN OUR CHIEF INTERNATIONAL ANALYST AND FORMER SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER OF NATO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. THE PRESIDENT SAID, RUSSIA HAD, QUOTE, ALREADY LOST THE WAR AND THAT MOSCOW WILL DECIDE IT IS NOT IN HIS INTEREST TO CONTINUE. DOES THE SITUATION ON THE BATTLEFIELD SUPPORT THESE COMMENTS? HAS PUTIN ALREADY LOST THE WAR? >> I THINK SO. AT THIS MINUTE THE UKRAINIANS ARE ON THE FRONT FOOT IN THE GROUND WAR. THEY ARE MARSHALING THE ARMOR, THE TANKS, THE ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS THEY WERE PROVIDED IN THE SPRING, AND LOOK FOR A SIGNIFICANT UKRAINIAN MOVEMENT TO CRACK THE LONG RUSSIAN FIGHTING LINE AND GLIDE TO THE BLACK SEA. I'M SURE THE PRESIDENT IS RECEIVING A LOT OF INTELLIGENCE. YOU SEE THE RED AREA TO THE RIGHT. WHEN THEY DO THIS, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE RUSSIAN ARMED FORCES IN BIG TROUBLE. TO CONCLUDE, NO ONE SHOULD BE SURPRISED BY THIS, BECAUSE UKRAINE HAS THE HIGH GROUND MORALLY. THEY ARE GETTING THE BEST EQUIPMENT FROM THE WEST. FINANCIALLY WE ARE STRONGLY SUPPORTING THEM AGAINST A VERY WEAK RUSSIA. CARDS DO NOT LOOK GOOD FOR VLADIMIR PUTIN. >> I WANT TO ASK ABOUT ANOTHER FACTOR ON THE GROUND. PENTAGON SAYS WAGNER GROUP FORCES ARE NO LONGER PARTICIPATING IN ANY SIGNIFICANT CAPACITY. IN UKRAINE WE KNOW THAT THIS MERCENARY GROUP WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN CAPTURING PARTS OF EASTERN UKRAINE. HOW DO YOU THINK THAT IMPACTS THE FIGHTING ON THE GROUND? >> VERY DIRECTLY. PROBABLY 30,000 OF THE BEST FIGHTERS HAVE ESSENTIALLY BEEN WITHDRAWN FROM AN OVERALL EFFECTIVE FIGHTING FORCE THAT PERHAPS 100 TO 120,000. SO FIGURE ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE REALLY EFFECTIVE TROOPS HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM THE FRONT LINES ALONG WITH ALL THE EQUIPMENT HERE. THEY ARE SHOWING PICTURES OF IT NOW. BUT THERE IS AN EVEN WORSE ASPECT TO ALL THIS, WHICH IS THE MORALITY ASPECT. IF YOU WERE A RUSSIAN SOLDIER IN THE REGULAR RUSSIAN ARMY AND YOU HAVE BEEN SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH THE WAGNER GROUP AND SUDDENLY THEY ARE GONE, AND ALL YOU ARE HEARING ABOUT HIS REBELLION AND THE GENERALS IN REVOLT AND YEVGENY PRIGOZHIN MARCHING ON MOSCOW, WHEN YOU HEAR ALL THAT, IT JUST MAKES YOUR HEART HURT AS A RUSSIAN SOLDIER ON THE FRONT LINES. SO THERE IS A CLASSICAL ASPECT AND A SIGNIFICANT MORALE ASPECT. THIS IS WHY RUSSIA'S LONG TERM OUTLOOK IS NOT GOOD. >> AND ONE MORE STORY WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT. BIDEN CRITICIZING TOMMY TUBERVILLE FOR BLOCKING MILITARY PROMOTIONS TO PROTEST THE RECENT POLICY CHANGE ON ABORTION. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT? WHAT CONCERN IS THERE THAT THESE THINGS ARE BEING BLOCKED? >> IT IS A NORMOUS NATIONAL SECURITY CONCERN. UCR EXCELLENT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD AUSTEN ADDRESSING IT HEAD ON. HE CALLED TUBERVILLE YESTERDAY. LOOK, SENATOR TUBERVILLE USED TO BE A FOOTBALL COACH. HE IS TO UNDERSTAND THAT TEAMS NEED LEADERSHIP. THE NEED STABLE LEADERSHIP AT THE TOP. WHEN YOU PULL THAT AWAY AND YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF ACTING COMMANDERS, WE HAVE NO COMMANDANT IN THE MARINE CORPS IN WELL OVER 100 YEARS, IT HURTS YOUR EFFORTS. HERE IS A NEWS FLASH. NATIONAL SECURITY IS NOT A GAME. THIS IS REAL. WE NEED THE TOP PEOPLE. THAT MEANS THE
