NBC Nightly News Full Episode - Feb. 14

CELEBRATE A SHOW THAT. HAS KEPT US LAUGHING. FOR 50 YEARS. >>> GOOD EVENING, AND. WELCOME. WE START WITH THE. INTERNAL REVOLT. ROCKING THE TRUMP.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AS. THE DOJ HAS JUST. MOVED TO DISMISS THE. FEDERAL CORRUPTION. CASE AGAINST NEW YORK. MAYOR ERIC ADAMS. AFTER A STRING OF. FEDERAL PROSECUTORS. REFUSED TO DO SO. SEVEN OF THEM TAKING. PART IN A MASS. RESIGNATION, LEAVING. THEIR JOBS RATHER. THAN FOLLOW ORDERS TO. DROP THE CASE AGAINST. ADAMS ON THE. JUSTIFICATION IT. DISTRACTED THE MAYOR. FROM DEVOTING HIS. FULL ATTENTION TO THE. PRESIDENT'S. PRIORITIES ON. IMMIGRATION AND. CRIME. IN HIS RESIGNATION. LETTER, THE LEAD. PROSECUTOR CALLING IT.

DISMISSAL WITH. LEVERAGE, AND MEANT. TO INDUCE ADAMS TO. SUPPORT THE. ADMINISTRATION'S. POLICY OBJECTIVES. MEANTIME, THE. ADMINISTRATION'S. BORDER CZAR MAKING IT. CLEAR WHAT'S EXPECTED. OF ADAMS, WHO TONIGHT. FACES GROWING CALLS. TO RESIGN. LAURA JARRETT HAS THE. LATEST. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, THE JUSTICE. DEPARTMENT OFFICIALLY. ABANDONING ITS. CORRUPTION CASE. AGAINST NEW YORK. MAYOR ERIC ADAMS. THE FORMAL MOTION TO. DISMISS ALL CHARGES. FILED BY A CAREER. PROSECUTOR IN. WASHINGTON, AFTER A. STANDOFF WITH.

PROSECUTORS IN NEW. YORK WHO REFUSED TO. GO ALONG. THE LEAD ATTORNEY. OVERSEEING ADAMS'. CASE IN MANHATTAN. PENNING A BLISTERING. RESIGNATION LETTER. OBTAINED BY NBC NEWS. LAYING INTO TRUMP. APPOINTED DOJ BRASS. FOR SAYING THE CASE. WAS DISTRACTING ADAMS. FROM DEVOTING HIS. FULL ATTENTION TO THE. PRESIDENT'S. PRIORITIES ON. IMMIGRATION AND. CRIME. ATTORNEY HAGEN SCOTT. IN WRITING, NO SYSTEM. OF ORDERED LIBERTY. CAN ALLOW THE. GOVERNMENT TO USE THE. CARE OF DISMISSING. CHARGES OR THE STICK. OF THREATENING TO.

BRING THEM AGAIN TO. INDUCE AN ELECTED. OFFICIAL TO SUPPORT. ITS POLICY. OBJECTIVES. ADDING, IF NO LAWYER. WITHIN EARSHOT OF THE. PRESIDENT IS WILLING. TO GIVE HIM THAT. ADVICE, THEN I EXPECT. YOU WILL EVENTUALLY. FIND SOMEONE WHO IS. ENOUGH OF A FOOL OR. ENOUGH OF A COWARD TO. FILE YOUR MOTION. BUT IT WAS NEVER. GOING TO BE ME. AS ADAMS NOW FACES. GROWING CALLS TO STEP. DOWN, THE PRESSURE HE. FACES WHEN IT COMES. TO SUPPORTING. MR. TRUMP'S. IMMIGRATION. OBJECTIVES ON FULL. DISPLAY AS THE MAYOR. AND TRUMP'S BORDER.

CZAR TOM HOMAN. APPEARED TOGETHER. THIS MORNING ON FOX. >> IF HE DOESN'T COME. THROUGH, I'LL BE BACK. IN NEW YORK CITY AND. WE WON'T BE SITTING. ON A COUCH. I'LL BE IN HIS OFFICE. SAYING WHERE THE HELL. IS THE AGREEMENT WE. CAME TO? >> Reporter: ADAMS. PUSHING BACK ON THE. IDEA OF ANY QUID PRO. QUO, SAYING TONIGHT, I WANT TO BE CRYSTAL. CLEAR WITH NEW. YORKERS, I NEVER. OFFERED NOR DID. ANYONE OFFER ON MY. BEHALF ANY TRADE OF. MY AUTHORITY AS YOUR. MAYOR FOR AN END TO. MY CASE, NEVER. STILL, THE CASE. TOUCHES OFF. UPHEAVAL WITHIN.

DEPARTMENT WITH AT. LEAST SEVEN. PROSECUTORS QUITTING. INCLUDING THOSE IN. MANHATTAN WITH. STERLING CREDENTIALS. >> WHAT COULD HAPPEN. NEXT IN THIS CASE? THE. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. DOESN'T WANT TO MOVE. FORWARD HERE, A. FEDERAL JUDGE STILL. HAS TO FINALIZE THIS. DEAL, AND IT. SHOULDN'T NECESSARILY. BE A RUBBER STAMP. HE COULD ASK. QUESTIONS, HE COULD. HOLD A HEARING, HE. COULD WANT TO SEE. EVIDENCE. AND IT COULD BE. UNCOMFORTABLE FOR THE. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO. BE PRESSED ABOUT WHY. THEY DID THIS. >> LAURA JARRETT, THANKS MUCH. >>> IT ALL COMES AS.

THE EFFORT TO REMOVE. THOUSANDS OF FEDERAL. WORKERS RAMPS UP, INCLUDING SOME THAT. WORK WITH THE NUCLEAR. STOCKPILE. KELLY O'DONNELL HAS. LATE DETAILS TONIGHT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, A WAVE OF NEW. TERMINATIONS FOR. THOUSANDS OF FEDERAL. WORKERS SWEPT UP IN. MASS FIRINGS. FROM THE OVAL OFFICE, THE PRESIDENT SAID. MORE JOB CUTS ARE. COMING. BEYOND 75,000 WORKERS. THE ADMINISTRATION. SAYS VOLUNTEERED TO. QUIT WITH HIS OFFER. OF A PROMISED PAYOUT. >> A BIG TREMENDOUS.

SAVINGS. WE WANT TO DOWNSIZE. GOVERNMENT BUT MAKE. IT BETTER. RUN IT BETTER. >> Reporter: TODAY, OUTSIDE HEALTH AND. HUMAN SERVICES, VALENTINE HEARTS LEFT. FOR FEDERAL WORKERS. TO PROTEST ELON. MUSK'S DEPARTMENT OF. GOVERNMENT. EFFICIENCY. >> THE FIRST. CONVENING OF FEDERAL. WORKERS AGAINST DOGE. >> Reporter: AMONG. THOSE LET GO, FIRST-YEAR EMPLOYEES. WITH PROBATIONARY. STATUS, LIKE. 39-YEAR-OLD. ELIZABETH, FIRED FROM. THE CONSUMER.

FINANCIAL PROTECTION. BUREAU. >> I NEVER WOULD HAVE. IMAGINED THAT THIS IS. WHAT WOULD HAVE. HAPPENED AND IT WOULD. HAVE HAPPENED SO. SWIFTLY. AND SO INHUMANELY. >> Reporter: AT. VETERANS AFFAIRS, MORE THAN 1,000. EMPLOYEES DISMISSED. U.S. FOREST SERVICE, 3400. ENERGY'S NATIONAL. NUCLEAR SECURITY. ADMINISTRATION. OVERSEEING THE. NUCLEAR STOCKPILE, NO. SPECIFIC FIGURE, BUT. A DOE SPOKESMAN. STATED LESS THAN A. HALF OF A PERCENT OF. THE TOTAL NNSA.

WORKFORCE WAS. DISMISSED. A BIG TARGET FOR. DOGE, WASTE OR ABUSE. OF TAX DOLLARS. THE GOVERNMENT. ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE. FOUND IN 2023, $236. BILLION IN WHAT'S. CONSIDERED IMPROPER. PAYMENTS, WRONGLY. SENT BY FEDERAL. AGENCIES. TODAY, NEWLY SWORN IN. AGRICULTURE SECRETARY. BROOKE ROLLINS. >> AS FAR AS THE. LAYOFFS GO, I DON'T. HAVE THE EXACT. NUMBER. >> Reporter: TODAY, A. FEDERAL JUDGE. EXTENDED A TEMPORARY. RESTRAINING ORDER. THAT KEEPS THE DOGE.

TEAM FROM ACCESSING. SENSITIVE DATA AT. TREASURY. LESTER. >> KELLY O'DONNELL, THANKS. >>> NOW TO THE. POWERFUL ATMOSPHERIC. RIVER THAT SLAMMED. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. OVERNIGHT. MUDSLIDES PUSHING A. FIREMAN'S SUV INTO. THE OCEAN. AND A RARE TORNADO. OVER THAT PART OF THE. COUNTRY, DAMAGING. HOMES. OUR MORGAN CHESKY IS. IN THE STORM ZONE. TONIGHT. >> Reporter: IN. MALIBU, A MUD COVERED. SUV TOSSED SURF UP. AFTER A TERRIFYING.

MOMENT MIDSTORM. DASHCAM CAPTURING A. RAIN FUELED TORRENT. EXPLODING THROUGH. COUNTRY BARRIERS ONTO. THE PACIFIC COAST. HIGHWAY WHERE IT. SWEPT THIS SUV OFF. THE ROAD IN SECONDS. THE DEBRIS BARELY. MISSING HECTOR'S OWN. TRUCK. >> AS SOON AS WE. START BACKING UP TO. THE OTHER SIDE, ANOTHER SLIDE. WE GOT TRAPPED FROM. BOTH SLIDES. >> Reporter: OUR CREW. THERE AS THE DRIVER. WITH L.A. FIRE. CLIMBED OUT SHAKEN. BUT SOMEHOW SAFE. THE CLOSE CALL BLAMED. ON AN ATMOSPHERIC.

RIVER, DRENCHING. CHARRED BURN ZONES, FLOODING THE LOS. ANGELES METRO AREA, EVEN UNLEASHING A. RARE TORNADO NEAR. OXNARD. >> THE HOUSE SHOOK. THE NOISE GOT LOUDER. AND LOUDER. IT SOUNDED LIKE. SOMETHING HIT THE TOP. OF THE HOUSE. >> Reporter: MOUNTAINS OF MUD. LINING STREETS. BENEATH THE EATON. FIRE BURN ZONE WHERE. RES SNTS SAY THE. SLIDE SWALLOWED. NEARLY EVERYTHING IN. ITS PATH. >> YOU COULD HEAR THE. ROAR AND THIS FLASH. FLOOD OF MUD CAME. DOWN THE STREET. IT WAS HORRENDOUS. >> Reporter: A STORM. SO VIOLENT THE ROOF.

OF THIS SUPERMARKET. CAVED IN. >> I WAS LIKE, OH, MY. GOD. I WAS SCARED OUT OF. MY MIND. IT WAS INSANE. >> Reporter: BACK IN. MALIBU, AS A CRANE. HOISTED THAT SUV BACK. ON DRY LAND, CAPTAIN. ERIC SCOTT STRESSING. EVEN THOUGH THE RAIN. STOPPED, THE. LANDSLIDE RISK. REMAINS. HOW MUCH LONGER. BEFORE THAT LANDSLIDE. RISK ENDS? >> USUALLY 48 HOURS. IS OUR MAIN CONCERN. AFTER THE RAIN STOPS. BUT AGAIN, THIS IS. STILL RATHER. TUMULTUOUS. THERE'S A LOT OF. BURNED, SCARRED.

FOOTPRINTS THROUGHOUT. LOS ANGELES. WE KNOW THERE'S MORE. RAIN TO COME. >> Reporter: AND. TONIGHT HERE OUTSIDE. THE FAMED DUKE'S. MALIBU, AS CREWS TRY. TO CLEAN UP THIS. MUDDY MESS, OFFICIALS. SAY THOSE EVACUATION. ORDERS ISSUED. YESTERDAY SHOULD ALL. BE EXPIRING BY THE. END OF TONIGHT. LESTER. >> MORGAN CHESKY IN. CALIFORNIA, THANK. YOU. >>> AND THAT WESTERN. STORM IS ON THE MOVE. EAST, WITH 70 MILLION. PEOPLE FROM NEBRASKA. ALL THE WAY TO MAINE. UNDER DANGEROUS. WINTER WEATHER. ALERTS. THE SOUTH ALSO AT. RISK OF SEVERE RISK. IN FACT WITH 19. MILLION IN THE PATH.

OF HEAVY RAIN AND. FLASH FLOODING. >> THERE IS NEW. INFORMATION TONIGHT. FROM THE BLACK BOX OF. THAT MILITARY. HELICOPTER THAT. CRASHED INTO AN. AMERICAN AIRLINES. REGIONAL JET. THE NTSB SAYS IT. SHOWS THE CHOPPER WAS. IN FACT FLYING TOO. HIGH, BUT THAT THE. PILOTS MAY NOT HAVE. KNOWN IT. TOM COSTELLO HAS. MORE. >> Reporter: TWO. WEEKS AFTER THE. MIDAIR CRASH KILLED. 67 PEOPLE, NTSB. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE. ARMY HELICOPTER'S. BLACK BOX INDICATES.

ITS RADIO ALTIMETER. SHOWED 278 FEET AT. THE TIME OF THE. CRASH. 78 FEET ABOVE THE. 200-FOOT LIMIT FOR. HELICOPTERS. BUT THE CHOPPER. PILOTS MAY NOT HAVE. KNOWN BECAUSE THEIR. BAROMETRIC ALTIMETER. MAY HAVE BEEN FEEDING. BAD DATA. THEY MAY HAVE THOUGHT. THEY WERE AT ONE. ALTITUDE WHEN THEY. WERE AT A DIFFERENT. ALTITUDE? >> IT'S POSSIBLE BUT. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK. TO DO. >> Reporter: THEY. ALSO SAY THE CHOPPER. CREW MAY NOT HAVE. HEARD A CRITICAL. MESSAGE FROM AIR. TRAFFIC CONTROL TO. PASS BEHIND THE. REGIONAL JET.

BECAUSE ONE OF THE. CHOPPER PILOTS KEYED. HIS MIC OVER THE. WORDS PASS BEHIND. THE. THE RJ PILOTS MAY. HAVE TRIED TO AVOID. THE CRASH WITH A. DRAMATIC PITCH UP ONE. SECOND BEFORE IMPACT. WAS THERE ANY. INDICATION THAT THE. CREW OF THE CRJ. REALIZED AT THE LAST. SECOND THEY MIGHT BE. HIT? >> YES, THERE WAS AN. INDICATION. AND THAT IS, WE SEE A. PITCH UP OF THE. AIRCRAFT, SO IT WAS. NINE DEGREES UP. >> HELICOPTERS IN AND.

AROUND REAGAN. NATIONAL ARE REQUIRED. TO FLY DOWN CHOPPER. ROUTE 4, HUGGING THE. EAST SIDE OF THE. POTOMAC UNDER 200. FEET NEAR DCA. >> HEY HAD ABOUT ONE. SECOND BETWEEN THE. TIME THEY REALIZED. WHERE THE HELICOPTER. WAS UNTIL IMPACT. THERE WAS NO CHANCE. FOR THEM TO GET OUT. OF THE WAY. >> Reporter: TIM. LILLY IS FIRST. OFFICER SAM LILLY'S. FATHER. HE ALSO PILOTED. REGIONAL JETS AND. BLACKHAWKS AROUND. D.C. >> SAM'S DEPARTURE, HE LEFT A GIANT HOLE. MARIN.

PRESIDENTIAL. ASSIGNMENT TODAY. IT GETS PRIORITY, LESTER. >> TOM COSTELLO, THANK YOU. >>> NOW TO THE. HIGH-STAKES TALKS IN. GERMANY. WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP. SAYS WILL KICK OFF. PEACE NEGOTIATIONS TO. END THE WAR IN. UKRAINE. BUT THERE HAS BEEN.

CONFUSION AMONG WORLD. LEADERS ABOUT WHERE. THE U.S. STANDS. AND IN A NEW. INTERVIEW WITH NBC. NEWS, UKRAINE'S. PRESIDENT DELIVERING. A STARK WARNING ABOUT. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF. THE U.S. STOPS. MILITARY AID. HERE'S ANDREA. MITCHELL. >> Reporter: OVERNIGHT, A RUSSIAN. DRONE STRIKING THE. CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR. PLANT. U.N. INSPECTORS SAY. NO SIGN OF A. RADIATION RELEASE. BUT RUSSIA'S ATTACKS. AND ONGOING REMINDER. OF THE WAR'S TOLL ON. UKRAINE. AS WORLD LEADERS. GATHERED IN MUNICH. ABOUT PEACE TALKS TO.

END THE CONFLICT. UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT. ZELENSKYY MEETING. WITH VICE PRESIDENT. VANCE AND SECRETARY. OF STATE RUBIO. >> WE WANT THE WAR TO. COME TO A CLOSE. WE WANT THE KILLING. TO STOP, BUT WE WANT. TO ACHIEVE A DURABLE, LASTING PEACE. >> Reporter: BUT. AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP. SAID THIS WEEK. RUSSIAN PRESIDENT. PUTIN TOLD HIM HE. WANTS PEACE, ZELENSKYY SAID HE. TOLD PRESIDENT TRUMP. PUTIN IS LYING. >> I SAID TO HIM THAT. HE IS A LIAR. >> Reporter: ALLIED. LEADERS STUNNED BY. MIXED MESSAGES FROM. THE U.S. THIS WEEK.

AND SO ARE MULTIPLE. MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. HERE TALKING TO NBC. NEWS FROM BOTH. PARTIES. ZELENSKYY TODAY. SAYING --. >> I WILL MEET WITH. RUSSIANS, WITH ONLY. ONE RUSSIAN GUY, WITH. PUTIN. >> Reporter: AND. CRITICS POINT TO. DEFENSE SECRETARY. PETE HEGSETH ON. WEDNESDAY, RULING OUT. UKRAINE EVER GETTING. INTO NATO. TAKING A KEY. NEGOTIATING CHIP OFF. THE TABLE BEFORE. TALKS EVEN START. >> THE UNITED STATES. DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT. NATO MEMBERSHIP FOR.

UKRAINE IS A. REALISTIC OUTCOME OF. A NEGOTIATED. SETTLEMENT. >> Reporter: PROMPTING A RARE. REBUKE FROM ROGER. WICKER, CALLING IT A. ROOKIE MISTAKE. ZELENSKYY TODAY. SAYING THE U.S. HAS. ALWAYS RESISTED NATO. MEMBERSHIP FOR. UKRAINE. >> UNITED STATES, THEY NEVER SAW US IN. NATO. THEY JUST SPOKE ABOUT. IT. BUT THEY REALLY. DIDN'T WANT US IN. NATO. IT'S TRUE. >> Reporter: ZELENSKYY ALSO.

COMPLAINING ABOUT. BEING PRESSURED IN. KYIV BY TREASURY. SECRETARY SCOTT. BESSENT TO SIGN A. CONTRACT GIVING THE. U.S. FUTURE RIGHTS TO. UKRAINE'S RARE EARTH. MINERALS TO. COMPENSATE FOR U.S. MILITARY AID. >> I SAID THAT OUR. LAWYERS WILL LEARN IT. AND WITH SOME. ADVISERS AND SOME. CHANGES, WE'LL COME. BACK. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, ZELENSKYY WITH NBC'S. KRISTEN WELKER. >> CAN UKRAINE. SURVIVE WITHOUT U.S. MILITARY SUPPORT?

>> PROBABLY IT WILL. BE VERY, VERY. DIFFICULT. OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFICULT. SITUATIONS, YOU HAVE. A CHANCE. BUT WE WILL HAVE LOW. CHANCE. LOW CHANCE TO SURVIVE. WITHOUT SUPPORT OF. porterNITED ST.

>>> PRESIDENT TRUMP'S. MOVE TO FREEZE. FOREIGN AID SPENDING. IS ALREADY CREATING. CHAOS IN COUNTRIES. AROUND THE WORLD. JANIS MACKEY FRAYER. TRAVELED TO CAMBODIA. TO SEE THE IMPACT ON. WORK AND AMERICA'S. REPUTATION FIRST-. FIRST-HAND. >> Reporter: THE. DELICATE AND. DANGEROUS TASK OF. CLEARING UNEXPLODED. BOMBS IN CAMBODIA.

DEMINERS USING SIMPLE. TOOLS AND EVERY DAY. FINDING SOMETHING. >> SO YOU JUST BLOW. IT UP WHERE IT IS? WE HAVE TO MOVE BACK. HERE SO WE CAN GET. OUT OF THE WAY. >> Reporter: MANY OF. THE MUNITIONS HERE. ARE AMERICAN. DROPPED IN RAMPANT. U.S. BOMBING DURING. THE VIETNAM WAR. FOR DECADES, THE U.S. HELPED TO CLEAN UP. THE MESS. UNTIL PRESIDENT TRUMP. FROZE ALL FOREIGN AID. FOR 90 DAYS. THE DEMINING GROUP. BILL MORRIS OVERSEES.

HERE RELIES ON. PRIVATE DONATIONS. WHAT HAPPENS TO. PEOPLE HERE? >> THEY DIE. THEY DON'T HAVE A. JOB. IT'S GOING TO AFFECT. EVERYBODY. NOBODY KNOWS QUITE. WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW. >> Reporter: THE U.S. SPENDS ABOUT $72. BILLION A YEAR ON. FOREIGN AID. MUCH OF IT DELIVERED. THROUGH USAID, WHICH. WAS ABRUPTLY. DISMANTLED. UPENDING EVERY KIND. OF PROGRAM ON THE. PLANET. FROM HIV/AIDS. TREATMENT TO FIGHTING.

HUNGER. THOUGH A U.S. JUDGE. RULED THE WHITE HOUSE. CAN'T CANCEL FUNDING. ALREADY IN PLACE. THE REALTIME IMPACT. OF THE STOP WORK. ORDER HERE SOME. CHARITIES FACING. COLLAPSE. >> HORRIBLE AND. UNBELIEVABLE. >> TOTAL SHOCK. >> TOTAL SHOCK. >> Reporter: FOR. DEMINING EFFORTS IN. CAMBODIA ALONE, TEAMS. ARE HAVING TO SCALE. BACK, SO FEWER BOMBS. ARE GETTING CLEARED. TO GIVE YOU A SENSE. OF SCALE HERE, THIS. WHOLE MINE FIELD IS. ROUGHLY 9 1/2 ACRES,

AND IT TOOK OVER TWO. MONTHS TO CLEAR THIS. FIRST HALF. AN ESTIMATED 4 TO 6. MILLION LEFTOVER. MUNITIONS STILL. STREWN ACROSS THE. COUNTRY. THEY'RE LODGED IN. FORESTS AND FARMERS'. FIELDS. A LAND MINE WAS HERE? IT'S HOW SOME 65,000. CAMBODIANS HAVE BEEN. MAIMED OR WORSE. OFFICIALS HERE. POLITELY SAY THAT. LEGACY IS WHY THE. U.S. SHOULD RESTORE.

FUNDING. >> WE CAN SEE A MORAL. RESPONSIBILITY AS. WELL TO OUR PEOPLE, OUR COUNTRY, THAT. THEY HAVE TO ADDRESS. THE CONTAMINATION. >> PEOPLE ARE GOING. TO ASK WHY HAVE YOU. GONE AWAY? SOMEBODY ELSE WILL. WALK IN AND TAKE OUR. PLACE. >> Reporter: ALREADY, CHINA IS FILLING. FUNDING GAPS, PLEDGING $4.4 MILLION. TO KEEP DEMINING. GOING HERE. YEARS AND RUNNING. JOE FRYER, NBC NEWS,

NEW YORK. >> AND THAT IS.