NBC Nightly News Full Episode - Feb. 20

>>> TONIGHT, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S. WHIRLWIND FIRST MONTH. BACK IN OFFICE. THE DRAMATIC CUT TO. THE FEDERAL. GOVERNMENT. BILLIONAIRE ELON MUSK. CENTER STAGE AT CPAC. WITH A GOLDEN. CHAINSAW. MORE THAN 70. EXECUTIVE ORDERS. SIGNED. IRS EMPLOYEES THE. LATEST TARGET OF MASS. LAYOFFS. THE POTENTIAL IMPACT. IN THE HEART OF TAX. SEASON. PLUS THE DEEP CUTS AT.

NATIONAL PARKS. >> IT COULD MEAN LIFE. OR DEATH FOR SOMEONE. HAVING AN EMERGENCY. >> THE WARNING AT. YOSEMITE AND OTHER. ICONIC PARKS. THE CONTROVERSIAL. CONFIRMATION OF KASH. PATEL NARROWLY. APPROVED AS DIRECTOR. OF THE FBI. >> UNNERVING SCENE AS. HAMAS RETURNED FOUR. BODIES, THE YOUNGEST. VICTIMS OF THE. OCTOBER 7th ATTACK. AMONG THEM. ALL HAPPENING AS. MULTIPLE BUS. EXPLOSIONS ROCK TEL. AVIV. >> AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK. INSIDE A TRAFFICKING. TUNNEL AS ILLEGAL. CROSSINGS PLUMMET,

BUT CAN MORE TROOPS. ON THE MEXICO SIDE. STEM THE FLOW OF. DRUGS? OUR REPORT FROM THE. BORDER. >> THE STATE OF NEW. YORK SUING MAJOR VAPE. COMPANIES ACCUSING. THEM OF TARGETING. KIDS AND FUELING AN. EPIDEMIC. >> WALMART'S WARNING. ON THE ECONOMY AS THE. DOW FALLS. >> SOARING EGG PRICES. CAUSING BAKERIES TO. PAY A LOT MORE DOUGH. >> AND THERE'S GOOD. NEWS TONIGHT. THE REUNION FOR A. BABY SEAL WHO CROSSED. THE ROAD.

>>> GOOD EVENING AND. WELCOME. IT HAS BEEN JUST ONE. MONTH SINCE PRESIDENT. TRUMP WAS SWORN INTO. OFFICE. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. TURNING WASHINGTON ON. ITS HEAD. LAUNCHING HIS MASSIVE. DEPORTATION. OPERATION, SETTLING. SCORES WITH THOSE HE. VIEWED AS DISLOYAL. LAUNCHING A CRACKDOWN. ON DEI INITIATIVES. INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. GOVERNMENT. AND TAKING A BUDGET. AX THROUGH A SERIES. OF GOVERNMENT. AGENCIES, THE LATEST. THE IRS, WHERE MANY. WORKERS ARE BRACING.

FOR POSSIBLE. TERMINATION DURING. THE AGENCY'S BUSIEST. SEASON. PRESIDENT TRUMP. WEARING THE BLIZZARD. OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS. AS BADGES OF HONOR. PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT. CLAIMING TO HAVE. FOUND MASSIVE. GOVERNMENT FRAUD. WITHOUT DIRECT. EVIDENCE. BUT MORE QUESTIONS. TONIGHT ABOUT. UNINTENDED. CONSEQUENCES OF HIS. MASS LAYOFFS AND. SPENDING FREEZES. PETER ALEXANDER. STARTS US OFF TONIGHT. FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT. AT A CONSERVATIVE. GROUP'S CONFERENCE, ELON MUSK SHOWING OFF. A CHAINSAW TO.

CELEBRATE HIS. DEPARTMENT OF. GOVERNMENT. EFFICIENCY'S EFFORTS. TO HELP PRESIDENT. TRUMP SLASH THE. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. MUSK TOUTING PLANS TO. RETURN SOME OF THE. MONEY SAVED TO. TAXPAYERS, THOUGH. THAT WOULD REQUIRE. THE APPROVAL OF. CONGRESS. >> IT'S MONEY THAT'S. TAKEN AWAY FROM. THINGS THAT ARE. DESTRUCTIVE TO THE. COUNTRY AND. ORGANIZATIONS THAT. HATE YOU, TO YOU. THAT'S AWESOME. >> Reporter: IT COMES. AS WHITE HOUSE. OFFICIALS SAY THE. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. IS NOW PREPARING TO. FIRE MANY IRS. WORKERS. SOME LIKELY FROM. CITIES OUTSIDE THE. NATION'S CAPITAL. >> THE TREASURY. SECRETARY IS STUDYING.

THE MATTER AND FEELS. LIKE 3500 IS A SMALL. NUMBER AND PROBABLY. COULD GET BIGGER. >> Reporter: DEMOCRATS ARE URGING. THE WHITE HOUSE NOT. TO IMPLEMENT THOSE. MASS LAYOFFS WARNING. THEY COULD HAVE A. CATASTROPHIC IMPACT. ON THE FILING SEASON. IRS WORKERS LIKE. DANIEL IN KANSAS CITY. SAY TAXPAYERS WILL. SUFFER THE. CONSEQUENCES. >> THE WORK IS GOING. TO GET BACKED UP AND. SO PRIVATE CITIZENS. ARE GOING TO BE LIKE, THE IRS IS NOT DOING. THEIR JOB. AND IT'S BECAUSE. WE'RE GETTING. HOLLOWED OUT. >> Reporter: EVEN ONE. OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S.

FIERCEST ALLIES, FOX. HOST JESSE WATERS, JUST URGED THE. PRESIDENT TO RETHINK. THE FIRINGS AFTER. LEARNING A FRIEND, A. MILITARY VETERAN, WAS. SET TO BE CUT AT THE. DEFENSE DEPARTMENT. >> WE JUST NEED TO BE. A LITTLE LESS CALLOUS. WITH THE WAY, HAROLD, WE TALK ABOUT DOGING. PEOPLE. >> Reporter: ROUGHLY. 30% OF ALL FEDERAL. EMPLOYEES ARE. VETERANS. INCLUDING MARINE. VETERAN ANDREW, WHO. WAS JUST FIRED. WITHOUT WARNING FROM. HIS JOB AT A V.A. HOSPITAL IN MICHIGAN. >> WE'RE NOT SOME. DEEP STATE THAT HAS. ULTERIOR MOTIVES.

I WANT TO GO TO WORK, I WANT TO HELP. VETERANS. >> Reporter: STILL, THE PRESIDENT IS. SHOWING NO INTEREST. IN SLOWING DOWN HIS. REMAKING OF THE. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. IN HIS FIRST MONTH. SIGNING MORE THAN 73. EXECUTIVE ORDERS WITH. MUSK' DOGE COST. CUTTERS OPERATING IN. AT LEAST 18 SEPARATE. DEPARTMENTS AND. AGENCIES. >> WE FOUND BILLIONS, TENS OF BILLIONS OF. DOLLARS OF FRAUD AND. WASTE AND ABUSE, AND. THAT'S JUST THE. BEGINNING. >> Reporter: BUT. WHILE REPUBLICANS. HAVE PRAISED THE. PRESIDENT FOR. SLASHING WHAT THEY. VIEW AS WASTEFUL. SPENDING, THE WHITE.

HOUSE HAS PROVIDED NO. EVIDENCE OF FRAUD, WHICH IS A CRIME. ALSO TONIGHT, CONFIRMED BY THE. SENATE, THE. PRESIDENT'S FBI. DIRECTOR PICK, KASH. PATEL, DESPITE STIFF. OPPOSITION FROM. DEMOCRATS AND TWO. REPUBLICANS, WHO HAVE. REPEATEDLY QUESTIONED. HIS QUALIFICATIONS. AND HIS COMMITMENT TO. THE BUREAU'S. INDEPENDENCE. >> WHEN EVERYONE ELSE. IN THE FIRST TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION SAID. NO, I WON'T DO THAT, THAT CROSSES MORAL, ETHICAL, AND LEGAL. LINES, KASH PATEL. SAID, SIGN ME UP. >> AND PETER, TONIGHT, ANOTHER.

LEGAL VICTORY FOR THE. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AS IT RAMPS UP THOSE. MASS FIRINGS. >> Reporter: LESTER, A FEDERAL JUDGE JUST. RULED THAT PRESIDENT. TRUMP CAN FOR NOW. CONTINUE THOSE. SWEEPING LAYOFFS OF. FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, REJECTING A SUIT. BROUGHT BY SEVERAL. LABOR UNIONS LOOKING. TO TEMPORARILY HALT. THE FIRINGS. >> PETER ALEXANDER, THANK YOU. >>> OVERSEAS, A. SOLEMN DAY IN ISRAEL. AS THE COUNTRY. RECEIVED THE REMAINS. OF FOUR BODIES. INCLUDING THE TWO. YOUNGEST HOSTAGES. BUT ACCORDING TO THE. ISRAELI MILITARY, THEIR MOTHER WAS NOT. AMONG THEM.

HALA GORANI REPORTS. THE BROTHERS HAVE. BECOME EMBLEMATIC OF. THE HOSTAGE CRISIS. AND THE DEVASTATING. WAR. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, THEIR FACES BECAME. THE SYMBOLS OF. ISRAEL'S HOSTAGE. CRISIS. AERIAL AND FEIR. ABDUCTED ON OCTOBER. 7th, 2023, ALIVE. THE BOYS 4 YEARS OLD. AND JUST SHY OF 9. MONTHS AT THE TIME, TODAY RETURNING HOME. IN COFFINS. TO THEIR FATHER, YARDIN, RELEASED. EARLIER THIS MONTH IN.

A HOSTAGE EXCHANGE. AT HOSTAGE SQUARE IN. TEL AVIV, IT WAS NOT. A DAY FOR. CELEBRATION. GILL'S COUSIN WAS. ALSO TAKEN HOSTAGE. AND KILLED IN GAZA. LAST AUGUST. >> FOR THE FAMILIES, IT'S A DEVASTATING. MOMENT. AND IT'S A REMINDER. FOR THEM THAT WE HAVE. TO FIGHT FOR THE. OTHERS. >> Reporter: THE. ATMOSPHERE IS. CERTAINLY MORE SOLEMN. THAN ON SATURDAY. SINCE THE SIGNING OF. THE LATEST DEAL WHEN. LIVE HOSTAGES ARE. RETURNED.

THIS TIME, THE. COUNTRY IS WITNESSING. THE RETURN OF. DECEASED CAPTIVES. THE DAY STARTED. INSIDE THE DEVASTATED. ENCLAVE WHERE MASKED. HAMAS FIGHTERS HANDED. FOUR BLACK-CLAD. COFFINS OVER TO THE. RED CROSS. 84-YEAR-OLD ACTIVIST. ODED WAS AMONG THOSE. SENT BACK. HE VOLUNTEERED WITH A. GROUP THAT WOULD. DRIVE PALESTINIANS IN. NEED OF CARE TO. ISRAELI HOSPITALS. THE ISRAELI MILITARY. TRANSPORTED THE. COFFINS TO A FORENSIC. FACILITY. THE REMAINS OF ODED.

FORMALLY IDENTIFIED. THERE. TESTS ARE ONGOING FOR. THE OTHERS. BACK AT HOSTAGE. SQUARE, MANY TELL US. DEATH AND DEVASTATION. IN GAZA NEED TO END. FOR EVERYONE. >> WE DON'T WANT TO. LIVE IN A CONSTANT. WAR. IT'S NOT GOOD FOR. ANYONE. WE WANT THIS WAR TO. END. >> AND HALA, WE'RE. HEARING TONIGHT THERE. WERE EXPLOSIONS ON. SOME BUSES NEAR TEL. AVIV. WHAT ARE OFFICIALS. SAYING? >> Reporter: YES, LESTER. THE POLICE ARE SAYING. THAT THEY'RE.

INVESTIGATING THESE. EXPLOSIONS AS A. POTENTIAL TERRORIST. ATTACK. THREE DEVICES WENT. OFF IN AN EMPTY. PARKING LOT, TWO WERE. DEFUSED ELSEWHERE. AND AUTHORITIES ARE. SCANNING OTHER AREAS. FOR POTENTIAL. OBJECTS. LESTER. >> HALA GORANI, THANK. YOU. >>> IN UKRAINE, DESPITE DIPLOMATIC. TALKS, THE SITUATION. REMAINS VOLATILE. AND AFTER SHARP WORDS. FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP. THIS WEEK, PRESIDENT. ZELENSKYY APPEARS TO. BE CHANGING HIS TONE. RICHARD ENGEL HAS THE. LATEST. >> Reporter: PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY. TODAY WELCOMED.

PRESIDENT TRUMP'S. ENVOY, RETIRED. GENERAL KEITH. KELLOGG. THEY HOPE IT WILL. CHANGE UKRAINE'S. VERSION ON THE WAR. WITH RUSSIA, WHO. STARTED IT, AND WHO. ENDED IT, BUT NO. PRESS CONFERENCE. IT WAS CANCELED ON. THE AMERICAN SIDE, APPARENTLY TO AVOID. UNCOMFORTABLE. QUESTIONS ABOUT. RELATIONS BETWEEN. ZELENSKYY AND TRUMP. >> A DICTATOR WITHOUT. ELECTIONS. >> Reporter: PRESIDENT TRUMP THIS. WEEK FALSELY CALLED. ZELENSKYY A DICTATOR. AND SAID HE STARTED. THE WAR WITH RUSSIA.

EVEN THOUGH RUSSIA. INVADED UKRAINE. ZELENSKYY IN TURN. ACCUSED TRUMP OF. REPEATING RUSSIAN. PROPAGANDA. NATIONAL SECURITY. ADVISER MIKE WALTZ. TODAY CALLED. ZELENSKYY UNGRATEFUL. >> IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. THEY NEED TO TONE IT. DOWN. >> Reporter: THEN. ZELENSKYY DID TONE IT. DOWN, POSTING, I AM. GRATEFUL TO THE. UNITED STATES FOR ALL. THE ASSISTANCE, ADDING, WHAT'S. IMPORTANT IS THAT. AMERICAN STRENGTH IS. FELT. BUT AT A SCHOOL 40. FEET BELOW GROUND TO. PROTECT CHILDREN FROM. RUSSIAN ATTACKS IN.

THE EASTERN CITY OF. KHARKIV, UKRAINIANS. TOLD US THEY WORRY. ABOUT LOSING THEIR. BIGGEST ALLY. UKRAINIAN CIVILIANS. ARE FEELING. INCREASINGLY. ABANDONED BY THE. UNITED STATES AND CUT. OFF MORE EACH DAY. THIS UNDERGROUND. SCHOOL WAS BUILT WITH. SUPPORT FROM USAID, PRESIDENT TRUMP PUT A. STOP TO THAT. IT IS ALL MAKING. UKRAINIANS ASK. THEMSELVES WHY THE. UNITED STATES SEEMS. TO BE TURNING ON. THEM. OLENA IS ONE OF THE. ADMINISTRATORS. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF. WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP.

HAS BEEN SAYING ABOUT. UKRAINE? TO BE HONEST, WE'RE. WORRIED, SHE SAID, ADDING OUR HOUSESER. OUR CITIES ARE. RUINED, AND THEY SAY. IT'S OUR FAULT. WE'RE BEING KILLED. AND IT'S OUR FAULT. RICHARD ENGEL, NBC. NEWS, KHARKIV, UKRAINE. >>> THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION HAS. OFFICIALLY DESIGNATED. SEVERAL DRUG CARTELS. FOREIGN TERRORIST. ORGANIZATIONS. IT COMES AS MEXICO. RAMPS UP TROOP LEVELS. AT ITS BORDER WITH. THE U.S. OUR GABE GUTIERREZ. HAS AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK.

AT THE DEPLOYMENT. >> Reporter: IN. JUAREZ, MEXICO, TONIGHT, A SHOW OF. FORCE. THIS IS THE MEXICAN. NATIONAL GUARD AND. ARMY, PART OF THE. 10,000 EXTRA TROOPS. DEPLOYED BY THE. COUNTRY'S NEW. PRESIDENT, CLAUDIA. SHEINBAUM, AFTER. PRESIDENT TRUMP. THREATENED A 25%. TARIFF ON ALL MEXICAN. GOODS COMING TO THE. U.S. MAJOR ALEXANDER. VAZQUEZ HERNANDEZ. TELLS US HE NOW HAS A. LOT OF. RE-ENFORCEMENTS. TROOPS PATROLLING THE.

BORDER FENCE AND. SEARCHING FOR DRUG. AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING. TUNNELS. THIS ONE DISCOVERED. RECENTLY, FOUR BY SIX. FEET, SOPHISTICATED. WITH LIGHTING AND. VENTILATION. MOST OF THE FENTANYL. IS SNUCK INTO THE. U.S. NOT THROUGH. RURAL AREAS BUT. THROUGH LEGAL PORTS. OF ENTRY. THAT'S WHY THERE'S AN. INCREASED MILITARY. PRESENCE HERE. NBC NEWS GRANTED. EXCLUSIVE ACCESS. WEEKS BEFORE A 30-DAY. PAUSE IN TRUMP'S. TARIFF THREAT IS SET. TO EXPIRE. CRITICS SAY THE. TROOPS WILL DO LITTLE. TO HELP CRACK DOWN ON. ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. AND THE FLOW OF. FENTANYL AND INSTEAD.

AMOUNT TO A WASTEFUL. POLITICAL STUNT. IS THIS ALL A SHOW. FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP? WE DON'T HAVE THAT. ANSWER, HE SAYS. WE'RE JUST UNDER. ORDERS TO MAINTAIN A. PRESENCE. ILLEGAL BORDER. CROSSINGS DROPPED. DRAMATICALLY AFTER. THE U.S. TIGHTENED. ASYLUM RESTRICTIONS. DURING THE LAST PART. OF THE BIDEN. ADMINISTRATION. SINCE TRUMP WAS. RE-ELECTED, THEY HAVE. FALLEN EVEN MORE. 35% FROM DECEMBER TO. JANUARY. TRUMP'S BORDER CZAR. NOW SAYS THEY'RE DOWN. TO 229 A DAY, DOWN. FROM A PEAK OF 11,000.

A DAY DURING. PRESIDENT BIDEN'S. TERM. MARCOS IS A COYOTE, A. HUMAN SMUGGLER IN. SOUTHERN MEXICO WHO. IS CONCEALING HIS. FACE AND LAST NAME. THE TROOPS WON'T MAKE. A DIFFERENCE, HE. SAYS. IT'S FOOLISHNESS, BUT. HE DOES CONCEDE. TRUMP'S STRICTER. BORDER POLICIES HAVE. CAUSED HIS BUSINESS. TO PLUMMET ABOUT 80%. SINCE INAUGURATION. DAY. DO YOU CONSIDER. YOURSELF A CRIMINAL? NO, HE SAYS, I HAVE. NEVER ABANDONED OR. ROBBED ANYONE. INSTEAD, HE CONSIDERS. HIMSELF A TRAVEL.

AGENCY THAT MIGHT. HAVE TO RAISE PRICES. >> GABE IS JUST BACK. FROM MEXICO WITH SOME. NEW REPORTING ON THE. MIGRANTS BEING. DETAINED AT. GUANTANAMO BAY. WHAT DO YOU KNOW? >> Reporter: MULTIPLE. SOURCES TELL NBC NEWS. THEY HAVE ALL BEEN. CLEARED OUT. 177 DEPORTED TO. HONDURAS. ONE MORE SENT BACK TO. THE U.S. A SENIOR HOMELAND. SECURITY OFFICIAL. SAYS THE. ADMINISTRATION DOES. PLAN TO KEEP SENDING. MIGRANTS TO. GUANTANAMO BAY AS A. STAGING AREA. LESTER. >> OKAY, GABE, THANK. YOU. WE'LL BE BACK IN 60. SECONDS AND TAKE YOU. TO YOSEMITE WHERE. WE'RE STARTING TO SEE.

THE IMPACTS OF. FEDERAL CUTS ON OUR. NATION'S BUSTLING. NATIONAL PARKS. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. BEFORE BOOKING YOUR. TRIP. THAT'S NEXT. >>> AS THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION PUSHES. TO OVERHAUL FEDERAL. AGENCIES, ROUGHLY. 1,000 WORKERS HAVE. BEEN FIRED AT OUR. NATIONAL PARKS. OUR MORGAN CHESKY HAS. MORE ON THE IMPACT. AHEAD OF THE SUMMER. RUSH. >> Reporter: TONIGHT. FROM HALF DOME TO OLD.

FAITHFUL AND AS FAR. AS GETTYSBURG, GROWING CONCERNS AT. NATIONAL PARKS AFTER. ROUGHLY 1,000 FEDERAL. PARK EMPLOYEES WERE. LAID OFF. IN YOSEMITE, THAT. MEANS LESS STAFF TO. HANDLE CROWDS WHO. CAME TO SEE THE. ICONIC FIRE FALL. DURING A BUSY HOLIDAY. WEEK. >> I REALLY FELT LIKE. MY WORLD WAS TAKEN. OUT FROM UNDERNEATH. ME. >> Reporter: OLEK. BLINDSIDED BY HIS. TERMINATION LETTER. FRIDAY. >> I SPENT A LOT OF. TIME SQUEEGEES THE. TOILETS, THE BATHROOM. FLOORS OUT. AFTER ONE DAY OF ME. NOT BEING THERE, IT'S. ALREADY PRETTY.

VISUALLY DISGUSTING. >> Reporter: THE. ABRUPT DISMISSAL OF. PROBATIONARY PARK. EMPLOYEES SENDING. SHOCK WAVES COAST TO. COAST. STACEY RAMSEY LOST. HER DREAM JOB AS A. RANGER AT ARKANSAS'S. BUFFALO NATIONAL. RIVER. >> IT WAS SO SUDDEN. AND SWIFT, DIDN'T. HAVE TIME TO PREPARE. MYSELF AT ALL FOR IT. SO THAT MADE IT EVEN. MORE DIFFICULT. >> Reporter: HERE IN. YOSEMITE, WITH. UNCERTAINTY MOUNTING. OVER STAFFING LEVELS, OFFICIALS HAVE. ALREADY PUT SUMMER. RESERVATIONS ON PAUSE. FOR SEVERAL POPULAR. CAMP GROUNDS, PUTTING. THE PARK'S PEAK. SUMMER TRAVEL SEASON. IN POTENTIAL.

JEOPARDY. NBC NEWS SPOKE WITH. MORE NAN A DOZEN. CURRENT AND FORMER. PARK SERVICE. EMPLOYEES WHO WARNED. VISITORS SHOULD. EXPECT SIGNIFICANT. IMPACTS DUE TO. REDUCED STAFFING, FROM UPKEEP OF TRAILS. AND RESTROOMS TO. LONGER LINES AND WAIT. TIMES AND EVEN SAFETY. CONCERNS. >> I'M THE ONLY. PERSON AVAILABLE TO. RESCUE SOMEONE TO DO. CPR, TO CARRY THEM. OUT FROM A TRAIL IF. THEY GOT INJURED. >> Reporter: YEAR. YOSEMITE, ALEX WILD. WAS THE ONLY. CERTIFIED EMT RANGER.

>> IF YOU'RE NO. LONGER AT THE PARK. AND AN EMERGENCY. HAPPENS, THEN WHAT? >> MAYBE A LOCAL. COUNTY FIRE. DEPARTMENT OR A. SEARCH AND RESCUE. TEAM COULD RESPOND. AND IT WOULD TAKE. HOURS. IT COULD MEAN LIFE OR. DEATH FOR SOMEONE WHO. IS HAVING AN. EMERGENCY. >> Reporter: AND. TONIGHT WITH APPEALS. AND A POTENTIAL CLASS. ACTION LAWSUIT IN THE. WORKS BY TERMINATED. PARK EMPLOYEES, THE. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. DEFENDING THEIR. ACTIONS SAYING IN. PART THE PRESIDENT. WILL CONTINUE TO. PROTECT AMERICA'S.

ABUDDANT NATURAL. RESOURCES WHILE. STREAMLINING FEDERAL. AGENCIES TO. BETTERSERVE THE. AMERICAN PEOPLE. LESTER. >> QUITE A VIEW. THERE. THANK YOU. >>> NOW TO A NEW. LAWSUIT AGAINST 13. MAJOR VAPE. MANUFACTURERS, DISTRIBUTORS, AND. RETAILERS. ALLEGING THEY HAVE. BEEN INTENTIONALLY. AND ILLEGALLY. MARKETING THEIR. PRODUCTS TO KIDS. ERIN McLAUGHLIN JOINS. US NOW. WHAT DOES THE SUIT. CLAIM? >> Reporter: THE NEW. YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL. IS SEEKING HUNDREDS. OF MILLIONS OF. DOLLARS IN DAMAGES, ACCUSING THESE. COMPANIES OF. KNOWINGLY VIOLATING. FEDERAL AND STATE.

LAWS, ESSENTIALLY. CREATING A YOUTH. VAPING EPIDEMIC. THE A.G. ALLEGES THE. COMPANIES ARE. TARGETING MINORS. USING BRIGHT. PACKAGING AND CANDY. FLAVORS AND STOCKING. THEM IN STORES NEAR. SCHOOLS. THE LAWSUIT ALSO. CLAIMS THESE. COMPANIES HAVE LONG. BEEN AWARE THAT THEIR. PRODUCTS POSE SERIOUS. HEALTH RISKS. ESPECIALLY TO YOUNG. USERS. MEANWHILE TONIGHT, THE AMERICAN VAPOR. MANUFACTURERS CLAIMS. THIS LAWSUIT IS AN. ATTEMPT TO, QUOTE, DEPRIVE ADULT. CONSUMERS OF THE MOST. POPULAR AND EFFECTIVE.

METHOD TO QUIT. SMOKING. >> WE'RE BACK IN A. MOMENT WITH A NEW. TWIST IN OUR NATI. >>> TODAY A MAJOR. ANNOUNCEMENT FROM. SENATOR MITCH. McCONNELL. THE 83-YEAR-OLD. CELEBRATED HIS. BIRTHDAY AND. ANNOUNCED HE'S. RETIRING AFTER 40. YEARS. McCONNELL, ONE OF THE. NATION'S MOST. POWERFUL REPUBLICANS. HAVE SUFFERED A. SERIES OF FALLS AND. HEALTH SCARES IN.

RECENT YEARS BUT. REMAINS IN OFFICE. UNTIL HIS TERM IS UP. IN 2027. >> NOW TO THE PRICE. YOU PAY AS THE BIRD. FLU CRISIS GROWS, SMALL BUSINESSES ARE. AMONG THE HARDEST. HIT. CHRISTINE ROMANS NOW. ON HOW AMERICA'S. BAKERIES ARE FEELING. THE STING WITH EVERY. COOKIE THEY BAKE. >> Reporter: EMPTY. SHELVES, RECORD HIGH. PRICES, AND AT THIS. BAKERY IN PITTSBURGH, A SCRAMBLE TO AFFORD. A CRITICAL. INGREDIENT. >> WE USE EGGS IN. ALMOST EVERYTHING WE. MAKE HERE. >> Reporter: DARREN. McMILLAN RUNS GRAND.

VIEW BAKERY AND USES. BUCKETS OF EGGS EVERY. DAY. NIEPT 90 POUNDS A. WEEK. >> IN JANUARY OF. 2024, THE PRICE WAS. $38. THIS WEEK, THE PRICE. IS $169 FOR THE SAME. AMOUNT OF EGGS. >> Reporter: A COST, HE SAYS, HE CAN'T. PASS ON TO HIS. CUSTOMERS, AT LEAST. FOR NOW. BIRD FLU HAS WIPED. OUT MORE THAN 49. MILLION BIRDS ACROSS. THE COUNTRY IN THE. PAST FIVE MONTHS. SENDING EGG PRICES AT. THE GROCERY STORE. FROM AN AVERAGE $2.52. A DOZEN LAST YEAR TO.

$4.95 NOW. AND THE AGRICULTURE. DEPARTMENT FORECAST. PRICES COULD RISE. ANOTHER 20% THIS. YEAR. BECAUSE THE PROBLEM. ONLY GETTING WORSE. >> WE'RE IN THE FIGHT. OF OUR LIVES. >> Reporter: EMILY IS. THE PRESIDENT OF THE. AMERICAN EGG BOARD. >> OUR SUPPLY IS SO. TIGHT RIGHT NOW. NORMALLY, WE HAVE. OVER ONE BIRD FOR. EVERY AMERICAN. THAT'S MORE THAN 330. MILLION BIRDS. OUR FLOCK SIZE HAS. DROPPED TO BELOW 280. MILLION BIRDS. THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT. DROP. >> Reporter: THE.

VIRUS IS INFECTING. HENS THAT LAY EGGS. AND THE YOUNG CHICKS. THAT ARE THE NEXT. GENERATION. >> WE HAVE TO BE. HONEST WITH THE. AMERICAN PUBLIC THAT. THERE'S NO QUICK FIX. WE'RE GOING TO BE IN. THIS FOR A WHILE. >> Reporter: IN THE. MEANTIME, THE TOP. FOOD SAFETY OFFICIAL. AT FDA RESIGNED THIS. WEEK. USDA FIRES. ACCIDENTALLY, IT. SAYS, SEVERAL. EMPLOYEES WORKING ON. THE OUTBREAK. NOW WORKING TO HIRE. THEM BACK. BUT FOR DARREN AT THE. BAKERY, HE'S JUST. TRYING TO FIGURE OUT. HOW TO ABSORB SKY. HIGH EGG PRICES.

>> WHEN SOMETHING. GOES UP THIS. DRASTICALLY THIS. QUICKLY, THERE'S NOT. A WHOLE LOT WE CAN DO. EXCEPT EAT THE COST. >> CHRISTINE IS HERE. DOWN DAY IN THE. MARKETS TODAY. >> IN THE DOW, THIS. IS ALL ABOUT WALMART. THE BIGGEST RETAILER, THE BIGGEST EMPLOYER. IN THE U.S. WITH ITS. FINGER ON THE PULSE. OF THE AMERICAN. ECONOMY. WALMART SAID IT WOULD. NOT BE IMMUNE TO. TARIFFS. AND ALTHOUGH THE. AMERICAN CONSUMER IS. RESILIENT, WALMART. SAID THERE'S STILL. PLENTY OF. UNCERTAINTY. >> THANK YOU. >>> WHEN WE COME. BACK, THERE'S GOOD. NEWS TONIGHT FOR.

>>> FINALLY, THERE'S. GOOD NEWS TONIGHT FOR. ONE BABY SEAL WHO WAS. SLIDING INTO THE. HEARTS OF AMERICA. EMILIE IKEDA WAS ON. HAND FOR AN. UNFORGETTABLE. REUNION. >> Reporter: SEALS. ARE NO STRANGERS TO. NEW ENGLAND, BUT THIS. WAS A SIGHTING THAT. CONNECTICUT WON'T. SOON FORGET. POLICE RESPONDING TO. A STRANDED GRAY SEAL. PUP IN THE HEART OF. NEW HAVEN. FLOPPING MORE THAN.

1300 FEET THROUGH THE. CITY STREETS EARLIER. THIS WEEK AND POPPING. UP SEVERAL TIMES AWAY. FROM THE WATER IN THE. DAYS BEFORE. SO HE'S RIGHT IN. HERE. >> OH, MY GOD. HE'S ADORABLE. >> Reporter: FOR THE. FIRST TIME SINCE THE. RESCUE, OFFICER. JUSTIN REUNITING. TODAY WITH HIS. NEWFOUND FRIEND. NOW IN THE CARE OF. MYSTIC AQUARIUM. >> YOU HEAR A LOT OF. DIFFERENT RADIO. TRANSMISSIONS COMING. ACROSS THE RADIO AS A. COP, BUT HEARING A. SEAL WALKING DOWN THE. STREET IS ONE THAT.

TAKES THE CAKE. >> Reporter: WHILE. MANY JOKE IT WAS. CHASING NEW HAVEN'S. FAMOUS CLAM PIZZA, RESEARCHERS. EXPLAIN -- IT WAS. TRYING TO FIND A NICE. QUIET AREA AND FOUND. HIMSELF IN THE MIDDLE. OF THE CITY. >> Reporter: NOW. MYSTIC AQUARIUM IS. HELPING THE YOUNGSTER. PACK ON THE POUNDS. WITH A DELICIOUS DIET. OF FLUIDS, FISH. SMOOTHIE, AND OF. COURSE, HERRING TO. HELP HIM PREPARE FOR. THE WILD. OUR CAMERAS CAPTURING. A SPECIAL. MILESTONE --. >> OH, MY GOSH. >> Reporter: HIS. FIRST TIME EATING. FISH ON HIS OWN.

>> NOW THAT HE'S BACK. ON HIS FEEPT, IT'S A. BEAUTIFUL THING. >> Reporter: WHILE. THE PUP WILL. EVENTUALLY BE. RETURNED TO THE. OCEAN, HIS PLACE IN. AMERICA'S HEART IS. SEALED. EMILIE IKEDA, BC. NEWS. >> HIS LITTLE CRY. REALLY GOT ME. THAT'S NIGHTLY NEWS. FOR THIS THURSDAY. THANK YOU FOR. WATCHING. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF. YOURSELF AND EACH. OTHER. GOOD NIGHT. OD NIG.