NBC Nightly News Full Episode - Feb. 4

>>> TONIGHT, THE. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S. EXTREME MAKEOVER, RAPID CHANGES AS. PRESIDENT TRUMP AND. ELON MUSK BRING A. DRAMATIC OVERHAUL TO. WASHINGTON. PROTESTS BREAKING. OUT OUTSIDE. GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. AS THE. ADMINISTRATION SAYS. THOUSANDS OF FEDERAL. WORKERS HAVE TAKEN. THAT BUYOUT. AND MR. MUSK'S. LIEUTENANTS GAINED. ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT. SERVERS, FEDERAL. WORKERS FIRING BACK. IN A HEATED TOWN.

HALL. AS REPUBLICANS CHEER. THE CHANGES. THE LEGAL CHALLENGES. MOUNTING AFTER THE. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. DEMANDS NAMES OF. AGENTS INVOLVED IN. JANUARY 6th. INVESTIGATIONS. THE HIGH-STAKES. MEETINGS WITH. BENJAMIN NETANYAHU. AS PRESIDENT TRUMP. SUGGESTS. PALESTINIANS MAY. HAVE TO LEAVE GAZA. CHINA FIRES BACK IN. THE TRADE WAR ADDING. TARIFFS ON BILLIONS. OF DOLLARS WORTH OF. U.S. IMPORTS. WHAT IT COULD MEAN. FOR PRICES AT HOME. THE TAIL OF THE. COMMUTER JET RAISED.

FROM THE POTOMAC AS. WE GET NEW DETAILS. ON HOW HIGH THE ARMY. BLACK HAWK WAS. FLYING DURING THE. DEADLY COLLISION. THE RAID IN NEW. YORK'S DIAMOND. DISTRICT. IS THERE A. CONNECTION TO BREAK-. INS AT STAR ATHLETES. HOMES? RESTAURANTS CRACKING. UNDER THE PRESSURE. OF EGG PRICES. WAFFLE HOUSE. CHARGING AN EXTRA 50-. CENTS AN EGG. WHAT'S BEHIND IT? AND THE GOOD NEWS, WHEN PHOTOS RAINED. DOWN DURING THE L.A. FIRES, RETURNING. THEM TO THEIR OWNER. BROUGHT BACK A FLOOD.

OF EMOTION. >> THIS IS NBC. NIGHTLY NEWS WITH. LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING AND. WELCOME. AN EXECUTIVE ORDER. TO ABOLISH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF. EDUCATION MAY BE. FORTHCOMING. ACCORDING TO TWO. SOURCES FAMILIAR. WITH THE PLAN AS. BILLIONAIRE TECH. MOGUL ELON MUSK. CONTINUES TO TEST. THE LIMITS OF HIS. AUTHORITY AND. INFLUENCE IN THE. TRUMP WHITE. HAVING ALREADY. GAINED ACCESS TO.

GOVERNMENT. COMPUTERS, TARGETED. AMERICA'S AID. PROGRAM FOR. ELIMINATION, AND. OFFERED INCENTIVES. FOR GOVERNMENT. WORKERS TO QUIT. MUSK'S APPARENT. FREEDOM TO SLASH. WHAT HE IDENTIFIES. AS WASTEFUL SPENDING. IS FUELING BACKLASH. TONIGHT. MUSK ESTIMATING A. FEW BILLION DOLLARS. A DAY OF SAVINGS SO. FAR. BUT DEMOCRATS IN. CONGRESS BECOMING. INCREASINGLY VOCAL. AS MUSK DIRECTLY. CHALLENGES CONGRESS'. TRADITIONAL. AUTHORITY, INCLUDING. ON MATTERS SUCH AS. ELIMINATING THE. DEPARTMENT OF. EDUCATION. REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS.

APPLAUDING THE RAPID. MAKEOVER OF THE. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THAT'S ALSO ANGERING. MANY FEDERAL. EMPLOYEES. PETER ALEXANDER HAS. THE LATEST. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, TWO WEEKS. AFTER RETURNING TO. OFFICE PLEDGING TO. TAKE A WRECKING BALL. TO WASHINGTON, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS. PUSHING BACK AGAINST. NEW ATTACKS ON HIS. EFFORTS AND THOSE OF. BILLIONAIRE ELON. MUSK TO RESHAPE THE. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. >> HE'S DONE A GREAT. JOB. LOOK AT ALL THE. FRAUD THAT HE'S. FOUND. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, TOP. DEMOCRATS ARE. SOUNDING THE ALARM. THAT MUSK AND HIS. LIEUTENANTS ARE. GOING TOO FAR.

>> THE AMERICAN. PEOPLE WILL NOT. STAND FOR AN. UNELECTED SECRET. GROUP TO RUN RAMPANT. THROUGH THE. EXECUTIVE BRANCH. BEING INNOVATIVE IS. GOOD. BUT MR. MUSK, THIS. ISN'T A TECH START. UP. THESE ARE PUBLIC. INSTITUTIONS. >> Reporter: MUSK. WHO VOWED TO SLASH. TWO TRILLION FROM. THE BUDGET RUNS THE. DEPARTMENT OF. GOVERNMENT. EFFICIENCY, THAT IS. NOT A GOVERNMENT. AGENCY. BUT HIS TEAM HAS. ALREADY GAINED. ACCESS TO CLOSELY. HELD DATA SYSTEMS. >> THERE'S ALREADY.

BEEN REALLY. TREMENDOUS PROGRESS. IN OUR ROUGH. ESTIMATE IS THERE'S. AT LEAST A FEW. BILLION DOLLARS A. DAY OF SAVINGS. >> Reporter: ONE, SHARPLY REDUCING THE. FEDERAL WORKFORCE BY. OFFERING A BUYOUT. THE FEDERAL WORKERS. A SENIOR. ADMINISTRATION. OFFICIAL SAYING MORE. THAN 20,000 FEDERAL. EMPLOYEES HAVE. ACCEPTED THE OFFER. SO FAR. MANY ARE FURIOUS AT. THE PACE AND THE. SCOPE OF THE. PRESIDENT'S CHANGES. >> I AM ANGRY. I AM SEETHING. >> Reporter: SPEAKING AT A TOWN. HALL IN VIRGINIA.

OVERNIGHT. >> MY COLLEAGUES ARE. GETTING 15-MINUTE. ONE-ON-ONE CHECK-INS. WITH 19, 20, 21-YEAR-. OLD COLLEGE. GRADUATES ASKING TO. JUSTIFY THEIR. EXISTENCE. ONE OF MUSK'S TOP. LIEUTENANTS AND HIS. WIFE AND YOUNG CHILD. HAVE SHACKED UP ON. THE SIXTH FLOOR OF. OUR AGENCY AND ARE. LIVING THERE. >> WHAT? >> Reporter: TODAY, PRESIDENT TRUMP. PRAISING MUSK, INCLUDING HIS MOVE. TO DISMANTLE THE. U.S. AGENCY FOR.

INTERNATIONAL. DEVELOPMENT, WHICH. DISTRIBUTES AND. DELIVERS FOREIGN. AID. ARGUING MUCH OF ITS. MORE THAN $40. MILLION BUDGET IS. WASTEFUL. >> MONEY GOING TO. GROUPS THAT. SHOULDN'T DESERVE TO. GET ANY MONEY. >> Reporter: IT'S A. VITAL MISSION. STILL LEADING. REPUBLICANS STRONGLY. BACK MUSK'S MOVES. >> I TOLD HIM TO. CONTINUE THE EFFORT. BECAUSE IT'S REALLY. IMPORTANT FOR US TO. RESTORE FISCAL. SANITY TO. WASHINGTON. >> Reporter: THE. PRESIDENT RESPONDING. TO A NEW OFFER FROM. EL SALVADOR TO TAKE.

BACK DEPORTED. UNDOCUMENTED. MIGRANTS AND. AMERICAN PRISONERS. TOO. >> IF WE HAD THE. LEGAL RIGHT TO DO. IT, I WOULD DO IT IN. A HEARTBEAT. WE COULD MAKE DEALS. WHERE WE GET THESE. ANIMALS OUT OF OUR. COUNTRY. >> THE BEGINNING OF. THE BROADCAST I. MENTIONED ANOTHER. SWEEPING CHANGE OF. WHAT THE ABOLISHMENT. OF THE DEPARTMENT OF. EDUCATION, WHERE. DOES THAT STAND? >> Reporter: THE. PRESIDENT SAYS HE. TOLD HIS SECRETARY. OF EDUCATION NOMINEE. HE WOULD LIKE HER TO. PUT HERSELF OUT OF A. JOB, SAYING THAT. STATES SHOULD HANDLE. ALL OF IT. BUT GETTING RID OF. AN AGENCY WOULD. REQUIRE CONGRESS'.

APPROVAL. MEANWHILE, NON-. PROFIT GROUPS TELL. NBC NEWS THE. PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS. ON U.S. AID HAVE. LEFT LIFE-SAVING. ANTIBIOTICS SITTING. IN LIMBO AND. ESSENTIAL MEDICINES. EXPIRING IN THE. CONGO. >> PETER ALEXANDER. TONIGHT. THANK YOU. >>> A DRAMATIC. STATEMENT FROM. PRESIDENT TRUMP ON. THE MIDDLE EAST. TODAY, SUGGESTING. PALESTINIANS NOT. RETURN TO GAZA, WHICH HE CALLED A. DEMOLITION SITE. SAYING THEY SHOULD. BE GIVEN OTHER. OPTIONS. IT CAME AS HE MET. WITH ISRAEL'S PRIME. MINISTER.

ANDREA MITCHELL NOW. WITH LATE DETAILS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, PRESIDENT. TRUMP ROLLING OUT. THE RED CARPET FOR. ISRAEL'S PRIME. MINISTER NETANYAHU. AT THE WHITE HOUSE. TO TALK ABOUT GAZA. AND FREEING THE. REMAINING HOSTAGES. >> THANK YOU VERY. MUCH. >> Reporter: IT'S. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S. FIRST INVITATION TO. A FOREIGN LEADER, AFTER FOUR YEARS OF. PRESIDENT BIDEN. DENYING NETANYAHU A. WHITE HOUSE VISIT. >> WE WANT PEACE. WE WANT PEOPLE TO. STOP BEING KILLED. BUT EVERYBODY'S. DEMANDING ONE THING, VERY SIMPLE, PEACE. HE WANTS PEACE ALSO. >> HAMAS IS NOT. GOING TO BE IN GAZA,

AND WE'RE GOING TO. GET EVERYONE BACK. >> Reporter: SITTING. NEXT TO NETANYAHU, MR. TRUMP SUGGESTING. CLOSE TO TWO MILLION. PALESTINIANS COULD. MOVE OUT OF GAZA TO. EGYPT AND JORDAN. WHILE GAZA IS. REBUILT. >> GAZA MAYBE IS A. DEMOLITION SITE. RIGHT NOW. IF YOU LOOK AT GAZA, IT'S HARDLY A. BUILDING STANDING. I THINK WE NEED. ANOTHER LOCATION. I THINK IT SHOULD BE. A LOCATION THAT'S. GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE. HAPPY. >> Reporter: MOST. DON'T WANT TO LEAVE, AND LEADERS IN EGYPT. AND JORDAN HAVE SAID.

THEY DON'T WANT TO. TAKE THEM. >> THE WHOLE THING. IS A MESS, AND I. THINK THAT IF WE CAN. RESETTLE, AND I. BELIEVE WE CAN DO IT. IN THE AREAS WHERE. THE LEADERS. CURRENTLY SAY NO. >> Reporter: THE. FAMILY OF AMERICAN-. ISRAELI HOSTAGE. SIEGEL SPEAKING TO. NBC NEWS AFTER HE. WAS RELEASED. SATURDAY FOLLOWING. 484 DAYS HELD. CAPTIVE. >> THERE WERE NO. WORDS. IT WAS A WOW, IT WAS. AN AMAZING, IT WAS. OH MY GOSH, IS THIS. REALLY HAPPENING? >> Reporter: PRESIDENT TRUMP ALSO. SIGNALING A NEW U.S.

APPROACH TO IRAN, SAYING HE WOULD MEET. WITH IRAN'S. PRESIDENT, BUT. SIGNING AN EXECUTIVE. ORDER SANCTIONING. IRAN SAYING HE IS. UNHAPPY TO DO IT BUT. HAS TO BE STRONG AND. FIRM. LESTER? >> ANDREA MITCHELL, THANK YOU. >>> FBI AGENTS. INVOLVED IN. INVESTIGATIONS INTO. JANUARY 6th PUSHING. BACK AGAINST THE. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. TONIGHT IN AN. ATTEMPT TO KEEP. THEIR JOBS AND KEEP. THEIR IDENTITIES. FROM BEING MADE. PUBLIC. HERE'S KELLY. O'DONNELL. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, FBI AGENTS. WHO SAY THEY FEAR.

FOR THEIR SAFETY AND. PRIVACY ARE FIGHTING. BACK AGAINST THE. TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION. TWO NEW LAWSUITS. FILED INCLUDING A. CLASS ACTION. REPRESENTING AT. LEAST 6,000 FBI. EMPLOYEES. ANONYMOUS FBI. PERSONNEL IDENTIFIED. ONLY AS JOHN DOES. SUING THE DEPARTMENT. OF JUSTICE TO HALT. STEPS TOWARD THE. MASS UNLAWFUL. TERMINATION OF. BUREAU EMPLOYEES. AND WHAT THEY CLAIM. IS UNLAWFUL. RETALIATION FOR. DOING THEIR JOBS TO. INVESTIGATE THE.

JANUARY 6th CASES. CITING THE. PRESIDENT'S OWN. WORDS AS POSING RISK. TO THEM. >> THE VICIOUS, VIOLENT, AND UNFAIR. WEAPONIZATION OF THE. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. AND OUR GOVERNMENT. WILL END. >> Reporter: TONIGHT'S LEGAL. ACTION FOLLOWS DAYS. OF UPHEAVAL. FIRST, LAST THURSDAY. WHAT LOOKED LIKE. REASSURANCE AT KASH. PATEL'S CONFIRMATION. HEARING. >> THERE WILL BE NO. POLITICIIZATION AT. THE FBI, NO ROTARY.

RETRIBUTIVE ACTIONS. >> Reporter: OVER. THE WEEKEND, THE. ACTING DIRECTOR. REFUSED TO ASSIST IN. ADDITIONAL FIRINGS. WHILE STAFF WAS SENT. A 12-QUESTION SURVEY. TO DOCUMENT THEIR. WORK ON JANUARY 6th. CASES. MONDAY, FBI LEADERS. AGREED TO HAND OVER. A LIST OF AGENTS TO. THE TRUMP DOJ. TONIGHT, AGENT. ASKING THE COURTS TO. BLOCK THE COLLECTION. AND PUBLIC RELEASE. OF FBI PERSONNEL. NAMES. >> AMERICA IS LESS. SAFE BECAUSE OF. THESE FIRINGS AND.

THREATENED FIRINGS. TO COME. IF YOU ACTUALLY. START REMOVING. HUNDREDS OR EVEN UP. TO 6,000 AGENTS WHO. TOUCHED JANUARY 6th. CASES, YOU ARE. DEPLETING THE COUNT. TERRORISM OF THE. FBI. >> Reporter: PARDONED JANUARY 6th. FIGURES LIKE THE. PROUD BOYS LEADER. URGED THE PUBLIC. POSTING OF AGENTS. NAMES SO THEY COULD. BE MADE TO PAY FOR. THEIR CRIMES. KELLY O'DONNELL, NBC. NEWS WASHINGTON. >>> LET'S TURN TO. THE TRADE WAR. LAUNCHED BY. PRESIDENT TRUMP WITH.

CHINA QUICKLY. RETALIATING AFTER. NEW TARIFFS ON. CHINESE PRODUCTS. WENT INTO EFFECT. TODAY. CHRISTINE ROMANS HAS. DETAILS. >> Reporter: AT THE. STROKE OF MIDNIGHT, CHINA RETALIATED. JUST AS PRESIDENT. TRUMP'S NEW 10%. TARIFFS ON GOODS. COMING IN FROM CHINA. WENT INTO EFFECT, BEIJING ANNOUNCED. ITS OWN TARIFFS ON. IMPORTS FROM THE. U.S. 15% ON COAL AND. LIQUEFIED NATURAL. GAS, 10% ON FARM OIL.

AND CERTAIN CARS AND. TRUCKS. >> IT'S FINE. >> Reporter: CHINA'S. RESPONSE WON'T TAKE. EFFECT UNTIL MONDAY. AND TARGETS AN. ESTIMATED $14. BILLION WORTH OF. U.S. GOODS. THE DELAY IN. RELATIVELY SYMBOLIC. DOLLAR AMOUNT. SUGGESTING THE. POTENTIAL FOR A. DEAL. JANIS MACKEY FRAYER. IS IN BEIJING. >> THAT CHINA'S. ALLOWING SOME TIME. FOR NEGOTIATION AND. SHOWING THE MULTIPLE. WAYS THEY CAN HIT. BACK SUGGESTS. BEIJING IS TRYING TO. MAKE A POINT HERE, THAT CHINA CAN DIG. IN TOO, AND WON'T.

BACK DOWN FROM. PRESIDENT TRUMP. >> Reporter: THE. WHITE HOUSE SAYS THE. NEW TARIFFS ARE. BECAUSE OF THE. DEADLY DRUGS POURING. INTO THE U.S. >> THAT WAS THE. REASON FOR THIS. TARIFF. IT WAS A RETALIATORY. TARIFF ON CHINA FOR. THE LAST FOUR YEARS. OF THEIR. UNPRECEDENTED. DISTRIBUTION OF. FENTANYL INTO OUR. NATION'S BORDERS. >> I'LL SPEAK TO HIM. AT THE APPROPRIATE. TIME. I'M IN NO RUSH. >> Reporter: AFTER. SPEAKING YESTERDAY. WITH THE LEADERS OF. CANADA AND MEXICO, TRUMP PAUSED THE 25%. TARIFFS HE HAD.

ANNOUNCED FOR THOSE. COUNTRIES. BUT FOR CHINA, TARIFFS ARE NOW IN. EFFECT, AND LIKELY. TO BE FELT BY ALMOST. ALL AMERICANS. CHINA RESPONSIBLE. FOR ONE-THIRD OF THE. ACTIVE INGREDIENTS. IN MEDICINES SOLD IN. THE U.S. AND. DOMINANT IN PERSONAL. ELECTRONICS, ACCOUNTING FOR 78%. OF SMARTPHONES AND. 87% OF VIDEO GAME. CONSOLES SOLD IN THE. U.S. >> IT'S GONNA MAKE. IT EVEN MORE. EXPENSIVE. >> Reporter: MANY. SMALL BUSINESS. OWNERS LIKE SHARELL.

MOSEY ARE LEFT. STRUGGLING WITH. UNCERTAINTY AS WELL. >> YES. YES. ADDED TARIFFS WILL. REALLY SHUT ME DOWN. I CANNOT AFFORD TO. PAY AN ADDITIONAL. 10% ON TOP OF WHAT. I'M ALREADY PAYING. IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST. NOT FEASIBLE. >> AND KRISTINE. JOINING US NOW. THE TARIFFS FROM. CHINA WEREN'T THE. ONLY RETALIATORY. STEP TAKEN. >> IT IS FURTHER. TIGHTEN CONTROLS ON. RARE EARTH MINERALS. THEY'RE CRITICAL FOR. MAKING WEAPONS.

SYSTEMS, EV. BATTERIES, SOPHISTICATED SEMI-. CONDUCTORS. THIS IS CHINA. SHOWING ITS CLOUT. IT'S ONE REASON WHY. THE U.S. IS MOVING. AWAY FROM CHINA TO. SOURCE THESE REALLY. IMPORTANT MINERALS. >> ALL RIGHT, KRISTINE. THANKS VERY MUCH. >>> IN SWEDEN, POLICE SAY AT LEAST. 10 PEOPLE ARE DEAD. AFTER A GUNMAN. OPENED FIRE TODAY AT. AN ADULT SCHOOL. MATT BRADLEY HAS. LATE DETAILS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, THE. DEADLIEST MASS. SHOOTING IN SWEDEN'S. HISTORY. 10 PEOPLE SHOT DEAD. AT A SCHOOL FOR.

ADULTS, SHATTERING. THE CALM IN THE TOWN. MORE THAN 100 MILES. WEST OF THE CAPITAL. STOCKHOLM. AND SHOCKING A. COUNTRY WHERE GUN. VIOLENCE IS RARE. IT'S DIFFICULT TO. TAKE IN THE. MAGNITUDE OF WHAT. HAPPENED TODAY THE. PRIME MINISTER SAID, WHAT SIMPLY CANNOT. HAPPEN, HAS ALSO. HAPPENED IN SWEDEN. SOCIAL MEDIA FOOTAGE. SHOWED STUDENTS. HIDING UNDER THEIR. DESKS AS SHOT RANG. OUT. THE SHOOTER'S. MOTIVES REMAIN. UNCLEAR. POLICE HAVE ALSO. RULED OUT TERRORISM, AND THEY'RE NOT.

EXPECTING ANY. FURTHER ATTACKS. >> A GUY NEXT TO ME. WAS SHOT IN THE. SHOULDER. HE WAS BLEEDING A. LOT SAID THIS. STUDENT. WHEN I LOOKED BEHIND. ME, I SAW THREE. PEOPLE ON THE FLOOR. BLEEDING. THEY SAID GO OUT, GET OUT. >> Reporter: ONE. TEACHER TOLD SWEDISH. MEDIA THAT MANY. STUDENTS HAD ALREADY. LEFT FOR THE DAY. FOLLOWING NATIONAL. EXAMS. LUCKY TIMING THAT. MAY HAVE SAVED. LIVES. MATT BRADLEY, NBC. NEWS. >>> WE HAVE A MAJOR.

UPDATE ON THE DEADLY. MID-AIR COLLISION. BETWEEN AN AMERICAN. AIRLINES JET AND A. U.S. ARMY. HELICOPTER. THE NTSB CONFIRMING. RADAR DATA AND THE. PLANE'S BLACK BOX. SHOW THE BLACK HAWK. HELICOPTER WAS. FLYING AT ABOUT 300. FEET DURING THE. COLLISION, WHICH IS. HIGHER THAN IT WAS. SUPPOSED TO. TODAY AT ALL 67. VICTIMS WERE. RECOVERED, AND. NEARLY ALL HAVE BEEN. IDENTIFIED. WE'RE ALSO GETTING. NEW IMAGES OF THE. JET'S RECOVERY. PARTS OF THE PLANE'S. COCKPIT AND TAIL.

WERE SALVAGES FROM. THE POTOMAC TODAY. >>> A POTENTIAL. BREAK IN THE CASE OF. THOSE RECENT. BURGLARIES AT THE. LAVISH HOMES OF TOP. ATHLETES. WHAT HAPPENED, THIS. BIG BUST? >> LESTER, THE. HISTORIC DIAMOND. DISTRICT JUST BLOCKS. FROM HERE THE SITE. OF A FEDERAL RAID. TODAY AS AUTHORITIES. HAVE NOW ARRESTED AT. LEAST TWO MEN IN. CONNECTION WITH. THOSE BRAZEN THEFTS. OF HOMES BELONGING. TO PRO ATHLETES AND. OTHER WEALTHY. INDIVIDUALS. FEDERAL PROSECUTORS.

ACCUSE THESE MIN. INCLUDING THE ONE. YOU SEE BEING LED. AWAY BY THE FBI. THERE OF BUYING. WATCHES, JEWELRY, AND OTHER LUXURY. GOODS THEY KNEW WERE. STOLEN, AND THEN. RESELLING THEM, WORKING CLOSELY WITH. AN ALLEGED SOUTH. AMERICAN CRIME RING. THREE SOURCES. FAMILIAR WITH THE. MATTER SAY. INVESTIGATORS ARE. LOOKING INTO WHETHER. ONE OF THOSE TARGETS. WAS CINCINNATI. BENGALS QUARTERBACK. JOE BURROW WHOSE. HOME WAS BURGLARIZED. LAST DECEMBER. >>> SOME.

>>> THE PRICE. OF. >>> THE PIECE OF TWO. EGGS OVEREASY IS. GOING UP AT WAFFLE. HOUSE. AMONG RESTAURANTS. IMPOSING SURCHARGES. ON EGG DISHES. BECAUSE OF SHORTAGES. TIED TO BIRD FLU. HERE'S KATHY PARK. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, SHELL SHOCK. WITH THE PRICE OF. EGGS CONTINUING TO. SOAR. THE AVERAGE PRICE. FOR A DOZEN NOW MORE. THAN $5. THAT'S A 50% SPIKE. IN JUST THE LAST.

YEAR. >> GOTTEN REALLY. EXPENSIVE. >> Reporter: AVIAN. FLU INFECTIONS ALSO. KNOWN AS BIRD FLU. HAS LED TO MORE THAN. 13 MILLION HENS. BEING SLAUGHTERED. SINCE DECEMBER. AND 140 MILLION. BIRDS KILLED SINCE. 2022. THE MOVE TO SLOW. INFECTIONS. DISRUPTING THE EGG. SUPPLY IN A BIG WAY. LEADING TO PRICE. SURGES AND EMPTY. SHELVES AT GROCERY. STORES. EATERIES COAST TO. COAST ALSO FEELING. THE PINCH AND. PASSING THEIR COST. INCREASE TO.

CUSTOMERS. WAFFLE HOUSE DINERS. NOW PAYING 50-CENTS. MORE PER EGG. A SURCHARGE THE. COMPANY SAYS WILL BE. SHORT LIVED. WE CANNOT PREDICT. HOW LONG THE. SHORTAGE WILL LAST. >> WHAT ABOUT YOU. PERSONALLY? >> ME PERSONALLY, UM, I'LL JUST STOP. EATING EGGS HERE. >> THIS IS JUST THE. TIME WE'RE LIVING. IN. IT MAKES SENSE. THEY HAVE TO MAKE UP. FOR THE PRICES. THEY'RE PAYING. >> Reporter: AND. IT'S NOT JUST WAFFLE. HOUSE. THIS RESTAURANT IN. NEW YORK IS CHARGING. TWO DOLLARS EXTRA. FOR EGG ITEMS. WHILE IN LOS. ANGELES, KARA SAYS. THE COST OF EGGS AT.

HER NEW BREAKFAST. SPOT WENT FROM. ROUGHLY 25-CENTS TO. ONE DOLLAR PER EGG. >> I'M IN A ROCK AND. A HARD PLACE BECAUSE. I'M PAYING ABOUT AS. MUCH FOR EGGS A WEEK. AS I WOULD BE TO. EMPLOY SOMEONE. ALMOST FULL TIME. >> Reporter: THE. DEPARTMENT OF. AGRICULTURE HAS. SPENT MORE THAN ONE. BILLION COMPENSATING. FARMERS FOR BIRDS. THEY'VE HAD TO KILL. WITH SO MANY HENS. ALREADY LOST AND. EVEN WITH THE. OUTBREAK UNDER. CONTROL, THE AGENCY. PREDICTS THE COST OF. EGGS WILL GO UP. ANOTHER 20% THIS.

YEAR. >>> UP NEXT, THE. >>> WE'RE BACK NOW. WITH A DISTURBING. NEW STUDY ABOUT. MICROPLASTICS. THAT STUDY REVEALING. THOSE TINY BITS OF. PLASTIC THAT WE. CAN'T EVEN SEE COULD. GET INTO OUR BLOOD. AND EVEN OUR BRAINS. ERIN McLAUGHLIN HAS. MORE ON THIS. THIS IS ALARMING. >> THAT'S RIGHT, LESTER. RESEARCHERS TELL ME. THIS IS ABOUT NANO. PARTICLES OF DECADES. OLD PLASTIC ONLY.

VISIBLE UNDER A. MICROSCOPE THAT HAVE. MADE IT INTO THE. FOOD AND WATER. SUPPLY. NOW BEING FOUND IN. THE HUMAN BODY. NEW RESEARCH OUT OF. THE UNIVERSITY OF. NEW MEXICO FINDS. ALARMINGLY HIGH. LEVELS OF THAT. PLASTIC IN HUMAN. BRAINS. THE CONCENTRATIONS. APPEAR TO BE. INCREASING OVER TIME. BY 50%. THESE RESEARCHERS. DON'T KNOW THE FULL. HEALTH IMPACT, BUT. THEY'RE CALLING FOR. NEW POLICIES AROUND.

THE USE AND DISPOSAL. OF PLASTIC. >> A LOT TO TAKE IN. THANKS VERY MUCH. >>> COMING UP, THEY. ARE PRICELESS. IMAGES, FAMILY. PHOTOS BEING. RECOVERED AND. >>> FINALLY TONIGHT, WITH SO MUCH LOST IN. THE LOS ANGELES. WILDFIRES, WHEN ONE. WOMAN HAD AN. OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE. THE PHOTOS OF A. TOTAL STRANGER, SHE. FOUND A NEW MISSION. LIZ KREUTZ EXPLAINS. >> Reporter: IT.

STARTED WITH ONE. PICTURE. >> IT SAYS NORA AND. EDDIE NEW YEAR'S EVE. EVE 1989. >> Reporter: AND. ANOTHER AND ANOTHER. FAMILY PHOTOS, A. YEARBOOK, A CHILD'S. ARTWORK NOW CHARRED. >> I THINK IT WAS. PROBABLY ON. SOMEBODY'S FRIDGE. AND THEN WHEN. EVERYTHING BURNED. DOWN, IT GOT RIPPED. OFF, AND FLEW AWAY. >> YEAH. >> Reporter: CLAIRE. SCHWARTZ SAYS THESE. IMAGES ARE AMONG. DOZENS THAT RAINED. DOWN DURING THE. FIRESTORM THAT. RIPPED THROUGH. ALTADENA, FOUND IN. SOME CASES MILES. AWAY, AND THEN. POSTED ONLINE. >> MORE AND MORE. POSTS LIKE THAT.

STARTED TURNING UP. >> Reporter: CLAIRE. BEGAN COLLECTING AND. CLEANING THESE LOST. IMAGES CREATING. EATON FIRE FOUND. PHOTOS IN HOPES OF. REUNITING THEM WITH. THEIR OWNERS. >> IF I ONLY GET ONE. PHOTO BACK TO ITS. OWNER, I'LL BE. HAPPY. >> WIND'S BLOWING. AND BRANCHES ARE. HITTING OUR FACE. >> Reporter: DURING. HER FAMILY'S RUSH TO. EVACUATE, THE TRUNK. OF THEIR CAR SNAPPED. OPEN AND BOXES OF. THEIR MOST PRECIOUS. PHOTOS FLEW OUT. >> THAT'S YOU IN THE. TIARA? >> THAT'S ME. >> Reporter: A.

FAMILY FRIEND. RECOGNIZED HER ON. CLAIRE'S INSTAGRAM. >> I SAID YEAH! >> SO HAPPY WE FOUND. YOU. >> Reporter: NOW. CLAIRE RETURNING. THESE IRREPLACEABLE. PHOTOGRAPHS. >> IT'S PICTURES OF. MY PARENTS THAT ARE. BOTH DECEASED, PICTURES OF MY. CHILDHOOD, A LOT OF. MISSING PEOPLE IN MY. LIFE. >> WHAT DOES IT FEEL. LIKE TO HAVE FOUND A. MATCH AND REUNITED. SOMEONE WITH THEIR. PHOTOS? >> IT FEELS GREAT. >> IT MEANS A LOT, AND I APPRECIATE. YOU. >> I CAN'T BUILD. HOUSES. I CAN'T PUT THE.

NEIGHBORHOOD BACK. TOGETHER, BUT I CAN. DO THIS. >> UH-HUH. >> Reporter: A. SINGLE SNAPSHOT. DEVELOPED INTO SO. MUCH MORE. LIZ KREUTZ, NBC. NEWS. >> SHE'S FOUND HER. CALLING. THAT IS NIGHTLY NEWS. FOR THIS TUESDAY. THANKS FOR WATCHING, EVERYONE. I'M LESTER HOLT.