NBC Nightly News Full Episode - Jan. 10

♪♪. >>> TONIGHT, THE DEATH TOLL. RISING FROM THE WILDFIRES IN. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AS YET. ANOTHER INFERNO ERUPTS IN LOS. ANGELES. MORE EVACUATIONS ORDERED AS THAT. NEW FIRE SPREADS. AND STUNNING. IMAGES REVEALING THE UTTER. DEVASTATION. MORE THAN 12,000 HOMES AND. BUILDINGS DESTROYED. AT LEAST 11 DEAD. MORE THAN 150,000 STILL UNDER. EVACUATION ORDERS. PLUS, A FIRE FIGHTING PLANE OUT. OF COMMISSION AFTER STRIKING A.

DRONE. THE FBI INVESTIGATING. AND. AFTER HER HOME WAS SPARED. ACTRESS JENNIFER GARNER SPEAKING. OUT, THE FRIEND SHE SAYS SHE. LOST IN THE FLAMES. OUR TEAM ACROSS THE FIRE ZONE. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, DONALD TRUMP. SENTENCED IN HIS HUSH MONEY. CASE. THE JUDGE IMPOSING NO PENALTY. BUT FORMALLY MAKING HIM THE. FIRST CONVICTED FELON TO BE. PRESIDENT. YOU'LL HEAR HIS DEFIANT WORDS TO. THE COURT FOR THE FIRST TIME. >>> THE WINTER STORM SLAMMING. THE SOUTH, DELTA PASSENGERS.

EVACUATED INTO THE SNOW AFTER AN. ENGINE ISSUE IN ATLANTA. MAJOR TRAVEL TROUBLES, MORE THAN. 3,000 FLIGHTS CANCELED. >>> NEW IMAGES FROM THE SHOOTOUT. DURING THE TERROR ATTACK IN NEW. ORLEANS. WHAT THE BODY CAM SHOWS. >>> THE SUPREME COURT HEARING. ARGUMENTS OVER A LAW THAT COULD. BAN TIKTOK IN THE U.S. JUST OVER. A WEEK FROM NOW. WILL THE JUSTICES LET IT GO INTO. EFFECT? WHAT THEY SIGNAL. >>> AND AS THE FIRES RAGE IN LOS. ANGELES, THE HEROES SAVING SOME. OF THE MOST VULNERABLE FROM THE. FLAMES.

>> Announcer: THIS IS NBC. NIGHTLY NEWS WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME, WITH ONE EYE ON THE WIND GAUGES, THE OTHER ON NEW FIRES POPPING. UP, CREWS IN LOS ANGELES ARE. TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WHAT'S. EXPECTED TO BE A BRIEF. IMPROVEMENT IN THE WEATHER. PICTURE AS THEY STRUGGLE TO EKE. OUT GAINS AGAINST THE REGION'S. DEADLY WILDFIRES. TONIGHT, THE DEATH TOLL RISING. IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA WHERE AT. LEAST FIVE MAJOR BLAZES ARE. BURNING.

THE BIGGEST IN THE COASTAL CITY. OF PACIFIC PALISADES THAT, SPRAWLING FIRE NOW 8% CONTAINED. THE EATON FIRE NEAR THE. FOOTHILLS COMMUNITIES OF. ALTADENA AND PASADENA, ONLY 3%. CONTAINED: MORE THAN 7,000. STRUCTURES THERE DAMAGED OR. DESTROYED. THE DEATH TOLL BETWEEN THE TWO. FIRES NOW AT LEAST ELEVEN. PEOPLE WHO LITERALLY WERE. RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES ARE NOW. RETURNING TO SMOLDERING. COMMUNITIES, HOPING THEIR HOMES. WILL BE THE EXCEPTION, THE ONE.

STANDING AMID THE DESTRUCTION. TONIGHT. DESTROYED COMMUNITIES ANXIOUS TO. KNOW WHAT'S NEXT, ALSO. QUESTIONING HOW THINGS WERE. ALLOWED TO GET SO OUT OF. CONTROL. LET'S START ONCE AGAIN WITH TOM. LLAMAS FROM L.A. >> Reporter: THE FIRE FIGHT IN. CALIFORNIA NOW IN DAY FOUR. TODAY WE SAW FIRSTHAND HOW. HOMEOWNERS CONTINUE TO FACE THE. WILDFIRES HEAD ON. >> TOPANGA IS THERE. IF WE BURN, TOPANGA BURNS. WE NEED TO STOP THIS.

>> Reporter: USING WATER HOSES, SHOVELS AND SPRINKLERS, THESE. RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR. DAYS. YOU'RE SWEATING, YOU'RE COVERED. IN WATER AND DIRT, WHY ARE YOU. DOING THIS? >> THERE'S A WHOLE COMMUNITY. BEHIND US IF WE GO THEY GO. >> Reporter: AIR ASSETS ATTACK. THE BLAZE FROM ABOVE. WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE. PALISADES FIRE FIGHT RIGHT NOW. THAT'S A FIRE HAWK, A BLACK HAWK. HELICOPTER THAT HAS UP TO A. THOUSAND GALLONS OF WATER. DROPPING IT RIGHT ON SOME OF THE.

HOTTEST SPOTS OF THIS WILDFIRE. >> THE ACCURACY OF THOSE AIR. DROPS WOULD HAVE BEEN. UNBELIEVABLE. >> Reporter: EVEN CARMEN HARMAN. SIX MONTHS PREGNANT STRAYING. DOWN HER HOME WITH WATER. SHE'S EXPECTING A BOY, AND SAYS. SHE'S TRYING TO ENSURE HER BABY. HAS A PLACE TO COME HOME TO. >> WE'RE READY TO GO IF WE NEED. TO. WE HAVE ROUTES OUT. BUT YEAH, WE WANT TO TRY AND. STAY AND FIGHT. >> Reporter: THE THREAT ISN'T. OVER. NEW EVACUATIONS ORDERED AS A. FIRE BROKE OUT IN GRENADA HILLS, AND LAST NIGHT, ANOTHER NEW FIRE. NEAR CALABASAS. A FURIOUS EFFORT HELD BACK THESE. FLAMES.

BUT. WITH EACH NEW OUTBREAK, ALREADY. THIN RESOURCES ARE BEING. STRETCHED EVEN FURTHER. TODAY, THERE'S ONE LESS FIRE. FIGHTING PLANE IN THE AIR, AFTER. A SUPER SCOOPER WAS STRUCK BY. WHAT THE FBI IS INVESTIGATING AS. A CIVILIAN DRONE STRIKE. THE DAMAGE LEFT A FIST-SIZED. HOLE IN ITS WING, GROUNDING THE. VITAL AIRCRAFT DESIGNED TO DROP. 1,500 GALLONS OF WATER ON FIRE. THE FIRES HAVE NOW BURNED MORE. THAN 56 SQUARE MILES. THAT'S LARGER THAN THE CITY OF.

SAN FRANCISCO. MORE THAN 12,000 STRUCTURES. DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. THESE STUNNING BEFORE AND AFTER. IMAGES OF THE EATON FIRE IN. ALTADENA, SHOWING WHAT THE FIRE. DID TO A VIBRANT COMMUNITY. ACCORDING TO THE LOS ANGELES. COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER, THE. FIRES HAVE NOW KILLED ELEVEN. PEOPLE, INCLUDING 83-YEAR-OLD. GRANDFATHER, RODNEY NICKERSON OF. ALTADENA, AND THE NUMBER OF DEAD. IS STILL EXPECTED TO RISE. >> THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF. PEOPLE UNACCOUNTED FOR. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

I THINK THIS TOLL IS LIKELY TO. GO UP, WHETHER IT'S SIGNIFICANT. OR NOT, PRAY GOD IT'S NOT. >> MS. WHITE LOST HER FATHER, ANTHONY MITCHELL AND YOUNGER. BROTHER JUSTIN WHO HAD CEREBRAL. PALSY. IN THE PACIFIC PALISADES, ACTRESS JENNIFER GARNER'S HOME. WAS SPARED. SHE'S DEALING WITH THE LOSS OF. HER OWN. >> I'M POINTING TO A STREET. WHERE A FRIEND OF MINE LIVED AND. SHE DIED IN THE FIRE. COMING DOWN HERE AND SEEING T. IT'S VERY VERY REAL.

>> Reporter: AMID MILES OF. DESTRUCTION, THE NATIONAL GUARD. NOW STANDING OUTSIDE FIRE ZONES. TO PREVENT LOOTING. TODAY, GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM. CALLED FOR AN INDEPENDENT. INVESTIGATION INTO THE LOSS OF. WATER PRESSURE IN FIRE HYDRANTS. THIS AS OUTRAGE IS GROWING AND. QUESTIONS REMAIN ABOUT WHAT. IMPACT L.A.'S MAYOR, KAREN. BASS'S BUDGET CUT TO THE CITY'S. FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD ON THE. RESPONSE. OUR LOCAL STATION, NBC LOS. ANGELES, PRESSING THE CITY'S. FIRE CHIEF FOR ANSWERS. >> SO $17 MILLION CUT DID NOT.

ALLOW US TO DO WHAT WE NEEDED TO. DO. AND WHERE THAT IMPACTED US. SPECIFICALLY PER PALISADES WAS. OUR ABILITY TO MOVE INTO RESERVE. APPARATUS. >> SO THAT APPARATUS COULD NOT. BE UTILIZED IN THIS FIRE? >> WE WERE LIMITED WITH THE. NUMBER OF RESOURCES WE COULD ADD. AND PREDEPLOY TO THIS FIRE, YES. >> Reporter: SEARCHING FOR. ANSWERS AS TO WHAT WENT WRONG AS. SO MANY NOW SEARCH FOR A NEW. PLACE TO CALL HOME. >> TOM, LET ME CIRCLE YOU BACK. TO THE TOP OF THE STORY. THE RESIDENTS YOU WERE WITH IN.

TOPANGA, WERE THEY ABLE TO SAVE. THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD? >> Reporter: LOOK, LESTER, WE. WERE THERE AS THE FLAMES WERE. CLIMBING UP THE HILL. THE. RESIDENTS WOULD NOT STOP WITH. THE HELP OF THE FIREFIGHTERS, THE HELICOPTERS AND THOSE. AIRPLANES, THEY TOOK BACK. CONTROL. BY THE TIME WE WERE DONE, THE. SMOKE HAD LARGELY CLEARED OUT OF. THE CANYON. AND EVEN THOUGH THEY WON THE. BATTLE. TODAY, ALL THE RESIDENTS THERE. KNOW THIS WAR IS FAR FROM OVER. LESTER. >> TOM LLAMAS, THANKS, AND YOU. SAW THE IMAGES IN TOM'S REPORT. OF ALTADENA WHERE THE SECOND. LARGEST FIRE HAS ALSO DESTROYED.

THOUSANDS OF HOMES AND. BUILDINGS. GADI SCHWARTZ SPENT THE DAY WITH. PEOPLE THERE. >> Reporter: TODAY IN ALTADENA, THERE ARE DOORWAYS, STAIRWAYS, ENTRYWAYS INTO EMPTINESS, AND. STORE FRONTS, PORTALS AND. WINDOWS INTO RUIN. FROM ABOVE, THE LOSS IS. STAGGERING. OVER 7,000 STRUCTURES, HOMES AND. BUSINESSES DESTROYED. AND FOR KIM HOOD, THE GREENHOUSE. FACING THE MOUNTAIN WASN'T JUST. HER DREAM HOME. IT WAS WHAT HER PARENTS PASSED. DOWN TO HER BEFORE THEY DIED.

>> WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN. YOU FIRST SAW IT? >> TEARS. TEARS. MY HUSBAND IS LIKE, OKAY, I. THOUGHT YOU WERE CRIED OUT. APPARENTLY NOT. >> Reporter: SHE SHOWS US. PICTURES OF HER FAMILY GATHERING. AROUND HER FIREPLACE FOR. CHRISTMAS, ONE OF THE ONLY. REMNANTS LEFT STANDING. JUAN PEREZ PUTS THE SCOPE OF. DESTRUCTION INTO HEARTBREAKING. PERSPECTIVE. >> IT'S ALL GONE. ALL GONE. I MEAN, MY KIDS WERE BORN HERE, RAISED THEM HERE.

30 SOME YEARS. WE BUILT THIS, AND IT'S. COMPLETELY GONE. NOT JUST ME, THE WHOLE. NEIGHBORHOOD IS GONE. THERE'S THOUSANDS OF US THAT. DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO. DO. DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING TO. GO. >> THERE'S NOTHING LEFT, AND. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. AND A HALF, AND I DON'T WANT TO. LEAVE. SO. >> EVERYTHING THAT WE KNOW AND. LOVE IS GONE. NOT JUST THIS HOUSE, MY WHOLE. CITY GONE, MAN. THE WHOLE THING. LIKE, EVERYTHING, MY WHOLE.

NEIGHBORHOOD. EVERYTHING I GREW UP TO LOVE AND. KNOW IS BURNED UP. >> Reporter: IN THIS WORKING. CLASS COMMUNITY THAT FEELS MORE. LIKE A SMALL TOWN THAN A PART OF. L.A., THERE'S ALREADY TALK OF. REBUILDING WHERE THE ROOTS ARE. GENERATIONS DEEP. >> SOMETIMES YOU GET KNOCKED. DOWN. WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO BE. KNOCKED DOWN. YOU KNOW, YOU FALL DOWN AND WE. GET RIGHT BACK UP. >> Reporter: AND WHEN THE. REBUILDING BEGINS, THE ALTADENA. HARDWARE STORE WILL BE GROUND. ZERO FOR RECONSTRUCTION. >> JESUS, EVEN IF YOU'VE GOT. BUILDING SUPPLIES IN THE PARKING.

LOT, DOWN THE STREET, WHEREVER. WE CAN PUT STUFF TO HELP PEOPLE, WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT. YEAH. WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE. CAN. >> Reporter: AND LESTER, JIMMY. SAYS THE NIGHT OF THE FIRE, HIS. HOME WAS SAVED BY A NEIGHBOR. WITH A HOSE. WHEN HE FINALLY GOT INTO TOWN, THEY GOT TO WORK SAVING ANOTHER. NEIGHBOR'S HOME, AND THAT'S WHY. THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO COME CHECK. OUT THIS SHOP, AND EVEN TODAY. BEFORE THAT INTERVIEW, THEY WERE. OUT TRYING TO PUT OUT ANOTHER. HOT SPOT WITH BUCKETS TO SAVE A. FRIEND. HE SAYS THAT IS WHAT DEFINES. THIS COMMUNITY.

LESTER. >> I'LL TELL YOU, YOU CAN'T HELP. BUT FEEL THEY'RE GOING TO GET. THERE. THEY'RE GOING TO BE OKAY. GADI, THANK YOU. LET'S BRING IN BILL KARINS NOW, FIREFIGHTERS CATCHING A SMALL. BREAK WITH THE WINDS BUT HOW. DOES IT LOOK IN THE DAYS TO. COME. >> LESTER, IT'S IMPORTANT WE GET. THESE CONTAINMENT NUMBERS UP IN. THE. NEXT TWO TO THREE DAYS. BECAUSE THE SANTA ANA WINDS WILL. RETURN. THIS IS THE LOWEST THE WINDS. HAVE BEEN SINCE THE FIRES. ERUPTED TWO, THREE DAYS AGO. AS WE GO THROUGH TOMORROW. AFTERNOON, THEY KICK UP INTO THE. 20 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR RANGE. THAT SHOULDN'T HAMPER THE FIRE. FIREFIGHTING EFFORTS.

WE DO EXPECT THE SANTA ANA WINDS. TO RETURN. STRONG HIGH PRESSURE COMES DOWN. FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. THIS INCREASES THE PRESSURE. GRADIENT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THAT IS THE SANTA ANA WINDS, AND. WE THINK WE COULD GET WIND GUSTS. IN THE 40 TO 60 MILES PER HOUR. RANGE MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY. NOW, THIS ISN'T 80 TO 100 LIKE WE. JUST SAW. THIS IS STRONG ENOUGH TO CAUSE. SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS, AND ALSO. THE BIG CLIMATE HEADLINE TODAY, WE FOUND OUT THAT 2024 WAS THE. WARMEST YEAR EVER RECORDED ON. PLANET EARTH. >> BILL KARINS, THANK YOU SO. MUCH. >>> NOW TO THE EXTRAORDINARY. COURTROOM SCENE TODAY.

PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP APPEARING. REMOTELY AS THE JUDGE GAVE HIM A. SENTENCE WITH NO PUNISHMENT IN. HIS HUSH MONEY CASE. TRUMP ALSO ADDRESSING THE COURT. HERE'S LAURA JARRETT. >> Reporter: PRESIDENT-ELECT. TRUMP DEFIANT, APPEARING IN A. NEW YORK COURTROOM VIRTUALLY AS. JUDGE JUAN MERCHAN HANDED DOWN. HIS SENTENCE. MR. TRUMP GIVEN NO PUNISHMENT, BUT HIS PLACE IN HISTORY. TONIGHT, CEMENTED, THE FIRST. FORMER PRESIDENT NOW A CONVICTED. FELON, JUST TEN DAYS OUT FROM. HIS INAUGURATION, THE JUDGE.

ACKNOWLEDGING THE EXTRAORDINARY. MOMENT. >> NEVER BEFORE HAS THIS COURT. BEEN PRESENTED WITH SUCH A. UNIQUE AND REMARKABLE SET OF. CIRCUMSTANCES. >> Reporter: ULTIMATELY FINDING. AN UNCONDITIONAL DISCHARGE THE. MOST APPROPRIATE SENTENCE, FOR. SOMEONE ABOUT TO OCCUPY THE. HIGHEST OFFICE, MEANING NO JAIL. TIME, PROBATION, FINE OR OTHER. PENALTY. >> THE CONSIDERABLE, INDEED, EXTRAORDINARY LEGAL PROTECTIONS. AFFORDED BY THE OFFICE OF THE. CHIEF EXECUTIVE IS A FACTOR THAT.

OVERRIDES ALL OTHERS. >> Reporter: THE PROSECUTION IN. AGREEMENT, MR. TRUMP EARLIER FOR. THE FIRST TIME SPEAKING DIRECTLY. TO THE JUDGE, CALLING IT A. TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. >> IT'S BEEN A POLITICAL WITCH. HUNT. IT WAS DONE TO DAMAGE MY. REPUTATION. SO THAT I'D LOSE THE ELECTION, AND OBVIOUSLY THAT DIDN'T WORK, AND THE PEOPLE OF OUR COUNTRY. GOT TO SEE THIS FIRSTHAND, AND. THEN THEY VOTED AND I WON IT. >> Reporter: THE JURY FOUND HIM. GUILTY OF DOCTORING BUSINESS. RECORDS TO COVER UP A HUSH MONEY. PAYMENT TO A PORN STAR BEFORE.

THE 2016 ELECTION, BUT JAIL TIME. WAS ALWAYS UNLIKELY GIVEN THE. LOW LEVEL NATURE OF THE CRIME. MR. TRUMP'S ATTORNEYS VOWING TO. APPEAL THE CONVICTION. MEANTIME, THE LAST LEGAL THREAD. STILL UNRESOLVED FOR MR. TRUMP, THAT FINAL REPORT FROM SPECIAL. COUNSEL JACK SMITH ON HIS NOW. DISMISSED CASES WHICH WE COULD. SEE AS SOON AS THIS WEEKEND OR. PERHAPS EVEN SOONER IF THE. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT GETS ITS WAY, LESTER. >> LAURA, THANK YOU. >>> NOW TO DISTURBING NEW IMAGES. FROM POLICE IN NEW ORLEANS, RELEASING BODY CAM VIDEO FROM.

THE TRUCK TERROR ATTACK ON NEW. YEAR'S DAY THAT LEFT 14 PEOPLE. DEAD. THE VIDEO SHOWING POLICE. SURROUNDING THE ATTACKER, STILL. INSIDE THE TRUCK AFTER HE PLOWED. INTO THE CROWD. HE THEN OPENS FIRE, SENDING. OFFICERS RUNNING AND DIVING FOR. COVER. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE ATTACKER. DIED DURING THE SHOOTOUT. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, MUCH OF THE. SOUTH DEALING WITH SOMETHING. IT'S NOT USED TO, A MAJOR WINTER. STORM BRINGING INTENSE SNOW AND. ICE AND CAUSING ALL KINDS OF. RAVEL TROUBLES. MARISSA PARRA IS IN ATLANTA FOR. US.

MARISSA, GOOD EVENING. >> Reporter: LESTER, YOU CAN SEE. THE SLEET IS NOW COMING IN. SIDEWAYS HERE IN ATLANTA. THIS WINTRY MIX IS HITTING MANY. AREAS THAT ARE NOT USED TO. SEEING THESE CONDITIONS. TONIGHT, A DEEP CHILL IN THE. DEEP SOUTH, SNOW AND ICE. BRINGING TRAVEL TO A GRINDING. HALT. THOUSANDS OF FLIGHTS DELAYED OR. CANCELED FROM DALLAS AND. CHARLOTTE TO CHICAGO, AND A FULL. MORNING GROUND STOP IN ATLANTA. THE WINTRY MIX JUST THE BACKDROP. FOR A SCARY MOMENT WITH. PASSENGERS ON A DELTA FLIGHT IN. ATLANTA HEADED FOR MINNEAPOLIS.

>> DELTA FLIGHT 2668 WITH ENGINE. FAILURE LANDING. >> Reporter: THE AIRLINES. CONFIRMS THERE WAS AN ENGINE. ISSUE JUST BEFORE TAKEOFF, MORE. THAN 200 PASSENGERS HAD TO USE. SLIDES TO DEPLANE. THE AIRPORT CONFIRMING SEVERAL. MINOR INJURIES. SNOW AND ICE ARE POMMELLING THE. SOUTH. OUR KATHY PARK IS IN TENNESSEE. WHERE THE SNOW IS FALLING AN. INCH PER HOUR. AND WHAT IS IT LIKE SEEING. BROADWAY COVERED IN SNOW RIGHT. NOW? >> QUITE UNEXPECTED. WE DON'T THINK SNOW IN NASHVILLE.

EVER. >> Reporter: PEOPLE ARE DIGGING. OUT FROM TEXAS TO NORTH CAROLINA. WITH AT LEAST SIX STATES UNDER A. WINTER WEATHER STATE OF. EMERGENCY. 20,000 MILES OF GEORGIA'S. ROADWAY SALTED IN ADVANCE. BUT IN THE ATLANTA METRO AREA, THE CARS THAT DIDN'T HEED THE. WARNING WERE SEEN STALLED AND. SLIDING, CAUSING ACCIDENTS ALONG. THE INTERSTATE. IN KANSAS, A TRUCK'S WINDSHIELD. SHATTERED BY ICY DEBRIS FLYING. FROM A PASSING CAR, A WARNING. FOR THE 75 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE. WINTER STORM'S PATH.

MARISSA PARRA, NBC NEWS, ATLANTA. >>> AND UP NEXT, THE BATTLE OVER. THE FUTURE OF TIKTOK AT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT. >>> THE FATE OF TIKTOK IS IN THE. HANDS OF THE SUPREME COURT. TONIGHT WITH THE CLOCK TICKING. ON A LAW THAT COULD EFFECTIVELY. BAN IT HERE IN THE U.S. SAVANNAH SELLERS WAS IN COURT. >> Reporter: SUPREME COURT. JUSTICES TODAY GRILLING THE. LAWYERS TRYING TO SAVE SOCIAL. MEDIA GIANT TIKTOK. REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE COMPANY. ARGUING THAT THE LAW REQUIRING.

TIKTOK TO SEVER ITS TIES TO. CHINA OR CEASE OPERATIONS IN THE. U.S. BY JANUARY 19th VIOLATES. FREE SPEECH PROTECTIONS. >> AM I RIGHT THAT THE ALGORITHM. IS THE SPEECH HERE? >> YES, YOUR HONOR. IT'S BASICALLY HOW WE PREDICT. WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS WANT TO SEE. >> Reporter: BOTH LIBERAL AND. CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS OF THE. COURT SKEPTICAL OVER THE PREMISE. THAT AN ALGORITHM IS SPEECH. >> HOW ARE THOSE FIRST AMENDMENT. RIGHTS REALLY BEING IMPLICATED. HERE?

>> THE COURT HAS NEVER HELD THAT. A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT HAS FREE. SPEECH RIGHTS. >> Reporter: AND JUSTICE KETANJI. BROWN JACKSON POINTING OUT IT'S. NOT AN OUTRIGHT BAN. >> YOU'RE WRONG ABOUT THE. STATUTE BEING READ AS SAYING. TIKTOK YOU HAVE TO GO MUTE. BECAUSE. TIKTOK CAN OPERATE ON ITS OWN. ALGORITHM, ITS OWN TERMS AS LONG. AS IT'S NOT ASSOCIATED WITH. BYTEDANCE. >> FORMER TIKTOK PRODUCT. MANAGER, DREW KIRK HOFF WHO. WORKED WITH THE COMPANY FOR SIX. YEARS SAID SELLING TIKTOK AND. KEEPING IT THE WAY IT IS IS. IMPOSSIBLE. >> CHINESE PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO. RUN IT.

IN THE U.S., THERE'S NOTHING. LIKE IT. THERE'S REALLY NO ONE HERE THAT. IN MY OPINION KNOWS HOW TO RUN. TIKTOK THE WAY TIKTOK RUNS. >> Reporter: THE JUSTICE. DEPARTMENT INSISTS WITH ITS TIES. TO CHINA, TIKTOK POSES A. NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT. >> CHINA IS A FOREIGN ADVERSARY. NATION THAT LOOKS FOR EVERY. OPPORTUNITY IT HAS TO WEAKEN THE. UNITED STATES. >> Reporter: TIKTOK'S LAWYER. INSISTING. >> WE ABSOLUTELY RESIST ANY KIND. OF CONTENT MANIPULATION BY CHINA. AT ALL. >> Reporter: IF THE LAW GOES. INTO EFFECT, IT WOULD BAN TIKTOK. FROM APP STORES BUT NOT REMOVE.

IT FROM PHONES THAT ALREADY HAVE. IT. JUSTICE ALITO TODAY ASKING WHY. USERS CAN'T JUST TAKE TO A. DIFFERENT APP. >> I'M JUST WONDERING WHETHER. THIS IS LIKE SOME OF THESE. ATTACHMENT TO AN OLD ARTICLE OF. CLOTHING, I REALLY LOVE THIS OLD. SHIRT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WEARING. THIS OLD SHIRT BUT I COULD GO. OUT AND BUY SOMETHING EXACTLY. LIKE THAT. BUT, NO, I LIKE THE OLD SHIRT. IS THAT WHAT WE HAVE HERE. >> Reporter: THE SUPREME COURT. COULD ISSUE A PRELIMINARY BLOCK. ON THE DEADLINE LOOMING NINE. DAYS FROM NOW AHEAD OF THE FINAL.

RULING ON THE ARGUMENTS TODAY. WORD FROM THE COURT COULD COME. AT ANY TIME. LESTER. >> SAVANNAH SELLERS, THANK YOU. >>> UP NEXT, AN INSIDE LOOK AT. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS. TO CRACK DOWN ON UNDOCUMENTED. MIGRANTS, WHAT HIS BORDER CZAR>. PREPARES TO TAKE OFFICE IN TEN. DAYS, WE'RE GETTING AN INSIDE. LOOK AT HIS IMMIGRATION PLANS. FROM HIS BORDER CZAR. HE SPOKE WITH GABE GUTIERREZ. >> TAKE STEPS TO SECURE THE.

BORDER. >> Reporter: PRESIDENT-ELECT. TRUMP'S INCOMING BORDER CZAR TOM. HOMAN TELLS US MASS DEPORTATION. WILL INCLUDE WORKPLACE ROUNDUPS. >> REARE WE TALKING AROUND. INAUGURATION DAY. >> I'M NOT GOING TO FORECAST. WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHERE WE'RE. DOING IT, YOU CAN COUNT ON WORK. SITE ENFORCEMENT COMING BACK. >> Reporter: WILL MASS. DEPORTATION HURT THE ECONOMY? >> THE RESULTS OF MASS. DEPORTATION ARE MORE IMPORTANT. TO THIS COUNTRY THAT ANYTHING. >> Reporter: I.C.E. AGENTS TOLD.

PRIORITIZE ARRESTING. UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WITHOUT. CRIMINAL RECORDS, CRITICS ASK, WHAT ABOUT UNDOCUMENTED FAMILY. MEMBERS. WILL THERE BE CLT OLLATERAL. ARRESTS? HE'S PROPOSING TO CLOSE THE. DARIEN GAP. >> WE'RE GOING TO SHUT THE. DARIEN GAP DOWN. >> Reporter: WOULD YOU SEND THE. U.S. MILITARY TO SHUT IT DOWN? >> WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO WORK A. FOREIGN GOVERNMENT. IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. IT WILL SAVE THOUSANDS OF LIVES. >> Reporter: AT A SHELTER IN.

TIJUANA MEXICO, WE FOUND WORRIED. MIGRANTS WORRIED ABOUT. SCHEDULING SCREENINGS ON THE. BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S PHONE. APP, AN APP THAT HOMAN NOW WANTS. TO ELIMINATE. >> CREATING PROGRAMS TO ALLOW. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THIS. COUNTRY A WEEK THAT WE DON'T. PROPERLY VET AND THAT WE KNOW. DON'T QUALIFY IS NOT THE ANSWER. >> Reporter: HOMAN IS ALSO. WORKING ON CREATING A HOT LINE. WHERE AMERICANS CAN REPORT. UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE. COMMITTED A CRIME. LESTER. >> GABE, THANK YOU, AND COMING. UP, AMID THE HEARTBREAK OF LOS. ANGELES, TH.

>>> FINALLY TONIGHT, AS SO MANY. COME TOGETHER TO HELP EACH. OTHER, OUR LIZ KREUTZ WITH THE. STORIES OF KINDNESS TO HELP THE. ANIMALS IN HARM'S WAY. >> Reporter: AS FIRES IGNITED. ACROSS L.A., FORCING THOUSANDS. FROM THEIR HOMES, HORSES, DONKEYS AND EVEN A GIANT PIG ALL. AMONG THOSE ALSO NEEDING TO GET. OUT. >> IT'S TIME TO LEAVE. >> Reporter: THIS WOMAN. EVACUATED HER 175 POUND.

TORTOISE, TIPTOE. >> THIS IS NO GOOD. THIS IS NO GOOD. >> HOW DO I GET TO MY HOUSE? >> Reporter: IN THE PALISADES A. FIRST RESPONDER REUNITING THIS. MAN WITH HIS BELOVED DOG. WHAT'S HER NAME OR HIS NAME? >> TIKA. >>. AND NOW AT THE PASADENA HUMANE. SOCIETY, DONATIONS OF BLANKETS, FOOD, AIR FILTERS, SO MANY IN. THE COMMUNITY JUMPING IN TO. HELP. THE SHELTER HAS TAKEN IN MORE. THAN 400 ANIMALS OVER THE PAST. TWO DAYS. SOME OF THEM DROPPED OFF BY. EVACUEES LOOKING FOR A SAFE. PLACE FOR THEIR PETS, OTHERS BY.

GOOD SAMARITANS WHO FOUND THEM. WANDERING AMIDST THE CHAOS. >> ONE OF THE ANIMALS I. TRANSFERRED OUT IS THIS CAT. >> INSIDE, VETERINARIANS TENDING. TO SO MANY ANIMALS. >> I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE. ALL GOING TO GO. I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE HAD THE. NUMBER OF HANDS TO TAKE CARE OF. THEM. >> Reporter: THIS CAT COVERED IN. SOOT, EVEN A PEACOCK. >> ANY ANIMAL THAT'S OUT THERE, EITHER. OWNED OR WILD, WE'RE GOING TO BE. EXPECTING TO SEE THEM. >> Reporter: RACHEL MEACH SAID. SHE HAD TO COME HELP. >> IT'S PRETTY COOL TO HELP OUT. AND JUST BE A PART OF THIS.

COMMUNITY THAT LOVES ANIMALS. >> Reporter: A REMINDER THAT. THROUGH THE HORROR, THE BEST OF. HUMANITY SHINES THROUGH. >> PEOPLE ARE GOOD. YOU KNOW, WITH ALL THE BAD STUFF THAT'S. GOING ON, PEOPLE ARE GOOD, AND. IT'S GREAT THAT THE COMMUNITY IS. HELPING EACH OTHER. >> Reporter: LIZ KREUTZ, NBC. NEWS, LOS ANGELES. >> THEY ARE DOING GOOD WORK. THAT'S NIGHTLY NEWS. JOIN ME TONIGHT AT 10/9 CENTRAL. FOR OUR SPECIAL FIRE AND ASH. DEVASTATION IN L.A., AND ON. SUNDAY, THE NFL WILD CARD KICKS. OFF ON NBC. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. I'M LESTER HOLT.

PLEASE TAK.