NBC Nightly News Full Episode - Jan. 5

>>> BREAKING NEWS. TONIGHT, THE. EXTRAORDINARY MOMENT. INSIDE A NEW YORK. COURTROOM. CAPTURED VENEZUELAN. LEADER AND HIS WIFE. PLEADING NOT GUILTY TO. DRUG TRAFFICKING AND. OTHER CHARGES. MADURO IN SHACKLES, TELLING THE U.S. JUDGE. HE WAS, QUOTE, KIDNAPPED AND STILL IS. PRESIDENT. HIS WIFE APPEARING. WITH BANDAGES ON HER. FACE. THE STUNNING OUTBURST. IN THE COURTROOM AND. MY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW.

WITH THE DEPUTY. ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHY. HE ARGUES THE CAPTURE. WAS COMPLETELY LEGAL. >>> WHO IS REALLY IN. CHARGE OF VENEZUELA? THE COUNTRY'S VICE. PRESIDENT SWORN IN AS. AN INTERIM LEADER WITH. MADURO'S SON BY HER. SIDE. OUR GABE GUTIERREZ IS. AT THE BORDER. PLUS WHAT PRESIDENT. TRUMP JUST TOLD. KRISTIN WELKER ABOUT. WHAT ROLE HE'LL PLAY. IN RUNNING THE. COUNTRY. >>> VICE PRESIDENT J.D. VANCE'S. HOME VANDALIZED. WINDOW SHATTERED BY A. HAMMER.

HOW WAS HE ABLE TO GET. SO CLOSE? >>> THE STUNNING. REVERSAL. TIM WALZ DROPPING HIS. RE-ELECTION BID AMID A. SCANDAL OVER DAYCARE. FUNDS. >>> A BREAK IN THE. CASE. A PERSON OF INTEREST. IN THE OHIO COUPLE. MURDER IN THE THEIR. OWN HOME. >>> FLU-LIKE ILLNESSES. REACHING THE HIGHEST. RATE EVER ON RECORD. "NIGHTLY NEWS" STARTS. RIGHT NOW.

>> THIS IS "NBC. NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH TOM. LLAMAS. >> GOOD EVENING. WE BEGIN WITH THE. EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS. THAT BROUGHT THE MAN. WHO WAS LEADING THE. COUNTRY OF VENEZUELA. JUST 72 HOURS AGO TO. STANDING BEFORE AN. AMERICAN COURTROOM. TODAY IN SHACKLES. THIS WAS THE SCENE IN. NEW YORK CITY TODAY. NICOLAS MADURO, THE. COUNTRY'S BRUTAL. FORMER LEADER, HANDCUFFED AND. SURROUND BID FEDERAL.

AGENTS. BEING BROUGHT INTO. COURT TO FACE CHARGES. OF NARCO-TERRORISM. HE WAS DEFIANT, SAYING. HE IS NOT GUILTY, THAT. HE WAS KIDNAPPED BY. THE U.S. AND THAT HE. IS STILL THE RIGHTFUL. LEADER OF VENEZUELA. MADURO WAS TAKEN IN BY. U.S. FORCES IN A. NIGHT-TIME RAID OVER. THE WEEKEND. TODAY GROWING. QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO IS. IN CHARGE OF THAT. COUNTRY, WITH. PRESIDENT TRUMP. TELLING OUR KRISTIN. WELKER JUST TODAY THAT. HE IS. THE VICE PRESIDENT OF. THAT COUNTRY. OFFICIALLY SWORN IN. TODAY. YOU SEE HER THERE. TO LEAD THAT NATION. AND WE HAVE NEW. REPORTING TONIGHT ON. HER RELATIONSHIP WITH. THE UNITED STATES. WE ARE COVERING IT ALL.

TONIGHT, INCLUDING OUR. GABE GUTIERREZ AT THE. VENEZUELAN BORDER. WE WANT TO BEGIN WITH. SAM BROCK WHO WAS. INSIDE THAT COURTROOM. TODAY. >> Reporter: JUST. THREE DAYS AGO, HE WAS. LIVING A LIFE OF. LUXURY AS THE. AUTHORITARIAN LEADER. OF VENEZUELA BUT. NICOLAS MADURO. RESTRAINED IN SHACKLES. ALONGSIDE HIS WIFE ON. FEDERAL CHARGES. INCLUDING NARCO. TRAFFICKING. INSIDE COURT, A. DEFIANT MADURO. PLEADING NOT GUILTY. AND TELLING THE JUDGE, I'M INNOCENT. I'M A DECENT MAN. I'M STILL THE.

PRESIDENT OF MY. COUNTRY. WHEN THE JUDGE ASKED. HIM TO CONFIRM HIS. IDENTITY, THE DEPOSED. LEADER SPOKE AT. LENGTH. I AM NICOLAS MADURO. THE CONSTITUTIONAL. PRESIDENT OF. THE REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA. I AM A PRISONER OF. WAR. FLORES ALSO PLEADING. NOT GUILTY. THE U.S. CASE FEATURES. A MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE. ACCUSING HIM OF. OVERSEEING THE A CRIMINAL. ENTERPRISE FLOODING THE BORDER.

WITH DRUGS, INCLUDING DRUG. SHIPMENTS AND HANDING. OUT PASSPORTS TO GIVE. DRAFTERS IMMUNITY. TODD BLANCHE TONIGHT. >> HOW WILL YOU TIE. MADURO TO ALL OF THIS? >> HE'S BEEN INDICTED. BY A GRAND JURY IN NEW. YORK FOR THE SECOND. TIME. TO BE CLEAR, WHAT THIS. 2025 INDICTMENT SHOWED. IS THAT THE CONSPIRACY. THAT WAS ALLEGED UP. THROUGH 2020 WHEN HE. WAS INDICTED THE FIRST. TIME JUST DIDN'T STOP. MADURO AND HIS WIFE. WERE CAPTURED AFTER. PRESIDENT TRUMP. APPROVED A COMPLEX. U.S. MILITARY MISSION. INVOLVING 150 AIRCRAFT.

AND 20 BASES. ALL OF IT SIMILAR TO. THE U.S. INVASION OF. PANAMA IN 1989 WHEN. PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH SENT U.S. TROOPS. TO ARREST MANUEL. NORIEGA AFTER HE WAS. INDICTED FOR NARCO. TRAFFICKING. IN COURT, VENEZUELAN. PEDRO ROJAS SHOUTING, YOU WILL PAY. HE SAID HE WAS A. POLITICAL PRISONER. >> BEFORE 2019, THESE. GUYS AS PRISONERS IN. VENEZUELA, ME, TOO. FOUR MONTHS.

NICOLAS MADURO, YOU'RE. NOT INNOCENT. >> AND SAM JOINS US. LIVE. MADURO WILL GET HIS. DAY IN COURT. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT. HIS DEFENSE TEAM? >> Reporter: THAT'S. RIGHT. HIS ATTORNEY. REPRESENTED JULIAN. ASSANGE IN HIS 2024. PLEA DEAL. HOW HE CAN HIRE SUCH A. HIGH PROFILE ATTORNEY. WITH FROZEN ASSETS IS. AN OPEN QUESTION. HIS WIFE HAS DIFFERENT. LEGAL REPRESENTATION. IF CONVICTED, MADURO. FACES LIFE BEHIND. BARS. >> SAM BROCK LEADING. US OFF.

THANK YOU. >>> TO THE GROWING. QUESTIONS OVER WHO IS. IN CHARGE IN. VENEZUELA, THE. COUNTRY'S VICE PRESIDENT SWORN. IN WHILE PRESIDENT. TRUMP SAID THE U.S. IS. IN CONTROL. IN OUR NEW REPORTING, A KEY FACTOR THAT. PROMPTED PRESIDENT. TRUMP TO SEND THE U.S. MILITARY ON THAT. DARING MISSION TO. ARREST MADURO. HERE'S PETER. ALEXANDER. >> Reporter: TONIGHT. IN VENEZUELA, DELCY. RODRIGUEZ SWORN IN AS. SUCCESSOR WITH. MADURO'S SON IN. ATTENDANCE. IT REMAINS UNCLEAR WHO. IS REALLY IN CHARGE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP IS. ADAMANT, IT'S THE U.S. >> I'LL GIVE YOU AN. ANSWER AND IT WILL BE. VERY CONTROVERSIAL. >> WHAT DOES THAT. MEAN? >> WE'RE IN CHARGE. >> Reporter: MARCO. RUBIO SAYING THE U.S. WILL NOT GOVERN THE. COUNTRY. >> IT'S NOT RUNNING --. IT'S RUNNING POLICY. >> Reporter: BUT. INSTEAD INSIST ON. POLICY TO EXERT. CONTROL OVER THE. COUNTRY UNTIL AN. ELECTION IS HELD. >> THEY WILL CONTINUE. TO FACE PRESSURE FROM. THE UNITED STATES. >> Reporter: IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE. CAPTURE, RODRIGUEZ.

DEFIANTLY ACCUSED THE. U.S. OF AN ILLEGAL. KIDNAPPING. THIS WARNING FROM. PRESIDENT TRUMP IF SHE. DOES NOT MEET U.S. DEMANDS. >> SHE WILL FACE A. SITUATION PROBABLY. WORSE THAN NEW YORK. >> Reporter: NOW. RODRIGUEZ WITH A MORE. CONCILIATORY TONE. SAYING WE INVITE THE. U.S. GOVERNMENT TO. COLLABORATE WITH US ON. AN AGENDA OF. COOPERATION. AND PRESIDENT TRUMP. SAYS AMERICAN OIL. COMPANIES WHOSE. FACILITIES WERE SEIZED. BY VENEZUELA'S. SOCIALIST GOVERNMENT. WILL START REBUILDING. THAT.

ALL OF IT AFTER MR. TRUMP CAMPAIGNED. AGAINST FOREIGN. INTERVENTION. >> OUR CURRENT. STRATEGY OF NATION. BUILDING AND REGIME. CHANGE IS A PROVEN. ABSOLUTE FAILURE. >> Reporter: BUT THE. PRESIDENT INSISTS, THIS IS NOT NATION. BUILDING. >> WE'RE IN THE. BUSINESS OF HAVING. COUNTRIES AROUND US. THAT ARE VIABLE, SUCCESSFUL, AND WHERE. THE OIL IS ALLOWED TO. FREELY COME OUT. THAT'S GOOD FOR OUR. COUNTRY. >> Reporter: THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION NOTING. FORMER PRESIDENT BIDEN. HAD PLACED A $25.

MILLION BOUNTY FOR. MADURO'S ARREST. >> THAT'S THE. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN. PRESIDENT TRUMP AND. EVERYBODY ELSE. PRESIDENT TRUMP DID. SOMETHING ABOUT IT. >> Reporter: STILL. DEMOCRATS ARE SLAMMING. IT AS ILLEGAL AND. DANGEROUS. >> THE FUTURE OF THE. VENEZUELAN PEOPLE. SHOULD BE DETERMINED. BY THE VENEZUELAN. PEOPLE. NOT BY DONALD TRUMP, HEGSETH, OR STEVEN. MILLER. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? >> AND PETER, I KNOW. YOU HAVE SOME NEW. REPORTING ON A KEY. FACTOR THAT PROMPTED. PRESIDENT TRUMP TO.

GREENLIGHT THE MISSION. TO ARREST MADURO? >> Reporter: A SENIOR. WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL. SAID THE OVERT. ARROGANCE INCLUDING. HIS REJECTION OF. MULTIPLE OFFERS TO. SURRENDER AND HIS. PUBLIC DANCING, YOU. SEE SOME OF IT THERE, HELPED PERSUADE SOME. OF THE PRESIDENT'S. TEAM THAT MADURO WOULD. NOT LEAVE ON HIS OWN. TONIGHT THE U.S. ACTION WAS CONDEMNED. IN AN EMERGENCY. MEETING OF THE UNITED. NATIONS SECURITY. COUNCIL, INCLUDING BY. U.S. ALLIES.

>>> KRISTEN JOINS US LIVE NOW. YOU SPECIFICALLY ASKED. THE PRESIDENT IF THE. U.S. IS AT WAR WITH. VENEZUELA? >> Reporter: TOM, THAT'S RIGHT. PRESIDENT TRUMP TOLD. ME THE UNITED STATES. IS NOT AT WAR WITH. VENEZUELA. BUT INSTEAD, WITH THE. PEOPLE WHO SELL. DRUGS AND EMPTY THEIR. PRISONS INTO THIS. COUNTRY. I ASKED ABOUT THE. INTERIM GOVERNMENT. HE SAID, QUOTE, I DO. GET THE SENSE THAT. THEY'RE COOPERATING. THEY NEED HELP. SAYING, NEWLY SWORN-IN. PRESIDENT DELCY. RODRIGUEZ LOVES HER. COUNTRY AND WANTS IT.

TO SURVIVE. HE SAYS IF SHE STOPS. COOPERATING, TOM, THAT'S WHEN HE'LL. CONSIDER MORE U.S. ACTION AND HE DOES NOT. BELIEVE HE NEEDS. CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL. TO DO IT. THE PRESIDENT SAYS A. NUMBER OF HIS. OFFICIALS WILL BE. INVOLVED WITH. VENEZUELA, BUT HE'S. THE ULTIMATE PERSON IN. CHARGE. >> KRISTEN WELKER WITH. THE LATEST COMMENTS. FROM THE PRESIDENT. AS ALL OF THIS PLAYS. OUT IN THE U.S., WE. HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO. LIVE IN VENEZUELA. HERE ARE THEIR. STORIES. >> Reporter: TONIGHT.

WITH STEPPED-UP. SECURITY AT COLOMBIA'S. BORDER WITH VENEZUELA, THIS REGION IS BRACING. FOR THE UNKNOWN. THIS FAMILY JUST CAME. OVER THE BORDER. THAT MAN DID NOT WANT. TO SPEAK ON CAMERA. I ASKED WHAT HE. THOUGHT ABOUT THIS. WEEK'S EVENTS AND HE. SEEMED TO BE. OVERWHELMED. A VERY EMOTIONAL TIME. DIDN'T WANT TO TALK. POLITICS AT ALL. HE STILL HAS FAMILY. MEMBERS INSIDE THE. COUNTRY. ON THE STREETS OF. CARACAS, A CAUTIOUS. CALM. SOME STORES OPENING. ARMED SECURITY AGENTS. ON PATROL.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR. PEACE IN VENEZUELA AND. TRANQUILITY, THIS MAN. SAYS. FOR THE U.S. TO. RESPECT OUR. CONSTITUTION. THERE IS MASSIVE. UNCERTAINTY. NOT JUST IN VENEZUELA. BUT HERE IN COLOMBIA. OVERNIGHT PRESIDENT. TRUMP RAMPING UP HIS. CRITICISM OF THIS COUNTRY'S. PRESIDENT. >> RUN BY A SICK MAN. WHO LIKES MAKING. COCAINE AND SELLING IT. TO THE UNITED STATES, AND HE'S NOT GOING TO. BE DOING IT VERY LONG. >> Reporter: AND AS. FOR A POTENTIAL U.S. OPERATION INSIDE. COLOMBIA --. >> IT SOUNDS GOOD TO. ME. >> Reporter: THE. PRESIDENT HAS. REPEATEDLY DENIED DRUG. TRAFFICKING. ALLEGATIONS.

HIS GOVERNMENT. RESPONDING THAT. TRUMP'S ACTIONS WERE. CONTRARY TO THE NORMS. OF INTERNATIONAL LAW. ACROSS LATIN AMERICA, BOTH CONDEMNATION OF. THE U.S.'S ACTIONS, AND GRATITUDE IN. PLACES LIKE ARGENTINA. AND CHILE. THESE WOMEN WHO LIVE. IN VENEZUELA TOLD US, THEY'RE PLANNING TO. STAY AND HOPING FOR. CALM. >> Reporter: WHAT DO. YOU THINK OF PRESIDENT. TRUMP? HE'S VERY DETERMINED, SHE SAYS, AND HE KNOWS. WHAT HE'S DOING.

>> GABE AND HIS TEAM. JOIN US LIVE FROM THE. BORDER WITH VENEZUELA. AND SO FAR PEOPLE. HAVEN'T NOTICED ANY. REAL CHANGES IN. VENEZUELA. AND THERE'S A REASON. WHY. >> Reporter: YES, TOM. THE VENEZUELAN. GOVERNMENT JUST ISSUED. A DECREE ORDERING. POLICE TO ARREST. ANYONE THAT SUPPORTS. THE U.S. ATTACK. THAT MEANS NO. ANTI-MADURO. DEMONSTRATIONS. >> GABE, THANK YOU. >>> MEANWHILE, THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS. ARE STILL TRYING TO.

GET HOME TONIGHT AFTER. SPENDING THE HOLIDAYS. IN THE CARIBBEAN. HERE'S TOM COSTELLO. >> Reporter: ACROSS. THE CARIBBEAN --. >> LITERALLY, NO. FLIGHTS OUT. >> I AM STUCK HERE. INDEFINITELY. >> Reporter: THOUSANDS. OF AMERICANS REMAIN. STUCK IN PARADISE. THE RIPPLE EFFECT. AFTER CARIBBEAN AIR. SPACE WAS TEMPORARILY. SHUT DOWN SATURDAY. >> THE AIR SPACE IS. CLOSED FOR THE NEXT 24. HOURS FOR MILITARY. OPERATIONS. >> Reporter: WHILE. FLIGHTS RESUMED ON. SUNDAY, AIRPORTS FROM.

MIAMI TO CURACAO HAVE. BEEN PACKED WITH. PASSENGERS TRYING TO. REBOOK AFTER THEIR FLIGHTS WERE. CANCELED. BEN AND HIS WIFE AND. KIDS TRYING TO GET. BACK TO SCHOOL AND. WORK. >> THEY WERE ABLE TO. GET AS YOU FLIGHT ON ONE FLIGHT. FOR MY WIFE AND ONE SON AND. SATURDAY FOR ME AND MY OTHER. SON. >> Reporter: FOR. OTHERS, A MISSED. FLIGHT MEANS A MISSED. CRUISE. >> I HAD TO LET THEM. KNOW WEST CAN'T EVEN. GET THERE. >> Reporter: 1,100. FLIGHTS CANCELED. SATURDAY. 500 ON SUNDAY.

THOUGH NOT ALL DUE TO. MILITARY OPERATIONS. TODAY AIRLINES. CONTINUE TO ADD. FLIGHTS AND BIGGER. PLANES THOUGH IT COULD. TAKE DAYS TO GET. EVERYONE WHERE THEY. NEED TO BE. MEANWHILE, OIL. COMPANIES HOPING TO. REBUILD VENEZUELA'S. DILAPIDATED. INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT. NOT QUICKLY. >> IT WILL TAKE TENS. OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. PER YEAR OVER THE NEXT. TEN YEARS TO MAKE A. MATERIAL DIFFERENCE IN. THE AMOUNT OF OIL. COMING OUT OF. VENEZUELA. >> Reporter: SO WHILE. GAS PRICES MAY GO UP A. FEW CENTS, IT COULD. TAKE YEARS BEFORE.

VENEZUELAN OIL BRINGS. PRICES DOWN AT THE. PUMP. TOM? >> THANK YOU. >>> IN OHIO, AUTHORITIES HAVE. ARRESTED A MAN ACCUSED. OF DAMAGING VICE. PRESIDENT J.D. VANCE'S HOME WITH A. HAMMER. KELLY O'DONNELL HAS. BEEN FOLLOWING THIS. FOR US. THE SUSPECT BREACHED A. SECURITY PERIMETER? >> Reporter: THAT'S. RIGHT.

HE DID NOT GET INSIDE THE HOUSE. THE ADVANCES HAD RETURNED HERE. TO WASHINGTON HOURS EARLIER. HE IS BEING HELD ON. CHARGES INCLUDING. VANDALISM. NO MOTIVE HAS BEEN. IDENTIFIED. THE SUSPECT HAS A. COURT-DOCUMENTED. MENTAL HEALTH HISTORY. HE SAID HE APPRECIATES. THE WELL WISHES BUT. WANTS LESS ATTENTION, NOTING THAT HE AND HIS. WIFE TRY TO PROTECT. OUR KIDS AS MUCH AS. POSSIBLE FROM THE. REALITIES OF THIS. LIFE. >> THANK YOU. >>> WE WANT TO TURN TO. A MAJOR POLITICAL.

SHAKE-UP. MINNESOTA'S DEMOCRATIC. GOVERNOR TIM WALZ. ABANDONING RE-ELECTION. PLANS AMID FRAUD. ALLEGATIONS IN HIS. STATE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT A. STUNNING ANNOUNCEMENT. FROM MINNESOTA. DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR. TIM WALZ. THE PARTY'S LAST. NOMINEE FOR VICE. PRESIDENT. >> I DECIDED TO STEP. OUT OF THIS RACE --. >> Reporter: HIS. DECISION TO NOT SEEK A. THIRD TERM AS GOVERNOR. COMES AS HIS. ADMINISTRATION IS. FACING SCRUTINY AROUND. FRAUD ALLEGATIONS. RELATED TO FEDERAL. CHILDCARE FUNDING. A REALITY THE GOVERNOR. ACKNOWLEDGED. >> WE'LL WIN THE FIGHT.

AGAINST THE. FRAUDSTERS. THE POLITICAL. GAMESMANSHIP WE'RE. SEEING FROM. REPUBLICANS IS ONLY. MAKING THAT FIGHT. HARDER. >> Reporter: THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION FROZE. ALL CHILDCARE PAYMENTS. TO THE STATE IN THE. WAKE OF A VIRAL VIDEO. BY RIGHT WING. INFLUENCER NICK. SHIRLEY. HE CLAIMED TEN. FACILITIES RUN BY. SOMALIS WERE. FRAUDULENTLY RECEIVING. FUNDS. THE STATE AGENCY IN. CHARGE OF THE PROGRAMS. VISITED THE CENTERS. LAST WEEK AND. DETERMINED THEY WERE. OPERATING AS EXPECTED. NOW IMMIGRATION AND.

CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. PLANS TO SEND MORE. THAN 2,000 AGENTS TO. MINNESOTA TO. INVESTIGATE. ACCORDING TO TWO. SENIOR DHS OFFICIALS. SHIRLEY WHO WALZ HAS. CALLED A CONSPIRACY. THEORIST TOOK CREDIT. POSTING, I ENDED TIM. WALZ. WALZ WAS ATTEMPTED TO. BECOME KAMALA HARRIS'S. RUNNING MATE. THEY WERE HOPING HIS. BACKGROUND WOULD. APPEAL TO BLUE COLLAR. VOTERS. NOW DEMOCRATS WILL.

HAVE TO FIND A NEW. CANDIDATE FOR. GOVERNOR. A SOURCE CLOSE TO AMY. KLOBUCHAR SAID SHE'S. CONSIDERING A RUN. RYAN JOINS US LIVE. I KNOW YOU'RE TRACKING. ANOTHER MAJOR. HEADLINE. THIS TIME ON. DEMOCRATIC SENATOR. MARK KELLY? >> Reporter: THAT'S. RIGHT. SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH. IS CENSORING KELLY FOR. A VIDEO WHERE HE WARNS. ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY. NOT TO FOLLOW ILLEGAL. ORDERS. COULD IT IMPACT. KELLY'S RETIREMENT. RANK AND PAY.

HE SAID HE WILL FIGHT. IT WITH EVERYTHING. HE'S GOT. >> WHEN WE RETURN, THE. BRUTAL FLU SEASON. HITTING A NEW RECORD. WHY DOCTOR'S OFFICES. >>> WELCOME BACK. FLU-LIKE ILLNESSES ARE. NOW AT THE HIGHEST. RATE ON RECORD. DOCTORS ARE SCRAMBLING. TO KEEP UP. MAGGIE IS IN CHICAGO. WITH AN INSIDE LOOK AT.

ONE HOSPITAL. >> Reporter: TONIGHT. AMERICA'S. RECORD-SMASHING FLU. SEASON GETTING EVEN. WORSE. >> WE FILL UP THIS. HALLWAY SPACES WITH. PATIENTS. WE RUN OUT OF ROOM AND. BEDS. >> Reporter: IN. CHICAGO, THE HOSPITAL. IS UP 50% FROM THIS. TIME LAST YEAR. >> I REMEMBER WORKING. A FEW NIGHTS AGO, RIGHT AROUND NEW. YEAR'S. WE CHECKED THE WAITING. ROOM AND EVERY PATIENT. SAID FLU POSITIVE, FLU. POSITIVE. >> Reporter: NEW CDC. DATA SHOWS FLU CASES. SPIKED MORE THAN 7% IN. A ONE-WEEK PERIOD WITH. SEVERE CASES RISING, TOO. 45 STATES NOW.

REPORTING HIGH OR VERY. HIGH FLU ACTIVITY AND. THE NUMBER OF. OUTPATIENT DOCTOR. VISITS FOR FLU-LIKE. ILLNESSES HITTING. RECORD LEVELS. >> THE BIGGEST THING. WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT. IS THE SHORTNESS OF. BREATH AND LOW OXYGEN. >> Reporter: DO YOU. THINK WE COULD BE A. COUPLE WEEKS AWAY FROM. THE PEAK? >> I DO. >> Reporter: WITH FLU. VACCINATION RATES AT. THE LOWEST LEVELS. SINCE 2019, THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION. ANNOUNCING NEW. RECOMMENDATIONS. NO LONGER RECOMMENDING. ALL KIDS GET FLU SHOTS. IN ADDITION TO RSV, COVID, HEPATITIS AND.

OTHERS. 3-YEAR-OLD NAYA GOT. THE FLU SHOT AND IS. STILL IN THE HOSPITAL. >> I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW. MUCH WORSE IT MIGHT BE. IF WE DIDN'T. >> Reporter: ADMITTED. TO THE E.R. ON NEW. YEAR'S DAY, HER MOM. SAID HER FEVER SPIKED. AGAIN LAST NIGHT TO. ALMOST 105. >> IT'S TERRIFYING. VERY SCARY. AND YOU JUST FEEL SO. HOPELESS. >> Reporter: NBC NEWS, CHICAGO. >>> AND WE'RE BACK IN. A MOMENT WITH NEW. VIDEO OF A PERSON OF.

INTEREST IN THAT. MURDER OF AN OHIO. DENTIST AND HIS WIFE. WE'LL UPDATE YOU. >>> PLUS, THE HIKERS. STRANDED ON A STEEP. CLIFF. >>> WE'RE BACK NOW. WITH BREAKING NEWS IN. THE MURDER OF AN OHIO. DENTIST AND HIS WIFE. LAST WEEK. DETECTIVES IN COLUMBUS. SAY THEY'VE RECOVERED. THIS VIDEO FOOTAGE. SHOWING A PERSON OF. INTEREST WALKING NEAR. SPENCER AND MONIQUE. TEPE'S HOME THE DAY. THEY WAS KILLED. THE COUPLE'S TWO YOUNG. CHILDREN WERE FOUND IN.

THE HOME UNHARMED. THE CORONER CALLING. THE CASE AN APPARENT. HOMICIDE BY GUNSHOT. WOUNDS. >>> AND TAKE A LOOK AT. THIS VIDEO OF A. HELICOPTER CREW IN. MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, REACHING. TWO FEMALE HIKERS. STUCK ON A STEAM CLIFF. ABOVE THE BEACH. THE RESCUE TEAM SENDS. A PARAMEDIC DOWN TO. HELP THEM MOVE OUT. FROM BETWEEN THE. ROCKS. YOU SEE THAT THERE. THE CREW TOUCHES DOWN. AND THE CHOPPER IS. ABLE TO LIFT THE. HIKERS TO SAFETY. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE. DRUGMAKER ANNOUNCED. THE FIRST GLP-1 WEIGHT. LOSS PILL VERSION OF. WEGOVY IS NOW. AVAILABLE.

THE PILL IS TAKEN ONCE. A DAY AT LOWER DOSES. THE PIANO MAN BACK AT. IT. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS". FOR THIS MONDAY. I'M TOM LLAMAS. THANK YOU FOR.