Good evening and thanks for being here on a sunday night. And we begin with that new evidence on the type of poison gas used to kill in syria. And a clearer portrait tonight of that moment, the president surprised his own team by putting any action against syria on hold, asking instead for a vote from congress. Right here on abcs this week, secretary of state john kerry now saying lab tests have shown conclusive proof that it was sarin gas used in that attack in damascus. And tonight, were learning more about the president s bombshell decision, to put military action on hold, surprising even his closest National Security advisers. The president now trying to convince members of congress, on the phone there with the speaker of the house. Tonight, we have our team on all of this and the question, doesnt this simply give syria a lot more time to prepare . We begin here with our chief White House Correspondent jon karl. Jon, good evening. Reporter good evening, david. Stunning is the only way to describe events this weekend. Now, the new White House Mission is to convince a skeptical nation and a Skeptical Congress that its time to act. Trying to convince the public and congress to support military action, secretary of state kerry went on five talk shows, presenting dramatic new details on the evidence poison gas was used in syria. From First Responders in east damascus, we have signatures of sarin in their hair and blood samples. Reporter kerry told George Stephanopoulos hes confident congress will approve the president s plan for a limited military strike. We cannot allow assad to be able to gas people with impunity. And i believe the congress of the United States will understand that and do the right thing. But what if the votes arent there . Will the president act anyway . The president of the United States has the right to take this action. Doesnt have to go to congress. But if i hear you correctly, youre saying that the president is going to act no matter what. No, i said the president has the right to act. So, will he . George, we are not going to lose this vote. Reporter but how did we get from this i have decided that the United States should take military action against Syrian Regime targets. Reporter to this i will seek authorization for the use of force from the American Peoples representatives in congress. Reporter the move surprised even the president s top aides. They expected an order to attack would come over the weekend. But at 6 00 p. M. Friday, president obama took a 45minute walk around the south lawn of the white house, with his chief of staff. Telling him, for the first time, that he had decided to go to congress. The photos tell the story. Informing aides in the Oval Office Friday night. Then talking it over saturday with his National Security team. Some who expressed concerns about going to congress first. The biggest concern expressed by several members of the president s team was that congress could severely weaken and embarrass the president by voting no. But david, as you heard from secretary kerry, the team now says they are convinced that congress will ultimately approve the resolution. Jon karl leading us off. Jon, thank you. As jon pointed out there, secretary kerry sounding very confident that they will get the votes they need for action in syria, Getting Congress on the president s side. But we wanted to know, what would happen if that vote were held right now . Heres abcs senior washington correspondent jeff zeleny tonight. Reporter the skepticism runs deep in congress. The United States went to war in iraq based on the false claim. Reporter a rare sunday briefing at the capitol. More than 100 lawmakers, some still dressed for summer vacation, opened the syria debate. Congress wont vote on the war resolution until next week, giving the white house time to build its argument against the syrian government. If the vote was taken today, several lawmakers told abc news they believe it would fail. If Congress Acts like the british parliament, i dont think we have done or responsibility. Reporter the outcome depends on unusual alliances. Some of the president s democratic allies are opposed to military action, saying they dont dispute chemical weapons, but are weary of another war. Is there another way to hold assad accountable . Reporter and some of the president s republican rivals support military strikes. But hope he goes even further. The consequences of the congress of the United States overriding a decision of the president of the United States of this magnitude are really very, very serious. And jeffs back with us now. And jeff, we heard senator mccain there, but we also heard from republican senator Mitch Mcconnell who said president obamas role as commander in chief always strengthened when he enjoys the expless support of congress. Unlikely allies here, as well. Reporter thats right, david. Senator mcconnell did say that hes happy that president obama came to congress, but he did not say if congress would give the white house what it wants. David . Jeff zeleny tonight, thank you. Meanwhile, in syria tonight, anger from rebel groups, some of whom were counting on the u. S. To help weaken president assads hand. And from president assad himself, confidence tonight, on the phone with iran. As many who support him think theyve won. Abcs chief Foreign Correspondent terry moran is in our Beirut Bureau tonight. Terry . Reporter david, there was relief, astonishment and a sense of triumph in the air in syria and right across this region in response to president obamas decision to delay that military strike until after he gets congressional approval, if he gets it. Syrian government leaders crowed that they had intimidated the president into backing down. And arab social media was on fire with jokes and mocking what was perceived as the president s indecision and hesitation. In israel, worry and concern at the american commitment to this region. And among the syrian rebel forces, there was despair. Smoke billowed from shelling in the damascus suburbs today. Business as usual in the syrian civil war. President assad went back to work, meeting with an official from his powerful ally, iran. It has become very clear for the American People and for the International Public opinion that the allegations made by obama and his foreign secretary are incorrect and absolutely big lie. Reporter the syrian rebel forces and everyone else is going to have to wait longer for that strike. And it is impossible to describe how changed the perceptions of president obama and president Bashar Al Assad are. There is nothing that millions of people in this region like better than seeing an arab leader stand up and defy the United States of america, even a leader who has made such a ruthless war on his own people. David . Abcs terry moran tonight. Terry, thank you. I want to bring in retired colonel steve ganyard, abc news military analyst. Great to have you with us. And now that the president has put this to a vote in congress, put this off, have we just given the world and syria in particular the game plan here . Will it be any different two weeks from now . David, i think the white house has been very clear today that the strike that was ready to go last night or the night before, the one that was approved by the president , is the same strike were going to execute two, three weeks from now, when the Congress Gives its assent. But steve, doesnt this give syria similarly more time to prepare . David, it does. And thats a risk, that the syrians could come in and harden some of those targets, move them around, but general dempsey has been very clear with the president. He believes that the military might of the five destroyers that we have out in the mediterranean will be able to take care of whatever changes on the ground the syrians may undertake. All right, steve ganyard, thanks to you and our entire team on this tonight. We do move on now, and to the weather this evening. Massive storms on both coasts, flash flooding trapping drivers. Abc meteorologist ginger zee with the pictures and the forecast for the millions hitting the roads to return home after the Holiday Weekend tomorrow. Reporter Holiday Weekend washout. In boston, flash flooding closing highways. Up to three inches of rain falling in less than two hours. And more than 2,500 miles west, at least a dozen water rescues. Watch as this car plows into the muddy flood water in california. The driver getting out just in time as wave after wave buries his car. Severe storms smothering the midwest. Dropping tennis ballsized hail in south dakota and a tornado in north dakota. And meteorologist ginger zee is with us now. And ginger, tomorrow millions will be back on the road returning home from their labor day weekend, and its going to be very dangerous. Reporter right. Unsettled for so many. I want to show you who and how much. Were talking rain, and it will be scattered, so, this is not an allday rain everywhere. But in blue, thats up to a half inch of rain and some of the areas in new england getting more than an inch. So, something to watch for. So, give yourself a lot of time to get to where you are going. Out west, the danger remains, too, with the flash flooding there which has been deadly. Reporter right. And this has been weeks on end that weve had this. Very different for them. We still have flood watches and warnings for several states out in the west and even close to the pacific northwest. I also want to tell you why this is happening. And why its not going to stop. You have that High Pressure system, its pumping moisture, it rotates clockwise, so the back side pumps moisture right up against that stationary front. It gets stuck and you get flash flooding. All right, ginger zee, great to have you here. One more weather note tonight. This image out of taiwan. The driver caught in the blinding rains here and then watch this. A massive landslide sending an enormous boulder tumbling down right there, coming just inches away from crushing the car. The driver survived unscathed. Back here at home and in the west tonight, firefighters are counting on the rain now to help fight that fire in Yosemite National park. The fire now spreading across 348 square miles. Tonight, there is progress. Now 40 contained. But the thick smoke is now impacting air quality as far away as reno, nevada. Authorities on the west coast tonight, also concerned with the stunning headline out of japan, where today, they revealed radioactive levels at the crippled Fukushima Nuclear power plant are higher than first thought, much higher. And can kill within hours. What does that mean for the 72,000 gallons of water pouring out every day and headed our way . So much degree arriving already . And heres abcs aditi roy. Reporter it has been a twoyear battle to clean up the toqfukushima Daiichi Nuclear po plant, after the unforgettable and devastating earthquake and tsunami crippled the country in march 2011. The japanese have been struggling with leak after leak. This being the fourth and worst from the plant. Today, japanese authorities found that radiation levels surrounding the plant are 18 times higher than previously thought. Enough to prove lethal within just four hours of exposure. While authorities struggle to stop the leaks, there are fears that the contaminated water could reach the u. S. In less than a year. Some debris has already made its way to the west coast. Battered fishing boats, appliances and other garbage. Even fish. Researchers who have been monitoring the water say the Radioactive Material will be diluted enough to safe levels. Good news for those who love coming here to the beach. David . Thats reassuring, aditi, thank you. And to word tonight about a beloved leader. Nelson mandela. He went home from the hospital in south africa today, brought by ambulance, where he will be watched very closely. Abcs rob nelson is in johannesburg tonight. Rob . Reporter good evening, david. After 86 days in the hospital, Nelson Mandela is back here in his home behind me tonight. He was released in the wee hours of sunday morning and brought here to his private home in a wealthy suburb of johannesburg. The government says his home has now been reconfigured to accommodate mandelas medical needs and that the same personnel from the hospital will be the ones monitoring his health while halls here. Mandela, of course, turned 95 years old back in july. At this point, he remains in critical but stable condition after first going to the hospital back on june 8th. Doctors say his condition at times does become unstable but that overall, he has remained resilient throughout this ordeal and has responded well to his treatment. Family members we spoke to tonight said they are happy and relieved he is finally back home, but of course, the big question still remains. Has mandela come home because hes actually doing better, or has he come home to live out his last days . David . All right, rob nelson there in south africa. Rob, thank you. And to a loss tonight in britain. A famous journalist has died. And he was well known here in america, as well, because of the nearly 30 hours he spent sitting across from an american president , grilling Richard Nixon. Hello, good evening and welcome. Reporter by his own assessment, david frost interviewed 10,000 people. Athletes, entertainers, world leaders. And most famously, an american president. So, that is obstruction of justice . Now, just a moment. Period. Thats your conclusion. It is. But now lets look at the facts. Reporter those interviews with Richard Nixon were what made david frost famous. For 29 hours, facing off in front of the cameras, after nixon left office. The president can decide that its in the best interest of the nation, or something, and do something illegal. Or when the president does it, that means it is not illegal. Reporter with frost, nixon came very close to apologizing to the American People. I let the American People down. And i have to carry that burden with me for the rest of my life. My political life is over. Reporter 45 million watched. The interview so dramatic one, you could get 1 million and you could get it in cash reporter it was turned into a 2008 hollywood movie, frost nixon. One, you could get 1 million and you could get it in cash. I know where it can be gotten. Two, your major guy to keep under control is stop you now right there, because youre quoting me out of context, out of order. And, i might add, i have participated in all these interviews without a single note in front of me. Well, it is your life, mr. President. Reporter david frost was also a pioneer in satire, poking fun at the news long before snl or jon stewart. Hosting programs in england, australia, even here in the u. S. Filling in right here on good morning america. Good morning, america, indeed, im david frost with joan london. Yeah, David Hartman is off today. Reporter and though he sat in our studio, it was that other moment, in that chair across from Richard Nixon that hell be most remembered for. Frost never stopped working. In fact, he was scheduled to interview britains Prime Minister just this week. And one more image tonight from washington, and a first for a sitting Supreme Court justice. Ruth Bader Ginsburg officiated a same sex wedding. At the Kennedy Center in washington. In a statement, she said one of the men is a longtime friend and, quote, someone i much admire. There is still much more ahead on world news this sunday night. Word this evening of a brand new warning coming and it affects millions of americans who take acetaminophen. Well tell you whats behind the warning tonight in a moment. And later, the big headline out of london this evening. Many said she stole the show at the royal wedding, so, why is duchess kates sister pippa suddenly in the news tonight . Sheand you love her for it. Ide. But your erectile dysfunction that could be a question of blood flow. Cialis tadalafil for daily use helps you be Ready Anytime the moments right. You can be more confident in your ability to be ready. And the same cialis is the only daily ed tablet approved to treat ed and symptoms of bph, like needing to go frequently or urgently. Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications, and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity. Do not take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. Do not drink alcohol in excess with cialis. Side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. To avoid longterm injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than 4 hours. If you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, or if you have any allergic reactions such as rash, hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, stop taking cialis and get medical help right away. Ask your doctor about cialis for daily use and a 30tablet free trial. Fby eating healthier, drinking plenty of water, but still not getting relief . Try dulcolax laxative tablets. Dulcolax is comfortcoated for gentle, overnight relief. Dulcolax. Predictable overnight relief you can count on. The house caught fire and we were out on the streets. [ whispering ] shhh. Its only a dream. And we have Home Insurance. But if we made a claim, our rate would go up. [ whispering ] shhh. You did it right. You have allstate claim rate guard so your rates wont go up just because of a claim. [ whispering ] are we still in a dream . No, youre in an allstate commercial. So get allstate Home Insurance with claim rate guard. [ whispering ] goodnight. There are so many people in our bedroom. [ dennis ] talk to an allstate agent. [ doorbell rings ]. And let the good life in. A warning tonight about popular pain relievers. How too much acetaminophen can take a serious toll. And now tylenol is taking action. Heres abcs linsey davis. Tylenol believes the right pain reliever for you is one that works with your body. Reporter its advertised as tough on pain, easy on your stomach. But its what tylenol might do to your liver that has the manufacturer issuing the new warnings. Johnson johnson says starting in october, the caps of new bottles of extra strength tylenol will have this message in big red print contains acetaminophen and always read the label. Extra strength tylenol tablet is 500 milligrams. So, you could take eight of those every day, spaced out properly, and youd still be within the safe range. Reporter the pain relieving ingredient is the nations leading cause of sudden liver failure. And as 33yearold Riley Mcdermott learned first hand, it isnt just found in tylenol. If my fiance gotten me to the e. R. Maybe half an hour later, i would be dead. Reporter after inadvertently overdosing on a combination of prescription codeine for an ankle injury and another medicine to help her sleep, she ultimately ended up on the liver transplant list. Youre in pain and you take something and you just dont even think about it building up in your body. Reporter liver damage is extremely rare. The more common problem is people overdosing on the drug, which sends as many as 80,000 people in the u. S. To the e. R. Each year. In a statement to abc news, Johnson Johnson said, the new cap message is designed to help encourage appropriate acetaminophen use. Riley would agree. In addition to reading the label, its critical to follow the dosage. Linsey davis, abc news, new york. Linsey, thank you. When we come back tonight, another fairy tale wedding . Is the big secret out . The middle of this special moment and i need to run off to the bathroom. Im fed up with always having to put my bladders needs ahead of my daughter. So today, im finally talking to my doctor about Overactive Bladder symptoms. [ female announcer ] know that gotta go feeling . Ask your doctor about prescription toviaz. One toviaz pill a day significantly reduces sudden urges and accidents, for 24 hours. If you have certain stomach problems or glaucoma, or can not empty your bladder, you should not take toviaz. Get emergency medical help right away if your face, lips, throat or tongue swells. Toviaz can cause blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness and decreased sweating. Do not drive, operate machinery or do unsafe tasks until you know how toviaz affects you. The most common side effects are dry mouth and constipation. Talk to your doctor about toviaz. [ male announcer ] bobs heart attack didnt come with a warning. Today his doctor has him on a bayer aspirin regimen to help reduce the risk of another one. If youve had a heart attack, be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. You know, from our 4,000 television commercials. Yep, there i am with flo. Hoohoo watch it [chuckles] anyhoo, 3 Million People switched to me last year, saving an average of 475. [sigh] it feels good to help people save. With great discounts like safe driver, multicar, and multipolicy. So call me today. Youll be glad you did. Cannonbox [splash ] want to cover and corrtry this . Cc creams from covergirl olay. Covers spots and lines instantly as you correct skin tone over time. Goodbye, spots, hello, beautiful. Cc creams from covergirl olay. Get em on the spot. What are you guys doing . Having some fiber with new phillips fiber good gummies. Theyre fruity delicious just two gummies have 4 grams of fiber to help support regularity i want some. [ woman ] hop on over [ marge ] fiber the fun way, from phillips. Apply cold therapy in the first 24 hours. But not just any cold. I only use new thermacare® cold wraps. Targettemp Technology Delivers a consistent, therapeutic cold to stop pain and start healing. New thermacare® cold wraps. A better way to treat pain. Our instant index and the big secret buzzing in the uk is over duchess Kate Middletons sister. The papers there asking, is Pippa Middleton secretly engaged to the man shes smiling with in this picture, stockbroker nico jackson . Sunday people reporting that the announcement will be made after her 30th birthday, which comes on friday. We shall see. Well, shes determine and braving the atlantic again, swimming toward florida tonight. Diana nyad hoping to make history, her fifth and final try. Shes passed the 63,000 mile mark tonight, the farthest shes ever been. Nyad is trying to become the first person to swim from cuba to florida without a shark cage. Were rooting for you. And it never hurts to use spellcheck even if you are at one of the most prestigious universities. The proud fighting irish of notre dame because the figthin irish. Thanks to a spelling mistake on the cups this weekend. Fans tweeting about it all weekend long. And when we come back here tonight, for a time, he was the face of football. But are his fans everywhere suddenly praying themselves tonight . Fby eating healthier, drinking plenty of water, but still not getting relief . Try dulcolax laxative tablets. Dulcolax is comfortcoated for gentle, overnight relief. Dulcolax. Predictable overnight relief you can count on. Hands, for holding. Feet, kicking. Better things than the joint pain and swelling of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. If youre trying to manage your ra, now may be the time to ask about xeljanz. Xeljanz tofacitinib is a small pill for adults with moderate to severe ra for whom methotrexate did not work well. Xeljanz is an ra medicine that can enter cells and disrupt jak pathways, thought to play a role in the inflammation that comes with ra. Xeljanz can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. Serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers have happened in patients taking xeljanz. Dont start taking xeljanz if you have any kind of infection, unless ok with your doctor. Tears in the stomach or intestines, low blood cell counts and higher liver tests and cholesterol levels have happened. Your doctor should perform blood tests, including certain liver tests before you start, and while you are taking xeljanz. Tell your doctor if you have been to a region where certain fungal infections are common, and if you have had tb, hepatitis b or c, or are prone to infections. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, and if you are pregnant, or plan to be. Taken twice daily, xeljanz can reduce the joint pain and swelling of moderate to severe ra, even without methotrexate. Ask if xeljanz is right for you. Finally, the Football Player and his prayers. But will they be answered again . Heres abcs gio benitez. Reporter he was called the biggest name in all of sports. Now, tim tebow is a man without a team. Cut during the preseason by the new england patriots. Even after two National Championships and a heisman trophy. The florida natives trademark pose, tebowing, spread like wildfire across social media and late night comedy. Hey, everybody. Oh jesus reporter we saw him on the covers of magazines like gq, becoming a national heartthrob. But it was the humility so many came to love, captured right here on abc, in an interview with gmas robin roberts, talking about his mother. Its a key. What does it symbolize . I gave it to her because she was the key to my success. Reporter and with espns hannah storm, describing that moment on bended knee. Its a great opportunity in a public platform to get on a knee and humble myself and thank the lord. Reporter after nine wins with the denver broncos, he was traded to the new york jets, only to have his rising career knocked down again. Now, hes turned to twitter, thanking the patriots and promising to relentlessly pursue his nfl dreams. Gio benitez, abc news, new york. Theres always another chapter. I hope to see you right back here, in for diane tomorrow night. Good night, everyone. Ama next at 6 00. What construction crews need to finish to the get the bay bridge open on time. Also, how commuters got around the bay area today while the brim was closed. How two hunters helped capture a man suspected of starting brush fires in wine country. Abc7 news at 6 00 starts now. All work is on target. Were still showing a 5 00 a. M. Opening on tuesday. Ama right on schedule, work on the bay bridge is going according to plan, theres still one more day deal with congestion. The new eastern span of the bay bridge is expected to open for the Tuesday Morning community. Heres the immense project that came together after years of planning and construction. John alston has a closer look at what is being done this weekend and is live from the toll plaza. Right now the todo list is getting shorter and shorterment were live near the bay bridge toll plaza and workers are putting finishing touches, screwing the flexible barriers into the pavement. Some of the lastminute work. Right reasonable doubt around the toll plaza workers are putting in lane striping and paving. Out with the old. In with the new. Workers finish hacking apart a section of the old fan to install the new bike and pedestrian path. It should be open to cyclist tuesday at noon and runs to emeryville. Anne discovered the path by accident and left because she didnt want to get into trouble but shell be back. Ill be happy to go on the bay bridge, just to see how spectacular the new bridge and is to see the view. Its really going to be exciting. I cant wait to go. Workers finished sandblasting and power wa