Country more than 60,000 years old. Preserved at the bottom of the sea. Nightly news begins now. From nbc news World Headquarters in new york, this is nbc nightly news with kate snow. Good evening. We have two big stories were following as we come on the air at a church just outside nashville, a gunman attacks congress began thes this morning as the service was just letting out. Full report on that in just a moment. We begin on this football sunday with nfl players taking on President Trump throughout the league. After the president used a vulgarity to refer to players who protest during the National Anthem and encouraged team owners to fire them. Scores of players took their protest to a new level today. Kneeling, joining arms, some teams not even taking the field for the star spangled banner. Powerful team owners including several who have been political supporters came out in support of their players. All of it prompting strong reaction just moments ago from President Trump. We have great people representing our country. Especially our soldiers, our first responders, and they should be treated with respect. And when you get on your knee and you dont respect the American Flag or the anthem, thats not being treated with respect. Sports and politics is where we begin tonight with morgan radford. So proudly we hail reporter a powerful display of protest. More than 100 nfl players kneeling in defiance of President Trump. The day started off in london. Players took a knee and locked arms during the National Anthem. Hours later, back home, players across the nfl showed solidarity. And the rockets reporter others raising their fist. A former army ranger was the lone teammate from the steelers to take the field during the anthem. And at the seahawks titans game, no player from either team took the field. Tom brady who has described the president as a friend stood with his teammates today. Linking his arm. This comes after the president doubled down on his call to end sports protest. Taking aim at players like Colin Kaepernick who started the trend last year to stand against police brutality. Wouldnt you love to see one of these nfl owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Right now. Out. Hes fired. Hes fired reporter the president responded today, tweeting, great solidarity for our National Anthem and for our country. Standing with locked arms is good, kneeling is not acceptable. Bad ratings. The Administration Today saying the protests are an affront to the veterans. Fans filed into stadiums across the country. Some saying this isnt about disrespect. Its about freedom. Its not a protest against the military. Its a protest about inequality in this country. Reporter others sided with the president. I understand the freedom of speech, but also this is the players jobs and i dont get to speak freely at my job all the time. So they should have to follow the rules and respect our country and our flag. Reporter the protest not just limited to the football field. The First Major League baseball player also took a knee. The oakland as bruce maxwell. Even music icon Stevie Wonder kneeling on the stage at last nights Global Citizen music festival. Calling for prayer for national unity. Todays act of defiance now making the president s call to fire those who refuse to stand too costly. Colin kaepernick has really been unfairly blacklisted. You cant do that to every player. Too many are too valuable to the businesses that these owners operate. Reporter while protests have erupted across the country, at stadiums like the one here behind me, the debate moved far beyond the gridiron from baseball to hockey, ian tonight, several nascar owners coming forward to say they would fire anyone who demonstrated in similar protest, kate. Morgan radford. Thank you. Now back to the harrowing and deadly scene at a church in nashville where a gunman killed a woman and wounded seven other people. Our justice correspondent Pete Williams has late details. Reporter the sunday Morning Service had just ended at Burnett Chapel church of christ in nashville when a man drove in and left the engine running. Armed with a handgun investigators say, he shot and killed a woman coming out of the church then went inside and opened fire. Dispatch, this is a levelone, mass casualty incident. People were just running and hiding and trying to get out. Get away. Reporter police say the church usher tackled the gunman who beat him with a pistol and then another shot. During the struggle, the gunman shot himself, probably not intentionally, in the left pectoral muscle. In the left chest. Reporter a woman who was in the church says the man firing the shots never said a word. He came in front of the church from the parking lot and he was shooting and then he started shooting more and looking to his left. And thats when he came in the front, in the middle, and then this guy came up fighting with him and tackled him down. Reporter she works at a va hospital and helped control the bleeding on one of the gunshot victims. Police say that injured usher, 22yearold robert angle ran to his car and got a gun, then made sure no further shots were fired while waiting for the police to arrive. Hes the hero. Hes the person that stopped this madness. And so, were very, very, very grateful to him. Reporter six others were shot inside the church, all adults, four in their 60s and two in their 80s. They were taken to a nearby hospital. Police tonight say the gunman is 25yearold Emanuel Sampson from nearby. Hell be jailed tonight and face murder and attempted murder charges. Nashville police havent yet said why they think this happened, though they say sampson attended that church a few years ago, but federal Officials Say tonight the fbi has opened a separate civil rights investigation looking at whether race was the motive. Kate. Pete williams, thank you. The newest republican plan to replace obamacare faces a critical test this week, passing the measure, looking more and more difficult now with two more republicans today saying they have big problems with this bill. We get the latest from nbcs kelly odonnell. Reporter tonight a gop repeal of obamacare is back on life support. Days before a deadline. As republicans attempt to overhaul health care insurance, one more time. The only way youll know how people vote is when you actually vote. Reporter signs point to outright opposition and wavering reluctance from a few republicans whose votes are critical. Well it is hard for me to envision getting to yes on this bill because my concerns are so fundamental. This is a bad idea. Its not repeal. Reporter this alternative named four senators, Lindsey Graham and bill cassidy would shift control and funding from the federal government to states, using block grants. Take the money and power out of washington, the same a. Money spent on obamacare and let states design systems. Reporter that formula is still too costly for declared novote rand paul. Unfortunately the grahamcassidy bill basically keeps most of the obamacare spending, almost all of the spending and just reshuffles it. Reporter another concern, Medicaid Expansion that helped lower income americans get coverage under obamacare would be reduced over time. And there is dispute over the impact on insurance buyers with preexisting medical conditions. The white house says, no change. Preexisting conditions are protected in this legislation. It does not change. It does not change the legislation that obama had in obamacare. Reporter but states could permit plans that would not cover all costs for preexisting conditions, making coverage more expensive. Senator cassidy defends the plan as fair. So we give the states the latitude to establish, it may be that someone whos a millionaire would pay more and lower income would pay a little less. Reporter and republicans have a very narrow needle to thread to see this bill passed. Two republicans, john mccain, rand paul, have already said they are firm noes and when you consider the senate map, every other republican must support it. And weve already seen a few others who are saying, they have concerns, the white house thinks there may be enough time to try to shore up support for a potential vote on wednesday, and kate tonight, the president was asked about this, he said they may not win this time, but theyll win eventually. Its going to be an interesting week. Thank you so much. Overseas tonight, german chancellor Angela Merkel is headed for a fourth term. A far right antiimmigration party will now have a place in parliament for the first time in more than half a century. Matt bradley is following it all from berlin. Reporter shes worked alongside three american president s and today, german chancellor Angela Merkel won her fourth term. It wasnt always easy, shes guided germany through a Global Financial crisis, confrontation with russia, a surge of refugees, and now, a hostile american president. Ank Angela Merkel and party stale yielded a lot of ground to the far right. Itll be the first time in 50 years a nationalist, far right party will sit in the german parliament. Unlike merkel, theyre antiimmigrant, antieuropean union, and antiislam. Very destructive force. They are protest party. Reporter theyre the kind of challenge merkel has survived before. Matt bradley, nbc news, berlin. Four days after Hurricane Maria swept across puerto rico, rescue teams only now are reaching some of the more remote parts of that island. Gabe gutierrez was with a rescue team today as it finally made it to one community. Reporter they bring all they can carry, wading through rushing water, holding on to a dead power cable, now an impromptu lifeline. A community in puerto rico cut off when Hurricane Maria washed this bridge away. This woman tells us everything on the other side is devastated. The need here is massive. Rural parts of the island ravaged, including the mountain town. Im tammie lither in, people are desperate for water. Here outside this area, theyve jerry rigged a pvc pipe to get river water because theres no Drinking Water anywhere on the island. Reporter in northwest puerto rico, engineers inspecting the dam after finding a crack in it. If it bursts, authorities warn of lifethreatening flooding. Today we rode along with a fema search and rescue team from south florida as it made its way to the central part of the island. Greg is a firefighter from miami. Hes worked hurricanes harvey, irma, and now maria. So we just spent the last hour trying to drive around and find out where to go and what needs to happen. Were coming up with a dead end. Reporter as they meet local officials, theyre finding a similar story, over and over again. No cell service and no communication is hampering rescue efforts. This man is a police officer. The hurricane destroyed his home too. Its pretty hard because i have to do two jobs at the same time. You know, i have to work with the people that needs us, and i also have to work with my own needs, you know. Reporter throughout the island, the hunt for fuel is growing more dire. These are people that come from miles away, cars without gas, very tough, very tough. Reporter as these search and rescue teams clear the way for the islands long recovery one mission at a time. Tonight, there is an urgent rush to clear these roads and open up lines of communication. But the more people we speak with, its clear this recovery wont be measured in weeks, but months. Even years. Kate. Gabe, incredible pictures. And a close eye on maria tonight as it moves closer to the united states. National Hurricane Center says the storm will gradually weaken, but will come close to the coast of north carolina. Especially the outer banks. High surf, dangerous rip currents are expected up and down the east coast over the next several days. Still ahead tonight, after surviving the brutalities of isis, helping the victims heal. And what an american superstar is doing to help them find a better life. Also well take you underwater off the coast of alabama for a look at a world alabama for a look at a world that will existed on land mor i just saved a bunch of money on my car insurhuh. With geico. I should take a closer look at geico. Geico can help with way more than car insurance. Boats, homes, motorcycles. Even umbrella coverage. This guys gonna wish he brought his umbrella. Fire at will howd you know the guys name is will . Yeah . Its an expression, ya know . Fire at will . You never heard of that . Oh, there goes will bye, will thats not his name take a closer look at geico. Great savings. And a whole lot more. Di just drank tons of water all the time, it was never enough. My dentist suggested biotene, my mouth felt more lubricated. I use the biotene rinse and i use the spray. Biotene did make a difference. I needed something more to help control my type 2 diabetes. My a1c wasnt were it needed to be. So i liked when my doctor told me that i may reach my blood sugar and a1c goals by activating whats within me with onceweekly trulicity. Trulicity is not insulin. It helps activate my body to do what its suppose to do, release its own insulin. I take it once a week, and it works 24 7. It comes in an easytouse pen and i may even lose a little weight. Trulicity is a onceweekly injectable prescription medicine to improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes when used with diet and exercise. Trulicity is not insulin. It should not be the first medicine to treat diabetes, or for people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. Do not take trulicity if you or a Family Member has had medullary thyroid cancer, if youve had multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if you are allergic to trulicity. Stop trulicity and call your doctor right away if you have a lump or swelling in your neck, severe pain in your stomach, or symptoms such as itching, rash, or trouble breathing. Serious side effects may include pancreatitis, which can be fatal. Taking trulicity with a sulfonylurea or insulin, increases your risk for low blood sugar. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite and indigestion. Some side effects can lead to dehydration, which may make existing kidney problems worse. Onceweekly trulicity may help me reach my blood sugar goals. With trulicity, i click to activate whats within me. If you want help improving your a1c and blood sugar, activate your within. Ask your doctor about onceweekly trulicity. Were back with a look at a program that helps women and girls who were held by isis. Hundreds have been taken against their will and even after theyre freed, the healing process can take years. Nbcs kelly cobia went to germany to show how the program is giving them a new start. Reporter this 11yearold has just been freed from isis. So traumatized, she wont speak or eat. Shes yazidi, a religious minority from northern iraq. Brutally targeted by isis fighters three years ago. Isis massacred many of the yazidi men and took nearly 7,000 women and girls as sex slaves. German trauma specialist has interviewed more than 1400 survivors. They have nightmares. They have fear. They could not sleep. They have no concentration. Theyre still awake and awaiting. Reporter when he first met this woman in 2015, she was living in a camp in northern iraq, broken and ashamed. This is not her real name says she was repeatedly raped, beaten, and drugged by isis militants for nearly a year. How are you . This month, we found her at a shelter for yazidi survivors in germany. Do you think youre better . Im doing much better she told me. The doctor has fought to bring her and many other survivors here. Theyre given a safe place to live and treatment for body and mind. They are stronger, they will fight to survive, and hopefully with our support, they will continue this. Reporter the healing process is long and difficult. I know victims of the holocaust looked like from pictures, and films, and this is what they reminded me of. If you look into the eyes, you see the faces, you see very deep sadness. Reporter and now . I see a difference. Yeah. Reporter some are speaking out and seeking justice. Who is he . She says she spotted one of her kapters online last month. Apparently trying to blend in with innocent civilians outside mosul. She says, im ready to testify against him anywhere. He sold me and many other yazidi women and children. The man hasnt been caught. Its believed isis is Still Holding more than 2,400 women and children. Her sisters are still missing. Her dream, one day soon theyll be here too. Healing with her. Nbc news, germany. And yazidi refugees were in the spotlight yesterday at the Global Citizen festival here in new york broadcast on msnbc. Pop icon demi lovato announced shell join forces with save the children using art therapy to support their Mental Health. I spoke with her about the new project. And youre talking about Mental Health because thats such a big part of what, what children need. Its something that i realized people needed when i went to refugee camps myself in iraq. And i met with refugees who had tons of needs. They asked a young girl what she wanted, and i said how can i help . What do you need . And she says, i just want to be happy again. And to hear that, it really stuck with me. And i thought, thats something that i can get involved with. Demi tells me she hopes to head back with Global Citizens soon. Were back with a secret mission into space. Well te copd makes it hard to breathe. So to breathe better, i go with anoro. Go your own way copd tries to say, go this way. I say, ill go my own way with anoro. Go your own way oncedaily anoro contains two medicines called bronchodilators, that Work Together to significantly improve lung function all day and all night. Anoro is not for asthma. It contains a type of medicine that increases risk of death in people with asthma. The risk is unknown in copd. Anoro wont replace rescue inhalers for sudden symptoms and should not be used more than once a day. Tell your doctor if you have a heart condition, high blood pressure, glaucoma, prostate, bladder, or urinary problems. These may worsen with anoro. Call your doctor if you have worsened breathing, chest pain, mouth or tongue swelling, problems urinating, vision changes, or eye pain while taking anoro. Ask your doctor about anoro. Go your own way get your first prescription free at anoro. Com. Its about moving forward, not back. T. Its looking up, not down. Its being in motion. In body, in spirit, in the now. Boost® high protein its intelligent nutrition with 15 grams of protein and 26 vitamins and minerals. For when you need a little extra. Boost® the number one high protein complete nutritional drink. Be up for it listen up, heart disease. You too, unnecessary er visits. And hey, unmanaged depression, dont get too comfortable. Were talking to you, cost inefficiencies, and data without insights. And fragmented care, stop getting in the way of patient recovery and pay attention. Every single one of you is on our list. At optum, were partnering across the Health System to tackle its biggest challenges. The scene overnight at the air force base in california. An atlas five rocket blasting off and headed for other bit with a spy at lite on board, and thats about all we know. What exactly the satellite will be doing as it orbits earth is classified. Its built and operated by the Agency Responsible for this countrys eyes in the sky. And check out this nerv nervewracking video. A man in petr, australia, was captured on camera clinging to the back of a moving train. It was traveling up to 68 Miles Per Hour and the man was standing as you see on the edge holding on to only a windshield wiper. He was arrested at the next station. The transport authorities said it was the first time it was ever made aware of socalled train surfing stunt. When we come back, the secret was an ancient world revealed after tens of thousands of years. Dont let dust and allergens get between you and lifes beautiful moments. Flonase outperforms the 1 nondrowsy allergy pill. It helps block 6 key inflammatory substances that cause symptoms. Pills block one and 6 is greater than 1. Flonase changes everything. [phhello. Ng] hi, its anne from edward jones. Im glad i caught you. Well im just leaving the office so for once ive got plenty of time. Whats going on . So those financial regulations being talked about . They could affect your accounts, so lets get together and talk, and make sure everythings clear. Thanks. Yeah. That would be great. Weve grown to over 900 billion in assets under care. By being proactive, not reactive. Its how edward jones makes sense of investing. Whfight back fastts, with tums smoothies. It starts dissolving the instant it touches your tongue. And neutralizes stomach acid at the source. Tum tum tum tum smoothies only from tums finally tonight, lets journey to another world hidden at the bottom of the sea and out of sight for tens of thousands of years. The remains of an ancient forest discovered recently in the gulf of mexico off the coast of alabama. Nbcs Kerry Sanders got a look. Reporter along the alabama coast, we head to a secret spot. What lies here, 60 feet below the surface, a remarkable discovery. An ancient forest teaming with sea life, bald cypress trees that looked like this long concealed and preserved under a thick layer of sediment. Scientists believe the forest here was uncovered by Mother Nature in 2004, what hurricane ivan royaled the seabed. Thats about 65 miles an hour right there. It wasnt until almost a decade later that a fisherman over this spot looked at his sonar and noticed something odd. He then called skub baa diver. Could you figure it out. We couldnt. We didnt know what it was. Thats when we thought we needed to get scientists out here. Reporter this film make ore documented it. Youre in a fairy world almost with the stumps are covered in athemties and everything, but theyre trees. Reporter teams cord samples, floated tree trunks, radio carpeted the wood back to 60,000 years ago. Researchers from Louisiana State university estimate that the forest here was about a half square mile. Thats because they believe where we see the gulf of mexico now, there was an island, and rushing around it, a fresh water river. So the muck feels like playdough. Theyre beginning to decompose. The wood actually comes out. Its like brittle. Reporter Scientists Say these ancient relics may hold clues to how it could affect our future. These trees died very quickly. And we want to see how thats tied to sea level rise. Reporter a unique undersea forest only starting to reveal its secrets. Kerry sanders, nbc news off the coast of alabama. Thats good stuff. That is nbc nightly news for this sunday night. Big day here tomorrow, Megyn Kelly Today premiers at 9 00 a. M. Eastern. Lester holt will be with you for nightly news. For all of us here at nbc news, have a great night. Primetimes number one show sunday night football and super bowl lii on nbc. Tonight sunday night football is just outside washington d. C. A place where politics and sports at time overlap but never before have we seen Something Like what has transpired over the last three days. President trumps comments on friday and subsequent tweets further fuelled the debate about players National Anthem protests and brought it to a new level after an unprecedented number of expressions during the anthem. The days final game between the raiders and redskins will take