Allegations. The star receiver practicing with the new England Patriots for the first time as tom brady is forced to answer questions about his new teammate. Things that dont involve me. Those stories plus border ban. Overnight the Supreme Court hands the Trump Administration a big win in its immigration crackdown. On the mend. Kevin hart reportedly released from the hospital. So whats next for the star in his recovery . And toy story, an inside look at the legendary games, gadgets and dolls vying to make the cut for the National Toy Hall of fame. Today, thursday, september 12th, 2019. Announcer from nbc news, this is today with Savannah Guthrie and hoda kotb. Live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Thank you for joining us on this thursday morning. Top story, those new moves being made in washington and beyond to address americas vaping epidemic. Were going to talk with dr. John torres. But first, nbcs Anne Thompson s details. Good morning. Good morning, hoda and savannah. What concerns the Trump Administration is the surge of teenage use of ecigarettes. 8 million adults use them and 5 million children and that, the Administration Says, is putting an entire generation at risk. A promise of action from the oval office to snuff out the vaping emergency. We cant have our youth be so affected. Reporter the administration revealing its plans to eliminate flavored ecigarettes from the market until the companies that make them apply for and receive approval. In an effort to tamp out teen vaping michigan banned products with flavors with mango and bubble gum. Some in the industry which often alternative to smoking think its too much. The American Vaping Association blasting the president s plan as draconian, saying it will send exsmokers back to smoking. But juul, the biggest vape brand, promising to comply with government policy, saying we strongly agree with the need for aggressive categorywide action on flavored products. The Vaping Association insists recent reports of possible deaths and injuries from vaping are not linked to their products, but to illegal thc oil, the active ingredient in marijuana. In wisconsin officials showed off some of the equipment taken from an illegal vaping operation that produced 3,000 to 5,000 counterfeit thc cartridges a day. In the u. S. Six deaths were possibly related to vaping and at least 496 suspected cases of serious respiratory illnesses across 42 states. In texas the mother of 17yearold Whitney Livingston says vaping put her daughter on life support. I felt like this was my fault because i was letting my kid do this because i thought it was safe. She says whitney vaped three to four ecigs a week for two years, healthy until two weeks ago, her fever turned into pneumonia and soon she couldnt breathe. My daughter almost died. On the mend her mom warning other parents in an effort to save lives. Now, despite the proposed ban federal investigators still have not identified a specific product or substance that is dr. Torres is with us now, our nbc news medical correspondent. Theres two issues, the ban of flavored ecigarettes and this Mysterious Illness thats going on. Lets talk about the ban on the flavored ecigarettes. You were pointing out that juul, which is the primary market mover here, already had banned the flavored ecigarettes. How big of an impact will it have . It probably wont have that big of an impact. Juul has 75 of the market. In november of 2018 it took all its flavored pods off the retail market. So in an effort to try to stop youth vaping. The other thing thats going to happen, savannah, is this isnt going to happen immediately. The Administration Says it needs several weeks to finish its guidelines, and then once those are published there will be a 30day waiting period. Were talking about months not weeks before these pods come off the market. I saw a figure, in a new study that shows, i think it was 27 , more than a quarter of High School Students are vaping, which i think is part of the reason why were doing what were doing. Whats the significance to you that the governments now getting involved . The significance is exactly what you talked about, more than 25 of High School Students are saying, yes, i vape. The number one reason they start vaping is because of flavors. What we know is they start with flavors but they end up getting addicted because of the nicotine and that makes them continue on with these. Getting to those flavors, its a first step, but just a first step, is important because hopefully it stops this from starting up. If youve got a High School Student whos used to doing cotton candy vaping every day what do they do, they have to go cold turkey . Right now there are things they can do. There are some initiatives out there that are starting up. Pediatric experts a lot of teens are unaware this is happening. Parental encouragement goes a long way towards doing this. And there are some organizations out there. The truth initiative, truthinitiative. Org, my life, my quit, those are organizations that can help not just adults but teens as well stop. Talk about this illness. Are they any closer to figuring out what it is, whats activating this illness in young and Healthy People . Thats part of the problem. They say theres no single device or single ingredient or liquid that they can point to and say this is it. They think overall there seems to be some rhythms to this. It could be thc pods that could be causing part of it, but not all of it. Were concerned it might be the tip of the iceberg. The industry says its mostly the black market pods. This is why the industry is fighting back against the ban of flavored pods. What it says is youre going to create a black market for those now too because kids who are addicted are going to find a way to get them. Thank you very much. Important discussion. We turn to politics, race to the white house. Top democrat hopefuls in a debate tonight in houston, first time theyve all shared the stage together on one night. Joe biden and Elizabeth Warren are the frontrunners. We have Peter Alexander in houston for us. Good morning. Savannah, good morning to you from here on the campus of texas southern, a historically black university that was actually established when texas was still segregated. Tonight for democrats its down to top ten, one night of a threehour debate. The race has remained steady over the course of the summer with the exception of Elizabeth Warrens rise. Will tonight shake things up or will it solidify this field . On tap tonight a democratic duel in the lone star state. Former Vice President joe biden whose frontrunner status has proved durable despite intensifying scrutiny. So folks weve got to gain the respect of the world again. Reporter and senator Elizabeth Warren steadily climbing in the polls. And ive got a plan for that. Reporter biden previewing his rebuttalo that rallying cry. Plans are great but executing on those plans are two very different things. Reporter the two sharing the stage for the first time, but theyve squared off before, sparring in 2005 with warren, then a consumer advocate, testifying before the Senate Judiciary committee about a bankruptcy bill. Forget bankruptcy. That might be a larger question. Its the question of what role bankruptcy plays. Thats not my question. Id like you to answer my question. Biden later joking about their history after swearing in the freshman senator in 2013. The competing candidates presenting dramatically different strategies for winning the white house, biden trying to appeal to independents and wavering trump voters. Think about where we are, man. Its time for us to pick our heads up. This is the United States of america. Theres nothing weve been unable to do if we set our mind to it. Thats not hyperbole, its real. There is a lot at stake and people are scared. But we cant choose a candidate we dont believe in because were scared. Reporter among those competing for attention tonight Bernie Sanders whose policies largely line up with warrens. To wall street were tired of your greed and illegal behavior. Reporter and Kamala Harris whos had her own runins with biden as she tries to propel herself into the top tier. Businessman andrew yang finding a unique way to warm up here in houston, aiming to put points of his own on the board. Peter, theres a new poll out ahead of the debate. Where does it stand . Reporter its the new national poll, shows joe biden still in the lead with 24 points. Look behind him, neck and neck, Elizabeth Warren at 18 points, Bernie Sanders at 17 points. The biggest differencemaker for biden has been among africanamericans where he has seen really strong support. There will be a lot of americans watching tonight to see the way things out. Peter alexander in houston, thank you. And craig joins us now. Breaking news out of the Supreme Court. Craig . Good morning to you. In a move that bolsters the president on one of his signature issues, the Supreme Court has now cleared the way for the Trump Administration to enforce its toughest restrictions yet on Asylum Seekers at the southern border but the legal fight surrounding the issue is far from over. Kristen welker has the latest on this one. Kristen, good morning to you. Hi, craig, good morning to you. The Supreme Courts order marks a dramatic reversal for Asylum Seekers. For decades those who were fleeing violence or persecution in their home countries have had the right to at least apply for asylum here in the u. S. But now this decision will make that much harder to do. Overnight the president claiming victory. The nations highest court giving the Trump Administration permission to enforce its toughest restriction yet on Asylum Seekers even though that policy is still being challenged in lower courts the decision allows the government to deny asylum requests for migrants at the southern border who have traveled through mexico, or another country, without seeking protection in that other country first. The move is expected to severely cut down on the number of immigrants from honduras, guatemala and el salvador who can request asylum in the u. S. The president claimed victory overnight tweeting big United StatesSupreme Court win for the border on asylum, a key promise of his campaign that the president sees as critical to his reelection. And ive always said without a border we dont have a country. And without a country, ill tell you what, we wouldnt be without that border being strong we are securing the border like it hasnt been before. Reporter but critics lashing out saying the new rule will further endanger those already fleeing violent situations. Those Asylum Seekers become more and more at the mercy of the human traffickers and drug cartels. Reporter now, the aclu says it will keep fighting in the lower courts calling this a temporary step and insisting the lives of thousands of families are at stake craig, savannah, hoda. Kristen welker from the white house, thank you. We have a lot more to get to, including a defining moment in the nations opioid crisis. Roughly two dozen states have signed off on a potential multibillion settlement with the maker of oxycontin but other states are Standing Firm against that deal kate snow has been covering this crisis for quite a while hey, kate. Good morning, everybody Purdue Pharma and its owners are trying to settle more than 2,000 lawsuits against the company all at once. Those suits allege the company is in charge of fueling the opioid crisis. But at least 16 states say they dont want this deal. Reporter this morning more than two dozen states and territories along with 2,000 local governments agreeing to a tentative settlement with Purdue Pharma which makes oxycontin bankruptcy, dissolve and reform the drug maker would declare bankruptcy, dissolve and reform with future profits going to the plaintiffs the family, the 19th richest in the country, would give up ownership and pay at least 3 billion themselves but according to multiple reports the potential settlement contains no admission of wrongdoing at least 16 other state attorneys general tell nbc news they wont agree to the deal. Whats been offered doesnt do enough for victims and their families to confronting the worst Public Health crisis of my lifetime reporter connecticut attorney general william tong wants the company out of business entirely. They helped to start this fire thats now engulfed the country and then they poured gasoline on it instead of helping us put it out it seems theyre going to choose now to watch it burn. Reporter the lawsuits against Purdue Pharma accuse them of aggressively pushing painkillers. The strategy was defended in a deposition obtained by propublica. The way the sales scheme was set up if they sold more theyd make more money. Yes, yes. Same as almost every other company in the industry. Purdue is eager to settle with just weeks to go before the First Federal trial, the company telling nbc news wednesday it continues to work with all plaintiffs on reaching a resolution the Sackler Family saying this is the most effective way to address the urgency of the current Public Health crisis and to fund real stlusolutions, notd endless litigation a crisis that has already claimed 400,000 lives over the last 20 years. The settlement provides more than just money if its accepted. The proposed settlement would include purdue providing drugs that would reverse overdoses you guys have heard of narcan. They would give out drugs as well but they would continue to sell this drug and use the profits to fund the settlement to go to the states and all the other bodies. So thats a question mark right there because some states dont like that idea Purdue Pharma has threatened to declare bankruptcy if this doesnt work out its a giant game of chicken right now. If they declare bankruptcy thats less money. Less money for the states, exactly. Some states are saying lets accept this now and get something and other states, as you heard, dont want to. Does there have to be buyin from all the states . Thats a key question there had been reports they wanted a certain number of states to buy in but right now its very unclear how many states are necessary for the settlement to go forward. Kate, thank you very much. Weve got good news to share this morning actor and Comedian Kevin Hart is out of the hospital according to multiple reports tmz says hart is now at a Rehab Facility where hes expected to undergo intense physical therapy. 12 days ago youll remember hart was a passenger in his own custom 1970 plymouth barracuda when the driver lost control and rolled the car down an embankment hart suffered major back injuries, and he underwent surgery as well. His Production Company said the actor is expected to make a full recovery. We wish him the best. Were going to head to mr. Roker. We are watching the tropics, we have investigation area 95 l, over the next five days a 70 chance of developing heres the area, across the bahamas into the gulf. Its going to bring a lot of rain but its also the models right now are all over the map, literally. The american model is out into the gulf and a little weaker the european model brings it off the coast. The southeast coast. And strengthens as it rapidly is making it a making it a tropical system. Its a distance of 650 miles significant differences and intensities. But you can see everywhere from louisiana into alabama, georgia and parts of florida, were talking about all those folks have to be wary of this. No matter what happens this could be a drought buster. You can see how much behind we are as far as rainfall this could bust the drought with amounts of up to five to six inches your local forecast is coming up in the next 30 seconds good thursday morning. Im meteorologist kari hall. A live look outside at the Golden Gate Bridge, all clear and no fog to help cool us off. Its going to be much warmer reaching into the low 80s in San Francisco, upper 80s for oakland and some upper 90s for the inland east bay, and the trivalley. For the south bay san jose heading up to 94 degrees. Well see some mid to upper 90s as well for the north bay. Our temperatures peak tomorrow as well as some drifts of smoke coming in and then a gradual cooldown for the weekend. I asked what invest 95 l was. As we explained at the beginning of the forecast its an area of investigation invest. I do not youre not the only one. He didnt hang on his every word. Invest 95 l. Got it. Thank you, al. Just ahead here on a thursday morning well shift gears and talk about this, new details on this Sexual Assault allegation facing controversial nfl star Antoni