This is Nbc Nightly News with lester holt. Good evening. It is not where most of us imagined we would be seven months after the first highly effective vaccine became available in this country, yet here we are tonight talking about a fourth covid wave, doing exactly what the first, second and third waves did, inundating hospitals in their path with a surge of very sick patients while Infection Numbers accelerated by the Delta Variant are now climbing virtually everywhere, this wave is crashing over the most vulnerable states and communities, places with low Vaccination Rates and yes, deaths are starting to climb, too. Miguel almaguer leads us off tonight. Reporter tonight inside a growing number of hospitals across the country there is little doubt our nation has already entered a fourth wave, an explosive Summer Surge in covid cases few predicted, fueled by the highly contagious Delta Variant, now accounting for 83 of all new cases. The u. S. Is already averaging 26,000 new infections a day, over 1,000 an hour. The reason it is so formidable is the fact that it has the capability of transmitting efficiently from human to human in an extraordinary manner. Reporter today on capitol hill, the nations top pandemic doctors said it is the unvaccinated accelerating the pandemic as deaths skyrocket by nearly 50 . We have things open at 100 . Nobody is wearing masks. Reporter with the highest Infection Rates in the nation, states like missouri, arkansas and florida have Vaccination Centers that are empty and hospital beds that are full reporter how concerned are you that children will be at the center of the next surge in the fall . Yes, i think that, you know, theres that concern. Reporter at the university of alabamabirmingham, the pediatric Care Unit was nearly forced to shut down after a flood of children suffering from respiratory viruses that usually spike and spread in the Winter Cases of rsv are surging as restrictions loosen and more children gather together, the same Way Covid can people, just be smart, be safe try to protect yourself. Reporter now fearing a widespread fall surge, even vaccines are no guarantee against deltas serious Threat Today we learned a fully vaccinated white House Staffer and an aide to House Speaker Nancy pelosi also tested positive for the virus after meeting with fully inoculated democratic texas lawmakers who flew maskless To Washington and suffered breakthrough Infections Tonight an evolving threat as the unvaccinated face a future that looked more like our past miguel, i know there in l. A. You have been watching cases among the unvaccinated exploding. I understand another nearby city is taking Action Reporter lester, the city of pasadena citing the climb in infections as residents there even if vaccinated will need to wear masks again indoors. The city is also requiring all of its employees to be vaccinated lester miguel, thank you with the unvaccinated driving this new surge in cases, we take a closer look at why so many americans are deciding not to get a Shot Gabe Gutierrez reports tonight from louisiana. Reporter today John Bartucci got the covid shot that he put off for months. What was kind of holding you back before honestly, i just didnt see the need for it i just thought, well, im young and healthy. I thought maybe i wasnt going to be as affected as other people that would be more at risk. Reporter he is what Public Health experts describe at the moveable middle, adults that may have been initially skeptical of the Vaccine But Arent dead set against it. One, two and done. Reporter people like Sharon Landry i felt like i was being pushed into it, and when someone pushes i push back. Reporter who became convinced after her adult son got sick why did you get it today as opposed to, you know, say a couple of months ago . I just didnt feel like it was with everything going on, i just didnt know what to i didnt do any research. Reporter around the country roughly half of americans are fully vaccinated, but daily vaccinations have dropped below 1 million. Louisiana is among the states with the lowest rates, 36 of the population here is fully vaccinated some parishes are below 20 . I think there was a lot of misinformation that came out initially when the vaccine came out. Reporter for those getting the vaccine now it seems the choice is all the more personal John Bartucci is expecting his first child later this year. That kind of raises the stakes a little bit, right absolutely. Reporter still, it is an uphill battle. This hospital in lafayette has 260 more covid patients than it did two weeks ago. Lester Gabe Gutierrez tonight, thanks. You can make a plan for where and when to get vaccinated visit planyourvaccine. Com for more the man who knows the heights of success went even higher today. Jeff bezos, the Billionaire Founder of amazon, got the ride of his life, rocketing into space with three others Tom Costello reports from texas. Reporter roaring off the Launch Pad in remote west texas, Jeff Bezoss Billionaire Space dreams came today as he, brother mark, dutch Teenager Oliver Daemen and 82yearold Wally Funk i love it. Reporter Blue Origins first passengers floated weightless 66 miles up is It Everything you thought it would be fantastic reporter after four minutes, a dramatic Parachute Plunge to earth, their 10 1 2 Minute Trip coming to a soft landing in the Desert Sand and touchdown [ cheering ] reporter 21 years after founding Blue Origin as an allpurpose space company, bezos and his fellow passengers earned their astronaut wings today. There are few people i know more deserving of this, Jeff Reporter for Wally Funk, who nasa never allowed to fly because of her gender, a celebration 60 years in the making. And i want to thank you, sweetheart, because you made it possible for me. Ive been waiting a long time to finally get it up there reporter now the oldest person to ever go to space, joined by the youngest, 18yearold oliver among the memorabilia on board, amelia Earharts Aviator goggles. Looking down at the earths atmosphere, says bezos, makes Climate Change very real what you see is it is actually incredibly thin it is this tiny, little, fragile thing. And as we move about the planet we are damaging it. Reporter criticized for spending billions on a space tourism business, bezos is now facing backlash for this comment i want to thank every Amazon Employee and every Amazon Customer because you guys paid for all of this. Reporter he earlier used the spotlight to announce a new philanthropic initiative, giving away 200 Million for charities. Meanwhile, bezos announced 100 Million in Ticket Sales for future flights each ticket reportedly costing hundreds of thousands of dollars it is pretty steep right now. How do you bring the cost down so that this can be more accessible for everybody . Youve got to do it the same way we did it with commercial Airline Travel Reporter starting with biplanes, he says, and growing to Modernday Passenger jets so will he fly again hell, yes how fast can you refuel that thing . Lets go tom, what more can you tell us about the backlash over bezos thanking Amazon Customers and employees . Reporter well, he cashed out billions of dollars in Amazon Stock to build Blue Origin, but he has been vilified for the way he treats employees, for their salaries, also for allegedly not paying taxes. So for some this really struck a raw nerve, lester. Tom costello in texas. In just 60 seconds Stephanie Ruhle talks with Jeff Bezos about Todays Thriller in space. And keeping american athletes safe in tokyo with the olympics just three days away. It lasted just ten minutes but it changed their lives. What did Jeff Bezos and the others learn from Todays Space Flight Stephanie Ruhle spoke to bezos and his brother, mark, just moments after their flight Jeff Bezos, you are an astronaut now how does it feel its amazing. There are no words it was a perfect mission. We were im not talented enough to put this into words, the Accelerating G forces and how it felt, your skin pulled back and pushed into the seat, and then Zero G comes so suddenly and you are just floating. Surprisingly natural. Effortless. To be in Zero G you feel comfortable. I want to know, what did it feel like to be up there together when you locked eyes . It was pretty special. We i mean, first of all it just meant a tremendous amount to me to be able to represent my mom and dad, our sister christina. We did a little hi mom in Zero G. One of us was upside down in Zero G. Hopefully we got it right. What did you experience that matters to all americans . Well, listen, we have to build a road to space so that our kids and their kids can build the future and keep earth as this beautiful gem of a planet that it is. Thats going to take decades and decades to achieve, but you have to start, and big things start with small steps. Stephanie ruhle with Jeff Bezos. Less than three days to go until the Opening Ceremony at the tokyo olympics, but competition is already getting under way, and with covid the invisible Opponent Tom llamas in Tokyo Tonight on how the athletes are trying to stay safe. Reporter tonight the worlds greatest athletes, including japans naomi osaka, have two goals, win a medal and dodge the virus. Tokyo reporting a spike in covid cases today, more than 1,300 new infections still, Skateboarder Houston says so far he is enjoying his sports first olympics it is better than what i expected. Obviously we still got to be safe and take precautions because of covid, but its amazing to be here and see this all happen reporter around the city venues are preparing for an olympics like no other, making sure athletes are safe. Here in the Men Locker Room for swimming they will see Covid Rules from the moment they walk in you can see right here, theyre in japanese, but also they have pictures then over here, every other sink is closed off to keep the social distancing, and on the mirrors, more rules. Do you feel like you are ready and the swimmers will be safe . Yes, of course. No Doubt Reporter the most dramatic covid measure, no spectators, even though tokyo is still full of crowds from packed trains to semi full baseball stadiums i asked Tokyos Governor why the Olympic Games were being singled out. Why can people go to the Baseball Game but they cant go to the olympics translator the olympics is not a local game it is an international game therefore, the medical sector has asked us not to have spectators due to there being more passionate Cheering Reporter olympic organizers say it will be a different type of event but promise it will still captivate the world. Lester, even with competition getting under way tonight, a top olympic official says theres still a chance all of this could be cancelled if cases spike, but the focus right now is on delivering a successful Games Lester . All right tom llamas, thank you. The largest of the western wildfires in south Central Oregon is spreading rapidly tonight, fueled by hot, dry weather officials are asking for Firefighting Help from outside the state. Smoke from that fire has reached clear across the Country Air Quality advisories indicating unhealthy conditions are up in several states and include new york city, Philadelphia And Pittsburgh tonight marking six months in office, President Biden insisting hes delivering on his promise on covid and the economy. But from rising prices to rising crime, republicans are painting a very different picture. Kelly odonnell is at the White House for us reporter a sixmonth milestone. Today for the first time, President Biden convened his team without distancing, elbow to elbow in the Cabinet Room were delivering on our promises. Reporter his stewardship over the covid crisis, the highest priority we have to stay vigilant, especially with the Delta Variant thats out there. Reporter the president did deliver on his early pledge to speed vaccinations, but now struggles to convince hesitant americans to get the shots. On the economy, he says now more americans are working. 3 Million jobs, more than any administration has done in the first six months of being in office. Reporter but Today House republicans delivered their own sixmonth report card, including blasting inflation, at a 13year high americans are paying more for everything thanks to president joe biden. Reporter on the global stage, the president says he has restored traditional Partnerships America is back at the table. Reporter but it is unclear whether demands made of adversaries like russia will be met and on immigration, republicans blame the president for Migrant Apprehensions at a 21year high at the border, the crisis continues to spiral out of control. Weve seen historic numbers continuing to rise. Reporter the president , unsatisfied. We have to tackle the immigration problem, which were working really hard to get done. Reporter and then theres rising crime the president also acknowledged that Voting Rights and infrastructure are key goals still not within reach. Lester Kelly Odonnell at the White House, thank you. The man who chaired donald trumps 2017 inaugural committee was arrested today and charged with violating federal lobbying laws. The indictment said Thomas Barrack unlawfully tried to influence Foreign Policy Decisions of the Trump Campaign and later the administration to advance the interests of the United Arab Emirates a spokesman says he will plead not guilty. Former hollywood mogul, Harvey Wein of rape in new york city, will now face charges he sexually assaulted five women in Los Angeles Weinstein arrived at the airport in burbank, california, today after losing his fight against extradition. Earlier today a buffalo, new york, prison turned him over to california authorities. When we come back, more suspected cases of the mysterious illness hitting americans. Here are the two battling to the Line And Allyson felix. Simone manuels above her trying to fight on, and above simone. Getting an opportunity to show her stuff. Nonstop, displayed at the highest performance level. Finding something and the us takes Gold Dream on Dream On Dream On Dream On yes Ahhhhhhh Dream until your Dreams Come True it is a mysterious illness thought to be the result of attacks on u. S. Officials posted overseas, and Tonight Andrea Mitchell has more on a growing number of potential cases. Reporter tonight u. S. Officials telling Nbc News as many as 200 americans have now reported possible cases of that socalled havana syndrome, mysterious neurological symptoms, sometimes brain damage, first reported by diplomats at the u. S. Embassy In Havana in 2016, then appearing in russia and china. This year two dozen new cases in vienna, another in berlin. U. S. Officials say potential victims on every Continent But Antarctica we are investigating and reviewing reports of incidents from around the world. Reporter including personnel from the state department, cia and pentagon, but no proof of the cause in 2018, Nbc News reported u. S. Intelligence officials suspected Russia Russia denies it but Mark Polymeropoulos told me he had to quit the cia because of symptoms that started in moscow. I couldnt stand up i was falling over i had incredible sense of nausea and ringing in my ears i was, frankly, terrified. Reporter we sat down exclusively with cuban investigators in 2017 who denied blame. Translator cuba doesnt possess this Technology Cuba has never produced these times types of Weapons Reporter while searching for the cause, the biden administration is working on devices to protect personnel as it is considering sending diplomats back to havana for the first time since the attacks started. Lester thank you we told you last night about a shortage of cars. Well, furniture is hard to come by these days, too. Kristen dahlgren explains in the Price You Pay for a shortage of Material Reporter Brina Furman is shopping for an ottoman, but she may not be able to put her feet up until were looking at january of 22. Reporter Furniture Shipping is running months behind. I ordered the chair in December Of 2020 and it came about two weeks ago. Reporter the issue . Foam, that spongy material in cushions is in short supply after last Winters Storm in the south shut down production at five major u. S. Plants that make its main chemical component. Theyre still not back to normal. In a Supply Chai already stretched by global Shipping And Staffing issues. So the Foam Shortage has really delayed absolutely everything. Reporter Nick Johnson owns Su Casa Furniture in the baltimore area we would normally have quoted somebody the standard eight to ten weeks. Now we are quoting six months plus. Reporter and it is not just Furniture Foam is in boats, rvs, appliances and homes so the surge in demand is now causing price spikes so call around, see if what you need is in stock. Consider buying used you will get it right away be flexible with colors and fabrics, or do what brina is doing and be patient hopefully, you have a place to sit while you wait kristen dahlgren, Nbc News up next for us tonight, space inspiration, then and now. Finally, Americas Space Odyssey and a journey todays latest civilian flight that was six decades in the making thats One Small Step for man, One Giant Leap for mankind. That Giant Leap 52 years ago today didnt take us the distances we might have imagined back then. Since the apollo program, Mans Space Flight has stayed pretty much Close To Home release, release, release right now. The Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin missions barely reached the doorstep of space in fact, their flights just a few minutes shorter in duration than what Allen Sheppard achieved in first Human American Space Flight in 1961, but then, as now, it showed what was possible, piquing our imaginations and in this case opening a door to a world that was for so long the domain of countries, not people for now, price alone will keep it an exclusive club, but for how much longer . The forces of competition are not necessarily bound to the forces of gravity. A race among billionaires could very well put the rest of us in space in this lifetime Todays Launch was not a Giant Leap, but one of the small, critical steps that for decades have kept us holding our breaths with every Space Launch two, one. And now for the first time, wondering when it will be our turn get your Boarding Passes ready thats nightly news for this tuesday i will see you from tokyo for the olympics beginning on thursday. Thank you for watching, everyone im lester holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night. Next on nbc Bay Area. A step toward keeping the as in oakland. Its far from a done deal. Were really running out of time. As president Dave Kaval and i have a conversation, and why a move to Las Vegas is not off the table. And then fighting the spread of the Delta Variant. One Bay Area county has an eyeopening look at the vaccines. And their