i'm yasmin sicken. major legal news that we are following this afternoon after a court ruled a texas woman could get an abortion. this is to protect your health. the state supreme court has swooped in to put a stop to it for now. >> i think forcing me to continue the pregnancy, the pain and suffering, going through the risks of continuing the pregnancy, the risk of childbirth, again, especially given how by last two went, i think it's cruel. >> it is cruel. the new actions stemming from the efforts of one, manteca's attorney general, ken paxton. in a moment i will get reaction to all of this. with the lawyer representing kate cox. also ruling that donald trump can be gagged in his election interference case. not everybody connected to the case will be protected. this is concerning as it -- who trump might surround himself with if he gets back to the white house. one ally ready to go. >> i will support the president. i will support president trump. >> would you serve in a trump cabinet? >> in the right position. look, if i am the best person for the job, yes. i worked with president trump on a lot of policies. we worked together to win the majority. but we also have a relationship where we were very honest with one another. >> and why some house republicans are crying foul over the criminal charges of hunter biden. a case that threatens to put him in jail is a pretend to -- protect the president son. under fire for the actions it took in the united nations when it comes to a potential cease-fire and cause up. we are also following extreme weather hitting the country, just the start of a tough tough weekend ahead. live report on that coming up as well. we want to begin the with a bombshell new development out of texas. the state supreme court has stepped in to temporarily block a pregnant woman from having an abortion. kate cox just won a court order exception to the state's highly restrictive abortion law. she and her doctor successfully argued that her pregnancy is not viable and continuing the pregnancy carries serious health risks, even risks to her future fertility. texas attorney general, ken paxton, appealed the ruling to the state supreme court. leading to today's ruling. he is also threatening to prosecute any doctor or hospital that performs an abortion for kate cox. joining me now is molly dwayne, staff attorney at the somerall for -- reproductive rights. lead counsel on behalf of cox. rachel o'leary carmona, executive director of the women's march. i want to start with you on this one, molly. i want to get a sense of how kate is doing today after all of this. >> well, kate cox is an extremely confident and amazing person. to be able to put herself out there like this, i think we all know that 99% of people in her situation would not and could not do the same. we are just remaining hopeful. i'm basically sitting here trying to watch my kids through the rest of the day and wait for more news from the state supreme court. what we heard last night's they were temporarily putting the ruling on hold while they considered more. the reality is, the more we are talking about life sensitive, time sensitive health care like abortions for kate, every minute, every hour counts. she is trying to remain hopeful but it has been a challenging few days for her and everyone on our team. >> give me a sense of next steps here. i know you are essentially waiting after this block, this was put into action, it was put into place. is there anything else you can do in the interim as you wait to fight this in the courts to get kate what she wants and desperately needs? >> well, you know, texas supreme court is the final word on what texas law means in the state. there's not much we can do legally while we wait for them to decide. this is why the center for reproductive rights has brought a case on behalf of 22 women in texas who have been saying for years, i mean, we are talking about the most extreme abortion bans in the country. they have been in effect -- that they have in other states because of the vigilante abortion law that went into effect almost two years ago. but we are pushing these arguments forward in the court of public opinion and the court of law. and i think it is quite clear that the american public is with us, 70% of americans believe that politicians should not -- abortion included. we are hopeful that the courts will come around to that, however long it takes. for kate and for what she has to deal with today, we just don't know if justice will be swift enough. >> i want to read for folks on the attorney general's letter to kate's doctors. essentially issuing a threat, if they move forward with the abortion services. saying in part, we will not insulate you, doctors or anyone else, from civil and criminal liability for violating texas's abortion laws. how did they plan on policing this? i wonder. and with that, what is that doing to doctors, health care facilities, in the state of texas right now with these types of threats being leveled against them? >> when well, i want to be really clear about this. that letter should be stunning. it should be shocking to anyone who reads it. we are talking about an order of the texas courts of which ken paxton is an officer. you know, he's a lawyer just like i am, and he has pledged to uphold the constitution and laws of the state. he is saying that he is going to ignore an order from a court of his state and go after a physician, doctor, medical staff, hospital that we may just be following this order. i ask you this, what would you do if you are a doctor in the situation facing lifetime in prison? loss of medical's license and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines? it really is shocking. >> have you talked to kate? what is her mental state like as she waits here with this stay, with this block, in place and considering what the doctors have said. this pregnancy could do to her, her health and her future fertility. >> of course. i am in constant contact with my clients. we are navigating for her not only illegal but a medical situation of great urgency. so all i can tell you is that she is a courageous person and she is trying to remain hopeful, as am i, as i stand by. for the rest of the day, the rest of the weekend, however long it takes to try to get more clarity from the state supreme court. i want to emphasize again, this cannot be that way but health care is practiced in this country. >> molly dwayne, thank, you i hope you will keep in touch with us and our show going forward as this case develops. we certainly wish your team and kate cox the best. thank you so much. let's talk a little bit more about this. i want to talk about the presidents -- precedents -- state attorney generals office, specifically in part the letter that i just read to molly there that was issued to cates hospitals and doctors as well. this state now, putting kate in a situation in which she is fearing for her future fertility and her own health. >> i mean, i think it is very consistent with what we have seen inside of texas policy in abbott's texas where we are seeing thuggishness, political sluggishness that is playing out on the battlefield of women's bodies. when we hear from our base, we are hearing solidarity with kate cox, we are hearing solidarity with c are our, we hope c are our moves forward with their lawsuit with the other 22 women. and that women like cape, like the other 22 women whose voices have not been, heard whose stories have not been told, you know, we will find justice inside of these lawsuits. >> i want to read for you a poll from gallup. it is a poll that we have cited in one way shape or form since dobbs came into play. 85% of americans who are in favor of abortion, at least some circumstances, those results are far from an outlier. do you think that what we are seeing in the state of texas is an outlier to what people believe should be fair and free for women throughout the country? >> well, what we know is the issue of abortion has animated american politics since roe v. wade. we know that the gutting of roe and the disastrous dobbs decision and the espy eight decision have moved public opinion for the first time in a long time, but not towards abortion bans. in fact, away from them. super majority of americans do not support this. that is why these battles are playing out inside of corrupt courts. they have been, you know, handpicked with jurists who are advocates on this issue. who have a specific point of view and who are not upholding the constitution but who in fact are upholding their own personal beliefs. i think this is out of line with the american people and it's not even a matter of bullying, it is what we have seen in every single ballot initiative since dobbs. >> do you think, for democrats, abortion rights are the rallying cry for 2024? the number one issue? >> i think that the issue of abortion has driven record turnout at the polls from both women and young people. it is an issue that affects all americans and people should be very concerned about the attacks on abortion. as part of a broader attack on democracy. the people's voices have been heard and democratically expressed. there's a small group of extremists who are moving forward an agenda that is just not representative of what the people want. i think we will absolutely see this issue unfold again in 2024 as we did in 2023 and 2022. >> rachel or leary carmona, we appreciated. i want to turn to the former president and his legal troubles. a federal appeals court in d.c. has upheld a gag order on donald trump and his federal election reappearance case. that order has gone into effect immediately. trump has already said he's going to appeal the decision again. i want to bring in nbc news, justice reporter, ryan reilly. also the author of citizen hunters, how january 6th up -- helen talk us through where this gag order stands right now. are any of these courts prepared to deliver consequences if, in fact, trump breaks these gag orders? >> that is the really big question about this. what are the consequences going to be? it is tough to imagine the judge wanting to be the person who locks donald trump up pretrial. i think the best way they can move forward with this is by sticking with that trial date which is now set for just less than three months from now in march. so regardless of what donald trump says, the consequence can be essentially that those trial dates move forward and that they get this to trial before hand. that was sort of mentioned by the appeals court here saying that this trial is going to happen before the elections. this other kind of alternative remedy that donald trump was suggesting, essentially saying that oh, if we just move it after the election of these issues would really be a major problem. they toss that out. i think that set the stage for what is to come. you know, this case is moving forward. we have seen this litigation. unless there is another appeal, which of course, donald trump will continue to do with whatever measure he can or whatever avenue he can because really this is all just about clock management for them. if you look at what donald trump says, the team, they say that they don't believe donald trump can get a fair trial in d.c.. you, know if you read into that a bit, they believe donald trump is going to be convicted in d.c.. so really, all of their tactics are about getting this to be delayed and taking it back to trial, then if they get a delay in a few months they will so, while it's too close to the election. now it is just clock management i think at this point in the proceedings. >> there is also the ruling that the former president is appealing, he doesn't have immunity for a prosecution in the federal case. what is he arguing here? >> i mean, all of these appeals are -- taking any avenue they can. he was acting as president and his actions are protected by presidential immunity. obviously what the doj would say back is that this was not within the bounds of what he was doing as president. he was doing all of these actions as a presidential candidate, not in the representation of the united states. especially what they are going to try to argue on the trump side is that all of this was about voter fraud and he was just trying to uphold the rule of law and he was acting as president of the united states. these actions were through the campaign. this was all about -- there were not really actions that, you know, we're in the interest of the united states. they were all in donald trump's personal interest, in keeping himself in office. obviously that is one that you could probably bring up to the supreme court and they will delay as much as they can. but i think the justice department is going to try to keep the ball on track as much as they can for this trial to go ahead in march. >> ryan riley for, us thank, you brian. coming up later this hour, criminal charges filed against president biden's son, hunter, and why the doj is filing them now. up next, a weekend of extreme weather starting today in the south as the northwest sees a new storm. live report, we will be back in 60 seconds. report, we will be back i 60 seconds 60 seconds ow. you won't. it's ripe in here. my eyes are watering. i'm a busy man. look how crusty this is. shameful. ugh, it's just too much. not with this. tide. tide can tackle any pile. that a tackle pun? just clean the pile, ron. okay. this too. that was easy. when stains and odors pile up, it's got to be tide. the subway series is taking your favorite to the next level! like the #20. the elite chicken and bacon ranch. built with rotisserie-style chicken and double cheese. i love what i'm seeing here. that's some well-coached chicken. you done, peyton? the subway series just keeps gettin' better. right now in tennessee, five separate weaerlerts in warning.ncluding a tornad a short time ago a tornado was spotted on the ground near sharon, tennessee, in the western part of the state. no word yet of any damage or injuries. it is a small part of a strong cold front against the central and eastern u.s.. we've all seen tornado watches issued for parts of arkansas, kentucky, mississippi as well. then you have the pacific northwest. heavy rainfall in the coastal areas, flash flooding again. joining me now from jackson, mississippi, nbc's priscilla thompson. , priscilla good to talk to you. what are you seeing so far and how are folks preparing for the storm? >> yeah, yasmin, right now things in jackson, mississippi, are fairly calm. that could change in the next several hours as this city is among the 13 million people across the south from kentucky to texas that are under the severe weather watches for a potential of damaging winds up to 70 miles per hour. heavy rain and also the golf ball sized hail. even tornadoes with, as you mentioned, tornado watches already in effect for arkansas, mississippi, tennessee and kentucky and certain parts of those states. so this weather is coming as we are seeing this video from the west, where they are digging out from massive snow that they got with parts of utah getting as much as 33 inches. you showed that video, the dash cam video, where that man veered into the lane of a state trooper and the two almost collided. thankfully they did not. those are some of the conditions that they were dealing with in places like utah, colorado, there was an 18 car pileup. thankfully no reported deaths there. certainly some very serious conditions and as we look ahead to tomorrow, all of the severe weather is now going to be headed your way with places like new york, d.c., and philly, a danger, potential flooding. they're 48 million people from d.c., to, maine who will be under flood watches tomorrow. yasmin? >> we will be looking out for. that keep us updated on what is happening there, priscilla. thank. you still ahead, new reaction today from human rights groups over the u.s. vetoing the united nations resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in gaza. plus, what awaits hunter biden in a trial after the president's son is hit with nine new tax related charges. what a second trump term could look like, including a cabinet full of loyalists. the danger to democracy on day one. >> we love this guy, he, says you're not gonna be a dictator are you? i said no. other than day one. or closing the border, we are drilling, drilling, drilling. after, that i'm not a dictator. >> ♪ unnecessary action hero! ♪ -missing punches? -unnecessary! -check reversals? -unnecessary! -time sheet corrections? -unnecessary! -unentered sick time? -unnecessary! -go! -unnecessary! -go! -unnecessary! -when you can take this phone, you'll be ready. -make the unnecessary, unnecessary. welcome. let your employees do their own payroll. back a short time ago the u.s. pushed through an emergency arms sale of 14,000 tank shells to israel with an estimated price tag of 106 point $5 million. the move by the biden administration bypasses the standard congressional approval process. also, secretary of state, tony blinken, meeting with arab foreign ministers about the fighting in gaza. reaffirming support for israel's right to prevent another octor 7th style attack as well as the urgency of addressing humanitarian needs gaza and protecting palestinian civilians from harm. all of this comi a day after the u.s. vetoed a resolution by the u.n. security council to urge an immediate cease-fire due to the impending quote unquote humanitarian catastrophe in gaza. i want to bring in nbc, holly wong, standing by for us in tel aviv for more on this. let's talk through this, hala. and the surprise to the u.s. vetoing this call by the u.n. for a cease-fire vote. things are continuing to deteriorate on the ground in gaza. >> it was not much of a surprise. i think that arab countries around the region, including the sponsor of the u.n. resolution, the united arab emirates, expected this american feet out. the deputy u.s. ambassador to the u.n. justified america's position of the u.n. security council by saying that the resolution itself did not explicitly condemn hamas and it's october 7th attack. there has widespread khan's earns about the region and among human rights groups as well. amnesty international, for instance, the secretary general of that group said that the u.s. vetoed displays a callous disregard for civilian suffering in the face of a staggering death toll. when you look at the humanitarian situation in gaza it really is difficult to overstate how disastrous it is becoming based on everything we are hearing from u.n. aid groups, but world food programme for instance has said that nine out of ten people in gaza are not eating every day. half of the strip is facing starvation. this is obviously due to the fact that not just -- not just the fact that there's an ongoing war in bombardment, but that no aid trucks are getting in. they can't reach in any way the tremendous need of the people inside of the gaza strip. 85% of whom have been displaced since october 7th, yasmin. >> hala grown-up for us. hala, we appreciate. it coming up next, the charges against the president, son hunter biden is facing it and white republican lawmakers are complaining about it. teenager sentenced for a deadly shooting at his high school and his parents are facing trial next. we will tell you what they are charged with after the break. charged with after the break. t touch it, don'h it yet. let me get the big one. nope. -this one? 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