Ramped up in airports in australia after a plot is foiled. Four men in custody. What led to their arrest . All that, plus, did a search for Hidden Treasure claim another victim. The case of the incredible shrinking airline seat. And labor of love. A doctor about to give birth herself, takes a break to deliver someone elses baby, the monday morning story to give you a boost. Today, july 31st, 2017. From nbc news, this is today, with matt lauer and savannah guthrie. Live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. And good morning, everyone. Welcome to today on this monday morning. Thank you for joining us. Hodas here while savannah takes vacation time. Playing trading places here. And you are back. We missed you. I missed you, too. Not the same without you. Thank you. Its good to come back and we come back with real news to cover this morning. New turmoil facing President Trump and abroad. Vladimir putin is calling for the expulsion of 755 u. S. Diplomats and Staff Members from russia. Theres new tension with north korea, as well. On sunday, the u. S. Flew two bombers over the Korean Peninsula, following the second longrange missile test this month. As we said this comes at the president s new chief of staff in the white house is sworn in today, after last weeks ousting of Reince Priebus. But will retired general john kelly be able to restore order to the white house . Were covering it all for you this morning starting with nbc chief Foreign Affairs correspondent andrea mitchell. Andrea, good morning to you. Reporter good morning, matt. Dangerous crises on two fronts today. Vladimir putin retaliating for congressional sanctions against russia. And the u. S. , in a show of military force against north korea, in the face of an alarming new missile threat. This morning, harsh words about russia from Vice President mike pence, traveling in estonia. A former soviet state. No threat looms larger in the Baltic States than the specter of aggression from your unpredictable neighbor. Reporter slamming Vladimir Putin after announced on state tv he ordered the u. S. To slash its diplomatic staff in russia by 755. The recent diplomatic action taken by moscow will not deter the commitment of the United States of america, on our security, the security of our allies and the security of freeloving nations around the world. Reporter the largest forced reduction at the u. S. Embassy in moscow in a century. I think this retaliation is long overdue. Reporter putin striking back after a nearly unanimous sanctions vote for russia in congress. Vice president pence says the president will sign it. The president made very clear very soon he will sign the sanctions from the congress of the United States, to reinforce that. Reporter putin retaliating for former president obamas expulsion of 35 russians and closing two russian u. S. Facilities last summer, punishment for the election hacking. This as more trouble on another front. The u. S. Displaying its Missile Defenses on north korea from alaska. And in another show of force, b1 bombers flying over the Korean Peninsula, after kim jonguns regime fired its second long range missile friday. This one even more powerful than the first, with a trajectory, if flattered out, that experts say could not only reach the west coast but also denver and even chicago. President trump on twitter blaming china. Im very disappointed in china. Our foolish leaders deal with with north korea, just talk. We will no longer allow this to continue. China can easily solve this problem. On this, democrats agree. I think the only solution is a diplomatic one. Im very disappointed in chinas response that it has not been firmer or more helpful. Dangerous challenges around the world for a new president who is also grappling with crises here at home. Hoda and matt, back to you. Andrea, thank you very much. Lets talk about more about this. Michael mcfaul, former u. S. Ambassador to russia, is a nbc news Russian Affairs analyst. He is with us along with jeremy bash, our National Security analyst. Gentlemen, good morning to both of you. Michael, i want to start with you. As i do, i think you and jeremy slightly disagree on this question. You think this is a pretty aggressive move on the part of the russians, dont you . I do. One, because i think its unjefd. We didnt meddle in their elections. Why are our diplomats being punished . And number two, its not symmetric to what we did. The Obama Administration kicked out 35 diplomats, allegedly those who were actually working as intelligence officers. This reduction is over 700. Most of those will be russian employees but thats a drastic cut. Thats the embass yea of iran. It it will be harder to do business in russia as a result of this. Jeremy, you feel this is boilerplate that there might be some positive relationship to be had between Vladimir Putin and donald trump, or President Trump, and this is kind of trump or putin saying, business is business. Trump was forced to sign this bill and putin knows it. I think, matt, that the bromance will continue. Russia is getting a lot of return on its investment. Its getting examine effectively what it wants in syria. We agreed to scrap a program that would push assad out of the way. Its also getting what it wants visavis nato. And our president s response to defending nato has been tepid. And russia likes that. Michael, you have been obviously a chief diplomat in russia. If you were to expel 755 diplomats and staff, how does that impact the way the u. S. Does business with russia . Diplomatically . Its huge. When i was ambassador, we had to close down the u. S. Agency for international development. That was only 70 people. But that was very, very difficult. And i want to remind you, it hurts russians, too. Remember, you go to the embassy to get your visa. Thats the biggest section. Its going to take longer for russians to get their visas to come to the United States. This has a boomerang effect that hurts russians, as well. Let me go to you, jeremy, on north korea. Another crisis facing this white house. President elect trump famously said, north korea just stated its in the final stages of developing a well capable of reaching the u. S. It wont happen. What is President Trump learning about the North Koreans . 14 tests. They have cleared most of the technical hurdles that can build an icmb that can go downtown chicago, denver, maybe new york. The last piece would be to miniaturize their Nuclear Warhead and put it atop that icbm. President trump said, the Obama Administration policy of strategic patience has come to an end. Please explain to me what the difference is between the Obama Administrations approach and the Trump Administrations approach to north korea is. Im not sure we know what the Trump Administrations approach is yet, hoda, but the Trump Administration has before it probably in meetings this week in the situation room a very stark choice. Either to step a Nuclear Armed north korea that can hit the United States, or take military action pretemp preemptively. I would think they would look for a symbolic strike on one facility in north korea to send a signal. Michael mcfaul, thank you. Jeremy, stick around. We want your take on something else. This is the shakeup at the white house. The president s new chief of staff, retired general john kelly, being sworn in today. And he faces a tough task, transforming a west wing thats seen its share of turmoil in recent weeks. Nbc National CorrespondentPeter Alexander is here with more on this. Reporter good morning. General kelly will get right to work this morning. Sworn in within the last 30 minutes. The president predicting hell do a spectacular job and attending his first Cabinet Meeting as chief of staff. The question, can he bring order and stability . Former white house advisers say kelly may provide discipline. The real question, they insist, is whether President Trump accepts it. President trump accepts it. This morning, a changing of the guard, general john kelly, the new chief of staff, beginning what may be one of his most daunting missions yet, bringing order to the trump white house. If we can have protocol, pecking order, order, discipline, and a chief of staff that empowers the staff to succeed, i know general kelly has done that on the battlefield. Reporter but lately the west wing has been its own battlefield. Kellys challenge, to be the president s gatekeeper and to limit clashes between competing factions. Including chief strategist steve bannon and Communications DirectorAnthony Scaramucci. New questions on who scaramucci will report to. Has scaramucci who said he reports directly to the president , have you now been told you report to john kelly . I will speak with general kelly and the president about that. As im sure Anthony Scaramucci will. Reporter meantime, one white house official with direct knowledge tells nbc news, ivanka trump and Jared Kushner are supportive of Reince Priebus departure and are eager to follow kellys lead. From the president s former campaign aide, this piece of advice. Anybody that thinks they will change donald trump, doesnt know donald trump. Reporter a point punctuated this weekend. The president first taunting his own party tweeting that, after failing to repeal obamacare, senators look like fools. Lating rooting them on, dont give up. The world it watching. Also the president is taking heat for these recent remarks to americas police. I said please dont be too nice. Reporter appearing to endorse rougher treatment of suspects. Like when you guys put somebody in the car and youre protecting their head, you know, the way you put the hand over like dont hit their head and theyve just killed somebody. Dont hit their head. I said, you can take the hand away, okay . Reporter the backlash immediate. The Top Police Chiefs group, condemning the comments. Underscoring that Law Enforcement officers are trained to treat all individuals with dignity and respect. The nypd commissioner blasting the president s suggestion as irresponsible and unprofessional. The white house has not commented. Likely with the meeting, we will see President Trump in a room with attorney general Jeff Sessions since he began publicly disparaging him. Matt and hoda . Peter alexander, thank you very much. Jeremy, come on back in here for a second. You worked with general john kelly. You know the guy. You know his personality. All this talk about backstabbing and infighting in the west wing of white house. Does he have the personality to accept that or deal with it . How is it going to hand tell . No, he wont tolerate that. I know john very well. He and his wife, karen, are the real deal. They are patriots. They have given the ultimate sacrifice. They lost their son, robert, killed in action in afghanistan. November 9th, 2010. They know the meaning of public service. I think john is doing this job for the right reasons. He will be able to succeed if and this is a colossal if, if the president gives him the authority to end the chaos and dysfunction in president ial decisionmaking. Its unclear if the president will do that. And if the president listens to him. Thats right. The president has to take his advice. And he has to make clear that john is in charge of the entire staff. There arent just popup walkins that are allowed. This marine understands the chain of command. All right. Jeremy, thank you. Good to have you here. Theres a lot more to get to this morning, including a chilling terror plot, to bring down a passenger jet. This one was thwarted in australia. Officials there made the announcement on sunday. And this morning security is being stepped up at airports across that country. Nbcs Kelly Cobiella has the latest on the investigation. Good morning to you. Hey, matt, good morning. Yes, the department of Homeland Security said this morning theyre aware and closely following this investigation into what Australian Police say was a sophisticated plot to bring down a commercial jet. This morning, police are holding four men, all brought in during sweeping raids over the weekend, suspected of plotting to blow up a passenger plane. I know nothing, this suspect says. Police have not named the man and theyre not yet charged. But investigators still searching for evidence this morning at several Properties Across the suburbs of sydney, called the plot credible. And said there was quite possibility a capability to carry it out but did not yet have specifics about location, date or time. Good intelligence. Great policework. Great investigation. Great coordination has enabled us to disrupt that plot. Part of a bomb reporter local media citing unnamed Law Enforcement sources reported the plot involved a homemade bomb hid be in a meat grinder and releasing poisonous gas in a plane. Police would not confirm that. The plot that were investigating, we believe was an attempt to put a device on to an aircraft. But beyond that, the speculation is just that. Speculation. Reporter at airports across australia, new tougher security measures. This morning, long lines, more bag checks and frustrated travelers. Extra caution should be taken. But this is excess honestly. This is just too much. It cant be helped. Reporter australia hasnt been hit by a major terrorist attack since the siege and hostagetaking at the lindt cafe in sydney two years ago. Two people were killed, along with the gunman. This morning, this country is on alert. And police say the investigation is ongoing. They say theyve already seized a number of what they call items of great interest. They havent said whether the alleged plot is tied to isis, only that it was islamist inspired and involved extensive planning. Hoda . Matt . Morning for an inmate who broke out of an alabama jail sunday night. 11 other inmates, including 2 attempted killers, have already been recaptured. But one escapee is on the loose. 24yearold Brady Kilpatrick was jailed for drug offenses. Offduty Law Enforcement personnel have been asked to help on that last one. We have an update on the power outage on north carolinas outer banks. Tens of thousands of people who were forced to evacuate over the weekend got more bad news on sunday. Authorities say all three power lines that serve the islands have been damaged. And electricity could be out for as long as two weeks. On thursday, a Construction Company accidentally drove a steel casing into a power cable. Since then about 70,000 visitors and vacationers have been evacuated. For the second time in eight days, a group of arizona hikers had to be rescued after being stranded by flash flooding. This time it happened in sabino canyon, northeast of tucson. 26 hikers were trapped by raging floodwaters and had to be airlifted to safety. Nobody was hurt. Last monday, 17 hikers were rescued from a Recreational Area a few miles away from there. Crews used a helicopter to pull them up from the bottom of a cliff. Lets get our first check of the weather this morning. Al is off. And dylan is in. We have sticky weather on the way. Eventually. Yes. Wesee humidity build in the northeast. We have a tropical depression off of the west coast of florida. Winds at 35 miles per hour. The storm system is moving east at about eight miles per hour. Its expected to cross right across florida, through the day and into the overnight hours. By 2 00 a. M. , tomorrow morning, were going to see the storm exit off the east coast of florida and move out to sea, parallel to the eastern southeast seaboard. Before it does so, we could see several inches of rain fall through florida. So because of that, we have flash flood watches. In effect and also a Tropical Storm watch because of those gusty winds. We could see at times two to three inches of rainfall an hour. That could result with five to eight inches of rain in some areas. Thats why we could see flash flooding. As far as the southeast coast, south carolina, north carolina, even down into georgia, were looking at rough surf. That storm should stay out to sea at this point. Thats a look at the weather across the country. Your local forecast is coming up in the next 30 seconds. Welcome to the neighborhood. I brought you this pie to see if youre weird. Wow, that smells intrusive. It is. Did you want to come in, maybe snoop around a bit . Thats why im here. Wouldnt it be great if everyone said what they meant . Ooh, i smell onions the citi® double cash card does. Only citi lets you earn 1 cash back when you buy, and 1 as you pay. The citi double cash card. Double means double. Good morning. Im meteorologist kari hall. Today temperatures in San Francisco reaching 70 degrees and we will get some sunshine later on this afternoon. It will be a little bit warmer tomorrow, reaching 78 degre