Give you something to cheer about. Nightly news begins right now. Announcer from nbc World Headquarters in new york, this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. Good evening. Late today, the Trump White House was delivered a blow in its struggle to seat a full cabinet when the president s choice for labor secretary Andrew Puzder abruptly withdrew his name. Puzders confirmation was placed in doubt after some republicans became skeptical about his history. Nbcs Peter Alexander has details. Reporter President Trumps pick for labor secretary andy puzder no longer up for the job. He said he had hoped to put u. S. Workers on a path to prosperity. This comes on the eve of the long delayed confirmation hearing. The fast food mogul dropping out amid growing resistance, including evaporating support from republicans. I believe the hearing tomorrow would have been extremely difficult for him. Reporter democrats tonight claiming victory. There is some good news today for workers and families and women in america. Reporter for puzder, the last draw may have been Oprah Winfreys company of a 1990 episode obtained by politico where puzders exwife appeared in disguise. He vowed revenge. He said i will see you in the gutter. This will never be over. You will pay for this. Reporter puzder always denied the allegations and his exwife has since recanted. His nomination sparked protests from california to florida, facing scrutiny for his minimum wage laws. Past employment of an undocumented immigrant as a housekeeper and racy commercials for his fast food restaurant. Even if he couldnt secure his own. Andy puzder wasnt the first cabinet pick to face fierce opposition but hes the first to fall short. Tonight, two more nominees may be at risk with one prominent republican saying he wont support the president s pick for budget director and another saying she wont support his pick for the epa. Lester . Peter alexander tonight at the white house, thanks, peter. After forcing out his National Security adviser yesterday, citing eroding trust over misleading statements, President Trump today publicly praised Michael Flynn and blamed the media for his ouster, leading questions as to whether he would have fired him with the russian official not gone public. Its part of a shadow hanging over the white house tonight. Nbc White House CorrespondentKristen Welker has details. Reporter in a stunning act of defiance, President Trump today blamed the media after he fired his own National Security adviser, Michael Flynn. General flynn is a wonderful man. I think hes been treated very, very unfairly by the media. As i call it, the fake media, in many cases. Reporter its the first time the president has weighed in on flynns departure which came after revelations flynn misled the president , Vice President and other top officials about discussing sarvegs sanctions with russians ambassador before the inauguration. Also pointing a finger at the intelligence community, who hes sparred with in the past. From intelligence, papers are being leaked, its criminal action, a criminal act and its been going on for a long time. Reporter left unanswered, why it took the president nearly three weeks after the Justice Department warned him about flynn to ask for flynns resignation and why the Vice President was kept in the dark for a full 15 days after the president found out. A source inside the white house acknowledges the episode has been a major distraction and now there are attempts to turn the page. Not only jeopardize his legislative agenda, i think it has the makings of unraveling his entire presidency. Reporter growing skepticism over his ties to russia. Law enforcement officials confirmed yesterday the fbi interviewed flynn as part of its broader probe of russia meddling into the u. S. Election. A senior u. S. Official says investigators have determined some Trump Campaign aides and trump Business Associates were in contact with russians during the president ial campaign. But current and former u. S. Officials say there is no indication those russians were a part of russian intelligence and so far Officials Say nothing has been found to indicate any collusion between trump aides and the russians to meddle in the election. Today, the president dodging questions about the matter. Pressure also mounting on capitol hill. If theres evidence of a collaboration between the Trump Campaign officials and russian operatives, that would be very serious. That would be a game changer. Reporter as lawmakers prepare to investigate, the Defense Intelligence agency has suspended flynns security clearance as it con dikt ducts a review of its own. Kristen welker also as the white house today, thanks. A very business dee day in washington, including a highstakes meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu discussing middle east peace and the president making some controversial comments that break with past president s of both parties. Here is our chief Foreign Affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell with more. Reporter President Trump rolled out the red carpet for israels Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu. The pomp and circumstance of a state visit, plus, melanias debut at a white house arrival ceremony. A mood change but also a major policy shift. The new president backing away from four decades of bipartisan u. S. Support for a palestinian state. Side by side with israel, known as the twostate solution. Im looking at two state and one state and i like the one that both parties like. Reporter the personal animosity between israels Prime Minister and president obama. Our alliance has been remarkably strong. But under your leadership, i am confident it will get even stronger. Reporter but mr. Trump surprising netanyahu with this unscripted request. As far as settlements, id like to see you hold back on settlements for a bit. Reporter tonight, donald trump sounding confident he can negotiate something that has eluded eight u. S. President s, middle east peace. Its the art of the deal. Reporter all of this happening while key cabinet secretaries are out of the country. You dont have the secretary of state there, the secretary of defense there, you dont have a National Security adviser. It appears that steve bannon is now the principle Foreign Policy adviser in the white house. Reporter with israel, the president relying chiefly on his soninlaw Jared Kushner who has ties to netanyahu. When asked about antisemitism since the campaign, the president pointed to his daughter who has converted to judaism. We are going to do everything within our power to stop longsimmering racism as far as people jewish people, so many friends, a daughter who happens to be here right now, a soninlaw and three beautiful grandchildren. And as for that bombshell that the president dropped on netanyahu about holding back on settlements, netanyahu gave no commitments while asked by Republican Leaders on capitol hill. Thanks, andrea. Were getting reaction from the west bank after including from netanyahus own brotherinlaw, a founder of one of the settlements thats become a flash point for both sides. He spoke with our chief Foreign Affairs correspondent Richard Engle in the west bank tonight. Reporter at the jewish settlement in the west bank, theres a feeling tonight that their time has come. No one expected it. Reporter one of the settlements founders went so far as to tell me President Donald Trump is nothing less than a gift from god. I feel that this is a miracle. A miracle. Reporter he is also Prime Minister netanyahus brotherinlaw sees israels borders expanding under President Trump. Reporter what about the basis for a Peace Process for many years . The twostate solution is absolutely crazy. Reporter batel is near the palestinian city of ra mall la and its built on law where palestinians hope their state will be. Yet, President Trumps administration has direct and personal ties here. The president s pick for u. S. Ambassador to israel, david friedman, helped raise millions for batel. There was no president who appointed an ambassador to israel with a real supporter of the settlements, never. Reporter among the half billion of israelis living in the west bank settlements, there was praise for president netanyahus insistence that israel maintain Security Control overall territory west of the jordan river, which would mean palestinians who now live in the west bank would be in a wider israel but without the rights of israeli citizens. The twostate solution, i dont think in the 21st century they will get away with it. Its impossible. Reporter but the Peace Process seems to have new rules under President Trump. Richard engel, nbc news, on the west bank. Tonight, President Trump is facing a series of early tests from a country led by a leader he has repeatedly praised. There have been several provocative actions by russia involving the u. S. In the air and at sea, including a ship getting awfully close to our coastline tonight. Hans nichols has details. Reporter russia testing the new administration, sending a spy ship spotted approximately 30 miles off the coast from a u. S. Submarine base in groton, connecticut. The u. S. Has been tracking it since it left russia months before. In the black sea, russian planes flying fast and low over a u. S. Destroyer. Russian aggression, a key concern today at the nato summit in brussels. U. S. Defense secretary james mattis also delivering an ultimatum to allies. Pay up or america will, quote, moderate its commitment to nato. Mattis saying some of his colleagues agree. Its a fair demand that all who benefit from the best defense in the world carry their proportionate share. Reporter britains defense minister telling nbc news mattis message hit home. This is a very timely warning. The threats are real from outside nato. Reporter mattis warning an echo from Trumps Campaign taunt to let europe fend for itself. Hans nichols, nbc news, brussels. Back home, swelling received word a short time ago that a third child has died after another horrific round of violence in chicago. Kids caught in the crossfire again and many there are asking when does this end . We want to warn you, some of the audio youre about to hear in this story may be disturbing. Heres nbcs ron mott. Reporter Devante White was just 2 years old when a hail of bullets ended his life. His pregnant aunt ran from the scene, wounded, she survived. The 26yearold man, the suspected target, did not. Levonte, one of three chicago children shot and killed in the last five days. Kanari gentry bowers, 12, struck while playing with friends. Takiya holmes gunned down while sitting in a parked car. Tonight, antwan jones was charged in her death. I was right there and i couldnt protect her. Reporter so far this year, 400 people have been shot in chicago. Thats up from 2016 despite a significant jump in gunrelated arrests. A frustrated Police Superintendent demanded action from lawmakers and others. Its not just about cpd. Its about cpd, its about our federal partners, its about prosecution, its about the community. Reporter mayor rahm emanuel says he welcomes help from washington and not just law enforcement. Send in the resources that also include fubd summer jobs programs. She loved everyone. Reporter tonight, at takiyas family copies with her loss, they plan to donate her organ gls this is what she would have wanted, that even though she didnt live, somebody else would have a chance. Reporter young lives lost and shattered among unending bloodshed. Ron mott, chicago. Theres an update on the shocking assassination in the airport in malaysia. North Korean Leader kim jonguns halfbrother poisoned by a pair of women as he waited for a flight. A woman with a vietnamese passport has been arrested after reportedly being identified on security footage. The other woman is still on the run. Still ahead tonight, predicting autism. What researchers are calling a major advance that can detect autism in babies before they are even a year old so parents can get them the assistance they need so much earlier in life. Also, rumor has in life. Also, rumor has your body was made for Better Things than rheumatoid arthritis. Before you and your rheumatologist move to another treatment, ask if xeljanz is right for you. Xeljanz is a small pill for adults with moderate to severe ra for whom methotrexate did not work well. Xeljanz can reduce joint pain and swelling in as little as two weeks, and help stop further joint damage. Xeljanz can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. Serious, sometimes fatal infections, lymphoma and other cancers have happened. Dont start xeljanz if you have an infection. Tears in the stomach or intestines, low blood cell counts and higher liver tests and cholesterol levels have happened. Your doctor should perform blood tests before you start and while taking xeljanz, and monitor certain liver tests. Tell your doctor if you were in a region where fungal infections are common and if you have had tb, hepatitis b or c, or are prone to infections. Xeljanz can reduce the symptoms of ra, even without methotrexate, and is also available in a oncedaily pill. Ask about xeljanz xr. It can seem like triggers pop up everywhere. Luckily theres powerful, 24hour, nondrowsy claritin. It provides relief of symptoms that can be triggered by over 200 different allergens. Live claritin clear. Tech at safelite, we know how busy your life can be. Mom oh no. Tech this mom didnt have time to worry about a cracked windshield. So she scheduled at safelite. Com and with safelites exclusive on my way text she knew exactly when id be there, so she didnt miss a single shot. I replaced her windshield giving her more time for what matters most. Tech howd ya do . Player we won tech nice thats another safelite advantage. Mom thank you so much team sing safelite repair, safelite replace. A heart attack doesnt or how healthy you look. No matter who you are, a heart attack can happen without warning. A bayer aspirin regimen can help prevent another heart attack. Be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. Bayer aspirin. Some children much earlier than ever before, even before their first birthday. And that would enable them to get the support they need much sooner. Its new hope for them and their families. Nbcs Gabe Gutierrez explains. Reporter when he was 2 years old, carrie kellers son was diagnosed with autism. It was heartbreaking for sure. Reporter she now has three more boys, each at risk for the disorder. Youre watching every move they make and then you see other kids their age and you think, maybe this child is also delayed and maybe this child does have autism. So it was a tough go for the first couple years of their lives. Reporter a new study out today in the journal nature finds its possible to predict autism within the first year of a childs life. Usually that diagnosis doesnt come until much later between the ages of 2 and 4. Researchers, like dr. Kelly boterin performed brain scans on sleeping baby who is had older babies with autism. In some they noticed bigger brains and they were able to predict 80 of the infants who would later be diagnosed with autism. If were able to detect it based on early brain development, we can begin intervention earlier, such as speech therapy, behavioral therapy to improve the outcome of these children. Reporter and the brain scans can predict which highrisk babies will not develop autism. But experts stress more studies are needed. You wouldnt look to this to provide answers to families right now but this does indicate that there is something on the horizon for them. Reporter carrie kellers youngest son had no signs of autism in his brain. I think it gives a lot of hope. Reporter she says the research could be a life changer for other parents like her. Gabe gutierrez, nbc news, st. Louis. Were back in a moment with a historic change for a hugely type 2 diabetes, listen up. Were not professional athletes. But that doesnt mean were giving up. Im in this for me. For me. Along with diet and exercise, farxiga helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. Lowering a1c by up to 1. 2 points. Do not take if allergic to farxiga. If you experience symptoms of a serious allergic reaction such as rash,. Swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing,. Stop taking and seek medical help right away. Do not take farxiga if you have severe kidney problems,. Are on dialysis, or have bladder cancer. Tell you doctor right away if you have blood or red color in your urine,. Or pain while you urinate. Farxiga can cause serious side effects including dehydration, genital yeast infections in women and men, serious urinary tract infections, low blood sugar, and kidney problems. Stop taking farxiga and call your doctor right away. If you have signs of ketoacidosis. Which is serious and may lead to death. Im in this for my family. Im in this for me. Ask your doctor about farxiga. And le