candidate? they're both pros. >> at this point they're pros about it i do think what happened in st. louis, the first time that the trump campaign did all of these antics, it might have had some impact, at least on campaign team, maybe on hillary clinton herself. i don't think any of this stuff works and over-the-top theet ricks, that's par for the course for las vegas. one, obviously donald trump's back is against the wall and this is his last big shot at sort of getting back in the race. but it's you're paul ryan and you're the speed he can of the house. a bad night tonight for donald trump, a night similar to the first debate and it is a catastrophe for the republicans down the ballot. paul ryan, anybody else needs trump to have a good night if they want to give themselves a good chance of holding their house majority. this is no longer about fixing the presidential race and getting that closer, this is about whether the republican party can stop a total loss. >> it's a long view you're looking at? >> yes, absolutely. our primetime coverage of presidential debate starts at 9:00 p.m. eastern. 6:00 p.m. pacific here on nbc. to an nbc news exclusive investigation as wikileaks continues to play a major role in this election. u.s. intelligence sources are taking us inside the effort to stop the flow of documents hacked by russia and published by wikileaks. here's nbc news senior investigative correspondent cynthia mcfadden. >> a high-level u.s. intelligence source tells nbc news that the u.s. is confident election-related material being hacked by the russians. the u.s. claims the kremlin has been behind the theft of a wide range of documents. many of them harmful to the clinton campaign. the highly placed intelligence official tells nbc news new defensive measures taken by the u.s. and its allies are choking off the cyberpaths the russians have been using to steal emails from high-profile democrats and >> i think it's credible that the u.s. government is doing everything possible to stop the cyberbleeding, to stop the leaking of information that the russians are getting access to. that doesn't mean that the russians don't already have a lot of information and it doesn't mean that they won't find ways of either disseminating that information, or getting access to more of it. >> u.s. intelligence officials also tell nbc news they are more confident than ever that the russians have used wikileaks founder julian distribute the hacked material. telling nbc the u.s. considers assange a quote willing participant in the russian scheme. assange has been holed up in the ecuadorian embassy in london for more than four years. >> they're frustrated because wikileaks has done a fair amount of damage in releasing classified information. and of course, assange has taken the courageous way out by hiding in the ecuadorian embassy in personal. multiple intelligence sources tell us that the u.s. quietly pressured ecuador to shut off julian assange's internet access. isolating him from his organization. the state department in ecuador have publicly denied that there was any pressure. today, the reverb rations of russia's cyberassault have being felt across the political spectrum. even republican senator marco rubio came out swinging against wikileaks. >> do we want to be a intelligence agencies can blackmail our elected officials and say to them that unless you do what we want you to do, we're going to release emails from your campaign manager. your wife. your daughter. your son. and we're going to embarrass you. so unless you want to be embarrassed, you better do what we want you to do. >> even though the flow of new material may have been plugged for the moment, there are still thousands of additional documents already in the lester? >> cynthia mcfadden, thank you. in portland, oregon, a massive explosion has injured at least eight people, including firefighters who rushed in to help evacuations have been made minutes earlier. likely saving lives. nbc's miguel almaguer has our report. >> the massive explosion owe lit rated at least one building. tearing others to pieces. shattering windows a block away, portland. >> gas line just exploded. >> just before 9:40 this morning, police and firefighters scrambling to the scene of a gas leak. ordering immediate evacuations, when the blast blew apart a commercial building. >> had those evacuations happened you know minutes later, this could be a much different situation. >> at least eight injured, including five first responders who radioed for help, two with >> after the initial explosion -- several smaller blasts shook this upscale trendy shopping district. flames shooting into the air. chaos and confusion and a nearby school evacuating. >> i heard a lot of screams and like people were running away and like kind of in a scattery fashion in the street. >> the gas company says there was construction in the area when a gas line was ruptured, neighborhood. >> it was like a huge explosion. and you know your thought is, terrorism. or -- a bomb. >> tonight, this busy portland, oregon neighborhood is in pieces. but thankfully, no lives were lost. miguel almaguer, nbc news. >> turning overseas to iraq, where a u.s.-backed offensive draws closer to mosul. the battle to free the city from isis could be a long and bloody one. nbc news several isis leaders have already fled. nbc's richard engel has more from inside iraq. >> u.s.-backed kurdish and iraqi troops are tightening the noose around isis in mosul. closing in from three sides. and isis, although still in relatively small numbers, is now fighting back. isis has had plenty of time to prepare for this fight. kurdish troops uncovered this mosul. they expect there are many more like it, and that isis has also planted bombs in their path. in its propaganda, too, isis is promising that america will suffer a humiliaing defeat here. nonsense, according to general gary valesky, he said some isis leaders are hitting the road. >> we're seeing isis leaders leaving mosul. >> isis moving? >> we've gotten indications of foreign fighter presence that will stay. >> that's because unlike locally recruited isis fighters, the foreigners will have a hard time mixing in with the stream of civilians already escaping from the war zone. the big question now is how many isis militants will actually stand and fight in mosul and how they'll do it. beside the tunnels and bobby traps, there are concerns isis could use crude chemical webs. american commanders tell us they're prepared for that, too. lester? >> all right. richard thank you. still ahead tonight, refunds for delayed bags, one of the major changes the white house wants to make to address some of the most common complaints among airline passengers. also, a major wireless carrier was doing to customers we're back now from las vegas. hard to believe but it's already booking those airline tickets for the holidays. today the obama administration announced a series of proposed new rules designed to offer more protections for airline customers. like getting a refund if your luggage arrives late. but the airlines insist the rules could actually lead to higher ticket prices. here's nbc's tom costello. >> imagine the frustration of elena and john balzer when they arrived in alaska, their luggagings, with their cold weather gear, didn't. >> we had left 80-degree weather and landed in anchorage and it was 45. after a wek without their bags, they gave up. >> after five days of not having what you need, it was just enough. >> nationwide, roughly three bags are reported lost, delayed, damaged or pill ferred, per 1,000 customers. 175,000 bags in august. paying to check luggage can cost $25 per bag. trip. airlines already must refund baggage fees if the baggage is lost or damaged. new rules would require a refund if the bags are substantially delayed. airlines would be required to disclose the ontime performance record for any airline that flies under its brand. and online travel sites would have to reveal whether any airline is paying fof their flights pop up first in online searches. the airline industry warns the proposed rules could harm customers by airlines sell their products. but consumer advocates say it's common sense. >> what's the principle of the thing? you pay for a service, you should get the service you pay for. and if you don't, you should get your money back. >> a push to hold airlines more accountable. tom costello, nbc news, washington. we're back in a moment with a plane that crashed into a there is news tooth for customers of t mobile. the country's numb three wireless carrier has been fined $48 million for not telling users clearly enough that so-called unlimited data plans weren't actually unlimited. in fact, the fcc says t-mobile was intentionally slowing down the speeds of customer who is used the most data. of that $48 million settlement, some $35 million will go to customers via discounts and upgrades. tensions between police and protesters erupted in a shocking violence in the philippines. a police van rammed into the crowd of demonstrators and even ran over some of them. it happened outside the american embassy in manila. the protesters are calling for an end to the u.s. military presence in their country. caught on cam remarks dramatic rescue when a small plane crashed in a new jersey back yard. two men were trapped upside-down after the plane somehow missed all the nearby homes and split into two upon impact. and their injuries are believed to be nonlife-threatening. when we come back, just what kind of lessons are american kids learning from this contentious election? >> announcer: "nbc nightly news" is brought to you by pacific life. helping generations of families achieve long-term why do protein drinks taste chalky? then get worse? introducing protein shots from 5-hour energy. protein shots from 5-hour energy are smooth and tasty, and still deliver 21 grams of protein with 100 calories. they're great for workouts. so great that if you don't get up to fifteen percent more reps, more laps, more distance, we'll give you your money back - period. finally tonight, we've all watched this presidential race take some childish turns. rather than our schoolkids learning from the candidates, maybe the candidates could learn a thing or two from them. here's rehema ellis. >> it's not easy teaching civics. >> you got to have pros and cons. >> during a campaign that's anything but civilized. in one word, describe how you feel about this presidential campaign? >> doubtful. >> disappointed. >> nervous. >> why are you nervous? >> because these candidates are the people who are deciding our future. >> the principal at pinellas park middle school says the candidates' behavior contradicts educators' messages abou >> you see highly paid professionals, highly educated people that are basically booing each other in front of millions of viewers and yet, the kids come to school and we tell them it's inappropriate behavior. >> donald trump is being disrespectful to women. and i don't like that. >> she lied about like the 33,000 like emails. >> they act like little kids. like they argue and everything. >> it's a hard election for students, it's a hard election election unfold -- >> i would say to donald, you need to be a more respectful towards the united states and women. and i would tell it to hillary, that you just need to be honest and tell the truth. >> it's hard to see what would happen to the country if one were elected. so that's what makes i think everybody anxious. and uncomfortable. >> one of them will be elected. >> i know. >> a sigh, that pretty much sums up the on candidates face each other again tonight. rehema ellis, nbc news, pinellas park, florida. and that's going to do it for us on this wednesday night. i'm lester holt. i'll see you later for our live coverage of tonight's presidential debate. until then, for all of us at nbc news, thanks for watching. sick, huh? i'm good. i just took new what is this sudden cooooling thing happening? it's got a menthol burst. you can feel it right away. new mucinex fast-max clear & cool. feel the menthol burst. and clear your worst cold symptoms. are you saying you are not -- >> he is denigrating. he is talking down our democracy. >> donald trump challenges democracy, itself. setting the stage for post-election crisis. from a secret underground tunnel to the surge of iraqi forces on isis. the battle for mosul heats up. >> ap exclusive investigation into the russian hacking of the u.s. election. >> plus, could cleveland be headed for another world title in the same year? "early today" starts right now. >> good morning, everyone. will be up late into the morning. >> a lot of people will happen last night. we are not in the sprint after the campaign. after a ranker of presidential politics. the likes people have not seen. the to use a high profile moment to amplify one of the most charges of his campaign a. rigged election. refusing to say he would accept the election results if he loses. >> i want to ask you again on the stage tonight. do you make the same -- sir that you will absolutely accept the results of this election? >>ly look at it at the time. i am fought looking at anything now. i will look at it at the time. what i have seen is so bad. >> sir there is a division in the country. one of the pride of this country is the peaceful transition of power and no matter how fought a campaign that the loser concedes to the winner. are you saying you are fought prepared now -- >> i am saying i will tell you at the time. i will keep you if suspense. >> an audible gasp spread through the auditorium during that very moment. clinton made sure to it. >> let's be clear about what he is saying and what that means. he is den gaiting. he is talking down our democracy and i, for one, am appalled that somebody who is the nominee of one of our two major parties would take that kind of position. >> later in the evening, she reacted on trump's company on board her company late last night. >> what he said tonight is a part of his whole effort to blame somebody else for his campaign and for where he stands in this election. as i said, whenever he is losing, he says the system, whatever the system is, whether it's, you know, being in court wisconsin primary or losing emmys, for goodness sakes, he says it's rigged against him. here is what trump's running make, mike pence, had to make about the very same headline making moment. >> the reality of voter fraud in polling places and in some jurisdiction around the country. i think he as the presidential candidate tonight begin those two factors that he'll take a wait and seero elex elected official backing skepticism as law makers, both democrats and republican versus pushed back against him. reince priebus refuting trump's own word. >> when the debate started, it seemed one person spared in this final image. they watched as the candidates squared off from isis to the supreme court. who was checkpoint comparing her record to trump. >> in the 1980s, i was working to reform the schools in are arkansas. he was borrowing $14 million from his father to start his businesses. in the 1990s, i went to beijing and i said women's rights are human rights. he insulted a former miss universe, ais alissa machado, called her an eating machine. on the day when i was in the situation room, raids that brought osama bin laden to justice, he was hosting the "celebrity apprentice." >> here was trump hitting clinton on foreign policy. >> she has been outsmarted and outplayed worse tan anybody i have ever seen in any government whatsoever. >> and the debate quickly evolved into a war of word. here is one notable exchange over russian vladimir putin. >> look. from everything i see has no rather have a puppet as president. >> no puppet. your the puppet. >> it's pretty clear. >> no, you are the puppet. >> the elections have engaged in cyber attacks. >> but it was this moment that lit up social meth media when the candidates were discussing entitlem reform. >> i am on record as saying that we need to put more money into the social security trust fund. that's part of my commitment raise taxes on the wealthy. my social security, payroll contribution will go up as will donald's, assuming he can't physical out how to get out of it. but what we want to do is replenish -- >> cnn poll has clinton boating trump. one place? ohio, and wisconsin, meanwhile, mike pence remains on the stump will head to new hampshire and florida for clinton. while first lady michelle obama guess to the new battlegrounds of arizona, tim kaine soars through north carolina. clinton and trump will meet face-to-peace afen perhaps for the last time as they headline the infamous dinner new york tonight. breaking news overnight, turkish jets striking militia targets in syria. the north of aleppo. a news agency says as many as 200 have been killed, kurdish lead, say that number is smaller. the urky plams them for attacks over the past 84. we will keep you posted as we learn more afternoon. a mosul offensive drives isis fighters from the city. now, there are reports that refugees have been fleeing mosul by the thousands. >> meanwhile, the u.s. officials fighters could flee mosul and launch terrorist attacks against the u.s. and its allies. matt, any combination on what advancing forces could reach mosul? >> reporter: we the know this is a good thing right now. we don't know when we will be reaching isis t. engagement of the counterfrichl terrorism force means the going according to plan him does that mean we know where they will be entering mosul? we know this is a similar pattern for the islamic states over the last year. now, i was with the counterterrorism forces if in january, according to wall street journal. i learned this is a very small force a. lot were actually trained in the united states and these people learn a lot when they speak english. they are very well trained.

Related Keywords

New York , United States , Arkansas , Philippines , Portland , Oregon , New Hampshire , North Carolina , Alaska , Washington , Cleveland , Ohio , Turkey , Florida , Beijing , China , Anchorage , Wisconsin , Syria , Aleppo , Lab , Kremlin , Moskva , Russia , London , City Of , United Kingdom , Pinellas Park , Manila , Arizona , Iraq , New Jersey , Ecuador , America , Iraqi , Turkish , Russian , Russians , American , Lester Holt , Marco Rubio , Alissa Machado , Chuck Todd , Tim Kaine , Michelle Obama , Las Vegas , Tom Costello , Julian Assange , Cynthia Mcfadden , Vladimir Putin , Andrea Mitchell , Richard Engel , Hillary Clinton , Paul Ryan , Reince Priebus ,