New law was needed. Translation we need to staff the reserve translation we need to staff the reserve. There translation we need to staff the reserve. There are translation we need to staff the reserve. There are a serious number of grades that a large number of them are empty. We need to do this so the guys can have a normal rotation, then their morale will be improved. After Russian Troops crossed the border into Northeastern Ukraine last week president putin has said there are no plans to capture the countrys Second City Kharkiv at least for now. The russian leader said his forces were advancing in order to protect the russian border region. Here is the latest on how the battlefield looks, from uk Military Intelligence the red areas are russian occupied, with the arrows showing likely points of russian attack. The recent focus of attention is here in the northeast, near kharkiv, where fierce fighting has been taking place. The yellow represents new gains claimed by russia. Our defen
But i feel that the large venue is just its a very exciting night, and when you dont have that, it takes a lot of it takes a lot of energy out. Thats donald trump pushing for a crowd at the president ial debates, which is not currently part of the terms he agreed to yesterday. Well go through all the debate drama in just a moment. Also ahead well bring in expert legal analysis on the former president s criminal trial in new york as his former fixer, Michael Cohen, is expected to return to the stand later this morning. Plus, the latest out of china on russian president Vladimir Putins state visit to beijing, which comes amid his arms escalating offensive in North Eastern ukraine. Good morning and welcome to Way Too Early on this thursday, may 16th. Im jonathan lemire. Thanks for starting your day with us. And well begin today with some major, major news on the 2024 campaign. After uncertainty about whether the two leading candidates would ever debate each other this year, President Joe
pushing a plane away from the gate. more than a million without power on the heels of a deadly holiday weekend. the massive explosion at a chase bank in ohio. debris blowing across the street. multiple injuries reported. israeli forces entering the heart of rafah for the first time. and deadly new strikes as outrage grows over the attack on a tent city that killed 45 people. the new study on preventing peanut allergies in children. what parents need to know. and the needle in a haystack search. the divers on a mission to reunite a couple with a wedding ring lost 25 years ago. announcer: this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. good evening and welcome. after 21 days of trial, the opposing lawyers in the donald trump hush money trial have spent today appealing directly to the jurors. today s closing arguments the last chance for each side to convince 12 everyday new yorkers of donald trump s guilt or innocence. the former president facing 34 felony counts of
it is 10:00 a.m. eastern, 7:00 a.m. pacific. i m jose diaz-balart. we begin this hour with deadly storms now making their way northeast after leaving behind a trail of destruction across texas, oklahoma, arkansas and kentucky. at least 19 people are dead and dozens more injured. take a look at this. valley view, texas, gas station. officials say as many as 125 people were sheltering when a powerful tornado struck. overnight kentucky governor andy beshear declared a state of emergency as the severe weather threat continues into today for millions of americans. it leaves hundreds of,sands across the region without power. joining us from valley view, texas, is nbc s priscilla thompson. priscilla, good morning. where do things stand now? reporter: jose, good morning. right now in the hardest-hit areas there s devastation everywhere. we re here and you can see there s a car with its windows completely blown out. that car was actually in that gas station parking lot when this tor