the first major heatwave of 2024. triple-digit temperatures in the west. we re tracking it. attorney general merrick garland defiant on capitol hill, telling republicans, i will not be intimidated, as they demand tapes of president biden s interview with special counsel robert hur. our nbc news exclusive. the new electric vehicles rolling off gm s assembly line. the ceo on why gm is still betting big on evs, despite a sales slowdown. and after he stole the show from his congressman dad, the 6-year-old telling us about his viral moment of fame. announcer: this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. good evening, and welcome. president biden tonight sidestepping congress and taking his own action to sharply tighten controls at the southern border. with his signature alone, the president using his executive authority to shut down asylum requests when the average daily number of illegal crossings between ports of entry exceeds 2,500. tonight, that average number tops