extreme weather in texas. residents see heavy rain and flooding, with tornado watches across the southern plains.

after one month of severe weather. nikki haley makes it official. the one-time republican presidential candidate and former south carolina governor says she will vote for donald trump in november. wave of eviction. new york city starts a 30-day policy with some migrants, for forcing 250 from some shelters this week. she's a barbie girl. venus williams leads the pack of athletes getting their own doll on mattel's 65th anniversary. rangers fall to the florida panthers. highlights from the game that came down to the last five minutes. it's thursday, may 23rd. "early today" starts right now. good morning. i'm frances rivera. we begin this morning in central texas, where severe storms brought heavy rain and flooding. hail and reports of tornados across the region. meanwhile, in iowa, officials

say there have been at least five deaths from the tornado outbreak that tore across the midwest tuesday. there are also at least 35 people injured. nbc's jay gray starts us off. >> reporter: violent storms battering the midwest and upper immig great lakes. >> wow. that's a tornado, guys. >> reporter: tornados, hail and driving rain in some areas, striking so fast there was no time to get to shelter. >> i tried to run into the house. got hit with some debris, and it dropped me. so i just hurtled up behind the house and the whole garage came down on top of me and i got dug out. i was probably under it for half an hour. >> reporter: the worst of it in iowa. multiple people killed, dozens injured. search teams continued to work through the rubble alongside survivors, many still in shock. >> right here we're just going through the motions, just picking up stuff. i know that my mom's wedding

ring, her jewelry, things, but to really think of what is gone, that hasn't even, that will come later. >> reporter: the devastation stretches into wisconsin and minnesota. trailers flipped. this barn left in splinters. trees and electrical lines snapped, leaving tens of thousands without power. hundreds of thousands across the region now picking up the pieces with forecasters warning more severe weather could be on the way. y jay gray, nbc news. now to a new twist in the race for the white house. once one of his biggest critics, now nikki haley says she will be voting for donald trump this november. b brie jackson joins us. if haley's voters follow her lead this could be a big boost for trump. >> reporter: in a close race, haley's supporters could have a major impact, even though haley dropped out of the republican

primary after super tuesday, she has continued to pull double-digit support in recent contests. haley was one of the most vocal critics of mr. trump. she called the former president unstable and unhinged. but, at an event where she spoke about national security and foreign policy, haley said she felt that mr. trump would do a better job handling these issues than president biden. >> trump has not been perfect on these policies. i've made that clear. many, many times. but biden has been a catastrophe. so i will be voting for trump. trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me. >> reporter: biden campaign has responded, saying nothing has changed for the millions of republican voters who continue to cast their ballots against donald trump and care deeply about the future of our democracy. meanwhile, the white house just

announced president biden canceling $7.7 billion in student loan debt for about for 160,000 borrowers. it includes some who signed up for the new income-driven repayment plan. adding this latest round of relief, the white house says it has approved $167 billion in loan forgiveness. >> brie, thank you. in new hampshire, the political consultant who admitted to nbc news that he was behind robocall impersonating the president has been indicted. steve kramer faces five counts, including bribery, intimidation and suppression. it's unclear how he is pleading to the charges. the robocall used a.i. technology to deep fake biden, telling thousands of voters to stay home and save their votes for november. it went out just before the first in the nation primary back in january. kramer could not be immediately reached for comment. he previously admitted to

commissioning the call but claimed he was trying to highlight a need to regulate a.i. deep fakes. a surprise announcement from british prime minister rishi sunak calling for new elections on july 4, six weeks from now. the vote was originally expected to happen in november. it promises to be a matchup between the tory party and the labour party headed up by keir starmer. let's go to chapman bell. do we know who's favored to win? >> reporter: rishi sunak calling the surprise early election, even catching some members of his own party off guard, after 14 years in power. this coming at a time when his conservative party are currently more than 20% behind labour in the polls. you can imagine the british papers having a time with this. one saying sunak bets the house. and another, drown and out, referencing sunak making that

announcement in front of downing street in the pouring rain. and he had this to say. take a listen. >> i'm guided bid y doing what right for our country, not what is easy. i can't say the same thing for the ha labour party. they have no plan. >> reporter: now some political analysts believe that this gamble was an attempt to get a bounce off the falling inflation levels here and better economic outlook and also trying to catch labour off guard. but the leader of the opposition, the leader of the l labour party had this to say. >> we will stop the chaos. look around our country. the sewage in our rivers. people waiting on trolleys in a&e. crime virtually unpunished. mortgages and food prices through the roof.

it's all, every bit of it, a direct result of the tory chaos in westminster. >> reporter: so, after five prime ministers for the conservative party over the last 14 years, keir starmer referencing that chaos and referring to westminster, the seat of power for the government, but the battle is set to begin, all be it an uphill battle for rishi we'll k. in israel, chill be video of seven female soldiers as they were abducted on october 7. the newly-released footage show the women bloodied and beaten. and a warning, the images are disturbing. >> reporter: the disturbing footage from october 7th, showing hamas terrorists inside israeli military base. seven female soldiers, covered in blood and bruises are up against the wall.

they're handcuffed and terrterr terrified. a 18-year-old trying to speak while the women are receiving death threats. the gunman leering at the women, telling them they're beautiful. the u.n. has said hamas committed rape and sexual violence against its victims. it's unclear if that happened in this case. on the video, you can hear gunfire, as the women are abducted into gaza. of the seven, one was rescued. and another found dead. the remaining five still in captivity. 229 days later. including this 19-year-old. we spoke to her sister sasha. >> what's it like to see your little sister there in her snoopy pajamas, surrounded by these men with guns? >> i think it's a scene, you know, from a movie. i'm at a point that i am begging for people to do something, you

know. just get them out of there. >> reporter: a group representing hostage families releasing the footage, which they say was edited to take out the most gruesome scenes, trying to create pressure for a cease-fire deal. but with negotiations at a stalemate. ireland, norway and spainsaying they'll recognize an independent palestinian state. the white house says that's the wrong approach to get to peace. >> the only way you're going to get to a two-state solution is through direct negotiations between the parties. >> reporter: israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu slamming the move, calling it a reward for terrorism and saying it won't stop israel's war against hamas. back to you. >> raf, thank you. nearly two years after a gunman killed 19 children in uvalde, texas, the victims' families announcing a $500 million federal lawsuit against more than 90 officers who say the botched response to the mass

shooting. the school district says it is open to exploring a resolution to the lawsuit. nbc news is told it does not comment on pending litigation. the families also announced they have settled with the city for $2 million, with city leaders promising better standards and training for local police. new york city is planning to evict 250 migrants from shelters this week, a new push to force migrants out within 30 days or within 60 days for younger adults if they don't meet the city's list of requirements for extension. advocates have called the policy inhumane and unrealistic for migrants. >> meanwhile, they cite a strain on the system. severe weather could get in the way of one of the busiest travel days of the year. let's turn to angie lassman, who's tracking today's storm threats. >> we've got thunderstorms already popping up in parts of the south. that's going to be something we see happen throughout the day, specifically over the plains where we'll see stronger, more

severe weather. for 23 million people up and down the plains, we've got large hail, baseball-sized hail. strong winds and a few tornados on the table for us. that sticks with us for tomorrow plans too. 37 million people included this this. chicago, memphis, dallas all included in that as the day goes on, with all of those same impacts. we've also got the flood conditions we're watching for. glad good alerts for 9 million people. the potential for one to two to three inches of rain between now and saturday. so some soggy conditions, especially across the east over the next couple days. here's your holiday travel plans for friday. strong thunderstorms through the midwest. we'll see some of that activity through the southeast and even a couple gusty winds and showers out west. watch for the airport difficulties. when it comes to the northeast, looks like the best day is sunday. temperatures into the low 80s for new york. but rain returns for most by the

dealing with thunderstorms this afternoon. plenty of sunshine, though, for cleveland. and that's a look at your forecast, francesing back to you. coming up, amazon's alexa could be getting a major makeover. and sweeping changes to the live music industry. hanges to the lie music industry. y dish game auntie, in that dishwasher? watch me platinum plus gives you the highest standard of clean, even in your machine. clean enough for you? yeah! scrape. load. done. cascade platinum plus. wanna know a secret? more than just my armpits stink. that's why i use secret whole body deodorant... everywhere. 4 out of 5 gynecologists would recommend whole body deodorant, which gives you 72 hour odor protection from your pits to your- (sfx: deoderant being sprayed) secret whole body deodorant. new herbal essences is packed with naturally derived plant based ingredients

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came in 2014. but it's going to get a makeover. it's under a massive threat from a.i. it's long overdue, having an upgreat to alexa. as you quite rightly say, the problem is they're going to charge for it. we don't know how much. they haven't apparently nailed down a price. the doj story you mentioned is really interesting as well. it's announced a lawsuit, an anti-trust lawsuit against live nation. who's live nation? the owner of ticketmaster as well. this could come as soon as today. the lawsuit is expected to allege that the payment conglomerate used its sprawling footprint to box out rivals and lessen consumer choice, and as such put prices higher as well. federal officials plan to file the case in a new york federal court. the nbc has been reaching out to doj and have not yet heard back

as well. but it's very, very interesting. especially after the eras tour debacle last year. back to you, frances. >> we know that. i know that all too well. steve. okay, thank you. still to come. towering above prince, michael and the beatles is one album. find out the hip-hop classic that apple music just bestowed the title of g.o.a.t. right after this. tle of g.o.a.t. right after this. you've been in there forever! i'm trying! this cheap stuff is too thin! i told you not to get the other toilet paper. here's charmin ultra strong. ahhh! my bottom's been saved! woooo! with its diamond weave texture, charmin ultra strong cleans better with fewer sheets and less effort. what's everybody waiting for? this? ok hon, we know you're clean. we all go, why not enjoy the go with charmin. nature's bounty hair growth. clinically shown to help grow thicker, fuller hair with just one capsule a day of advanced hair complex.

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♪ ♪ ♪ yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ you know you better ♪ ♪ watch out ♪ ♪ girl, some girls are only ♪ ♪ about ♪ ♪ that thing ♪ ♪ that thing ♪ ♪ that thing ♪ >> apple music wrapped up its ten-day education for music lovers on wednesday. 1998's miseducation of lauryn hill topped the streamer's list of the 100 greatest albums of

all time. in an instagram video where she is presented with the honor, she shouted out everyone involved in the making of her only solo album saying this is our celebration. and for me personally, i'm like, mm. makes me think. because you've got these. abbey road the beatles. frank ocean, and i'm like, i don't know if i would pick that. but. >> i mean, you got to give it to her. still topping the charts all these years later. so many good album. a lot of good people on there. kendrick lamar at number seven. >> we'll see what drake thinks about that one. now to triceratops and t-rex booking a new friend to "jurassic world." rupert friend has been cast in the upcoming seventh installment of the series. he is known for wes anderson films and joins the cast with

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even when wet. (♪♪) now that's the sound of value. bounty. the quicker picker upper. here's what's making headlines this morning. today is red nose day. nbc is airing a one-hour special at 8:00 p.m. eastern. it will look back at a decade of fund raising and programming. warner bros. discovery has signed a five-year deal with espn, allowing tnt to carry college football playoff games. mattel is honoring women in sports. tennis legend venus williams has been transformed into a barbie doll along with eight other women in sport. it's all part of barbie's 65th

anniversary celebration. the goal is to encourage young girls to recognize their full potential. sad news about charlie colin who has died. he he he was part of the band train and their album drops of jupiter. he was house-sitting for a friend in belgium when he slipped and fell in the shower. he was 58. was 5 8. sfx: [birds ] for nourished, lightweight hair, the right ingredients make all the difference. new herbal essences sulfate free is now packed with plant-based ingredients your hair will love. like pure aloe. and camellia flower oil. and none of the things it won't. hair feels deeply nourished, soft and lightweight. plant power you can feel. new herbal essences sulfate free. (smelling) ew. gotta get rid of this. ♪tell me why♪

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msg faithful, the rangers got off to the worst possible start in the first game of the nhl conference finals. the blue shirts got blanked by the florida panthers who put the game out of reach. new york had look for redemption on the ice on friday, while the stars and oilers begin their series in the we tonight. this aapi month, a look at a trailblazing dancer. the son of refugees, lam looks back on his journey to the boston ballet. vicky nguyen reports. ♪ ♪ >> reporter: before there was this, there was this. john lamm was just 4 when teachers in california offered him free ballet lessons. his hard work propelled him to

the boston ballet, where he made history as the first vietnamese-american male principal dancer. now retiring after 20 years with starring roles. what is it like to be the first, to be a trail blazer in this way? >> oh, gosh, you know. i think back and i think, i'm no different than anyone else. and i think, gosh, that 4-year-old kid, coming from poverty sow made it into an industry that may be deemed elitist. >> reporter: his parents, mai and hou came in the '80s as part of a wave of boat refugees. his father still works seven days a week. this was his first time seeing him perform in boston. >> i really appreciate everybody that help my boy. >> it's been my home for 20 years. >> reporter: lam says he still has more to accomplish.

what advice would you offer? >> to keep that fire burning bright and not let go of what you believe in. >> reporter: a final bow but not the last dance for this trail blazer. vicky nguyen, nbc news, boston. >> that is an american dream right there, taking center stage. and we applaud him and their family. thanks so much for starting your morning with "early today." i'm frances rivera. have a great thursday. we'll see you right back here for friday. have a good one in the meantime. . nice to meet ya. my name is david. i've been a pharmacist for 44 years.

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