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the stage is set for the first big showdown of the 2024 election. what to expect ahead of tonight's debate between president biden and former president trump. and why it's unlike any before it. a mixup of the highest order for the nation's high court. how the supreme court inadvertently revealed how it may rule in a high-stakes abortion case. a shocking twist in illinois. a suspect accused in a deadly fourth of july parade mass shooting rejects his plea deal and leaves the courtroom stunned. dodging the dreaded summer slide in grades. while students enjoy their free time off. and proof that every dog has its day, even wild thang. the new starring role for the world's ugliest dog. it's thursday, june 27, "early today" starts right now.

>> hi there, i'm frances rivera. thanks for being with me. tonight for the first time in our nation's history, a current and former president will face off in a debate. both sides are hoping this one on one will be a game changer in a tight race for the white house. here's nbc's brie jackson with more on what's expected. >> reporter: the stage is set for the first presidential debate between president biden and former president trump, with some voters bracing for what's ahead. >> a hot mess. i expect a hot mess. to be completely honest. because it's just like, i'm pretty sure they're going to go back and forth. oh, you think his policies are good? my policies are great. >> reporter: others are hoping to see each candidate paint a clear picture of their vision of the future. >> both candidates need to talk about what they're going to do for the american people. how they're going to show up as leaders. >> reporter: a new poll shows

the majority of americans, 6 in 10, say they will watch thursday's debate as both campaigns push to get their message across. >> these are the two most-disliked candidates in history. >> reporter: political experts tell me they expect president biden to focus on the economy, touting jobs created under his administration, while attacking trump as a threat to democracy. former president trump could hone in on concerns about crime and immigration under biden's leadership. both sides may roll out new ideas to see how they land with those watching. >> because we know there's a lot of measurement that happens after the debate. and they can find out what's working and what's not. >> reporter: and historic moments when the sitting president and former president face off in a major test for the white house. in washington, brie jackson, nbc news. department of justice is asking the supreme court to stop delaying steve bannon's prison

sentence. former president trump's chief strategist was convicted nearly two years ago of contempt of congress after he defied subpoenas from the house january 6 committee. the doj scotus filing is in response to bannan's new bid to the high court, asking for permission to pursue further appeals and there by stay out of jail. a ruling could come any day. the public got an unusual preview of a major supreme court decision. for a brief time yesterday, a document relating to a pending case on emergency abortion care was posted on the court's website. and we could see the official decision as soon as today. nbc's laura jarret has more. >> reporter: a mistake of epic proportions rocking the u.s. supreme court. a closely-watched decision on abortion set to come down any day now mistakenly and briefly posted to the court's website, indicating the high court is likely on the verge of allowing emergency abortions in idaho,

the document obtained by bloomberg law before it was removed by the website, the court's spokesperson saying it was inadvertently uploaded to the court's website, adding that the official opinion will be issued in due course. nbc news has not verified whether the document is the final version of the opinion or a draft. but the media's rare, advanced-access in this case hearkening back to an unprecedented leak in another abortion case just two years ago in dobbs when political published the draft decision overturning roe versus wade. the current battle over idaho's law which criminalizes nearly all abortions except to save a mother's life. the biden administration sued the state, arguing that abortion ban directly conflicts with the federal law requiring hospitals that receive federal funding provide abortions to women facing health emergencies, even if not on the brink of death.

that conflict, doctors say, puts them in a dangerous bind. >> it's a really heavy burden to carry, to have the five years of potential incarceration to take care of your patients. >> reporter: the document posted and later published by bloomberg in full includes an unsigned opinion by the court punting on the ultimate dispute for now, sending it back to the lower courts, which means women in idaho will be able to obtain emergency abortions while the lawsuit continues to play out. but it also highlights deep divisions on the high court. the justices trading barbs in the document. justice jackson saying today's decision is not a victory for pregnant patients in idaho, while this court dawdles and the country waits, pregnant people experiencing emergency medical conditions remain in a precarious position. while justice alito calls the court's decision baffling, saying the court has simply lost the will to decide the easy, but emotional and highly-politicized question that the case presents. while we don't know exactly when

the official opinion in this idaho case will be released by the justices, they're expected to take the bench thursday morning at 10:00 a.m. and release more opinions then as well as on friday morning and early next week. back to you. >> laura, thank you. a dramatic 24 hours in bolivia, as an apparent military coup fails in the capital, lapaz. it appears to have been called out due to lack of public support. ar p armored vehicles rammed the doors of the presidential palace. the insurrection was led by an army general who claimed he wanted to restore democracy and free what he called political prisoners. kenya's president is withdrawing a controversial tax plan after days of deadly protests. demonstrators stormed the country's parliament on tuesday and set it on fire after the bill was passed. 22 people were killed during the demonstrations, according to a human rights group. the president conceded and said

he will not sign the bill into law. nearly two years after the highland park parade mass shooting, confessed killer ro robert crimo withdrew his plea in court. one woman who lost her mother in the massacre condemned his tactic. >> he is evil and manipulative and brought us here today, probably knowing what he was going to do. >> police say crimo has confessed to shooting and killing seven people and injuring dozens more outside chicago in 2022. he allegedly fired into a crowd from the top of a building using an ar-style rifle. now to the dramatic impact of historic flooding in the midwest. the rushing floodwaters causing the landscape to crumble in minnesota, south dakota and iowa. roadways have been washed away,

leaving behind severely damaged homes. residents forced to evacuate are still waiting to return to neighborhoods which are now unrecognizable. >> i don't know what's left. i don't know what's there or whatever. there's a lot of valuables in there, and there's a lot of emotional values in there, and i can't get to it. i don't know if it's safe. i don't know if it's there. >> meanwhile, evacuations were ordered in central oregon after a wildfire spread very quickly. this is being called the darlene iii fire. the fire was about 30% contained. let's get an update on today's forecast from nbc meteorologist angie lassman. popup storms overnight. good morning. >> you're exactly right. we've got thunderstorms that we're watching exit the area from the mid atlantic up through the northeast. that was active overnight. we've got spots in the middle of the country as well today. let's talk about what you will be dealing with today.

the thunderstorms are out ahead of this frontal boundary system across the country. it's the rockies and parts of the plains that we'll watch for impacts from the stronger storms. this is where we'll see the additional rain, causing problems with the river flooding that has already been an issue for days now. here's the risk area from north platte to willston. the rainfall amounts of a quarter inch to an inch. maybe some places dealing with three inches. temperature wise, we are still warm across the south and southeast. 90s on tap for atlanta today. we keep it warm through the next couple days, too. dallas expected to hit 100 tomorrow, 94 y skies.

thunderstorms expected for denver with a high of 91. and that's a look at your forecast, frances, back to you. >> angie, thanks so much. incredibly close call caught on camera on a north carolina highway. dash cam footage shows the moment a crowbar smashed through a driver's windshield after flying out of another car. it came inches from the driver's face. she was able to pull over safely, and no one was hurt. state troopers took fingerprints offe off the crowbar to try to find the owner. paris races to the front lines in the olympics. otherwise the flakes will come back. tiny troy: he's right, you know. is that tiny troy? the ingredients in head and shoulders keep the microbes that cause flakes at bay. microbes, really? they're always on your scalp...

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relaxation. but as zinhle essamuah explains, it could come with a cost to academic success. >> reporter: the school year is done and students are gearing up for summer fun. but experts worry all that time off is responsible for the so-called summer slide. put simply. >> kind of a test scores drop. >> reporter: multiple studies finding students test scores flatten or drop during summer break. a problem only amplified by the pandemic. post-pandemic, u.s. students grades 3 through 8 lost a half year of math and quarter year of english learning. in one assessment, average scores for 9-year-olds dropped five points in reading from 2020 to 2022, the largest drop in reading since 1990. in 2021, new york public schools created summer rising, an attempt to bridge that gap. >> a big part of the comeback is

the new york public schools. >> they get breakfast, lunch. so kids are going upon trips, cultural institutions, museums. >> reporter: no program is perfect, and summer rising does have a large wait list. the chancellor says more funding could cheange that. people may look at summer programs around the country, including new york and go, why aren't students learning enough during the school year, what do you say to them? >> they are. first of all, this is separate and apart from some of our kids who have just fallen way behind. this program is designed, really, for acceleration, to help kids stay engaged. every urban center is always concerned about the amount of idle time that young people have. >> reporter: and it's not just new york. about 90% of school districts offered summer programs with an academic focus in 2022. quick history lesson. how did summer break come to be in the u.s.? >> as early as the 1600s, late 1600s, schools in america or

pre--america, right, were actually 12 months. during the industrialization, we started to go back. and since then, summer vacation has become the clock of the united states. >> reporter: today some districts are experimenting with a year-round model. >> hasbeen decades since the buford county school district has changed its academic calendar. >> reporter: earlier this year, a south carolina district signing off on a year-round schedule. 3% of schools operate on some type of 12-month cycle as of 2018. >> research in academics shows more time in school matters. >> reporter: meaning however schools break up their semesters, the important thing, according to experts, is to keep students engaged year round. >> my hope, really, is that every child in new york city has a place to be, where they have an opportunity to grow. >> reporter: and that's the summer slide simply explained.

>> we want to thank you for that report. still to come, paris is off to the races. finishing off preparations as the clock ticks down to the summer olympics and how kmohollywood is try to avoid a sequel. ood is trying to avoid a sequel. ive unfiltered with the one and only sotyktu, a once-daily pill for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, and the chance at clear or almost clear skin. it's like the feeling of finding you're so ready for your close-up. or finding you don't have to hide your skin just your background. once-daily sotyktu was proven better, getting more people clearer skin than the leading pill. don't take if you're allergic to sotyktu; serious reactions can occur. sotyktu can lower your ability to fight infections, including tb. serious infections, cancers including lymphoma, muscle problems, and changes in certain labs have occurred. tell your doctor if you have an infection, liver or kidney problems, high triglycerides, or had a vaccine or plan to. sotyktu is a tyk2 inhibitor.

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with the 2024 olympics weeks away, the question is will the venue be ready. >> reporter: paris ready for its closeup. the eiffel tower adorned with the iconic rings, one of many locations. now olympic arenas. now you can see how the city of paris is an olympic venue. they've brought in the fans for the beach volleyball. behind the eiffel tower there, that's champion plaza. where so often history has been

made with premiere breaking this summer. around a historic military statue. swimming planned for the seine, which officials acknowledge is still not clean enough. i spoke with the mayor of paris. swimming in the seine was your idea? >> yes, it was my idea. >> reporter: despite canceling a swim in the seine this week, she remains confident. >> i want to swim in the river seine before the opening ceremony. >> reporter: everyone's worried that it's not ready. you say [speaking in a global language] >> it's ready, it's ready. >> reporter: down on the river, an american family living on a houseboat. >> right here, right here, just behind us. it's absolutely phenomenal. and the open ceremonies on the river, i mean, there's nothing

like it. >> reporter: they hope the world will see the seine the way they do, as magical. keir simmons, nbc news, paris. when we come back, a major recall for popular childrens' toys, and a mug everyone can love. the world's ugliest dog lands his first starring role. g lands his first starring role. does he need to go to puppy school? get his little puppy diploma? how much have i been spending on this little guy? when your questions about life turn into questions about money... there's erica. the virtual financial assistant to help you spend, save, and plan smarter. only from bank of america. get rid of bugs as soon as you see them with zevo sprays. zevo uses essential oils to eliminate up to 20 household insects, plus it's safe for use around people and pets— - anywhere — anytime. - gotcha. zevo. people-friendly. bug-deadly.

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respiratory irritation. amazon presented plans for a new budge else stt store front. the store would directly compete with temu. and 2024's ugliest dog winns the new face on mug rootbeer cans. a limited edition can with the firs first-place pup's face on it. e . did you know... 80% of women are struggling with hair damage? just like i was. dryness and frizz could be damaged hair that can't retain moisture. new pantene miracle rescue deep conditioner, with first-of-its-kind melting pro-v pearls... locks in moisture to repair 6 months of damage in one wash, without weigh down. guaranteed or your money back!

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it is a once-in-a-generation event. indigenous tribes descended upon yellowstone this week to celebrate the birth of a rare white bison. steve patterson has more on what the arrival of this calf means for native americans. >> reporter: on the edge of yellowstone national park, a remarkable sighting. bringing together indigenous tribes from across the west. the birth of a rare white bison, about to fulfill an ancient lakota tribe prophecy. the miraculous birth commemorated with ceremony, song, and for the first time, the reveal of a name. >> "returns sacred". it's a blessing, but it's a warning. >> reporter: in tribal lore, it's similar to the second coming and part of a life-long journey. >> this is a spiritual

awakening, a fulfillment of our prophecy. it's our responsibility to take care of mother earth. >> reporter: the spiritual connection to the bison they share the land with runs deep, representing strength in abundance t abun abundance to indigenous cultures. herds that once numbered in the millions are now numbered to about 5,000. and here, there is no record of a white bison being spotted. that is, until now. >> it seemed unreal that i was so lucky to be one of maybe a dozen people that got photographs of this thing. >> reporter: photographer jordan creech captured these images of the white-haired calf the day it was born on june 4th. >> i know how important it is to the native culture to have been able to capture that. i'm happy i could share it. >> reporter: the e-lulusive ani has not been seen since. the birth a reminder of how we

should treat each other. >> it brings tears to my eyes every time i think about it, because this shouldn't happen in our time. and yet, it did. >> reporter: this gift of life in the blessing of a new beginning. steve patterson, nbc news, yellowstone national park. >> hope they get to spot that baby bison again. now to the original water color illustration for harry potter and the philosopher's stone that broke a new record, selling for $1.9 million, the most valuable harry potter item ever sold at auction. it appeared on the first-edition covers of the book in 1997. it was expected to sell for between $400,000 and $600,000. we all know that image well. thanks for kicking off your morning with "early today." i'm frances rivera.