tonight, the historic showdown. joe biden and donald

trump set to face off in their first 2024 presidential debate. the stage now set. the candidates arriving in atlanta for the biggest night of this campaign so far. for president biden, his best chance yet to ease questions over his age, while former president trump is taking the stage less than a month after his criminal conviction. the attacks expected over abortion, the economy, immigration, and the mystery over mr. trump's vp pick, the top three contenders all expected to be there. our full coverage tonight. also this evening, the supreme court allowing emergency abortions in idaho for now, a day after the ruling was mistakenly posted online. why the fight is far from over. just in, more than two years after the uvalde massacre, the indictment the now former school district police chief is facing. new storms in the midwest on the heels of catastrophic flooding, and deadly weather slamming the northeast. in gaza, 20 critically ill children in desperate

need of care. for months, nbc news exclusively tracking the secret mission to rescue them. our cameras there today as they are evacuated out of the war zone. and the nba's french connection. the rising stars from france dominating the draft, just in time for the paris olympics. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. >> good evening and welcome. the stage is set for the most significant night of the 2024 campaign so far. president biden and former president trump have arrived in atlanta to face off in their first debate, hoping to win over undecided voters while reassuring their supporters. they'll appear for 90 minutes with no studio audience and with microphones muted while the other candidate is speaking. inflation, immigration, and abortion rights expected to be key topics tonight. president biden comes into this showdown facing low approval ratings, while mr. trump enters the night under the cloud of his

felony conviction. and four years after their last debate, both men face voter concerns over their age. also there, the top three contenders to be mr. trump's running mate. hallie jackson starts us off from atlanta. >> reporter: the stage now set. the candidates arriving for what may be the most watched moment of this election and one america has never seen in modern political history. the current president versus the former president, with mr. trump doing a final brush-up on the plane to atlanta, according to a person close to him. president biden arriving from camp david, where sources tell nbc news he's held multiple full-length mock debates. the two tonight face-to-face, but not eye to eye with sharp distinctions on how to handle issues like abortion access. the president also looking to show strength to counter voter concerns about his age. and on mr. trump's legal issues, taking out a full-page ad describing him as a convicted criminal. >> should we expect to here president trump

hear president biden call president trump directly a convicted felon? >> it's an interesting question. i don't think he is going to gratuitously throw it out there, but he's called donald trump a felon before. i don't think he wouldn't do it. and if the shoe fits, you wear it. and former president trump is a convicted felon. >> reporter: and the biden campaign deploying mr. trump's estranged niece to help make the case against him. >> donald trump should never be allowed near the levers of power ever again. >> reporter: former president trump for his part previewing a push on immigration, with voters consistently saying the border and the economy are the two most important factors they're considering. >> no matter what joe biden promised in the debate, ask yourself, are you financially better off since he became president? >> reporter: mr. trump has said his running mate will be in atlanta tonight, but he hasn't said which of the top contenders he'll choose, j.d. vance, marco rubio, doug burgum as allies suggest mr. trump may rein himself in on stage. will we see a more disciplined mr. trump tonight on that debate stage? >> you will. he has been president of the united states.

he knows what this job is. he knows the issues and the ways to fix this country, and then he is looking at a man who has done a terrible job. >> reporter: it's not clear if the two opponents will shake hands, as is tradition. in a studio with no live audience and with microphones muted when it's note their turn to speak. some new national polling shows mr. trump narrowly leading president biden, although within a narrow margin. tonight may make a difference. 16% of voters say they're open to changing their pick based on tonight's performances. the most critical in this campaign yet. >> hallie joins us now from the spin room tonight where the debate is just the beginning of a new push for both campaigns. >> reporter: that's right, lester. after their surrogate tip, the spin room here in atlanta, both candidates are hoping to take whatever momentum they get from the debate on the road to rallies. president biden set to head to north carolina, former president trump to virginia. lester? >> hallie jackson starting us off, thanks. joining me now kristen welker, moderator of "meet the press."

kristen, this is a critical moment. there is no scorecard here, but what does each side need to do to feel like they succeeded this evening? >> great question. former aides to president trump tell me they're advising him to deliver a measured performance tonight after that previous debate in 2020 where she was harshly criticized for interrupting repeatedly. meanwhile, for president biden who is trailing in key states and needs to shake up this race, critical for him tonight to counter polls that show voters have concerns he is not up to the job, and to come across as tough against mr. trump. >> and kristen, we have both moderated presidential debates. the rules in this one are a bit different than what people likely normally see. >> you're right about that. in fact, the new rules are going to be center stage as much as the candidates will be, particularly this change where they will mute the mic of the person not speaking. hallie just talked about that. so the big question, will we get to see those clashes that often define a debate? in the debate i moderated, the mics were muted, but only temporarily after the

first two minutes of each topic, which did help control the conversation, lester, and could be a preview of what we get to see tonight. lester? >> all right, kristen, thanks very much. and join us tonight starting at 9:00 p.m. eastern for the first presidential debate hosted by cnn. the issue of abortion in tonight's debate is likely to touch on today's supreme court decision, allowing the state of idaho to perform emergency abortions at least for the time being. laura jarrett has more on the court's ruling. >> reporter: tonight, a major dispute over state-level abortion bans left unresolved. the u.s. supreme court temporarily clearing the way for women in idaho to receive abortions when their health is at risk. but sidestepping a broader ruling that would have put to rest a fierce fight over precisely what care doctors must provide going forward. the justices punting that issue to the lower courts, leaving some doctors uneasy about the road ahead. >> now we will need to be in this waiting pattern again. >> i would say our

health system in idaho is collapsing under the weight of this. >> reporter: the biden doj had argued federal law requires hospitals that receive federal funding provide abortions to women in health emergencies, including grave situations that threaten their future fertility. but idaho only allows abortions to save a woman's life. a majority of the justices opting not to say which side is right, punting the issue to the lower courts. >> we'll continue to to it will rate it vigorously at the ninth circuit. >> reporter: the court issuing a short unsigned opinion identical to the one prematurely posted on its website thursday, drawing a sharp rebuke from justice jackson, accusing her colleagues of dawdling on the heart of the question, when are abortions mandated? one still percolating not only in idaho, but at least six other states with strict abortion bans. justice alito also critical of the decision, suggesting his colleagues had allowed the emotional and highly politicized nature of the issue cloud their reasoning.

this case one of two battles over abortion this term, testing where the justices stand now just two years after the conservative majority overturned roe, this time in the midst of a hotly contested election year. the trump campaign saying the former president continues supporting the rights of states to make decisions on abortion. the biden campaign pouncing on the court's ruling, out with a new ad emphasizing the health consequences of abortion bans like idaho's. >> when you're the only person in the emergency room at 2:00 in the morning and someone comes in hemorrhaging and they're pregnant, you're responsible. about the penalties are so severe. felony imprisonment, loss of license, those are terrifying things. >> and laura we got another major ruling from the court today on an opioid settlement. >> reporter: lester, it's a multimillion-dollar deal involving purdue pharma, maker of the powerful painkiller oxycontin upended after a justice found

the proposed plan wrongfully shielded the members of the sackler family from liability. this leaves tens of thousands of families seeking compensation in limbo, hoping to each another settlement soon. lester? >> all right, laura, thank you. just in tonight, more than two years after 21 people were fatally shot at an elementary school in uvalde, texas, the now former school district police chief has been charged for the botched response. sam brock joins us with more. sam, he is in jail tonight? >> yeah, lester, that's correct. it's happening right now. former uvalde school district police chief pete arredondo was brought in by law enforcement tonight and is being booked, according to uvalde jail officials. arredondo faces charges of abandoning and endangering a child in connection with the 2022 mass massacre at robb elementary school in which 19th fourth graders and two teachers were killed by an 18-year-old shooter. this marks the first criminal charge of any law enforcement officer related to the mass shooting response. arredondo took faced heavy criticism after it took nearly 400 members of law enforcement 77 minutes to confront the shooter after the

first shots were fired. in january, the district attorney there had revealed she convened a grand jury to disclose the criminal charges. lester? >> thank you. yet more rain is in the forecast for parts of the midwest still reeling from that flooding emergency we've been reporting on all week. jesse kirsch is following it all from south dakota. jesse, how does the region look tonight? >> lester, this hard-hit community is near one of the more than 100 river locations still at flood stage in a region expecting more rain over the next several hours. the storms this week bringing soaking rain, powerful winds, and damaging floods to so many communities. the northeast hit overnight with falling trees killing two people, one in new jersey and one in connecticut. meanwhile sharing new satellite images that reveal the scale of destruction around minnesota's rapidan dam. here it is in 2011. this was the dam yesterday. as floodwaters recede, cleanup continues in

places like north sioux city, south dakota. >> everything i have in there is gone. >> reporter: michelle lujan says after she saw the water rising on a walk sunday night, she got her dogs and drove away. lujan is just one of the residents who told us as scenes like this unfolded, they did not get any cell phone alerts telling them to evacuate. tonight a local official says first responders shared an evacuation recommendation by word of mouth as they were assisting residents with evacuation efforts throughout the afternoon. but a cell phone and land line alert did not go out until roughly 40 minutes after this video was taken. lujan says her home is now this pile of rubble. is there a future for you here? >> i don't see a future for me here. and it's devastating. i love my neighbors. i love this area. but i mean, if i'm quite honest, i don't know that where i live will ever be buildable again. >> reporter: jesse kirsch, nbc news, north sioux city, south dakota. we turn now to the

secret mission today in gaza. for months, nbc news has been tracking a behind-the-scenes effort to rescue critically ill children from the war zone. today our cameras were there as they were finally evacuated. here is andrea mitchell. >> reporter: tonight 20 desperately ill children rescued from gaza, most doctors say with treatable cancers, but unable to get chemotherapy and blood transfusions because of the war. our crew was there as they boarded a bus and ambulances today. children like 11-year-old seraj, no longer able to lift a bottle of water, diagnosed two months ago with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. his mother says he is losing weight, needs a blood transfusion, is scared and in pain. unable to walk, he is carried to an ambulance. and 6-year-old jory, treated for brain cancer at a children's hospital in gaza until it was bombed. her mom says losing strength for the lack of medicine and food.

>> any interruption of care, even for a few days or a matter of weeks or even hours would result in death in many of the children. >> reporter: since november, nbc news has been tracking this mission exclusively as the white house working secretly with egypt, israel, palestinian doctors, and doctors from st. jude in memphis helped save 140 children from gaza. but that came to a halt when israel launched its offensive in rafah on may 6th, closing the only crossing to egypt. since then, getting cleared by the warring parties a huge challenge for the children and parents. >> these kids have been without the chemo they need. supplies are not getting in. they couldn't get out. >> that's right. and they're obviously at critical stages of their treatment. and they weren't able to get that life-saving, that critical medical attention that they needed for their care. and so new they will. >> reporter: 5-year-old faez is traveling with his grandmother, his mom unable to leave.

tonight, they are safe in egypt, a small ray of light in the darkness of war. as a result of today's successful mission, tonight doctors say they have a new agreement to keep the rescue operation going. lester? >> andrea, thank you. in 60 seconds, new trouble for boeing. why the ntsb has just punished the company. what boeing did, and how it says it's trying to win back the trust of airlines and the public. our behind-the-scenes look. e public. i was born to live in the limelight. but psoriasis kept me in the shadows. until i got clearer skin with bimzelx. most people got 100% clear skin. some after the first dose. serious side effects, including suicidal thoughts and behavior, infections and lowered ability to fight them, liver problems, and inflammatory bowel disease, have occurred. tell your doctor if these happen or worsen, or if you've had a vaccine or plan to. (♪♪) start to get yourself back, with bimzelx. ask your dermatologist about bimzelx today. this week on chewy, shop all your pet's favorites

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max 9 fuselage moved through the assembly line with its door plug not properly bolted in. >> we believe that plug was opened without the correct paperwork. >> reporter: the ntsb says those comments blatantly violated ntsb investigative regulations that prohibit anyone from releasing information until an investigation is complete. boeing today said we deeply regret that some of our comments intended to make clear our responsibility in the accident and explain the actions we are taking overstepped the ntsb's role. now boeing's role in investigating what went wrong on the 737 max assembly line will be curtailed. this is the line where that max 9 came off, and then a few weeks later had the door plug blowout over portland. it is under intense faa and ntsb scrutiny right now because on this assembly line, boeing's reputation is on the line. boeing insists it's now moving fast to change its culture and manufacturing procedures to regain the trust of the faa,

the airlines, and flying public. >> i feel like people are a lot more comfortable to speak up. >> why has it taken you so long to develop a top to bottom approach to quality and safety management that one would think this company should have already had in place decades ago? >> we have a strong foundation of caring deeply about safety. i believe this plan will make us stronger. >> reporter: meanwhile, a new whistle-blower tells the faa he was fired by subcontractor spirit aerosystems after reporting substandard work on the 787. boeing says the issues were addressed and fixed. spirit says "we encourage all employees with concerns to come forward." boeing's turnaround plan tonight under the microscope and overshadowed. tom costello, nbc news, chicago. seattle. coming up, as we continue tonight, the battle of the online retail giants. how amazon plans to take on the surging chinese discount retailers, next. i have relapsing ms,

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there is a new there is a new front in the online shopping wars. amazon planning to take on two of its surging chinese link rivals by launching its own discount store. christine romans has more. >> guys, i literally have the biggest temu haul ever. >> reporter: shoppers sharing their passions. >> temu has everything. >> reporter: for online discount

retailers temu and shein. >> all are from the shein mod collection. >> i like it. >> reporter: the online retailers surging in popularity, ship goods from china directly to u.s. customers, bypassing import fees, which helps keep import prices down. >> there is an $800 threshold on tariffs for goods coming in from china. these companies keep the amount under that threshold, and they don't have to pay the same amount of tariffs. >> reporter: amazon now looking to fend off the growing competition. cnbc reporting the number one online retailer in the u.s. is planning to launch a new low-priced fashion and lifestyle section with a similar model. >> shein and temu have really targeted younger shoppers, younger gen z shoppers that maybe wants a higher volume of clothes for a cheaper price. amazon has mimicked that. they've tried to keep their costs down themselves, and they're going after sort of social media shopper. >> reporter: amazon plans on more branded items, many selling less than $20, according to a presentation reviewed by cnbc that amazon executives showed

sellers in china. amazon soared to success in part by undercutting prices at traditional brick and mortar stores. now it's feeling the heat from international start-ups once again rewriting the rules for shopping. now for amazon customers used to those next-day deliveries, these low prices would come with a longer wait time, probably more than a week. so we'll see if for shoppers the price is worth the patience, lester. >> all right, christine, thanks very much. up next for us, the nba's big night, and why it's all about the french connection. ext f,s voices of people with cidp: cidp disrupts. cidp derails. let's be honest... all: cidp sucks! voices of people with cidp: but living with cidp doesn't have to. when you sign up at shiningthroughcidp.com, you'll find inspiration in real patient stories, helpful tips, reliable information, and more. cidp can be tough. but finding hope just got a little easier. sign up at shiningthroughcidp.com.

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finally, it's day two of the nba draft, and the lakers just made history by picking bronny james, the 19-year-old son of lebron james, making them the first father-son duo to play in the league at the same time. but the number one pick was a player from france, which is now becoming something of a trend. here is tom llamas. >> reporter: you might call it the nba's french revolution. >> the atlanta hawks select zaccharie risacher! >> reporter: 19-year-old french forward zaccharie risacher headed to the hawks as the nba's number one pick, make it the second year in a row the first player taken in the nba draft is from france. >> this is amazing. >> reporter: and it wasn't just risacher. the washington wizards used their number two

pick for another french teenager, alex sarr. >> for me to be able to be a topic now, it's special. >> reporter: in fact, four of the first round's 30 picks hailed from france. >> so they're doing something over there. maybe it's in the water. >> there is just a lot more competition and balance in international basketball than there was in the days of the dream team. there is definitely this outpouring of french talent in particular coming in to the league right now. >> reporter: and the excitement is like i only to grow with the olympics this summer in paris. with all those first round picks and the sport skyrocketing in popularity, some are asking what's going to happen during the olympics. could france actually give team usa a run for its money? the french team will likely be led by superstar victor wembanyama. the 7'4" center was last year's number one pick and is fresh off a record-breaking rookie season. a growing french force on the court. tom llamas, nbc news, atlanta.

and that's "nightly news" for this thursday. thank you for watching. i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. good night.