defensive walz. vice president kamala harris' running mate tack males critici

of his military service head on. all he to say to jd vance was "thank you for your service", as the race for the white house shifts into high gear. still on the squad. how congresswoman ilhan omar fended fende fended off her challenger. the tropical storm slamming puerto rico and the virgin islands with helavy rain and strong wind. the drastic measures the doj is reportedly considering after a judge's historic anti-trust ruling against google. and why some like it hot. researchers reveal what leads to cravings for supremely spicy food and extremely sour candy. it's wednesday, august 14. "early today" starts right now. hi there. good morning. i'm frances rivera.

minnesota governor tim walz is the star of the democratic ticket this week. while vice president kamala harris prepares to take the stage at the democratic convention next week. her running mate is on a fund raising blitz, on his first solo campaign appearance, speaking to union workers in los angeles. chris pollone joins us now. good morning, chris. governor walz is still introducing himself to the country. and one thing he's had to focus on is his military record. >> reporter: that's right. the governor has been under pressure from republicans to address his time with the national guard. walz has faced attacks over a 2018 video where he's talking about gun restrictions and references carrying weapons of war that are only carried in war. walz served 24 years with the national guard but was never in combat. donald trump's running mate, jd vance, accused walz of lying about his service for political gain. the harris campaign says he misspoke. he did have this to say.

>> i'm going to say it as clearly as i can. i am damn proud of my service for this country. [cheers and applause] and i firmly believe you should never denigrate another person's service record. to anyone brave enough to put on that uniform for our great country, including my opponent, i just have a few simple words. thank you for your service and sacrifice. >> reporter: while the harris campaign rallies with union workers, donald trump has been hit with federal labor charges from the united auto workers union. the uaw is accusing mr. trump and elon musk of trying to threaten and intimidate workers during the conversation they had monday night on x. mr. trump praised musk for not tolerating workers who go on strike. neither the trump campaign nor musk replied to request for comment. today donald trump has an event in north carolina, while his running mate will visit michigan. frances? >> chris pollone, thank you. last night was another

primary night in some swing states. in minnesota, congresswoman ilhan omar has defeated several primary challengers. she breaks a recent streak of so-called progressive squad members who lost primaries. omar was not the target of attacks from outside groups over her views on israel. meanwhile, in wisconsin, a face-off is set between tammy baldwin, a democrat, and wealthy businessman, eric hovde, who has the endorsement of donald trump. this will be a very closely-watched race in that battleground state. and many voters will get to vote directly on abortion rights this november. initiatives on this issue have been added to the ballots in a growing number of states. as we get a clearer look at what impacts the overturning of roe versus wade is having. here' here's laura jarret. >> reporter: a constitutional amendment in missouri that would wipe out the state's near total ban on abortion now set to appear on the ballot this november, while abortion rights

organizers in the swing state of arizona shattered records, with more than half a million signatures to get their proposed amendment added. >> this initiative has made the ballot. >> reporter: missouri and arizona joining a growing list of states all with similar ballot measures that would create a new right to abortion up to the point a fetus can survive, around 24 weeks. something opponents say goes too far. this ballot push, the byproduct to the supreme court overturning abortion, allowing each state to pass their own restrictions, now under new scrutiny as new data reveals what's happening in hospitals. records show more than 100 pregnant women with medical emergencies denied care in the e.r. since roe versus wade was overturned. >> there's so much fear and

confusion. because an ectopic can have a heartbeat. >> reporter: she had an ectopic pregnancy where an embryo implants in a fallopian tube. she wa she was initially denied an abortion. >> i want to have kids, and i want to keep my fallopian tubes. but now it's gone. >> reporter: she along with another patient from texas now calling on the biden administration to investigate. >> i had to fight like hell to get my care, and i still didn't get it fast enough. >> reporter: and this issue of medical emergencies, particularly in texas, not going away soon, as a lawsuit there going up to the u.s. supreme court, potentially, as soon as this fall. back to you. >> laura, thank you. more than a week after ukraine launched a stunning cross-border assault, battles are still raging across russia. the russian army is scrambling

to retake land and villages seized by ukrainian soldiers. it took intelligenceservices and border guards by surprise. let's go to claudio lavanga. how is vladimir putin reacting to this? >> reporter: good morning, frances. the first, the last time we saw vladimir putin was on monday when he met his russian top officials, and he still sounded defiant. now he vowed to squeeze the enemy in the war in ukraine, that they will receive a worthy response for their counter attack into russianterritory. he said that russia is still united and also even boasted that, on the contrary, russian troops are accelerating their advance into the east of ukraine. but, according to experts who anlu analyze his body language and voice, they say there was a significant shift in his voice and calm demeanor, and he

sounded absolutely terrified about the counter attack. but frances, i don't think you need an expert to conclude that the fact that the war has now spilled into russian territory must have been a source of incredible worry and also embarrassment for vladimir putin. and this could turn out to be a real turning point in the war. now the president of ukraine volodymyr zelenskyy said ukrainian troops control 74 villages across the border into the kursk region in russia. about 400 square miles of territory. and also that the more russian military capabilities are destroyed inside russia the closer and the sooner the peace will alivrrive in ukraine. an urgent manhunt is under way for a convicted killer in north carolina. ramon alston was being transported to a hospital when he freed himself from leg restraints and fled into the

woods still handcuffed. he is serving a life sentence for a shooting that left a 1-year-old girl dead. turning to the caribbean, where tropical storm ernesto is churning. it's expected to strengthen to a hurricane this morning over the atlantic, as it passes north rip as much as 10 inches of rain. let's get to ryan hanrahan who's tracking the storm's path. good morning, ryan. >> hey, good morning, frances. the storm is just shy of hurricane strength. and portions of puerto rico getting hit pretty hard right now. winds of 70 miles per hour right now. the storm's location is 80 miles to the northwest of st. thomas, but lots of squally weather to the south of that, hitting the virgin islands this morning. and as we zoom in and give you a look at satellite and radar, you can see very heavy rain from san juan to the east.

and portions of the virgin islands going to get hit hard. here's the expected track. er nece ernesto becoming a hurricane, and it could be up to a category 3. back across the lower 48, we do have storms this morning across the midwest. storms from iowa all the way down into the south toward tennessee. there is a risk nfor severe weather later on today. and then the whole system moves to the east. and it looks like that will bring strong storm s nebraska, a storms and a chance for storms in the rockies. and that's today's weather. frances, we'll send things back

over to you. "early today" is back in a minute with big changes brewing for starbucks. and the doj struggles with the question, you can't just google. could the name synonymous with search engines be broken up? ngi? why use 10 buckets of water when you can use 1 fire extinguisher. and to fight heartburn, why take 10 antacids throughout the day when you can take 1 prilosec. for easier heartburn relief, one beats ten. prilosec otc. one pill. 24 hours. zero heartburn. when your clothes come out looking newer, longer... you get to take them for a spin. again... ...and again... ...and again. persil cleans and helps keep clothes looking newer, longer. get that new clothes feeling. wash with persil. i'm jimmy dean and only one thing could make a morning like this any nicer... get that new clothes feeling. a hearty, hefty, good tasting breakfast, with eggs, bacon, sausage, cheese and tators. and when you finished, you know you had something to eat.

did you know that if you shave, 1/3rd of what you remove is skin? (♪♪) new dove helps repair it. so, if you shave it? (♪♪) dove it new dove replenish your skin after every shave. stock futures are flat this morning as investors await a key inflation report on consumer goods that could pave the way to lower interest rates. the dow popped 400 points yesterday after july's measure on wholesale inflation came in lower than expected. the fed is widely expected to cut interest rates at its meeting in september as prices continue to level off. and a major shakeup could be in the works for a tech titan. the doj is searching for a solution after a case against google. the doj has discussed several proposals, including breaking up parts of the company.

for more let's get to karen tso. >> what we are seeing here, the magnificent seven stock, also part of our daily vocab. the latest here is that the doj is weighing remedies on the back of that landmark anti-trust ruling which include the breakup of the business through separating out the chrome browser from the android operating system. that is one option and the most militant here. also stopping deals that see google become the default search engine. or another option is the forced sharing of data with rivals. all this comes as we see google unveil a much more competitive lineup of devices in the smartphone market, packed with a.i. features. gemini, the a.i. chatbot is basically embedded in pixel devices. it encourages developers to build up more along the android operating system, taking the threat to apple as well.

but pixel 9, the latest smartphone is retailing at almost $800 apiece. there's the pro with the high-end camera, also foldable at $1800. so, it does deliver a much more competitive challenge to the smartphone market, frances. back to you. >> karen, thanks. and there is a big change brewing for starbucks. the coffee skbrgiant is replaci their ceo after just a year, bringing in the head of chipotle. tom costello tells us about the tall task ahead. >> reporter: news broke just as americans were sichpping their first cup. >> this is big. >> reporter: the ceo of starbucks out. as the world's most iconic coffee brandstruggles with customers who've said no to higher prices. >> it is $8. i'm just saying, i can't do it. i'm tapping out. i can't do it. >> reporter: starbucks' new ceo

br br brian niccol, who turned c, who oat chipotle around. the new ceo's challenge luring back starbucks customers who have been deliriven away by lon waits and cheaper coffee by competitors. >> i don't like the prices. i think they have gone up a lot. >> a good bit cheaper at the local coffee shop. >> reporter: higher prices have turned many americans awayy ame. kfc and mcdonald's offering value meals. one of the problems starbucks they have had, what do consumers want? >> they are looking for value. they want to feel like when they spend money at a premium brand it's worth their money and time.

>> $6 for a tall, small drink. >> reporter: fed up with inflation, more americans are simply saying no. tom costello, nbc news, washington. still to come, the only murders game goes hollywood in the first look at the new season. and live from new york, it's saturday fight. a snl mainstay reveals a tense memory. mainstay reveals a tense memory. ke you want. -you the man! cologuard is for people 45+ at average risk, not high risk. false positive and negative results may occur. ask your provider for cologuard. ♪ i did it my way ♪ whoa! how'd you get your teeth so white? you gotta use the right toothpaste! dr. c?! ♪♪ not all toothpastes whiten the same. crest 3d white removes 100% more stains for a noticeably whiter smile. new personal best. crest. i'm jimmy dean and only one thing could make a morning like this any nicer... a hearty, hefty, good tasting breakfast, with eggs, bacon, sausage,

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who would kill thad? >> a lot of suspects. >> we were hoping we could ask a few questions. >> i'm not talk-in' to you. >> maybe this will unzip your lips. >> new york street crime crew is going coast-to-coast in the first look at season four of "only murders in the building." steve martin, martin short and selena gomez get wrapped up in another investigation right as hollywood decides to bring their podcast to the big screen.

the new season which includes eugene levy, zach galloifianaki and meryl streep will be back along with eva longoria and molly shannon, too. >> the cast is perfect already. f just ahead of the 3550th anniversary, a snl cast member is spilling some tea. >> this man, this person, this host made multiple cast members cry on wednesday before the table read because he hated the ideas. >> wow. >> yeah. >> so yang kept his revelation anonymous, but he did imply the host in question was male, which narrows it down to only about 65 possibilities. >> mm-hm. we've been talking about it, but behind the scenes here at "early today," maybe eddie murphy.

dave chapelle, remember, when he hosted at the very end. but yang stood totally across the stage and didn't hug him. you never know what's happening behind the scenes. just upstairs a few floors up. when we come back, why celery was seized by the dea. plus coca-cola and oreo create the new treats that gives you the best of both worlds. you the best of both worlds. i bet allison doesn't get jelly on her shirt. urgh! i bet noah lyles doesn't get smoothie on his jersey. aw, come on. i bet carl lewis doesn't get tomato sauce on his jacket. dang it. urghh! ♪♪ stains happen to the best of us. when they do, tide's got you covered. pasta in paris? when in rome! it's got to be tide. america's #1 detergent. upset stomach iberogast indigestion iberogast bloating iberogast thanks to a unique combination of herbs, iberogast helps relieve

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romo explains. there's a science behind the attraction to these over-the-top creations. >> ooh. >> i know, and it doesn't stop. >> mm! >> reporter: from popular shows on youtube featuring celebrities eating flaming hot dogs. >> three, two, one. >> reporter: to social media challenges, tasting the sourest candies. americans can't get enough of extreme foods. >> i can tell that's going to be the hottest pepper that i've had up to date. >> reporter: nelson chaney is one of them. his tiktok, craving capsaicin is named after the active ingredient in chili peppers. >> i kind of like my food to hurt a little bit. >> reporter: his videos show him eating carolina reapers, some of the hottest peppers in the world. but it's not just the challenge that he loves. >> some people say it's like a legal high, kind of. >> reporter: that feeling is what a psychologist says

attracts people to spicy foods, even when it burns. >> the spicy foods, when you use these substances, they release things that are very similar to a medication that you would take or a drug. so they release thins like endorphins and dopamine. >> reporter: scientists eating foods with extreme flavors like hot pepper or sour candy signal the brain thatit's in danger. but, when you survive, the relief causes a high. after a while, people can build up a tolerance, so they seek foods that are even more extreme. that may be part of what's fueling the popularity of super caffeinated energy drinks. >> with any substance, kind of like the more you start using the substance the more tolerant or used to it you get and you kind of need to boost it up to feel that same effect. >> reporter: but, there is a dark side. for young kids and those with underlying health conditions, extremely spicy ingredients and caffeine can be dangerous.

even deadly. two adults, a 46-year-old man in florida and a pennsylvania college student died after drinking panera's charged lemonade, prompting the store to pull it from its shelves. and a 14-year-old boy died last year after trying the one-chip challenge. the parents now filing a wrongful death suit against hershey, the parent company of paqui. they say they disagree with the allegations and will defend themselves against the claims. ne nelson cautions his followers. >> don't try to do what i do at home. i have a very high news is on t. .

the presidential race running full steam ahead. former president trump set to speak in north carolina tonight as his running mate hits the