this is "nightline." >> tonight, red flag. president trump doing damage control after asking his national security adviser to resign following leaked conversations with the russian ambassador. now other allegations of phone calls between trump associates and suspected russian intelligence officials. were they in touch before the election? and why does it matter? plus mer-mania. diving into the annual mermaid convention. >> being a mermaid means being the bridge of fantasy and reality. >> where professional and amateur mer-folk gather to live out their fishiest fantasies, spending thousands of dollars on under the sea styles. and so it's come to diss.

♪ selena to say sorry >> is the weekend targeting justin bieber with a diss track? the two have reportedly been feuding over selena gomez. will the beibs say he's story? or is this just heating up? first the "nightline 5." >> number one coming up it's okay to cry, right? no more! we don't want anymore!

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good evening and thank you for joining us. president donald j. trump is pointing fingers over the intelligence community over leaks of information that forced the resignation of his national security adviser. this as the fbi is investigating russian influence in the election. this is a fast-moving and fascinating story but it can also be very confusing. tonight abc's david wright breaks it all down for us. >> reporter: today, alongside the israeli prime minister, president trump backed away from america's commitment to a two-state solution of the israeli/palestinian conflict. one state for israel, one for palestine. a bedrock of u.s. foreign policy for decades. >> so i'm looking at two state and one state. and i like the one that both parties like. i'm very happy with the one that both parties like. >> reporter: on any other day, with any other president, that would be huge news. with this administration, big

news had better take a number. the administration is still reeling after the abrupt ouster of national security adviser mike flynn. today the president praised the man he just fired. >> general flynn is a wonderful man. i think he's been treated very, very unfairly by the media. as i call it, the fake media in many cases. and i think it's really a sad thing that he was treated so badly. >> reporter: at start of the week, kellyanne conway insisted flynn was in the clear, even after intelligence agencies had exposed damaging details of his conversations with the russian ambassador. >> yes, general flynn does enjoy the full confidence of the president. >> reporter: hours later, not so much. >> the evolving and eroding level of trust as a result of this situation and a series of other questionable instances is what led the president to ask for general flynn's resignation. >> reporter: the white house had known for weeks that flynn hadn't told the vice president the truth about whether he'd ever discussed sanctions that

president obama had just imposed after russia's meddling in the election. >> what i can confirm having spoken to him about it -- >> reporter: mike pence put his own credibility on the line. flynn now admits he misled the vice president, that sanctions did come up in at least one call with the russians. senate republicans now say they'll likely expand their ongoing investigation of russian meddling to include flynn. >> the intelligence committee's already looking at russian involvement in our election. highly likely they'd want to take a look at this episode as well. they have the broad jurisdiction to do it. >> reporter: the flynn ouster is raising some major red flags, even in trump's own party. >> you don't know who's in charge, this flynn situation, the whole environment is one of dysfunction in the trump administration. >> reporter: today new allegations flynn wasn't the only person in trump's orbit with ties to the russians, ties even to suspected russian

intelligence figures. former trump campaign officials now face renewed scrutiny too. >> did you or anyone in your campaign have any contact with russia? >> reporter: reporters have been asking about this for months. >> can you still say definitively that nobody on the trump campaign, not even general flynn, had any contact with the russians before the election? >> reporter: now the intersection of trump's business interests is once again under the spotlight. an issue that could be laid to rest if trump ever released those tax returns. >> i think if the asset holds hearings and tries to draw and bring the lines together, hearings held in congress, they're going to ask for tax returns to see if there's any relationship there. so at some point i think when those hearings are held that information will come out. >> reporter: congress may have better luck compelling an answer where the media has failed. a growing number of democrats -- >> highly disturbing and it raises more and more questions that congress has a sworn obligation to get to the bottom of. >> reporter: and republicans are

now expressing concern. >> contacts between the trump campaign and russian intelligence officials outside the norm, that's not only big-league bad, that's a game-changer. i would change my view as to what congress should do. >> why does it matter? >> to me it's not necessarily specifically about michael flynn, it's the dots that get connected back with russia that's been a concern for over a year. if the dots get connected between people in the trump orbit and the russian folks that hacked into the election and then leaked it to wikileaks, if that line gets drawn clearly, donald trump is in a bigger, bigger problem than he's ever seen before. >> reporter: if the very idea of trump cronies colluding in a russian plot to influence the american election sounds like something out of a cold war spy movie? >> i'm carrie. >> nice to see you again. >> reporter: there's an equally cinematic conspiracy theory in trump defense, one that seems straight out of "homeland." >> let's get business out of the way. >> tell me.

>> reporter: spoiler alert, that's "homeland" cia chief snooping on "homeland's" new president-elect. america's national security surveillance using all the tools and tradecraft to undermine an administration whose policies they perceive as a threat. >> what's not wise is peddling unverified and politically motivated horse [ bleep ] to the press. >> reporter: sound familiar? >> and the documents and papers that were illegally, i stress that, illegally leaked. very, very unfair. >> reporter: he's locked in ongoing feuds with the media, the courts, even his intelligence agencies. but there's one reporter he doesn't seem to have a problem with. tweeting, thank you eli lake after an otherwise critical bloomberg journalist expressed dismay at the classified information being leaked. >> is this a big deal? >> it's a very big deal. he was taken out by the campaign of leaks that had to have come

from the intelligence community. in this respect, flynn is the appetizer, donald trump is the entree. >> what do you mean by that? >> this is part of a strategy i think to destroy the trump presidency. >> reporter: just tonight the house oversight committee asked the doj to investigate those leaks that trump has called the real scandal. the russia probe, just one of several investigations the administration now faces after three short weeks on the job. another announced yesterday by the house oversight committee is looking into the discussion of potentially sensitive security matters al fresco at mar-a-lago. the white house is certainly embattled. how does this compare to watergate? >> i think we're not at the level of watergate. i think we don't have any sense right now the president was personally involved in doing nefarious activities. the question is who is in his orbit that's going to have to take the fall before the circle closes in around donald trump? it's an unknown right now. we don't know how close it gets to donald trump.

>> reporter: how much does all of this matter to trump voters? that's an entirely different question. we came to one spot in new york where you're likely to find people who are fans of president trump to see what they think. he's had a tough week. his national security adviser resigned. bit of a scandal. his labor secretary pick withdrew today. bit of a scandal. does any of that worry you? >> no. i think -- >> there's been worse. >> yeah. >> there's been worse. >> i think we should give him a chance. he's done a lot already. i think he's going to do more for us. >> you're keeping an open mind? >> that's right. >> he's tough but we need it. i think we need to protect the people of our country. and i don't -- i love trump, i voted for him and i'll do it again. he's got to do a better jonathan the last guy that was in. >> this seems to be the sentiment of a lot of people, that no matter what may be going on at the moment, if he accomplishes his promise of

making america great again, bringing jobs back, that will be okay with you. >> reporter: for now trump still has their support. for now. i'm david wright for "nightline" in new york. next, a very different kettle of fish if you'll excuse the pun. professional mermaids. what is this job and why didn't my guidance counselor suggest to it me? and later -- ♪ what do you mean >> what do you mean you took my girlfriend? the weekend's new track that could be a dig at justin bieber. ♪ ♪ lease a 2017 lincoln mkx for $369 a month. only at your lincoln dealer.

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staid affairs. people peddling new auto parts, insurance policies or caskets. tonight, though, we'll take you to the mer-mania mermaid convention. here's my "nightline" coanchor juju chang. ♪ >> reporter: no shirt, no shoes? no problem. welcome to ncmer-mania 2017. yep, this is a mermaid convention. mer-folk, both amateurs and pros, diving in for a weekend of fun, flair, and fins. >> being a mermaid means being the bridge of fantasy and reality. >> reporter: from underwater posing workshops to offbeat modes of transportation. >> here we go, back to the big pool. >> reporter: these die-hards are making waves, wowing in tails that can cost up to $5,000. all brought together by a shared

albeit unique hobby. it was daryl hannah who first made a splash. >> what are you doing, sweetheart? >> taking a bath. >> can i come in? >> no! >> reporter: then it was ariel's turn as "the little mermaid." ♪ under the sea under the sea >> reporter: now it's hannah burgess who says for her it's about pushing fun and fantasy. >> these are one of my favorite part of my room. they are handmade by me jellyfish lanterns. >> reporter: we met the 21-year-old art and design student at her college in virginia. >> this is fish netting that i got to actually make tops with. >> reporter: although hours away from the ocean, she's found a way to bring the sea to her. >> here is a jar of sand from the outer banks which i collected myself. this room is kind of my mermaid grotto. >> reporter: dubbed nova cyrene, the virginia mermaid, hannah teaches and performs nationwide, making a splan online with 20,000 instagram followers.

she's quick to acknowledge it's an uncommon gig. >> a lot of people really don't understand what i mean when i say i'm a mermaid. i know i'm a human but i just really enjoy dressing up as a mermaid and entertaining children, swimming in coral reefs, doing really special things that not a lot of people get to do. >> reporter: on this day, hannah is packing for the annual mermaid convention. and let's just say the dress code is very specific. >> this one was custom made for my measurements, and i picked the paint job, and all of that. so this one cost me $2,100. the starfish are made out of silicone too. it's very glamorous, has a lot of sparkly things on it. >> reporter: she's set and ready for what promises to be a fantastic weekend. they say it's better under the sea. and these guys really mean it. >> being under water is an extremely exhilarating feeling. your adrenaline is pumping and you're kind of scared but also partly being relaxed and

enjoying the fact that you're under water. >> reporter: here at one of the largest mermaid gatherings in the world we meet chris, actor turned mer-man, who's been part of this community the past four years. >> i would call a professional mermaid a giver of dreams. go get that dream. go be you. >> reporter: chris says the big motivator for him is upping the image of men in the mer-folk industry. >> i want to create a world for them or at least help create a world for them where they don't have to be afraid. i was picked on in school for my love of the ocean. when i set out to be this character, i wanted to make it a safe haven for other men and just be a role model, be an inspiration for them, break down as many doors as i possibly could. it's just what i do. it's my job. it's the job that i've wanted to do. and i just keep -- to quote dory from "finding nemo," i just keep swimming. it's just an amazing feeling to

know that i've made an impact on a lot of people in this business. and people that are looking to join the business. so it's wonderful. it's very overwhelming. >> reporter: 300 participants from around the globe have traveled to this meetup to socialize, check out the latest gear. >> these are $3,000 silicone tails. >> reporter: to attend seminars about all things mermaidy. >> know what you're wearing and doing underwater. >> reporter: husband and wife amanda and joseph are coaching students how to strike a pose while submerged. taking them from classroom to pool to test their moves. hannah, the veteran, stunning in these underwater shots. >> i learned a whole lot about breath control, buoyancy, things like that. we had some good laughs while we looked at some of the candid photos. so it's been really fun.

>> reporter: hannah says her mermaid obsession began as a child, like many here watching ariel in action. ♪ up where they walk up where they run ♪ ♪ up where they stay all day in the sun ♪ ♪ wandering free wish i could be part of that world ♪ >> when i was a child, i would actually put both of my legs inside one pant leg in my leggings when i was a kid and have diving flippers and i would go in hotel pools and public pools and the swim like that. >> reporter: now she's able to share her passion with other young kids growing up with a taste for fantasy. >> who do you think you are, cried the rainbow fish? >> reporter: while some might find it odd, hannah says at its core the convention is about bonding with friends. >> everyone who comes here has the same love for mermaids and the same love for the water. and we really understand each other and we understand the commitment and creativity that it takes to be a mermaid or

merman. i've made so many friends i can truly say they are my best friends. >> reporter: friendships that go a little deeper, both above and below the surface. for "nightline," i'm juju chang in new york. next -- ♪ kill them with kindness >> the weekend and justin bieber's reported feud over selena gomez. shouldn't justin kill them with kindness? ♪ kill them with kindness ♪ go ahead go ahead go ahead there's no party like a lobster party, and this is the lobster party. red lobster's lobsterfest is back with 9 irresistible lobster dishes. yeah, it's a lot. try tender lobster lover's dream and see how sweet a lobster dream can be. or pick two delicious lobster tails with new lobster mix and match. the only thing more tempting than one succulent lobster tail, is two. is your mouth watering yet? good. because there's something for everyone,

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finally here tonight, a couple of pop stars popping off. ♪ i'm trying to put you in the worst mood ♪ >> it's the beef that just keeps on giving. selena may be no more but the friction between selena gomez and justin bieber lives on and this time it's about a certain star boy. ♪ what do you mean >> gomez has been spotted with the weeknd over the past several weeks and it seems to have the biebs asking, what do you mean?

following the weekend's grammy performance -- ♪ this past weekend bieber took to instagram to troll his fellow canadian. >> star boy by the weeknd -- >> only to burst out in laughter. >> ha ha ha! >> reporter: just weeks after he told tmz he can't listen to the weeknd. >> can you listen to a weeknd song? >> hell know. >> why not? >> the weeknd remained silent until last night until he dropped a new song called "some way" in which he apparently calls out the biebs. ♪ i think your girl fell in love with me ♪ ♪ i just took that chick and i know you feeling some way ♪ >> while biebs has yet to respond to the weeknd's latest track don't expect a "sorry" any time soon. ♪ sorry

>> thank you for watching abc news tonight. as always, we're online 24/7 at abcnews.com and our "nightline" facebook page. thanks again for watching and good night.

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