this is "nightline." >> tonight, the domestic terror trail. a day filled with fear and mass evacuations. >> we were just thinking or hoping that those bombs weren't going to go off. >> pipe bombs sent to politicians, former presidents, and the press. >> any acts of political violence are an attack on our democracy itself. >> a federal investigation kicking into high beer as the manhunt for for whoever is responsible intensifies. forget the mega millions. these guys will do it the old-fashioned way. the miners of the hit tv show "gold rush" take our ginger zee inside their gritty world. >> we found gold!

>> the remote area of the frozen yukon where the air is cold but the temperatures are hot. >> take all the risks and you get all the money! >> a mega fortune on the line. it hasn't been his day, his week, his month, his beer. a "friends" doppelganger wanted for shoplifting. the star's hilarious instagram holiday. but first the "nightline 5." >> for a nasty cold, take dayquil severe with vicks vapo-cool and vaporize it with an intense rush of vick's vapors. new dayquil severe with vick's vapo-quill. and drops to vaporize your sore throat. breathe freely fast with vicks sinex. >> my congestion's gone. i can breathe again! oh. >> vick's sinex, breathe on. >> ♪

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good even there are fast-moving developments. pipe bombs sent to a series of democratic figures and a major news organization, all frequent critics and targets of president trump. and now authorities confirming another suspicious package intended for congresswoman maxine waters as they continue the manhunt for whoever is responsible here. evacuation. streets shut down. the bomb squad on the scene. >> be advised you're meeting up at central park south and columbus circle, copy. >> reporter: one of the busiest city corners in the world brought to a standstill. for this, what looks like a pipe bomb sent to the cnn mail room. >> that's a -- excuse me that sounds like aire alarm here. we'll keep you posted on that -- >> reporter: the network

surprised on the air, learning along with the rest of the world. explosive devices and other suspicious packages have sparked police investigations across the country. down the east coast, from new york to washington, d.c. to florida. and a new discovery on the west coast in los angeles. also tonight, sources tell abc news investigators are looking into a possible eighth package which may have been addressed to former vice president joe biden. no one seems to know when or where the next one might pop up. >> we will not let terrorism win. not today, not ever. >> reporter: it all started two days ago at the home of billionaire liberal philanthropist george soros north of new york city. >> george soros is a well-known liberal financier, a very wealthy man, one of the top funders of democtiov o lt cf de. >> reporter: a security guard found a live bomb described as similar to a pipe bomb in soros'

mail box. late tuesday night, another explosive device sent to hillary clinton, intercepted by the secret service before it reached her home in westchester county, new york. a source familiar with the situation tells abc news that former president bill clinton was at home at the time. the former secretary of state hundreds of miles away on the campaign trail in florida. intense security surrounding her every move. >> we are fine thanks to the men and women of the secret service. but it is a troubling time, isn't it? and it's a time of deep divisions. and we do everything we can to bring our country together. >> reporter: just hours later, a suspicious device intercepted in washington, d.c. on its way to former president obama. >> the package was found at a screening facility located in washington, d.c.

the package was immediately identified during the screening procedure, and it never made it to its intended location. >> reporter: the area around the former commander in chief's home blocked off, the police chief delivering a stern message to whoever was behind the bomb. >> sooner or later, we are going to come and get you and hold you accountable for what you did. >> reporter: back in new york this morning, just after 10:30, cnn was reporting on the spate of suspicious devices when their own alarms began to go off. >> that's a -- excuse me. that sounds like a fire alarm here. we'll keep you posted on that. >> reporter: employees caught evacuating live on television before the anchors go off air themselves, cutting to commercial. and cnn's employees weren't the only ones who had to evacuate. their headquarters, located in the time warner center, a sprawling economics sprawl ing complex of apartments, shops, theaters, a luxury hotel. >> the lights went off and staff came in lmly, saids of evacuati.

we realized it was serious and the tone quickly changed to quiet and quick. >> we were just thinking or hoping that those bombs weren't going to go off. >> pretty scary. we're from all over the country, we're not used to this. >> reporter: heavily armed police quickly converging on the scene. >> responding officers identified a device that appeared to be a live explosive device. nypd bomb squad responded, secured the device, and removed it for investigation. additionally, there was an envelope containing white powder that was discovered as part of that original packaging. >> reporter: here's a photo of that bomb and the package it came in. it was addressed to former cia director john brennan, but it misspelled his last name. brennan addressed the situation during a he full confidence in former law enforcement and intelligence colleagues to get to the bottom of this. >> it was meant to kill or maim the individual who opened it and anyone in close proximity when they opened it. >> this clearly is an act of

terror. i want to make very clear that the people of new york city will not be intimidated. >> reporter: the bomb was carefully moved out of the building and loaded into this truck, called a total containment vessel, or a bomb truck. >> these devices are dangerous with the potential to maim or kill. these photographs, exclusively obtained by abc news, provide key sight. sources telling abc news each device contained a digital clock, explosive powder, a battery as a power source, and wiring to channel a spark for detonation. law enforcement officials are hoping to determine where each item connected to the packages was purchased, which might in turn help them identify a suspect or suspects. >> the forensics will be the most intensive part. they'll first do photographic analysis. they will do fingerprinting. they will do dna. they will examine the timed power unit. they will examine the cartridge, the container, whatever the explosive filler r aetls now critical to hunting down

whoever is responsible. >> there's so many steps where you could leave genetic material or fingerprints on a bomb, on a package. there's all sorts of things that can catch this guy. i guarantee you they're working all those possibilities. >> it would be very rare that the full forensic review of the devices would turn up zero evidence for a follow-up investigation. >> reporter: but even as that investigation started to ramp up, more suspicious packages continued to pop up. in maryland, one intercepted at a congressional mail sorting center addressed to democratic california congresswoman maxine waters. then this evening another addressed to waters found at a po postal facility in los angeles. down in florida police rushed to the offices of democratic congresswoman debbie wasserman schultz. the device there was addressed to former obama attorney general eric holder. >> these were all shipped in manila envelopes with six

american flag stamps, a return address of congresswoman and former dnc chair debbie wasserman schultz. the shipping critical to who did this, concerns there are more bombs out there with the bomber still at large. >> reporter: wasserman schultz issued a statement saying, this appalling attack on our democracy must be vigorously prosecuted and i am deeply disturbed by the way my name was used. as investigators take a look at the devices themselves they're also looking at the names of the targets, high-profile people involved in politics, all people or organizations who president trump has attacked or criticized by name. all have been likewise openly critical of the president and his policies. >> there's no way to know yet who was behind this and what their political motivations were. >> reporter: the president employing a different tone today when addressing the investigation. >> i just want to tell you that in these times, we have to unify. we have to come together. and send one very clear, strong,

unmistakable message, that acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the united states of america. >> reporter: but just hours ago at a rally in wisconsin, the president had more to say. >> no nation can succeed that tolerates violence or the threat of violence as a method of political intimidation, coercion, or control. we all know that. the media also has a responsibility to set a civil tone and to stop the endless hostility and constant negative and oftentimes false attacks and stories. have to do it. have to do it.ot stop. >> reporter: prominent democrats now calling for all politicians to cool down the rhetoric. >> let's just say this, to all public officials of all partisan affiliations, don't encourage violence.

don't encourage hatred. don't encourage attacks on media. >> reporter: no matter what the bomber intended, whether it was to instill fear or to send a political message, investigators tonight remain laser focused on one goal, finding whoever is responsible. >> you have to think about this case as a domestic terrorist attack. and that triggers all sorts of things, both in the fbi, atf, city, county, and state law enforcement. because they're going to work this case jointly. but they're literally going to probably drop everything else that's not a priority and focus on this. don't be surprised if they catch this guy quickly. next on "nightline," we switch gears. no guts, no glory, no gold. our deep dive with the gold miners making mega money.

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the miners of the reality tv show "gold rush" take us beneath the surface where the bragging rights are just as valuable as the gold for which they're digging. abc's ginger zee making the trek to the desolate northern yukon. >> hopefully there's a bunch of gold there. >> reporter: that is 24-year-old parker. >> how are you guys doing? >> good. >> good. >> reporter: ambitious and talented spitfire who just happened to mine more than $7 million worth of gold last year alone. >> represents 5791 ounces. >> reporter: he's one of three hard-core gold miners braving the harsh conditions of the northern yukon.

>> i have a million dollars on the table. this puts us over 2,000 [ bleep ]. >> reporter: they're all in a fierce competition. >> driving through my yard. keep everything on that side of the line. i'll keep mine on this side. >> reporter: playing out on discovery's hit show "gold rush" now in its ninth season. >> nice to meet you. >> reporter: for the first time letting an outsider in to see where the bling is buried. >> this is our little hole in the ground. >> reporter: parker shears away everything in his path, then digs giant trenches creating what miners call a cut. >> we usually mine about 2 million to 3 million square feet a year. this cut will end up being one of the biggest ones we've ever done. >> this is just one of the pieces of equipment that they use. this i guess his new toy, costs over $1 million. >> we rip frozen mud with it. all the ground that we mine is covered in a layer that's usually about 10 feet thick of this frozen mud. >> this is the wash plant? >> this is the wash plant, this

is where the money gets made. >> reporter: once the mud is load ed up it's doused with watr and sorted. >> the coarse stuff goes up that conveyor belt. the fines that has the gold in it come down into the side chutes. >> reporter: the gold is then separated. the flakes put into containers and sold to gold buyers. >> assuming it holds up the way it was last fall, we'll have done 2,000 ounces out of there. that's basically about 2 million bucks. >> it's amazing to look and think of 2 million bucks. >> reporter: our next stop, meeting tony beets, nope for being a bit rough around the edges. >> you know the barge is coming in -- >> reporter: but all business. >> we have 12 miles of ground, 2,000 feet wide. on this end, going in the back, we have 3,000 feet wide. means we have the whole valley. >> wow. >> yeah. >> that's a lot of land. >> that's a lot of land. >> reporter: last season, his team mined more than $4 million worth of gold.

>> that's as hard as she can pull, kevin, huh? just keep that power on. >> reporter: this year they want more. they'll be using an 80-year-old piece of equipment. >> basically the way it works is when it works, that's when you quit spending money on it. >> it doesn't have to look good? >> it doesn't make any more money so to hell with it, right? >> it's about to get real loud? >> yeah, real quick too. as you can see, pretty easy way of making money. once it's all set up, once it all runs, once you strip the ground, go back and forth, back and forth. >> what drives you every season? >> i really, really like what i do. i'm very fortunate person. i really, really like what go. >> i've got one [ bleep ] shot to get started. wish me luck, rubes. >> hey, rick. that's a big truck you have there. >> yeah, yeah. it's my baby. >> reporter: of all the miners

on "gold rush," rick mess definitely has the most to lose. >> you are running your own show now. >> i am. >> this is the first time? >> yes. >> first season? >> yes. >> how's it feel? >> i got to tell you, it's stressful but i couldn't be happier. right now it looks like a big old mess, but it's all organized in my head. >> i might as well pack and up go hohe nstripping we'll never any gold. >> reporter: he used to work on parker's team. >> good luck. >> thanks, man. >> reporter: now it's all on him. and a couple of friends that have never mined a day in their lives. >> i'll figure it out. i've been very successful up here. and when i think about giving it to somebody else and bringing somebody along with me, it's me friend. >> this is a huge decision for them. they've got families. they've got to give that up for six, seven months. >> i'll be honest with you, they're living on a dream right now. pretty much all of them at this point have taken a pay cut. >> you obviously have a lot of

faith in this guy? >> ultimately we're here to support rick and his venture, being a boss out here. >> i don't want to take another minute because i know every single minute counts, right? >> absolutely. >> get them back to work. >> let's go! >> let's go it. >> reporter: my trip to gold country wouldn't have been complete without trying my own luck. >> one more question. >> reporter: the old school way. >> get your gold pan. >> got it. so about like flakes is what you're mining at this point? most of the stuff that you see -- >> the little stuff is what makes the weight, you know. we make our money on super-feingold. we found some garnets and one lonely little flake of gold. >> it's there! >> yeah. terrible pan. >> oh, that's a terrible pan? >> yeah. >> i thought that was great. yeah, we found gold! >> so we're normally looking for like 10 colors at least. >> one? >> there's one in there, yeah. real great. >> look at your ripple. >> so that's probably about 20.

two, four, six, eight, 10, 12, 14, 15 -- 15. but tre's some nice-sized chunks in there. it doesn't make me jump for joy, but i'd be comfortable with that. >> reporter: for "nightline," i'm ginger zee in the yukon territory. >> our thanks to ginger zee. this note," gold rush" airs friday nights at 9:00 eastern on discovery. we were on the brink! >> next, why the actor david schwimmer posted an instagram alibi. ♪ from the start, the c-class was ahead of its time. [ indistinct radio chatter ] still, we never stopped making it stronger. faster. smarter. because to be the best, is to never ever stop making it better.

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finally tonight, a dead ringer for david schwimmer making news for his sticky fingers. the "friends" look-alike wanted for theft in the uk. police posted this picture asking the public for leads and they got hundreds of people pointing the finger at schwimmer. as a rebuttal, schwimmer providing his tongue in cheek alibi, posting this instagram video of his own beer run in a grocery store here in new york city. now if he could get chandler and joey to come forward to verify

his whereabouts. he's a good sport. thank you for watching "nightline" tonight, and good night.