battle supreme president trump promises to name a successor to ruth bader ginsburg this week, but could republican senators put a roadblock into any confirmation hearings before election day former vice president joe biden says not so fast believing that the next supreme court justice should be chosen by the winner of the november 3rd election new fire danger near los angeles, as a new wildfire explodes in size along with what's called a smoke-nado >> and several star players suffer injury.

and we have the biggest moments, plus the winners and losers from the emmy awards. "early today" starts right now good monday morning. i'm frances rivera >> and i'm philip mena the nation grieves the giant of the supreme court this morning the late justice ruth bader ginsburg inspired a nationr lase supreme court and across the country. but even before plans for a funeral are announced, her death is sparking a schism president trump and republicans are vowing to fill the vacancy and joe biden says a senate vote before the election could create a constitutional crisis. nbc's garrett haake has more >> reporter: democratic presidential nominee joe biden urging the senate not to act on any supreme court nominee the president may select >> the people of this nation are choosing their future right now as they vote to jam this nomination through the senate is just an exercise in raw political power

speaking to those republicans out there, senate republicans, who know deep down what is right for the country and consistent with the constitution. >> reporter: this as president trump commits himself to selecting a woman to justice ginsburg and doing it soon >>ly be putting forth a nominee next week. it will be a woman the president is supposed to fill the seat, right and that's what we're going to do >> reporter: the timing of the pending nomination leading many republican senators to reverse or reimagine their stances on president obama's election year nomination of merrick garland in 2016 >> there is a long tradition that you don't do this in an election year. the right thing to do is for the senate to take up this nomination and confirm the nominee before election day. >> reporter: democrats now united in opposing any nominee before inauguration day. >> the people pick the president and the president picks the

justice that is how this works. >> reporter: leaving republicans little margin for error in moving a nomination quickly. lisa murkowski releasing a statement reading in part -- >> reporter: she joins republican susan collins of maine who wrote -- >> reporter: republicans have very little wiggle room when it comes to move thing nomination through the senate i'm watching to see what mitt romney decides to do he voted to convict and remove the president from office during impeachment trial. republicans can still afford to lose his vote, too >> that margin will be razor thin the supreme court is preparing for an official farewell to justice zbinsburg, her chair and the bench is draped in black this morning

this as administration insiders see a front-runner has emerged as a possible nominee. pete williams has this story ♪ >> reporter: thousands of people gathered saturday night outside the supreme court spilling into the street to honor and remember justice ginsburg with similar scenes around the country all weekend long house speaker nancy pelosi brought flowers to the court steps among hundreds who came to say goodbye. >> let our children see that you can make a difference and she really did >> she touched us so much. she's such an inspirational person >> reporter: nothing official has been announced, but justice ginsburg will most likely lie in repose at the court later this week, as happened four years ago when justice scalia died administration officials say the president is considering two women as possible nominees said to be the front-runner at this point, judge amy coney

barrett, a native of indiana, she's 48, a former notre dame law professor, and devout catholic in 2003, she questioned the reluck tanctance of federal cou overturn precedence. at her appeals court confirmation hearing, a democratic senator says every religion has its dogma, but the law is different >> the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you and that's of concern. >> i would stress that my personal church affiliation or my religious belief would not bear on the discharge of my duties as a judge. >> reporter: the president is said to be considering judge barbara lagoa of florida it normally takes an average of 70 days from nomination to confirmation that would mean a senate vote in late november or early december, which could be before it's known

who won the election if it's close, a legal controversy that could kind up in the supreme court. the supreme court's new fall term starts just two weeks from now, and then a week after the election the court hears a make or break challenge to obamacare in a lawsuit brought by a coalition of red states. if there's no confirmation by then, the court would have just eight justices, meaning a 4-4 tie, which would leave the lower court ruling in tact that went against the health care law. frances? >> pete, thank you the pandemic takes another grim turn. the national death toll has passed the 200,000 mark. that's 2 1/2 times the number of u.s. service members that died in the vietnam and korean wars confirmed cases are creeping towards 7 million. in d.c., the washington national cathedral remembered victims of the coronavirus pandemic in a special way. ringing bells to represent the victims. they rang 200 times.

and bill gates criticizing the u.s. response to the pandemic. on fox news sunday, gates tells chris wallace it's outrageous americans still have to wait 24 hours for results. california continues to battle deadly wildfires. since the fire activity escalated on august 15th, 26 lives have been lost and more than 6,000 structures destroyed. >> reporter: california, another neighborhood ablaze as the bobcat fire explodes, burning into l.a. county with new evacuation orders to the north the path of destruction unpredictable. some homes completely gone, others inexplicably spared >> apparently my house is safe >> reporter: firefighters battling wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour, producing this, a rare funnel of smoke some are calling it a smoke-nado almost 100,000 acres burned,

only 15% contained and firefighters remembering one of their own, killed at the el dorado fire. >> the firefighter was a good friend of ours it means a lot we can be here to support him and his loved ones >> reporter: that fire, one of 27 burning across the state, sparked by what authorities call a speak generating pyrotechnic devise the district attorney's office is investigating now 20 states sending aid to fire ravaged california. in oregon, rains bring much-needed relief more than 2,000 homes have been burned, but some have been saved, thanks to the effort of firefighters >> i told my wife we were driving into an apocalypse >> reporter: part of a team that drove through an inferno to help save a historic lodge. >> there's no control of anything like that >> reporter: they battled for two days

now hailed as heroes >> this was a case where we're protecting people's homes and livelihoods. if we hadn't been there, they would have lost everything >> reporter: 32,000 firefighters worked the west coast yesterday, the most in history. yet fire officials tell us there are too many fires and not enough boots on the ground frances? >> thank you to the nfl, lots of action in week two. let's get to highlights. the patriots and seahawks battled on "sunday night football" right here on nbc. russell wilson had the hot game, throwing for five touchdowns, including that one to chris carrson in the fourth. cam newton tried to win it, but fell short and the seahawks win the game 35-30. justin herbert was at the helm for the chargers. he kept l.a. in the game, but the chiefs would not go away they forced overtime and they downed the chargers after this

field goal, 23-20 in overtime. the falcons led by 19 points at the half in dallas, but the cowboys recovered this unbelievable onside kick, and then they would hit the game-winning field goal. the cowboys improbably win this game 40-39 the injury bug swept around the league this week the giants say that saquon barkleyer to his acl drew lockland is down with a shoulder injury. and running back christian mccaffrey suffered an ankle injury and the 49ers lost three of their key players, including jimmy garoppolo, their quarterback, during their win. and james white did not play on sunday night after learning of the death of his father. white's father, a miami-dade police captain, was killed in a car crash sunday afternoon white's mother was also in the car and reportedly in critical

condition. tweets poured out from the nfl community from his former wisconsin teammate russell wilson to former patriots' quarterback tom brady. another tropical storm is targeting the gulf coast this morning. this tropical storm threatens to bring heavy rain over the next few days areas that have already been hit this season could see more dangerous storm surge. let's get the latest now, bringing in meteorologist janessa webb >> good morning, everyone. we have ran out of names this is our 21st storm of the season, and now we have gone greek. this is tropical storm beta and this will continue to really make a slow movement towards the coast and me aander before maki

landfall this will be a steady moisture we're tracking across texas and into portions southofwest fullf summer then cooler weather from new orleans into jacksonville. and fall starts tomorrow, and we already have frost advisories. i'll talk about that coming up >> why necessarythe first day os tomorrow for the first time dunkin has launched officially licensed costumes the choices are a strawberry frosted doughnut or cup of coffee coming up, a suspect is in custody after a poison letter sent to the white house.

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freshen up, don't cover up. febreze air effects. leading the news, bikers from across america flocked to the ozarks for a week rally called bike fest it's estimated tens of thousands attended local health officials fear that an event this large could be a super spreader for the coronavirus. masks were not required and many bikers were not wearing a face covering a shooting at a kentucky restaurant left three people dead officials say it happened late friday, just before closing in louisville police say the victims, who were 24, 26, and 48 yeaothile sittinn the patio. two victims died at the scene, and another died at a hospital authorities say they arrested 33-year-old michael runs, jr he was found across the street in a ditch he's been charged with three

counts of murder officials say they have arrested a woman who allegedly sent a woman containing ricin to the white house. according to two federal law enforcement officials, the woman was arrested trying to enter the united states from canada. authorities tell nbc news because the letter was detected an a screens mail addressed to the white house, it never reaches its destination. the ricin was confirmed in field and laboratory tests an fbi spokesperson says an investigation into the suspicious letter is still ongoing. still ahead, all the history makes moments from the emmy awards ok tand anthony davis says he tohe biggest shot of his career in the nba playoffs better is the people you share it with. so right now switch and get two new lines of unlimited for only $90 and get 2 iphone 11's or 2 iphone 11 pro's on us. all on t-mobile's most powerful signal that goes farther than ever before. hurry into t-mobile now

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yokic, and here's davis for three for the win. oh, it's good! anthony davis has won it for the lakers >> a thrilling end to the nuggets/laker game denver was so close but anthony davis hits this catch and shoot three-pointer at the buzzer to give los angeles the game two victory, 105-103 that win gives the lakers a 2-0 lead over denver just two wins away now from their first nba finals since 2010 last night's emmy awards were unlike any that preceded it the covid pandemic forced some adjustments, including winners accepting awards remotely.

here's the details >> reporter: and the emmy goes to, "schitt's creek. it was a record setting night, a sweep of all seven categories, including best actress and best actor. and best comedy overall. >> our show at its core is about the transformational effects of love and acceptance, and that is something we need more of now than ever before >> reporter: the younger lech e wins scored for best writing best drama went to the saga about the family battle over a media empire, with jeremy strong winning best actor and 24-year-old zendaya became the best actress ever for her troubled performance as a

teenager >> i know this is a weird time to be celebrating. but i just want to say there is hope >> reporter: hbo's "watchman" earned best actress for regina king >> this is so freaking weird >> reporter: as well as best limited series, spotlighting the tulsa massacre of t fires that black wall street still burn today. the only way to put them out is if we all fight them together. >> reporter: the remote acceptance speeches is part of the adjustments of covid-19, with jimmy kimmel hosting. >> this isn't a maga rally, it's the emmys. >> reporter: and when it lacked the normalcy, it made up for in history. >> just like everything else, looks very different but at least they got their nice little friend. >> that's all that matters to them very memorable still to come, california's bai dealing with covid and its first bases of flu >> and a ltiasng tribute to

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the covid and flu twindemic may be hitting san francisco sooner than expected hospitals have already reported the first cases of the flu doctors there are bracing for a worst case scenario, even though flu season doesn't hit california until december or january. this as covid cases surpass the 10,000 mark. nearly four months after his death, george floyd will soon be memorialized in the city where he once lived. floyd, who died back in may after a confrontation with a white police officer, will soon have a minnesota street named after him. a portion of chicago avenue will

now be referred to as george perry floyd jr. place. it includes a place where floyd died the honor comes after the city council approved the measure it now heads to the mayor's office for approval. the federal government is helping farmers affected by the pandemic the $14 billion will help give struggling ranchers some financial stability. the program would cap off payments at $250,000 per person or farm. it will apply to farm wers a maximum gross income of $900,000 when the miami heat play boston this weekend in the eastern conference finals, they have some special fans praying for them nbc's katie beck has this story. >> hey, miami heat we heard there's a nun on your team and he's pretty good. >> reporter: turns out he's not the only nun making a habit of sync ing shots

>> we've got some nuns ready to go >> reporter: an offer to be the backup bench for fans more familiar with pews than stands in game two, the sisters came in spirit, virtual guests of the team, showing their students the meaning of devotion. >> they think it's very exciting to see their principal to shoot a basket and to be on instagram and for their theology teacher to do a slam dunk. >> reporter: he used a chainsaw to clean up debris in hurricane erma >> seeing some nuns playing basketball, it might just give a little bit of encouragement to say that, you know, we are going to make it through this. >> reporter: some might say fans like these must be a gift from above. katie beck, nbc news >> they got some mad skills there. unfortunately, their prayers fell short on saturday the celtics beat the heat 117-106. but miami, they still lead the

series two games to one. >> that has to be the coolest fans >> i think the heat are going all the way to the finals and now i know why >> thanks for watching i'm frances rivera >> and i'm philip mena ke

urgency at the white house president trump vows to name a successor to ruth bader ginsburg on the supreme court as joe biden says not so fast with the election just 43 days away the u.s. just passed 200,000 coronavirus related deaths and new fears that a biker rally in the ozarks could spur a super spreader event and we'll look at the impact of the wildfires, increased storms, including hurricane teddy bearing down on bermuda and other weather events as they relate to climate change >> and the top moments fro