the greatest gymnasts in history and three other fellow gymnasts delivered an emotional day of testimony questioning how the fbi and others failed them and dozens of other elite athletes at the hands of team doctor, larry nassar a terrifying covid milestone. one in 500 americans is now dead from coronavirus this as the fda weighs in on booster shots six months after initial vaccinations breaking news. today, south carolina lawyer alex murdaugh is planning to surrender to authorities after

details of an alleged shooting plot are revealed. your morning cup of coffee may continue to face price hikes into the next year we will tell you why. and a successful launch. right now, four civilians are orbiting high above earth on an historic mission for spacex. "early today" starts right now good thursday morning. i'll phillip mena. glad you could be with us. i'm frances rivera searing testimony from america's top gymnasts on the abuse they endured at the hands of larry nassar and the fbi's failure to act. simone biles, aly raisman, mckayla maroney, and maggie nichols all testified after years of being silenced. nbc's susan mcginnis has the details. >> reporter: on capitol hill, four of the world's top gymnasts testifying about sexual abuse by convicted usa gymnastics doctor, larry nassar, and how the fbi and others handled their cases >> we suffered and continue to suffer because no one at fbi, usag, or the usopc did what was

necessary to protect us. >> reporter: olympic gold medalist, simone biles, and elite gymnasts aly raisman, mckayla maroney, and maggie nichols accusing the organizations of failing at their jobs. >> i told the fbi all of this, and they chose to falsify my report and to not only minimize my abuse but silence me, yet again. >> it is astonishing and disturbing how many adults let you down >> reporter: hearing, following a scathing justice department inspector general report finding fbi agents never opened an official investigation, allowing nassar's assaults to continue. >> it was like serving innocent children up to a pedophile on a silver platter >> reporter: with nassar serving an effective life sentence in prison, the hearing was about holding the fbi and others accountable. the fbi firing the indianapolis field agent who initially interviewed maroney, but nothin.

>> we've been victim shamed online over and over, again. we've been gaslit. we've been made to feel that we don't matter and -- by these organizations. >> reporter: senators, also, grilling the fbi director who was not leading the agency at the time. >> this man is on the loose, molesting children, and it appears that it's being lost in the paperwork of the agency. >> i don't have a good explanation for you. >> how much is a little girl worth? >> reporter: lawmakers hoping these high-profile athletes shining a new spotlight on their abuse will help ensure it never happens, again susan mcginnis, nbc news, washington coming up on the "today" show, an exclusive interview with aly raisman speaking out about the reforms promised by the fbi. now, to an historic launch in the new space race. sending a first-of-its-kind crew into orbit >> four, three, two, one

godspeed, inspiration4. >> copy, one alpha the spacex inspiration4 mission successfully launching just after 8:00 p.m. eastern carrying the first all-civilian crew up 360 miles above earth, where they will orbit for the next three days. among the crew, sian proctor becomes the first black woman to pilot a spacecraft hayley arceneaux is the first person to fly in space with a a with a prosthetic at 29, the youngest to head to the cosmos billionaire commander jared isaacman round out the crew. the u.s. is expected within days to decide whether covid booster shots are effective for the public pfizer released a new report it

protects from infection to 95% here's nbc's almaguer. >> reporter: the battle over boosters as vaccine makers make their case ahead of friday's fda review of pfizer's booster shot for the general public >> and there you go. >> reporter: both pfizer and moderna releasing reams of new data and research this their 52-page report, pfizer says a booster is needed six months after, urging a public health issue. citing data from israel citing individuals in january had a more than twofold increase risk for breakthrough infections versus those vaccinated in april. >> but the question is not about how the vaccines are doing today or last month. it's really how are they going to do this winter. >> reporter: the president of moderna telling nbc news their vaccine also shows waning protection against infection over time. your data shows protection is

dipping. but americans who are fully vaccinated are protected from hospitalization. so why are boosters necessary? >> we do know that as we get to very large number of breakthrough cases, some of them do become severe and some of them do lead to hospitalization and death. and so we think that as the numbers get larger, there will be a substantial number of severe cases that will start to crop up. >> reporter: it's not just moderna and pfizer pushing a third dose >> eight months after your second shot, get a booster shot. >> reporter: almost a month ago, the white house announced its plan for a booster program but a new lancet study and other experts say the science still isn't clear. >> all done. >> reporter: arguing while more of the fully vaccinated are suffering breakthrough infections, they are rarely hospitalized and nearly never die from the virus what if americans wait what if they go a year without a booster shot will that do harm? >> i don't think it will do a great deal of harm if we wait as long as a year to get that booster. we're going to continue to

monitor how well these vaccines keep us out of thehospital that's their main job, and so far that's holding up very well. >> reporter: with our nation still in the midst of a deadly pandemic, now approaching its 20th month, a broad push but no full consensus on boosters and whether a third shot is really needed now. when it comes to children getting vaccinated, pfizer will likely get approval first and it could still be as early as october when shots are available for kids 5 to 11 years old the presidents of moderna told us they could get the green light just a few weeks later for those under 5, it could be by the end of the year. frances? >> miguel, thank you breaking news, a south carolina lawyer is expected to turn himself over to authorities today. alex murdock's legal team says he will surrender this afternoon, just days after a man was arrested and accused of plotting the attorney's suicide. here's nbc's catie beck.

>> reporter: south carolina law enforcement announcing an arrest in the bizarre shooting that left prominent attorney alex murdock hospitalized part of a plot police say murdock admitted to organizing himself. law enforcement arresting curtis edward smith charging him with assisted suicide and insurance fraud. police documents revealing add exmurdock instructed smith to shoot him in the head, even giving him the firearm to do it. all so murdock's son could collect death benefits on a $10 million life insurance claim on tuesday police say smith admitted to being present during the shooting adding more charges are expected police documents describe murdock as a co-defendant. in an exclusive statement obtained by nbc news, murdock's lawyers blame the shooting incident on people feeding his addiction to opioids adding, these individuals took advantage of his addiction and his ability to pay substantial funds for illegal drugs.

one of those individuals took advantage of his mental illness and agreed to take alex's life by shooting him in the head. the shooting occurred one day after murdock resigned from his law firm amid accusations of financial misconduct, which authorities are now looking into three months ago, murdock told police he found his wife and son fatally shot on their family property there have been no arrests related to their deaths. murdock's lawyer say their client is fully cooperating into a shooting, opioid use, and the search to find the person or people responsible for the murder of his wife and son >> our thanks to catie beck for that report. also breaking overnight, crews battled a fire that broke out at a pet alliance of greater orlando facility in florida. according to officials, the blaze began at the front of the shelter where cats are kept. while all dogs were evacuated, 20 to 30 cats are thought to have died. at least ten cats were rescued from the building.

it is unclear how the fire started. let's turn now to the weather for your thursday with nbc meteorologist janessa webb hi, janessa. good morning >> hi, good morning. you know, we're still watching the tropics very closely and nothing tropical about nicolas any more it's an area of low pressure the problem is that it's stationary across south central louisiana. and it's going to stay that way through friday and moves more to the north going into the weekend. so you can see we have flash flood watches there in place an abundance of moisture is going to be lasting across the deep south to the southeast for at least the next seven days that's a huge problem. they've already seen a ton of rain for the season, and we're going to at another 10 inches in some spots across this area. so, 5 million people under flash flood watches. yes, i do think they expand into georgia and florida this afternoon. and we're going to continue to watch this moisture as we head into the weekend all the way tucson, the desert southwest,

100 degrees. and this is a surprise we have snow it's back in the forecast. i'll show you where coming up. >> out of nowhere. >> a shock to the system, right? >> haven't heard that word in white awhile janessa, thanks. what financial mistake can a millennial make? a barrage of criticism without president trump knowing. that's next. you've got car insurance here. and home insurance here. why not... schuuuuzp.. put them together. save even more. some things are just better together, aren't they?

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insurrection organizers have asked everyone to refrain from wearing pro-trump gear or anything pro-biden saying the event is not about the election the rally is expected to draw about 700 people despite the smaller crowds, police have added new fencing and other barriers around the capitol to prevent another incident like january 6 when thousands of pro-trump rioters stormed the building investigators have charged more than 600 people in connection to that siege president biden is standing by the country's top military officer this morning despite growing backlash over claims that he made calls to china without telling former president trump. kelly o'donnell is at the white house with the latest. >> reporter: america's top general taking political fire, but president biden with a clear defense of army four-star mark milley, chairman of the joint chiefs >> i have co infn general milley >> reporter: milley under scrutiny after explosive claims in a new book by bob woodward and robert costa, including milley reveal nuclear launch

protocols. milley do the procedure, you do the process, and i'm part of that procedure. milley also sought to reassure a top chinese general that the american government is stable, then reportedly telling the u.s. adversary, "if we're going to attack, i'm going to call you ahead of time. it's not going to be a surprise." some republican officials said milley should be fired for going around an elected commander in chief. >> the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff ignoring the constitution, deciding he's going to call a potential adversary, and enemy of the united states, and collude with them >> if true, there is a word for it and it seems like treasonous activity to me >> reporter: 41 years in uniform, former president trump chose milley for joint chiefs chairman in 2018

last year milley apologi protesters were cleared with tear gas tuesday the former president china and slammed the milley call >> that's treason number one number two, it's totally ridiculous i never thought of it. >> reporter: the white house called milley a patriot. >> i don't think the president is looking for the guidance of members of congress who stood by while the president of the united states and the leader of their party fomented an insurrection and many of them were silent. >> reporter: a spokesman for general milley confirms the call from the top general took place, adding, these conversations are regular and vital to avoid unintended conflict. and that general milley continues to act in the tradition of civilian control of the military >> thanks to kellie o'donnell for that report. straight ahead, we will tell you all about the biggest financial mistake that millennials are making right now. plus, the longer covid lasts, the higher your morning cuofofp cfee will cost you. we'll tell you why next.

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in today's quick hits, we have plenty of female empowerment surrounding us this morning. award-winning actress jennifer hudson officially unveiled her wax figure from madam tousad's new york michelle wu and annissa

isabe george will face off in november where they'll head to the general election the milwaukee bucks are adding a bringing on lisa buying ton she is the first to be hired as play by play announcing for a men's team what is the biggest financial mistake a millennial can make plus why is that morning coffee costing so much lately here are the answers to cnbc's karen's show karen, good morning. >> frances, good morning to you. if you're waking up save orring that first cup of joe, keep in mind prices will be elevated through 2022 some of the problems from major producers including brazil, vietnam and colombia and they're saying vietnam, which is the second largest producer in the world, has been battling covid-19 restrictions. so effectively, exports this year from vietnam are 6.4% lower than the same time a year ago, although prices from exports are

hi drought and that has meant coffee futures up more than 45% this year. so no change to pricing next year it will remain elevated, which is disappointing meanwhile, millennials and their struggles with money have been well documented. now the author of the broke millennial has identified the biggest financial mistake that is not saving for retirement lowery says people don't have a lot of money left over after they pay bills and repay debt, but she says the first step to get going is to set a budget tally up how much you earn, how much is outgoing and put some away in 401(k) and match schemes. the important message, put the pennies away for down the track. >> i was right, all right. karen, thank you that whole living in the moment thing has its price. >> it's hard to see the end when you're just getting started, right? coming up, how the pandemic

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in today's top stories, a former georgetown university tennis coach is expected to plead guilty in connection to the college admission scandal. according to court records, gordon earnst is accused of accepting more than $2 million in bribes to help get kids into school he reached a plea deal with prosecutors. the former coach will plead guilty to charges, including conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery prosecutors recommend earnst than four years in fridays on a total of 57 people are charged in the case. the mystery of gaby pau

tito, police named her fiancee in the missing of her. she slapped him during an argument she was pushed back. the couple told police they didn't want to press charge ands they were struggling with mental health because of the long trip. police are still waiting to interview laundrie the states with an obesity rate of 35% has nearly doubled in two years in 2020, 16 states reported that at least 35% of adult residents were obese that was up from 12 states in 2019, and nine in 2018 the midwest and south saw the highest prevalence followed by the west and the northeast just three states, colorado, hawaii and massachusetts and washington, d.c. had an obesity rate of 20%. to less than 25% the u.s. women's soccer team's fight for equal pay takes a new field as the u.s. soccer

federation says it offered identical contracts to both the men's and the women's national teams. the announcement comes two years after the women's team filed a lawsuit pushing for equal pay. in a statement wednesday, the players union called the proposal a p.r. stunt. details of the contracts were not made public. in today's ground breakers, we salute colorado governor jared polish and his partner marlin reis. the two tied the knot in what is the first sitting united states governor according to the tweet from the democratic governor, the two have been together for 18 years and, quote, couldn't be happier to be married at last. time to celebrate birthdays today. let's start with nick jonas who is 29 years old. cover girls actress alexis turns 40 and 42 comedian parks and recs star amy poehler is 50. >> comedic superstar molly

shannon is 57. magician david copperfield is 65 and boxer turned actor mickey roerk turned 59. i'm philli

right now at 4:30, mandating vaccines for younger students. the bay area schools considering it and how soon it will happen. >> the republican party in this state is not in a good position. >> now that governor newsom survived the recall, what is the next move for republicans? new efforts to reform california's recall process. plus, relief in sight as crews continue to gain ground in the fires up north. kari hall tracking