this morning, hundreds of firefighters are trying to saturate the world's only sequoia trees some thousands of years old as wildfires threaten yosemite's natural wonders and excessive heat contributes to problems there and around the country. the january 6 committee is taking the investigation to a whole new level with today's witnesses involving extremist groups and the trump white house. the president touting gun reform before 2,000 white house guests is called out by a parkland father whose child was

killed this as gunfire sends people at a little league game scrambling. shark patrols are put into effect over more attacks plus the wild scene at a beach in california when sea lions attacked beachgoers. and is elon musk in for the fight of a lifetime? "early today" starts right now >> good tuesday morning. i'm phillip mena >> it is a race against time in yosemite park. the stakes are high. hundreds of sequoia trees are at risk, many of them thousands of years old. more than 500 firefighters are battling the brazelaze which is currently only 25% contained >> reporter: exploding in size, yosemite's washburn fire is quickly sweeping through the national park as more than 500 firefighters lose ground against

the out-of-control blaze >> we're trying to keep the fire from climbing the trees. >> reporter: torching forest land and fuel. a national treasure under serious threat >> they're incredibly fire resilient. it's just the fire's so different right now. >> reporter: biologist garrett dickman says yosemite and california have never seen infernos like these. mega fires fueled by extreme drought. the new normal, incinerating trees that withstood flames for,for thousands of years >> we've lost 20% of all giant sequoias on earth in the last two years. >> reporter: climate change is playing a role in how these fires burn they'r they're hotter, faster and more explosive. >> reporter: the powerful

updraft launching tree limbs hundreds of feet into the sky, narrowly missing firefighting aircraft >> branch went right over the top of us. >> reporter: tracking the fast-moving blaze from above >> fire's edge is active >> reporter: the outer rim of the swirling inferno has forced the closure of yosemite's popular south entrance, triggering 1600 evacuations. sk >> the smoke was overwhelming. b by the time we got to yosemite valley, ash was raining down >> reporter: the sequoias are more than 2,000 years old and 300 feet high. a simple sprinkler system is keeping soil wet around the grizzly giant, arguably the world's most famous tree protective foil now also wraps the historic cabin but flames are within striking distance crews are lining every hillside they can, but this fire is quickly racing from tree to

tree in some areas, they're simply going to let it burn that burn destroying everything in its path and still threatening to uproot these iconic natural wonders that have stood tall for generations there are 600 of these majestic beauties all across this valley floor. now the fire's gotten very close and actually torched some of them but none have been destroyed the fire at last check was about 25% contained. so it's still on the move. crews here though say they are making progress. back to you. >> okay, miguel, thank you terrifying moments caught on camera at a little league game in north carolina. gunshots ringing out near the ball field east of raleigh, sending players and parents running for cover. the window of a van in the parking lot was shot out police are investigating but say there was no evidence there was an active shooter situation. families in uvalde, texas continue to demand answers for the delayed police response to

the mass shooting at robb elementary a camera inside the school recorded 77 minutes of the tragic incident, leaving 19 students and two teachers dead pressure is mounting for the video to be released so far county's district attorney has objected to showing the footage to the public. meanwhile, president biden held an event to celebrate a new gun law aimed at preventing mass shootings. jay gray has the details >> reporter: a moment of silence in highland park, illinois, marking a week since the nation's latest mass shooting. while on the south lawn of the white house. >> my family, our families and our community are devastated >> reporter: survivors and the families of victims of gun violence gathered to celebrate the bipartisan safer communities act signed into law by president biden in late june >> this proves that despite the naysayers we can make meaningful progress on dealing with gun violence >> reporter: the new law expands background checks for those

between the ages of 18 and 21 creates new penalties for illegal gun purchases and provides more funds for mental health care and school safety. but interrupting the president's speech, the father of a parkland victim shouts out "you have to do more. >> assault weapons need to be banned >> reporter: a goal shared by families shattered by a killer's bullet >> reality is i'm here today for this and wednesday i'll be at the cemetery for what should have been my daughter's 19th birthday >> reporter: a reality that pushes them to continue to fight. jay gray, nbc news the seventh round of the january 6 hearings will kick off this afternoon the committee will lay out evidence about how the violent mob was formed

nbc news is told a prime time hearing that was expected thursday is being pushed to next week because of an influx of new information. >> a source familiar with the investigation says a man who pleaded guilty in connection to the riot will testify today. steven ayers posted a tweet from former president trump encouraging supporters to go to d.c. on the 6th. we're also expected to hear from a spokesperson from the far right group the oath keepers >> reporter: the january 6 committee set to reveal what could be more bombshell testimony. on the agenda, far right groups' involvement in the insurrection including the proud boys and oath keepers and the potential link to the white house. >> we need to know who they were in communication with within trump's inner circle and what they were discussing >> reporter: a surprise offer from former trump adviser steve bannon

>> mag fwaa is on the march. >> reporter: bannon now says he's willing to testify. the justice department calling it a stunt also expected, videotaped testimony from pat cipollone, present at key white house meetings leading to and during the insurrection >> cipollone's testimony is going to be very key for that, not just for donald trump but those around him if you're a mark meadows, what pat cipollone says is very vital to your future existence >> reporter: cipollone did not refute any previous testimony, including that of white house aide cassidy hutchinson. the former president blasting the committee as political thugs and hacks. in washington, susan mcguinness, nbc news things did not go as planned when spacex tried testing a booster rocket that booster burst into flames thankfully no one was hurt it is meant for the next

generation spacecraft hoping to be launched in the fall. b this might put the plan in jeopardy they will know more later today. now to a much more successful mission for nasa and a huge day for astronomy fans. the first full scope webb footage has been revealed. brie jackson joins us for more it's just a preview of what's coming today >> reporter: that's right, frances. more images will be released today. and nasa has another event and they say they are, quote, unfolding the universe, using the $10 billion james webb space telescope. had is the sharpest infrared view of the universe ever seen images were captured at different wavelengths over a 12-hour period for comparison, here's an image from the hubble telescope on the

left whi 11 days to composite. this technology operates almost like a time machine. >> that light that you are seeing on one of those little specks has been traveling for over 13 billion years. and by the way, we're going back further. because this is just the first image. they're going back about 13.5 billion years >> reporter: and those secrets of the universe are set to be unveiled at 10:30 a.m. eastern that's when we will get a chance to see more stunning images. here in our neck of the universe, i know we're what, like 93 million miles away from the sun, but it feel so much closer michelle grossmann joining us. >> it really does. we're looking at excessive heat once again and it's really all across the country. it's not just the south central

states the south i.c.east and northeast we're looking at heat advid exc. we'really climbing once again into the triple digits in so many spots. 104 in dallas. it will feel like 108 in memphis. that's a look at the big weather story of the day summer storms. we're looking at a chance later on this afternoon. we talked about the summer heat. we're going to look at a chance for gusty thunderstorms in the northeast today. >> a different kind of heating

up, the battle between twitter and elon musk. and just when u ouyothght it's safe to go in, what's behind the rise in shark attacks. anything! at the end of a long day, it's the last thing i want to do. well, i switched to swiffer wetjet, and it's awesome. it's an all-in-one, so it's ready to go when i am. the cleaning solution actually breaks down dirt and grime. and the pad absorbs it deep inside, so it prevents streaks and haze better than my old mop. glad i got that off my chest, and the day off my floor! swiffer wetjet. also, try wetjet antibac to kill 99.9% of bacteria. meet febreze's miracle spray: febreze fabric refresher. i literally use this every day, to make my house smell amazing. after i make the bed... after i catch my dog on the couch... so i can wear my jacket or jeans one more time, before i wash them again. it even makes shoes smell fresh! it doesn't cover up odors with scent... but actually eliminates them.

over one thousand uses. febreze fabric refresher. a warning for beach goers who plan on taking a swim in the ocean this summer. officials say there have been a recent surge in shark attacks, and how authorities are stepping up patrols to help protect swimmers nbc's sam brock has more >> reporter: it's the dawn of a new day off the coast of long island where a string of recent shark attacks has led to stepped-up patrols and beachgoers shaken. >> i feel this sharp pain and pressure into my hand. >> reporter: he was rehearsing a rescue, playing a victim when he was bitten a very similar scenario to what happened to lifeguard john mullen only days later on fire

island >> it felt like the teeth were inside my skin when i pulled my foot out it felt like a rake, a scrape going across my foot >> reporter: the feared predators have caused officials to crank up oversight, using drones and choppers in an attempt to spot sharks the u.s. led the world in shark attacks in 2021 with 47. that's up42% from the year before florida, which leads the list by far just saw a trio of attacks in the last couple weeks two that could have been deadly. >> i used my hand. >> reporter: she was attacked by a nine-foot shark near tallahassee while on vacation with her family. the 17-year-old had a part of her leg amputated. but days ago she bravely took her first step, posting on her facebook page, "fight like

addison. a gofundme has already raised more than $0770,000 for her medical expenses and a husband calling 911 after this attack. the two daughters pictured 30 mince before, had just climbed the ladder back onto the boat. the husband tie d a tourniquet around his wife's lig. >> are you going to drive her in >> reporter: incredibly, lindsey survived released from the hospital days ago. >> our thanks to sam for that report still to come. sailing into the tweet storm cnbc breaks down the brawl between elon musk and twitter after the billionaire called off the buyout and the box fiofce strikes back that's rights rebound from the pandemic slump

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in today's quick hits. former secretary of state condoleezza rice has joined the group buying the denver broncos. she moved to denver when she was 12 and has been vocal about her love of football and the game with her dad tiger woods is warming up. he hasn't played since pulling out of the pga championship. sneaker heads get ready. nike is releasing their jackie robinson dunks on the same day as the mlb all-star game. if you can get them, they'll cost 130 bucks now to wall street and the battle royale looming between twitter and elon musk. cnbc's steve cedric knows it all. good morning >> i don't know if i know

it all, but i appreciate the comment. they've been at odds with each other. this is a company for $44 billion musk was very excited to buy, but of course concerns about valuation, we're all slightly concerned about that. but the lawyers have bgot it twitter said monday in a letter that elon musk's bid to terminate his acquisition is wrong. the letter basically said musk is wrong they undercount the number of spam accounts. the lawyers have got it now. that one could go on and on and on as we all know it will be very expensive from this stage we're all going back to the cinema in droves according to theater operators, we are spending more on premium tickets and concessions as well. there are so many blockbusters i'm looking forward to seeing.

"thor love and thunder". it drew around 10 million moviegoers to cinemas. i've seen "top gun" maverick "jurassic world" douminion, and "elvis." i intend to see the lot. >> i knocked out minions, but i want to do the elvis and the "top gun" maverick >> i need to crawl out of my hole when i do i want to see that "top gun." still ahead, the new psa preparing new yorkers for a possible nurclear attack and then attack of a differenkit nd on a california beach. stay with us for more of this incredible video yup. see you around. i knew that was the last time i'd see tom. the truth is, i was spending too much online jake

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in today's top stories, the overturning of roe has left abortion access in state hands, but yesterday the biden administration took a new stance, saying federal law takes over state law the president has been facing increasing pressure to do more for abortion access. and for the first time ever, a company has submitted an application for an over-the-counter birth control

pill french drugmaker, hra pharma says they want to make birth control more accessible. it's been 50 years since the first birth control pill was approved a fda decision is expected within ten months. new york city is preparing its residents in the event of a nuclear attack the city has released a short psa that identifies ways to stay safe in the city if it's hit by nuclear weapons. >> step one, get inside fast you, your friends, your family, get inside and no, staying in the car is not an option. you need to get into a building and move away from the windows >> step two advises people to stay inside and step three advises people to stay tuned and stay put the emergency management department said while the likelihood of a nuclear incident occurring in or near new york city is low, it is important

that new yorkers know the steps to stay safe pieces of a legendary 17th century galleon have within discovered off the coast of oregon it set sail from mexico in 1693 but ended up being shipwrecked the ship is said to be the same one that inspired steven spielberg's classic film "the goonies", where a group of kids go on a hunt for treasure after they discover a map left behind by one-eyed willie dusty mobley tried to outrun deputies on his john deere, but it was no match for a squad car. this was not the first time he tried to run in january, police went to question him over a stolen boat but he escaped by diving into a swamp. >> that's faster than a lawnmower, i think now to a different kind of

running of the bulls a viral partictiktok video capt sea lions chasing beachgoers thankfully, no one was injured now they know whe osbe

right now. racing to save the sequoias. the washburn fire is burning in yosemite national park. keeping its strength as the fire continues to grow. the new efforts to preserve the trees. the bay area real estate market cools off slightly. some neighborhoods are holding up better than others. we speak with an expert about tips to improve your chances if you're looking to buy a home. this is today in the bay streaming live on roku, amazon fire, apple tv, and online.