republican presidential candidates clash in california debate night was missing the gop frontrunner, but that didn't stop things from heating up. we've got a live report from washington saltwater is creeping up the mississippi river. we're going to take you inside this massive undertaking to slow the process that's forcing

louisiana to dough cleclare a s emergency. a soldier's surprise you'll see the heartwarming moment made possible by a crowd of country music fans. and we look back at some of the best one-hit wonders can you remember their names we're putting our knowledge to the test on this thursday. september 28 "early today" starts right now gra glad you could be with us, i'm frances rivera >> i'm jessica layton. with less than four months before the first republican primary contest, the field is searching for the breakout moment at wednesday's debate, seven contenders used the absence of the frontrunner to plead their case to the american people. >> for more on this, we go to drew petramoix in washington what did we see at wednesday night's debate >> reporter: the debate featured all but one of the candidates who appeared during last month's debate, with arkansas, former

arkansas governor asa hutchinson being the only one who failed to qualify. the moderators attempted to cover a lot of ground with topics ranging from health care to the ongoing labor disputes to ukraine, the night devolved into prolonged periods of shouting and interruptions. as with the first debate, vivek ramaswamy became a frequent target for his competitor, tim scott. he attacked him over his business dealings in china, while he shared this exchange with nikki haley about tiktok. >> i have a radical idea for the republican party we need to win elections andpart of how we win election is reaching the next generation of young americans where they are. >> this is infuriating, because tiktok is one of the most dangerous social media apps that we could have. and what you've got, i honestly, every time i hear you i feel a little bit dumber --

>> reporter: meanwhile, frontrunner donald trump skipped the debate opting to speak at an auto plant in michigan his absence did not go unnotice bid unnoticeed by his challengers. christie had this to say during the debate's closing minutes >> this guy has not only divided our party. he's divide families all over this country. he's divided friends all over this country he needs to be voted off the island and needs to be taken out of this process. >> reporter: in a statement, a senior advisor to the trump campaign called on the republican national committee to cancel all future debates, calling them boring and inconsequential, and adding they will not change the dynamic of the race nearly a week since i was

hithe was hit with corruption charges, sena senator menendez made an appearance in court and remains defiant against calls to resign. >> reporter: holding hands with his wife nadine, bob menendez left federal court to a crush of cameras and protesters menendez, his wife and two business men pleaded not guilty to charges they took part in a wide-ranging bribery scheme. the prosecution says they got these gold bars, piles of cash and a mercedes in exchange for government favors. the senator released on $100,000 bail, his wife on $250,000 sources t sources familiar with the matter say they're investigating whether egyptian intelligence services played any role in the

bribe scheme in an attempt to get information from menendez. meanwhile, president biden still silent on the menendez case, while the number two democrat in the senate, dick durbin, add his n d added his name to the list of those calling for him to resign. >> clearly, when you read the indictment, senator menendez fell way, way below that standard >> our thanks to jonathan dienst for that report. despite the objections of former president trump's legal team, judge tanya chutkan will preside over his trial she ruled against the requests for her recusal for perceived anti-trump comments she had made in cases related to january 6. she wrote that her comments reflected the information in

those cases and has never taken the position that trump should be prosecuted or imprisoned. trump plead not guilty earlier this summer. a bill tra couhat could hope expand the marijuana industry just cleared a big hurdle. cannabis is not legal at the federal level right now, so it can be hard to get traditional funding, even if it's legal at that state level the senate banking committee has advanced a new solution to the chamber floor. the bill has bipartisan support in the senate, but it could face a tougher battle in the house. north korea's kim jong un made a public call to increase the country's nuclear weapons. according to north korean state media kim made the comments during the country's two-day parliament session it's now part of north korea's constitution he called for his country to play a larger role in the group of nations confronting the united states. north korea's leader called the movement the new cold war. this comes after kim met with

vladimir putin earlier this month and visited russia's military and technology sites. saltwater is creeping up the mississippi river from the gulf. and it's compromising drinking water on the gulf coast. it is so bad right now that president biden has approved an emergency deck herrlaration for louisiana. >> reporter: could you say this stretch of the mississippi river near naomi, louisiana is really the front lines of that fight against saltwater intrusion. this is the spot where the u.s. army corps of engineers is building that underwater sill. >> this is designed to slow it down >> reporter: there is no mistaking the mission of the u.s. army corps of engineers install a wedge up the mississippi river. but that task is a steep one >> what's been happening lately, we haven't had enough flow from the mississippi river coming downstream to prevent the saltwater from coming upstream

>> reporter: prompting them to install a sill or levee 30 feet bolo below the water's surface. >> so all of this swork essen work is being done to protect water upriver. >> reporter: it's important to remember that while all this work going on behind me is important, it only buys us time. what we really need to solve the problem is prolonged rain upriver. >> without a major tropical system, without the situation changing in the basin, this may and more prolonged event >> reporter: meaning other mitigation measures are needed the corps's goal is to barge in 36 galmillion-gallons of freshwe

every day. >> i can tell you, there's daily coordination meetings. we have been participating in the meetings, meetings with jefferson parish, all trying to f figure this out. rain heads for the east coast this morning nbc meteorologist angie lassman has her eye on the storm of course we have one day of the sun and then the rain comes back. >> just for you, we will have a little bit of sunshine for the b better part of the day, and then we'll see the rain moving in we do have additional rain in the coming days. we'll see drearier conditions the closer to the coast you go and the farther south to the mid atlantic you go, but showers that we'll have to deal with across parts of the midwest and rain thundershowers and storms are not going anywhere for folks

tlord in florida the super moon, you'll also see a couple other planets out there. keep your eyes peeled into the early morning hours tomorrow so 5:00, 6:00, before the sun comes up this is the fourth of the super moons for 2023, that means it is the last of 2023 viewing conditions in some spots will be quite nice we will see a couple places in the centerd chicago. 96 degrees in dallas with a whole lot of sunshine and atlanta hits 79 degrees this afternoon. and that is a look at your forecast, ladies still ahead, is china's trade with russia supporting the war in ukraine

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♪ we are nearly 11 weeks into the actors strike, but negotiations are set to resume next week. sag-aftra announced they will meet at the bargaining take on monday and among the demands, actors are looking for safeguards against artificial intelligence. it comes as wga members return to work, approving a new three-year contract. our miguel almaguer explains >> reporter: putting down picket signs and picking up pens. hollywood writers scripting their return to work securing a 12.5% pay raise over 3 years, writers also won staffing minimums on future projects but perhaps most important, guardrails over the use of artificial intelligence. ai can't write or rewrite

literary material. ai-generated material can't be used to undermine a writer's credit, and a company can't require the writer to use ai software >> it's hard to put guardrails on something that by the time those guardrails are laid down the technology has already moved on >> reporter: the writers deal could serve as a template for actor whose are still on the picket line. as all of hollywood looks to resume shuttered production. but the use of ai is expected to eliminate the need for some actors and could replicate the look and sound of famous faces >> if you have a film or tv show that maybe has a dozen actors, maybe could you have a couple digital actors in the background >> reporter: the world economic forum predicts artificial intelligence and automation will cut 83 million jobs in five years. but ty sheridan also says it will create new opportunities j

we need to come together to have conversations about it, further enlighten and educate ourselves on how it's being used, how we can incorporate it and adapt it into our work load >> reporter: in hollywood, when it comes to ai, art may be imitating life miguel alma garguer, nbc news we want to turn to a report that says chinese companies may be boosting the war effort in ukraine for russia this was eye opening >> good morning, thank you for having me. the trade relationship between russia and china is well documented last year total trade between the two countries hit a record high of $190 billion but there's increasing evidence that that trade also includes the supply of dual-use goods for russia for use in its military

for vicivilian and military operations there is evidence of companies splaying russia with products such as drones, radios, batteries, helmets, et cetera. one of the main companies identified is a drone maker from china. but also there are smaller companies that appear to have emerged in the wake of the war for the very purpose and it's not only these goods that are being transferred it's also so-called unappreciated trade flows identify by analysts, ands they include fibers used in bulletproof vests and equipment for the offensive against ukraine's counter offensive. >> all right, karen, thank you coming up, a little fun here with a quiz. we're testing your musical knowledge to see if you can name some one-hit wonders >> cannot wait for that. and the mass of powerball jackpot remains up for grabs for one lucky winner up for grabs for one lucky winner dr. garcia?

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♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ my, my, my, my sharona ♪ >> it is here to stay. >> the thing about the one-hit wonders, wonders everyone knows the song once you hear it let's see if can you name the artist and title ♪ come on, eileen ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> decky's midnight runner, "come on eileen. >> a song that defined the '80s. palpable heart and soul is not about a woman but about youngsters breaking away from the older rigid generation this reminds me of syracuse university establishments. >> the '80s band, rubiks cube.

they sing it every time. so usually when it comes to these one-hit wonders, they're ear worms. they get stuck in your hiead, just like this song. ♪ and i said ♪ ♪ what about breakfast at tiffany's ♪ ♪ and i think i remember ♪ >> deep blue something >> there you go. >> i think it was deep blue something. >> you know, this catchy tune is featured in a man's last ditch attempt to save troubled romance. very popular video played on vh1 back in the day and mtv multiple times an hour. yeah, that one, need to figure out who that band is >> this was me and my girlfriends with the sunroof open, cruising to whatever and the last song played at nearly every social gathering in the '90s and early 2000s,

everyone had it at their weddings, at their parties, mostly because it comes with its own dance. ♪ ♪ ♪ macarena ♪ ♪ hey, macarena ♪ >> you know, macarena, obviously. >> my kids know how to do it they can reteach me. we can all agree one hit wonders. you get on your feet, sing to the words long after the artists fade away. >> we're going to carry you right into the rhys of your day. . a you like that bone? i got a great price on it. you see my tail when that chewy box showed up?yy . y . y . . ? a i . maybe you did. one time. maybe a thousand years from now i'll be tailless using that chewy app to get you great prices on treats. pretty sure takes more than a thousand years- vase.

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and sensitive. my dermatologist recommended all free clear for my laundry. it's free of dyes and perfumes, for a clean that's gentle on skin. if it touches my skin, i clean it with all free clear the number one brand recommended by dermatologists. a wisconsin woman got the surprise of a lifetime after her deployed husband made a surprise visit to a concert she was attending. our madison, wisconsin affiliate has more on the soldier's surprise >> welcome home! >> thank you >> thank you you for injyour see

>> reporter: he waited for his wife at the line at the luke bryan concert. >> i'm kind of nervous that we're able to pull it off. >> reporter: his sign says "surprise, honey, i'm home". and he asked others to sign it he even asked strangers to help keep the secret when she drives in >> come here that is her car right there. >> reporter: you hope for the hallmark moment. she's going to jump on me. i know that. >> reporter: he's right.s right. >> surprise. >> reporter: april is shocked. sd >> i'm ecstatic. i don't want to let him go >> reporter: she only lets him go briefly to hold onto the card he made and then hold onto his

hand >> i missed you. >> i missed you. >> mm, i love you. >> i love you, too >> oh. >> our thanks for such a sweet story. i'm sure they're hanging on, not letting go >> beautiful couple. the powerball jackpot just keeps growing. the numbers are on your screen, and we have yet to hear if there is a winning ticket out there. the prize stands at $925 million. the next drawing on saturday so any one of you could be the next lucky winner. >> get ready for that on saturday there's buzz building for tonight's very first people's choice country awards. dillon dryer is in nashville with a look at what's ahead this morning. i am here in nashville with little big town. they are giving me a tour of music city ahead of hosting the people's choice country awards, and they are showing me all

their favorite hotspots right here on broadway, which is the heart of nashville be sure to tune in to see all the places we went to coming up on the "today" show. >> so much in nashville besides the music alone. the food, the bars, the boots. >> all the fashion what a fun assignment. thanks for watching "early today. i'm jessica layton >> i'm frances

republican presidential candidates take the stage in california the gop frontrunner was in michigan, fwhaubut that didn't p these contenders from clashing an american soldier heading home months after crossing the north korean border and being detained how his family is reacting before you geh