we'll be back next week because if it's sunday, it's "meet the press." it's monday, august 17th. coming up on "early today," western wildfires. they have gotten so bad that nearly every firefighter in the country is on call while the nation's highest fire alert level five is in play. donald trump is called to end birth right citizenship and the last time he was a proud american. >> when was the last time america was great? >> i would say during the administration of ronald reagan. you felt proud to be an american. >> that and the latest on hillary clinton's troubled campaign. tragedy strikes at the heart of morgan freeman's family.

plus new details surrounding the "star wars" franchise from theme park to new movie gossip. "early today" starts right now. good monday morning to you, everybody. thanks for joining us today, i'm betty nguyen. wildfires, they continue to scorch the west coast, triple digit temperatures and drought on fueling those flames. nearly every firefighter in the country was on call overnight because of more than 100 large uncontained fires in several states. nbc's gabby schwartz has the latest. >> reporter: a small resort town surrounded by fire and residents here are traumatized by the destination. >> reporter: the battle to protect homes in washington is fierce. the national guard called in to make water drops after thousands were forced to evacuate. but, so far, only 50 to 100 homes and buildings are believed to have been destroyed. >> hard to see this. >> reporter: all that is left of this house is a chimney and its foundation and families like this one trying to find what is most important to them. >> trying to look for my mom's wedding bands.

>> reporter: the fire has also burned a local economy to its core where building after building of one of the nation's fruit cooperatives is in ruins. across the west over 100 large fires are burning out of control, triggering a level five alert for firefighters across the country. the highest alert possible, meaning all federal and some state firefighters are on call freeing up more resources like this state-of-the-art 747 supertanker now standing by in colorado. in oregon dozens of homes are completely gone and families are reeling from their loss. idaho is experiencing massive firestorms burn iing over 225,0 acres. and california is trying to get a handle on fires and a historic drought. after a campaign largely spent dodging specifics donald trump is going beyond rhetoric with a brand new policy paper. and the issue, the focus of all this?

immigration. nbc's edward lawrence is in washington for us this morning. page one of this in bold eye italics. it says make mexico pay for the wall. is this policy or just more tough talk? >> reporter: he did reveal that detailed plan talking about his vision for immigration reform. donald trump plans to take a very hard line on immigration if he becomes president. on "meet the press," trump says he would reverse all of president obama's executive orders on immigration and deport all undocumented immigrants. >> we have to make a whole new set of standards and when people come in, they have to come in -- >> you're going to split up families? you're going to deport children? >> no. chuck, we have to keep families together, but they have to go. they have to go. >> reporter: trump also plans to

force mexico for a paying for a wall on the u.s. border. >> they will pay for the wall. they are sending drugs and they are taking money out. they are making a lot of money. mexico is making a lot of money. >> reporter: the details angered some of his republican opponents. others agree on the wall's importance. >> so our leading contender, mr. trump, is going backward on immigration and i think he is going to take all of us with him if we don't watch it. >> finish the wall and make it clear anybody that comes over that wall, once we have done it, you're going back. >> reporter: trump says if mexico refuses to pay for the wall, the u.s. will raise fees on visas and border crossing cards. donald trump will take a break from campaigning today and plans to report for jury duty in new york city. >> can you imagine what it would be like in that courtroom? okay, thank you. some sad news to report this morning. actor morning freeman's granddaughter has been killed. a man has been arrested at the scene and treated as an emotionally disturbed person. no charges have been find. hines was actually freeman's step-granddaughter.

in a statement, the actor said the world will never know her artistry, her talent and how much she had to offer. her friends and family were fortunate enough to know what she meant as a person. her star will continue to shine bright in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. may she rest in peace. a search plane has been spotted. the wreckage of an indonesian aircraft that went missing on sunday. there were 54 people on board that plane at the time of the crash. 34 adults and three children and two babies and five crew members. at this point, no immediate word about any survivors. search and rescue teams are trying to prepare to reach the crash site by air and by foot. this morning, family and coworkers were anxiously awaiting word. the flight should have been less than an hour. the plane has been spotted in the mountains of indonesia. it's an area known for low clouds and fog and to make matters worse, heavy rain and winds were moving through at the time of that crash.

an army parachutist has died. a member of the army golden knights parachute team. hood and another parachutist collided. hood lost consciousness before hitting a building and then falling to the ground. one witness said he didn't look awake when he clipped the building. >> we were watching the parachuters come down. we noticed one of the parachutes was way off to the side. it looked like he was going to land on a building. it looked like a stunt dummy strapped in. we kind of thought he was that at first. >> hood was rushed to the hospital where he passed away sunday afternoon. he served five tours of duty in iraq and afghanistan and had spent a decade in the army. to two small planes collided yesterday afternoon killing five people. they were heading toward brown

field. they collided two miles from the airport and broke into multiple pieces. the fiery wreckage sparked a brush fire. authorities are investigating the cause of that collision. we're going to shift gears now. last night's teen choice awards was in full effect. jane the virgin star did a rap that impressed ludacris. this is for you, luda. ♪ get your hands up and make it upside down ah all you do is win win win ♪ >> that was good. britney spears took time off from her las vegas show to select a style icon award and she may eventually take a permanent break. she told enews, i love doing the show. it's a lot of fun, but i'm kind of torn right now.

vin diesel had a touching moment. some words for one teen when collecting the award for "furious 7." >> there is one teen in the audience that is a part of the family that kept us going. her name is meadow walker. >> yeah. >> that, of course, is the late paul walker's daughter. >> ellen degeneres won an award and gave an inspiring message. >> what makes you different right now makes you stand out later in life. so you should be proud of being different. you should be proud of who you are. >> but the night wasn't perfect for everyone. sarah highland tripped on her way, oh, no, to announce an award. the "modern family" star recovered and joked about her clumsiness.

it's just national television. secure locations in california to test the vehicle. apple has been hiring people in recent months with backgrounds in auto safety and power train systems. they're housed in a build iing next to apple's new headquarters. expending more on expensive upgrades. delta's website warns you'll be the last to board, you won't get a seat assignment or refund. it's only trying to make people aware of what they're buying. darth vader is now sporting mickey mouse ears. star wars themed lands at disney world and disneyland at 14 acres each, the largest parks expansion ever for disney. construction will begin in 2017. >> we tried to figure out exactly what these rides are going to be. you know they'll be very cool, whatever they decide. >> that's right. >> thanks so much, landen. colts/eagles, closing

seconds of the first half. punt deep into eagle territory. breaking the tackle and kicks it to the outside. he picks up some key blocks as he goes 92 yards for the touchdown. fourth quarter, though, tim tebow playing for the first time since the 2013 preseason for new england. eagles win it 36-10. saturday night these two women made history in the preseason game between the chiefs and the cardinals. sarah thomas, first woman to serve as a full-time referee chatting it up with the nfl's first female coach before the game. >> 1995, winning at whistling straits in wisconsin, day finished 20 under par. that is the lowest any player in the history of the sport has ever finished a par in a major championship. congratulations to him. what a day.

>> milwaukee brewers prospect david denson has revealed he is day, first for an active player connected with major league baseball. he is the first baseman with the helena brewers in the minor leagues. in an interview, denson said his teammates gave him the confidence and support to come out. 11 minutes past the hour. just ahead, passing of an american trailblazer. first the latest on wild weather happening around the country. "first look" is back in three. (woman) you want to eat...

...you want to eat, who wants to eat... (dog) do i want to eat? yes, i want to eat. (woman) do you want to eat? (dog) do i want to eat, yes. that's like nine times you've asked...yes. i mean it's beneful. i can actually see the meaty chunks and carrots right there...look at it. it's beautiful. mmmmmmm, thank you so much... but you know tomorrow night... ...how 'bout we just assume i do want to eat... ...you know speed things up a little. (vo) beneful chopped blends, a healthy blend... ...your dog will love. made with real beef. plus carrots and barley that you can see. beneful. healthy with a side of happy. so why treat your half mouth any differently?

complete the job with listerine®. kill up to 99 percent of germs. and prevent plaque, early gum disease and bad breath. sfx: ahhh listerine®. power to your mouth™! just in case you were wondering what cheerios are made of whole. grain. oats. this is a great place to work. not because they have yoga meetings and a juice bar. because they're getting comcast business internet.

comcast business offers convenient installation appointments that work around your schedule. and it takes- done. - about an hour. get reliable internet that's up to five times faster than dsl from the phone company. call 800-501-6000 to switch today. perks are nice. but the best thing you can give your business is comcast business. comcast business. built for business. what a beautiful time lapsed recovery shot, singer island, florida. thank you, jason, for this wonderful view. lightning in the background, low clouds. thunderstorms in the distance. what a beautiful view. gulf shores, alabama. tornado over water, call it a waterspout. providing this beautiful scene. didn't do any damage or move onshore and looked gorgeous

thnchts morni. this morning, little bit of bad weather. denver, down to colorado springs. i don't think too many tornadoes today. we will get large hail. this is the beginning of a three-day severe weather outbreak. tuesday, to omaha, almost to chicago. kansas city included. late night storms for you, kansas city. on tuesday and wednesday, we could get isolated tornadoes out of this. wednesday, chicago, detroit, all the way down through indianapolis, cincinnati and st. louis. so, again, severe weather is the big story this week. but also the heat, betty. 93 in d.c., new york and boston. there's a good chance this will probably be the hottest day we see until next summer. i'm hoping. >> let's hope we get through this quickly. the country has lost one of its strongest voices for justice and equality this weekend. civil rights leader julian bond head of the naacp died at the

age of 75. more on his life from nbc's kristen dahlgren. >> reporter: for many, julian bond was more than just a hero of the civil rights movement. he was a vital link to the past. >> like many of you, i was privileged to be here 50 years ago and, like many of you, i am the grandson of a slave. >> reporter: from his early college days, the tennessee native was out front at civil rights protests. when bond was elected to the georgia statehouse in 1965, white legislators voted not to seat him because of his stance against the vietnam war. >> the right to free speech, the right to descent, the right to voice an opinion that may be unpopular. but i think a second and equally as important issue is the right of people, in this case, my constituents, to be represented by someone they chose. >> reporter: the supreme court agreed. >> fellow delegates, the people of america are watching us now. >> reporter: during the 1968 presidential election, bond became the first african-american proposed as a major party candidate for vice

president. three years later, he cofounded the southern poverty law center with morris dees. bond was charismatic, once hosting "saturday night live." in the late 90s, bond was elected as the chairman of the naacp where he continued his life's work. the king center tweeted, "rest in power and thank you." while president obama called bond's widow pamela and in a statement remembered a man he called a hero and a friend. julian bond helped change this country for the better. and what better way to be remembered than that. julian bond was 75. kristen dahlgren, nbc news, new york. coming up, did donald trump try to whoo princess diana back in the day? and a michigan legislator who launch aid smear campaign against himself. scrambled politics is next. across america, people like basketball hall of famer

dominique wilkins... ...are taking charge of their type 2 diabetes... ...with non-insulin victoza®. for a while, i took a pill to lower my blood sugar. but it didn't get me to my goal. so i asked my doctor about victoza®. he said victoza® works differently than pills. and comes in a pen. victoza® is proven to lower blood sugar and a1c. it's taken once a day, any time. victoza® is not for weight loss, but it may help you lose some weight. victoza® is an injectable prescription medicine that may improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes when used with diet and exercise. it is not recommended as the first medication to treat diabetes... ...and should not be used in people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. victoza® has not been studied with mealtime insulin. victoza® is not insulin. do not take victoza® if you have a personal or family history

of medullary thyroid cancer... ...multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or if you are allergic to... ...victoza® or any of its ingredients. symptoms of a serious allergic reaction... ...may include itching, rash, or difficulty breathing. tell your doctor... ...if you get a lump or swelling in your neck. serious side effects may happen in people who take victoza®... ...including inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). stop taking victoza®... ...and call your doctor right away if you have signs of pancreatitis such as severe pain that will not go away in your abdomen or from your abdomen to your back... ...with or without vomiting. tell your doctor about all the medicines you take... ...and if you have any medical conditions. taking victoza®ith a sulfonylurea or... ...insulin may cause low blood sugar. the most common side effects are headache, nausea... ...diarrhea, and vomiting. side effects can lead to dehydration... ...which may cause kidney problems. if your pill isn't giving you... ...the control you need... ...ask your doctor about

non-insulin victoza®. it's covered by most health plans. 20 minutes past the hour. time for your monday helping of scrambled politics. we want to start with this juice y tidbit. apparently donald trump sent diana's huge bouquets of flowers. her response? he gives me the creeps. the two had a great relationship but nothing ever came of it. trump is on "meet the press" with a vague answer to a

specific question. >> who do you talk to for military advice right now? >> well, i watch the shows. i really see a lot of great -- when you watch your show and all the other shows and you have the generals and you have certain people -- >> but is there somebody? is there a go-to for you? every presidential candidate has a go-to. >> probably two or three. bouldin. jacobs. >> you mean ambassador bouldin, you mean colonel jake jacobs. >> a good guy. >> democratic candidate discussed the possibility of running against vice president joe biden. >> i have known for joe for many, many years and everybody who knows joe likes him and respects him. the decision as to whether or not he runs is his. if he does run, i promise him an issue-oriented campaign, debating the major issues facing the american people. >> meanwhile, mike huckabee was forced to defend his hardline

pro-life story when asked about the 10-year-old rape victim denied an abortion. >> a 10-year-old girl being raped is horrible. does it solve the problem by taking the life of an innocent child? that's really the issue. >> own smear campaign to distract from an affair he was having is asking for forgiveness. todd curser posted a 1900-word religion-centered statement on facebook asking for prayers. he has not resigned. like many americans, president obama is on vacation. unlike many americans he spent part of the weekend golfing with bill clinton on martha's vineyard accompanied by jordan vernon and former u.s. trade ambassador. obama plots life after presidency, a fascinating glimpse inside the president's private plans for a billion dollar library and global foundation and the rich and

famous people who are consulting him along the way. and as new zealand votes for the design of its new flag, john oliver takes a look at some of the rejected candidates. >> the government put all the flag designs they rejected online. and some of them are incredible. for instance, how did this one not make the cut? it is hard not to get behind this actual flag design of a kiwi blasting lasers from its eyes. the greatest design of all -- i cannot believe this did not make the short list was this one titled egg-splosion. because new zealand is like eggs and explosions are cool. >> i have no words for that. that's your morning dish of scrambled politics, speaking of eggs. i am joined now by politico reporter lauren french. good morning. >> good morning. >> trump laid out his plan for

immigration, rescind president obama's protection for children brought to the u.s. illegally. get mexico to pay for a border wall. increase visa fees. it goes on. he wants to create a whole new standard for immigration. will this gain him votes or lose more within the latino population? >> it will not be a set of popular politics within the latino community. these tough standards are something that republican primary voters across the country are really enthused by. you could see them really continuing to lead the pack in bringing up these immigration policies like building a fence and making mexico pay for it that could really entice some republican primary voters. any of those votes will turn off latino voters, which the republican party has tried for many cycles to bring into their fold. >> little bit of a double-edged sword there. trump said it would be a miracle, his words, miracle if hillary clinton continues to run

for president in the wake of the scandal with her e-mails. what is he talking about? >> they want to attack hillary clinton continually. they feel as though they found the most effective way to hit her on trustworthiness, ability to lead and all the other criticisms that surround her for years. hillary clinton is giving no signals she's ready to drop out of the race. she was in iowa this weekend. it's a continued attack on her from republicans that they hope will drag down her poll numbers and make her much less effective and much less palpitable to voters. >> good luck. i don't see her stopping any time soon. i'm betty nguyen. thanks for watching "first look" on msnbc. "way too early" is coming up next. from bank of america to buy a new gym bag. before earning 1% cash back everywhere, every time

and 2% back at the grocery store. even before he got 3% back on gas. kenny used his bankamericard cash rewards credit card to join the wednesday night league. because he loves to play hoops. not jump through them. that's the excitement of rewarding connections. apply online or at a bank of america near you. watch as these magnificent creatures take flight, soaring away from home towards the promise of a better existence. but these birds are suffering. because this better place turned out to have a less reliable cell phone network, and the videos on their little bird phones kept buffering. birds hate that. so they came back home. come home to verizon and now get 12 gigs for $80 a month plus $20 per line. verizon. come home to a better network. mmmm yoplait! i am needing to tell you something about yogurt. there is now 25% less sugar in yoplait original.

poofs! ♪ that sugar is gone! so do i still love this yogurt? yes! because it still tastes good! yoplait!

great time for a shiny floor wax, no? not if you just put the finishing touches on your latest masterpiece. timing's important. comcast business knows that. that's why you can schedule an installation at a time that works for you. even late at night, or on the weekend, if that's what you need. because you have enough to worry about. i did not see that coming. don't deal with disruptions. get better internet installed on your schedule. comcast business. built for business.

another passenger plane goes down in asia. this time, in indonesia, involving an airline with a troubled history. plus -- >> i don't think i make mistakes. every time somebody says i made a mistake they do the polls and my numbers go up. i guess i haven't made any mistakes. >> donald trump and his helicopter take iowa by storm as the gop front-runner finally lays out policies specific. how does he plan to make mexico pay for that border wall he is proposing? hillary clinton jokes about joining snap chat. the app where the messages disappear all by themselves. for most americans the controversy over her e-mail server is no laughing matter.

it's 5:30 in the east, 2:30 in the west. this is "way too early." ♪ good morning, everyone. it's monday, august 17th. i am ayman mohyeldin. the first poll since the highly watched debate is out. trump is roughly where he stood before the debate. retired neurosurgeon ben carson has rocketed into second, doubling his predebate support. senator ted cruz climbs to third place after previously being tied for fifth. jeb bush has slipped six points since the debate.