did you at any time urge former fbi director james comey to close or back down the investigation into michael flynn. >> no. no. next question. >> president trump facing tough questions about russia, the election and firing of fbi director james comey. today the so-called leader of the free world begins a 9-day five-city tour that takes-imdeep in the middle east and allows him to temporarily escape washington controversies. he told police he was hearing voices. we're learning more about the man accuse of killing a tourist. a weather day that saw over 300 severe weather reports and at

least 20 reports of tornados in multiple states. and take a look at what $110 million buys today. "early today" starts right now. happy friday. good to be with you. i'm frances rivera. in hours the president will depart on his first overseas excursion. it is a whirl wind trip and complex itinerary that starts with a visit to saudi arabia, israel, the vatican, nato and brussels and g-7 summit in italy. crisis at home, an almost constant stream of revelations each day. this morning is no different. "the daily beast" reporting the president had to persuade mike flynn to take the nsa job in the first place. the news outlet claims mr. trump hopes flynn ril return. that as new questions swirl how

much vice president mike pence who ran the transition knew about flynn's controversies. one source tells nbc news the veep knew nothing about the issues. a pattern has emerged in which staffers failed to inform pence of necessary information. those develop 789s as the new york iams times publishes new details about james comey and the memos he kept on his meetings. those are currently being sought by congress. among the reporting this key passage, quote, president trump called the fbi director weeks after he took office and asked him when federal authorities were going to put out word that mr. trump was not personally under investigation. mr. comey told the president that if he wanted to know details about the bureau's investigations he should not contact him directly. comey the article claims felt the fbi's independent had been jeopardized and purposely took steps to distance himself.

it is clear the president wanted what he saw as a sham investigation to be put to an end blasting often twitter as the single greatest witch hunt of a politician in american history. it's a sentiment not lost on those who recall this from "the washington post" during nixon's watergate scandal. still the president's press conference failed to put issues to rest. hallie jackson brings us the details. >> new reaction to the special counsel taking 0 over the russia investigation. >> i respect the move but the entire thing has been a witch hunt. there is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign but i can always speak for myself and the russians, zero. i think it divides the country. >> at his first press conference after a series of bombshell reports presidential pushback. >> did you at any time your honor former director james comey in any way to close or back down the investigation into michael flynn. also -- >> no.

no. next question. >> on defense and on the record president trump denying james comey's version of what happened before he was fired, according to sources who saw a memo comey wrote about a meeting with the president. president trump again revisiting why he fired comey in the first place, the night it happened he pointed to a recommendation from his deputy attorney general. later he told lester. >> i was going to fire regardless. >> now. >> director comey was very unpopular with most people. i actually thought when i made that decision and i also got a very, very strong recommendation as you know from the deputy attorney general. rod rosenstein. >> on capitol hill, rod rosenstein acknowledging his role. >> he knew that comey was going to be removed, prior to him writing his memo. >> for the president, his public venting about the so-called witch hunt undercutting the message from his own aides about the special counsel, nbc news leerned that reince priebus in

the oval office urged team trump to turn the page and focus on the agenda according to a senior administration source. speculations swirling about a possible shake up the spot light on sean spicer. two top aides tell nbc news the president is considering having his deputy play a larger role in briefings. >> this morning politico is reporting saying that shawn spilser will no longer be expected to do a daily briefing. he would be a dramatically diminished role for spicer who had become a household name. due to his combative press conferences lampooned almost weekly by "snl." mr. trump could name his choice as early as today. the front-runner former senator joe lieberman seen on wednesday. lieberman a former democrat turned independent previously served as connecticut's attorney general being elected to the

senate. when asked the president responded yes, he is. >> to breaking news. police charged richard rojas, killing a young woman at times square. the suspect faces one count of second-degree murder, 20 counts of attempted murder and five counts of vehicular homicide. rojas allegedly steered his car on a sidewalk running through three blocks of times square then mowing down 23 pedestrians. the car eventually smashed into a steel barrier and came to rest with two right bhewheels in the air. two sources say rojas claims he was hearing voices. they are investigating whether it was a deliberate act and are conducting drug tests. rojas tested negative for alcohol but he has a history of arrests for driving while intoxicated as well as other infractions. police identified his alleged victim as alyssa elseman of

michigan. she was at times square with her 13-year-old sister who was among the injured and taken to a hospital. four of the hospitalized have serious injuries. now to iranians lining up at the polls as the country holds its 12th presidential election. the incumbent president is seeking a second term. the moderate candidate was mob bid photographers as he cast his vote. his main opponent is the conservative has support of religious leaders. some iranian women fear any gains made could be rolled back. in a vote could signal inward looking iran, could find itself at odds with the united states. for the first time ever the united states launched an air strike directly against pro assad forces in syria. there was no word of casualties which hit northwest of the u.s.-led coalition base near the

border of iraq and jordan. officials say the pro assad forces were advancing into deconflicted zone posing a direct threat to u.s. and allied rebel forces. the syrians made this advance despite russian warnings against it as well as warning shots from coalition aircraft. the united states fired tomahawk missiles, cruise missiles at an air field in april this is the first publicly known direct confrontation between u.s. forces and pro assad fighters. violent clashes that broke out in greece as thousands took to the streets to protest new austerity measures. crowds filled the square. a small group began throwing fire bombs and tried beating them. officers used tear gas to disperse the crowd. the protests came as parliament voted for more pension cuts and tax hikes on citizens already reeling from a poor economy. the vote was part after requirement for the country to continue receiving a bailout

from its european creditors. 24 million people are at risk today, severe weather slams the center of the country. tornados ripped through oklahoma, leaving it in a state of emergency, a stunning bolt of lightning from ground lighting up the sky over the state's capital. heavy rain and hail and some streeted flooded. the winds knocking down trees causing damage and in iowa, over 70 miles per hour winds knocked over that semitrailer killing the driver. in colorado a late spring storm dumped heavy snow in the mile high city shutting down highways and many schools, ahead of their summer recess. time to turn to nbc meteorologist bill karins who is watching more severe weather threats. >> not as dangerous but over highly populated areas. yesterday a tornado in rural section. one left areas of missouri and northern arkansas. mostly a wind damage threat. as we mentioned 24 million at risk today from indianapolis to

st. louis through missouri, south of kansas city and right through oklahoma and texas. if the we get tornados the favorite area will be between abilene, wichita falls and ft. worth area. we'll watch that this afternoon. as we head into your weekend on saturday 10 million at risk from indianapolis down to memphis, along the cold front, not too many tornados. a hail and wind damag good morning, i'm meteorologist bill henley. a warm start. full details ahead. right now, 70 degrees in the suburbs. 75 in philadelphia. we're going to see another hot one, and there's a chance of late-day showers and thunderstorms. for philadelphia, new jersey, and delaware. here's a look at what we're working on for "nbc10 news today" -- >> we're following overnight developments in the search for an armed and dangerous man. police say they caught the suspect accused of shooting up a stranger's car at a walmart parking lot. and today is national bike to work day.

why people across the country and at home are making the two-wheel commute this morning. ape young girl becomes the target -- a young girl becomes the target of a long foul ball during the phillies game. we'll look at the-ye injury andt you know how she's doing. man only concert. and new details on the cause of death of roger ailes. wake up skin. neutrogena® hydro boost hydrating tint. the first water gel foundation with hyaluronic acid

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so find a venus smooth that contours to curves, the more comfortable the you are in it.kin, flexes for comfort, and has a disposable made for you. skin smoothing venus razors. venus it's thursday night which means time to bleep and blur the moments of the week whether they need it or not. it is this week in unnecessary censorship. >> i'm thrilled to be back at liberty university. i have been here this is my third time and we love [ bleep ] right. they always [ bleep ]. we have thave [ bleep ]. >> the president have loose lips and [ bleep ]. >> the president needs to

[ bleep ]. >> you can fill in the blankses there. a sample of this week's unnecessary censorship on jimmy kimmel live. leading the news controversy around star toby keith to perform in saudi arabia this weekend. the same time president trump will pay a visit. keith will perform for a men only crowd. the concert has no connection to the president. it's marketed as event limited to men over 21 years old. it's causing an uproar in the united states. saudi arabia abides by a strict islamic law that bans alcohol and prohibits unrelated men and women congregating in public. keith's spokeswoman offered no comment. keith previously performed at president trump's inaugural weekend. england's princess william and harry are marking the anniversary of their mother's death. commemorating the legacy of princess di.

at the ceremony the princes opened up about their mom. >> summer marks 20 years since our mother died. she achieved so much in her life. from helping to shelter the sick, to fighting to ban land mines and supporting the homeless she touched the lives of millions. >> one of the things our mother taught william and i was the value of doing good when no one is watching. she achieved a lot by shining a spotlight but she worked just as hard when the cameras were gone. >> meanwhile prince william's sister-in-law is set to tie the knot in a lavish wedding tomorrow. you may recall pippa stole the show in 2011 with that form fitting gown. an american painting broke an auction record selling for $110 million. look at it there. it's untitled work and the

artist is jean-michel basquiat. it sold for the sixth highest price. in 1984 it sold for $19,000. the lucky winner of the auction is a chinese billionaire in japan. he plans to lend it before displaying it in his own museum in japan. still ahead the roger ailes helped three politicians reach the white house and changed the face of cable news. that's not all. you're watching "early today."

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this morning we're learning more about what caused the sudden death of fox news founder roger ailes. the coroner says he died from complications related to a head injury related to a fall. his death less than a year after he was ousted from the empire he built following a sexual harassment scandal. bill o'reilly who parted whiches with the network writing to say that roger ailes led a full life is a massive understatement. a force of nature with agenda, ra, was a man on a mission. nbc's anne thompson brings us more. >> reporter: the news traveled on the ticker outside headquarters. and from the studios within. >> roger ailes one of the

founders of the fox news channel has died. >> reporter: a polarizing figure to the end roger ailes combined his passions, politics and television to build fox news. allegedly abusing his power for his own pleasure. >> women who worked for ailes told me over and over they felt pressured to suacome to advance. >> he always denied the advances. it began on the mike douglas show going to producer until a meeting with richard nixon led him to a career in republican politics. ailes was steed have two speeds, attack and destroy. >> i predicted in 1968 that nobody would ever be elected to high office again without learning how to communicate effectively on television. >> his savvy helped election nixon, ronald reagan and coverage h.w. bush. bush tweeting not sure i would have been president.

>> politics is america's favorite indoor sport. >> he would make his mark creating fox news, a platform for conservative voices. what is ailes legacy >> i think transforming american politics into a contact sport. >> his biographer calls it a world wrestling style of politics that led to the election of donald trump. a controversial republican king maker undone by scandal. anne thompson, nbc news, new york. ahead a new report in the changing face of married couples, plus a volcanic situation caught on camera. we'll bring it to you next. e fo, that's why you'll stay in this drawer forever. i can't live without you, and that's why i'll never ever wash you. protect your clothes from stretching, fading and fuzz with downy fabric conditioner. fading and fuzz with downy fabric conditioner. it smooths and strengthens fibers to protect clothes from the damage of the wash.

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suspect in custody. police say they have the armed and dangerous man who shot up a stranger's car at a walmart parking lot. sidewalk scare. overnight, a car jumps the curb and crashes into a north philadelphia deli. and ride for the environment. people across the country and in our area are participating in national bike-to-work daye. . we have made it to friday. good morning. this is "nbc10 news today". i'm tracy davidson. >> i'm vai sikahema. another scorcher today. let's get to meteorologist bill henley with the most accurate forecast in town. clear skies in easton, but it may not be clear all day long. what we're going to see are clouds building this afternoon and a chance of showers and

thunderstorms. wilmington, philadelphia, trenton are in the clear. look to the west. you see showers and thunderstorms moving through the ohio valley. that's a possibility this afternoon. right now, you need the air conditioning this hour. temperatures in the 70s, you feel the extra humidity this morning. 75 in philadelphia. 70s in the suburbs and low 70s in the lehigh valley. back into the low 90s for philadelphia this afternoon. the chance of an afternoon shower and thunderstorm for philadelphia. we'll start to warm up this morning by 10:00. it will be 82. less likely to see them in the lehigh valley, but new jersey could see afternoon storms. i'll break it down hour by hour when i come back in ten minutes. first, jessica boyington with first alert traffic. that's right. to start, we're starting on 95. here's our cameras around broad street. on the northbound side, this off ramp is blocked. you see that here. we have construction crews here. and halfway down the mid span of the ramp, as well. you can't access 95 -- broad street from 95, at least on the

northbound side, until that construction project clears. we'll keep an eye on that for you. that might be a big problem later. i think it's going to clear probably around the 5:00 hour or so. also watching in cherry hill, new jersey, for a gas main break on route 70 on the eastbound side just around haddenfield road. that eastbound side is blocked off to traffic. they'll detour you around the scene for now. we'll keep an eye on that for you. remember, the westbound side is open. tracy, back to you. >> thanks. 4:30. new from overnight, police in bucks county tracked down and arrested this man who is wanted for opening fire on a stranger's car in a walmart parking lot. police say brandon gros oh was armed and -- grosso was armed and dangerous as they spent hours looking for us. investigators tell us he was involved in several confrontations before officers got to him, right? >> reporter: that's what we're hearing from richland township police behind me. the arresting agency. that suspect's in custody. we'll get to more of that in a minute. first, the confrontations y