you can bet after that they are back out on the ice. good for them. that's it for now. >> see you on news4 at 11:00. on our broadcast tonight, the speech on health care and the outbursteard around the world. tonight, the fallout and the fine print. shot in the arm. there's something you can do to guard against the double threat of this year's flu season. what's your number. a new list about cell phones getting lot of attention tonight. rescue 911. why some firefighters feel more like e.r. doctors. also, the american car company that guarantees its products. "nightly news" begins now.

good evening. president obama set out last night to deliver a sharp and direct speech on health care, one final big push for reform. hover, it was a shp and dark comment from a republican congressman in the audience that made a lot of news. he apologized to the president. we'll have more on that in a moment. first to health care. the democrats pushing to unify their party after the president's push for a bill before that boisterous crowd. we have it all covered tonight. former congressman, joe car bro is with us. kelly o'donnell on the hill and we start off with the chief white house correspondent, chuck todd. chuck, good evening. >> reporte good evening. last night was the easy part for the president and his attempt to regain control of the health care debate. today, began the hard part,

turning words into action. the president delivered a stripped down version of his pitch for health care to a gathering of nurses, arguing his plan would improveealth care for those with health insurance and cut costs for everyone who doesn't. >> as folks go about their every day lives, one thing they won't have to worry about as much is health care. >> reporter: as the president acknowledged to knowing laughter -- >> there remains significant details to be ironed out. i believe -- >> reporter: the biggest detail how to construct a government n program, the so-call ed public option that appeased the democrats but doesn't chase them off. >> it would be one option among any. no one is forced to choose i >> reporter: the televised speech has an effect. they indicated flexibility on the issue, a first for both.

>> i don't think you go into a negotiation and say some things are not gauchable. >> the public option is in the eye of the beholder. >> reporter: that was the topic of conversation. while the actions of the white house showed an operation focused on winning over democrats, the president still publicly talked a good game about bipartisanship. >> i continue to be open to suggestions and ideas from all quarters, house members, senate members, democrats, republicans, outside groups. >> reporter: yet, outside of maine governor, olympia snowe, the white house can't name another republican senator the president talked with. most didn't take his words as an indicatione wanted to work with them. >> this isn't a way to get people to cooperate with you. if you disagree, we're going to call you out. >> reporter: there's the issue of money. the president said it will cost

$900 billionver ten years. it would come from taxing the cadillac health insurance plans for very wealthy americans plus savings from medicare. it was one thing they didn't start talking in detail about because they are waiting for their own numbers crunchers. >> chucked to todd at the white house. chuck, thanks. now, we go back to the heckle heard around the world. congressman joe wilson was not widely known before last night. he is now. nbc's kelly o'donnell joins us from the hill. good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. i have talked to members of congress that have been here for decades. they said the kind of disruption we saw last night simply hasn't happened before. the issue that got a five-term republicano upset touched off a wider conversation about illegal immigrants and health care. it was a stunning outburst. >> lie! >> oh!

>> reporter: south carolina congressman, joe wilson accused the president of lying in a fit of anger. cameras waited outside his office. top repuicans told him head to apologize, fast. >> i heard from the leadership they wanted me to contact the white house and state that my statements were inapprriate. i did. >> reporter: the president was clearly displeased last night, but gracious today. >> i'm a big believer that we all make mistakes. he apologized quickly. i'm aappreciate ya of that. >>reporter: in years past, other presidents heard murmurs. wilson's distinct attack hit a new level. republican leaders didn'want his conduct to reflect on them. >> i don't think anyone accepts

the type of outburst and the lack of decorum in the chamber. >> reporter: reaction was so quick, his website couldn't handle the traffic and crashed. not all the attention was negative. on the radio, rush limbaugh claimed he was right. >> he apologized and members of his own party are talking abou it. >> reporter: his complaint, however rude it was reflects a view republican leaders stood by today. health care reform will not cover illegal immigrants. republicans sathere's a loophole. the house bill fails to require proof of citizenship. >> if there is no proof of it, a lot of people not eligible, including illegal immigrants willnd up receiving the benefits othe legislation. >> reporter: brian, this is complicated because the bill, as its written now is explicit saying illegal immigrants won't

get health care benefits and reform. republicans say, they are concerned about cracks in the system. times when illegal immigrants have gotten benefits like medicaid. this caused such a fuss that tonight democrats concede there is confusion and the last committee working on legislation said it will try to do more to be specific about requiring proof of citizenship. joining us now is joe scarborough, much better known as the host of "morning e" on msnbc. long before that, a four-term congressman from the state of florida. it occurred to me, this is where you used to sit during a joint session from the last democratic president, bill clinton. you're watching at home, fast forward a couple years. you're watching at home last night. it was an amped up atmosphere. they are holding up bills and signs, then the heckle. what was your reaction? >> i couldn't believe it.

i said this was a perfect ending to a long, ugly summer. it really is appropriatehat unfortunately, the republican response to the president's address was not what we heard afterwards. what you played afterwards. it was joe wilson's response. again, joe wilson, this morning, he was the number one search on google. he will define thepeech for the republican party. while the base may love it and rsh limbaugh may say it's great, it's one more example of this republican party being seen as the party that lacks temperment. barack obama, they gave him a chance to rise above the level and be gracious an forgive the publicans and joe wilson. it's not good politics. >> i just did a search. three of the four biggest papers the lead story isn't health care. it's the president accepts the apology from a republican congressman. not what they wanted. anything else at work? there was whispered questions, was race a part of it?

this was a boisterous gop section of the house. >> what's interesting, joe wilson, i served with him. he always seemedike a great guy. he is a great guy. i was surprised he was angry to that degree. for him to stand-up, and you see that still shot of him and pointing and yelling. it shows just how angry, not only republicans, t people on the far left have been as well. again, it really epitimizes how this has been about facts and emotions. joe is not the guy you expect to stand-up and shout. as you say, i'm that type of guy. you would expect me to do that when i was in congress. >> i've known you for a long time. >> as a politician, yopray for the oprtunity toe gracious, to accept somebody else's apology. to be seen as above the fray. joe wilson and the republicans gave tt opportunity to barack obama. >> thank you very much for coming on tonight.

new numbers from the census bureau in this kucountry toy, underline some of the economic problems feeding this health care debate. the poverty rate in the united states, jumped last year to the highest level in over a decade. 13.2% of the united states population. median househoe iomncin this country fell by $1800 to $50,300 a year. that is lower than it was a decade ago in america. the number of uninsured americans, basically unchanged. the number of government insurance plans jumped. 87.4 million americans, that's 29% of our population receiving their health care from the federal government. there's a simple and important reminder from health officials, don't forget your regular flu shot. with so much aention on swine flu these days, on this broadcast and others, there's

real concern millions of amerans will n protect themselves against the ordinary seasonal flu. our chief science correspondent, robert bazell has more on what could be a double threat this flu season. >> have yoever gotten shots before? >> we have. >> every year. >> you get them every year, okay. >> reporter: it's been a yearly ritual for many americans. getting their vaccinations against regular seasonal flu. >> are you ready? >> yep. >> reporter: today, experts urge people to continue getting them despite the threat of swine flu. health officials expect this year's flu to be a combination of seasonal and swine. the seasonal vaccine will be available in weeks. the swine flu vaccine a month or more away. >> let's not let anydy make the mistake of waiting to get their seasonal flu vaccine until the other vaccine is available.

that would be a public health mistake and a personal mistake. >> reporter: they recommend seasonal influenza vaccines for months through 18, pregnant women and health care workers. the experts say they should get the seasonal now and the swine flu vacce when it arrives. >> when a health care worker has influenza and goes to work, they have the possibility of spreading it to the patients they are privileged to care for. the consequences of that are tragic. >> reporter: studies show when heth care workers are vaccinated, deaths from flu complications go down as much as 60% in intensive care units. >> there's important research out tonight. a single dose of the perimental vaccine has a strong immune response in eight to ten days.

a u.s. study will confirm this shows the vaccine is working and may mean many people, especially adults will that. need one dose to protect against swine flu. that could be very good news. >> we have to hope that holds. bob, thanks. as alwayses. from health to nature. there's welcome relief for parts of south texas that have been struggling with extreme drought. it's raining finally. some areas got as much as five inches in two hours. itay not be enough to make up for the crop and livestock loss. what is the deepest drought there in half a century. when we continue on a thursday night, a new list involving cell phones that has a lot of people buzzing. later, more on health care in this country. what does your local first responder have to do with it?

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we mentioned this a minute ago. a story out about cell phones getting attention. researchers are debating whether the radiation from cell phones poses a health risk. now, there's a newist out that is intensifying the debate. our report from rehema ellis. >> reporter: almost everywhere you turn, someone is on the cell phone. >> i wouldn't give up my cell phone. >> reporter: there are about 270 million cell phones nationwide. for years, some people have been concerned about what comes with this convenience. each emits a lel of radiation, the same kind that comes from microwave ovens. it's a less intense energy than that from x-rays. the environmental working group is pushing for more federal gulation. it's compiled data from cell phone manufacturers about

radiation levels and posted it on their website. they usually get 300,000 visitors to their site. after sting the list, traffic spiked to 100,000 visitors in just one d. >> i think that speaks to the fact that consumers are obviously very interested in whether or not their cell phones are safe. >> reporter: a spokesman says the industry complies with all safety guidelines. >> we are not scientists. we rely on conclusions of the groups like the american cancer society. >> reporter: the majority of scientific studies do not sw a link between cell phone use and health hazards. >> radiation strikes fear into people's hearts. the reality is this kind of raation is the kind that based on if physics would not be thought to cause cancer. >> reporter: 87% of americans own cell phones. if you are concerned about radiation, use the phone less or use a hands free device.

even the advocate si group admits, the phones are hard to put down. >> we are still using ou phones, but differently. >> reporter: a personal decision and everyone has to make their own call. rehema ellis, nbc news, new york. >> we posted the list of cell phones named ithe report. it's on our website. coming up, a great test of a new rocket. question is, will it have anywhere to fly? here to fly? this is one way of getting vitamins and minerals. this is another. new total blueberry pomegranate cereal gives you 100% of the daily value of 12 essential vitamins and minerals. plus the bold new taste of blueberries and pomegranate with crispy whole grain flakes and crunchy oat clusters. total, a truly delicious way to get vitamins and minerals.

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moon. a white house panel said there's no money to go as budgeted. apparently, it's good know we have the thrust. speaking of propulsion, a new first for general motors tonight as it tries to rebuild and regroup. full refund to anyone who buys a gm car and isn't completely satisfied with it. they get 60 days to decide if they are happy. here in new york, a thrill in yankees stadium. derek jeter tied lou gehrig with a team record of hits. a career total of 2,721. jeter, a 14-year veteran is on the verge of breaking the record that stood foreven decades. the agonizing wait is over. we know who is going to be the new judge on "american idol." it's ellen degeneres. this means a day job and a night job. she replaces paula abdul. the announcement was a bit of a

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finally, tonight, as we all know, calling 1 is a big deal. it means you have an emergency and you will be visited by more than one first responder. they will in all likelihood, risk their lives at high speed getting to you. the problem is folks calling with medical problems, they need help, but it's not always what first responders were meant for. our report from nbcs tom castello. >> reporter: 60 p.m. in washington and paramedic engine 10 is running for a call for help. a 12-year-old showi allhe signs of a concussion. >> lay on your back. >> reporter: this is already the 11th call of the day for engine 10. the single busiest fire engine in america.

they earned the station nickname, the house of pain in e of d.c.s poorest neighborhoods. >> we have a medic on board that gives us an advantage. >> reporter: more than ever, the nation poorest are turning to firefighters not just for emergency care, but primary health care, too. 911 calls for chest pains, trouble breathing, strokes and siezures, complete with nosebleeds and confusion over which medication to take. stomach pains and headaches. >> reporter: in a 24-hour shift, they run 18 to 20 calls. like firefighters in cities across the country, 80% are medical. the fire department realizes, 30 callers were responsible for almost 2,000 calls in one year. they have a way to offer targeted care to the most regular callers. >> just one minute. we want to check your blood pressure. >> reporter: fire department street calls are calling the most at risk citizens.

>> when was the last time you saw him, your primary doctor? >> reporter: to help them maintain their health before they call 911. we are inrvening eay, giving the right medical care at the right place at the right time. >> reporter: with getting a call every four minutes, it's about making a difference before it's too late. for engine 10, there's always another call. tom castello. y geithner will answer questions at a t n tillha in etmellg. it's called banking on geithner. it airs on cnbc tonight, 7:00 eastern time. that's our broadcast this thursday evening. thank you for beg with us. i'm brian williams, we hope to see you back here tomorrow evening. good night. k here tomorrow

night. good night.