good morning. breaking news. banned. alabama lawmakers pass the most restrictive abortion bill in the nation effectively prohibiting the procedure no exceptions for rape a incest. doctors facing up to 99 years behind bipartisans. we're live with the latest. tourist tragedy. the death toll rises overnight in alaska. the body of six victims now recovered. federal investigators set to interview survivors today. leavenow. the state department ordering americans out of iraq. non-essential government employees told to leave the embassy as tensions with iran

escalate. all that plus lithuania line one. those robocalls from all over theeworld. th new way to fight back this morning. a "today" exclusive. one in a million. new tributeser ovght. tim conway. fans and costars celebrating a life filled with laughter. and the thrill of ctory. and the agony of defeat. drama unfolding at the nba draft lottery. the pelicansng winni the right to take college basketball's biggest star in decades. "today," wednesday, may 15th, 2019. >> announcer: from nbc news, this is "today" with savannah guthrie and hoda kotb live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza.>

hi, everybody. good morning. welcome to "today." nice to have you with us on a wednesday morning. a huge breaking news sto out of alabama this morning. >> a new battle over abortion that could have terrible implications. >> sporters of the bill say they are hoping to force a supreme court challenge to roe vs. wa. kerry sanders is in alabama for us. kerry, good morning. >> reporter: good morning. the alabama governor has not said publicly if she will sign alabama's abortion bill into la but if she does, it's expected to spark a fierce legal debate. a challenge to the 1973 decision oe v. wade that gave women the constitutional right to end a pregnancy. after weeks of divisive debate -- >> this going to be ti

unconstituonal. >> reporter: overnight senators in alabama state legislature voted 25-6 to makebortion at any state of pregnancy a felony. the crime punishable with up to p years inson for the providers.rovider the only exception is when it's a serious health risk to the er moth last night an amendment was dropped that would have made exemptions for cases of rape and incest. se bill sponsored -- to force thereme court to reconsider roe v. wade's defining question. >> is the baby in aomb a person. and we believe technology and science shows that it is. >> reporter: protesters gathered outside the state house. among their complaints? this law will directly impact women. yet 85% of lawmakers in alabama are men. >> roe v. wade is overturned.

you will go back to the days where women are having abortions in back alleys. >> reporter: rules there is the rit to have an abortion. but even early in his candidacy, president trump said he wanted roe wade overturned. >> that will happen automatically, in my opinion. i am putting pro-life justices on the court. >> repter: he's already justicey believe tipped the high court. 29 states have intabduced ortionti restrics so far this year. just last week the governor of georgianeig sd b tecominghe one four states you lawing abort at the sign of a heartbeat. here they say they have designed this specificallyha to cenge roe v. wade at the supreme court. the bill here unlike georgia

a s that life begins whe woman discovers she's pregnant which can be a week or months after conception. while inor gea, they're already feeling the backlash. it has become the largest location for movie production in the world. hollywood of the south. and already actors and actresses are boycotting production there. >> all right. kerry sanders at the state house for us. we want to tur to pete williams who also covers the supreme court and has for years. i mean, this is a much morees aggrve legal posture. opponents of abortion in this bill are saying we want to go right to the supreme court and we want that central question presented. is there a constitutional right to abortion? and that's a departure. >> very much so. for the past few decade, their goal was to make abortion harder to get by passing laws that, for exocple, required drs to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals which the hospitals would refuse to grant.

and the supreme court struck down a law like that findi it medically unnecessary. now with justice kennedy gone, the goal is to challenge it head on. these lawsas pd in this new wave are largely unconstitutional under supreme court precedent which says the state can't pass a law that would be an deundue burn to a woman to choose. and the sponsors are well aware of that. >> so if this thing does reach the high court, what are the chances that roee. wad gets overturned this time? >> reporter: it would take five voets to do that. there are probly three votes right now for th. but even if brett kavanaugh were to join them, that would still be four. they'd need j roberts and he has often shown an aversion to sudden changes in the law. the fourer libs are worried about this. on monday they joined a dissent in a totally unrelated cased haothing to do with abortion.

but he said the court seemed too willing to overturn long standing precedence without a compelling reason. he said precedent gives stability to the law and deserves respect. and he mentioned a previous ruling that upheld the abortion right. briars said he wondered which would overturn next. >> thank you. another major story breaking overnight. the state department ordering all non-emergency employees to get out of iraq. that comes amid escalating tension with iran. richard engel joins us with the lawsuitest eh. ts y continues to grow. this morning the state department making that order saying all u.s. government ee employ non-emergency personnel have to leave the u.s. embassy in baghdad and thee consul in irbil as the tensions with iran continue to grow. u.s. officials tell nbc news the

pentagon has drawn up contingencylans that include sending up to 120,000 troops to the middle east if iran attacks american forces or accelerates work on its nuclear progra it's o t of several options, official said, and that no steps have been taken to implement it. the story was first b reported "the new york times" yesterday. president trump dismissed it. >> fake news, okay? now, would i do that? absolutely. the but we have not planned for that. hopefully we're not going to have to plan for that. and if we did that, we'd send a hell of a lot more troops than that. >> reporter: a short time after that, iran's supreme leaders responded in kind saying, we don't seek a war with the united states. but risks remain. the u.s.ccelerated the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group to the persian gulf this month to counter what u.s. officials described without providing specifics as threats from ira or its proxy against u.s. forces. and this weekend, there was a

mysterious apparent attack on four m tankers in the persian gulf. two owned by iran's enemy autydi and then overnight announced o thousandsf u.s. troops in iraq and syria have been put on high alert because of what it calls credible threats from iran on theirin syria, where some 2,000 troops helped defeat isis, iran has military advisers and the suorfpp a battle hardened militia. in iraq, u.s. troops may be even more exposed. militias are widespread including withinhe iraq forces. ere did all this start? some say israel, the ua saudi arabia, and american hard-liners chief amo them john bolton are trng to provoke a conflict with iran. >> it seems we have seen this

story before. president trump escalating nsions only to dial back and push for talks. do we think that might be part of a strategy this time as well? >>eporter: i've spoken to many current and former u.s. officials that believe that is what we're seein here. this administration wants to deliberately dial up pressure to force iran to come to the negotiating table which is exactly whae saw with north korea and maybe also with chinat buy warn, this is the middle east. it is a dangerous place. there is a risk of an accidental war that iran has tremendous that it capabilities could use. we talked about some of them just there. the different militias at its disposal in the middle east. there are several people around president trump who actually want a conflict to happen. >> all right. richard engel there. thank you. also this morning, death toll has risen to six in that

mid-air collision in alaska. a team from the ntsb is now at the scene beginning an investigation. molly hunter is inlaska for us we the very latest. hi, molly. good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you. what should have been a trip of a lifetime turned tragic for these t groups from a royal princess cruise ship. they were off the alaska coast when their sealanes collided. also overnight, the bodies of two more victims were recovered. and the names of all six victims were released. an american -- four americans, a canadian, and an australian. this morning we're getting a first look at what'seft of the small sightseeing planes that collided mid-air near ketchikan. they were both carrying passengers from the royal princess crmseship. a t from the ntsb started the investigation into the ash. >> we will want to talk soon with the surviving pilot ofhe

airplane. we'll want to talk to the passengers, employees of the two air >> reporter: they'll interview ghtnesses, examine the flit logs and maintenance records, and take a closer look at thece experien of the pilot and the weather at the time of the crash. but they won't have black boxes for clues. n there were cockpit voice recorders or flight data recorders on either of these planes. >> reporter: preliminary information shows both planes were flying at an altitude of 3500eewhen they collided. on otter plane filmed here days earlier. suspended said they all flights and are devastated by thisnews. this is as close as we are allowed to get. against that shoreline, that's where you can see two pontoons still sticking out of the water. right now divers arehi searc a massive debris area that measures a thousand feet by 260t

on impact operated by the small family owned mountain air service which hasn't commented on the crash. remarkably, ten people survived the disaster. the coast guard recovered the body of the pilot who died identified as randy sullivan. the cruise ship continuing to its next port of call but passengers are in shock. >> it's heart breaking. everybody feels the same way. >> people love to go on those cruises and want to do those excursions. what would y i consider you were going to book a flight like this? >> reporter: now, experts say be proactive. do your research. call the company about their accident history. and google the name of the company and operator and the word crash to see if anything comes up. >> thank you. meanwhile with americans starting to feel the impac of the escalating trade war with china, president trump putting his own spin on it describing the entire situations

bble., little sq peter alexander joins us with the latest on this one. >> reporter: good morning to you. the risk of this u.s./china trade war sticking around is becoming increasingly real. some of the president's allies now expressing concerns about the political price if the deal isn't reached. president trump now eyeing another round of stiff tariffs. 25% on nearly all chinese imports not already targeted. more than $300 billion worth of products. >> about $325 billion. we're looking at it strongly. >> reporter: still despite worries of extended conflict to put a significant dent in the economy, t president is shrugging off the escalating trade war. >> we're having a little squabble witchina because we've been treated for unfairly for many, many decad for a long time. >> president trump even

expressing confidence when pressed by nbc's kristen welker. >> do you think you're winning the trade wa mr. president? >> yeah. we're winning it. you want to know something? we always win.or >> repr: but american consumers could be the biggest losers. a top retail industry warns the shopping will get more expensive. everything from shoes to shirts, toys to toasters. on capitol hill from republicans who long opposed tariffs, a measured response. even praise for the president. >> i don't think anybody wants trade wars. but i do think he's taking on a challenge that we've put off for a long time. >> nobody wins a trade war.ss unle there is an agreement aer away. >> reporter: that agreement can't come soon enough for farmers like tim bardel of iowa. a trump supporter who's losing money on his soybean crop. hard hit by china's retaliatory

tariffs. >> we need some things fixed with the trade with china. and pefully this does it. it's taken a lot longer than i'd hoped. >> reporter: the president has repeatedly pressured companiese to mov their production out of china to cut down on what the u.s. buys from there. but one republican senatork pushed bac saying he understands that sentiment adding what we do in kansas is we sell to china, not dealing with china is not an option. >> and before i let you go there, another question. donald trump jr. apparently wil now go before congress and testify. what's happening thore? >> repr: that's right. we learned new details overnight. donald trump jr. has agreed to answer questions from the senate intelligence committee in the miulle of june about a handf of topics including that proposed trump tower moscow project. that's according to a source close to thes president' son. just last week we learned the republican-led committee orbpoenaed trump jr. to bring him back f a new round of questis.

and we are told that closed door session will be under oath. >> thank you very much. tow about wek some basketball now? some big surprises. lots of drama during the nba draft lottery. here's how it all went down. t >>he second pick will be made the memphis grizzlies. and that means that the number one pick in the 2019 nba dft goes to the new orleans pelicans. f the new orleans pelicans winning theirst pick in next month's draft despite only having a 6% chance of doing so. that means they will almost certainly use that pick on former duke star zion williamson. widely considered the top prospect in the draft. take a look now at the reaction from the pelicans ticket office employees. >> no poker faces here. >> when the announcement was made. [ cheers ]

yeah, they're kpated. they may haveet to g a bigger ticket office too. with zion williamson likely coming toll town, they' sell a lot of tickets. check out the reaction from the new york knicks fans when they found out the would settle for the third overall pick. [ booing ] more bad news for hard luck knicks fans. probably not going to get zion. but still a lot of good players out there with the number t ee pick. >> it's the only day or the yea you're like, let us b the worst team in the nba. >> that's true. let's go to al. he's down in washington this morning. good morning. >> hey, guys. weod morning. are looking out west for a system that's going to have a big impact all across the country. you ca see we're looking at wet weather stretching from northern california all the way to southern california. it's going to be bringing heavy then it will move through

friday. rain and snow in the rockies. as we pushidnto fr, this system is going to be causing severe weather. storm hazards. into the upper plains. people at risk for the midwest. 8 million people at risk with heavy rain through sunday. we're talking from 2 to 3 inches or maybe even 4 to 5 inches in areas already saturated. that could cause some flooding. we're going to getou to y local forecast in the next 30 seconds. ] ♪y ♪ babi'm not even in a gown ♪ and the only thing u have to say is wow ♪ ♪ make you're jop drop drop say oh my dr drop drop ♪ ♪ make u say oh my god my drop drop ♪ ♪ make you're jaw drop make u say oh my god ♪ ♪ and you never felt this type of emotion ♪ ♪ make you're jaw drop drop say oh my drop drop drop ♪ak ♪ mu say oh my god my drop drop ♪

♪ make sau're jaw drop make u y oh my god ♪ >> good morning, everybody. sun's up and we need it. temperatures have already started to recover b a since the sun's been up for an hour and a half. 48 in alexandria, virginia. 44 in fredricksburg. and your school day forecast then, a chilly start this morning. but tons s ofshine for the afternoon. a great day to be outside today. and the next couple of days promise a nice little warming trend comingur way. we should be in the mid-70 s tomorrow for a weather day at nats park. >> coming up in the next half hour, we're looking at a record that was set around our planet this year. it's not good one. >> all right. mr. roker inwashington, thank you. just ahead, the dramatic rise in robocalls this spring. we've also got an exclusive look at the new tool that can hopefully help our phones stop ringing. >> make it stop. plus,em rbering tim

conway. we're going to celebrate the life of that legendary comic who we adored. but first this is "today" on nbc. du f's is far and away myorite mayonnaise and it has been for as long as i can remember. it tastes homemade but it's better thanul i cod make. for any potato salad, you have to have mayo and you might as well start with the best. and it's duke's. and it's duke's (laughs). really good. the fact that they use real egg yolks andd there is no ad sugar, you cn actually taste that.

oh yeah, there's more duke's on there than there is bologna (laughs). the big carriers are talking about their curren5g roll outs, but their efforts are limited to a few pockets in select cities or trying to convince consumers that 4g is actually 5g. they're neglecting small towns and rural communities, leaving them on the wrong side of the digital divide. if a roved, only the combinailable resourcesof t-mobile and sprint can deliver on all the spectrum bands needed to quickly bring unprecedented 5g connectivity across the nation.

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(a) ba outck. ninety eight percent are still on the road after 10 years. come on mom, let's go! ju . 7:56 is your time now this wednesday, may 15th, 2019. good morning, everyone. i'm eun yang. >> i'm aaron gilchrist. brad is in chopper 4 this llening with theituation near , it eawas a frantic rescue.op chr 4 got over the scene just as rescuers were reaching this overturned vehicle with two occupants. t i want to runough the footage we got just a few minutes ago of the rescuers lowering one of the occupants of at vehicle onto a back board and carrying them out of the canal. this is just south of the chesapeake great falls tavern visitors center. we're going to stay on this.

>> all right. thank you. for the next six weeks, part of the george washington parkway will be down to one lane. this is happening in a stretch around the massive sinkhole in mclean. >> we will update you on the progress in the nbc washington app. now let's check on the of your kmeet with melissa mollet and your first 4 traffic. >> good morning. mclean near gw parkway have a crash there. adelphi, crash there. west friendship, accident there, all lanes shut down. we'll take a break now and check your forecas.

great looking start to a wednesday. temperatures in the 40s and 50s across the area now. afternoo highs will recover

nicely to around 70 degrees. 75r tomorrow for weathey at nats ballpark. then over friday, chance for showers in the afternoon. but the weekend looks warm and

. thu curry es again! >> curry. >> we' back at 7:30 with some history in the nband the unique problem for the parents ofet steph and s curry. last night was the first time brothers have ever metn in nba conference final. just ahead, how the entire curry family is handling that situation. >> i think that's the kin problem you'd like to have as parents of basketball players. >> i would think so. >> that'sfun. let's get right to the headlines of the morning. alabama lawmakers voting overnight to make abortion at any stage a felony. doctors who performed the procedure could face up to 99

years in prison under this law. the only exception would be when a pregnant represents a, quote, serious health risk to the mother. kate ivy sahas not said whether she will sign this. if she does, it will bringte dever roe v. wade. dshe has sixays to sign the legislation. a t uaslity worker is recovering this morning after being trapped in a trench for nearly six hours. officials say the man was in the hole doing some work yesterday when the clay that surrounded him suddenly collapsed. thankfully he was able to keep his arms and head above the dirt. the rescue crews used a pulley systemheo hoist him to t surface. he is expected to be okay. he is lucky to be alive. heart stopping moments for a florida highway patrol trooper. he was iestigating a crash walking along the shoulder of a busy interstate. suddenly car hydroplanes ands headight for him. the trooper jumped and grabbed

the top the wall just in time. he sufred a leg injury. he is otherwise dokay. theriver of that car was cited for drivi too fast for the weather conditions there. now to a "today" exclusive and the ongoing battle against those annoying robocalls. >> and they seem to be coming more and more. new warnings that scammers are taking this game to a whole new level. but there could be relief coming soon. tom costello has an exclusive for us. you got myre attention for >> are you sick of this? >> yes. >> it's unbelievable, isn't it? it's like every day my phone is ringing off the hook with these robocalls. if you think you're getting more and more of those calls, you're right. the number of robocalls is skyrocketing and the fcc has been pushing phonefa sur providers to how they authenticate. now they're getting one step further. they're proposing new ways for phone d companies to crackown on the unwanted calls. >> reporter: it's the sound everyone loves to hate.

>> i ignore it. >> i've been getting tons recently. >> i don't ever pick up just because i know it's going to be a robocall. >> reporter: and that barrage of calls is only getting worse. according to one estimate, 163 million robocalls every day in america. over the last four years, thenu er of robocalls tripling. up 1.6 billion in 2015. >> there are some in other languages. >> reporter: a 222 code from mauritania. t listen to this. soon there could be an answer for all of those unwanted calls. >> hello? >> reporter: the fcc will announce today it is proposing a new regulatoryrule. that will authorize and require phone carriers to automatically opt in all of their customers to robocall blocking technology. right now you have to manually sign up. if the new rules are approved,

carriers would detect, analyze, and block those calls even before they reach your phone. >> allowing the companies to block by default, we think will stem the tide which has been overwhelming for many consumers and has led to many consumers to stop answering their calls entogether. >> reporter: could you a text or just block them all together. the new fcc proposal comes as robocalls are getting more sophisticated. >> welcome to our customer communications management platform. >> reporter: the latest money grab known as the one ring scam. >> you get a call often while you're asleep that hangs up right away.um the nr may even call multimillion times. >> and i thought, you know, it's a family emergency. ia>> reporter: when you d it back, it connects you to a costly 900 number and you're stuck with the charges. other scammers can mask their mbers using your own local area code hoping you'll be more likely toick up. with the new wave of robocalls, the fcc says there is no silver

bullet for stopping all of buem. if the proposals are approved, customers could notice fewer calls later this summer. >> tom, i an, if you are just overwhelmed by robocalls -- asking for a friend -- what can you do to try to make this stop? >> first of all, they say try to sign up for the do not call registry. a lot of people say how much good is that doing? you should still do . hopefully that will help. also you should not -- strike that agaiot do call back any numbers that you don't recognize. because it could be a trap. and be sure to check your phone servicill regularly for suspicio charges. and remembit, legate organizations don't call you asking for personal account ngformation. >> here's the thithough. i'm on that do not call list and i've gotten those calls. is it not working? >> i've got to say, a lot of people just don't get vethis. i'sked the fcc the question and what is the problem. you sign up and it doesn't work. for whatever reason, seem to work. now they're taking it to the next level. >> maybe it's a secret go ahead and call list.

seems like that. tom, thank you. let's get back down to washington, d.c. our friend ms roker i standing by for us there this morning. hey, al. >> hey, guys. good morning. that record we were talking about earlier in the hour, it's unfortunately for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. they've been keeping record. and they know r the last years to 1910, our levels stayed pretty stable. but on saturday, we hit a record of 415 parts per that's the greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. a new record high. at this rate, that means we will see probably over 500 parts hpe million. that means the atmosphere will warm up 2. degrees in the next 30 years. we'll have to watch that closely. more mountain snows outwe . milder air in the northeast with

sunshine finally. strong storms in the mid-plains. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> and a good wednesdaymo ing. i'm storm team 4 meteorologist chuck bell. sun's up already and temperatures still ohe cool side. we're in the 40s and low 50s now. your planner for today, a quick jump into the upper 60s by lunchtime. high around 71 degrees. if you're coming down for the game, it will be perfect baseball weather. su and in the 70s. then we go into the 80s on friday with a late day shower chance and warm for the weekend. >> and that is your latest weather. guys? >> all right. we'll come back to you in just a bit. still ahead this morning, inside the booming business of wildlife tourism for an eye-opening look at how those photo-friendly animals are realte being tr also ahead, here with more of our series on the chal affecting women's health. this morning we're gng to clear up some myths around

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isn't she beautiful yes let's go. with quality , nutella is sure to bring a smile to breakfast time. show your appreciation with a limited edition nutella jar! we're back at 7:42 and the tributes are pouring in for a comedy legend. >> the world mourning the loss of comedian tim conway. he often played supporting roles, but his star quality always shined through. natalie morales now with a look back at conway's incredible laughter. >> all i could do is just blow and go --

>> reporter: it was nearly impossible not to laugh at tim conway. his improv skills and perfect comediciming stolecenes leaving fans in stitches. >> want to see quarter to three? >> reporter: his costars findins it impsible to stay in character and keep a straight face. conway shot to stardom earning multiple emmys on the carol burnett show with characters like mr. tudball. >> don't press that button when i'm talking. >> reporter: and the oldest and while he aimed to entertain the audience, he also was determed to break his costars with his .unpredictability >> take a firm hold of a hypodermic needle. right. >> had no idea i was going to impossiblyize myself. when i punched myself and went completely -- he actually wet his pants.

>> reporter: carol burnett saying in a statement, i'm heartbroken. he was one in a million. not only as a brilliant comedian but as a loving human being. on one of his many appearances on "today," conway said his dyslexia led him to comedy at an early age. >> whenever i got up to read in class, everybody laughed at me. so i thought it was kind of funny to keep it going. >> repoter: he went on first make a name for himself as the bumbling charles parker on mchale's navy >> there she goes. >> reporter: after burnett, he brought the character of dorf to life. >> it started out as a joke. now it's a bigger joke than me. because i'm going to have to cut off my legs probably to continue with this thing. >> reporter: later in his career, his guest appearances introduced him to a new generation. >> thing are going to get weird. >> reporter: his role on "30 rock" earning him an emmy. >> next time dangerre thatens, don't expect any help from us. c >> reporter:onway lending his

voice to the character of barnacle boy on spongebob square pants. this morning those who loved him are glad they had this time together. > what a funny, great comedia and person. i'm very lucky i got to know an him. tell him i love him. he's one of t funniest guys ever. >> reporter: for "today," natalie morales, nbc news. >> so many of us really just admired him and loved him. al, i know you are at the top of that list. >> absolutely. imean, saturday nights in our house, we were in front of that tv for carol burnett. and you would wait for tim conway's schedules. because you knew he was going to really bring everybody out and break them up it is such a sad day. ant a great one that people are going to the inter looking at his work and realizing what a comedy genius he is. >> he really was.ne carol bur dedicated her one-woman show to him last night. thank you, al we'll see you in a bit.

up next, the history beingy made bhe curry brothers last night. and their parents, you know, had an interesting way to handle whr to cheer f first these messages. (low battery sound.) do you want a charge? yeah (battery charging.) ♪ how ya like that? ♪ how ya like that? ♪ how ya like that? ♪ how ya like that? ♪ how ya like that? ♪ what you think of me now? ank you so much. (battery charging.) ♪ how ya likehat? ♪ what you think of me now? ♪ how ya like that? ♪ what you think of me now? who used expedia to book the hotel which led to the discovery that sometimes a little down time can lift you right up. expedia. everything you need to go. ...there's eucrisa. it's a prescription ointment for ages 2 and up... ...that's steroid-free.

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dylan joins us. bo've been talking this historic night of the nba. >> for the first time in a conference final, steph and seth curry, two brothers, facing off. the winner of the series winning a trip to the finals but also fami bragging rights. >> the first brothertoombination ace each other in a conference final. >> reporter: joseph night in oengd, a rivalry taking place on the western conference finals. >> cry launches again. >> reporter: 31-year-old superstar steph curry and his goldentate warriors. taking on s younger brotherh curry, a 28-year-old guard for the portland trail blazers. it's a matchup that's been yaers in the making. e curry boys growing up playin basketball first in the family's driveway. then on the hardwood. >> that's all we yaused to dogr ing up. got pretty heated at times. like it does with brothers. he always accused me of

cheating. >> reporter: basketball is in their dna. the brothers getting their passion from the game t fromheir dad dell curry and support from their mom sonya who's beenri chee for bothor of them years. >> and they're guarding each other. don't you secretly hope there's a bit of a tussle? >> reporter: for their parents, a tough decision who to root for. >> they flipped a coin on who's going to wear which >>jersey. eporter: sonya talking about their r siblingivalry last year with sheinelle. >> every time i see them as adults and they play each other, it takes me back. i root for seth because i'm like you get him, get your older brother. i remember all the times stephen used to setorim up. >> repter: steph curry is one of the sport's biggest stars. steph telling me back in april that his drive comes in from those who doubted him in ade past. >> i've h a lot of crazy accolades and championships and all that type of stuff. and what's going to drive me to

get to that point is that chip at people said i wasn't supposed to be on this level. >> reporr: seth's road to the finals is different. he's been with five different teams and seen as the underdog playing in his broer's shadow. but after years of supporting big bro from the stands, he' looking forward to facing him on the court. >> it's a dream come true for us. but our family is going to have a lot of fun with it as well. >> steph'sri wars won game one last night, by the way. >> but it's a best of seven series. so seth could come ba. >> the currys, by the way, they wore these customized jerseys cut up and resewn to include both of the jerseys. you were saying you would probably like to see junior. >> i did say i like to root for the little siblings. i'hem has had so much success. i'd like to see seth make his mark. > still ahead -- >> a new investigation coming up

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so, i started with the stats regarding my moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. like how humira has been prescribed to over 300,000 patients. and how many patients saw clear or almost clear skin in just 4 months - the kind of clearance that can last. humira targets and blocks a specific source of numbers are t. and seeing clearer skin is pretty awesome, too. that's what i call a body of proof. humira can lower your ability to fight infections. serious and sometimes fatal infections, including tuberculosis, and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened, as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. tell your doctor if you've been to areas where certain fungal infections e common and if you've had tb, hepatitis b, e prone to infections, tell your doctor if you've been to areas where certain or have flu-like symptoms or sores. don't start humira if you have an infection. want more proof? ask your derma

. 7:56 is your time now on this wednesday, may 15th, 2019. good morning, everyone. i'm eun yang. let's get right to a check on your commute with melissa mollet and your first 4 traffic. >> good lmorning. stil slow on the beltway in several spots because of an earlier problem. a couple of earlier problems, really, i should say. outer loop approaching 50 is one of those delays. germantown eastbound 118 at crystal rockdrive. overturned vehicle causing problems there. inbound on 66 and on 95 in virginia, a little slow. both ofhose directions inbound there going about 40 miles per hour. >> thank you. we'll take a break now. we'll check your forecast when we come back. stay with us.

i hope your to a nice start. sun shining out there. curtesy of thesunshine, we've now climbed to 58 here in washington still 48 in leesburg.

your planner for the rest of thg day, stayin the cool side through the morning hours. but sunshine and mild conditions around for the afternoon. sun's down just after 8:00. don't forget tomorrow it's weather daynat s ballpark. great day for the game. temperatures will be in the mid-70s for the game between the nationals and t mets. don't forget your sun block. and then turning nice and a preview of early summer with highs in the low to mid-80s. >> thak. you, chuc if you're suffering from seasonal allergies, you may want to pay attention to what you have on your dinner plate. today at 5:00, we'll explain why. another local news update in 25 minu on their heart. the last thing i heard was on the day that i came d they , i was the sickest person in the hospital. i was put on the ecmo machine it saved my life. learn more about bonits's story of survivial at

n b c washington dot com backslh bonita folife's defining moments the george washingtonuniveristyl defining medicine. it's 8:00 on "today," coming up, breaking overnight. a lawmakers inlabama pass the most restrictive abortion bill in the nation. >> house bill 314 passes. >> effectively banning the procedure in almost every case. critics saying i goes too far as supporters look for a supreme court showdown. we're live with the latest. plus, too close for comfort. the dark sideiff wildle tourism. >> animals are in conditions that no living being should be living in. >> how an ma'ams may be suffering for the sake of tourists. and remembering le perry.s hiformer 90210 cast mates speaking out about their friend.

>> he's been with us every step of the way. >> "today," may 15th, 2019. ♪ >> we made it on the "today" show! >> mom and daughter life-long "today" fans. ni>> from southern califor ♪ >> hi, colorado! >> good morning from miami, florida. today is my birthday. >> i am 7! >> and 70. >> party on. welcom " back today." nice to have you with us this wednesday morning. and i'm so happy to say the sun is shining on our plaza. >> yes. seems like it's been weeks. we've got a busy hour ahead. we're also looking forward to tomorrow and the grand opening of the "today" cafe. there it is. little taste of studio 1a at

universal orlando resort. al roker is going to be down therewive to sho us all around tomorrow. >> i think he's got a signature dish on the menu there. it's going to be a lot of fun.t we'll do tha tomorrow. let's get right to the news at 8:00. lawmakers in alabama voting heernight to ban nearly all abortions in t state. it's also designed to force a showdown over abortion in the united states supreme court. kerry sanders joins usrom montgomery. the next step, alabama's governor to her desk and whether or not she'll sign, we still don't know. righ kerry? >> reporter: we don't know. but the expectation is that the governor here will get the bill and sign it possibly within the next six day the bill passed here last night now goes to her desk for signature. the alabama bill would criminalize abortion calling for a sentence of up to 99 years for any doctor who performs an abortion in the state.

all expectations are what happened here in alabama overnight will wind up before the u.s. streeupreme court. a court many believe has been stacked with conservative judges particularly to overturn roe v. wade. this bill was passed by a legislature that is m85%e while abortion rights directly impacts women. unlake other states that have recently passed abortion bills, there is no exception here for a rape or incest. >> kerry sanders, thank u. the state department is ordering all non-emergency employees to leave iraq including the u.s. embassy in baghdad. officials say they are concerned about threats from iranian-backed militias. in addion, the u.s. military says it's aware of imminent

threats from iran to american forcesn iraq. president trump has denied reports that the pentagon has contingency plans if iran attacks american forces or steps up work on its nuclear program. >> a newly surfaced recording reportedly reveals how airline pilots pressed boeing employees for answers after the lion air jet crash last october. according to the dallas morning news, the american airlines pilots union wanted to know more about problems within boe 737 max jet liners. the paper says it is a recording of a tense meeting where pilots dended answers about the safety. then about a week later, a second 737 maxsh cra in ethiopia. the union has also filed to get governnt records about the plane's approval process at the faa. the number of babies born in forunited states is dow the fourth year in a row. government figures show about

3.8 million births last year. that's the fewest babies born in 32 years. the declines were seen acrossro racial gups and the numbers rprised some groups that thought the improving economy would lead to a baby rebound. all right. you got the ws. time for a boost. >> yes. >> a little boy having a really tough time trying to break a board in karateclass. you can see he kicks it the first time. doesn't work but he's a trouper. he gets bacag up n. he's trying again and again and again. then look what happens. his classmates start cheering him on. >> yeah! >> you get b with a little help from your friends. then we do the dog pile there. all the kids are mobbi hi because it was a team effort. >> yeah, it was. i like that. lots more to get to this morning including the cast of

90210 reflecting o ining on luk. but first an eye opening look at the hidden cost of wildlife tourism. >> animals are in condioons that n living being should be living in. >> what the tourists don't see behind the scenes aftee messages. crohn's symptoms following you? for ults with moderately toseverely, stelara® works differently. studies showed relief and remission, with dosing every 8 eks. stelara® may lower your ability to fight infectis and may increase your risk of infections and cancer. some serious infectiats require hospitaln. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you ha-l an infection or fe symptoms or sores, have had cancer, or develop new skin growths, or if anyone in your house needs or recently had a vaccine. alert your doctor of new or worsening problems, including headaches, seizures, confusion and vision problems. these may be signs of a rare, potentially fatal brain condition. some serious allergic reactions and lung inflammation can occur. talk to your doctotoday, and learn how janssen can help you explore cost support options.

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t ♪ and you never felis type of emotion ♪ak ♪ me you're jaw drop drop say oh my drop drop drop ♪ ♪ make u say oh my god my drop drop♪ ♪ make you're jaw drop make u say oh my god ♪ had. we are back now 8:11 with today's talker. this morning the dark side of wildlife tourism. >> fueled in large part by social media, this is bigger than ever because people want that spectacular selfie but it comes a a cost. miguel almaguer is here with more. good morning. >> reporeamornin so a t from national geographic worked on this for about a year and documented the training, confinement, a abuse ny animals are suffering for the sake of tourist entertainment. just a word of caution here, some of these images you're going to see may be disturbing. >> she had a spiked chain around

her ankle. >> reporter: hidden away from tour buses and selfie sticks, a gr existence. these days so-called wildlife ourism is booming as world travelers check off their personal bucket list by posing with an elephant, a bear, or even a tiger. but after hours, a different reality. >> most people just simply are not aware of the abuse that goes into so many of these experiences around the world. >> reporter: writer natasha daley and kntsten loose spe a year on this story for national geographic. it appears in the june issue of the >> animals are in conditions that no living being should be living in. >> we encountered a young elephant underneath the stadium. he had a bloody wound at the timpl and hist eyes wouldn' fix. it was a very distr tsing situat witness. >> reporter: daley and loose ent months in asia documenting

the thriving elephant show industry. >> there's 3800 elephants in captivity and the majority of them actually work in camps performing fortourists. chain. the spiked if you watch her foot, the righw foot, s just performing with tourists. and they just put the spikes chain around her foot. i'm realizing now this is her chain. >> reporter: national geogr thic foundhat even placeshat advertise as sanctuaries also mistreat the animals. >> many tourists we met saidul never ride an elephant, but i bathed one and that's okay. but pple don't reali in order for that elephant to stand there and be bathed and behave, that elephanhas been train ed in the same way a riding elephant has. >> reporter:ou wildliferism happens all over the world and involves all sorts of animals. monkeysrs and tigers to and crocodiles. one popular activity even in the

united states is holding a lion, jaguar, or tiger cub. this zoo in mexico features that attraction. we were told tha a these cubsre separated from their mothers at a young age. it is striking how closean you c get, how much access you can pay for. but what experts say you have to think about is what's happening behind the scenes. the problem within a few months, those cubs will be too big and powerful to be around tourists. so there's always a demand for more babies. >> so the tigers will be bred and then taken from their mothers immediately to be handled and get used to being handled by tourists. then the mother can go have mori baes. >> reporter: just one more example, rearchers say, of animal welfare, sacrificed for tourist dollars. the national geoaphic team that worked on this report says the wildlife facilities are almost always legal and most owners said their animals are well cared for. the magazine and the company documentary are online now and

the magazine hit newsstands on the 28th of may. >> so how can you tell the difference between the places trying to help the animals and trying to exploit them? >> do your research. you have to go io the comment sections of many of these places and see what people areg sayin about them. they also tell us that if it's too interactive. if you're able to pet and touch these imals, it's probably dangerous for the animals. because many of these predators should be able to roam freely, make their own decisions. if you're able to go around hug them, ride them, carry them. then you're likely in a bad situation. >> and they're not in violation of local laws. >> they are not. >> eye-opening report. miguel, thank you very much. we want to move to al. he's down in d.c. let's get a check of the weather. >> all right, guys. let's show you what we have going on. again, there's a lot of wet weather mo. ing into the west coast. showers and thunderstorms done through florida. and we've got storms pushing through the mid-mississippi river valley. but there is a rebound. it's been so cool in the eastern half of the untry,

temperatures way below average. but we're going to start to see a ri. des moines near 80. same in st. louis. by thursday, that warm air starts to move east. 71 veland, you'll be tomorrow. 73 in milwaukee. 87 new yorkis city. thweekend, temperatures in the northeast u up in the 80sth 's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your neck of the woods. >> wednesday off to a brightnd sunny start. temperatures are climbing quickly now. that dry hair in place and all the sunshine, 58 in article arlington. 55 now in clinton, maryland. planning the rest of your wednesday? plan on sunshine all day long. a few more clouds coming in here after about 7:00 or 8:00 this evening. come on down to the game it's at 1:05 tomorrow afternoon. then wetter weather for the weekend. >> and that's your latest

weatghr. >> all ri thank you. look who's joined the table now. jenna bush hager. dylan in forit carson wh pop start. >> let's get to it. first, more from the cast of." "90210 yesterday we watched the first preview of the upcoming reboot featuring the original cast. notably missing was the late actor luke perry. last night at an event promoting the cseries, severalt members spoke up about what the loss of their friend has meant to them. luke was a huge part of our "90210" family. and personally, le was a very large part of my life. personally. all the time. so it's oiously very difficult to do this without him. >> still having trouble reconciling that. i don't have an answer for you. it's difficult. he was a good friend of mine. step s been with us every of the way. >> it's clear they are still grappling with the loss. it'll be interesting to see how or if the new series will

address perry's death. in other news, this one is hard to believe. but gwyneth paltrow's daughter apple turned 15 years ol apple doesn't like it when her mom shares photos of her without her approval. back in march, paltrow share this picture of her and her daughter on a ski trip to which apple said, mom, we have discussed mis. youay not post anything without my consent. i well,t appears that paltrow h learned lesson. as she shared the conversation before the birthday post. apple said here are some apple-approved birthday posts. she said toh,hank you. let's not break the internet again. >> now apple's probably mad like, mom, then you put our text? >> you can't win. teens. can't win with >> you can't mess with a ea 15-yr-old. and finally, bill hader the "saturday night live" character had memorable et skches. one being his imitation of keith

morrison. back.s a look >> a local drifter named diego potts. tell me, what happened? >> what can i say? i like to kill. >> kill like a comedian at the apollo? >> no. like murder. >> well, last night on seth meyers', hader said he fin met the dateline correspondent. >> you used to play keith morrison. >> i used to play keith morrison "snl," the dateline guy. he's one of my personal heroes. he makes me laugh. i don't know if you know him. he likes to do -- tell terrible true crime stories in a very sing song kind of way. oh. well.ah so -- >> so you met him? >> i met him today! >> you finally met him. >> and i was -- it was like the beatles. i was like -- yeah.

i was freaking out. >> does the like the impression? >> i hope so. >> so fun fact. the meeting was set up by our very oe willi geist. willie was interviewing hader and had keith fly in to surprise him. >> wow. willie is jt like worldwide. >> willie mr. worldwide. connector of all. >> he is. he's become a celebrity really. >> he sure has.e >> and h tries to pretend he's not. but he is. >> dylan dreyer, thank you. now to our series on women's health here on "today" and on today.com. it's called tdismissed. >>his is important. really starting conversations. maria shriver is back. you're focusing on a topic so misunderstood. even doctors don't always recognize the signs and ymptoms of menopause. >> that's true. the big "m." well, in the united states,an me a million women become menopausal every year. nearly all women will go through it at some point. but it's rarely discussed and

women go through it in very different ways. today we're here to t to change some of that. we've gathered a group of experts on the hush hush topic to clear up some of the common misconceptions and tell you what you need to know about menopause. nina didn't mean to make menopause her mission. it happened aidentally and quite literally overnight. >> i was in my early 40s and the first thing that i experienced was -- what i've come to know now of disruptive sleep. ouand feeling anxi i went to both my primary care doctor and ob/gyn. they said are you having regulai s? i said yes. they said you're too young. this isot hormonal. it didn't feel right to me. >> reporter: she eventually learned she was, in fact, inhe early stages of -mperiopause. women's hormones canegin to change and it can happen seven

years before menopause. >> i thought, this is something that's going to happen in my 50s or 60s i was like 42, 43. >> reporter: finding we sources and information on the topic tough to come by, she andnd a fr created a website called women living better. >> it's really about just creating awareness. >> reporter: and you want women to know that peri-menopause can start in your 40s. it starts while you're havyog ur period. and that it's not just your body that's changing. it's your mood, your brain, your mind, your whole life. >> all of it. they have no idea it's coming. we're not educated that it's normal and it's going to happen to most women. but wheno you dig int this, you realize that women's health aside from contraception andgy neneco basically, it's in 1990. so that's crazy. but real. >> reporter: did you find that when you went to the doctors and the women that you've spoken to which is thousands and thounds, they were told, relax, rest.

it's your job. help.think doctors want to i just don't think a lot of doctors don't know it's hormonally related so they treat the resymptoms. he for sleep. oh, you feel anxious? here's for anxiety.ep >>ter: symptoms vary from woman to woman but can include night sweats, hot flashes, disrupted sleep, brain fog, fatigue, irtability, depression, and weight gain. once you enter menopause, risk factors for hea disease like blood pressure and cholesterol can increase due to hormone changes. these changes surprisingly can begin in your early 40s. nith the average of menopause for the women i the u.s. is 51.i style, diet, and exercise have been shown to ease some people's symptoms. but others turn to hormone therapy for reef. dr. cassandra shufelt at cedar psi know. there's all of this debate about

hormones are a protector against alzheimer's or other neurodegenerative seases. and women are confused about hormones. do i take them? do i not? what is a woman to do? >> if a woman is healthy at the time of menopause and having both bothersome symptoms, it's an individualized choice. >> reporter: dr. sarah gottfried is a leading expert onrm hoes. >> there's a problem in mainstream medicine where the ones.lum swings for or againsth we need to find the middle ground. we want to figure out how to support you best. >> reporter: do you f there's a lot of shame in this space? >> this is a topic like so many other women's periods and tampons. no one talks about it. there's so much to be gained by just talking about it. i feel so much better when i talk about stuff and knowing it's normal. i think that will help a lot. >> i am so glad you are taking

this on.er th is this stigma about menopause and there just shouldn't be. if you are in your mid-40s and you think i have symptoms, what do i do? you don't really want to face it. advice?ou >> first it's to find a doctor who is certified by the northern american menopause society. you can check their website to r in your area. also women living better is a great resource for informaon and resources. and you can find a lot more out on today.com. this is also, i think, really important for men to go on this website. a lot of men have gone on this website to get informaon so ey understand what's going on in a woman's life. i told craig and he got on his phone while the piece was going on. i said pay attention. >> i will tell you, i just learned more about menopause in the last three minutes tha i did in the last 39 years. >> totally woke. >> you'll be a learning lot more. i'm sure. >> thank you. >> thank you so much.

let's sendot over t dylan. >> hey, guys. see who i found? olivia wilde. she is here to talk about her directing debut in the new movie "book smart." right after your loc good morning, everybody. it's 8:26 now on this wednesday, may 15thm. i' aaron gilchrist. let's get you a check on the commute. melissa mollet is in first 4 traffic. >> in germantown, 118 near 270. lanes still shut down from an earlier turnover. all expecte to be okay. inner loop out of the beltway, just slow in your normal spots right now. v disablicle on gw parkway southbound. just one lane getting by. >> thank you. we'll have a check of your recast when we come back. stay w stronger is rebuilding a newbstn's heart... and reoring a father's faith. it's standing tall after one surgery... not six.

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or worry about wther i could afford the medications that i need to survive. and now a proposal from this administration nesunshi-a-plenty on your wednesday morning. we're already in the mid-50s across most of the d.c. metro time.at this point i today's high expected to reach 71. light northwest went. tomorrow is weather day at the nats ballpark. come down for the game between the nationals and the mets. temperatures will be in the mid-70s. perfect weather for baveball. doug e gets to throw out the first pitch. seay ahead of the weather by for our nbc washington app. also follow me on my social media pages. get ready for a great weekend. warm and for the most part dry.

>> all keright. lihe way that sounds. chuck, thank you. of course you can get the latest news and weather in the nbc washington app. now back to "t

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wow. we're back and quite mesmerized. >> we are. >> cirque du soleil'st lat show. we'll have more from these incredible performers in just a moment. >> jenna andi i feel like we're at home with the cacti. also ahead, olivia wilde is here. she has directed a new movie called "bookar sm" it's getting rave reviews. we'll talk about that. she had an interesting casting decision we'll havha to c with her about. >> i like that tease. plus, speaking of books, we're fast approaching beach season. and that means beach reads. we brought in some of our

favorite book gurus to see what to throw in the tote bag this summer. and coming up, laura dern stops by to tell us about her new movie. we're going to also ask about the new season of "big little " liars. before all of that, how about a crowd moment? i am looking for teresa from tucson. oh, look at that. another texan. >> i know. today's day for cactus. hey, guys! >>hat brings you to the city? >> just to see it. tourism. i'm from where there's no big tall buildings. just the grand canyon. >> and my name is patty. >> also from tucson? >> s. >> you've got something in common with someone here. where'd you go to college? >> u of a and high school. >> we wanted to make you feel a little more at home. so come on over here. i love it. tucson, u of a in the house this morning. >> go panthers.

>> we didn' plan this, did we? >> i know. we feel so at home with you guys. >> we've never had this many cacti on the plaza. >> don't hug the cacti. you're very cute. but you don't want to get a stick. >> thank you for coming. >> now we'll tnow how dress next time. >> good to see you. thank you for coming.ll aright. now down to al to get another check of the weather. >> wow. i guess i overdid the cbd oil last night. it looked like there were three giant cacti out there.an ay, let's sw you what's going on. you'll see for today we are looking at a lot of wet out west. mountain snows, severe storms in the northn plains. plenty of sunshine and milder weather in the mid-atlantic and. northeas tomorrow, gorgeous day through the southeastern atlantic states. a lot of wet weather out west into the western plains. warming up and sunshine southwest right on into texas. that's what's going on around the country. here's what's happening in your

neck of thewoods. >> going to be a nice day to spend time in the great outdoors. i 58washington. 52 mtgomery village. 55 in annapolis. over the next couple of days, a nice warming drend coming our way. so around 70 today, but mid-70s tomorrow at nats ballpark. any chance of rain for a sprinkle tomorrow is early in the day. next legitimate chance of getting wet will be on friday afternoon. latest hat is your weather. i'll see you tomorrow morning from universal orlando where we're opening up. t it big grand opening of the "today" cafe. woo! al.xcited for that thank you so muff. just ahead, we'll talk to olivia wilde aut her directorial debut and how it became a family affair. but first this is "today" on nb

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o olivia wilde is no strang to stars in movies, butow she's taking her talents behind the camera. "book smart" is her directorial debut. it features two high schoolers who decide it's finally time to break some rules before they graduate. >> we're just going to be the girls that missed out. we haven't broken any rules. >> okay, we've broken a lot of rules. one, we have fake ids. >> fake college ids to get into their 24-hour library. >> name one person's life who was so muc better because they broke rules. picasso. >> he broke art rules. real rules. >> rosa parks. ame another. >> susan b. anthony. >> i can't say it enough, this movie is getting great reviews. and you're the director. that must make you so proud. >> i'm so proud. i'm so proud of these actresses, this entire clase they'r like a new generation of actors. i'm so excited. >> i love the premise.

it's two girls who i guess are goody goodies. they're book smart. then they decide to let it loose on the last night before graduation. >> they're unapologetic about how intelligent they are. but they've never really been able to have fun and they want tto show thathey are not only smart, they're also fun andoi they'reng to prove it. >> i love it. you cast these two and then it says you suggested -- i don't know if you suggested orqu ired that they live together during the filming. >> yeah. >> which is a great idea. >> it's necessary. because they're supposedo t playing best friends for ten years. i needed that kind of layered friendship that's deep. you know, you watched someone grow up. so they lived together all through preproduction and production. >> well, it shows. even in just that clim. they are clicking. you can see the chemistry. do you have the directors bed? you got the fever? >> i do. so much. >> let me feel your headd. eru got it >> i got the fev! it's so fun. it's like the best job in the

world. >> of course people will always ask this, but do you think you like it better than acting? >> i think -- you know, film is a director's medium. i think it's the cool thing about our industry. you can do erything. i've been producing for years. want to keep doing them all so i can get better at everything. but directing is something that i have been waiting to do for a long time. and i'm part of a movement of women, you know, 4% of studio films last year were directed by women. that's crazy. >> and to hear y r voice come through the film, it's really exciting. how did you even learn? i guess there is a director's school. >> i didn't go to it. >> on-the-job training. >> exactly. i had a chanc to work for amazing people like ron howard and spike jones. i just loved bei able to follow them around, ask too many questions and they were generous with me. >> now, therein is a certa actor in the film you did not do the proverbial nationwide search

for. he's jason sudeikis your husband. ect was that like to d him? >> it was so fun. jason is one of the world's best improvisers. i knew having him on set would be incredible. i could give him a little bit of information and he would run with it. he was having everybody just howling with laughter. it's fun.on you d get to see your partner do their kind of magic tricks. and i got to see it on set. it was great. >> did he take direction well? >> he did. he did. he's used to it. >> yeah. exactly. maybe just like home. did the kids come by the set at all? i think our kids are just about the same age. by tis who's 5 now, he came the set. he has a hard time being quiet. so his favorite thing was to cut. he knew once you yell cut, everybody can talk. he wasn set going cut! cut! >> he's got the bug too. >> now he directs my iphone videos. he's like, okay, mom. action. i'm like, yes! and he pretends to do the slate. >> so cute. as i said, the movie'sal cd

"book smart" which made us think about you in high school and find a high school picture of you. >> oh, no. >> we' going to put it up. i haven't seen the picture. >> oh. >> as i suspected, you did not have an unattractive face. >> well, i also did not have ey rows. and it's a tragedy of the '90s. >> it was a '90s thing. i remember plucking my eyebrows almost totally out. were you a nerdy book smart person. >> i went to a nerdy book smart school. everybody was really competitive and smart. i liked that, but i was a theater person. that's where i found all my happiness. >> well, i'm so happy foryou. proud of you. directing. i know we're going to see a lot you.from thank you. and by the way, 100% on rotten tomatoes. >> yes! it's crazy. >> high five right there. >> thank you. >>ch you can cat "book smart" next friday. >> 100%? wow. thank you so much. speaking of book smarts,y the way, we've got a few experts

on the subject here sharing their picks for the summer'ses hottreads. but first this is "today" first. ♪ 1,2,3,4

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we're back we are back with a read more "today." memorial day around the corner. perhaps a few books in your future as well. hear what some of their forite reads are. good to have you guys. thanks for being here. >> thank you for having us. >> this is nice. >> you look so good in this chair. >> you're very kind. >> you should sell these. like, you know how to sit in these chairs. >> i'm very comfortable. how about you start us off with your favorites? >> absolutely. all right. jessica francis cain wrote a fantastic novel called "rules for visiting." it's about a gardener. she's 40 years old and a gets month off of work. it's basically a gift she's awarded.

she uses that time to got reconnecith old friends. the ways in which this is a mystery or thriller is that friendship is thrilling and she's really examininghe mysteries of life. who are we, who makes us what we are. but at the core of this incredible novel, there's so much information about plans and beauty in it. but at the core, it's about friendship. >> you make every book sound sa, youeotne ci a ng aex.ti hollywood p.i. >> do. i have the second book in a series. it's the detective by day cries. it'sled "hollywood ending." a former actress in l.a. becomes arivate investigator at first just to help her parents save their house from foreclosure. that's actually my baby. >> i was wondering. oh, hi. what's his name? >> his name is taran. he's almost 1 and he's ready for .a lyreyeap.nt th but the detective by day series,

these books are fun and thrilling. the mysteries in keth of them me guessing until the end -- and i apologize for the baby crying in the background. >> we never apologize for babies here. you have a whodunit. >> if you liked "russian doll" you'll like this. it's lieg agatha kristi meets ground hog day. t's a guy who waking up and lives the same life over and over where someone died at a house party. dyt each day he wakes up in a new bo >> i love books like that. that's really cool. >> beach season reads wouldn't be anything without a little love under the son. >> got to have romance. "good talk" by mira jacobs. there's love between a mother and son,et loveen family, how love can sometimes be peying, and how we're all kind of different le. this is an incredibleraphic memoir. so it's drawn. and that's why i love this book

as a beach pick. it's in your beach bag. it is hilarious, enjoyable, but it is also so deep and really -- i'm just goi to saythis. this is the book of the moment that we're in right now. and y if are having a tough time having good talks and conversations, this is the novel for you. >> you he got ae to love story. >> i do. "the unhoney mooners." the maid of honor and best man at the wedding hate each other. when thentire wedding party gets food poisoning except them. they get the honeymoon. they have to pretend to be married. love it. >> sound like someone's probably got the movie rights to that one. >> i hope so. >> you have a story that's nonfiction. no. it feels like nonfiction."dsy j"

two band members have a long simmering love for each other. >> love or lust? >> maybe both. >> ooh. >> love. >> words matter. definition matter. >> let's talknt advees. >> "the old drift." i'm not taking you there. this is a write that's a debut author. she's at the top of her game. the sentences in this book are lyrical. it covers t generations of three different families in zambia. and it literally -- i'm talking this aenture is in there but it covers so much different genres. it sta rs at historical fiction and bris us into the near future and ends basically as science. if you've got a long vacation, take us there.

worou're take us to to -- war ii. >> those recruited by britain there are parts that gave me full body chills. even if you think you don't like nonfiction, pick up th book. what's your last one? >> love from a to z. >> love or lust? >> love, love. and they have a meet cute on a plane. and it tackles some heavier. it's adventure, love, and hopeful. >> thank you. thank you, thank yo much. by the way, they picked a bonus beach read for our website as well. you can find that and all the books wed talkeout this morning on today.com/shop. hi, guys. up next, we're in for a real treat. we have the new cast of cirque du soleil which is why i brought

savannah. they're going to perform live. but we also need our cactus selfie. >> but first this is "today" on nbc. the big carriers are talking about their current 5g roll outs, but their efforts arlimited to a few pockets in select citiesry or tg to convince consumers that 4g is actually 5g. they're neglecting small towns and rural communities, leaving them on the wrong side of the digital divide. if approved, only the combined availableresources of t-mobile

and sprint can deliver on all the spectrum bands ic needed to qukly bring unprecedented 5g connectivity across the nation.

>> announcer: t >> announcer: the citi concert series on "today" is proudly presented to you by citi. and welcome back. cirque du soleil known for their visual and breathtaking acrobatic productions. their latest tour, a waking dream of mexico. no exceptions. >> that's right. under the big top, it takes audiences on a magical journey. the show is currently on tour across north america. and the cast has stopped by for o a special performance. ta ♪

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>> cirque du solei luzia. thank you. again, they're on tour across the country. >> we'll see you back here tomorrowp third hour unext. 8:56 is your o time now this wednesday, may 15th, 2019. good morning, everyone. i'm eun yang. let's get a check of your commute right n with melissa mollet and your first 4 traffic. >> couple of problems on the beltway outer loop on gw parkway. inner loob on braddock ro. springfield 95 at fairfax, right

side blocked by accident. mclean, southbound parkway gets the cia, single lane by that disabled vehicle. >> thank you. we will take a break now and check your forecast en we come back. st. ♪ (vo) i know what you're thinking. electric, it's not for you. and, yo're probably right. electric just doesn't have enough range. it will never survive the winter. charging stations? good luck finding one of those. so, maybe electric car isn't for you after all. or, is it? ♪ i get really emotional when i think about where i was. most people don't survive blood clots on their lungs and on their heart. the last thing i heard was reroute to g w hospil.

i was the sickest person in the hospital. i was put on the ecmo machine it saved my life. learn more about bonits's story of survivial at n b c washington dot com backslash bonita for life's defining nts the george washington univeristy hospital defining medice. the george washington univeristy hospital did you know comcast business goes beyond fast et with a gig-speed nwork. complete internet liability. advanced voice solutions. wifi to keep everyone connected. video monitoring. that's huge. did you guys know we did all this stuff? no. i'm not even done yet. wow. business tv. cl d apps and support. get the solutions you need to take your business beyond. business tv. start with ftt, reliable inter for just $59.95 a month. it's everything a small business owner needs. comcast business. beyond fast. come to the nationwide low-price leader: floor and decor. for tile, wood, and stone, if you love your wallet, and you love your home, you have to go. the pros come here; i come here. these guys are experts. hands down the best place for floors. no question.

floor & decor. enjoying your e wednesday morning after a veryi ch start. we've recovered to the upper 50s to aroun 60 degrees. up to highs of around 70 for your afternoon. join us at the ball ame tomorrow. 1:05 mean theats there. weather day as well. >> get information on the nbc washington app any time. have a great.

rockefel third hour of "today." >> good morning, everyone. welcome to the third hour of "today."le i'm sheinel with craig and dylan, al is in washington, d.c. we'll explain why i a moment. and we have maria shriver here ovis morning. we always when you're here. we have a lot to talkbout this morning on this wednesday. of course, breaking overnight, news out of the state of alabama. you guys have been talking about this earlier. a bill would effecvely ban all abortions in the state is heading to the governor's desk. it would make abortion at any stage of pregnancy a felony, a crime punishable for 99 years for abortion providers with the exio