fulfill this promise, and what that solution looks like, tonight, it remains unclear, david. >> mary bruce on the hill for us as always. mary, thank you. >>> we have one more developing headline out of washington. the house passing sweeping sanctions against russia for meddling in the presidential election. the bipartisan measure would make it harder for president trump to ease sanctions on russia. is sanctions target iran and north korea as well, and that heads to the senate. >>> the summer camp tragedy outside atlanta. authorities shutting down an unlicensed day camp following the drowning death of a 5-year-old boy. his parents now issuing a warning tonight, and abc's adrienne bankert tonight from georgia. >> reporter: a mother and father's angry and heartbreaking cries for justice. >> their negligence killed my son! >> reporter: tonight, this summ c officials, who say the camp was operating without a license when 1-year-old benjamin hosch died in their care. >> they robbed us of his life, of his potential. >> reporter: the boy's parents last saw their child alive friday while dropping h

abc's mary bruce back on the hill tonight. >> reporter: tonight, the senate is barreling towards a vote. >> i think we need to get something done, get it started. >> it's gonna be a narrower bill than i would have supported, but it's a good first start. >> reporter: first, they tried to repeal and replace, but that plan failed. >> the >> reporter: then just repeal, worry about replacement later. that didn't have the votes either. what's left? a pared-down plan being called the skinny repeal. but tonight one leading republican is blasting the plan. >> the skinny bill as policy is a disaster. the skinny bill as a replacement for obamacare is a fraud. >> what do you say about this being a far cry from what you promised? >> everybody ought to be able to explain why this is a step in the right direction, and it is. >> reporter: the peared down plan is being called the skinny repeal. it would only roll back parts of obamacare. like the mandate that all americans buy insurance. but that could leave 15 million more americans uninsured over the next decade. and cause premiums for some to jump by

but i'm sitting, waiting for that bill to come to my desk. >> mary bruce is live on the hill tonight for us, and how is senator mccain doing? word on him tonight? >> reporter: it's unclear when he will be back here in washington, but his friend, lindsey graham said mccain is already sounding like his old self, but this was a real scare. before this surgery, feeling tired and acting forgetful, but he is eager to get back to washington and back to work, david. >> mary bruce with us from washington as well. thank you. >>> we turn now to the devastating moment. a family of noin was swept away in a flash flood in arizona. there was a warning, but in there remote spot, they did not hear it. abc's kevin moton. >> reporter: tonight, in the air and on the ground, an urgent search for a missing father. all looking for hector. his wife, maria, their three children and five other members of their extended family did not survive. the youngest, just 2 years old. >> i can't begin to tell you how i feel for this family. i mean, the age of these kids were 2 years old, 5 years old, 3 years old. it's h

republicans' signature promise to repeal and replace obamacare will once again be out of reach, david. >> mary bruceive on the hill. mary, thank you. >>> we have new reporting tonight on that young american attacked and killed in greece. bail hearings for more suspects tonight. bakari henderson, celebrating his college graduation. he was vacationing on a greek island with friends, and surveillance video showing him being chased and beaten by a mob. police say as many as 15 people may have been involved and nine have already been charged. >>> next to the severe storms hitting at this hour. from philadelphia up into new york and new england. a state of emergency in wisconsin. flash flooding and rivers in record levels there. the national guard called in. roads underwater across several states after half a foot of rain. abc's alex perez from the storm zone tonight. >> reporter: tonight, drivers caught in flash floods from ohio to new york. in buffalo, firefighters pushing this car to dry land. >> we're coming upon them and pushing 'em out, but we're trying to cut off everything right now. >> reporter:

demanding assurances that will not happen, or else they say they will not vote for it, david. >> mary bruce with us live on the hill again tonight. mary, thank you. >>> and after president trump's tweet revealing a sudden and sweeping ban on transgender people serving in the military, tonight what the chairman of the joint chiefs and the top general are saying, no action, no changes until they hear directly from the white house what this policy is. here's abc's chief global affairs correspondent, martha raddatz. >> reporter: tonight, the nation's top military leaders say transgender americans will not be expelled from the armed forces without further guidance from the commander in chief. president trump catching them by surprise with his twitter announcement that, "the united states government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the u.s. military." since then, he's offered no further detail, refusing to answer questions. our reporter at the white house trying -- [ applause ] >> mr. president, how did you decide on your policy on transgender people in

care reform still out of reach, this congress has yet to pass a legislative victory, david. >> mary bruce on the hill tonight. mary, thank you. >>> we turn next to other news tonight and to newly released video of an escape. recorded by the inmates themselves accused of murder and attempted murder. the three men escaping a maximum security wing, and abc's kayna whitworth is with us tonight. >> reporter: their video starts inside the maximum security wing of the orange county jail. ♪ under pressure set to the song "under pressure." it's filmed by three inmates using a contraband cell phone, and this first hand view of their daring escape last year, now surfacing through the attorney connected to the case. the alleged mastermind even narrates. >> as far as setup goes, well, we had a duffel bag and a back pack full of stuff. >> reporter: he shows a sawed off bed leg, and then lifts a metal screen to get out. then gives a thumbs up to the camera. set to the theme of "mission: impossible." you can see their journey through the jail walls along a makeshift ladder. eventually, they get to the ro

tired and acting forgetful, but he is eager to get back to washington and back to work, david. >> mary bruce with us from washington as well. mary, thank you. >>> we turn now to the devastating moment. a family of nine was swept away in a flash flood in arizona. there was a warning, but in their remote spot, they did not hear it. abc's kenneth moton in arizona. >> reporter: tonight, in the air and on the ground, an urgent search for a missing father. some 40 searchers including volunteers and dogs northeast of phoenix, all looking for hector. his wife, maria, their three children and five other members of their extended family did not survive. the youngest, just 2 years old. >> i can't begin to tell you how i feel for this family. i mean, the age of these kids were 2 years old, 5 years old, 3 years old. it's heartbreaking. >> holy mackerel. >> reporter: a bystander capturing the rush of water as the family celebrated maria's birthday. >> these people almost got hit. >> reporter: then she spots someone in a tree. >> trying to rescue this guy and and 1-month-year-old baby. there's the son over

feel free to run with it. >> and mary bruce live from the hill again tonight. the clock issic thing, mary. republicans and democrats know the stakes here, and one republican really essentially saying we better get this done or else? >> reporter: david, senator chuck grassley says republicans should not only be ashamed, but they could go from the majority to the minority. if they can't get this done before they head home for the august recess, republicans could hit that six months mark without a single legislature victory. >> mary bruce as well. thank you. >>> there are breaking developments coming in from just outside philadelphia. four young men vanishing. the fbi tonight is now involved and authorities say they do believe there was foul play. abc's eva pilgrim is on the scene. >> reporter: tonight, outside philadelphia, the fbi joining the search for four men missing since last week. officials suspecting foul play. >> this investigation, the leads are incredibly hot. >> reporter: 19-year-old jimi patrick was last seen wednesday. 21-year-old tom meo, mark stur

but abc's mary bruce, already getting an earful on that idea. she is on the hill for us tonight. >> reporter: shortly after president trump finished dinner with those senate republicans, the final blow. two republicans saying no to the plan the president wanted passed. the president then tweeting, just appeal. we'll co repeal. we'll come up with a fix later. two of the senators saying no to the bill he wanted passed. tonight, republican majority leader mitch mcconnell is promising that vote. >> this has been a very, very challenging experience for all of us. >> reporter: challenging after seven years of fighting to repeal and replace. republicans now control the house, the senate and the white house, but still no agreement on a bill. what's next on health care? >> we're going to vote to repeal it i think. >> reporter: the vote to repeal if passed would give them two more years to come up with a plan to replace obamacare, but some moderate republicans worry it could leave their constituents back home hanging. >> i said in january, we should not r

no. >> let's get to mary bruce on the hill tonight where a growing number of lawmakers, democrats and republicans are calling on donald trump jr. to testify, mary? >> reporter: david, the number two republican in the senate, john cornyn says he can't imagine a world in which trump jr. doesn't testify here on the hill, and tonight, democrat dianne feinstein is going further. she says he needs to speak out publicly in an open session as soon as possible, david. >> mary bruce and our entire political team on this tonight. our thanks to you all. >>> in the meantime, we move on now to other news tonight. authorities just a short time ago offering new details after the crash of a marine cargo plane. one of the deadliest military crashes in recent history. the plane plunging into a field in mississippi, bursting into flames. all 16 service members on board the plane died in the crash. abc's steve osunsami is on the scene tonight. >> there's a plane crash on county road 286 near the county line. >> reporter: the large team of military and civilian investigators here tonight are combing throug

>> mary bruce, thank you. >>> next tonight to o.j. simpson. the decision comes tomorrow. a parole board could clear him to leave after nine years behind bars. one of the men he is accused of robbing telling abc news he should go free. abc's senior national correspondent, matt gutman, outside the prison tonight. >> reporter: after nine years in lockup in lovelock, nevada, o.j. simpson is headed to that fateful parole hearing with an ace up his sleeve. the man you see simpson heading to rob at this casino telling abc news he'll testify on behalf of the nfl hall of famer. that 2007 heist instead got him an up to 33-year sentence. >> i thought i was confronting friends, and retrieving my property. so i'm sorry. i'm sorry for all of it. >> reporter: former prison guard, craig arnett chatted with simpson regularly during his first years in prison. >> what was he like? >> to tell you the truth, he was just like anybody else on the yard. he was never disrespectful. >> reporter: that's the case simpson will try to plea to the parole board, and it happened beyond the barbed wire, a

abc's mary bruce has the details. >> your job is on the line! >> reporter: at home. >> don't get sick! please die quick! >> reporter: and on capitol hill. senate republicans have been getting an earful for weeks. and a new health care bill. but the same old problem. can it get the votes to pass? to appease conservatives, the new version could allow insurers to offer cheaper, bare bones plans. it could bring down costs for some and at least enough to move one no vote to a yes. if this is the bill, are you on board? >> yes. >> reporter: but critics worry the americans who need the most care like preexisting conditions could pay lot more. it also leaves in place, those deep cuts to medicate, initially projected to be nearly $800 billion. >> we're talking about the health infrastructure in rural america, and some of our most vulnerable citizens. >> reporter: to try and sway other moderates, the new version keeps two obamacare taxes on the wealthy, includes $70 billion to help with premiums and $45 billion to fight the opioid epidemic. but right now

mary bruce, capitol hill. >> thank you. >>> president trump is dismissing his son's meeting with the kremlin-connected lawyer as politics, tweeting again that most politicians would have done the same thing to get information on an opponent. but white house press secretary sean spicer issued a denial in he appeared to contradict the president's son's e-mails. >> there was nothing that would lead anybody to believe that there was anything except for discussion about the adoption and the magnitsky act, but i would refer you back to counsel on that one. >> one of the president's close allies is now questioning the legality of the meeting. chris christie says it was probably against the law for don jr. to get opposition research for his father's campaign from a foreign country. christie also added that it was inappropriate but added that it's too early to jump to conclusions, pointing out there's no evidence the campaign obtained such research. >>> there are new questions this morning in the shooting of a bride to be by minneapolis police. justine damond called 911 to report a crime and

but we'll get it done. >> mary bruce with us live tonight from capitol hill. mitch mcconnell tweeting today, time to move on. does this mean to effort to repeal and replace obamacare is over. >> most i have talked with, this is going to be a very tall order and to get anything done they will maybe have to work with democrats. but for now, leadership is moving on. today, they were headed out of town. we spotted republicans given new talking points on tax reform. david. >> mary, thank you. >>> new tensions with russia tonight. the kremlin seizing two u.s. diplomatic compounds in russia and ordering the american embassy to cut hundreds of staff. the move comes as retaliation after congress approved new sanctions on russia for meddling in the u.s. election. that bill tonight, now sits on the president's desk. president trump can't dial back those sanctions without congressional approval. law. >>> we turn next at this hour, severe storms hitting at this hour. americans under flash flood watches. more than 2,000 flights delayed here at airports in the east. planes a

mary bruce with us live on capitol hill tonight, and mary, repealing and replacing obamacare as we know was a major campaign promise from donald trump. not yet fulfilled but this was the president overnight. >> i think that with few exceptions, no president has done anywhere near what we have done in his first six months. >> all right, mary. you give us a reality check on this. what are his victories on the hill? >> reporter: david, republicans are quick to tout the appointment of supreme court jus its, neil gorsuch. they have also rolled back numerous obama regulations, but with health care still out of reach, this congress has yet to pass a legislative victory. >> mary, thank you. >>> we turn next to other news tonight and to newly released video of an escape. recorded by the inmates themselves accuse of murder and attempted murder. the three men escaping a maximum security wing, and kayna whitworth is with us tonight. >> reporter: their video starts inside the maximum security wing inside the jail. set to the song "under pressure." it's filmed by three inmates using a contraband cell

he is eager to get back here to washington and put that powerful voice of his back to work. >> mary bruce, our thanks to you. >>> there is much more hair head on "world news tonight" this thursz. severe storms hitting here in the northeast, and the tornado tonight. take a look. the suv lifted off the ground in new york. ginger zee on the track of the storms. >>> also the raging wildfires in the west. the retired firefighter facing charges, shooting at utility trucks and reboloading. >>> the death of a lion. the connection to another famous lion that has so many around the world outraged tonight. like an "unjection™". xeljanz xr. a once daily pill for adults with moderate to severe ra for whom methotrexate did not work well. xeljanz xr can reduce pain, even without methotrexate. xeljanz xr can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections, lymphoma and other cancers have happened. don't start xeljanz xr if you have an infection. tears in the stomach or intestines, low blood cell counts and higher liver tests and cholesterol levels have

whatever part of the process is, i'm not voting for it. >> mary bruce live on the hill again tonight, and the senate could go ahead next week to vote in a straight we repeal, and we're learning from the congressional budget office the score. >> reporter: a straight repeal could leave 32 million more americans uninsured over the next decade, and premiums for some could double. that's only if republicans don't come up with a separate plan to replace obamacare. >> what about that other issue? the president. the white house was asked, is he willing to stay in washington as he has ordered senate republicans? >> reporter: the white house says the president is willing to stay in town so long as senators are right here on the hill and working on health care. >> thank you. >>> next o.j. simpson comes to a parole board and could leave after nine years behind bars. one of the men he is accused of robbing telling abc news he should go free. abc's matt gutman outside the prison tonight. >> reporter: the man you see simpson heading to rob at this casino telling abc news he'll testify on behalf of t

abc's mary bruce tonight with how many republican senators who have already said no. >> reporter: atome -- [ chanting ] and on capitol hill. senate republicans have been getting an earful for weeks. and tonight, a new healthcare bill. but the same old problem, can it get the votes to pass? to appease conservatives, the new version would allow insurers to offer cheaper bare bones plans that don't cover essential health benefits. it could bring down costs for some. and it's enough to move at least one no vote to a yes. >> if this is the bill, are you on board? >> yes. >> reporter: but critics worry americans that need the most care, like people with pre-existing conditions could end up paying a lot more. under this bill, so could seniors. it also leaves in place those deep cuts to medicaid, initially projected to be nearly $800 billion. >> we're talking about the health infrastructure in rural america and some of our most vulnerable citizens. >> reporter: to try and sway other moderates the new version keeps two obamacare taxes on the wealthy, includes $70 billion that could be used to

mary bruce is following all the latest and joins us from capitol hill. good morning, mary. >> reporter: good morning, robin. this was a massive blow to republicans, the president and their defining pledge to the american people. in the very early morning hours here, their latest push no overhaul obamacare came crashing down. >> the amendment is not agreed to. >> reporter: it is a devastating defeat for republicans' signature promise. overnight their latest effort collapsing by one vote. >> mr. mccain. >> reporter: the final blow delivered by senator john mccain. on the floor, the vice president spotted huddling with the war hero once attacked by president trump on the campaign trail. seemingly trying to convince him. but it wasn't enough. at 1:30 in the morning mccain cast his decisive vote with a thumb's down. on the senate floor, gasps and applause. in a statement mccain defended the move saying the bill offered no replacement to actually reform our health care system and deliver affordable, quality health care to our citizens. outside the capitol prote

mary bruce. abc news. capitol hill. >>> congressman, steve scalise has been released from the hospital. six weeks after he was shot and critically wounded during a congressional baseball practice. scalise is now in a rehab facility. doctors say he made excellent progress and is looking for ward to returning to work once he completes his treatment. >> male fertility in developed countries dropped by more than half in the past 40 years. an international team gathered 200 studies. involving, 42,000 men. the new study doesn't explore reasons. previous research. blamed a variety of factors including exposure to chemicals, smoking. stress. as well as obesity. experts say the drop infertility may indicate broader health problems. and, south florida police officer, alfredo vargas, the right man in the right place when a resident complained of an alligator blocking his front door. the action was caught on his body-cam. before he became a cop. vargas learned to wrestle and restrain al gray tors. that's what he did.

mary bruce is keeping score on capitol hill of what's happening where there were protests and many arrests. >> kill the bill. >> reporter: senate republicans today received a bruising welcome back to capitol hill. >> kill the bill. health care. >> reporter: protesters taking over offices blocking hallways, then hauled off and arrested. >> are you killing people. >> is this going to get done? >> we'll see. >> reporter: from columbus, ohio to, phoenix, arizona, republicans were pummelled during the reverse by americans worried they could lose their coverage. >> trumpcare has got to go. >> reporter: tonight the gop bill is on life support. senate republicans can afford to lose just two votes. at least ten republican senators are now a no. many of those republicans who oppose are receiving praise from their constituents. >> i want to applaud your position on the current health care bill. >> yes, thank you. >> reporter: at stake, 22 million more americans could be uninsured under the gop plan and nearly 800 billion dollars slashed from medicaid. republican leaders are hopeful they can salvage t

mary bruce, abc news, capitol hill. >> the next 72 hours will be critical there, thank you. >>> attorney general jeff sessions is not stepping down. he has not spoken to the presiden the president says he is very disappointed in sessions for recusing himself from the russia investigation several months ago. and earlier on twitter, he said that significances had taken a weak position on hillary clinton crime and leakers. but the president is refusing to say if he plans to fire sessions. >>> we're getting more reaction this morning following the president's speech on monday to the boy scouts jamboree. the organization is trying to distance itself from comments which many on social media say were just too political, something past presidents have avoided while speaking to scouts. >> who the hell wants to speak about politics when i'm in front of the boy scouts? just a question, did president obama ever come to a jamboree? the answer is no. and, but we'll be back. >> former president obama did address the scouts by video in 2010. in his speech, president trump also joked about firing members

. >> mary bruce with us live from the him tonight, and mary, this they say in washington, meaninw amerinn pmiums.orter: we expect to g thatuller picture from the congressional budget office on monday. gop leaders say they want to move to a vote next tonight, it's un he the votes te that vote. just one more no, and republicans' signature promise to repeal andreplace obamacare will once again be out of reach, david. >> mary, thayo>>> w reporting tonight on that young american attacked and killed in greece. bakari henderson, celebrating land with friends, and asioning surveillance video showing him being chase asked beaten by a mob. police say as many a 15 peopl b have already bee charged. >>> next to the severe storms hitting at this hour. from philadelphiapo new york and new england. a state of e in wisconsin. flash flooding and rivers in record levels there. the national guard calleinroads states aft a foot of rain. abc's alex perez from the storm zone tonight. >> reporter: tonight, drivers caught in fsh floods from ohio to new york. >> we're coming upon them and pushing 'em out, but we'

our congressional correspondent mary bruce has the latest and joins us from capitol hill. good morning, mary. >> reporter: good morning, robin. a lot of heavy hearts here this morning. john mccain is known in these halls as a fierce fighter. he's tough and this morning, he's in the midst of a hard fight once again. this morning, a giant of the senate is battling brain cancer. senator john mccain is recovering at home in arizona. after having surgery last friday to remove a blood clot above his left eye. further tests, his doctors say, revealed a tumor which was removed. his office says the senator and his family are currently reviewing treatment options including radiation and chemotherapy. his daughter meghan posting an emotional tribute online reading, the one of us who is most confident and calm is my father. he is the toughest person i know. the cruelest enemy could not break him. the aggressions of political life could not bend him. cancer may afflict him in many ways but it will not make him surrender. nothing ever has. the 80-year-old senator and former republican pr