>>> nbc news exclusive. elizabeth smart talks with meredith vieira. a decade after her kidnapping ordeal, she finally talks about why she didn't run when it looked like she had the chance. >>> and master class. how the great tony bennett is putting his money where his heart is. "nightly news" begins now. >>> good evening. both sides in washington can end the standoff and stop this government shutdown any time they please. but instead, as one veteran former member of congress put it today, this country is hurting as we head into this weekend. while this has been caused by washington, the impact from it has spread across america throughout this country. in a moment the prospects for a solution to this any time soon. but first tonight, how this government closed for business is hitting hard for so many. we begin with nbc's miguel almaguer.