blayne, immigration certainly looks like the republican's midterm strategy, doesn't it? >> reporter: melissa, that is certainly what president trump is trying to bring to the forefront. keep in mind, president trump himself is not even on the ballot this election cycle. but yet he's crisscrossing the country, making himself and immigration a central issue. and in recent days, we've seen him announce or at least float the possibilities of making several policy changes. first, he talked yesterday before leaving for that campaign rally, he spoke at the white house and talked about plans to sign an executive order that would essentially make it more difficult for immigrants to seek asylum. saying unless they come to legal ports of entry at the border, they would be turned away and denied asylum. now, that's one thing he says he plans to sign next week. the other, of course, he's been talking about is revoking birthright citizenship. it is something that he doubled down on during that rally last night. take a look. >> democrats want to continue giving automatic birthright cit

back to you. >> blayne, thank you. in texas officer is critical condition this morning after a fourour standoff with a sex offender. it started at a dollar general inta grange just w of houston. officers approached a man for failing to register as a sex offender when they tried to arrest him, he resisted, so they tased him. that's when he pulled out a knife, cutting one officer in the hand and fleeing to a nearby hotel. he then barricaded himself inside and shot at police, injuring on after four hours, the suspect was arrested. >> it has been a horrible week at school bus stops in this country with a series of tragedies involving children on thei to school. there were two more accidents on thursday, bringing ito four crashes that have left five children dead just this week. here's nbc's kristen dahlgren. >> oh, lord have mercy. >> reporter: terror at a school bus stop in tampa. >> i didn't know which kid to help because there were so many laying on the ground. >> repter: witnesses say a speeding car slammed into five c

blayne alexander, nbc news, washington. >>> blayne, thank you. >>> back here in northern california,te county, the nation's deadliest fire in a century. there's a new problem that looms. we're talking about the storms that threaten to make the search for human remains even more differ. today we have a new perspective of the burn zone. this is an overhead look in the town of paradise. neighborhoods that stood two weeks ago, no longer visible. nearly the entire town has been destroyed. th burned. the fire is 70% contained. the death tollta79. nearly 700 people unaccounted for. a lot of the burn zone is still off limits to the general public. here's why. the butte county fire department tweeting out these photos. showing firefighters working on hotspots. you see them right there. they say they're working around the clock to try to get people back into their communities as soon as possible. >>> aner one ohio republican apologizing from a facebook post about fires burning in california. he's a chairman in ohio. he shared a meme that calls the cam and woolsey fires, quote, god's punishment

blayne alexander is tracking the story for us. blayne? >> doreen, all of this is truly noteworthy, because you'll remember, mierk al cohen is the man who oe famously declared he would take a bullet for president trump. now we know that he has spent more than 70 hours in interviews witherpecial counsel r mueller. >> today, michael cohen, president trump's former attorney andlo -time fixer pleading gui cy in federalourt to lying to congress. something cohen admits he did out of loyalty to his boss. >> he's a weak person and wha he's tryin to do is get a reduced sentence. so he's lying about a project that everybody knew about. >> that project announced a deal to build a trump tower in russia.d cohen lie to congress about the timing of those discussions with russia telling the senate intelligence committee last year ithat talks ended january 2016, when in reality they went into the summer and i wello the 2016 campaign. >> when i run for president, that doesn't mean i'm not allowed to do busiss. i was doing a lot of different things when i wa

blayne alexander on capitol hill. thank you, blayne. >>> growing frustration from victims as catholic bishops take heat for delaying a vote to t addres church's sexual abuse scandal. there. the fallout >> reporter: this conference was build as a week of change, a way for bishops to come together and really address how they sexual abuse allegations within their own diocese, but after the vatican stepped in ts morning, any change will have to wait until next year. >> we were all set to move to -- to reach an actn stage here this week. eporter: speaking today, card until di darnedo said they would move on to create a new code of conduct for bishops and how to handle sexual complaints. >> we'll see these actions through to completion. it just takes time. >> rorter: what do they need permission to vote on thishe conference protesters were clear. the time for change is w. >> what you're going to see is more catholics leaving the urch, a more demand for investigation because that's the only thing tt will start this? peter ei

blayne ale the latest developments. blayne? >> reporr: doreen, certainly a lot of people have been watching this very closely. jim acosta, that cnn reporter, was banned from white house grounds for more than week. during that me, we saw a number of news outlets, cluding nbc come out in support of him and cnn. they say what happens ins his case setlarger precedent. cnn reporter jim acosta back on white house grounds. a fedinal judge order his press pass rerned, at least temporarily, ruling the white house cannot revoke it without due process. >> that's my cue to go back to work. >> reporter: the white house enatching his pass after this contentious exchaast week. >> that's enough. that's enough. that's enough! >> reporter: today's ruling a victory for cnn, claiming in a lawsuit the pass was taken as punishment for critical reporting. but the white house says it'seh about properior. >> people have to have. we want total freedom of the press. that's very important to >> reporter: today president trump promising tighter rules for m

blayne alexander is tracking developments today. round one? >> a lot of people a wching this closely. jim acosta was banned from white house g a week. and during that time,rohaun m oe outlets, including nbc news came out in support of him and cnn.t they say w happens in this case sets a larger precedent. cnn reporter jim acosta back on white house grounds. a federal judge orderinges his pass returned, at least temporarily, ruling the white house cannot revoke it without due process. >> that's my g cue to back to work. >> reporter: the white house snatchinhis pass after this con tentcious exchange last week. >> that's enough. that's enough. >> mr. president -- >> that's enough.da >> s ruling a victory for cnn, claiming in a lawsuit the pass was taken as punishment for critical reporting. but the white house says it's about proper behavior. >> people have to behave. we want total freedom of the press. that's very impornt to me. >> reporter: today president trump promising tighter rules for more orderly press conferences, but with this warning. >

that's for sure, blayne. thank you much, blayne alexander. talk to you soon. g>>> also break right now, the high-profile murder trial in charlottesville. james fields is accused of driving into a crowd of demonstrators, killing one person and injuring several others. nesses have t w taken the stand to tell what they saw august 12, 2017 when a ve acle plowed into group of counterrs demonstratouring that unite the right rally in charlottesville. the witnesses put a se lf-professed neo-nazi behindth e wheel. it killed ather h e and killed several others. images show a car driving into protestoto protesrs. his defense team is saying he acted out of fear for his safety. y after, he said he had seen someone with a gun. julie cay, the only local tv news reporter inside the courtroom as victims are testifying. she'll join us at 5:00 with some the emotional stories they're telling. i'm scott mcfarlane. >> we've got a change in the we her. >> amelia draper is trackingrn tomorrow g's commute and what we'll be looking at this weekend. as the winds finally calm down, our r

blayne alexander reports. nt>> reporter: today presi trump threatening to close the southern borderor good after weekend showdown. u.s. officials launching tear gas at hundreds ofnt mig trying to cross legally. >> they had to do it they were being rushed by should rough people. nobody is coming into our country unless they come in legally. >> the clash leading to a six-hour st of the u.s.-mexico border near san diego. demanding mexo send migrants back to their countries claiming many are stone coldim als. do it by plane, bus, any way you want, but they are not coming into the usa. it comes as administration officials say the u.s. is ting toroker a deal with mexico will allow mignts seeking asylum to stay in mexico while awaiting a decision. so far mexico says no deal. >> mexico wants to see if they can get it straightened out. >> reporter: the tension at the border mirrored in washington where president trumpats thing a partial government shutdown unless congress approves $5illion for a border wall. >>ou've al

on the east coast blayne alexander, nbc news, washington >>> the likely impact with u.s. equities is the consensus view that a split congress and the results gridlock would lead to a slowdown by the fed. citi and blackrock said a clean sweet by either side would be a net negative for stocks. goldman says the u.s. needs to slow to avoid a dangerous overheating. a senior economist from goldman sachs joins us on set. >> great to be here. >> let's talk about the midterms and the likely impact on markets. typically markets would not be that fussed by a midterm election it's not something that the stock markets are reactive to. this time is different why do you think that is the case >> i think, as you said, normally markets respond much less to the midterms than to the presidential elections usually because much less power shifts in the midterms i think this time there's a clear consensus, at least in the expectations, that the republicans will hold on to the senate, about ybut the democratl take over the house, which would result in a split congress the implications of that a

blayne alexander reports. >> reporter: before leaving vishington, president trump first lng his written answers on the russia investigation with special counsel robert mueller and signaling that's all heplans to say. >> the writt answers to the witch hunt that's been going on forever. >> reporter: the answers on occlusion, not obstruction of stice. >> if bob mueller decides he feeds the president's testimony on the obstruction issue and wants to push that issue, it will be decided by a court. t white house counsel. >> reporter: on obstruction probe would likely include questions of the firing of fbi director james comey, today tha firing facing new scrutiny after the "tsw york times" rep wants his justice department to on and te hillary cli comey and was talked down by then white house counsel don mcgahn. ax mcgahn int person pushed back saying the president never, to his knowledge, ordered that anyone prosecute comey or clinton. meanwhile, president trump's decision to stand by saudi arabia crown britain mohammed bin salman, drawing criticism from some in his own party. republican sena

blayne ale the latest developments. blayne?rtainly a lot of people have been watching this very closely. jim acosta, that cnn reporter, was banned from white house grounds for more than week. during that me, we saw a number of news outlets, cluding nbc come out in support of him and cnn. they say what happens ins his case setlarger precedent. cnn reporter jim acosta back on white house grounds. a fedinal judge order his press pass rerned, at least temporarily, ruling the white house cannot revoke it without due process. >> that's my cue to go back to work. >> reporter: the white house enatching his pass after this contentious exchaast week. >> that's enough. that's enough. that's enough! >> reporter: today's ruling a victory for cnn, claiming in a laui

blayne alexander has reaction from washington, d.c. >> reporter: today michael cohen, president trump's and long-time fixer, pleading guilty in federal court to lying to congress. something cohen admits he did out of loyalty to his boss. >> he's a weak person and what he's trying to do is get a reduced sentence so he's lying about a project that everybody knew about. >> reporter: that project, a now scrapped deal to build a trump tower in russia. according to the plea agreement with special counsel robert mueller's team, cohen lied to congress about the timing of the discussions with russia, telling the senate intelligence committee last year talks on the project ended in january 2016. when in reality they went into the summer and well into the 2016 campaign. >> when i run for president, that doesn't mean i'm not allowed to do business. i was doing a lot of different things when i was running. after i won, obviously i don't do business. >> reporter: the top democrat mark warner said today's plea shows a pattern. >> folks affiliated with trump dealing with the russians, then lying about

blayne alexander is tracking it all.layne >> reporter: yeah, pat, right now florida is right in the middle of a recount, a it's one that has to be done by thursday, but a flurryf lawsuits from both sides could make that more dficult. nearly a week after election day, in florida, it is stillfi t to the finish with razor thin margins forcing a recount in both theenate and governor's races. in the senate battle, democrat bill nelson demanding every mail-in ballot be counted if postmarked by election day ando callingnor rick scott to recuse himself. >> scott cannot oversee this process in a fair and impartial way. >> repter: this as scott demands law enforcement take control of voting machines and ballots and try to declare victory planning a trip toon washinhis week for orientation. >> we need to go forward and start thinking about ourge daze. bill nelson is clearly a sore lose sneer and in thegovernor's race andrew gillum who originally conceded on election nice. >> what we're here to do is count every vote. >> reporter: a

blayne alexander tracking it all. can't end the week without a little more controversy? >> reporter: it's been a very, very busy week and promises to get busier next week. matt whitaker is the person you're talking abouteast on a temporary basis. president trump explained why he put him in this position, but insisted it has nothing to do fith the russia investigation. president trump tly denying allegations that he chose matt whitaker for acting attorney general as a way to undermine special counsel robert man. he is a very respected man in the law enforcement community. >> the president in the same breath praising,ut thenng n.stance between himself and >> i didn't speak to matt whitakerbout it. i don't know matt whitaker. >> but just last month in a phone interview on fox news. >> i can tell you matt whitaker is a great guy. i mean, i know matt whitaker. >> whitaker facing fierce calls from democrats to recuse himself. >> i'm very worried. >> this after st comments from whitaker criticizing the russia investigation and this suggestion made a cable news pundit to cut mue

blayne aer is here with details. >> that choice is matthew whitaker.oi he's to be leading the doj, at least on a temporary basis. today the president ho a lot say about his pick, and he explained why he put him position, but said that it had nothing to do with the russia investigation. >> president trump defiantly denying allegations that he chose mat whittaker as acting attorney general as a way t undermine robert mueller's russia investigation. >> matt whitaker is a very smart man. he is a very respected man inaw thenforcement community. >> the president in the same breath praising, then putting distance between himself and whitaker insisting the two havr ne discussed mueller's investigation. >> i didn't speak to matt whitaker about it. i don'know matt whitaker. >> but just last month in a phone interview on fox news. >> i can tell you matt aker's a great guy. i mean, i know matt whitaker. >> whitaker facing fierce calls from democrats to recuse himself. very worried that mueller's work is going to be hampered. fromis after past comments whitaker criticizing the russia investigation

. >> blayne alexander in washington, d.c., thank you, blayne. >>> let's get to "today in the bay's" smpkris sanchez, she is e in san jose. >> troops are headed to the border today, president trump's response to the migrant caravan slowly makingi its way to the u.s. >> reporter: this is becoming a big issue for the election. the caravan is not expected to arrive until long after we go to the polls. now the images of those families desperate enough to walk thousands of miles away from home are powerful enough for folks here in the bay area to try to do something to help. some folks are helping with donations of money, but the latina collection in downtown oakland is collecting water, food and clothing that they will send to the migrant caravan. donations can be dropped off at the collective in oakland on 15th street between 6:00 and 8:00 tonight. you can find more details in my twitter feed. just a week ago, another group of students mobilized to raise money to help the group strong voices organize a concert in berkeley to raise $10,000 for the my grant clinicians network that provides medica

. >> blayne, thank you. also today, the president making a major move after months of speculation he has finally forced out his attorney general jeff sessions. the timing of this move surprised a lot of the president's own advisors. sessions submitted his letter of resignation. here it is. it started by saying, quote, at your request, i am submitting my resignation. now, as sessions walked out of the justice department for the last time this evening, staff members greeted him with applause. democrats immediately expressed concern, though, over the status of the mueller investigation into russian involvement in the 2016 election. >> any attorney general, whether this one or another one, should not be able to interfere with the mueller investigation in any way. they should not be able to end it, they should not be able to limit it. >> and that's going to be the battle cry moving forward. matthew whitaker is now the acting attorney general. whitaker was staff. >> not only did democrats gain some solid ground in

we begin with blayne alexander. >> reporter: you talked about the high interest. it is very clear when you look at pollinglaces like this one in southeast d.c. a large crowd behind me and i'm told, it has been this busy all day. we've already seen a record number some of the 38 million people cast early ballots. mo money has been spent on this mid-term than 90 in history. now it is time to decide. in what are typically known a offyear elections, this year, crowded precinc tell a can i ha have, a different story. >> reporter: candidates start by

and blayne alexander joins us.re >> t a lot to break down. let's start with the support for saudi arabiase the white hays that there has beenhm punt for khashoggi's death for the 17 individuals belved to be responsible. with you so many capitol hill say it has to go eyre today president trump declares w determined that it was the crown prince who ordered the killing of jamal akhashoggi. an statement from president trump casting doubt. something he backed up today. ? have the craft has looked at it. they've studied it a lot. they have nothing definitive. maybe hedid. maybe he didn't. >> this despite growing pressure to break with the crown prince. >> if we broke saudi arabia, your oil price would go through roof. >> meanwhile, ivanka trump fiing herself at the center of criticism after the "washington post" reports she used a personal e-mailsastyear. , awing immediate citiz drawing immediate concern. >> today president insisting it is not the same. >> there was no hiding. no deleting like hillary clinton did. o i servicen the basement like hil

let's begin with blayne alexander. >> that tension on the border is increasing tension on capitol hill west could see a partial government shutdown by the end of next week. one of the biggest points of contention is over the fun ng for the border wall. today, president trump threatening to close the southern border for good aft a weekend showdown. tear gas was launched. >> they had to be used because they were being rushed by some very tough people. and here's the bottom line. nobody is coming into our country unless they come in legally. >> the clash leading to a six-hour showdown of the u.s./mexico border nearan diego. they are claiming stone cold criminals. do it by plane, bus, any way you want, but they are not coming into the usa. it comes as administration officis say the u.s is trying to broker a deal with mexico that would allow migrants seeking asylum to stay in mexico while awaiting a decision. so f mico says no deal. >> the tension at the border mirrors in washington where president trump is threatening partial government shutdown unless congress approves $5 billionor a bord

let's begin with blayne alexander. >> that tension on the border is increasing tension on capitol hillsee a partial government shutdown by the end of next week. one of the biggest points of contention is over the fun ng for the border wall. today, president trump threatening to close the southern border for good aft a weekend showdown. tear gas was

. >> our team coverage begins with blayne alexander at eastern markets. twhat is like where you are? >> reporter: you know what? you guys talk about that voter interest and we are certainly seeing it here inoutheast d.c. you look at the crowd behind me. as a person who works at the polls, they have seenhe constant stream of people coming in since the polls opened early in the morning. bear in mind that more money has been spoenlt this mid-term election than any other in history. now it's time for the voters to decide. ? what are typically known as offyear elections, thiye , crowded precincts tell a different story. >> oh, this is the election you havefoo vote >> after a hard fought campaign, candidates starting the day t castingir own ballot. >> just get out and vote. >> i guess i can reveal that i cast a vote for myself. >> to northernin , republican barbara comstock fighting to keep her seat. >> we feel great. >> democrats looking for 23 seats the control the house. in the senate, two more seats. driving voters, immigratio a health car jobs. perhaps the

blayne alexander,yo thank u. >>> still ahead, we go to california. >> death toll from the wildfires, climbing. people still unaccounted for. >>> will amazon's arrival in our area become a traffic nightmare? ad adam tuss loo ahead. >>> and the cold front moving through. the first this, chance of snow. we had a winter storm watch in effe i for everybody blue. we're going to talk muchab more t it. i think it becomes an advisory tomorrow. tomorrow. we'll talk about when the denise? oh, hesandy! this is a trick my nona taught me to make sure my produce is fresh. li but aldi produce is red nona taugfresh every single day. every day? yeah... so you don't need to, do that. you're not even gonna hold that cantaloupe to your face? the only trick you need to save time and money is to shop at aldi. save on little salad bar garden salad mix. now just .79 cents aldi. shop differentli. aldi. hey, batter, batter, [ crowd cheers ]e do wh atli ykeou e lveovryn at comcast we know our customers' time is valuable. at's why we have 2-hour appointment windows, including nights a weekends. so you can do mor

we begin with blayne alexander. >> reporter: you talked about the high interest. it is very clear when you look at pollinglaces like this one in southeast d.c. a large crowd behind me and i'm told, it has been this busy all day. we've already seen a record number some of the 38 million people cast early ballots. mo money has been spent on this mid-term than 90 in history. now it is time to decide. in what are typically known a offyear elections, this year, crowded precinc tell a can i ha have, a different story. >> reporter: candidates start by casting their own balls. >>ake your voice heard. >> i guess i can reveal i'm sting a vote for myself. >> reporter: republican barbara comstock fighting to keep her seat. >> we feel great. >> reporter: democrats looking for a net gain of 23 steets control the house. in the senate, two more ats. driving voters, issuese l health care and jobs. perhaps the biggest motivator, president trump. >> was he influential in your vote? >> absolutely. >> this will be a very important tell. >> at this precinct in tennessee, a storm a powe

blayne alexander is here to break it all down for us. >> that report from the guardian citing sources to the guardian and it isffering another major turn in the investigation. and it comes as manafort could be launching into even deeper legal trble. >> president trump leveling and pointed personal attack against special counsel rob mueller, slamming hims a conflict prosecutor gone rogue, doing tremendou damage to our criminal justice system. >> the president has voiced his unhappiness from the beginning that this has gone on. is ridiculous witch hunt for more than two years. >> reporter: the esident's tweet comes as paul manafortfa ces more legal troubles after mueller's team filed papers alleging manafort broke a plea deal by lying to them repeatedly nd now they want him sentenced immediately. legal experts say the new attack on mueller may be strategi >> the strategy of the president is to undermine the investigation. so that when a report comes out, he has some political >> manafort's attorneys say he not the lieut say that before an or around the time manafort joined the trump cam

. >> and congratulations on the new bling,blayne. >> thanks. >> way to go. >>> locally voters will have only two candidates. they'll to have weigh in on several important balt initiatives. >> and maryland vote letters decide on how state gambling revenue is used. a yes vote the t require all revenue go to k-12 public schools. the second is onoter registration. a yes vote would give qualified voters the ability t register day.he polls on election right now you have to register before election day. >>> in virginia, voters will decide whether to give a tax break to people who have made improvements to their thoems prevent flood damage. the second question removed all restrictions in a law tha gives surviving military spouses a property tax exemption buying a new home. >>> the nbc washington app is your one stop app. go there and click the politics app. > bigger isn't always better. but it could be for teens. driv next, we're working for syou. parere picking out a car for their teen drivers. >>> the grinchotaiting for the holidays. the thief caught in the act. >>> and this is national man m

we have a number of amazing veterans with us today, including six veterans of world war ii, james blayne, james where is james? james? thank you. thank you, james. frank divita. thank you, frank. thank you very much. you look so comfortable up there under shelter, as we're getting drenched you're very smart people. >> [laughter] president trump: pete dupre, pete, thank you very much. gregory melichan, thank you, gregory. steven meltakof, thank you, thank you steven, and jake trim mer. thank you. thank you, jay, thank you. you look like you're in really good shape all of you. >> [applause] president trump: i hope that i look like that some day. america is forever in debt and we really appreciate you being here and we're also joined by another very special guest, a 13 -year-old boy from the united states named matthew haskey. matthew is in the eighth grade and he worked and saved all of his money for two years to make this trip to france. he wanted to be here in person to honor the american heros of world war i. matthew? thank you, you make us very proud. where is matthew? >> [applause] pr

we don't recall ever seeing a president a this event, but blayne alexander tells us this may hte been the m pleasant part of his day. >> reporter: it has to do with the russia investigation, more specifically the president's answers to a set of from robert mueller. after 18 months in the works, we could see a turning point in this investigation, because any day now mueller is expected to hear, at least in writing, dictly from president. ♪s rt holiday week for president trump, but a full plate before thanksgiving in what could be ae creucial few s for the russia investigation. with president trump sayinge has finished answering millere s questions. >> we gave very, very complete answers t a lot of questions that i shouldn't even have been asked. >> reporte his written answers will likely be submitted to mueller before thanksgiving. president trump stressing that those answers came from him, not his team. >> i'm the one that does the answers. wering rter: but a questions in person he says likely off the table. >> i think we've wasted enough time on this witch hunt. >> reporter: it comes

. >> rr: blayne alexander is on capitol hill for us. >> reporter: yeah, any day now, we could reall see a turning point in that mueller investigation. rhat is because mueller is expected to h at least in writing from the president himself. a short holiday week for president trump, but a full plate before thanksgiving in what could be a cruci few day for on robert mueller's russia investigation. dent trump saying that he has finished answering mueller's questions . >> we gave very, very complete answer to a lot of questions that i shouldn't have even been asked. >> rorter: his written answers will likely be submitted to mueller before thanksgiving t sourls nbc news. president trump stressing those answers came from him, not his team. >> i'm the one that does the answers. >> reporter: but answering i question person he says likely off the table. >> i think we've wasted enough time on this witch hunt. >> reporter: it comes as three senate democrats are suing to have matthew whitaker aeying ateneral and the man overseeing mueller removed from his post saying tha his appointment isst uncutio

. >> all right, blayne alexander. thanks so much. >>> a new job center is t ready welcome people in montgomery raunty with the goal of serving the imm population. casa opened a new center in meeton, it plans to help residents find higher paying jobs. casa says it will have english classes and workshops to help we are seoul writing, computer reir and building maintenance. we are told millions of jobs will require special skillsng payi at least $16 an hour a mother and son killed in a blazing fir overnight. tonight, what family is telling us about the victim. >> news 4 gets early word of security upgrades at one of our largest school districts. we'll explain what's changinaf ternoon. a data breach at amazon a day before black friday. susan hogan, with how to know if you are affected. >> we're in weather doalert. is back with the bitter blast and who could see people aren't talking about how giant's delicious nature's promise turkey is free from antibiotics. they're not talking about our easy grab and go chicken wing tra

do they go with change or experience in blayne alexander t is worki story for us. >> reporter: that isn to. soany of these newly elected members have promised that they will bring change to washingt. and for some democrats, that includes within their own party. but so far nobody has publicly saidare willing to challenge nancy pelosi as speaker. for the newest members, the first big decision comes before geven tak office, picking that i recall new lea-heir leader. ncy pelosi first became speaker in 2007 and has led democrats ever since. now ready to step back into her old job. >> what ir y level of confidence? >> high. >> rorter: but there is some division. some democrats sayinhat they need experience at the helm. >> we need somebody who has been vested and she has been. >> reporter:ut at least a dozen incoming members say they ant a new face push the par forward. that echoed by some current house democrats. >> the american people want change. d we'll try to give it to them. >> reporter: with the loss of houseontrol on the republican side, konevin mccarthy will be minority leader. >> we

blayne alexander is monitoring the summit for us. >> reporter: and of course the purpose is to talk abou ikey economues on the world stage. and there are a lot of eyes watching aea possible trade between u.s. and china, but today president trump is getting almost as many questions about the meetings he's not having. at the g-20 summitn argentina, president trump joining world leaders to discuss economic issues. t two leade with whom he is not formally meeting, the saudi crown prince and also vlan.mir puti asked why he canceled his meeting with putin? president trumpointing to russian aggression toward ukraine. >> what took place with respect to the ships and the sailors, that was the sol reason. >> reporter: but even russia is suesting that it is really about political tension back home. the president's former lawyer michael cohen pleading guilty to lying to congress about the business development in russia. a major development in robert mueller's prinvestigation. ident trump starting his day on twitter defending his choice to run his business while campaigning as very legal and very coo

blayne, thank you. >>> voters in maryland waited up to six hours to vote yesterday. >> election officials in prince georges county say human is to blame. this is the scene last night at a polling place where linesd snaked aroune corner and down the hallways. county bureau chief is live in largo getting to the bottom of the problem in the polls. >> reporter: we spoke with the board of directors here, she said they did the math, ensured thts had the bal they needed at all polling te, but at the end of the day, turnout was so high they just didn't have enough. there were long lines and hundreds of frustrated voters in prince lgeorge's countyt night. news 4 confied more than a dozen polling places in the county ran out of paper ballots, leaving people with no way to vote. >> since 7:00 this morning, get soon,thought we'd get out get here, they ran out of ballot. ev >> reporter: we documented the problem that left voters wondering if this was an effort to somehow suppress's maryla largest democratic voting block. > here in prince georges county, there is -- there is no vor suppression. it was

blayne alexander joinss with details. >> reporter: yeah, this comes after the president made it weareral timesn he was asked that he didn't want to talk about it, but now making clear that it istill a possibility. now, the russia investigation was also the focus of several senators hereay t on capitol hill trying again to introduce a bill to protect the special counsel, saying that today it's en mornine urgent. tonight a new glimpse into president trump's answers to questions from special counsel robert mueller. o sources tell nbc news the president told mueller in writing he was notnformed beforehand about a 2016 trump tower meetingal between dond trump jr. and a russian attorney promising dirt on hillary clinton. >> senate from delaware. us reporter: it comes as a group of senators a bipartisan bill to protect mueller's russia investigatiock that bill q swatted down by republicans. leader mitche leader mitch mcconnell says there is no need. something echoed by president trump, telling "the washington post" he has no intention ofng endifi the proeg or ring mueller. new scrutiny of p