as a nation. >> kristen welker reporting.s many as 2 million people expected to attend san francisco's pride festivities this weekend. you can find the full list of events on our website, nbcbayarea.com. >>> it was a violent afternoon in oakland where one person was killed, two wounded in a shooting. this happened about 5:30 on international boulevard near 50th street. the male victims made their way to the hospital one of them died. two others are expected to survive. police do not have a motive or suspect or any further information. >>> south carolina, an activist took the fight over the confederate flag into her own hands this morning. britney newsom climbed the flagpole outside of south carolina's statehouse. police showed up before she made it to the top. they demanded she come down. instead they continued and finished what she came to do removing the flag. she was promptly arrested when she climbed back down. as she was being led away she talked about burying hate. >> do the right thing. we have to bury hate. it's been

nbc's kristen welker joins us tonight from des moines, iowa. kristen, good evening. >> reporter: carl, good evening. hillary clinton held her first public campaign event here in iowa today and she asked voters for a second chance to win this state and the white house. >> hillary. >> reporter: iowans came out today to hear hillary clinton, who has turned what started out as a listening tour into a full-fledged campaign. a day after her official rollout in new york, clinton returned to iowa, to make the case that she'll be a champion for the working class. >> i'm running for president to make our economy work for you and for every american. >> reporter: and for the first time in weeks clinton weighed in on an issue that has divided democrats, trade. >> the president should listen to and work with his allies in congress, starting with nancy pelosi. >> reporter: just days after democrats and leader nancy pelosi rebuffed president obama's request for fast track authority to negotiate a deal with eleven other nations, clinton pushed back at the white

>> nbc's kristen welker in des moines tonight. kristen, thanks so much. >>> and those on the republican side are gearing up for a big announcement of their own after exploring a presidential run for months jeb bush will finally make it official kicking off his campaign at an event tomorrow afternoon. nbc's kelly o'donnell has a preview. >> reporter: the long-expected launch much this bush campaign. >> i can't -- read the future. but i want to be authentic and genuine. i'm going to be who i am. >> reporter: and that means defining job ellis bush jeb, as more than the son or brother of a president. >> jeb is different than george in -- and jeb is who he is. my life story is different. >> reporter: today his campaign rolled out a glossy video. the official logo, minus the family name. >> america's best days are in front of us. >> reporter: their goal? portray jeb bush as a doer with a record as governor by relying on the words of floridians. >> i think governor bush changed a lot of lives in florida. >> look at all this. >> reporter:

in us news kristen welker has reaction from the president and those candidates who hope to succeed him. >> how it could be possible that we as a nation still allow guns to fall into the hands of people whose hearts are filled with hate. >> democratic front-runner hillary clinton today made an impassioned call for change during the charleston church massacre. >> i know gun ownership is the fabric of a lot of law-abiding communities. but i also know that we can have common sense gun reforms >> reporter: clinton pushed forex panned background checks legislation that president obama championed in the wake of the sandy hook elementary school shootings, which failed in congress. and she said the root of this latest shooting is race. >> america's long struggle with race is far from finished. >> reporter: democratic candidate martin o'malley remarked with an edgy press release. >> i refuse to act as if this is the new normal. >> reporter: echoing remarks made by president obama. >> every country has violent is mentally unstable people. what's different is not every country is awash with easily

>> kristen welker at the white house tonight. kristen, thank you. chuck todd will have much more on the charleston shooting tomorrow morning on "meet the press". >>> tonight investigators say they have an unconfirmed sighting of the two killers who escaped from a prison in upstate new york. two men matching their description were spotted in the friendship amity area of new york about 350 miles southwest of the clinton correctional facility. police are searching the area now. this comes after two other recent sightings just last week. >>> and authorities in new orleans also are on the hunt for an accused cop killer. veteran officer daryle holloway was shot and killed early this morning while transporting 33-year-old prisoner travis boys. he was handcuffed in the back of a cruiser but managed to get his hands in front of him and shoot officer holloway fatalitily. police don't know how boys got the gun. he fled on foot. >>> firefighters continue to battle the out of control wildfires out west. in california, bone-dry conditions are fueling a fire that'

kristen welker at the white house. thank you, much. >>> meanwhile, another call from the president of the naacp cornell brooks to remove the confederate flag that still flies over the south carolina state house. a rent nbc news survey asked americans whether they felt the flag served as a symbol of racism or a representation of southern pride. feelings were split down the middle with 49% on either side of that debate. here's what brooks had to say this morning. >> i grew up in the south. i made my home in the south. i love the place where i come from and i certainly understand that sense of her tnlg that people have in terms of their family histories. but their families' histories in terms of the antebellum south go to their family albums not that flag. that flag has come to mean hate. it has come to mean exclusion. you mean to tell me a flag that stands beside the flag of rodesia and the apartheid error south africa is a flag that we can wave in front of the state house in the state of south carolina? that is morally

kristen welker reports on the candidates. >> how it could be possible that we as a nation still allowuns to fall into the hands of people whose hearts are filled with hate. >> reporter: democratic frontrunner hillary clinton made an impassioned call for change in the wake of the charleston church massacre. >> i know that gun ownership is part of the fabric of a lot of law abiding communities. but i also know that we can have common sense gun reforms. >> reporter: clinton pushed for expanded background checks, legislation that president obama championed in the wake of the sandy hook elementary school shooting and she said the root of this shooting is race. >> american's long struggle with race is far from finished. >> reporter: martin o'malley reacted with an edgy press release and argued that stiffer gun laws are necessary. >> i refuse to act as if this is the new normal. >> reporter: echoing remarks made by president obama friday night. >> every country has violent, hateful or mentally unstable people. what's different is not every country is awash with easily accessible guns. >> rep

nbc's kristen welker has more. good morning. tell us more about biden's legacy. >> reporter: well eun, you're right. this is a tragic day in washington. the vice president has cancelled up a public events today. he's at home in delaware where flags were lower at half-staff. his son beau biden was 46 years old and his future seemed as bright as his father's. this morning, the entire political world of people all across the country mourning man who is gone far too soon. he was born in 1969. he became a politician in his own right. he was twice elected as delaware's attorney general. he was expected to run for governor of delaware. beau was diagnosed with brain cancer two years ago and after aggressive treatment he was given a clean bill of health and then this spring he relapsed. he checked into walter reed medical center a week and a half ago. the president and first lady visited the bidens yesterday. he made a difference in all the lives of those he touched an there was reaction from capitol hill as well. mitch mcconnell and har

nbc's kristen welker reports. >> reporter: a grieving vice president biden called his son beau the finest man any of us have ever known. a special father/son bond that was clear to everyone. >> my friend my father my hero. >> reporter: born in 1969, beau was often by his father's side growing up but he became a politician in his own right, a decorated iraq war veteran who was twice elected as delaware's attorney general but family came first. >> this is an incredible loss. beau was an extraordinary person. >> reporter: the grief gripped washington where lawmakers offered emotional tributes sunday. >> i'd just like to express my sign sear condolences to the entire biden family. >> i think about life cut too short. >> reporter: the obamas also paid their respects traveling to biden's home in a smaller than usual all black mode kademotorcade. the president said beau was just like his dad and made a difference in the lives of all he touched. beau was barely 4 when he was in a car accident that killed his mother and sister. joe biden just elected to the u.s. senate was sworn in by beaus a hosp

. >> and nbc's kristen welker joins us from the white house.ut these concerns? >> well we know the attorney general and homeland security director have reached out to law enforcement officials in major cities across the country. the concern is that isis is calling for increased attacks because it's the month of ramadan, because it's the fourth of july. and that these calls are happening online through social media. now, i am told from my sources that there's no specific plot that's a very important point to underscore, however, there's just a heightened sense of concern because of this increased activity online. these concerns have been in place for several weeks but there's no doubt according to intelligence officials that the attack we saw overseas on friday heightened the sense of fear. lawmakers have been briefed on this as well. here's what peter king had to say earlier today. >> more concerned now than any time since september 11th. as you said there are lone wolf attacks but isis they have a multilevel sense of operation. it's not just t

we get more now from nbc white house correspondent kristen welker. >> with same sex marriage now legal, gay pride celebrations took on new meaning today. from cincinnati. >> the fact that we can celebrate together and there are no barriers. >> to san francisco. >> it's like we're on a level playing field now. >> historical like forever, this is forever now. >> i have a great partner, we've been together three years, we take care of each other, we always have each other's backs, this means we can do it legally now. >> couples across the country rushed to make it official. >> you are joined in marriage as wife and wife. you may kiss your bride. >> and they are celebrating the possibility of new financial advantages same sex couples are eligible for expanded social security benefits. couples will be allowed to file joint federal tax returns, often lowering taxes, and most fully ensured medical plans will create same sex spouses. and it creates an easier path for adoption. >> suddenly we have a lot more opportunity to have married couples -- >> the ruling has become a lightning rod on the

nbc's kristen welker has details. >> reporter: with the president's iraq policy under fire, white house officials provided few details what is under consideration. ben rhodes. >> we don't have a specific plan to open another base at this time but if we see a need the iraqi security forces have, we have the ability to move them from outside the country or within the country. >> reporter: officials say if the president decides to open new bases, more troops might be needed but not necessarily, this a day after president obama announced he's sending 450 more u.s. troops to the country for a total of 3550. the white house says the new troops are authorized to train, advice and assist iraqi forces in the anbar province. isn't this mission creep? >> no, this is the exact same mission we've been pursuing, which is to train and assist iraqis. >> reporter: supporters of the fight against isis say it's not enough. >> it's a step in the right direction but as the president admitted, he has no strategy to win. >> reporter: others argue the president broke one of the promises that got him elected. >

. >> that was kristen welker reporting. >>> one inmate came close to being executed for a crime he did not commit and now he's a free man. >>> and many are waking up under a need advisory. but we'll dry out. plus a loo >>> you're watch "news4 today." >> well, same-sex marriage and the confederate flag, two issues front and center in the political world over the last week. >> and joining us now to talk about it, moderator of "meet the press," chuck todd. we want to start with same-sex marriage and the supreme court's historic ruling. it was a big week. we are already seeing this ruling though trickle into the campaign trail and the republicans definitely grappling with this decision. >> it is. it's sort of an mri, you know, when you see how the republicans respond. the mri of who they want to target, who they think their constituency is. so you have those who want to be the candidates of social conservatives using the most fiery language. ted cruz saying this is the worst 24 hours in american history. mike huckabee calling it judicial tyranny and jindal saying why don't we disband the s

nbc news white house correspondent kristen welker has that part of the story. >> reporter: the massacre in south carolina shocked a nation and jolted the first african-american president to speak with unprecedented candor about racial tensions and gun violence. >> racism. we are not cured of it. >> reporter: in an interview with podcast host marc maron, a frustrated president obama used the n word publicly for the first time as president. out of sensitivity nbc news has decided to bleep out the word. >> and it's not just a matter of it not being polite to say [ bleep ] in public. that's not the measure of whether racism still exists or not. it's not just a matter of overt discrimination. societies don't overnight completely erase everything that happened two to three hundred years prior. >> reporter: the reaction raw from south carolina today. >> he wasn't trying to sugar-coat anything. >> i think everything he said was spot on. >> i really thought we had progressed beyond that. >> reporter: at historically black howard university callers took to the airwaves. >> what has to change is t

we get more from white house correspondent kristen welker. >> reporter: gay pried celebrations took on new meeting today from cincinnati -- >> we can celebrate together. there are no barriers. >> reporter: to san francisco. >> we're on an even playing field now. >> historical. this is forever now. >> i have a great partner. we have been together three years. we take care of each other and have each other's back. we can do it legally now >> reporter: the white house was lit up in pride friday night. >> you are joined in marriage as wife and wife. you may kiss your bride. >> reporter: as they celebrate the possibility of new financial advantages. same-sex couples are eligible forex panned social security benefits. couples will be allowed to file joint federal tax forms. and most insured medical plans will cover same-sex spouses and it creates an easier path to adoption. >> the bottom line is many places prefer to places children with married couples. suddenly we have a lot more opportunity to have married couples. >> reporter: meanwhile, the ruling has become a lightning rod with democra

>> kristen welker thank you. >>> the massive hack into government personnel record is more serious than we were told. some of the stolen data was from diplomats and other workers with security clearances who deal with nuclear and trade secrets. investigators told congress that china's government appears to be behind it as nbc first reported last week. >>> we're now learning more about what may have been going through the mind of the germanwings co-pilot that intentionally crashed a plane. he caught help from dozens of doctors in the years leading up to the moment when he kill the himself and 149 others aboard his plane. our bill neely reports. >> reporter: andres' victims are coming home students honored with roses, the pain still raw here but is not clear is why lubitz killed him. the french prosecutor said he found evidence lubitz saw 41 different doctors over five years with seven visits in his final month including three to a psychiatrist. by then said the prosecutor lubitz was fighting depression doubling doses of anti-depressants and sleeping only two hours a night and he claimed

kristen welker is joining us.ance and kuwait? >> reporter: alex good afternoon. there's no doubt that what happened yesterday overseas has raised fresh concerns but jell jens officials say this new information about a possible threat on july 4 came about prior to those attacks. intelligence officials telling nbc news the july 4 threat is "based on both intelligence and analysis but sources wouldn't get into details. they do stress however, alex and this is an important point, that there is no known specific plot at this point in time. it comes against the backdrop of one of the isis leaders calling for increased attacks worldwide. certainly there is no concern given that. but if you talk to expert, they say this is a new normal. we know isis is is trying to recruit people online through social media. this is something the obama administration has been focused on. they're trying to counter those messages. also concern about lone wohls. isis followers and sympathizers who might try to carry out attacks here and in o

joining me now from des moines iowa is kristen welker. , what are you hearing from folks on the ground? a lot of action happening in that state. >> reporter: a lot of action happening in this state, that is for sure richard. look, it is still early. but iowans tell me they are paying attention. hundreds of people lined up to hear hillary clinton speak today. she will take the podium in just a few moments. i can tell you, there are still a lot of undecideds. we went to a diner just down the block in where i'm standing right now. a lot of folks there saying they're paying attention but still open to hear from the candidates. the issues this ecare about most, the economy, the middle class. here's what one voter told me today. >> keep in contact with the middle class. keep in contact with those who are struggling. also the immigration, you know people who are here that want to make a life for themselves. i think there's a big need to focus on them. >> reporter: now, of course the stakes could not be higher for hillary clinton here in iowa. she

nbc's kristen welker joins us live now. kristen, are there any new details from the wh >> reporter: well it's back to the drawing board for president obama and lawmakers on capitol hill to take a step back. here's exactly what happened. the house voted on two pieces of legislation today that were essentially linked. they both had to pass in order to give president obama fast track authority to secure that broader trade deal that landmark trade deal that was a key priority for his second term. democrats torpedoed one of those pieces of legislation, essentially handing president obama a major defeat. this was such a stinging defeat, in part, because leader nancy pelosi came out and said she was opposed to this piece of legislation, which was a surprise to a lot of people. by all indications heading into today's votes, people on both sides of pennsylvania avenue thought that she was going to support it. it was also a stinging defeat because we saw this unprecedented outreach by president obama. met with democrats on capitol hil

nbc's white house correspondent kristen welker has the very latest. kristen, you can look again, we talk about the famous names in washington who reached out and said their thoughts and prayers are with the biden family but social media over the weekend, people from all over reaching out. >> it really is. this is something that's tragic for people all across the country. we know vice president biden is at his home in delaware with his family today, as the political world and people all across the country are mourning beau biden, who was taken far too soon. a grieving vice president biden called his son beau the finest man any of us have ever known. a special father-son bond that was clear to everyone. >> my friend my father my hero. >> born in 1969 beau was often by his father's side growing up but he became a politician in his own right, a decorated iraq war veteran, who was twice elected as delaware's attorney general, but family came first. >> this is an incredible loss. beau was an extraordinary person. >> the grief gripped washington where lawmake

trade deal has been knocked off its fast track ahead on news4 at 5, nbc white house correspondent kristen welkerlive on what happens next. >>> a fire forced a northern virginia family out of their home, a mom, dad, their 11 kids homeless. that was until their school and church put out the word. >> we didn't know the family well, we have seen them in the church and in the community and my gut, just like hers said it is the right thing to do. >> military family used to making sacrifices stepped up big time to help out. you are going to see what they have done to keep the family of 13 together and to help other members of the community reaching out tonight. that's if you join me next on news4 at 5. pat? >> looking intoed to it. >> thanks david. >>> we continue to follow a developing story in new york. a woman who is accused of helping two killers escape from prison is expected to be arrested shortly. >> what prosecutors are saying >>> a freak accident has taken a terrible toll in a small farming up to in australia. police believe a trucker had a heart attack or stroke before he slammed into pro-pai

kristen welker is there. how close is the president watching this? >> very closely.sident, top officials here at the white house,itoring the reaction to the shooting in south carolina. we anticipate we will get at least a paper statement from president obama at some point this morning. all of this comes as the justice department announced just moments ago it was open up an investigation, a hate crimes investigation into the shooting in south carolina. just to give you a little bit of an update on the investigation, jose federal officials say that they have identified a number of subjects who they are pursuing who could be possible suspects in this case. they are getting that information from surveillance video, from tips that have been pouring in. we know that there are experts who are trying to enhance the surveillance video. the fbi, federal officials say that the suspect sat in church last night for at least an hour before opening fire. so there are a number of witnesses who are helping them with this investigation. now, state officials have the lead in this inves

joining me now to run through the numbers, nbc news white house correspondent kristen welker.g takeaways from the poll? >> reporter: good afternoon, alex. one of the big takeaways is jeb bush is standing among republican primary voters has increased. according to primary voters 75% say they could support jeb bush for president. that is up from 70% in april. so welcome news from the bush campaign. in second place, marco rubio close behind with 74%. mike huckabee drops a little bit at 65%. then you have scott walker and rick perry. another takeaway here alex the person who gets the worst numbers, donald trump, 66% say they can't envision supporting him for president. he just announced his presidency, or his candidacy earlier this week. a couple of other numbers for you, alex on the issue of wealth. 12% of voters say that wealthy candidates is a top concern. and then i just want to circle back to the number that you pointed out, only 4% of voters say candidates from presidential dynasties is a top concern. this is going to be very welcome news to jeb bush hillary clinton, a lot o

jose. >> kristen welker at the white house, thank you very much. we'll be keeping a very close watchoon that. >> also developing news on the terror plot to kill boston police officers. the fbi has arrested a second man in connection to that plot. officials say necklace ruvinsky of rhode island was aware of plans by usama rahim to carry out attacks with knives. rahim was shot to death last week by police and fbi agents seeking to question him. police and the fbi searched the home for several days last week and took him in for questioning. he was arrested last week and we expect charges to be announced any minute. pete williams will join me with more on this story as soon as the charges are unveiled. >>> now to what's shaping up to be an important weekend in presidential politics. hillary clinton is gearing up for her campaign's ceremonial kickoff. reports say she'll evoke franklin roosevelt, but her speech not expected to focus on policy but her personal story. half a dozen republicans are heading west in hopes of a gold rush. mitt romney is hosting

kristen welker is at the white house for us. good morning. jim, let's start with you. what is the plan they are discussing? >> well first of all, some officials that we've talked to senior military and diplomatic officials are saying when the president says the strategy is a work in progress they say that he gets that mixed up with the plans are a work in progress that the strategy is still pretty much the same to train, equip and advise the iraqi military in terms of how to take on isis. now, within that strategy there are still some uncertainties about exactly how to do that. we expect to hear later today that some 400 to 500 additional u.s. forces to train, advise and equip the iraqis will be sent to a base already outside of ramadi and it's much like the al assad air base on the opposite side of ramadi. so they should be able to have it iraqi freshly trained and equipped iraqi forces on both sides of ramadi. but again, that training itself and equipping itself can take as long as six weeks, jose. >> jim, we're looking at the map as you're discussing and telling us

>> kristen welker is live at the white house. good morning. how is the white house responding to criticism that the strategy is simply too little too late? >> jose good morning to you. senior administration officials are pushing back against that criticism. they note that the 450 advisers are not only there to help train and assist iraqi forces but more broadly, to boost recruitment and also morale a lot of the president's top military advisers have questioned the morale of the iraqi forces. john earnest got a lot of questions about this yesterday. he also noted that president obama hasn't taken off the table the possibility of sending in more troops in the coming months, and he also is open to the possibility of adding spotters, those who would call in airstrikes. now, i also asked earnest about the criticism from some democrats that this is an indication of mission creep. he pushed back and said look the president is adamant there's not going to be a large u.s. troop presence on the ground and he stressed the fact these advisers are there in

nbc's kristen welker is live at the white house with more. >> that's right. one of this week's headlines could have been a monumental part of this president's legacy. but taken together they form an unforgettable chapter in history. images that punctuate a legacy-defining week. an outpouring of emotion at the supreme court. the white house glowing in a rainbow of pride late friday night. while earlier in the day, in south carolina the president helping to heal a community and a nation. >> to the families of the fallen the nation shares in your grief. >> this could be remembered as the week that really set president obama's legacy into stone. >> a stunning turn of events for a president who has been locked in a bitter battle with republicans. but this week it was republicans who helped secure major victories for him. a bipartisan deal on trade. chief justice john roberts, a bush appointee upholding obamacare for a second time. >> the affordable care act is here to stay. >> and the supreme court legalizing same-sex marriage. a landmark moment. >> today we can s

first let's check in with kristen welker she joins us from the brady briefing room. kristen, there is a lot of talk about what this 450 additional troop members going into iraq means. the way it's been described, train, advise assist but not combat. >> reporter: that's absolutely right, thomas. senior administration officials stressing that during a phone call with reporters, that those 450 troops will be there to train, advise and assist iraqi forces. they won't be in a combat role. they are there to try to get particularly sunni fighters in shape to be able to combat isis fighters. a little bit of background about how this all came about. this was at the recommendation of iraqi prime minister. president obama had the unanimous support of his top military advisers his national security team particularly after the fall of ramadi that key city. so those troops will be sent to the anbar province which is where ramadi is located. the general region. they will be there again to try to get sunni fighters on board. as you point out, the president's strategy has come under a

>> nbc's kristen welker is traveling with hillary in south carolina and nbc senior political editor mark murray is tracking jeb's movements today. first we'll start with kristen. you are on the site of clinton's event, the next one in south carolina. set the scene. who's supposed to be there today, kristen? >> reporter: well clinton is reaching out to young voters this afternoon, thomas. her focus is on the youth, reaching out to those voters who were so important to the obama coalition who helped sweep him into the white house, who she needs if she wants to win the white house today here at a technical college in north charleston. she's going to be unveiling a plan that would give businesses a $1500 tax break for every apprentice they hire. this is something that needs congressional approval but it does have some bipartisan support. so why is she doing this? if you look at the national unemployment rate, it's at about 5.5%, but the youth unemployment rate is far higher close to 8% thomas. this is something that young voters really care about. i'm also told she's going to get personal to

erica, craig, back to you. >> kristen welker this morning. thank you. >> cornell brooks is president and ceo of the naacp. he joins us from memphis this morning. mr. brooks, good morning to you, sir. >> good morning. >> you've said that this was "not merely a mass shooting, not merely a matter of gun violence this was a racial hate crime and must be confronted as such." how should we do that? >> well when we think about the fact that we have a pastor in a church and african-americans who were targeted this was not an accident of geography. it was a church an african-american church, as opposed to a mall or a school. we have to confront it as a racial hate crime. the fact that this young man wore the insignia of rhodesia and pre-nelson mandela apartheid south africa. this is symbolism and the trappings of white nationalism. so by regarding it as a hate crime, looking at the underlying racial ugliness of this we go beyond merely prosecuting and investigating this individual to examining thoroughly from whence did come this violence. we have to

nbc news' white house correspondent kristen welker joins us.reporter: steve, they do. senior administration officials believe this was president obama's best week in office. this was a legacy defining week. key priorities upheld and defended. one of the fascinating aspects this is a president who was locked in bitter battles with republicans since taking office and it was republicans who helped him secure some of these victories. that bipartisan deal for fast track authority to get the trade deal done it was chief justice john roberts who is a bush appointee who helped to uphold obamacare. so that's really one of the interesting things about all of these victories that we are seeing steve. more broadly, though this really moves the conversation, i think, further to the left in 2016. this is a more progressive agenda and something that 2016 candidates are going to have to contend with. and that could create some new challenges particularly for republicans. when you take the issue same-sex marriage, for example. republicans coming out, unified in

nbc's kristen welker shows us how it's a decision that is already having a wide-ranging impact, from courthouses to the campaign trail. >> reporter: with same-sex marriage now legal, gay pride celebrations took on new meaning, from cincinnati -- >> the fact that we can celebrate together and there are no barriers. >> reporter: -- to san francisco. >> it's like we're on a level playing field now. >> historical. like, forever. this is forever now. >> reporter: the white house lit up in pride friday night as couples across the country rushed to make it official. >> you are joined in marriage as wife and wife. you may kiss your brides. >> reporter: and they are celebrating the possibility of new financial advantages. same-sex couples are now eligible for expanded social security benefits which could add tens of thousands of dollars. couples will be allowed to file joint federal tax returns, often lowering taxes. and most fully insured medical plans will cover same-sex spouses, and it creates an easier path to adoption. >> the bottom line is that many places prefer to place children with

i'm kristen welker filling in for andrea mitchell who is in vienna. we will check in with her if n. a few minutes. first, top story, after three weeks of round the clock searching the manhunt for two escaped prisoners in upstate new york is over. convicted killer david sweat has been upgraded to serious condition this hour at a hospital in albany where he was taken after being shot and churd sunday by an alert police officer just over a mile from the canadian border. joining me now from albany is nbc's miguel almaguer. tell me how the dramatic events all unfolded and what's the very latest there today? >> kristen, as you mentioned, david sweat was just upgraded in to serious conditions. doctors are adding it appears as of right now he does not need any surgeries. he was brought here shot twice in the torso yesterday. he was rushed to this hospital first airlifted and then driven by ambulance on scene here. investigators say their investigation is still very flu i'd at this time. they have not been able to sit down and talk to david sweat. officials here at the hospital are protectin

joining me with that story, nbc news white house correspondent kristen welker. kristen, good afternoon to you. we hear so much about these national conversations but it seems like the politics of guns in america feels insurmountable at times. >> it is the politics are so tough, alex. for all of the anger and sorrow in washington right now, there still seems to be very little appetite to take action legislatively. president obama who, of course once vowed to change washington has on this issue, like many others seemingly resigned himself to the fact that change just might be impossible. as the nation comes to grips with another mass shooting president obama is expressing his outrage. >> every country has violent, hateful or mentally unstable people. what's different is not every country is awash with easily accessible guns. >> even jon stewart channels his remarks. >> i have nothing but sadness that once again we have to peer into the abyss of the depraved violence we do for-to-each other. >> still, the president seems resigned to the reality. there's little chanc

. >> let's go live to the white house, kristen welker. oming from there this morning. >> well jose it's just devastating. vice president biden is at his home in delaware mourning privately with his family. meanwhile, condolences pouring in from the political world and all across the country. a grieving vice president biden called his son beau "the finest man any of us have ever known." a special father-son bond that was clear to everyone. >> my friend my father my hero. >> reporter: born in 1969 beau was often by his father's side growing up but he became a politician in his own right, a decorated iraq war veteran twice elected as delaware's attorney general, but family came first. >> this was an incredible loss beau was an extraordinary person. >> reporter: the grief gripped washington. >> i'd just like to express my sincere condolences to the entire biden family. >> i think about life cut too short. >> reporter: the obamas also paid their respects traveling to biden's home in a smaller than usual all-black motorcade. the president said b

nbc's kristen welker is following this story from the white house. good morning to you. >> reporter: savannah, good morning to you. that's right, according to a top official here at the white house, the obama administration is considering sending hundreds of u.s. military trainers to iraq to help the iraqis defeat isis. one official tells me the number of new trainers under consideration is less than 500. this new strategy comes after iraqi forces have suffered a number of defeats in recent weeks, including the fall of ramadi, a key city. while meeting with world leaders in germany earlier this week, president obama signal that he was considering a range of options to help train and equip iraqi forces. the administration will likely announce its final decision in the coming days. >> we want to ask you about another story in the headlines this morning. nbc confirmed there are new secret service agents working there behind you at the white house compound who don't yet have their national security clearances. what is this all about? >> reporter: well, s

nbc white house correspondent kristen welker has that part of the story. >> good morning. it has been called a hate crime. from flying near the state ous. new comments from president obama on race this morning are getting 'tension. the president spoke about the country's history of racial tension with comedian mark marin on his podcast in an interview taped on friday. listen are. listen. >> the legacy of slavery, jim crow discrimination in almost every institution of our lives, that casts a long is ashadow. that's still part of our dna. that's passed on. we are cured of it. >> racism. >> racism. we are not cured of, clearly. it's not just a matter of it not being polite to say [ bleep ] in public. that's not the measure of whether racism still exists or not. it's not just a matter of overt discrimination. we have -- societies don't overnight completely erase everything that happened two to three hundred years prior. >> clearly strong language there. president obama has addressed race several times during his campaign and presidency. he's never used the highly charged n-wor

let's go over to my colleague kristen welker at the white house. ements. yes, it was emotional, but there was this sort of edge to him, a frustration. >> reporter: a frustration and anger, chuck, we heard from president obama. he did speak as you say in deeply personal terms, talked about the fact he and the first lady know many members of the ame church including reverend pinchny, of coursepinchny who was killed and spoke about the nation shifting its thinkinging when it comes to gun violence. you recall back in 2012 in the aftermath of the sandy hook shooting he e pressed for stiffer gun laws that didn't come to pass. this is the first time we've heard him revisit that language and significant he was joined by the vice president who recently suffered his own personal tragedy and led the fight for new gun laws. chuck? >> kristen welker thanks very much. >>> of course we'll have a lot more on what's going on in charleston. we'll be on the scene in charleston all over this story. stay tuned for the "nbc nightly news" at 6:30 tonight on your local nbc

nbc's kristen welker is following the story from the white house. good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning to you. that's right. according to a top official at the white house, the obama administration isser considering sending hundreds of u.s. military trainers to iraq to help the iraqis defeat isis. one official tells me the number of new trainers under consideration is less than 500. this new strategy comes after iraqi forces have suffered a number of defeats in recent weeks including the fall of ramadi a key city. president obama signalled he was considering a range of options to further help train and equip iraqi forces. they will likely have a decision in the coming days. savannah? >> i want to ask you about another story in the headlines. nbc confirmed new secret service agents working who don't yet have their national security clearances. what's this all about? >> reporter: well savannah here is the latest. according to a secret service fish clancy became aware that as many as four to five dozen agents have been posted in century sensi

here's nbc's white house correspondent kristen welker. >> reporter: since announcing her candidacy, hillary clinton has been dogged by questions about her use of a private e-mail account while serving as secretary of state. >> i have said repeatedly i want those e-mails out. nobody has a bigger interest in getting them released than i do. >> reporter: and this morning, fresh scrutiny after the state department confirms some e-mails were missing from the materials she turned over to lawmakers investigating the 2012 attack in benghazi. special committee chairman trey gowdy said the revelation these messages were not originally produced to the state department by clinton is significant and troubling. clinton campaign officials are pushing back saying clinton has handed over all of her work-related e-mails saying she has turned over 55,000 pamges of materials. the revelation surfaced thursday when the state department confirmed that it was missing all or part of 15 e-mails that had been turned over to congressional investigators by longtime clinton confidante sidney blumenthal. blumenthal who h

. >> kristen welker at the white house. >> we were all watching the funeral service yesterday when the president broke into song. everyone had the same look on their face like really? >> is this really happening? >> the president singing? >> you were outside in charleston. did they join in? >> oh yeah. hundreds of people in the streets that could not get into the church. >>> the deadline getting closer for a nuclear deal with iran. >> it's a busy time isn't it? >> john kerry is holding key negotiations with iranian officials today with next week's deadline looming on a nuclear deal. the fwo sides are now meeting in vienna. they're trying to overcome obstacles involving issues including monitoring and the lifting of sakes. earlier this week iran's supreme leader rejected a long-time freeze on nuclear research. >>> in alaska recovery teams have reached the remote location of a plane crash that killed nine people on a sightseeing trip. official advisory now identified the passengers from the holland america cruise ship who had

we should also know nbc kristen welker pointed out he has used it in the past as well, notably in his book "dreams of my father," talking about experiences he and his father have had over the years with dealing with issues of racism. josh earnest just then saying as you point out that the president does not regret this and saying that using something like this is not an evaluation or -- i'm sorry, evaluating whether or not this country is still grappling with racism is not an evaluation of manner which he seemed to be categorizing that "n" word in that particular vein. very interest to think whole way for the president to address this, if you think about even this podcast itself the name of the podcast obviously uses a word that we also would not use on television. >> yes. >> the president himself -- >> we know the acronym. >> we do know the acronym of the podcast. >> we do. but the president himself in the interview remarking he never expected to be doing an interview in a garage around the corner from where he was going to college himself, thomas. >> kasie, with the politics of the