thanks for watching, everyone i'm lester holt.elf and each other. >>> right now at 6:00 pulling the emergency brake. governor newsom move to get ahead of the new surge of coronavirus. >> it's the fastest increase california has seen since the beginning of the pandemic. >> the new restrictions for the bay area and beyond. >> a new storm rolls in for tomorrow. i'm tracking exactly when that rain arrives. >> with that rain on the way a new fear setting in for the neighborhoods in our recent fire zone. >> we were at the edge of the evacuation zone. there was enough tension that around our neighborhood. >> the work that they're doing now to prevent flooding in these next couple months. >> the news at 6:00 starts now. good evening. thapgs for being with us on this monday. >> from bad to worse. the number of covid cases rising more sharply than we have seep before. more people getting sick, more people being admitted to the hospital. we'll tell you how some hospitals are preparing for the surge. >> so with cases climbing so fast, governo

. >> lester holt is next. we'll see you at 6:00. >>> tonight growing concern that president trump's blocking of the transition could threaten national security the president ordering a significant drawdown of u.s. troops in afghanistan and iraq and considering a strike in iran before president-elect joe biden takes office the fears the rocky transition could leave the u.s. open to aggression and just as the announcement is made the rocket attack in baghdad's green zone biden meantime receiving a national security briefing today but not from government officials and the moment on the senate floor the fist bump caught on camera. is it a sign the gop is accepting biden's victory? just in, the top republican senator third in line to the presidency testing positive for covid the staggering surge now in all 50 states the new crackdowns ohio ordering a three-week curfew. mobile morgues manned by inmates in texas. and our interview with the u.s. testing chief. we ask why are the lines so long this far into the pandemi

there was an interview with lester holt. take a look at some of that. >> this lineup, those you selected so far, a lot of familiar faces among them. what do you say to those who are wondering if you're trying to create a third obama term? >> this is not a third obama term because we face a totally different world than we faced in the obama/biden administration. howie: gayle, joe biden gets a lot of soft balls from reporters but did lester holt at least press him on a couple of things. >> this interview is a perfect example of my earlier point. lester holt was asking him things like are you going to appoint far leftists like elizabeth warren and bernie sanders and biden demurred. he was asked if he was going to purchase you sue investigations at the federal level against donald trump and biden deflected that and he said that the state investigations will continue. and i think this interview by lester holt shows that the mainstream media does not love biden's picks and they are egging him on to the left and you're going to see

he told lester holt discussions are under way to meet with the white house covid team. >> i think we're not going to be so behind the curve as we thought we might be in the past. >> reporter: president trump allowing them to move ahead even as he keeps fighting in the court. he's celebrating a new wall street record and talking about the vaccine. president trump making know mention of another sacred number, the more than 260,000 american lives lost to covid-19 as the virus surges unchecked. in washington, ali barce nbc news >> and as the nation continues to be haunted by the coronavirus which is spreading rapidly throughout the country, today over 12.5 million americans have been inspected and over 250,000 have died according to an nbc news tally currently 47 states have seen spikes in cases. the news comes as health and human services secretary azar has confirmed the first doses of the coronavirus vaccine are on track to be deployed by the end of the year, this as millions are lining up at food banks ahead of thanksgiving. >> reporter: in miami this morning an incredible demonstration

. >> lester holt is next with "nightly news." >>> tonight joe biden appearing closer to victory in the race for president. biden seizing the lead from donald trump in two critical battlegrounds. pennsylvania biden's birthplace, will it be the state that puts him over the top in georgia the tight race likely headed to a recount. the narrowing path to 270, what will it take for him to win and will we hear from biden tonight? >>> the president defiant. plans to concede insiders say his false claims about voter fraud and the new legal challenges, asking the supreme court to intervene in pennsylvania. >>> and the growing number of republicans breaking away calling the president's claims dangerous. >>> counting the mail-in vote why it is taking so long and why some states couldn't even start counting certain ballots until today. >>> another stunning coronavirus record, more than 120,000 cases in the u.s. for the second day in a row. the new cdc report, how much masks and stay-at-home orders have reduced the spread. and the new warning ahead of the holidays. >>> al roker revealing his prostat

. >> lester holt is next. we'll see you at 6:00. >>> tonight the coronavirus skyrocketing to new records and now the major u.s. city issuing a new stay-at-home advisory. chicago urging residents not to leave their homes unless it's absolutely essential. crackdowns happening from coast to coast. california surpassing 1 million recorded cases today. long lines for testing in connecticut detroit schools halting in-person learning inside a covid ward bracing for a tsunami of new patients. >>> plus the new warning abou traveling with your children for thanksgiving >>> and as the pandemic worsens, president trump is staying silent on the pandemic and is his red wall among the gop beginning to crack >>> president-elect joe biden pushing forward with the transition the new chief of staff he's named, plus your first look inside barack obama's new presidential memoir. >>> deadly impact as tropical storm eta strikes the u.s. again. plus the second system also causing flooding. hundreds rescued. >>> the plane crashing int

"nightly news" with lester holt is next. >>> tonight the grim milestone in the coronavirus crisis but new hope for a vaccine. the staggering toll the u.s. topping 250,000 deaths hospitalizations at record levels. our team in the red zone where the white house warns the spread is unyielding and exponential. it comes as pfizer announces its final vaccine results are even better than expected 95% effective. the company applying for fda authorization within days. plus, the first at-home test approved. is it a game changer >>> the major setback for the nation's largest school district why new york city is shutting down in-person learning again. >>> after two crashes that killed 346 people, boeing 737 max now cleared to fly again. what to do if you're booked on one but don't feel safe flying. >>> president trump accused of a national security purge, new fallout after he fired the cyber security chief whose agency called the election the most secure in american history. the republicans now speaking out >>> president-elect joe biden's dire new warning about the vaccine rollout. >>> the rush t

thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt.e take care of yourself and each other. >>> right now at 6:00, the countdown is on. just 26 hours until the polls close here in the bay area. a lot of energy this evening. a trump rally in the east bay, and they have a message to voters. >>> plus business owners across the bay area boarding up and bracing for what may come. >> it just takes one bad apple. that's really what it is. >> the promise one city is making to the people who live there. >>> and a bold move. san jose unified school districts say it's ready to welcome kids back to campus. we'll show you what has to happen before those schools can reopen the doors. >>> the news at 6:00 starts right now. good evening and thanks for being with us. i'm raj mathai. >> i'm jessica aguirre. janelle wang is also with us. >> raj and jessica, as we wind down to election day, the voting winds down around the country. the drive-thru voting in texas, the conservative court ruled against republicans. we talk to a stanford law professor and how

listen to what biden told lester holt about that. >> immediately we've gotten outreach from, from the national security shop. already working on a meeting with the covid team in the white house. i think we're going to not be so far behind the curve, as we thought we might be in the past, and there's a lot of immediate discussion and -- and i must say, the outreach has been sincere. >> have you had any conversations with president trump post-election about, you know, paving the way for this transition to happen? >> no, i have not heard anything from president trump. >> reporter: so, chris, biden has not spoken to president trump, but that doesn't mean there's been no outreach between the west wing right now and the west fwhing waiting. biden said his incoming chief of staff mark meadows -- ron klain connected with the current white house chief of staff mark meadows and we learned this morning klain has been in kuch wi touchky dr. anthony fauci. eager to talk to but not able to until when the gsa ascertained their way. >> so, ali, talk a little about what's coming next. potential picks

thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. to take care of yourself and each other it's not easy now with this pandemic. second harvest makes me really really happy. meatballs, mexican rice, chicken enchiladas, and mole. for almost twenty years. *speaking in spanish >>> good evening from nbc news decision 2020 welcome tonight three of the night coverage. doesn't make any sense. we are expecting new numbers out of arizona as vote counting continues in several battleground states tonight. >> stop me if you've heard this one before. this is an election like no other. so many mail-in votes, taking days to count them on the road to 270 electoral

. >>> just ahead here, lester holt's exclusive interview with president-elect joe biden how he planso take on the coronavirus from day one. >>> and later, the next 99 days. a closer look at the biden administration's ambitious goals for the first 100 days in office. you're watching msnbc. how much you'll need, and build a straightforward plan to generate income, even when you're not working. a plan that gives you the chance to grow your savings and create cash flow that lasts. along the way, we'll give you ways to be tax efficient. and you can start, stop or adjust your plan at any time without the unnecessary fees. talk to us today, so we can help you go from saving...to living. this was the theater i came to quite often. the support we've had over the last few months has been amazing. it's not just a work environment. everyone here is family. if you are ready to open your heart and your home, check us out. we thought for sure that we were done. and this town said: not today. ♪ everyone thinks their way is the right way.mes to laundry,today. i wash on delicate. i just stuff everythi

who has now folded and biden doing his first interview as president elect now talking with nbc's lester holt about this very breakthrough. >> immediately, we got out reach from the national security shop, just across the board. so i think we're going to not be so far behind the curve, as we thought we might be in the past, and there's a lot of immediate discussion and i must say the out reach has been sincere. it's not been begrudging so far and i don't expect it to be. so yes, it's already begun. >> news there in that new interview. biden pressing forward capping people for the national security team including veterans from the obama biden administration. that's for a range of top posts as well as a newly recreated climate envoy. it a key place new administrations tend to begin. extra work given the many programs and alliances that they believe donald trump systematically attacked. it's worth membering maremember these are key issues with unr unilateral control. >> i'm establishing new vetting measures to keep radical islamic terrorists out of the united states. it's time to exit the paris.

it was just to remind you how refreshed you should feel at what you will hear in lester holt's interview with joe biden, which is sanity from beginning to end. here's what president-elect biden told lester holt about the first full day of the transition being officially under way. >> we've gotten outreach from -- from the national security shop, from just across the board. and they're already working out my ability to get presidential daily briefs. we're already working out meeting with the covid team in the white house. and how to not only distribute but get from a vaccine being distributed to a person being able to get vaccinated. >> think about that, america. now someone will actually be reading the president's daily brief. something donald trump has refused to do because it involves reading. >> have you had any conversations with president trump post-election about, you know, paving the way for this transition to happen? any back channel communications? >> no. i believe that his chief of staff and my chief of staff have spoken, but, no, i have not heard anything from president trump.

thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt.e to take care of yourself and each other good night >>> raising eyebrows and setting off alarms. >> it is not completely clear exactly what is driving this sharp surge that we're seeing wherever. >> the covid-19 surge has doctor sending out a message about the upcoming holidays. >> temperatures continue to drop. i'll have details on the freeze warning and chances of rain. >> president trump is not ready to concede. neither are many supporters. who are fighting to the end. >> the news starts now. good evening. thanks for joining us. >> 90% effective. that simple phrase changed the trajectory of wall street today and had medical professionals all over the u.s. cautiously optimistic. pfizer said today about its clinical trial phase 3 with the vaccine. that vaccine now is 90% effective. what that means for the rest of us and how quickly we'll all be able to get that immunization. >> thanks so much. it's exactly what south bay businesses do not want to hear when it comes to the pandemic. w

join lester holt, savannah guthrie, chuck and andrea. the whole team, nbc political team, as all the developments unfold. we are going to go until 9:00 p.m. or later if needed. we're going to be back with a special edition then of our newscast at 10:00 tonight and then again at 11:00 p.m. >>> outrage in east contra costa county tonight after a supporter of president trump hung an effigy of joe biden with a rope and noose from his brentwood home. the display has both angered and frightened neighbors. and while the man has taken the mannequin down at the request of police, neighbors say more needs to be done, and they've gathered to protest tonight. nbc bay area's jodi hernandez joins us in brentwood. i can see that protest going on behind you already, jodi. >> reporter: that's right. people have actually been out here protesting all day, but their numbers are growing by the minute. you can see them here with their signs. they've been honking horns. music is playing. i'm going to show you this is the house that they are so upset about over

i'm lester holt. please take care of >>> hello, everyone. we are seeing our first race results of the night. georgia and south carolina. they're right now too early to ll. good evening, everyone. welcome to nbc news election headquarters. live coverage of election night 2020. it is finally here. >> yeah. the polls are already closing around the country. here's what we'll be watching. first the fight between donald trump and joe biden for those crucial battleground states that will decide the election

transition which just got under way during an exclusive interview with "nbc nightly news" anchor lester holt. >> i think we're going to not be so far behind the curve as we thought we might be in the past. and there's a lot of immediate discussion. and i must say, the outreach has been sincere, it's not been begrudging so far, and i don't expect it to be. >> president trump has no events on his schedule after participating in the turkey pardoning ceremony and giving brief remarks on the stock market tuesday without taking any questions from the white house press corps. he has not spoken to the press corps or answered questions since election day. the justice department meanwhile is declining to comment on reports that the president may pardon disgraced and convicted former national security officer mike flynn. ali have i tvitali, the preside is going to speak later today about thanksgiving, i guess. >> reporter: yeah, thanksgiving address here in wilmington, delaware from the president-elect now. the focus of these remarks is twofold. to talk to americans about the sacrifices that many of th

lester holt, symbolic of just about every other liberal in the mainstream media. good nations like fox the readings increases that are fair and balanced but it is unfortunate and lester holt was being sincere in expressing sincere thoughts. it shows a consistent pattern of hypocrisy on the hands of the liberal media. >> jim jordan demanding an investigation of election irregularities, the president's legal team, i'm sure you watched it, they have serious allegations, massive well-funded coordinated efforts, a centralized plan of voter fraud but a lot of people saying they haven't seen that hard evidence yet. i know trump's legal team saying this is an opening statement but time is running out. we are approaching deadlines for state certification. what are you expecting now? >> there was a report prior to the election. we try to get a committee hearing before the election, democrats turned a blind eye, we see countless irregularities. and and over the past two years, and democrats, saying the president was an illiterate president. we have solid proof, half of ameri

thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other.ave a great weekend good night ♪ ♪ i walked across an empty land ♪ ♪ i knew the pathway like the back of my hand ♪ ♪ i felt the earth beneath my feet ♪ ♪ sat by the river and it made me complete ♪ ♪ i came across a fallen tree ♪ i felt the branches of it looking at me ♪ ♪ is this the place we used to love ♪ ♪ is this the place that i've been dreaming of ♪ ♪ oh simple thing where have you gone ♪ ♪ i'm getting old and i need something to rely on ♪ ♪ so tell me when you're gonna let me in ♪ ♪ i'm getting tired and i need somewhere to begin ♪

travel warnings and food banks have trouble keeping up >> announcer: this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt reporting tonight from wilmington, delaware >>> good evening from wilmington, where a short time ago president-elect joe biden sat down with me for his first post-election interview where he discussed among other things the official presidential transition now finally under way tonight, whether he would support investigations of donald trump after he leaves office, and how his administration plans to distribute covid vaccines to millions of americans. we met at wilmington's queen theater, where just an hour or so earlier the president-elect introduced several of his key cabinet and national security team picks, which include some familiar faces. and that's where our half hour-long conversation began >> the team meets this moment, this team behind me. >> you announced some key members of your cabinet today, a very experienced group, a very diverse group clearly you're trying to send a message. can you articulate what that message is >> america's back. we're at the head of the table onc

thanks for watching, everyone i'm lester holt.f and each ♪ ♪ maybe someday i'll be strong ♪ ♪ maybe it won't be long ♪ i'll be the one who's tough ♪ you'll be the one who's got it rough ♪ ♪ it won't be long and ♪ maybe i'll be real strong ♪ maybe i'll do things right ♪ maybe i'll start tonight ♪ you'll learn to cry like me ♪ baby let's just wait and see ♪ maybe i'll start tonight ♪ and do things right ♪ you'll control me ♪ oh so boldly ♪ rule me 'til i'm free ♪ 'til the pain that shakes me ♪ finally makes me ♪ get up off of my knees ♪ yeah yeah yeah yeah

thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. please continue to take care of yourself and each other >> bonnie: ooh, whee! don't you look all fancy with your hair done up so nice? >> jennifer: hello, bonnie. >> bonnie: ha. well, i'm guessing you're all fadoodled up for your anniversary, right? well, i just hope you and jack have a...have a lovely celebration. >> jennifer: i'm sorry. how did you know it was our anniversary? >> bonnie: well, justin. he told me. [soft, contemplative music] ♪ >> jack: hey. y-you got a minute? >> justin: yeah, yeah. something i can do for you? >> jack: uh... damn it, i'm no good at this. >> justin: "good"? at what? >> jack: i-i came to talk to you. >> justin: okay. >> jack: [sighs] on the way over, i was--i was trying to figure out how to start, and i-i figured i would, you know, be all casual and everything and then... then i walked in, and i... i saw you looking at her picture. i'm sorry. justin, i'm really sorry.

. >> announcer: this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt >>> good evening, everyone with the worstays of the pandemic believed to be ahead of us, americans are facing some tough decisions in the coming weeks about travel and family gatherings. no one giving it more thought than dr. anthony fauci, who opened up to us today about his own tough choices as well as his desire to remain on the job after running afoul of the president. in his one-on-one interview with andrea mitchell the nation's best-known infectious disease doctor also offered what may be his most upbeat assessment about a covid vaccine. here is andrea's report >> reporter: dr. anthony fauci says data on the pfizer vaccine are impressive and the fda could approve its emergency use in weeks >> by the time we get into december, we'll be able to have doses available for people who are judged to be at the highest priority to get it first. >> reporter: but distributing the two-dose vaccine, stored at subzero temperatures, to millions of americans is complicated >> we anticipate, although there are logistic challenges, that i

thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. ♪ there's a little moonlight ♪ dancing on the sand ♪ there's a warm breeze blowing by the ocean as you're taking my ♪ ♪ hand ♪ you need to know where i'm standing now ♪ ♪ that i'm right on the edge of giving in to ya ♪ ♪ baby it's a long way down ♪ if i fall can ya let me down easy ♪ ♪ if i leave my heart with you tonight ♪ ♪ will you promise me that you're going to treat it right ♪ ♪ i'm barely hanging on ♪ if i fall can you let me down easy ♪ ♪ i'm barely hanging on

thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. >>> right now at 6:0 putting a pause on fluhots f now. the pay area county where they are solely focussed on testing for the coronavirus. plus business is beware on black friday. >> the violation from $500 up. >> the extra officers on patrol to make sure everyone is following the safety rules. >> new indictments in a widening investigation surrounding the santa clara sheriff office. >> all this quid pro quo. pay to play. give to get. it's illegal. >> the top exec at apple. that is ensnared in the gun permit probe. >> good monday. thanks for joining us. >> we're getting some key updates about where we are in the covid surge. let's talk about that. >> hospital beds are filling up. we have the latest numbers and how the hospitalization rates are impacting you gets the vaccine first. a lot of good information. >> thank you. governor newsom out lining a will the of information about the states current covid surge and the vaccine. detailing how v

. >>> this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. >> good evening. we are watching some of the worse projections about the pandemic come true tonight. at the rate americans are dying from covid in a week or maybe less we'll likely reach the 250,000 mark the daily number of new infections climbing to record levels, more than 70% over the past 2 weeks and while not all will get sick plenty will and plenty are leaving some hospitals looking more like disaster relief centers medical tents handling the overflow of patients, others going to unheard of measures to keep enough staff on hand to meet that surging demand let's begin tonigh with miguel almaguer >> reporter: as the u.s. skyrockets above yet another astonishing single day record for new covid cases, doctors tracking the pandemic since march are equally alarmed by the steady and seemingly unstoppable waves of infections now surging off the charts, with 46 states seeing a rise in cases, today the chicago mayor issued a stay-at-home advisory. >> stay at home unless you must go out for essential reaso

thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt.ase take care of yourself and each other. ♪ ♪ i thought i saw a man brought to life ♪ ♪ he was warm he came around like he was dignified ♪ ♪ he showed me what it was to cry ♪ ♪ well you couldn't be that man i adored ♪ ♪ you don't seem to know or seem to care ♪ ♪ what your heart is for ♪ but i don't know him anymore ♪ there's nothing where he used to lie ♪ ♪ my conversation has run dry ♪ that's what's going on ♪ nothing's fine i'm torn ♪ i'm all out of faith ♪ this is how i feel ♪ i'm cold and i am shamed ♪ lying naked on the floor ♪ illusion never changed ♪ into something real ♪ i'm wide awake and i can see ♪ the perfect sky is torn ♪ i'm all out of faith ♪ this is how i feel ♪ i'm cold and i'm ashamed

i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other.cheers and applause] ♪ ♪ baby tell me where'd you ever learn ♪ ♪ to fight without saying a word ♪ ♪ then waltz back into my life ♪ like it's all gonna be all right ♪ ♪ don't you know how much it hurts ♪ ♪ when we don't talk ♪ when we don't touch ♪ when it doesn't feel like ♪ we're even in love ♪ it matters to me ♪ when i don't know what to say ♪ ♪ don't know what to do ♪ don't know if it really ♪ even matters to you ♪ how can i make you see ♪ oh it matters to me ♪ oh it matters to me ♪ it matters to me

thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other.ave a great weekend good night >>> right now. a dire warning from santa clara county top health official. >> we have had more cases reported than we have ever had. at any other time in the pandemic. >> her message heading into the holiday. and how soon hospitals are on track to reach capacity. >> san francisco could be joining the rest of the bay area in the purple tier. in a matter of days. >> update on a high profile case involving sheriff. >> the way the indictments were being brought by the district attorney seems to suggest they're working up the ladder. >> who is indicted in a widening gun permit probe. >> good evening. >> a lot of new developments at this hour. vaccine trials and teenagers. here in the bay area. >> as we know pfizer wrapped up the trials in grown ups and adults. today a applied for use. trials are still going on. now in younger teenagers. we speak to a local teen who taking part. i'll have her story. >> let's start with this. covid hospitalizations in the south

thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. [cheers and applause] ♪ this ain't a song for the broken-hearted ♪ ♪ no silent prayer for the faith-departed ♪ ♪ i ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd ♪ ♪ you're gonna hear my voice when i shout it out loud ♪ ♪ it's my life it's now or never ♪ ♪ i ain't gonna live forever ♪ i just want to live while i'm alive ♪ ♪ my heart is like an ♪ open highway ♪ like frankie said i did it my way ♪ ♪ i just wanna live while i'm alive ♪ ♪ 'cause it's my life ♪ better stand tall ♪ when they're calling you out ♪ don't bend don't break baby don't back down

. >>> this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. >> good evening. as public health officials brace for the echo of covid infections they worry will follow a boom in holiday travel, the nation's hospitals could hardly be more vulnerable tonight hospitalizations from the current wave of covid cases are setting new records. icus finding whatever spaces they can to handle the spillover of very sick patients and now as millions get ready to travel home from thanksgiving, hospitals fear what could be about to come at them. we start our reporting with miguel almaguer >> reporter: finding no relief during the holiday, hospitalizations on thanksgiving hit a record high for the 17th straight day with more states turning to field hospitals. in wisconsin some medical centers are rolling out beds into lobbies and parking garages. by next week nearly a quarter of all hospitals could face a staffing shortage. >> a lot of people ask what they can do for us help care workers during this time i think that's the most important thing that people can do is just show you

thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt.ease continue to take care of yourself and each other good night ♪ every time when i look in the mirror ♪ ♪ all these lines on my face getting clearer ♪ ♪ the past is gone ♪ it went by like dusk to dawn ♪ isn't that the way ♪ everybody's got the dues in life to pay ♪ ♪ sing with me, saying for the year ♪ ♪ sing for the laughter, sing for the fear ♪ ♪ sing with me, just for today ♪ may be tomorrow the good lord will take you away ♪ ♪ dream on ♪ dream on ♪ dream until your dreams come true ♪ ♪ dream on ♪ dream on ♪ dream on ♪

right here in the iconic rockefeller center christmas tree >>> this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. >> good evening, everyone as we come on the air tonight there are several major developments in the covid pandemic crisis we need to tell you about. but none bigger than this number. 250,000, the number of people who according to nbc news tracking have now died in this country from the virus. think about it 250,000. and no amount of loss and suffering seems to be changing the trajectory the white house task force painting an extraordinarily grim picture warning of unrelenting spread and further deterioration. but there was more good news on the vaccine front today. we'll have more on that in a moment but let's start with miguel almaguer. >> reporter: as a record number of americans remain hospitalized, there is no community or corner of our nation safe from the reach of the virus. detailing the spread of covid, these white house coronavirus task force maps obtained by nbc news show the explosive growth of the virus, top officials warn current mitigation efforts are inadequate and mus

. >>> this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. >> good evening and happy thanksgiving i'm kate snow in for lester tonight and we begin with late breaking news, president trump continuing to insist he won the election taking questions for the first time since the election and saying he's not ready to concede but the president also pledging to leave the white house if as expected the electoral college formalizes joe biden's victory, a constitutional requirement. let's get right to kelly o'donnell at the white house. >> reporter: tonight defiant and denying his own defeat, president trump answered questions for the first time since election day. >> i don't know what is going to happen i know one thing joe biden did not get 80 million votes. >> reporter: asked if he will concede, more obstruction. >> it is going to be a very hard thing to concede because we know there was massive fraud. >> reporter: pushed about whether he would vacate the white house january 20th if the electors finalize the biden victory. >> certainly i will. certainly i will. >> reporter: the president's legal team h

lester holt is next. >>> tonight president-elect joe biden blasting president trump for challenging the election as president trump escalates his efforts to overturn his defeat, biden calling him one of the most irresponsible presidents in american history and the dueling messages on the pandemic the white house task force holding its first briefing since july but the president not taking part. and what biden sai about potential legal action of his own to force the president's hand. >>> the new cdc warning, americans urged not to travel for thanksgiving as covid surges and hospitalizations hit a new record. >>> dr. fauci on speaking out o concerns of the vaccine is rushed and a third promising candidate, what makes oxford's vaccine different from pfizer's and moderna's? plus inside the rollout, how will it work >>> secretary of state mike pompeo's unprecedented visit in the west bank. what makes his trip so controversial. >>> the new dash cam video, a deput opening fire at a car, two black teens inside killed the family saying authorities made a deadly mistake. >>> deep cleaning surface

. >>> this is "nbc nightly news" decision 2020 here is lester holt. >> good evening, everyone the joe biden campaign is literally setting the stage for victory tonight after the former vice president overtook donald trump's lead in pennsylvania today that, of course, the biggest prize still left on the board with its 20 electoral votes. biden leading the president in three other key states right now as workers in delaware erect a platform where he could address supporters pending a call in the presidential contest but the trump campaign not ready to throw in the towel as it looks for a potential path to victory through the courts we have it all covered. let's begin with our political director and moderator of "meet the press" chuck todd those pennsylvania numbers are still very tight. >> very tight and i'll tell you pennsylvania might be a while. i'm not going to sit here and make an predictions about when we are going to feel comfortable to characterize the race. i'll tell you the situation. the vote by mail numbers as they have come in have favored joe biden and his lead expanded bu

. >>> coming up tonight on "nightly news" lester holt is in wilmington, delaware, where he interviewed joe biden, following yesterday's announcement that the white house would no longer stand in the way. >> i think we're going to not be so far behind the curve as we thought we might be in the past. and there's a lot of immediate discussion. and i must say the outreach has been sincere. there's not been begrudging so far. and i don't expect it to be. >> lester holt also talked to biden about president trump's refusal to concede and the plan for a nationwide covid vaccine rollout. you can watch the full in depth interview in about 20 minutes. >>> we're beginning to get information on one of the five victim of a terrible attack at a san jose church on sunday. nguyen pham was attacked as he stopped the attack. >> the outpouring of support for nguyen pham. his friends say that smile was real and nearly constant. when nguyen fam wasn't working as an analyst, he was on the streets helping the homeless. >> he always feels like he needs to make the world a better place. >> reporter: huy tran sa

they pulled their coverage away and, indeed, last night on nbc "nightly news," lester holt chose not to run any sound bites from this press conference and no video, but showed stills. in that press conference, president trump said without offering a scintilla of evidence -- he said the supreme court should decide but didn't offer what the argument he would bring before the court would be. following the president's wild accusati accusations, adam kinzinger said the following. the congressman added his capitalizati capitalizations. we didn't add those. here is a remark from former governor larry hogan in maryland. >>>. >> incomes is sometimes messy and sometimes requires a little patience as well but that patience has been rewarded now with more than 240 years with a system of governance that has been the envy of the world. i ask everyone to calm, all people to stay calm. the process is working. the count is being completed. and we will know very soon. so thank you all for your patience. god bless you all and may god protect our troops. thank you so much. >> we expect joe biden will be

nbc's lester holt sat down with president-elect joe biden for his first post-election interview. tonight biden on the difficult transition, reopening schools of the pandemic and when you can get that covid vaccine. nbc bay area's ian cull with that exclusive interview. >> i want this country to be united. >>> president-elect joe biden sitting down with nbc's lester holt to address a series of issues as the official transition has begun. >> meeting with the covid team in the white house in how to not only distribute from a vaccine being distributed to being able to get vaccinated. so i think we're going to not be so far behind the curve. and there's a lot of immediate discussion, and i must say the outreach has been sincere. >> reporter: adding he'll seen begin receiving daily presidential briefings holt also asked who mr. biden thinks will receive the first vaccine. >> i think we will focus on obviously the docs, the nurses, those people who are the first responders. i think we should also be focusing on being able to open schools as rapidly as we can. i think it can be done safe

that's "nightly news" for this wednesday thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt.ke care of yourself and each other. ♪ ♪ oh beautiful for spacious skies ♪ ♪ for amber waves of grain ♪ for purple mountain majesties ♪ ♪ above the fruited plain ♪ but now wait a minute i'm ♪ america sweet america ♪ god shed his grace on

up next, we're going to send it over to lester holt in new york with "nightly news." >> we'll be back> tonight the stunning breakthrough in the race for a coronavirus vaccine. moderna announcing its experimental vaccine is nearly 95% effective on the heels of pfizer's own promising results. the phased rollout plan, what category you're in and when you could get it >>> sweeping new crackdowns as the u.s. surges past 11 million cases. california hitting the emergency brake on its reopening. philadelphia banning indoor dining, the striking new numbers, over 1 million children have been infected and ahead o thanksgiving, the alert for colleg students. >>> the stark new warning from president-elect joe biden. he said if president trump won't stop blocking the

that's "nightly news" for this wednesday thank you for watching, everyone i'm lester holt.ke care of yourself and each other. >>> right now at 6:00, the bay area attorney playing guinea pig. >> i just say, this is great to me, but it sucks for these people. >> he explains what it's like to be part of the pfizer vaccine trial. >>> also the need is always great this time of year, but it's on another level because of the pandemic. >>> the only way we're able to do this work is by getting donations. right now we can fill the gaps, but we need continuous support. >> the help that vanished that has this bay area food bank struggling to keep up with the demand. >>> and are they ready for a surge? we check in with local hospitals as coronavirus cases spike in the bay area. >>> the news at 6:00 starts right now. good wednesday. thanks for joining us on this veterans day. i'm janelle wang. >> and i'm raj mathai. this is early similar to what we went through back in march and april. covid cases are surging. counties are restricting businesses and hospitals are bracing for a rush. righ

i'm lester holt. thank you for watching, everyone.care of yourself and each other. ♪ >>> welcome to "countdown to kickoff" presented by salesforce. ♪ >> mike: spectacular first saturday in november on the university of notre dame campus, and this cathedral of college football, as it has been for nine decades, a perfect setting forhe sports' heavyweights to meet. for the last five years clemson has been a measuring stick of excellence. five straight playoff appearances, two national titles and perhaps poised for another run this year. but covid-19 has sidelined their star quarterback and with trevor lawrence out, talented

. >>> an exclusive interview with lester holt president-elect joe biden opens up about his transition power and his strategy for handling the pandemic >> we know the vaccine is going to happen, but as we speak people are ignoring advice to stay home, they're crowding airports around the country right now. you called for a national mask mandate. how much power as president will you have to influence people in ways you have not been able to as a candidate >> my hope as president and many of the republicans governors and mayors felt the same way, i hope that we're going to be able to have a united voice on the need to mask, socially distance, testing and tracing. they're critical, critical pieces to dealing with bringing down this virus in a more manageable place the words of a president matter and i think it's critically important and i think it's a patriotic responsibility to wear a mask, to socially distance. >> a moment ago you mentioned schools. i want to ask you about that new york city recently went back to at-home learning only, some other big cities have made the same choice. wh

up next is lester holt with "nightly news." sure to catch us back here at 6:00 for our 6:00 newscast as well. good night. >>> tonight several breaking stories as we come on the air. the shooting inside a shopping mall. the images just coming in multiple victims taken away on stretchers police responding to what they call a very active situation. the terrifying moments just as holiday shopping gets under way. >>> the president's son donald trump jr. testing positive for covid-19 what we're learning. >>> pfizer now the first company to seek fda emergency approval for a covid vaccine. who would get it first and when >>> it comes as the u.s. sees the worst numbers yet. a record 185,000 new cases in a single day. deaths reaching 2,000 a day. for the first time since may.

thank you for watching, everyone, i'm lester holt.of yourself and each other. >>> right now at 6:00 we're moving backwards. no more indoor dining. >> we have an obligation of the leaders of the community. in really fighting back this virus. >> the bay area counties no longer allowing restaurants to serve in doors. >> i'm tracking rain. when it moves out so you can plan for the weekend. >> do as i say not as i do. >> he doesn't understand what's happening to us. during this. this has been the hardest year to endure. >> the fancy bay area restaurant where governor newsom attended a birthday party. skirting his own coronavirus recommendation. and his response tonight. >> the news at 6:00 starts now. good friday evening. >> it's the turkey dilemma. not how to cook it. whether you let your college age kid come home for thanksgiving or not. with covid surging that's the big problem for families. should they stay at school. we'll talk to bay area families about what they're keeping and how they're keeping covid off the holiday menu. >> day-t