We’re also following the new holiday Raleigh’s mayor just declared. Plus, how social media led to the arrest of a man accused of kidnapping and raping a young girl, and what we’re learning about one of four victims found dead in four days. Watch WRAL-TV at 11 p.m., and search for these and other stories on WRAL.com

On WRAL at 11: Scattered storms for parts of our area tomorrow. Where the threats are highest

The blooming of the WRAL Azalea Garden has been a constant symbol of the return of spring.  

WRAL Azalea Gardens: Everything you need to know for your visit

WRAL Azalea Gardens

Allergy season is here. It's earlier and stronger than expected.

In Depth with Dan: How pollen season is changing

Pollen on car

WRAL's Travis Fain asks local health experts about vaccination progress, including the recent concerns over J&J. Listen as Dr. Kevin Saunders from the Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Dr. Lance Okeke from the Duke University School of Medicine, and
Dr. Pia MacDonald of RTI International discuss COVID vaccinations.

Experts discuss progress in the pandemic 


TEST TEST TEST >>> TIME TO GO ON THE RECORD WITH WRAL NEWS. AS >>  GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO ON THE RECORD. TONIGHT WE AGAIN TURN OUR ATTENTION TO COVID-19. SOME RESEARCH HAS BEEN DONE HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, HOW PAUSE ON THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE WILL AFFECT US. DR. KEVIN SAUNDERS IS THE DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AT DUKE, WE'VE ALSO GOT DR. McDONALD, THE SENIOR DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH AT RTI. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. I WANT TO START WITH YOU DR. McDONALD. THIS PAUSE ON THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE, WITH THE RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF BLOOD CLOT ISSUES, IS IT REASONABLE TO EXPECT DOCTORS TO FIGURE OUT WHO IS AT RISK AND HOW TO PROCEED. GIVEN SOMETHING LIKE 7 MILLION DOSES AND ONLY SEVEN BLOOD CLOTS REPORTED. >> I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT AT THIS TIME THE WE RECOGNIZED THE PAUSE IS OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION. WHAT WE'VE SEEN SO FAR WITH THE VACCINE ROLLOUT IS THAT IT TRULY IS DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF DEATHS OF COVID-19, IT IS HAVING A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON DEATHS. THE PAUSE ALLOWS US THE CHANCE TO LOOK MORE DEEPLY AT THE PEOPLE WHO HAD THE ADVERSE EVENT AND TRY TO SORT OUT WHAT IT IS ABOUT THE MEDICAL HISTORY AND WHAT POTENTIALLY MAY BE AROUND THE VACCINE AND ANY TYPE OF ASSOCIATION. IT ALSO GIVES US A CHANCE FOR CLINICIANS TO BECOME MORE EDUCATED ABOUT LOOKING OUT FOR POTENTIAL, ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THE VACCINE. NUMBER ONE, FUTURE RISKS ARE VERY LOW, IN TERMS OF A 55-YEAR- OLD PERSON DYING FROM COVID-19, IT IS MUCH HIGHER. THEN OF BLOOD CLOT ADVERSE EVENT, AND THAT IS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND. >> DR. SAUNDERS, WHY WOULD A VACCINE EVEN CAUSE CLOTS, WHAT IS THE SCIENCE THEY ARE? >> THERE IS STILL A LOT OF RESEARCH TO BE DONE, SO WHAT RESEARCHERS ARE CURRENTLY DOING IS USING THIS PERIOD COULD TO TRY TO INVESTIGATE WHY OR HOW BLOOD CLOTS MAY FORM. SO WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE PHENOMENON IS THAT THERE ARE ALSO CHANGES IN THE BLOOD CELLS. SO SOME OF THOSE CELLS CONTROL CLOTTING, SO THERE ARE INVESTIGATIONS INTO WHAT MIGHT BE EFFECTING THOSE CELLS THAT CLOT THE BLOOD. IT'S ALSO KNOWN IN SOME CASES THAT YOU CAN SEE BLOOD CLOTS FORM WHEN THERE IS AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE THAT GENERATE ANTIBODIES AGAINST THE CLOTTING FACTORS. RIGHT NOW, THOSE ARE THE PRIME HYPOTHESES. AND I THINK THE RESEARCH IS STILL YET TO BE DONE TO PROVE OR AT LEAST DEMONSTRATE WITH THE CAUSES ARE. >> THERE IS A SO MUCH WE REALLY JUST STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT THIS, AND I WANT TO ASK, HOW ARE WE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A VACCINE SO QUICKLY GIVEN THE LIMITED UNDERSTANDING OF THE VIRUS. IT AFFECTS PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT WAYS, IT EFFECTS MULTIPLE DIFFERENT ORGANS, HOW WERE WE ABLE TO MOVE SO QUICKLY GIVEN ALL THE QUESTIONS? >> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION, THE WAY THEY WERE ABLE TO MOVE SO QUICKLY REALLY COMES DOWN TO HAVING A PLAN IN PLACE IN RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC. SO A LOT OF LABORATORIES AND COMPANIES THAT BEGAN WORKING ON THE VIRUS VACCINE ALREADY HAD A PLAN IN PLACE. SO THEY KNEW THAT IF THERE WAS SOME NOVEL CORONAVIRUS THAT CAME AROUND THAT WAS SIMILAR TO MERS OR SARS, THEY COULD RESPOND IN A SIMILAR WAY. SO THEY KNEW A LOT ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS STRUCTURES AND THEY KNEW WHICH PROTEINS TO TARGET. THERE IS ALREADY A LOT OF WORK BEING DONE ON VACCINES, AND SO COMPANIES HAD, IN THEIR PIPELINE, CANCER AND INFLUENCE OF THAT WAS ALREADY USED IN THOSE PLATFORMS. SO WHEN THIS NOVEL CORONAVIRUS CAME ABOUT, THERE WERE ALREADY PROTOCOLS IN PLACE SO THEY WERE ABLE TO DESIGN WHAT THEY WANTED THE VACCINE TO LOOK LIKE, THEY TRANSFERRED IT OVER TO MODERNA AND MODERNA RAPIDLY PRODUCED THAT VACCINE. USING TECHNOLOGY THEY ALREADY DEVELOPED FROM THEIR OTHER VACCINES THAT WERE ALREADY IN PRODUCTION. SO IT IS KEY TO POINT OUT TO PEOPLE THAT THE VACCINE FOR CORONAVIRUS WAS DEVELOPED RAPIDLY, BUT IT WAS USING TECHNOLOGY THAT ALREADY EXISTED. SO THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE WHERE THE TECHNOLOGY HAD NOT BEEN TESTED OR DEVELOPED. THESE TECHNOLOGIES WERE AROUND. AND WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT THEY WERE MODIFIED TO FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19. >> THAT IS INTERESTING. DR. McDONAGH, I WANT TO ASK YOU, THE ASTRAZENECA AXIOM HAS BEEN PAUSED IN EUROPE, WE DON'T USE IT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT HOW WILL THAT PAUSE EFFECT WORLDWIDE EFFORTS GIVEN IS THE CHEAPEST OF THE VACCINES. >> I THINK DIFFERENT COUNTRIES ARE ASSESSING THE USE OF THAT. I SUSPECT THAT IN THE FUTURE IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE USED IN COUNTRIES, EVEN IF THEY'VE DONE A PAUSE EARLY ON. AND THAT VACCINE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR THE WORLDWIDE ACCESS TO THOSE VACCINES THAT ARE NOT QUITE AS EXPENSIVE. THERE ARE ALSO VACCINES OUT THERE THAT ARE MORE ECONOMICAL. BUT THE LESS EXPENSIVE ONES ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT LOOKING AT THE PANDEMIC FROM A WORLDWIDE PERSPECTIVE. >> WHEN WE COME BACK WE WILL TALK ABOUT SOME RESEARCH ON STAY WITH US. >>> WELCOME BACK, WE ARE TALKING TO NORTH CAROLINA RESEARCHERS AND WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT VACCINES BUT YOU ARE INVOLVED IN A STUDY AFTER PEOPLE WERE INFECTED. WHAT ARE YOUR MOST INTERESTING FINDINGS OF OUR? >> SO I'M INVOLVED IN A NATIONAL STUDY SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH AND BASICALLY WE ARE LOOKING AT TREATMENTS THAT HAVE THE MOST EVIDENCE THUS FAR FOR EFFICACY AND TREATMENT OF COVID-19. SO BASICALLY ANTIBODIES THAT FIGHT AGAINST VIRUSES AND AFFECT YOUR CIRCULATION. YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET THE BEST ANTIBODIES, FILTER THEM DOWN AND ADMINISTER THEM AFTER THEY'VE BEEN MASS-PRODUCED. THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES PUBLISHED IN THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS THAT SHOW DIFFERENT FORMULATIONS OF THESE MEDICATIONS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE OR REDUCE HOSPITALIZATIONS. THAT IS ABOUT COVID-19, PERSONS THAT ARE SICK WITH COVID BUT NOT SICK ENOUGH TO BE HOSPITALIZED. SO LEARNING MORE ABOUT DIFFERENT RELATIONS OF THESE ANTIBODIES, BECAUSE THE ONES AVAILABLE CURRENTLY, YOU HAVE TO GET AN I.V. AND GET INFUSED WITH THEM. AGAIN, THEY ARE SPONSORED BY NIH. AND WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO STRATEGIES LIKE THAT GOING FORWARD. >> IS CALLED THE ACTIVE INVESTIGATION, LOOK IT UP. I WANT TO STICK WITH YOU, BUT WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING DR. SAUNDERS SAID. HOW MUCH RESEARCH TRANSLATES TO OTHER DISEASES, WE SEE BETTER TREATMENTS FOR OTHER RESPIRATORY DISEASES BECAUSE OF THE WORK DONE ON COVID. OR IS SO MUCH ATTENTION FLOATING TO THIS THAT OTHERS HAVE SUFFERED? >> I THINK THE FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION IS AN IMPORTANT ONE. WHICH IS, WE ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE USE OF ANTIBODIES FOR THE STRICT PURPOSE OF RESPIRATORY VIRUSES. ANTIBODIES HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR A LONG TIME FOR MULTIPLE PURPOSES, FOR THE VARIETY OF DISEASES FROM INFLAMMATORY DISEASE TO ARTHRITIS AND PSORIASIS AND THE LIKE. HOWEVER, IN THE SPACE OF RESPIRATORY VIRUSES SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE LEARNING A LOT ABOUT HOW EFFECTIVE THEY CAN BE. AND PERHAPS WE CAN USE SOME OF THESE LESSONS TO PIVOT TOWARD OTHER VIRUSES THAT ARE SIMILAR AND ATTACK THE RESPIRATORY TRACT LIKE COVID IT DOES. >> DR. SAUNDERS, BELIEVE THIS ALL HAPPEN YOU ARE STUDYING HIV. I BELIEVE YOU'VE BEEN PART OF A TEAM THAT GOT A GRANT TO STUDY THE FLU. HOW MUCH OF THAT WORK HAS GONE COLD? HOW MUCH OF IT IS LOST OR WILL HAVE TO BE RESTARTED VERSUS MIGHT ACTUALLY BE HELPED BY COVERT RESEARCH? >> WHEN THE PANDEMIC STARTED, WE ALL PIVOTED TO WORK ON COVID- 19. AND SO NOT ONLY DID WE PHYSICALLY START TO WORK ON THAT AS THE PRIMARY RESEARCH OBJECTIVE, BUT A LOT OF THE FUNDING WE WERE USING TO PAY FOR OTHER VIRUSES AND OTHER VACCINE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS ALL SHIFTED OVER TO COVID-19. AND SO FOR AT LEAST EIGHT MONTHS OR SO, THE PRIMARY FOCUS WAS REALLY FOCUSED ON COVID-19. AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE THOUGHT WE SHOULD DO AS AN INSTITUTE. THAT IS WHAT WE THOUGHT WE SHOULD DO AS A FIELD, COMING ALL THE WAY DOWN FROM THE NIH DOWN TO JUKE. IT WAS ALL HANDS ON DECK WHEN THIS PANDEMIC STARTED TO TAKE OFF. SO WE DIDN'T LOOK AT IT AS THE OTHER PROGRAMS SUFFERING BUT MORE LIKE WE WERE ALL TAKING OUR TALENTS AND FOCUSING ON A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. AND SO THAT IS WHAT WE DID AND I THINK NOW WE ARE REALLY STARTING TO GET BACK TOWARDS WORKING ON OTHER PROJECTS AND GETTING BACK UP TO SPEED. PROBABLY AROUND JANUARY OR SO, A LOT OF THOSE PROJECTS STARTED TO COME BACK ONLINE AND WE STARTED TO WORK ON THOSE. BUT I THINK WE REALLY BENEFITED FROM THE FACT THAT WE HAD MANY DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES ALREADY DEVELOPED. LIKE THE ANTIBODIES THAT LANCE JUST SPOKE ABOUT. SO WE USE THE TECHNOLOGY FROM THE HIV ANTIBODIES AND WE WERE RAPIDLY ABLE TO DEVELOP ANTIBODIES AGAINST SARS-COV-2. SO WE USE THE TOOLS WE ALREADY HAD AND BASICALLY FOCUSED ON COVID-19 FOR ABOUT 8 TO 9 MONTHS. NOW WE ARE JUST GETTING BACK TO WHAT WE WERE NORMALLY WORKING ON AND THOSE PROGRAMS WILL PICK BACK UP. >> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VIRUSES, I ALWAYS WONDERED, WHERE DO THEY GO WHEN THEY POP OUT OF THE HUMAN CONSCIOUS, WHEN THE SEASONAL FLU GOES AWAY OR A BOWLER, HOW DO THEY SURVIVE, ARE THEY SIMPLY LIVING IN A SMALL ENOUGH NUMBER OF PEOPLE? AND THEN WHEN CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT THEY COME BACK, WHAT HAPPENS THERE? >> I THINK THERE ARE A FEW CONCEPTS THEY ARE. AS FAR AS CORONAVIRUS OR RELATED CORONAVIRUS IS, WE KNOW THERE ARE ANIMAL HOSTS. SO THERE ARE SPECIES THAT HAVE THE VIRUS CIRCULATE WITHIN THEM THAT LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO THE SARS THAT WE FIND IN HUMANS. TRANSMISSION CAN OCCUR EITHER DIRECTLY TO HUMANS OR FROM BATCH TO SAY INTERMEDIATE HOST. CATS, PENGUINS I THINK ARE ANOTHER MODEL SYSTEM THAT GET INFECTED. BUT THAT THEY CAN TRANSFER FROM AN ANIMAL SPECIES OVER TO HUMANS. SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING CURRENTLY IS REALLY FOCUSED ON UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CORONAVIRUS CIRCULATES IN THOSE POPULATIONS AND WHAT MIGHT TRANSFER THOSE OVER TO HUMANS IN THE FUTURE. SO SPECIFICALLY I THINK IT IS THE ANIMAL HOST AND TO THOSE TRANSMISSION EVENTS ARE ONE OF THE KEYS TO UNDERSTANDING WHERE THIS VIRUS COMES FROM. >> THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REPORTS OF RE-INFECTIONS, HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE, AND WHAT DOES IT TELL US ABOUT HOW LONG THE VACCINES WILL LAST? >> SO IF I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION IS REALLY WHY REINFECTION CAN OCCUR? I THINK THERE ARE A FEW PARTS TO THAT ANSWER. ONE IS THAT WE'VE SEEN VACCINATION VERSUS INFECTION TENDS TO BE A HIGHER RESPONSE WHEN YOU VACCINATED COMPARED TO THOSE WHO GET NATURALLY INFECTED. IT COULD JUST BE THAT WHEN YOU GET INFECTED YOUR ANTIBODY RESPONSE IS NOT AT A HIGH ENOUGH LEVEL TO PROTECT YOU FROM SECONDARY INFECTION. ALSO, THERE IS WHAT WE CALL STERILIZED IMMUNITY. WHICH MEANS THAT BASICALLY YOU PREVENT THE VIRUS FROM REPLICATING AT ALL. IN SO IT IS KEY TO UNDERSTAND THAT NOT ALL TYPES OF IMMUNITY IS STERILIZING. A LOT OF TIMES WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU HAVE AN IMMUNE RESPONSE THAT RESPONSE TO AN INFECTION. BEFORE THE INFECTION CAN BECOME CLINICAL, YOUR IMMUNE RESPONSE KICKS IN AND WIPES OUT THAT VIRUS. SO, THOSE TYPES OF INFECTIONS CAN STILL OCCUR. BUT WHAT IS KEY TO THOSE IS THAT IT PROTECTS YOU FROM GETTING SEVERE DISEASE, FROM SUCCUMBING TO DISEASE. AND THAT IS THE TYPE OF IMMUNITY THAT CAN BE AT PLAY THERE AS PEOPLE BECOME REINFECTED. SO AS LONG AS YOU ARE NOT EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS AND YOU ARE ABLE TO SAY THAT YOU CAN STAY OUT OF THE HOSPITAL, WE'D CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION. >>> THANKS FOR STICKING WITH US. WE WILL PLAY A SIMULATION FROM THE WASHINGTON POST FROM JOHNSON & JOHNSON SHOTS BEING GIVEN. EVERY GRAY CIRCLE IS A SHOT AND BLUE IS STATISTICALLY SPEAKING LIVES SAVED BY THE SHOT. AND IF RED POP UP THAT IS A CLOT THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED. AS I THINK ABOUT THE PAUSE ON THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE, SEVEN REPORTED ISSUES OUT OF 7 MILLION DOSES, AND I THINK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TACTICS LEADERS HAVE TAKEN ON LOCKDOWNS, DO WE DO WELL AS A SOCIETY WITH PROBABILITY RISK? ARE WE GOOD AS A WHOLE AND ANALYZING RISK AND COMING UP WITH A STRATEGY? >> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. ONE OF THE VERY IMPORTANT THINGS TO THINK ABOUT IS THAT I DON'T THINK WE ARE VERY GOOD AT COMMUNICATING RISK. WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW ABOUT RISK OF THESE BLOOD CLOTS IS THAT IT IS EXTREMELY RARE, MUCH, MUCH MORE RARE THAN POTENTIALLY DYING FROM COVID-19 IN A 55-YEAR-OLD ADULT. THE OTHER THING, THERE ARE OTHER MEDICATIONS PEOPLE TAKE VOLUNTARILY THAT PUT PEOPLE AT A HIGHER RISK OF GETTING BLOOD CLOTS. EVEN THE VERY LOW RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE VACCINE, SO FAR. SO IT IS A PAUSE OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION BUT IT REALLY SHOULD NOT PROVIDE THE MESSAGE THAT THESE VACCINES ARE NOT SAFE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RISK AND REWARD, THESE VACCINES ARE SAFE. >> DR., I IMAGINE YOU OR IF NOT YOU, YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE HAD MORE MEDIA REQUEST OR ATTENTION PAID TO THEIR WORK OVER THE LAST YEAR. SO AS A SOCIETY, DO WE PAY ENOUGH ATTENTION TO SCIENCE BEFORE WE REALLY NEED IT? >> I THINK THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. THAT IS A QUESTION I CAN ONLY ANSWER FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF OPINION. I THINK WE ARE GETTING BETTER AS A SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY ABOUT COMMUNICATING OUR WORK. SO IF THERE IS LACK OF AWARENESS FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE THINGS WE DO IT'S BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THIS VERY CONVENTIONAL MODEL OF PUBLISHING THAT DOES NOT REALLY HAVE THE REACH TO THE PUBLIC. SO EVERYTHING KIND OF ENDS THERE. BUT WITH THE ARRIVAL OF SOCIAL MEDIA LIKE TWITTER AND OTHER PREPRINTS AND DIFFERENT AVENUES FOR SCIENTIFIC WORK, WE ARE GETTING BETTER AT IT. SO AGAIN, IF THERE IS A DEFICIENCY IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT WITHIN OUR OWN WORK. >> DR. SAUNDERS, I KNOW ONE OF THE QUESTIONS HAS BEEN HOW LONG IT WILL WORK, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'VE SEEN IN THE NEWS OF THE LAST FEW WEEKS THAT HAS CHANGED THE CALCULUS ABOUT WHO WILL NEED TO GET A BOOSTER AND HOW OFTEN? >> NO, I THINK THE DATA THAT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED SO FAR, THE STUDY THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NIH AND MODERNA, WHERE THEY SHOW AFTER SIX MONTHS THEY ARE STILL DETECTING ANTIBODIES. AND SO WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY THAT RESULT THAT THERE IS LONGEVITY TO THE ANTIBODY RESPONSE. WE BELIEVE THERE WILL BE MORE DATA THAT WILL COME OUT IN ANOTHER TWO OR THREE MONTHS. AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT LESS LIKELY THEY WILL BE ANTIBODY RESPONSES THERE. AND WE WILL LIKELY LOOK INTO BOOSTING VACCINATIONS AND THAT WILL BECOME PART OF THE PLAN. IF THEY ARE STILL HIGH, MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT BOOSTING FURTHER OUT IN THE FUTURE. I THINK RIGHT NOW WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT THERE WILL BE LONGEVITY TO THE ANTIBODY RESPONSE AND THE INJECTION. >> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THOSE BOOSTERS WILL BE FREE LIKE THE SHOT IS NOW. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VACCINE HESITANCY, ASSUMING MOST PEOPLE WANT THE SHOT, WHY SHOULD SOCIETY WORRY ABOUT THOSE WHO DON'T. WHY NOT JUST LET SOME PEOPLE BE PROTECTED AND THAT WORRY ABOUT THOSE WHO DON'T WANT IT? >> I THINK FOR TWO REASONS, WE STILL WORRY ABOUT INDIVIDUALS GETTING INFECTED BECAUSE THEY COULD COME DOWN WITH SEVERE COVID-19 DISEASE THAT COULD LEAD TO HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH. SO WE ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE NOT PROTECTED SHOULD THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH THE VIRUS. SECONDLY, WE ALSO WORRY ABOUT THE VIRAL VARIANTS. SO EACH TIME A PERSON BECOMES INFECTED GIVES THE VIRUS A CHANCE TO MUTATE IN THE FACE OF AN IMMUNE RESPONSE. AND SO THAT ALSO GIVES THE VIRUS A CHANCE TO FIND WAYS TO GET AROUND THE HUMAN IMMUNE SYSTEM. AND SO IN MY WORK WE ARE ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT INDIVIDUALS BECOMING INFECTED. THAT CAN CREATE MORE VARIANTS, AND AS WE'VE ALL SEEN IN THE NEWS, THEY VARY IN CONTAGIOUSNESS AND THEY ALSO VARY IN THEIR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO HUMAN IMMUNITY. >> I WANT TO GO TO EVERYONE ON THIS, YOUR BIGGEST WORRY, IF YOU GOT ONE IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS, AND YOUR BIGGEST HOPE IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS. >> SO MY BIGGEST WORRY FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS IS WHETHER OR NOT THE POPULATION REALIZES HOW TIME SENSITIVE THIS VACCINATION CAMPAIGN IS. I WORRY THAT WITH EVERY TRANSMISSION AND SPIKE THAT WE HAVE, EVERY ONE IS A STEP CLOSER TO HAVING THOSE VARIANTS WIDESPREAD. SO THE ONLY PROTECTION TO THAT IS IMMEDIATE AND COMPREHENSIVE NATIONWIDE VACCINATION. SO MY FEAR IS WE DON'T GET TO HERD IMMUNITY BEFORE WE HAVE THESE POTENTIALLY MORE SEVERE VARIANTS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. SO I THINK THIS IS OUR DUTY. AND MY BIGGEST HOPE IS THAT IF WE GET THIS RIGHT, AT LEAST SOME SENSE OF RETURN TO NORMALCY IS NOT THAT FAR OFF. WE CAN ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT THIS IN ORDER OF MONTHS NOW. SO THE FALL CAN ACTUALLY LOOK VERY DIFFERENT, AND I'M HOPEFUL FOR THAT. AND I THINK IT WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED AND HAVE MORE OF A NORMAL FALL. >> SAME QUESTION DR. MISS DONALDSON. >> MY BIGGEST HOPE IS THAT PEOPLE GET VACCINATED. AT THIS TIME COVID-19 IS A PREVENTABLE DISEASE IN TERMS OF DYING FROM THIS DISEASE. WE DID NOT HAVE THAT A YEAR AGO. IT'S TIME TO GET EVERYONE VACCINATED BECAUSE WE WILL NOT BE SAFE UNLESS EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY IS VACCINATED. WHEREVER THERE IS HESITANCY IN THOSE POPULATIONS, THEY WILL BE INCUBATORS FOR FURTHER EXPANSION OF THE VARIANTS TO SPREAD AND PREVENTABLE DEATH. MY GREATEST HOPE IS THAT PEOPLE GET VACCINATED. MY GREATEST FEAR IS REALLY THE MESSAGING AROUND THE VACCINE AND THE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH ADVERSE EVENTS. SO THAT IT WILL STYMIE THE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS VACCINATION. AND TO HAVE A GOOD IDEA OF WHERE THERE IS HESITANCY AND WHERE WE NEED TO BE RAMPING UP OUR PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGING. >> DR. SAUNDERS, HOPE OR FEAR IF NOT BOTH. >> MY GREATEST HOPE IS THAT WHAT WE'VE LEARNED OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO, WILL HELP US IN THE FUTURE, RESPOND TO PANDEMICS. HOPEFULLY WE WILL PUT IN PLACE PLANS AND PROCEDURES SO WE CAN RESPOND TO THE NEXT PANDEMIC EITHER FROM CORONAVIRUS OR SOME OTHER VIRUS. I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE HAVE LEARNED AND WILL EMPLOY NEW PRACTICES SO WE WILL BE READY WHEN THE NEXT VIRUS COMES ALONG. >> THANK YOU, THAT IS ABOUT ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR. WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK THOUGH. >>> I WANT TO THANK OUR GUESTS FOR THEIR TIME AND I WANT TO THANK YOU AT HOME FOR YOUR ATTENTION. IF YOU WANT TO WRITE THE SHOW YOU CAN COME YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND YOU CAN VISIT US AT WRAL.COM. HAVE A PLEASANT EVENING.

Travis Fain

Heather Leah

On the Record: Experts discuss vaccine progress, treatments, J&J pause

WRAL-TV News Broadcasts: Watch each newscast live or watch the most recent newscast on demand.

WRAL Late News 

Get the latest WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast whenever you need it, including the DUALDoppler5000 and the 7-Day Forecast.

I'm meteorologist K Campbell in the wr a severe weather center. So close to 90 degrees today, we had 89 for the high at RDU and in Fayetteville, Wilmington as well. And it's going to stay warm throughout the week. We're talking temperatures in the eighties all week long, 70 threes on high this time of year, but normal highs during spring are really the average of some of those extreme ups and downs that we see. So keep that in mind we're still well above normal. 86 tomorrow, 82 with more clouds Wednesday. Back up to 87 on Thursday. We'll stay in the eighties through Saturday. Some good news for you. If you're ready to enjoy this warm weather, sit outside on your porch, the worst of the pine pollen, which is the yellow pollen that just coats everything is over. So you're good to go ahead and clean up your porch some so you can enjoy some of the warm summer like temperatures. You're probably going to have to do it again in a few weeks. But I think the yellow pollen at least is wrapping up here. Tree pollen is still very high though mulberry ash maple and oak are the issues we saw out there today and grass pollen is starting to climb early. I should say as well. Already in the medium category, if you need to get some yard work done tomorrow, don't let the 40% chance of rain. Hold o hold you off. I think that arrives late in the day. So you should be good to get it done for most of the week. The rain chances may increase toward the weekend, future cash showing some of those scattered storms to the Virginia Line later tonight, those dissipate before they really make it too far south. But the cold front does get here and it stalls out. It just kind of gets stuck over Carolina during the day, Tuesday. And that's going to direct another wave of some scattered showers and storms our way late Tuesday evening and into Tuesday night, there is a level one threat for severe storms tomorrow, damaging wind gusts and hail mainly from the Triangle North. But as I mentioned, you know, during the day, you should have plenty of dry time to get outside and enjoy some of the warmer temperatures if you want to head to the playground with your family, 8 a.m. and 65 degrees. 10 a.m. 72 2 o'clock, 84 degrees. And then as we get later into the evening, that's when we've got the chance for storms. But most of the daytime hours will end up dry tomorrow as we look ahead Wednesday, we're mostly cloudy that holds our temperatures down a bit in the lower eighties. More sunshine, more warmth on Thursday. Just some small rain chances mixed in at night here and there. But the best chance for rain does look like it comes with a cold front on Sunday that will pass and knock our temperatures down next week back in the forties for lows.

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Nightly N.C. Education Lottery drawings during the 11 p.m. News.

Good evening. I'm Gay. Her, welcome to tonight's joining with this tax day Monday, April 15th, 2024. Well, let's get started today tonight with our Carolina pick three. Our first week numbers is six. Our second number is nine and the third number is seven and our pick three. Fireball number is nine. Joining me for tonight's show is our auditor from mcconnell and Jones L LP. Now let's move to the Carolina pick four. Good luck. Everyone who's that first one and pick four number. It's a six. Our second number is nine. Third number is five and our fourth number tonight here it comes, it is a four and our pick for fireball number is eight. We turn now to the Carolina Cash Drive. If no one wins the top prize tonight, tomorrow's top prize is estimated at $130,000. Good luck. Everyone who's that first win in cash five number. It's 40. Our second number is seven. Third number. Tonight is 15. Our fourth number is 22 and the final number in our cash drive this evening is a nine. The North Carolina Education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education. Get your winning numbers right here every night in your exclusive station for the North Carolina Education lottery. Thanks for playing. Good night.

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday Powerball drawings, as shown live on WRAL.

Good evening, America. I'm Michelle Isles. Tonight. We've got another life changing jackpot for you in an estimated amount of $66.5 million. Get your tickets out. We'll start things off tonight with the number seven right after that America. We have 56. Let's congratulate the lucky 30 of Nashua New Hampshire who won $1 million. Your next number up tonight is 61 that's followed by 16 and we'll round it out tonight with 41 now for your winning powerball number. Good luck everyone. It is 23 and your power play multiplier is three. Let's take another look at those winning numbers. Remember there are multiple ways to win. We'll see you back here Wednesday night. Good night, everyone. It's time to play America's favorite jackpot game this.

Powerball Drawing

Fans of the NC State Wolfpack's men's and women's basketball teams are celebrating the teams' run to the Final Four on Monday night on Hillsborough Street at the Memorial Belltower. NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson, Athletics Director Boo Corrigan and Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin are expected to speak Monday night at the event.

NC State men's and women's basketball teams honored for Final Four appearances at Memorial Belltower

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings are held at 3 p.m. daily. They can be seen as live or on-demand video.

Good afternoon. I'm Luis Fernandez. Welcome to this afternoon's drawings for Monday, April 15th, 2024. Let's get started with Carolina pick three. The first pick three number is two, second is nine and the third is five and our pick three fireball number is seven. Joining me for this afternoon's drawing is our auditor from mcconnell and Jones L LP. Now let's move to the Carolina pick four. The first pick four number is zero. The second is six. The third is zero and the fourth is eight and our pick four. Fireball number is zero. The North Carolina Education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education. Thank you so much for your support.

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

Watch former President Trump arrive at court for his hush money trial.

<p>ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, IF IT'S IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, WILL GIVE YOU A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF HOW THIS PARTICULAR JUROR VOTES. THE MERE FACT THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP, OR LIKE DONALD TRUMP, WILL NOT DISQUALIFY PEOPLE FROM THE JURY. THE TEST IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN, GIVEN WHAT YOU KNOW OR THINK ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR DEFENDANT, CAN YOU SET THOSE IDEAS ASIDE AND JUDGE THIS CASE FAIRLY ON THE FACTS AND THE EVIDENCE. THE CHALLENGE HERE IS JUST REALISM. THIS IS SOMEONE THAT IS SO DIVISIVE IN THIS COUNTRY AND WE'RE IN A COUNTY THAT VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN, HOW DO YOU SUSS THROUGH THAT. I ACTUALLY THINK NORMALLY PEOPLE TRY TO GET OFF JURY DUTY. I THINK SOMETHING THEY NEED TO GUARD FOR HERE IS THE STEALTH JUROR, SOMEONE WHO WILL APPEAR PLAIN, NEUTRAL, BUT WANTS TO GET ON THE JURY, MAYBE BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN AGENDA OR SIMPLY THEY KNOW THIS IS A PART OF HISTORY AND THEY WANT TO BE PART OF HISTORY. &gt;&gt; AND THAT CAN CUT BOTH WAYS, STEALTH JUROR. IT ONLY TAKES ONE JUROR TO SIDE WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND YOU HAVE A HUNG JURY. YOU NEED A UNANIMOUS JURY TO GET A CONVICTION IN THIS CASE. &gt;&gt; EXACTLY RIGHT. IT'S OFTEN SAID IT ONLY TAKES ONE TO HANG A JURY, BUT REALITY IS, IF JURORS DELIBERATE, AND YOU ONLY HAVE ONE OR TWO IN THE ROOM, THEY USUALLY GET HARANGUED INTO CHANGING THEIR VOTE. JUST ONE JUROR CAN HANG THE ENTIRE CASE. AND BY THE WAY, SOME F THE TRADITIONAL THOUGHTS ABOUT JURY SELECTION ARE FLIPPED ON THEIR HEAD. A DEFENSE ATTORNEY LIKE ME, IF SOMEONE COMES IN AND HAS A CONNECTION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OR AN AFFINITY TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU WANT THEM OFF THAT JURY. MAYBE IN A CASE LIKE THIS, THAT'S EXACTLY WHO DONALD TRUMP WANTS ON THE JURY, GIVEN VOTING PATTERNS AND OTHER THINGS BEHIND OUR AREA, THIS IS A UNIQUE JURY SELECTION, AND LAWYERS ARE INVOLVED IN JURY SELECTION IN NEW YORK, WHICH IS UNUSUAL. IN FEDERAL COURT, FOR EXAMPLE, I DON'T SAY A WORD UNTIL I'M SPOKEN TO BY THE JUDGE. THEY HAVE ONE ON ONE ACCESS TO QUESTION THE JURORS. &gt;&gt; WHICH IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BOTH SIDES TO SEE THE FACTS AND SEE THE JURY POOL. &gt;&gt; LET ME TURN BACK TO LAURA JARRETT. WE ARE AWAITING THE FORMER PRESIDENT TO WALK INTO THE COURTROOM. JUST THE SPECTER, HE'S REQUIRED TO BE THERE EVERY DAY. HE HAS INDICATED THAT HE WANTS TO TESTIFY. IF HE DOES, HIS LAWYERS CAN'T STOP HIM FROM DOING SO. HOW DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO PLAY OUT DAY BY DAY? &gt;&gt; Reporter: THE TRICK OF IT IS, SAVANNAH, HE'S BEEN IN THIS COURTROOM BEFORE. HE'S BEEN HERE OBVIOUSLY FOR HIS ARRAIGNMENT AND PRETRIAL HEARINGS. THIS IS DIFFERENT. HIS APPEARANCE IS NOT VOLUNTARY, HE'S REQUIRED TO BE HERE UNLESS HE GETS SPECIAL DISPENSATION FROM THE JUDGE, AND THE JUDGE HAS MADE IT CLEAR, HE EXPECTS HIM TO BE HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY, WHICH IN THE MIDDLE OF A REELECTION CAMPAIGN IS ALSO JUST EXTRAORDINARY AND UNPRECEDENTED IF YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT. IT WILLBE INTERESTING TO SEE WHO'S DRIVING THIS. YOU TALK ABOUT HIM SAYING HE WANTS TO TESTIFY. THAT OBVIOUSLY POSES EXTREME RISK FOR HIM ACROSS EXAMINATION. OBVIOUSLY HE WOULD BE IN THE WITNESS CHAIR THERE UNDER OATH AND WOULD HAVE TO TESTIFY TRUTHFULLY IN FRONT OF THIS JURY AS THEY ASSESS HIS CREDIBILITY, AND WE HAVE SEEN HIM TESTIFY BEFORE, JUST RECENTLY IN HIS CIVIL FRAUD TRIAL, HE INSISTED UPON TESTIFYING IN THAT CASE. AND WE KNOW HOW THAT ONE TURNED OUT. IT MAY BE THE CASE HE DOESN'T TESTIFY, IN WHICH CASE THE PROSECUTION CAN'T COMMENT IN FRONT OF THE JURY. HE HAS A RIGHT NOT TO TESTIFY LIKE ANY OTHER DEFENDANT. THROUGHOUT THE TRIAL, WE SEE THE POWER STRUGGLE BETWEEN WHAT DONALD TRUMP THE CANDIDATE NEEDS TO DO AND WHAT HIS LAWYERS THINK IS IN THE BEST INTEREST FOR HIM. &gt;&gt; WE ALSO HAVE "MEET THE PRESS" MODERATOR, KRISTEN WELK WITH US. THERE'S PROBABLY NO QUESTION HE'LL TESTIFY ON THE COURTHOUSE STEPS, THOUGH THERE IS A PARTIAL GAG ORDER IN THE CASE. WHAT IS THE TRUMP STRATEGY AS THIS CASE UNFOLDS? HE'S OFF THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND IN A COURTROOM. HOW DOES HE INTEND TO BALANCE THOSE THINGS? &gt;&gt; IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. WE HAVE SEEN IT PLAY OUT THROUGHOUT HIS PREVIOUS COURT CASES IN WHICH HE HAS MADE USE OF THE CAMERAS OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM. TOLD BY VISER CLOSE TO DONALD TRUMP, HE AND HIS TEAM WILL MAKE USE OF EVERY AVENUE TO THE MEDIA POSSIBLE. NO SURPRISE THERE. HE'S A FORMER REALITY TV STAR, AFTER ALL. HE KNOWS HOW TO DO THIS. SAVANNAH, HE HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR HE PLANS TO BE OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AS MUCH AS HE CAN AFTER COURT. COURT'S NOT GOING TO BE IN SESSION ON WEDNESDAY. EXPECT HIM TO BE OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AS WELL. HE'S CLOSE TO NEARBY PENNSYLVANIA. BIG BATTLEGROUND STATES. EXPECT TO SEE PRESIDENT BIDEN IN PENNSYLVANIA, BY THE WAY, THIS WEEK. HE HAS THREE SEPARATE STOPS IN PENNSYLVANIA. OING TO TRY TO COUNTER PROGRAM THIS. DON'T EXPECT HIM TO TALK ABOUT THE COURT CASE. HE'S GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMY, ABORTION, OTHER ISSUES THAT HE THINKS WILL RESONATE. WE JUST GOT NEW POLLING NATIONALLY SHOWING THAT THIS RACE IS AS TIGHT AS A TICK. ALL OF THIS COULD POTENTIALLY RESONATE WITH MODERATES, INDEPENDENTS IN THE CRITICAL BATTLEGROUND STATES. SAVANNAH. &gt;&gt; WE CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR EYES ON THOSE DOORS. WE EXPECT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TO WALK IN AS HIS CRIMINAL TRIAL, AN UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY, A CRIMINAL TRIAL FOR A FORMER PRESIDENT BEGINS ANY MINUTE NOW WITH JURY SELECTION. I WANT TO TURN TO DANNY CEVALLOS, ONE OF THE LAWYERS ON OUR PANEL THIS MORNING. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CASE. THERE ARE FOUR CASES, CRIMINAL CASES PENDING AGAINST THE FORMER PRESIDENT. THIS IS THE NEW YORK CASE. THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF ANALYSIS OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE VARIOUS CASES. THIS IS THE WEAKEST LEGALLY. WHY IS THAT? &gt;&gt; IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST DEFENSIBLE FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. NUMBER ONE, THE ORIGINAL THEORY OF THE CASE IS THAT TRUMP FALSIFIED BUSINESS RECORDS AND ADDITIONALLY BECAUSE HE WAS DOING THAT TO CONCEAL ANOTHER CRIME, IT'S ELEVATED TO A FELONY IN NEW YORK. THE OTHER CRIME IT IS A FEDERAL CAMPAIGN VIOLATION, WHICH REALLY IS AN UNUSUAL PLACE. IT'S A NOVEL THEORY. NST NEVER REALLY BEEN TESTED IN NEW YORK COURTS. FALSIFICATION OF BUSINESS RECORDS HAS BEEN TESTED. A CRIME THAT IS PROSECUTED. THE PROSECUTION MUST PROVE NOT ONLY THAT THE BUSINESS RECORDS WERE FALSIFIED BUT ADDITIONALLY THAT IT WAS IN CONCEALMENT OF A CRIME. THE DEFENSE THERE COULD SIMPLY BE IT WASN'T FOR CAMPAIGN PURPOSES. IT WAS TO REDUCE THE EMBARRASSMENT THAT I WOULD HAVE WITH MELANIA. OR YOU MIGHT SEE A DEFENSE OF I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. THOSE ARE OTHER PEOPLE, MICHAEL COHEN ACTED ON HIS OWN. THAT'S WHY I SUSPECT YOU SEE WITNESSES, HOPE HICKS, PEOPLE AROUND HIM AND MAYBE HEARD HIM TALK ABOUT THINGS. MICHAEL COHEN HAS CREDIBILITY ISSUES. BUT I HAVE TO SAY, THAT'S A CLASSIC THING THAT ALL COOPERATING WITNESSES HAVE. IF HE'S INTRODUCING DOCUMENTS, THE PROSECUTION WILL SAY THE DOCUMENTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. &gt;&gt; MICHAEL COHEN IS THE FORMER LAWYER, THE PERSON WHO EXECUTED THESE PAYMENTS AND LATER WAS REIMBURSED. HE HAS PLEADED GUILTY. AND WHEN YOUCOOPERATING WITNESS LIKE THAT, THEY HAVE CREDIBILITY PROBLEMS. THE PROSECUTORS WILL HAVE TO SHORE HIM UP WITH CORROBORATING EVIDENCE. &gt;&gt; THEY ARE. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRY TO USE SOME DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE. THERE'S ONE RECORDING WE KNOW ABOUT. NOT ABOUT STORMY DANIELS, THE PORN STAR INVOLVED IN THESE HUSH MONEY PAYMENTS. THERE'S ANOTHER ONE, THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS ON TAPE DISCUSSING HOW THE REIMBURSEMENT SCHEMES WILL WORK. PROSECUTORS WANT TO BRING IN ALL OF THAT TO FLESH OUT THE STORY. THEY WANT TO SHOW A PATTERN OF SUPPRESSING A BUNCH OF STORIES LEADING UP TO THE ELECTION, ALL IN SERVICE OF TRYING TO KEEP WHAT THEY SAY, PROSECUTORS SAY WAS DAMAGING INFORMATION FROM THE VOTERS. AS DANNY LAID OUT, THE DEFENSE IS GOING TO CONTINUALLY SAY THIS WASN'T ABOUT KEEPING INFORMATION FROM THE VOTERS BECAUSE THE VOTERS WOULD HAVE NEVER SEEN HOW I WAS DOCUMENTING ON MY BOOKS AND RECORDS. THIS WAS ABOUT A PERSONAL ISSUE, EMBARRASSMENT, KEEPING THE ISSUE FROM HIS WIFE, SAVANNAH. &gt;&gt; AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE PUBLIC WILL REACT, HOW THIS WILL PLAY POLITICALLY. OF ALL THE FACTS THAT ARE PENDING, THIS IS CERTAINLY THE STEAMIEST. THIS IS THE MIEST SETTLE OF FACTS. &gt;&gt; IT'S A SET OF FACTS THAT WAS KNOWN BEFORE THE PRESIDEWAS ELECTED IN 2016. IT WAS IN THE PUBLIC EYE PRIOR TO ELECTION DAY. &gt;&gt; A PORN STAR WHO HE ACKNOWLEDGES HAVING AN CONSENSUAL AFFAIR WITH. &gt;&gt; DENIES WRONG DOING. THE POLITICS IS INTERESTING BECAUSE THE TIMING PIECE, SAVANNAH. YOU BROUGHT UP THE IDEA THAT THIS IS PERCEIVED TO BE POTENTIALLY THE WEAKNESS CASE FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE. THOSE CLOSE TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT SEE A POLITICAL ADVANTAGE IN THIS CASE COMING UP FIRST AND NOT THE FEDERAL ELECTION INTERFERENCE CASE AND NOT THE CASE INVOLVING THE MISHANDLING, ALLEGEDLY OF CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS HERE. THE FACT THAT THIS IS THE ONE WE'RE SITTING HERE TALKING ABOUT, IN THE PUBLIC EYE, THEY SEE THIS AS POTENTIALLY USEFUL BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT IT IS KNOWN INFORMATION, IT IS HAPPENING IN NEW YORK CITY, WHERE THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAS AND CAN SAY, LOOK, IT'S MANHATTAN, THERE ARE A BUNCH OF DEMOCRATS LOOKING TO BE OUT TO GET ME. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NAMES COMING UP. YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN FOR FLASHING BACK TO 2016. THAT IS THE VIBE. HOPE HICKS, WHO WE HAVEN'T SEEN FOR OR HEARD FROM IN YEARS. &gt;&gt; STORMY DANIELS WILL TESTIFY, KAREN McDOUGAL, ANOTHER WOMAN CLAIMS TO HAVE BEEN PAID OFF. SHE MAY BE A POTENTIAL WITNESS. &gt;&gt; THE "NATIONAL ENQUIRER" FOLKS INVOLVED IN THE CATCH AND KILL SCHEME, YOU SEE THE LIST OF POTENTIAL WITNESSES. WE ARE EXPECTING TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT POSSIBLY AS EARLY AS TODAY, THESE WERE ALL NAMES WE WERE HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, WHO ARE COMING BACK AND RELIVING, AS YOU PUT IT, SOME OF THE STEAMY DETAILS OF WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED HERE. &gt;&gt; DANNY, ONE OF THE ISSUES, AND WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF SECONDS LEFT, IS TIMING. THE FORMER PRESIDENT CAN SAY, LOOK, THIS WAS A PERSONAL MATTER, I USED PERSONAL FUNDS, THESE ARE MY BUSINESS RECORDS, NO ONE IS RELYING ON THEM. THEN WHY DID YOU DO IT IN THE WANING DAYS OF THE 2016 ELECTION. THIS STORY HAD BEEN OUT THERE FOR MUCH LONGER THAN THAT. &gt;&gt; EXACTLY RIGHT. THE TIMING IS PROBABLY THE PROSECUTION'S BEST PIECE OF EVIDENCE. HAD IT HAPPENED A YEAR OR TWO MORE, THERE'S NO CASE. THE PROSECUTION NEEDS TO TIME IN THE TIMING, TO GO AGAINST THE DEFENSE SAYING THIS IS A PERSONAL PAYMENT. &gt;&gt; DANNY CEVALLOS, HALLIE, AND KRISTEN WELKER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE OUR COVERAGE ON THE STREAMING NETWORK, NBC NEWS NOW, NBC.COM. WE'LL WRAP UP ON "NIGHTLY NEWS", AND WE'LL BE THE EYES AND EARS INSIDE THAT COURTHOUSE. MOST OF YOU WILL NOW RETURN TO MORE OF THE "TODAY" SHOW. I'M SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, THANKS FOR WATCHING. SELECTION SET TO BEGIN AT THE FIRST EVER CRIMINAL TRIAL OF A FORMERING AS WE SPEAK? &gt;&gt; I THINK THAT'S UP TO THE WAR CABINET AND PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU TO DECIDE, WE CERTAINLY WOULDN'T GET AHEAD OF ANY DECISIONS THEY MIGHT MAKE. THE PRESIDENT IN HIS CONVERSATION WITH PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU LAUDED THE AMAZING SUCCESS THEY HAD IN SHOOTING DOWN THE DRONES FIRED AT THEM. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT. AND HE URGED NETANYAHU TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF THAT GREAT SUCCESS, WHAT THAT MEANT, THE MESSAGE IT SENT, ABOUT ISRAEL'S MILITARY SUPERIORITY AND THAT IRAN FAILED IN THAT WHEY TRIED TO DO. &gt;&gt; BEING BLUNT AS POSSIBLE, ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS SAYING TO ISRAEL IS, AS BEEN REPORTED, TAKE THE WIN, IN THE TO RETALIATE? IS THAT THE U.S.'S POSITION, ISRAEL, DON'T RETALIATE? &gt;&gt; AGAIN, THE PRESIDENT MADE IT CLEAR TO PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU THAT THERE WAS MUCH TO -- MUCH TO BE PROUD OF THE OTHER NIGHT IN TERMS OF THE MILITARY SUCCESS. THE PRESIDENT HAS ALSO BEEN VERY CLEAR, IN MULTIPLE VENUES, THAT WE DO NOT SEEK A WAR WITH IRAN, WE DON'T WANT TO SEE A WIDER WAR IN THE REGION. &gt;&gt; WELL, AS WE ALL KNOW, THIS STRIKE FROM IRAN WAS IN RETALIATION FOR A STRIKE THAT ISRAEL TOOK AGAINST IRANIAN FORCES IN SYRIA THAT KILLED SEVEN IRGC OFFICERS. THE ISRAELIS GAVE NO HEADS UP TO ITS ALLY, THE U.S., WAS THAT NEEDLESSLY PROVOCATIVE? DO YOU THINK THAT ISRAEL BEARS SOME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ESCALATING THIS, AND GETTING US TO THIS POINT? &gt;&gt; WELL, LOOK, LET'S BE CLEAR HERE, IRAN HAS BEEN FUNDING, RESOURCING IRAN HAS BEEN FUNDING GROUPS GROUPS LIKE HAMAS, LIKE HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH, THE HEZBOLLAH, THE HOUTHIS DOWN IN YEMEN, ALSO OF HOUTHIS IN YEMEN. WHICH, ALSO, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ALL OF WHICH ALSO, WITH THE HAMAS, AT LEAST PROXY GROUPS, INCLUDING THOSE IN EXCEPTION OF HAMAS, THESE PROXY IRAQ AND SYRIA, ALSO GROUPS, INCLUDING THOSE IN IRAQ PARTICIPATED IN TH AND SYRIA, ALSO PARTICIPATED IN E STRIKE THESE STRIKES AGAINST ISRAEL ON AGAINST ISRAEL ON ISRAEL ISRAELI SOIL.I SOIL, IRAN IS THE ONE WHO WAS PROVIDING THE MEANS AND TH IRAN IS THE ONE WHO'S PROVIDING E RESOURCES THROUGH WH THE MEANS AND THE RESOURCES ICH THESE GROUPS THROUGH WHICH THESE GROUPS AND AND THEIR OWN MILITARY WAS ABLE THEIR OWN MILITARY WAS ABLE TO TO CONDUCT THIS UNPREC CONDUCT THIS UNPRECEDENTED EDENTED ATTACK ON ISRAEL. &gt;&gt; ATTACK ON ISRAEL. GIVEN THAT, &gt;&gt; SO GIVEN THAT, AND GIVEN WHAT AND GIVEN W THE WHITE HOUSE IS SIGNALING THE WHITE HOUSE IS SIGNALING ABOUT IT ABOUT ITS MESSAGING TO THE S MESSAGING TO THE ISRAELIS, I JUST WANT TO GO BACK ISRAELIS, I JUST WANT TO GO BACK TO THE POINT HERE, IS THE WHITE HOUSE SAYI TO THE POINT HERE.NG, IN, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN TH IS THE WHITE HOUSE SAYING, YOU E LINES, ESSENTIALLY TO ISRAEL, KNOW, BETWEEN THE LINES, DON'T RETALIATE NOW? I MEAN, THE IRANIANS H ESSENTIALLY, TO ISRAEL, DON'T AVE RETALIATE NOW? CLAIMED THAT THEY HAVE THE IRANIANS HAVE CLAIMED THAT CONCLUDED THEIR RE THEY HAVE CONCLUDED THEIR SPONSE TO THE SYRIA ATTACK RESPONSE TO THE SYRIA ATTACK., SO IS IT THE U.S. SO IS IT THE U.S. POSITION THAT POSITION IF ISRAEL SITS TIGHT, THIS COULD THAT IF ISRAEL SITS TIGHT, THIS CAN END RIGHT NOW? END RIGHT NOW?&gt;&gt; WE WANT TO SEE DEESCALATION, CLEARLY, IN THE REGION, AND EVERYTHING &gt;&gt; WE WANT TO SEE DEESCALATION CLEARLY IN THE REGION, AND EVERYTHING THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE SINCE OCTOBER 7th HAS BEEN th HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO KEEP THIS FROM BECOMING A DESIGNED TO KEEP THIS FROM WIDER WAR, SAVANNAH, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO KEEP LATCHED UP WITH ISRAELI COUNTERPARTS AND MAKE IT CLEAR AGAIN TO THE ISR BECOMING A WIDER WAR, SF SAVANNAH, THAT'S WHY WE'RE GOINGAELIS WE'LL DO WH TO KEEP LATCHED UP WITH THE AT WE HAVE TO DO TO DEFEND THEM AND HEL ISRAELI COUNTERPARTS.P THEM IN THEI THAT'S WHY WE WILL KEEP UP WITH R SELF-DEFENSE BUT WE OUR ISRAELI COUNTER PARTS AND MAKE IT CLEAR WE WILL DO WHAT WEDON'T WANT HAVE TO DO TO DEFEND THEM, HELP THEM IN THEIR SELF-DEFENSE, BUT TO SEE A WIDER WAR, WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A WAR WITH IRAN. &gt;&gt; ON THE OTHER HAND, IF ISRAEL DOES NOT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE A WIDER WAR. WE CERTAINLY ARE NOT LOOKING FOR A WAR WITH IRAN. &gt;&gt; ON THE OTHER HAND, IF ISRAEL DOES NOT RETALIATE, SOME SAY IF THE U.S. DOESN'T RESPOND DIRECTLY, THEN IRAN WILL SIMPLY POND DIRECTLY, THEN IRAN WILL SIMPLY BE EMBOLDENED, YOU'RE GETTING I BE EMBOLDEN.T FROM BOT HERE YOU'RE GETTING IT FROM BOTH SIDES.H SENATOR JOHN FETTERMAN SAYS HE SIDES. SENATOR JOHN FETTERMAN DISAGREES WITH THE PRESIDENT, SEEMING TO RULE OUT DISAGREES WITH THE PRESIDENT TO ANY U.S RULE OUT ANY U.S. RESPONSE . RESPONSE AGAINST AGAINST IRAN.IRAN, AND DA AND CONGRESSMAN DARENSHAW N CRENSHAW, WHEN YOU DIMINISH THE RETURNS, THE ENEMY FEELS EMBOLDENED TO SAID WHEN YOU DIMINISH STRIKE. &gt;&gt; WHAT WE SAID THE OTHER NIGHT, DETERRENCE, THE ENEMY FEELS IS THAT IRAN IS NO EMBOLDENED TO STRIKE.T MILITARILY SUPERI &gt;&gt; I THINK WHAT WE SHOWED THE OTHER NIGHT IN CONCERT WITH OR, THAT I PARTNERS AND OF COURSE THE RAN IS NOT TEN FEET TALL, AND THAT WE WIL ISRAELIS IS THAT IRAN IS NOT MILITARILY SUPERIOR, THAT IRAN L AC IS NOT 10 FEET TALL AND THAT WE WILL ACT -- THAT ISRAEL IS NOT ALONE. IS NOT ALONE, WE WE WILL ACT WITH THEM ON THEIR WILL ACT WITH THEM IN T SELF-DEFENSE. SELF-DEFENSE. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN LOOK AT THE INCREDIBLE MILITARY ACHIEVEMENTS THE OTHER NIGHT, AND COME I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN LOOK AT AWAY WITH THE INCREDIBLE MILITARY ANY OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS THE OTHER NIGHT ANDIDEA THAT THE UNITED STATES, THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN IS NOT COME AWAY WITH ANY OTHER IDEA GOING TO S THAT THE UNITED STATES, THAT TAND BY OUR GO PRESIDENT BIDEN IS NOT GOING TO OD FRIEND AND ALLY ISRAEL AS THEY STAND BY OUR GOOD FRIEND AND DEFEND THE ALLY ISRAEL AS THEY DEFEND THEMSELVES.MSELVES. &gt;&gt; WE WILL BE HA &gt;&gt; WE WILL BE HAVING A MUCH VING A MUCH DIFFER DIFFERENT CONVERSATION HAD WE CONVERSATION HAD WE NOT HAD THAT INCREDIBLE, AS YOU MENTIONED, ABILI NOT HAD THAT INCREDIBLE, AS YOU TY TO REPE MENTIONED, ABILITY TO REPEL 99% L 99% OF THESE OF THESE MISSILES AND DRONES MISSILES AND DRONES THAT WERE COMING TOWARD ISRAEL, THAT WERE COMING TOWARD ISRAEL. DOES NETANYAHU'S ACTIONS IN THE REGION MAK DOES NETANYAHU'S ACTIONS IN THE E THE U.S. REGION MAKE THE U.S. NERVOUS? NERVOUS? &gt;&gt; I THINK WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TENSIONS &gt;&gt; I THINK WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TENSIONS RISING ALL RISING ALL THROUGHOUT THE REGION, SAVANNAH, THROUGHOUT THE REGION, SAVANNAH. AND, AGAIN AND, AGAIN, EVERYTHING THAT THE , EVERYTHING THAT TH PRESIDENT HAS BEEN DOING AND E PRESIDENT HAS BEEN DOING, AND ADDING RESOURCES</p>

NBC Special Report: Former President Trump arrives at court for hush money trial

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NBC Special Report: Former President Trump arrives at court for hush money trial

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