>>> TONIGHT, THE DRAMATIC SHOWDOWN OVER GUNS IN TENNESSEE. THE STATE'S REPUBLICAN LED HOUSE VOTING ON REMOVING THREE DEMOCRATS FROM OFFICE AFTER THEY LED A PROTEST ON THE FLOOR DEMANDING STRICTER GUN LAWS AFTER THE NASHVILLE SCHOOL SHOOTING THAT KILLED SIX PEOPLE THE RARE PUNISHMENT USED ONLY THREE TIMES BEFORE SINCE THE CIVIL WAR. OUTSIDE THE BUILDING THE MASSIVE PROTESTS AND WHAT HAPPENS NOW WITH THE OUSTED DEMOCRATS' SEATS >>> ALSO TONIGHT, IN A NEW REPORT IN THE U.S. WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN THE WHITE HOUSE LARGELY BLAMING THE CHAOS AND DECISIONS BY FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP ON THE ACTIONS IT SAYS THE U.S. SHOULD HAVE TAKEN EVEN SOONER. >>> THE RISING TENSIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST ISRAEL STRIKING BACK TONIGHT AFTER THE BIGGEST BARRAGE OF MISSILES FROM LEBANON IN MORE THAN 16 YEARS. >>> TRACKING SEVERE STORMS ON THE MOVE TONIGHT IN THE MID-ATLANTIC ON THE HEELS OF THAT DEADLY TORNADO OUTBREAK >>> NBC NEWS INVESTIGATES AFTER OUR REPORT ON TOXIC AIR CONCERNS NEAR A LOUISIANA SCHOOL WHAT THE EPA IS NOW DOING ABOUT IT >>> AND IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO WE LOST A MEMBER OF OUR NBC NEWS FAMILY COVERING THE WAR IN IRAQ. TONIGHT, MY CONVERSATION WITH DAVID BLOOM'S WIDOW ABOUT THE LIVES HIS STORY MAY HAVE SAVED >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. THE TEARS OF GRIEF THAT CONSUME NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, JUST TEN DAYS AGO OVER THE MURDERS OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND SCHOOL STAFFERS ARE REPLACED TONIGHT BY CRIES OF ANGER AND ACCUSATIONS AFTER AN EXTRAORDINARY MOVE BY TENNESSEE HOUSE REPUBLICANS TO SEEK THE EXPULSION OF THREE DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS FOR THEIR ROLES IN A GUN SAFETY PROTEST ON THE HOUSE FLOOR LAST WEEK. ALL DAY ANGRY SUPPORTERS AND GUN SAFETY ADVOCATES CROWDING THE STATEHOUSE WHERE THE GOP MAJORITY WAS PUTTING THE RESOLUTIONS UP TO A VOTE ONE BY ONE, DECLARING THE THREE PARTICIPATED IN DISORDERLY BEHAVIOR WHEN THEY LED SUPPORTERS IN CHANTS DEMANDING STRICTER GUN SAFETY MEASURES. EXPULSION A RARELY EXERCISED RIGHT OF THE TENNESSEE HOUSE THAT CRITICS ON THE LEFT TONIGHT ARE CALLING ANTI-DEMOCRATIC. NBC'S PRISCILLA THOMPSON IS IN NASHVILLE FOLLOWING IT ALL FOR US WHERE DO THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW, PRISCILLA >> Reporter: LESTER, TWO OF THOSE THREE DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN EXPELLED DEMONSTRATORS SHOUTING SHAME AS REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS LEFT THE HOUSE FLOOR. MEANWHILE THOSE NOW EXPELLED DEMOCRATS VOWING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT. OUTRAGE TONIGHT IN NASHVILLE IN REACTION TO REPUBLICAN-LED EFFORTS TO EXPEL THREE DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE. >> I HEREBY DECLARE REPRESENTATIVE JUSTIN JONES OF THE 57th REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT EXPELLED FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 113th ASSEMBLY IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE >> Reporter: THE THREE DEMOCRATS IN QUESTION STATE REPRESENTATIVES JUSTIN JONES, GLORIA JOHNSON, AND JUSTIN PEARSON WERE ACCUSED OF DISORDERLY BEHAVIOR FOLLOWING THEIR PARTICIPATION IN A DEMONSTRATION ON THE HOUSE FLOOR LAST WEEK. THEY JOINED ADVOCATES CALLING FOR STRICTER GUN SAFETY MEASURES FOLLOWING THE MASS SHOOTING AT THE NASHVILLE PRIVATE SCHOOL THAT LEFT SIX PEOPLE DEAD ON MARCH 27th THEIR CHANTS WITH THE BULLHORN FROM THE PODIUM IN THE HOUSE WELL LED TO TODAY'S SHOWDOWN >> WE CALLED FOR YOU ALL TO BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS, AND YOU RESPOND WITH AN ASSAULT ON DEMOCRACY >> Reporter: WHILE TENNESSEE'S CONSTITUTION ALLOW FOR ANY MEMBER OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO BE EXPELLED WITH A TWO THIRDS VOTE IT'S ONLY HAPPENED THREE TIMES BEFORE DEMONSTRATORS TODAY FILLED THE HALLS OF THE STATE CAPITOL, BUT ARGUMENTS FROM DEMOCRATS DID LITTLE TO SWAY THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY >> THIS DOES NOT SEEM LIKE AMERICA THE TO DISPEL VOICES OF OPPOSITION AND DISSENT IS A SIGNAL OF AUTHORITARIANISM AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS >> Reporter: THE REPUBLICAN SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SAID TODAY'S ACTIONS WERE ABOUT THE RULES. >> THEY DID BREAK RULES BY GOING TO THE WELL AND SHOWING THAT THEY WERE AT THE WELL THEY WERE SPEAKING, BULL THEY PULLED OUT A BULLHORN AND ROLLED OUT AN ORDER BEFORE THERE WAS A RECESS >> Reporter: BUT PROTESTERS HERE TOLD US THEY FELT TODAY'S VOTE WAS A DISTRACTION FROM THE URGENT ISSUE OF GUN VIOLENCE. >> WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TENNESSEE RIGHT NOW IS ABHORRENT, AND OUR LEGISLATORS ARE NOT LISTENING TO WHAT WE'RE SAYING >> PRISCILLA, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT >> Reporter: LESTER, COUNTIES WILL APPOINT INTERIM REPRESENTS T FILL THE SEATS OF THOSE EXPELLED LAWMAKERS UNTIL A SPECIAL ELECTION IS SET, AND THAT WOULD BE SET BY THE GOVERNOR. AND AS FOR THOSE EXPELLED LAWMAKERS HERE IN TENNESSEE THEY ARE STILL ELIGIBLE TO RUN AND COULD POTENTIALLY BE RE-ELECTED FOR THOSE SEATS IN THAT SPECIAL ELECTION. LESTER? >> PRISCILLA THOMPSON TONIGHT, THANK YOU. >>> TONIGHT'S OTHER TOP STORY A BIDEN ADMINISTRATION REVIEW PARTIALLY BLAMING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR THE CHAOTIC AND DEADLY U.S. WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN, PROMPTING A BACKLASH FROM REPUBLICANS. KRISTEN WELKER IS AT THE WHITE HOUSE WITH MORE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT NEARLY TWO YEARS AFTER THE DEADLY AND DISASTROUS AMERICAN WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN, THOSE STUNNING IMAGES OF AFGHANS DESPERATELY CHASING U.S. PLANES AND THE AIRPORT TERROR ATTACK, WHICH KILLED 13 U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION RELEASING ITS AFTER ACTION REVIEW, TRYING TO PIN MUCH OF THE BLAME ON FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WHAHAD LEFT OFFICE EIGHT MONTHS EARLIER INCLUDING CITING SHARP DRAW DOWNS OF U.S. TROOPS. >> IT IS ALSO UNDENIABLE THAT DECISIONS MADE AND THE LACK OF PLANNING DONE BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITED OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO HIM. >> Reporter: THOUGH ACKNOWLEDGING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SHOULD HAVE STARTED THE EVACUATION EARLIER. DESPITE FACING WITHERING CRITICISM PRESIDENT BIDEN AT THE TIME CALLED THE WITHDRAWAL A, QUOTE, EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS. >> NO NATION -- NO NATION HAS EVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE IT IN ALL OF HISTORY. >> Reporter: AND TODAY THIS PUSH BACK FROM A WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON. >> FOR ALL THIS TALK OF CHAOS I JUST DIDN'T SEE IT NOT FROM MY PERCH PAD. I JUST DON'T BUY THE WHOLE ARGUMENT OF CHAOS. IT WAS TOUGH IN THE FIRST FEW HOURS. >> Reporter: BUT A FORMER TOP TRUMP OFFICIAL TONIGHT FIRING BACK. >> THEY CAME IN, TOOK THE PLAN WE HAD AND JUST BOTCHED IT. IT'S OUTRAGEOUS TO SOMEHOW TRY AND BLAME ANYONE BUT JOE BIDEN. >> Reporter: WE PRESSED THE WHITE HOUSE. DOES THE PRESIDENT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WITHDRAWAL AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED THEREAFTER? >> HE'S THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF, AND HE ABSOLUTELY HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OPERATIONS THAT OUR MEN AND WOMEN CONDUCT AND THE ORDERS THAT HE GIVES. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE IN TALIBAN CONTROLLED AFGHANISTAN TONIGHT WOMEN FACE NEW OPPRESSION AND AFGHAN INTERPRETERS WHO HELP THE U.S. ARE IN HIDING. WE ASKED A VETERAN TRYING TO GET TRANSLATORS OUT ABOUT THE REPORT. >> IT DOESN'T DO ENOUGH TO TAKE FULL OWNERSHIP OF THE CONTINUED PROBLEM LOOKING FORWARD TO SAVE THE 160 TO 200,000 OF OUR AFGHAN PARTNERS WHO WERE LEFT BEHIND. >> Reporter: JUST LAST MONTH THE COMMANDER WARNED ISIS IN AFGHANISTAN COULD CONDUCT TERROR ATTACKS AGAINST U.S. INTERESTS ABROAD IN UNDER SIX MONTHS. LESTER? >> KRISTEN WELKER AT THE WHITE HOUSE, THANK YOU. >>> TONIGHT ISRAEL LAUNCHING NEW STRIKES IN GAZA AFTER GETTING HIT BY A WAVE OF ROCKET ATTACKS FIRED BY MILITANTS IN LEBANON. RAF SANCHEZ IS IN TEL AVIV TONIGHT. RAF, WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS? >> Reporter: LESTER, IN THE LAST HOUR ISRAELI JETS HAVE BEGUN STRIKING TARGETS IN GAZA BELONGING TO THE HAMAS MILITANT GROUP. WE DON'T YET KNOW THERE ARE CASUALTIES BUT WE DO KNOW ISRAEL BLAMES HAMAS FOR THOSE ROCKETS IN LEBANON EARLIER IN THE DAY, AND ALL OF THIS COMES AFTER VIOLENT SCENES YESTERDAY BETWEEN ISRAELI POLICE AND PALESTINIANS AT THE MOSQUE IN JERUSALEM, THE THIRD HOLIEST SITE IN ISLAM. LESTER? >> RAF SANCHEZ, THANK YOU. >>> DESPITE GROWING CHINA TENSIONS A U.S. DELEGATION IS IN TAIWAN AFTER TALKS IN CALIFORNIA BETWEEN TAIWAN'S PRESIDENT AND HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY. COURTNEY KUBE REPORTS NOW FROM TAIWAN. >> Reporter: TONIGHT DESPITE THREATS FROM CHINA INCLUDING THIS WARSHIP SEEN OFF THE COAST, A TOP DELEGATION OF AMERICAN OFFICIALS ARRIVING IN TAIWAN FOR CRITICAL HIGH LEVEL TALKS. THE BIPARTISAN GROUP MEETING WITH TAIWAN'S VICE PRESIDENT AND LATER THIS WEEKEND PRESIDENT TSAI AFTER HER HISTORIC VISIT WITH HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY IN CALIFORNIA. >> TAIWAN IS GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BY OUR SIDE. >> Reporter: CHINA BLASTING THE SHOW OF SUPPORT FROM THE U.S. FOR TAIWAN, VOWING TO FIRMLY DEFEND NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY. CHINA SAYS THE ISLAND DEMOCRACY OF TAIWAN IS PART OF ITS TERRITORY. >> THE UNITED STATES STANDS BY YOU AND WILL PROTECT YOU. >> Reporter: TONIGHT A TOP HOUSE REPUBLICAN, MICHAEL McCAUL, SAYING THE U.S. NEEDS TO ARM AND TRAIN TAIWAN'S MILITARY. WHILE TAIWAN'S VICE PRESIDENT SAYS THEY ARE ALREADY ON THE FRONT LINES OF COMBATING CHINA'S AUTHORITARIANISM, U.S. INTELLIGENCE SAYS CHINA'S PRESIDENT XI HAS INSTRUCTED HIS MILITARY TO BE READY TOO INVADE TAIWAN BY 2027. WE MET ENOCH WU, A FORMER SPECIAL FORCES SOL SOLDIER, NOW TRAINING CIVILIANS TO BE READY. HE BELIEVES THE THREAT OF AN INVASION IS HIGHER NOW THAN EVER. >> IF YOU CAN'T DEFEND IT, IT'S NOT YOURS. PROTECTING TAIWAN, PROTECTING OUR HOME IS OUR OWN RESPONSIBILITY. >> Reporter: DESPITE THE SHARP COMMENTS, SOME U.S. OFFICIALS TELL ME CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING IS UNLIKELY TO PUT ON A LARGE MILITARY SHOW OF FORCE WHILE FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON IS IN CHINE AON A STATE VISIT. BUT ONCE PRESIDENT MACRON LEAVES, PRESIDENT XI COULD RESPOND FORCEFULLY. >>> WE'RE TRACKING MORE SEVERE WEATHER HERE AT HOME AS THE STORM THAT RIPPED THROUGH PARTS OF THE MIDWEST NOW PUSHES INTO THE MIDATLANTIC. 10 MILLION PEOPLE ARE AT RISK FOR DAMAGING WINDS. THE MAIN CONCERN, FORTUNATELY, THE TORNADO THREAT HAS DIMINISHED. >>> WE'LL TURN TO ABORTION NOW AND WHAT HAS BEEN A CONSEQUENTIAL WEEK FOR BOTH SIDES ON THAT BATTLE AS IT PLAYS OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BLAYNE ALEXANDER HAS THE STORY FOR US. >> Reporter: IT'S BEEN NEARLY TEN MONTHS SINCE THE END OF ROE v. WADE AND THE BEGINNING OF ABORTION ACCESS FALLING SOLELY UNDER STATE CONTROL WITH MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN FOUR STATES THIS WEEK. IN IDAHO THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A CONTROVERSIAL NEW LAW MAKING IT A FELONY FOR NON-PARENT ADULTS TO HELP A MINOR CROSS STATE LINES FOR AN ABORTION, THE FIRST LAW OF ITS KIND NATIONWIDE. PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS SLAMMING THE MEASURE AS EXTREME, SAYING IT WILL PUT YOUNG PEOPLE IN DANGEROUS AND ISOLATING SITUATIONS. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO CRITICS WHO CALL THIS UNNECESSARILY CRUEL? >> I THINK, AGAIN, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PROTECT THE LIFE OF THE UNBORN CHILD. WHEN IT COMES TO MINORS, WHAT THE LEGISLATION REQUIRES IS THAT PARENTS ESSENTIALLY BE INFORMED. >> Reporter: IN FLORIDA PROTESTS AND ARRESTS AFTER THE STATE SENATE PASSED THE SO-CALLED HEARTBEAT PROTECTION ACT REDUCING ABORTION ACCESS FROM 15 WEEKS TO 6. >> IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS BAN, THINGS WILL GET WORSE. WOMEN WILL DIE. >> FOR 50 YEARS THE KILLING OF INNOCENT CHILDREN HAS BEEN LEGAL. LEGAL DOES NOT EQUATE TO RIGHT. >> Reporter: IT ALL COMES AMID A PAIR OF VICTORIES FOR ABORTION RIGHT ADVOCATES. IN MICHIGAN GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER SIGNED A REPEAL OF THE STATE'S ABORTION BAN ON THE BOOKS SINCE 1931. >> ABORTION RIGHTS ARE NOW ENSHRINED INTO OUR STATE'S CONSTITUTION. >> Reporter: AND IN WISCONSIN ABORTION WAS AT THE HEART OF TUESDAY'S HIGH STAKES ELECTION FOR A SEAT ON THE STATE'S SUPREME COURT NOW SET TO BE FILLED BY THE LIBERAL CANDIDATE, ALL BUT ENSURING ABORTION ACCESS IN THE STATE. >> WISCONSIN VOTERS FOR MADE THEIR VOICES HEARD. >> Reporter: TONIGHT SEVERAL MORE STATES ARE CONSIDERING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD EITHER EXPAND OR RESTRICT ACCESS TO ABORTIONS. BLAYNE ALEXANDER, NBC NEWS. >>> IN 60 SECONDS WHAT RESIDENTS SAY IS A LONG TIME TOXIC THREAT TO A SCHOOL NEAR A PRODUCTION PLANT IN LOUISIANA AND WHAT T >>> THREE WEEKS AGO WE FIRST REPORTED ON THE FIFTH WARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN RESERVE, LOUISIANA, LOCATED NEXT TO A PLANT EMITTING WHAT THE EPA HAS LONG SAID WAS A LIKELY CARCINOGEN. CYNTHIA McFADDEN RETURNED WITH THE HEAD OF THE EPA WHO'S NOW TAKING ACTION. >> Reporter: 18 MONTHS AGO THE NEWLY APPOINTED HEAD OF THE EPA, MICHAEL REGAN, TOOK WHAT HE CALLED A JOURNEY TO JUSTICE TOUR THAT BROUGHT HIM HERE. >> I VOWED THAT EPA WOULD TAKE ACTION. >> Reporter: TODAY HE RETURNED TO MAKE GOOD ON THAT PROMISE PROPOSING A STAGGERING SLATE OF EMISSIONS STANDARDS FOR 80 TOXIC CHEMICALS. >> WE'RE SETTING A SAFETY STANDARD THAT WE BELIEVE IS THE LOWEST YOU CAN SET THAT IS DETECTABLE WITH TECHNOLOGY. >> Reporter: INCLUDING CHEMICALS BEING EMITTED FROM THE DENKA PLANT HERE IN RESERVE. ON OUR LAST VISIT HERE WE MET GEORGE AND HIS GREAT GRANDMOTHER, MARY HAMPTON, WHO'S BEEN BATTLING FOR YEARS AGAINST THE DENKA PLANT NEXT DOOR TO GEORGE'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO STOP EMITTING WHAT THE EPA HAS LONG SAID ARE UNSAFE LEVELS OF TWO OF THOSE TOXIC CHEMICALS. ONE OF YOUR NEIGHBORS SAYS IT'S LIKE SENDING THE KIDS TO A GAS CHAMBER. >> EXACTLY. EXACTLY. >> Reporter: WE ALSO MET ROBERT TAYLOR WHO HAD BEEN FIGHTING WITH HER FOR YEARS. HE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH CONFIDENCE THE EPA WOULD DO ANYTHING, SO WHEN THE AGENCY CALLED THE NIGHT OUR STORY AIRED AND SUGGESTED WE MEET UP WITH MICHAEL REGAN IN LOUISIANA, WE AGREED. >> ONE OF THE THINGS MR. TAYLOR SAID TO ME THE FIRST TIME I CAME TO VISIT WAS THIS WAS A SACRIFICE. >> WHAT I CAN TELL YOU THERE ARE NONE OF THESE FACILITIES IN BEVERLY HILLS. THERE'S NO COINCIDENCE IF YOU LOOK AT WHO'S ON THE FRONT LINES MOST OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE BLACK, BROWN, ARE TRIBAL AND/OR LOW INCOME. SO THERE'S A CONSISTENT PATTERN HERE. >> Reporter: IF THE NEW STANDARDS ANNOUNCED TODAY ARE PUT INTO EFFECT, THEY BECOME MUCH MORE ENFORCEABLE. I THINK WHAT ANGERS A LOT OF PEOPLE IS, THOUGH, THE DENKA PLANT HAS BEEN EMITTING AT THESE HISTORICALLY HIGH LEVELS FOR YEARS NOW. WHY NOT SHUT THE PLANT DOWN WHILE EVERYTHING ELSE IS BEING SORTED OUT? >> WE ARE USING EVERY TOOL IN OUR TOOLBOX. AND IF I HAVE MORE POWERS, TRUST ME I WOULD USE THEM. >> Reporter: DENKA TOLD US IT'S REDUCED EMISSIONS AND SAYS IT'S BREAKING NO LAWS, DENYING IT'S PUTTING THE FOLKS WHO LIVE HERE AT ANY INCREASED RISK FOR CANCER. >> I WISH THAT WE COULD MOVE MORE EXPEDITIOUSLY TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT GEORGE, TO PROTECT MR. TAYLOR, TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO YESTERDAY. >> Reporter: AS FOR BOB AND MARY, THEY SAID TODAY HAS FILLED THEM WITH HOPE. WHAT'S THE BEST PART OF TODAY? >> WE GOT THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO POLITICIANS. >> IT'S NOT OVER. >> I'LL TELL THEM ALL THE TIME I'M HERE FROM DAY ONE AND BE HERE UNTIL DAY ZERO. >> Reporter: CYNTHIA McFADDEN, NBC NEWS, >>> IF YOU'VE BEEN SHOPPING FOR A NEW CAR THEN YOU KNOW THAT PRICES AND MONTHLY PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN SOARING. MIGUEL ALMAGUER REPORTS ON WHY AND WHAT YOU CAN DO IN "THE PRICE YOU PAY." >> Reporter: FOR AMERICANS ALREADY FACING STICKER SHOCK ON THE SALES LOT, TONIGHT CAR PAYMENTS ARE ALSO ACCELERATING TOWARDS RECORD LEVELS. EDMUNDS REVEALED THE AVERAGE LEVEL PERCENTAGE RATE OR APR ON A NEWLY FINANCED VEHICLE HAS NOW BALLOONED TO 7%. THE TYPICAL PAYMENT FOR A NEW CAR IN OVERDRIVE, HITTING $730 A MONTH. IT COULD BE ENOUGH FOR SHARON TO PUMP THE BRAKES ON BUYING NEW. >> IF YOU FIND SOMETHING YOU LIKE, YOU JUST SAVE MONEY. >> Reporter: AS CAR PAYMENTS BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE THAN EVER TONIGHT 1 IN 6 BUYERS WHO FINANCE NEW ARE PAYING MORE THAN $1,000 A MONTH. THE STAGGERING PRICE TO SIT BEHIND THE WHEEL RIVALING THE COST OF PUTTING A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD. >> UNLESS YOU HAVE A LOT OF CASH ON HAND TO KIND OF MITIGATE THOSE APRs YOU WILL BE LOOKING AT A NUMBER YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE IF YOU BOUGHT A CAR IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. >> Reporter: THE AVERAGE COST OF A NEW CAR HAS NEARLY HIT $50,000. MANY BUYERS ARE NO LONGER IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHEN IT COMES TO MONTHLY PAYMENTS. SUPPLY REMAINS TIGHT, INFLATION IS DRIVING UP COST, AND THE FED CONTINUES TO RAISE INTEREST RATES. THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS, THOUGH. EXPERTS BELIEVE RATES WILL SOON STABILIZE, BUT FOR NOW IT'S A BUMPY ROAD AHEAD FOR DRIVERS BUYING NEW. MIGUEL ALMAGUER, NBC NEWS, LOS ANGELES. >>> AND NEXT TONIGHT I'LL REMEMBER A >>> THIS IS A SOMBER ANNIVERSARY FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS AND FOR JOURNISM AT LARGE. IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO WE LEARNED OUR COLLEAGUE DAVID BLOOM HAD DIED WHILE EMBEDDED WITH THE FRONT LIONELMENTS OF THE U.S. INVASION OF IRAQ. >> THIS IS THE U.S. ARMY'S THIRD INFANTRY DIVISION. WE'RE WITH THE SECOND BRIGADE, THE 315 INFANTRY. >> IT'S WHERE HE LIKED TO BE ON THE PIG STORY, OUT FRONT. DAVID BLOOM ROLL INTO COMBAT ON LIVE TV WITH THE ARMY'S THIRD INFANTRY DIVISION TRAIL BY A CUSTOMIZED SATELLITE TRUCK KNOWN AS THE BLOOM MOBILE. >> WE'VE TRANSIMATE LINES FROM THIS VEHICLE USING A PRETTY SOPHISTICATED CAMERA WHICH COULD BE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND TAKE THE BUMPS AND JARS. >> PAUL WAS DAVID'S PRODUCER ON THE JOURNEY. >> WE'RE JUST ROLLING ALONG. IT'S NIGHTTIME NOW. >> THE DIFFERENCE WITH THE BLOOM MOBILE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU HAD LIVE TELEVISION ON THE MOVE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INVASION. >> TOM, WE'RE UNDER ATTACK RIGHT NOW. >> DAVID TRAVELED ABOARD A CRAMPED TANK RECOVERY VEHICLE. WHAT WAS YOUR LEVEL OF CONCERN ABOUT HIM GOING OFF AND WORKING IN A BATTLEFIELD? >> I WAS VERY CONCERNED, AND WHAT I KNEW ABOUT DAVID, THOUGH, IS THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE HE WOULD BE. HE REALLY HAD A CALLING TO BE A JOURNALIST. >> HIS WIFE MELANIE WORRIED ABOUT THE WAR UNAWARE HE FACED ANOTHER THREAT. >> TWO NIGHTS BEFORE HIS DEATH HE HAD CALLED ME AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, I JUST CAN'T SLEEP ANOTHER NIGHT IN THAT TANK WITH MY KNEES PULLED UP TO MY CHEST, I'VE BEEN HAVING THESE LEG CRAMPS. >> WHAT NO ONE INCLUDING DAVID KNEW HE HAD DEVELOPED A BLOOD CLOT. >> THE DAY THAT HE DIED HE KIND OF WOKE UP AND HE SAID THAT HE WASN'T LIMPING ANYMORE, IT'D GOTTEN MUCH BETTER, AND WE WERE ALL RELIEVED. BUT WHAT WAS EVIDENT NOW IS THAT THE BLOOD CLOT HAD MOVED FROM BEHIND HIS KNEE TO OTHER PARTS OF HIS BODY. >> SPECIFICALLY HIS LUNGS WHERE A PULMONARY EMBOLISM PROVED FATAL. DAVID WAS JUST 39 AND LEFT A WIFE AND THREE YOUNG DAUGHTERS BEHIND. AFTER DAVID'S PASSING MELANIE COMMITTED HERSELF TO INCREASING AWARENESS ABOUT DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS, DVT, THE CONDITION THAT TOOK DAVID'S LIFE THAT AFFECTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES EVERY DAY. >> 50% OF THE TIME THERE ARE SIGNS OF A CLOT IN YOUR LEG, AND THOSE SIGNS CAN BE SWELLING, REDNESS, PAIN, CRAMPS IN DAVID'S CASE. BUT 50% OF THE TIME IT'S SILENT AND YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW THAT THE CLOT IS THERE. >> THE MESSAGE SHE BELIEVES IS GETTING THROUGH. >> I THINK CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE. PEOPLE NOW ARE AWARE WHEN THEY GET ON PLANES TO GET UP AND WALK AROUND, STRETCH THEIR LEGS. >> DO YOU THINK HIS STORY HAS ULTIMATELY SAVED LIVES? >> I KNOW THAT IT HAS SAVED LIVES. I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT. AND DAVID DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO INFORMING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN HIS ROLE AS A JOURNALIST, AND I COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER LEGACY FOR HIM THAN TO INFORM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT TOOK HIS LIFE. >> DAVID AND HIS FAMILY IN OUR HEARTS TONIGHT. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS." THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF