>>> TONIGHT, MAJOR FALLOUT AFTER >>> TONIGHT, MAJOR FALLOUT AFTER A FEDERAL JUDGE SUSPENDS APPROVAL OF THE COMMONLY USED ABORTION PILL SET TO BEGIN WITHIN DAYS. ABORTION RIGHTS ACTIVISTS VOWING TO FIGHT. OTHERS CELEBRATE THE RULE. AS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT WILL APPEAL. >>> NEW CONFUSION AFTER ANOTHER JUDGE RULES IN FAVOR OF THE PILL. WILL THE SUPREME COURT DECIDE THE ISSUE? >>> IS THERE A MOLE IN THE PENTAGON? THE RACE TO FIND OUT WHO MAY BE LEAKING TOP-SECRET INTELLIGENCE. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND PENTAGON NOW INVESTIGATING. >> IT PUTS OURSELVES AT RISK, IT PUTS OUR ALLIES AT RISK. >>> CHINA’S MAJOR ESCALATION, LAUNCHING MASSIVE MILITARY DRILLS OFF TAIWAN’S COAST JUST AS U.S. LAWMAKERS VISIT THE ISLAND. OUR CORRESPONDENT IS THERE. >>> GUNFIRE AT THE BEACH. SIX PEOPLE SHOT, MOST OF THEM MISS THEM. >> BAM, TREES ARE FALLING ON THE GROUND. >> WHY PLAY WAS HALTED AGAIN TODAY. >>> AND THE NEED FOR SPEED. THE NEW PUSH ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO RAISE THE SPEED LIMITS. HOW FAST IS TOO FAST? >> Announcer: THIS IS NBC "NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH JOSE DIAZ-BALART. >>> A NEW FRONT HAS OPENED IN THE NATION’S ONGOING BATTLE OVER ABORTION RIGHTS. NOT EVEN A YEAR AFTER ROE V. WADE WAS OVERTURNED, LEAVING IT UP TO THE STATES TO DETERMINE WHETHER ABORTIONS ARE LEGAL, A FEDERAL JUDGE ISSUED A RULING THAT WOULD HALT THE USE OF THE COMMONLY USED ABORTION PILL NATIONWIDE. THE DECISION CAME DOWN LATE ON A FRIDAY OF A HOLIDAY WEEKEND, BUT THE REACTION TODAY WAS SWIFT WITH SOME SMALL PROTESTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE SUSPENSION DOESN’T GO INTO EFFECT FOR SEVEN DAYS, AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS VOWING TO STOP IT. THE CASE SEEMS DESTINED TO ROCKET UP THE LEGAL SYSTEM, POSSIBLY ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT. WE HAVE TWO REPORTS TONIGHT BEGINNING WITH DASHA BURNS WHO HAS BEEN WITH ACTIVISTS ON BOTH SIDES. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, ACTIVISTS OUTRAGED OVER A TEXAS JUDGE’S RULING LATE FRIDAY SUSPENDING THE FDA’S APPROVAL OF THE ABORTION PILL KNOWN AS MIFEPRISTONE. THE JUDGE WRITING IN HIS OPINION, "THE COURT DOES NOT SECOND-GUESS THE FDA’S DECISION-MAKING LIGHTLY, BUT HERE THE FDA ACQUIESCED ON ITS LEGITIMATE SAFETY CONCERNS." HE STOPPED SHORT OF AN IMMEDIATE NATIONWIDE BAN, INSTEAD ALLOWING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SEVEN DAYS TO APPEAL THE DECISION. >> THIS IS AN ASSAULT ON THE HUMANITY OF WOMEN, THIS IS AN ASSAULT ON BASIC REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, ALSO ASSAULT ON THE DEMOCRACY. >> Reporter: THE OUTCOME CELEBRATED BY THE PLAINTIFFS. >> THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT VICTORY FOR THE DOCTORS AND MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS WE REPRESENT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF WOMEN AND GIRLS. >> Reporter: WE SAT DOWN WITH ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM BEFORE THE RULING, THE CONSERVATIVE GROUP BEHIND THE LAWSUIT THAT WAS ALSO INSTRUMENTAL IN OVERTURNING ROE V. WADE. >> THE GOAL OF THE LAWSUIT IS TO PROTECT AMERICAN WOMEN AND GIRLS FROM DANGEROUS CHEMICAL ABORTION DRUGS. IT’S NOT -- WE ARE NOT SEEKING A NATIONWIDE ABORTION BAN. >> Reporter: THE DRUG HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE FDA SINCE 2000. SINCE THEN, MORE THAN 5 MILLION WOMEN HAVE TAKEN MIFEPRISTONE, WITH 28 DEATHS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DRUG REPORTED. IT’S THE MOST COMMON METHOD FOR TERMINATING PREGNANCIES IN THE U.S. BUT JUST MINUTES AFTER THE TEXAS RULING CAME DOWN, A FEDERAL JUDGE IN WASHINGTON STATE DROPPED A CONTRADICTORY DECISION, PROTECTING ACCESS TO THE ABORTION PILL IN 17 STATES AND WASHINGTON, D.C. THE DUELING RULINGS NOW SOWING CHAOS AND CONFUSION ACROSS THE COUNTRY. >> DASHA JOINS US NEW FROM NEW YORK CITY’S WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK WHERE, DASHA, A SMALL GROUP OF PROTESTERS HAVE GATHERED? >> Reporter: THAT’S RIGHT, JOSE. ACTIVISTS HERE AND NATIONWIDE CRITICIZING THE JUDGE’S TIMING. THE RULING COMING AHEAD OF A HOLIDAY WEEKEND. STILL, PROTESTERS HERE TELLING ME THE STAKES ARE TOO HIGH TO STAY HOME, AS THIS DECISION COULD IMPACT ABORTION ACCESS HERE IN NEW YORK AND NATIONWIDE. JOSE? >> DASHA BURNS IN NEW YORK, THANK YOU. >>> PRESIDENT BIDEN IS VOWING TO FIGHT THE TEXAS RULING. IT’S THE BEGINNING OF WHAT’S EXPECTED TO BE YET ANOTHER CONTENTIOUS ROUND OF COURT BATTLES OVER ABORTION. MONICA ALBA REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. >> Reporter: THE BATTLE OVER ABORTION RIGHTS COULD AGAIN BE HEADED FOR THE SUPREME COURT. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PLANNING TO APPEAL THE TEXAS RULING THAT WOULD JEOPARDIZE ACCESS TO THE MOST COMMONLY USED ABORTION PILL, SETTING UP A LEGAL SHOWDOWN LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER THE COURT OVERTURNED ROE V. WADE. >> SUPREME COURT HAS GOT TO GO! >> Reporter: PRESIDENT BIDEN VOWED TO FIGHT THE DECISION, WRITING FRIDAY, "IF IT WERE TO STAND, THERE WOULD BE VIRTUALLY NO PRESCRIPTION APPROVED BY THE FDA THAT WOULD BE SAFE FROM THESE KINDS OF POLITICAL IDEOLOGICAL ATTACKS." THE TEXAS CASE NOW GOES TO THE CONSERVATIVE FIFTH CIRCUIT, BUT IN THE SHORT-TERM, THE DRUG IS STILL AVAILABLE. IT IS UNCLEAR IF THE WASHINGTON RULING WHICH ASKS FOR THE MEDICATION TO BE KEPT ON THE MARKET WILL ALSO BE APPEALED. IF BOTH ARE HEARD AT THE CIRCUIT LEVEL, IT’S UNLIKELY THIS WILL BE RESOLVED IN THE COURTS ANY BE RESOLVED IN THE COURTS ANY TIME SOON. >> I WOULD NOT EXPECT THERE TO BE MUCH CHANGE IN THE ACTUAL LAW FOR AT LEAST SEVERAL MONTHS, PERHAPS UPWARDS OF A YEAR. >> Reporter: WITH THE SUPREME COURT, WHICH CURRENTLY HAS A CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY, WATCHING TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT. >> WHAT IS MOST LIKELY TO HAPPEN IS THAT THERE WILL BE A SPLIT IN THE CIRCUIT, SO THE FIFTH CIRCUIT WILL RULE ONE WAY, THE NINTH CIRCUIT WILL RULE A DIFFERENT WAY, AND THE SUPREME COURT WILL SAY, "NOW THERE IS A CONFLICT BETWEEN TWO CIRCUITS, AND THAT MEANS WE SHOULD PROBABLY HEAR THIS CASE AND DECIDE THE ISSUE ON THE MERITS." >> Reporter: AS VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, WHO’S BEEN THE ADMINISTRATION’S LEADING VOICE ON ABORTION ACCESS, SLAMMED THE TEXAS DECISION AS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT. >> THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE PRESIDENT AND I ARE GOING TO STAND WITH THE WOMEN OF AMERICA. >> MONICA JOINS US NOW FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. WHAT ELSE, MONICA, COULD THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DO HERE? >> THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT COULD FILE AN EMERGENCY APPEAL WITH THE HIGH COURT WHILE IT ALSO TRIES TO GET THE TEXAS ORDER BLOCKED BY THE FIFTH CIRCUIT. A STRATEGIC CALL THAT LIKELY WILL BECOME APPARENT IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO. JOSE? >> MONICA ALBA AT THE WHITE HOUSE, THANK YOU. >>> NOW TO A MYSTERY INVOLVING TOP-SECRET MILITARY DOCUMENTS. SOMEONE MAY HAVE POSTED A BATCH OF STOLEN FILES ONLINE, SPARKING A MAJOR INVESTIGATION BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. ALLIE RAFFA NOW ON JUST WHAT’S IN THESE DOCUMENTS AND WHO MIGHT BE TO BLAME. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, NEW CONCERNS OVER HOW SECURE THE COUNTRY’S DEFENSE SECRETS REALLY ARE. >> OBVIOUSLY, LEAKS, IF THAT’S WHAT THIS IS, OR A HACK THAT SUCCEEDS, IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. >> Reporter: AFTER A SUSPECTED LEAK OF CLASSIFIED U.S. DOCUMENTS ABOUT UKRAINE’S WAR EFFORT AND MILITARY STRENGTH WERE POSSIBLY LEAKED. PHOTOS OF THE ALLEGEDLY TOP-SECRET DOCUMENTS POSTED RECENTLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA. THE LEAKS FIRST REPORTED BY "THE NEW YORK TIMES" INCLUDING MAPS AND EQUIPMENT LISTS THAT LAY OUT DETAILS ABOUT UKRAINE’S MILITARY STRENGTH, CASUALTY COUNTS, AND WESTERN WEAPONS CAPABILITIES. THE "TIMES" REPORTING THAT THE DOCUMENTS ALSO REVEAL U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY SECRETS ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND CHINA. >> THERE ARE SOME INDICATIONS THAT THERE ARE SOME ASPECTS OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE SOME AUTHENTICITY TO THEM. BUT THERE ARE ALSO INDICATIONS THAT THIS MAY BE A RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN, WHICH THEY’RE VERY GOOD AT. >> Reporter: WHILE RUSSIAN STATE MEDIA LARGELY AVOIDS COVERAGE OF THE DOCUMENTS, ONE UKRAINIAN OFFICIAL IS CALLING IT A BLUFF BY RUSSIA. MEANWHILE, INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS SAY THEY’RE CONFIDENT THESE DOCUMENTS WERE ALSO DOCTORED. >> THE DETERMINATION HAS BEEN TENTATIVELY THAT THIS IS A RUSSIAN-LED EFFORT. >> IT’S ATTEMPTING TO TARGET STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE-SHARING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND UKRAINE AND TRY TO CREATE A BAD FAITH RELATIONSHIP THERE. >> Reporter: BOTH THE JUSTICE AND DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS NOW TRYING TO GET ANSWERS. >> IT PUTS OURSELVES AT RISK, IT PUTS OUR ALLIES AT RISK, IT PUTS OUR SOURCES AND METHODS AT RISK. >> ALLIE JOINS US FROM WASHINGTON. THE BIG QUESTION HERE IS, COULD U.S. INTELLIGENCE HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED FROM WITHIN? >> Reporter: WELL, RIGHT NOW THE DOJ AND PENTAGON ARE DIGGING FOR ANY EVIDENCE OF A POSSIBLE TRAITOR WITHIN THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OR U.S. INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES. JOSE? >> ALLIE RAFFA, THANK YOU. >>> TENSIONS ARE RISING TONIGHT AS CHINA LAUNCHES INCREASINGLY AGGRESSIVE MILITARY DRILLS OFF THE COAST OF TAIWAN. IT’S NO COINCIDENCE THE MOVE COMES ON THE SAME DAY U.S. LAWMAKERS WERE IN TAIWAN MEETING WITH ITS PRESIDENT. COURTNEY KUBE IS THERE. >> Reporter: A MASSIVE SHOW OF MILITARY MIGHT OFF THE COAST OF TAIWAN. CHINA DEPLOYING FIGHTER JETS AND WARSHIPS SATURDAY, SENDING 71 PLANES INTO TAIWAN’S AIR SPACE AND AT LEAST NINE CHINESE WARSHIPS NOW SURROUNDING THE SELF-GOVERNED ISLAND OF TAIWAN, SIMULATING A NAVAL BLOCKADE. IT’S THE START OF "EXERCISE JOINT SWORD," THREE DAYS OF MILITARY ACTION THAT BEIJING SAYS IS A SERIOUS WARNING. >> THIS IS THEIR WAY OF TRYING TO INTIMIDATE. >> Reporter: THE EXERCISE AS A RESULT OF HIGH-LEVEL TALKS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND TAIWAN, BEGINNING WITH PRESIDENT STAI’S MEETING WITH HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MEETING WITH HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY IN CALIFORNIA. HOURS LATER, A CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ARRIVING HERE IN TAIPEI FOR THREE DAYS OF ENGAGEMENT. >> IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL DEMOCRACIES STAND TOGETHER AGAINST TYRANNY AND OPPRESSION. >> Reporter: PRESIDENT TSAI SAYING TAIWAN HAS FACED CONTINUED AUTHORITARIAN EXPANSIONISM, MAKING COOPERATION AMONG DEMOCRACIES EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, CONGRESSMAN MIKE McCALL, VOWING TO DELIVER WEAPONS AND TRAINING TO TAIWAN’S MILITARY. >> WE WILL PROVIDE TRAINING TO YOUR MILITARY. NOT FOR WAR BUT FOR PEACE. >> Reporter: CHINA’S RESPONSE SO FAR, MORE MUTED THAN THEIR ACTIONS AFTER THEN-SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI VISITED LAST SUMMER, WHEN THEIR DRILLS INCLUDED FIRING BALLISTIC MISSILES. BUT THE TENSIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CHINA, HIGHER NOW. THIS MILITARY SHOW OF FORCE CAUSING CONCERN IN THE REGION AND BEYOND. TODAY, TAIWAN PLEDGING TO RESPOND WITH A CALM, RATIONAL, AND SERIOUS ATTITUDE. MEANWHILE, CHINA NOT SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF BACKING DOWN. CONGRESSMAN McCALL STRESSED TAIWAN NEEDS WEAPONS TO DETER, AND IF NEED BE, DEFEND AGAINST THE CHINESE INVASION. WITH ABOUT $19 BILLION IN WEAPONS MEANT FOR TAIWAN NOW BACKLOGGED, MANY OF THOSE SYSTEMS WON’T ARRIVE HERE FOR YEARS. JOSE? >> COURTNEY KUBE IN TAIPEI, THANK YOU. TUNE IN TO TOMORROW’S "MEET THE PRESS" WHERE ONE OF CHUCK TODD’S GUESTS WILL BE CONGRESSMAN MICHAEL McCALL IN TAIWAN. >>> IN ITALY, A FRAIL POPE FRANCIS WAS BACK IN THE PUBLIC EYE FOR HOLY SATURDAY AFTER SKIPPING YESTERDAY’S GOOD FRIDAY PROCESSION. BUT WILL THE AILING PONTIFF BE BACK TO GIVE THE EASTER SUNDAY BLESSING? ANNE THOMPSON IS IN ROME. ANNE? >> Reporter: JOSE, AHEAD OF HIS BIG DAY TOMORROW, POPE FRANCIS LED A MORE THAN TWO-HOUR EASTER VIGIL MASS HERE AT ST. PETER’S BASILICA. THE 86-YEAR-OLD POPE ENTERED IN HIS WHEELCHAIR, A DAY AFTER CHOOSING NOT TO GO TO AN OUTDOOR CEREMONY OF THE WAY OF THE CROSS, THE COLD NIGHT AIR THOUGHT NOT TO BE GOOD FOR THE POPE, WHO WAS HOSPITALIZED LAST WEEK WITH BRONCHITIS. TONIGHT’S SERVICE WAS INDOORS WHERE POPE FRANCIS DISTRIBUTED COMMUNION AND TOLD THE FAITHFUL TO LET THE POWER OF EASTER ROLL AWAY EVERY STONE OF MISTRUST AND DISAPPOINTMENT. TOMORROW, HE WILL PRESIDE OVER EASTER MASS HERE IN THE SQUARE, TO BE FAR FROM THE NORMAL COURSE OF BUSINESS. SAM BROCK, NBC NEWS. >>> STILL AHEAD, RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES. THE TERRIFYING MASS SHOOTING ON A SOUTH CAROLINA BEACH DURING A >>> WE’RE BACK WITH THE CHAOS ON >>> WE’RE BACK WITH THE CHAOS ON A SOUTH CAROLINA BEACH WHEN GUNSHOTS VIOLENTLY INTERRUPTED A HIGH SCHOOL TRADITION. LISTEN CLOSELY. SIX PEOPLE WERE SHOT AND INJURED SIX PEOPLE WERE SHOT AND INJURED YESTERDAY. MOST OF THE VICTIMS, TEENAGERS WHO WERE OUT OF SCHOOL ON A SENIOR SKIP DAY IN ISLE OF PALMS. NO ONE WAS KILLED, BUT LOOK AT THIS. RIGHT AFTER SOMEONE STARTED FIRING THE SHOTS, CROWDS OF PEOPLE STARTED RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES. POLICE RECOVERED GUNS AT THE BEACH AND MADE SEVERAL ARRESTS. THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. >>> NOW TO THE STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY MOVING TO RAISE THEIR SPEED LIMITS. BUT DOES THIS NEED FOR SPEED INCREASE THE RISK OF ACCIDENTS? JESSE KIRSCH DRIVES INTO THE DEBATE. >> Reporter: FROM NEW YORK TO TENNESSEE AND BEYOND, TONIGHT, MULTIPLE STATES CONSIDERING A JUMP IN SPEED LIMITS. IN NORTH CAROLINA, SOME INTERSTATES COULD SOON GO FROM A 70-MILE-PER-HOUR LIMIT TO 75. SOME, INCLUDING SAFETY ADVOCATES, WARN LEGISLATORS NATIONWIDE SHOULD PUMP THE BRAKES ON THOSE EFFORTS. >> 5 MILES AN HOUR CAN BE THE DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE DYING IN A CRASH VERSUS BEING ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM A CRASH. >> Reporter: THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY SAYS 2021 CRASH TESTING FOUND EVEN SMALL SPEED INCREASES CAN RAISE A DRIVER’S RISK OF SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH. >> THE BENEFIT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, TO GET PLACES FASTER. BUT AT WHAT COST? >> Reporter: IN NORTH DAKOTA, THE GOVERNOR VETOED A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE RAISED THE SPEED LIMIT ON SOME HIGHWAYS TO 80 MILES PER HOUR. >> INCREASING THE MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS INCREASES BOTH THE RISK OF SPEED-RELATED CRASHES AND THE POTENTIAL SEVERITY OF SUCH CRASHES. >> Reporter: IN OHIO, A RECENT BILL WOULD HAVE BUMPED SOME HIGHWAY SPEED LIMITS FROM 55 MILES PER HOUR TO 60. THAT PROPOSAL DIDN’T GET FAR. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SPEED LIMITS GOING UP? >> TO ME, IT SOUNDS CRAZY. >> ABSOLUTELY NOT. I THINK THEY GO FAST ENOUGH ALREADY. >> 53. 63. >> Reporter: ALREADY, SOME ARE DRIVING ABOVE THE SPEED LIMIT WHICH WE TRACKED FIRSTHAND. >> OKAY, SO THAT VEHICLE CLOCKED 6 MILES PER HOUR ABOVE THE SPEED LIMIT HERE. AND SOME WORRY IF YOU RAISE SPEED LIMITS, PEOPLE MIGHT JUST KEEP GOING ABOVE THE NEW SPEED LIMITS. >> THEY’RE GOING TO BE GOING FASTER. >> Reporter: IN OHIO, SHERIFF SCOTT HILDEBRAND SAYS DISTRACTED DRIVING IS THE TOP PROBLEM, EVEN AT 55 MILES PER HOUR, ON POTENTIALLY TREACHEROUS ROADS. >> ESPECIALLY ON A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY. YOU DON’T HAVE THE AMOUNT OF WIDTH FOR A MISTAKE. TOGETHER AGAIN, PLANNING A VACATION, HIKING, FINALLY SPENDING EASTER TOGETHER TOMORROW. THAT’S NBC "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS SATURDAY.