>>> TONIGHT BREAKING NEWS. THE BRUTAL ATTACK AT THE OFFICE OF A U.S. CONGRESSMAN. A MAN WITH A METAL BASEBALL BAT INJURING TWO STAFFERS IN THE FIELD OFFICE OF VIRGINIA DEMOCRAT GERRY CONNOLLY. ONE OF THOSE ATTACKED, AN INTERN ON HER FIRST DAY. THE SUSPECT IN WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A RAGE, CRUSHING COMPUTERS AND SMASHING GLASS. WHAT WE'RE FINDING OUT ABOUT HIS HISTORY. >>> THE MASS SHOOTING IN NEW MEXICO. AUTHORITIES SAY THREE ARE DEAD, WITH MULTIPLE OTHERS INJURED, INCLUDING TWO POLICE OFFICERS. >>> JUST RELEASED, THE FINAL REPORT BY A TRUMP-ERA SPECIAL COUNSEL. ITS SHARP CRITICISM OF THE FBI FOR HOW THE BUREAU HANDLED THE INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER THE 2016 TRUMP CAMPAIGN CONSPIRED WITH RUSSIA. >>> THE CHILLING 911 CALLS DURING THAT SHOOTING RAMPAGE AT A MALL IN TEXAS. WITNESSES DESCRIBING THE HORROR. >>> A BIG DROP IN THE NUMBER OF MIGRANTS CROSSING INTO THE U.S. BUT THE NUMBER IN CUSTODY BEYOND CAPACITY. AMERICA'S CITIES INCREASINGLY FEELING THE IMPACT. >>> NBC NEWS FIRST TO REPORT DETAILS OF FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DeSANTIS'S LATEST STEP TOWARD LAUNCHING HIS PRESIDENTIAL BID. WHAT WE'RE FINDING OUT. >>> AMERICANS ARE KEEPING THEIR CARS LONGER THAN EVER. BUT IT MAY COST YOU MORE TO KEEP THEM WHO CAME DANGEROUSLY CLOSE. >> Announcer: THIS IS NBC "NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> AND GOOD EVENING. I'M TOM LLAMAS IN FOR LESTER TONIGHT. AT A TIME OF HIGH TENSIONS IN THIS COUNTRY A BRUTAL ATTACK ON THE OFFICE OF A U.S. CONGRESSMAN. THE SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY ENTERING THE VIRGINIA FIELD OFFICE OF DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE GERRY CONNOLLY, GOING ON A RAMPAGE WITH A METAL BASEBALL BAT, DEMANDING TO SEE THE CONGRESSMAN, THEN ATTACKING TWO STAFFERS WITH THAT BAT. ONE OF THEM AN INTERN, WITH OTHER STAFFERS HIDING IN FEAR. THE SUSPECT, THOUGHT TO BE A CONSTITUENT, DAMAGING COMPUTERS AND SHATTERING GLASS IN THAT OFFICE. THE CONGRESSMAN CALLING THE ASSAULT DEVASTATING AND UNCONSCIONABLE. THE SUSPECT IS NOW UNDER ARREST, AND IT'S THE LATEST ATTACK IN WHAT HAS BEEN A GROWING NUMBER OF THREATS AIMED AT ELECTED OFFICIALS. AND IT'S WHERE WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH NBC'S RYAN NOBLES IN FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA. >> Reporter: TONIGHT POLICE IN FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA WORKING TO FIGURE OUT WHY A MAN ENTERED CONGRESSMAN GERRY CONNOLLY'S DISTRICT OFFICE AND WENT ON A RAMPAGE. >> IT IS VERY CONCERNING, AND IT'S QUITE FRANKLY SCARY THAT SOMEONE CAN JUST WALK UP TO AN OFFICE HOLDING A BASEBALL BAT AND JUST START SWINGING. >> Reporter: ACCORDING TO CONNOLLY, THE SUSPECT, IDENTIFIED BY POLICE AS XUAN KHA TRAN PHAM, CAME INTO THE OFFICE DEMANDING TO SEE THE CONGRESSMAN, WHO WASN'T THERE. HE ALLEGEDLY THEN WENT ON THE ATTACK, HITTING TWO OF CONNOLLY'S STAFFERS WITH A METAL BAT, ONE OF THEM AN INTERN. IT WAS HER FIRST DAY ON THE JOB. HE THEN WENT INTO A RAGE, CRUSHING OFFICE COMPUTERS AND BREAKING GLASS. POLICE ARRIVED WITHIN FIVE MINUTES AND TOOK PHAM INTO CUSTODY. BOTH STAFFERS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH NON-LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES. >> WE ARE ALL PRAYING FOR THE QUICK RECOVERY OF THE STAFFERS. >> Reporter: PHAM WAS NOT KNOWN TO CAPITOL POLICE BUT FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CIA LAST YEAR CLAIMING THE AGENCY HAD BEEN WRONGFULLY IMPRISONING HIM IN A LOWER PERSPECTIVE BASED ON PHYSICS AND ALLEGING THAT HE IS BEING BRUTALLY TORTURED FROM THE FOURTH DIMENSION. ACCORDING TO CAPITOL POLICE, THREATS AGAINST MEMBERS HAVE SKYROCKETED FROM JUST OVER 4,000 IN 2017 TO ALMOST 10,000 IN 2021, THE SAME YEAR AS THE JANUARY 6th ATTACK. BUT IT'S BEEN MORE THAN JUST THREATS. WITHIN JUST THE LAST YEAR THE HUSBAND OF HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI WAS VIOLENTLY ATTACKED AT THEIR FAMILY HOME IN SAN FRANCISCO. GOING BACK FURTHER, IN 2017 A GROUP OF GOP MEMBERS WERE TARGETED BY A GUNMAN WHILE PRACTICING FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL BASEBALL GAME. AND IN 2011 FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN GABBY GIFFORDS SUFFERED A MASS SHOOTING THAT KILLED SEVERAL OF HER STAFF MEMBERS. AND PHAM HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH MULTIPLE COUNTS AS A RESULT OF THIS ATTACK INCLUDING A FELONY FOR AGGRAVATED MALICIOUS WOUNDING. HE'S CURRENTLY BEING HELD WITHOUT BOND. IN ADDITION TO THOSE TWO STAFFERS THAT WERE INJURED WE'RE TOLD THAT A POLICE OFFICER WAS HURT DURING THE ATTACK BUT HE'S EXPECTED TO BE OKAY. TOM? >> A TERRIFYING INCIDENT THERE, RYAN. RYAN, WHILE I HAVE YOU, YOU COVER CAPITOL HILL FOR US. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN ANOTHER MEETING OVER THE DEBT CEILING TOMORROW AT THE WHITE HOUSE? >> Reporter: YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, TOM. AND THIS MEETING COMES AFTER SECRETARY JANET YELLEN FROM THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT SENT CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ANOTHER LETTER TODAY WARNING THAT JUNE 1st IS THE DATE WHERE THE GOVERNMENT WILL RUN OUT OF MONEY TO PAY ITS BILLS. PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID OVER THE WEEKEND THAT HE'S OPTIMISTIC THAT THE TWO SIDES ARE GETTING CLOSE TO A COMPROMISE, BUT SPEAKER McCARTHY SAID TODAY THAT THEY'RE STILL VERY FAR APART. TOM? >> OKAY. RYAN NOBLES LEADING US OFF THERE. RYAN, THANK YOU. >>> NOW TO SOME BREAKING NEWS. A DEADLY SHOOTING IN NEW MEXICO. POLICE SAY AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE INCLUDING THE SHOOTER ARE DEAD. TWO OFFICERS AND SEVERAL CIVILIANS WERE INJURED. IT HAPPENED IN THE FAR NORTHWEST PART OF THE STATE. SCHOOLS IN THAT AREA WERE ON LOCKDOWN, BUT THAT HAS SINCE BEEN LIFTED AND THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. >>> OKAY. NOW TO ANOTHER INVESTIGATION, THIS ONE INVOLVING WHETHER THE FBI MISHANDLED ITS PROBE OF THE 2016 TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND RUSSIA. TONIGHT SPECIAL COUNSEL JOHN DURHAM SLAMMING THE FBI AND HOW IT CARRIED OUT ITS INVESTIGATION INTO THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN. HERE'S KEN DILANIAN. >> Reporter: TONIGHT IN HIS LONG-AWAITED REPORT THE SPECIAL COUNSEL LOOKING INTO THE ORIGINS OF THE TRUMP RUSSIA INVESTIGATION BLASTING THE FBI'S PERFORMANCE AS SERIOUSLY DEFICIENT. JOHN DURHAM CONCLUDING THE BUREAU WAS TOO QUICK TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN IN 2016 BASED ON RAW AND UNCORROBORATED INFORMATION WHILE SAYING THE FBI WAS MUCH MORE CAUTIOUS AND SKEPTICAL ABOUT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN. CODE-NAMED CROSSFIRE HURRICANE, THE FBI PROBE EXAMINED ALLEGED LINKS BETWEEN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND RUSSIA AND LED TO THE APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL COUNSEL ROBERT MUELLER, WHO IN THE END DID NOT FIND ANY CONSPIRACY BETWEEN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND THE KREMLIN, WHILE NOTING SOME RUSSIANS CONTACTED THE CAMPAIGN. TONIGHT MR. TRUMP POSTING, "THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WAS SCAMMED." AS PART OF DURHAM'S INVESTIGATION AN FBI LAWYER PLEADED GUILTY TO FALSIFYING RECORDS IN AN APPLICATION FOR A SECRET WARRANT TO CONDUCT SURVEILLANCE ON A TRUMP CAMPAIGN AIDE, CARTER PAGE. BUT AFTER NEARLY FOUR YEARS DURHAM'S REPORT DOES NOT FIND CORRUPTION OR CONSPIRACY OR RECOMMEND ANY WHOLESALE CHANGES. DURHAM LOST THE ONLY TWO CRIMINAL CASES HE BROUGHT TO COURT, WITH JURIES ACQUITTING THESE TWO MEN OF LYING TO INVESTIGATORS. DURHAM'S REPORT FOLLOWS THIS 2019 REPORT BY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S INSPECTOR GENERAL, WHICH FOUND THAT THE FBI MADE MISTAKES BUT WAS JUSTIFIED IN OPENING THE TRUMP INVESTIGATION. >> KEN JOINS US NOW LIVE. KEN, THE SPECIAL COUNSEL'S REPORT WAS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THE FBI AND NOW THE BUREAU IS WEIGHING IN? >> Reporter: YEAH, TOM, THE FBI SAYS IN A STATEMENT THAT THEY HAVE OVERHAULED HOW THEY HANDLE NATIONAL SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS AND THAT IF THOSE REFORMS HAD BEEN IN PLACE IN 2016 MANY OF THE MISSTEPS IDENTIFIED IN THIS REPORT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. TOM? >> ALL RIGHT. KEN DILANIAN FOR US. KEN, WE APPRECIATE IT. >>> PEOPLE IN ALLEN, TEXAS ARE STILL MOURNING TONIGHT AFTER A GUNMAN KILLED EIGHT PEOPLE AT A MALL LAST WEEK. THE CHAOS CAPTURED IN NEWLY RELEASED 911 CALLS THAT ALSO SHOW HOW DISPATCHERS HELPED SAVE LIVES. MORGAN CHESKY HAS THE LATE DETAILS, AND WE DO WANT TO WARN YOU, SOME VIEWERS MAY FIND THE AUDIO DISTURBING. >> Reporter: SECONDS AFTER A GUNMAN OPENED FIRE, A TERRIFYING FLOOD OF CALLS FOR HELP. >> YES, MY MOM JUST GOT SHOT. >> ALLEN 911. ARE YOU CALLING ABOUT THE SHOOTING? >> YES, SIR. ABOUT 20 OF US HIDING IN A BATHROOM. >> Reporter: AS HUNDREDS HID WHEREVER THEY COULD, POLICE SAY MAURICIO GARCIA OPENED FIRE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE PULLED UP ON A BUSY SATURDAY. THE 33-YEAR-OLD ARMED WITH A RIFLE, HANDGUN AND WEARING BODY ARMOR BEGAN SHOOTING NEAR THE MALL'S H & M STORE. >> CAN YOU PLEASE PRESS SOMETHING ON IT TO STOP THE BLEEDING? >> WE DID. WE DO. >> Reporter: BEFORE AN ALLEN POLICE OFFICER SHOT AND KILLED THE GUNMAN THOSE CALLING 911 GIVEN TRAGICALLY FAMILIAR ADVICE. >> I NEED YOU TO STAY WHERE YOU'RE AT AND LOCK YOURSELF IN PLACE. KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN. DO YOU UNDERSTAND? >> YES. >> OKAY. >> Reporter: WHEN IT WAS OVER, THE GUNMAN'S SHOOTING SPREE TOOK EIGHT LIVES AND WOUNDED TEN OTHERS. TODAY MULTIPLE GROUPS DEMANDED INVESTIGATORS EXAMINE THE POTENTIAL FOR A RACIALLY MOTIVATED HATE CRIME. >> I URGE YOU TO TAKE ACTION. STAND AGAINST HATE AND DISCRIMINATION. WE MUST RALLY OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO CALL THIS A HATE CRIME. WHICH HAS NOT HAPPENED YET. >> Reporter: AS THE COMMUNITY FIGHTS ITS WAY FORWARD, A SOMBER MOMENT SUNDAY WHEN HUNDREDS STOOD SILENT, REMEMBERING THOSE NO LONGER HERE FROM A TRAGEDY WE'VE SEEN BEFORE. AND TONIGHT INVESTIGATORS SAY THIS SCENE HAS BEEN CLEARED FOR DAYS NOW BUT THERE IS STILL NO TIMELINE ON WHEN THE SHOPS WILL BE REOPENING. AND AS FOR THIS MEMORIAL FOR THE VICTIMS, OFFICIALS TELL ME IT WILL BE COMING DOWN TOMORROW TO BE SHARED WITH THE FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES. TOM? >> ALL RIGHT. MORGAN CHESKY FOR US. MORGAN, THANK YOU. >>> WE WANT TO HEAD BACK TO THE BORDER NOW. THERE'S BEEN A SHARP DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL CROSSINGS SINCE THE END OF THE TITLE 42 RESTRICTION LAST WEEK. BUT TONIGHT WE'RE LEARNING OFFICIALS ARE NOW RAPIDLY RELEASING MIGRANTS INTO THE U.S. AS PROCESSING FACILITIES ARE OVER CAPACITY. WE GET MORE NOW FROM MIGUEL ALMAGUER. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, FOUR DAYS AFTER THE BORDER RESTRICTION KNOWN AS TITLE 42 WAS LIFTED, OFFICIALS ARE RAPIDLY RELEASING MIGRANTS INTO THE U.S., WITH BORDER PATROL PROCESSING FACILITIES NOW OVER CAPACITY. MORE THAN 21,000 MIGRANTS CURRENTLY IN CUSTODY IN FACILITIES MEANT TO HOLD JUST 18,000, ACCORDING TO TWO DHS OFFICIALS. THIS WOMAN JUST RELEASED IN CALIFORNIA SAYS "I DO IT ALL FOR MY FAMILY. I WAS ABLE TO CROSS. WE WERE LUCKY." IT COMES AS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAYS ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS HAVE DROPPED NEARLY IN HALF SINCE TITLE 42 WAS LIFTED. >> HOW DO YOU THINK THINGS ARE GOING AT THE BORDER, SIR? >> MUCH BETTER THAN -- MUCH BETTER THAN YOU ALL EXPECTED. >> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT TOUTING THE DROP OVER THE WEEKEND AFTER THE BORDER PATROL REPORTED 11,000 APPREHENSIONS ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, THAT NUMBER DRAMATICALLY DWINDLED TO JUST OVER 4,000 SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES THEIR SERIES OF NEW STRICTER ENFORCEMENT RULES FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS IS SLOWING THE FLOW. BUT WHILE THE NUMBER OF MIGRANTS CROSSING THE BORDER IS NO LONGER A RECORD, IT'S STILL HIGH. MANY OF THE MIGRANTS ARE BEING SENT TO CITIES WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO HANDLE THEM. THE MAYOR OF LAREDO, TEXAS SAYS HIS CITY REMAINS ON HIGH ALERT. >> NOW, THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY IS THAT WE WERE AND ARE ALREADY AT NEAR CAPACITY IN OUR HOSPITALS BEFORE TITLE 42 EXPIRED. >> Reporter: WITH MORE MIGRANTS COMING BY TRAIN TO DENVER, IN NEW YORK CITY THEY ARRIVED ON SCHOOL BUSES TODAY. MAYOR ERIC ADAMS SAYS THE INFLUX WILL COST TAXPAYERS $4 BILLION BY 2024. MANY HOTELS NOW BECOMING SHELTERS. OFFICIALS SAY ONE REASON FOR DROPPING BORDER NUMBERS IS INCREASED COOPERATION FROM MEXICO, WHERE THESE MIGRANTS FROM GUATEMALA COULD NO LONGER GET PERMITS TO GO NORTH. THE WEARY NOW GROWING DESPERATE. "WE ARE HERE AT GOD'S MERCY," SAYS THIS MAN, "JUST HOPING TO PASS." AUTHORITIES SAY IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL IF THE DROP IN BORDER CROSSINGS WILL LAST. TOM? >> ALL RIGHT, MIGUEL ALMAGUER FOR US. MIGUEL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. >>> WE WANT TO HEAD OVERSEAS NOW. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY'S HIGH-STAKES MEETING TODAY, LOOKING FOR SUPPORT FROM EUROPE'S LEADERS AS HE RAMPS UP THE FIGHT AGAINST RUSSIA. KEIR SIMMONS HAS THIS ONE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT UKRAINE SAYS THIS VIDEO SHOWS IT BLOWING UP A RUSSIAN AMMUNITION DEPOT NEAR BITTERLY CONTESTED BAKHMUT. IT'S NOT UKRAINE'S LONG-ANTICIPATED SPRING OFFENSIVE. NOT YET. BUT MEETING WITH THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TODAY, PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY VOWED THAT IS COMING. >> WE'RE GOING TO NEED SOME -- SOME MORE TIME. NOT TOO MUCH. WE'LL BE READY. >> Reporter: SIGNING THE VISITORS' BOOK, "TOGETHER WE WILL WIN." THE UK PROMISING MORE WEAPONS, INCLUDING LONG-RANGE ATTACK DRONES. AND AS PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY TOURED EUROPEAN CAPITALS THIS WEEKEND FRANCE PLEDGED FURTHER TANKS AND ARMORED VEHICLES AND GERMANY PROMISED A MASSIVE $3 BILLION MORE IN AID. "I'M PRAYING FOR PEACE," THE POPE TOLD ZELENSKYY WHEN THEY MET. BUT UKRAINE WANTS MORE TERRITORY BACK FIRST. PRESIDENT PUTIN UNDER PRESSURE. RUSSIA ADMITTING TWO COMMANDERS WERE KILLED LAST WEEK. HIS LONG-TIME ALLY, BELARUS LEADER ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO, REPORTED TO BE SICK. DENIED TODAY BY LUKASHENKO'S OFFICE. AND ANOTHER SOMETIME PARTNER FOR PUTIN, TURKEY'S PRESIDENT ERDOGAN TONIGHT FACES A RUNOFF ELECTION TO KEEP HIS JOB. ALL THIS WITH A MAJOR CHINESE DIPLOMATIC OFFENSIVE NOW UNDER WAY INCLUDING THIS WEEK KEY MEETINGS WITH UKRAINE, RUSSIA, FRANCE AND GERMANY. TOM? >> OKAY, KEIR, THANK YOU FOR THAT. IN 60 SECONDS, FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DeSANTIS MOVING CLOSER TO MAKING IT OFFICIAL. OUR NBC NEWS REPORT ABOUT HOW HE COULD BE JUST DAYS AWAY FROM ANNOUNCING HIS CANDIDACY FOR PRESIDENT AS HE TAKES NEW SWIPES AT DONALD >>> ALL RIGHT. WE ARE BACK NOW WITH THE CLOCK TICKING FOR FLORIDA REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR RON DeSANTIS AS HE TAKES A BIG STEP TOWARDS A POTENTIAL 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN AND TAKES ANOTHER VEILED SWIPE AT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP. GABE GUTIERREZ HAS THE LATEST. >> Reporter: TONIGHT FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DeSANTIS IS INCHING CLOSER TO A PRESIDENTIAL RUN. TODAY HIS POLITICAL STAFF MOVED INTO A NEW BASE OF OPERATIONS IN TALLAHASSEE ACCORDING TO THE STATE GOP. NBC NEWS FIRST TO REPORT THAT DeSANTIS WILL NOW NEED TO ANNOUNCE WITHIN TWO WEEKS BECAUSE THE MOVE TRIGGERS DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS. IT COMES AS DeSANTIS TODAY RAMPED UP HIS NOT SO SUBTLE SWIPES AT REPUBLICAN FRONT-RUNNER DONALD TRUMP. >> I THINK THE PARTY HAS DEVELOPED A CULTURE OF LOSING. I THINK THAT THERE'S NOT ACCOUNTABILITY. >> Reporter: IN HIS LATEST GRENADE IN THE CULTURE WAR DeSANTIS SIGNING A BILL INTO LAW TODAY BARRING FLORIDA'S PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES FROM SPENDING ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS. >> D.E.I. IS BETTER VIEWED AS STANDING FOR DISCRIMINATION, EXCLUSION AND INDOCTRINATION. >> Reporter: OVER THE WEEKEND DeSANTIS VISITED IOWA, A CRITICAL EARLY STATE. >> THE TIME FOR EXCUSES IS OVER. >> Reporter: EVEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF MR. TRUMP HAVING TO CANCEL A SATURDAY NIGHT RALLY IN DES MOINES DUE TO A TORNADO THREAT. >> REQUIRES COMMITMENT TO PRINCIPLE -- >> Reporter: MAKING A SURPRISE VISIT THERE HIMSELF. MEANWHILE, THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS STEPPING UP HIS PERSONAL ATTACKS ON THE FELLOW REPUBLICAN. >> THE PROBLEM WITH RON DESANCTIMONIOUS IS THAT HE NEEDS A PERSONALITY TRANSPLANT AND THOSE ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE. >> Reporter: WHILE MOST POLLS SHOW DeSANTIS TRAILS FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, HE'S WIDELY SEEN AS MR. TRUMP'S STRONGEST RIVAL. >> ALL RIGHT. GABE GUTIERREZ JOINS US NOW LIVE IN STUDIO. SO GABE, HOW DOES GOVERNOR DeSANTIS PLAN ON ATTRACTING REPUBLICANS LOOKING FOR A CHANGE WHILE PEELING AWAY SOME OF TRUMP'S SUPPORTERS? >> WELL, TOM, HE IS HAMMERING THIS IDEA THAT HE IS THE BEST OPTION TO STOP REPUBLICAN LOSSES, A PITCH HE'S NOW MAKING TO MAJOR DONORS. SEVERAL SOURCES TELL NBC NEWS THAT DeSANTIS AND HIS WIFE HAVE HOSTED A SERIES OF DINNERS WITH THEM OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, TOM. >> ALL RIGHT. GABE GUTIERREZ WITH A LOT OF NEW REPORTING FOR US TONIGHT. GABE, WE APPRECIATE IT. >>> STILL AHEAD, THE RECORD NUMBER OF TRAVELERS EXPECTED TO HIT THE ROAD FOR MEMORIAL DAY. AND LATER, WHY SO MANY AMERICANS ARE PUTTING TH >>> WELCOME BACK. BRACE YOURSELF. MEMORIAL DAY TRAVEL SET TO BREAK RECORDS THIS YEAR. AAA SAYS MORE THAN 42 MILLION AMERICANS WILL TRAVEL 50 MILES OR MORE THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, AND THE AIRPORTS, WELL, THEY'LL BE PACKED WITH NEARLY 3.5 MILLION PASSENGERS. THOSE NUMBERS ARE ABOVE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS DESPITE HIGH TICKET PRICES. SO GET READY TO PAY. >>> AND IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO DRIVE ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND THE ROADS WILL BE FILLED WITH CARS THAT ARE OLDER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK, WITH DRIVERS KEEPING THEIR CARS FOR LONGER. PLUS THE SHOCKING AMOUNT WHEN IT COMES TO THE AVERAGE PRICE AMERICANS ARE NOW PAYING PER MONTH TO LEASE A NEW CAR. HERE'S SAM BROCK. >> Reporter: WITH DEMAND FOR VEHICLES IN OVERDRIVE, NEW DATA SHOWS AMERICANS KEEPING THEIR CARS AND SMALLER TRUCKS FOR A RECORD 12 1/2 YEARS. WHILE THEY'RE LASTING LONGER, THEY'RE ALSO MORE EXPENSIVE. WHICH IS WHY SOUTH FLORIDA MECHANIC NICK OSBORNE IS STILL HOLDING ON TO A 2007 SUV. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD YOU STILL BE DRIVING AROUND IN THIS? >> NO WAY. I WOULD HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THIS CAR. >> Reporter: THE FATHER OF FIVE SWAPPING OUT AN ENGINE WITH 200,000 MILES FOR ONE WITH A MERE 100,000, A SHORT-TERM FIX THAT FITS HIS FAMILY'S BUDGET. >> DO YOU FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS? >> NO, NOT AT ALL. 200,000 MILES? NO. AND MY KIDS ARE IN IT. I'M NOT SURE MY KIDS ARE SAFE WITH 200,000 MILES. BUT DO I HAVE A CHOICE? NO, I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. >> Reporter: IT'S THE IMPACT OF YEARS OF PANDEMIC-FUELED SHORTAGES, SUPPLY DISRUPTIONS AND HEIGHTENED DEMAND. THE AVERAGE USED CAR PAYMENT IS MORE THAN 560 BUCKS. AND FOR NEW VEHICLES NEARLY 730. ACCORDING TO ONE GROUP, THAT'S UP MORE THAN $250 A MONTH COMPARED TO JUST FIVE YEARS AGO. INDUSTRY ANALYSTS SAY PRICING, HIGHER INTEREST RATES AND GREATER RELIABILITY OF NEWER CARS ALL PLAY A ROLE. >> SOMEONE GOING INTO THE MARKET FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A WHILE THEY'RE GOING TO BE SHOCKED AS TO HOW HIGH THE PRICES ARE FOR BOTH NEW AND USED CARS. >> Reporter: A BY-PRODUCT OF THIS TREND, AUTO REPAIR SHOPS ARE SEEING WAY MORE CUSTOMERS. >> EVEN WITH HIGH MILEAGE THEY'RE KEEPING THE CAR. >> WE'VE SEEN AN AVERAGE CAR GO ANYWHERE BETWEEN 80 TO 90,000 MILES. NOW OVER 100, 150,000. >> Reporter: MANY HOPING TO RIDE OUT THIS TIDAL WAVE OF DEMAND LIKE NICK. >> I WISH I COULD AFFORD A MINIVAN RIGHT WONDERING, HE NEVER LOST THAT FISH HE INITIALLY CAUGHT. QUITE THE ANGLER. WE THANK SCOTT FOR