>>> TONIGHT, AFTER THAT CRITICAL SETBACK IN THE TALKS TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT FROM DEFAULTING IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS, THIS JUST IN, TALKS ARE SET TO RESTART. REPUBLICANS DECLARED A PAUSE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS AFTER ALL SIDES HAD SOUNDED OPTIMISTIC. LATE WORD THEY'RE SET TO RECONVENE. WHAT THE TWO SIDES ARE DEMANDING WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. ALT OF IT OVERSHADOWING THE G7 IN JAPAN WHERE THERE IS MAJOR NEWS. PRESIDENT BIDEN GIVING THE GREEN LIGHT TO ALLIES TO SEND F-16 FIGHTER JETS TO UKRAINE. PLUS, PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY SET TO MAKE AN APPEARANCE WITH THOSE WORLD LEADERS THIS WEEKEND. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE SEVERE STORM THREAT IN THE PLAINS AND THE SOUTH. 13 MILLION AT RISK OF HAIL, HEAVY STORMS, EVEN TORNADOES. >>> BEHIND BARS, THE AIR NATIONAL GUARDSMAN ACCUSED OF THAT MAJOR INTELLIGENCE LEAK TO STAY LOCKED UP. THE REPEATED WARNINGS HE WAS GIVEN BEFORE HE WAS ARRESTED. >>> ARE SOME CARS EASIER TO STEAL THAN OTHERS? KIA AND HYUNDAI AGREE TO PAY $200 MILLION TO OWNERS WHO SAY THEY ARE AND WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW TO KEEP YOUR CAR SAFE. >>> HERTZ APOLOGIZING BROWN.T FOR REFUSING HE PULVERIZED DEFENSIVE LINES AND MADE MAJOR STRIDES FOR CIVIL JUSTICE. >>> AND WORDS OF WISDOM FROM LESTER TO THE CLASS OF 2023. >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >>> AND GOOD EVENING. I'M TOM LLAMAS IN FOR LESTER TONIGHT. WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN IN HIGH-STAKE MEETINGS ON THE WORLD STAGE, WHILE FACING A GROWING CRISIS AT HOME. THERE'S LESS THAN TWO WEEKS TO GO FOR NEGOTIATORS IN WASHINGTON TO KEEP AMERICA FROM GOING TO DEFAULT AND TONIGHT A MAJOR HURDLE, THE REPUBLICANS NEGOTIATING WITH THE WHITE HOUSE AND DEMOCRATS ON A WAY TO INCREASE THE DEBT LIMIT SUDDENLY DECLARED A PAUSE IN THOSE TALKS SAYING THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE STALLED. AT THE SAME TIME THE PRESIDENT DEALING WITH ANOTHER CRISIS, THE WAR IN UKRAINE AND GIVING THE GO AHEAD FOR WESTERN ALLIES TO PROVIDE F-16 FIGHTER JETS, SOMETHING THE WHITE HOUSE HAD LONG RESISTED. THIS WEEKEND UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY WILL LIKELY BE ASKING FOR EVEN MORE AS HE MAKES A DRAMATIC APPEARANCE AT THAT SUMMIT IN JAPAN. WE'VE GOT IT ALL COVERED WITH CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT KRISTEN WELKER IN HIROSHIMA. >> Reporter: TONIGHT WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN OVERSEAS MEETING G7 ALLIES IN JAPAN INCLUDING PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE VICTIMS. THE HIROSHIMA NUCLEAR STRIKE A DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT BACK HOME. HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN McCARTHY REVEALING THERE'S BEEN A BREAKDOWN. >> WELL, WE'VE GOT TO GET MOVING BY THE WHITE HOUSE. WE DON'T HAVE ANY MOVEMENT HERE, SO WE'RE GOING TO PAUSE. >> Reporter: THAT DAY LONG PAUSE 24 HOURS AFTER ALL SIDES EXPRESSED OPTIMISM TOWARDS A DEAL. >> YESTERDAY I FELT WE WERE AT THE LOCATION WHERE I COULD SEE THE PATH. THE WHITE HOUSE IS JUST -- BUT WE CAN'T BE SPENDING MORE MONEY NEXT YEAR. WE HAVE TO SPEND LESS THAN THE YEAR BEFORE. IT'S PRETTY EASY. >> Reporter: THE WHITE HOUSE TONIGHT SAYING THERE ARE REAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PARTIES ON BUDGET ISSUES AND TALKS WILL BE DIFFICULT. IF IT'S NOT RAISED TOP ECONOMISTS WARN IT COULD TANK THE STOCK MARKET IMPACTING 401(k)s, LEAD TO JOB LOSSES AND SPARK A RECESSION. REPUBLICANS HAD SAID A MAJOR STICKING POINT, WHITE HOUSE OPPOSITION TO SPENDING CAPS, WHICH THE GOP CALLS UNREASONABLE. EARLIER TODAY THE WHITE HOUSE SAYING THERE ARE REAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PARTIES ON BUDGET ISSUES AND TALKS WILL BE DIFFICULT. THE PRESIDENT'S TEAM IS WORKING HARD TOWARDS A REASONABLE BIPARTISAN SOLUTION THAT CAN PASS THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE. DEMOCRATS ARE RELUCTANT TO ACCEPT A SPENDING LIMIT THAT'S LOWER THAN CURRENT LEVELS, A SOURCE FAMILIAR WITH THE PARTY'S STANCE SAID. THIS FROM THE TOP SENATE DEMOCRAT EARLIER THIS WEEK. >> NOBODY SHOULD EVER USE DEFAULT AS HOSTAGE WHERE THEY SAY, UNLESS YOU DO THIS, WE WILL DEFAULT, BECAUSE THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE DISASTROUS. >> Reporter: THE DISCORD IN WASHINGTON OVERSHADOWING THE DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS HERE IN JAPAN INCLUDING NEWS TONIGHT THAT UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY WILL TRAVEL TO HIROSHIMA TO MAKE HIS CASE FOR MORE AID AND WEAPONS IN PERSON. RUSSIA CONTROLS MUCH OF EASTERN UKRAINE AND HAS LAUNCHED A NEW WAVE OF ATTACKS, BUT DESPITE THAT TIMING, UKRAINE OFFICIALS SAY ZELENSKYY'S TRIP IS CRITICAL. NBC'S MOLLY HUNTER IS IN KYIV TONIGHT. >> RIGHT NOW KYIV IS FACING UNPRECEDENTED AERIAL ASSAULTS. THE MILITARY PLANNING A COUNTEROFFENSIVE AGAINST RUSSIAN FORCES ANY DAY NOW, BUT PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY'S ADVISERS SAY IT IS WORTH IT. HE IS SO PERSUASIVE IN PERSON, AND HE BRINGS HOME WHAT KYIV NEEDS. >> Reporter: AND TONIGHT NBC NEWS LEARNING ZELENSKYY IS POISED TO GET A MAJOR VICTORY. THE U.S. AND ALLIES NOW PLANNING TO PROVIDE F-16 FIGHTER JETS TO UKRAINE ACCORDING TO A SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL. IT'S UNCLEAR WHICH COUNTRIES WILL PROVIDE THE JETS. STILL, IT'S A MOVE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAD. >> EVEN THOUGH PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY SAID F-16 FIGHTER JETS WOULD BE A GAME CHANGER, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, CORRECT? >> Reporter: TOM, THAT'S RIGHT. IT COULD TAKE WEEKS, EVEN MONTHS TO DELIVER THEM. THE WHITE HOUSE HAD BEEN CONCERNED THE MOVE WOULD PROVOKE RUSSIA. THERE WAS ALSO THE WORRY ABOUT THE COST, HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO TRAIN THE PILOTS, AND WHEN ZELENSKYY COMES, HE'S EXPECTED TO PRAISE THE MOVE AND LIKELY ASK THE U.S. FOR EVEN MORE AID, TOM. >> OKAY, KRISTEN WELKER LEADING US OFF. WE APPRECIATE IT. >>> TONIGHT WE'RE ALSO TRACKING DANGEROUS WEATHER AT HOME. 13 MILLION PEOPLE ARE AT RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF TORNADOES. LET'S GET RIGHT OVER TO DYLAN DREYER. DYLAN, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING TONIGHT? IT LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY ACTIVE RADAR. >> IT IS, AND THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCHES HAVE BEEN ISSUED, AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS POPPING UP AS WELL AS THE STORMS CONTINUE TO MOVE TO THE EAST. THE BIGGEST THREAT WITH THESE STORMS WILL BE FOR DAMAGING WINDS, PERHAPS OVER 60 MILES PER HOUR AND VERY LARGE HAIL, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA THAT INCLUDES TEXAS, OKLAHOMA AND PARTS OF ARKANSAS. WE COULD EVEN SEE BASEBALL-SIZED HAIL ACROSS SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL TEXAS. THAT IS DANGEROUS WHEN IT OCCURS OVERNIGHT. THAT'S THE THREAT AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. THIS WILL BRING HEAVY RAIN AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES TONIGHT, AND THEN INTO THE INTERIOR NORTHEAST TOMORROW MORNING, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THIS COASTAL STORM THAT'S GOING TO BRING MORE RAIN TO PARTS OF THE NORTHEAST, ESPECIALLY UP INTO NEW ENGLAND, SO THE COMBINATION OF THESE TWO SYSTEMS COULD BRING AS MUCH AS ABOUT 2 TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN, ESPECIALLY INTO NEW ENGLAND, THEN THE WHOLE THING SHOULD CLEAR UP BY SUNDAY. >> WE'LL STAY ON TOP OF THAT. THANK YOU. >>> WE DO WANT TO STICK WITH MORE WEATHER. MASSIVE WILDFIRES IN CANADA ARE BLANKETING THE NORTHERN PART OF THE U.S. IN SMOKE. THE FIRES HAVE BEEN SCORCHING WESTERN THAT SINCE EARLIER THIS MONTH. NOW A LOT OF THAT SMOKE IS DRIFTING SOUTH CREATING AIR THAT'S DIFFICULT TO BREATHE FROM THE PACIFIC ALL THE WAY INTO THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. >>> OKAY, WE TURN TO NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CLASSIFIED LEAKS CASE, A FEDERAL JUDGE RULING TODAY THE 21-YEAR-OLD NATIONAL GUARDSMAN CHARGED WITH LEAKING SECRETS MUST REMAIN IN JAIL PENDING TRIAL AS THE GOVERNMENT LAID OUT RED FLAG AFTER RED FLAG LEADING UP TO HIS ARREST. HERE'S ANDREA MITCHELL. >> Reporter: TONIGHT A FEDERAL JUDGE IN BOSTON DENOUNCING THE CONDUCT OF FORMER NATIONAL GUARDSMAN JACK TEIXEIRA ARRESTED AT HIS HOME LAST MONTH, TELLING HIM HE HAS NO CONFIDENCE FOREIGN COUNTRIES WOULDN'T GAIN ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED MATERIALS IF HE WERE RELEASED SAYING, YOU COULD MAKE A LIST AS LONG AS A PHONE BOOK OF THOSE HE PUT AT RISK, MILITARY PERSONNEL, MEDICAL WORKERS OVERSEAS, UKRAINIAN CITIZENS. THE JUDGE CITING GOVERNMENT EVIDENCE HE WAS CAUGHT AT LEAST THREE TIMES BY SUPERIORS ABUSING HIS ACCESS TO SECRETS INCLUDING TAKING NOTES ON CLASSIFIED INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION HE THEN POCKETED AND SEARCHING A SECURE DATABASE FOR CONTENT OUTSIDE HIS ASSIGNED FIELD, YET, NO ONE TOOK AWAY HIS TOP SECRET SECURITY CLEARANCE. >> WHY DIDN'T THE MILITARY START MONITORING HIS COMPUTER ACTIVITY? THIS ALL COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED, AND THE QUESTION IS, WHY WASN'T IT? >> Reporter: THE GOVERNMENT ALSO CONFIRMING THIS VIDEO FIRST REPORTED BY "THE WASHINGTON POST" SHOWING TEIXEIRA FIRING A RIFLE AND SHOUTING RACIST AND ANTI-SEMITIC SLURS, NONE OF THAT PICKED UP BY HIS BACKGROUND CHECK. PROSECUTORS ALSO SAY TEIXEIRA USED HIS GOVERNMENT COMPUTER TO LOOK UP MASS SHOOTINGS AND STANDOFFS WITH THE FBI LIKE RUBY RIDGE AND DEFIANTLY TELLING CHAT ROOM FRIENDS, I DON'T GIVE AN "F" WHAT THEY SAY I CAN AND CAN'T SHARE ABOUT TOP SECRETS. TWO OF HIS SUPERIORS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED, AND THEY'RE CONDUCTING AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION, BUT THE GOVERNMENT STILL DOESN'T KNOW HOW MANY SECRETS HE MAY HAVE EXPOSED, AND THEY MAY NEVER KNOW, TOM. >> OKAY, ANDREA, THANK YOU. >>> WE WANT TO HEAD TO LOUISIANA AND THE VIDEO THAT LED RENTAL GIANT HERTZ TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE CONDUCT OF ITS EMPLOYEES, ALL BECAUSE A PUERTO RICAN MAN, AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, WAS DENIED HIS PREPAID RENTAL CAR BECAUSE OF SOMETHING HE DIDN'T HAVE OR NEED. HERE'S MIGUEL ALMAGUER. >> IT IS A VALID I.D. >> Reporter: HUMBERTO MARCHAND STARTED RECORDING WHEN TENSIONS ESCALATED. >> WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO CALL THE POLICE? >> YES, PLEASE, CALL THE POLICE. >> Reporter: THE 54-YEAR-OLD PUERTO RICAN WAS BEING DENIED HIS PREPAID RENTAL AFTER A HERTZ EMPLOYEE DEMANDED A PASSPORT SUGGESTING HIS OUT OF THE COUNTRY DRIVER'S LICENSE WASN'T ENOUGH TO SECURE HIS CAR. >> DO YOU KNOW THAT MY DRIVER'S LICENSE IN PUERTO RICO IS AS VALID AS A LOUISIANA DRIVER'S LICENSE? AT THAT POINT WHEN I SAW THAT THE SUPERVISOR DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING WITH ME ALREADY, SHE WANTED NO BUSINESS WITH ME, I WAS DEFINITELY DISAPPOINTED. >> Reporter: AT LOUIS ARMSTRONG AIRPORT EARLIER THIS MONTH, MARCHAND TRIED TO EXPLAIN, ALL PUERTO RICANS ARE U.S. CITIZENS AND THAT THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE ARE AS VALID AS ANY OTHER FROM THE MAINLAND, BUT WHEN POLICE ARRIVED, THIS BODY CAM FOOTAGE OBTAINED BY CBS NEWS SHOWS THE OFFICERS SIDE WITH THE HERTZ EMPLOYEE, WHO TELLS MARCHAND NOT TO COME BACK. >> BEING THAT YOU TREAT US LIKE A SECOND CLASS CITIZEN, UNNECESSARILY, TOTALLY UNNECESSARILY. >> Reporter: HERTZ, WHO ACCEPTS PUERTO RICAN DRIVER'S LICENSES, SAYS, IT REGRETS OUR POLICY WAS NOT FOLLOWED AND APOLOGIZED. JUST LAST MONTH A PUERTO RICAN FAMILY LEAVING L.A. WAS STOPPED FROM BOARDING THEIR SPIRIT AIRLINES FLIGHT BECAUSE THEIR 2-YEAR-OLD DIDN'T HAVE A PASSPORT. TONIGHT LIKE HERTZ, SPIRIT APOLOGIZED SAYING NEXT TIME, SERVICES WON'T BE DENIED. WALKS OF LIFE. >> JIM BROWN WAS 87. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, THE MASSIVE SETTLEMENT FOR KIA AND HYUNDAI DRIVERS WHO SAID THEIR CARS WERE TOO EASY TO STEAL. >>> PLUS, WHAT LESTER HOLT TOLD COLLEGE GRADS TO >>> WELCOME BACK. WE HAVE SHOWN YOU THE WILD VIDEOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA OF PEOPLE SPEEDING OFF IN STOLEN KIAS AND HYUNDAIS. NOW THE MANUFACTURERS HAVE AGREED TO PAY A $200 MILLION SETTLEMENT TO CAR OWNERS WHO SAY SOME MODELS ARE JUST TOO EASY TO STEAL. MAGGIE VESPA HAS THE PRICE YOU PAY. >> Reporter: TONIGHT MILLIONS OF AMERICAN CAR OWNERS WHO SAY SOME MODELS ARE JUST TOO EASY TO STEAL. MAGGIE VESPA HAS THE PRICE YOU PAY. >> Reporter: TONIGHT MILLIONS OF AMERICAN CAR OWNERS WHO SAY SECURITY TOOK A BACKSEAT TO PROFIT CELEBRATING A BIG WIN. AUTO GIANTS HYUNDAI AND KIA AGREEING TO PAY UP TO $200 MILLION TO SETTLE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT COVERING ROUGHLY 8 MILLION VEHICLES. THE SUIT CLAIMING THE AUTOMAKERS FAILED TO EQUIP CERTAIN 2011 TO 2022 MODELS WITH ADEQUATE ANTI-THEFT TECHNOLOGY. >> THIS IS WHAT THEY DID. >> Reporter: STEALING THE CARS, NOW A VIRAL TREND VICTIMS ELIGIBLE FOR PAYMENTS UP TO $6,300, PLUS UP TO $4,000 FOR ASSOCIATED COSTS LIKE RAISED INSURANCE PREMIUMS. >> OUR CLIENTS ARE ECSTATIC. MOST ARE PEOPLE OF MODEST MEANS, NOT LUXURY CARS. >> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT, HYUNDAI NOTING THE ELIGIBLE OWNERS CAN GET SOFTWARE UPGRADES FIXING THE FLAW INSTALLED AT DEALERSHIPS, KIA ADDING THE COMPANIES HAVE GIVEN AWAY THOUSANDS OF FREE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. THIS SETTLEMENT COMES ALONGSIDE SUITS FROM MULTIPLE U.S. CITIES WHO CLAIM SURGING CAR THEFTS ARE DRAINING POLICE RESOURCES AND DEMANDS FOR A FEDERAL RECALL FROM MORE THAN A DOZEN STATES. MEANWHILE, DRIVERS ARE EXHAUSTED. YOU'RE SCARRED BY THIS. >> YEAH. >> Reporter: WE MET CHICAGO RETIREE TERESA IN MARCH AFTER THIEVES STOLE HER KIA. SHE GOT IT BACK A DAY LATER ONLY TO HAVE THE STEERING WHEEL FALL OFF. PER THE SETTLEMENT SHE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR DAMAGES. >> MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF MY SKIN. MAYBE IT'S THE AREA I LIVE IN OR MAYBE MY INCOME, BUT, NO, I REALLY DON'T THINK SO. >> YOU DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET YOUR MONEY? >> NO, NO. >> Reporter: ATTORNEYS WHO FILED THIS LAWSUIT SAY THEY'LL CONTACT ALL ELIGIBLE KIA AND HYUNDAI OWNERS BY MAIL WITH INSTRUCTIONS LIKELY STARTING IN AUGUST. TOM. >> OKAY, MAGGIE, WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. >>> STILL AHEAD, RUSSIA'S GROWING ALLIANCE WITH CHINA FROM OIL PIPELINES TO TRUCK CARAVANS ALONG THE BORDER. JUST HOW MUC >>> WE'RE BACK WITH A CLOSER LOOK AT THE GROWING ALLIANCE TONIGHT BETWEEN RUSSIA AND ITS NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR, CHINA, NOW PROVIDING A CRITICAL ECONOMIC LIFELINE FOR RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT PUTIN WITH TRADE BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES NOW SURGING. JANIS MACKEY FRAYER SHOWS US FROM ONE CITY ALONG THE RUSSIA/CHINA BORDER. >> Reporter: TONIGHT SQUEEZED BY WESTERN SANCTIONS, RUSSIA IS RELYING ON ITS NEIGHBOR LITERALLY NEXT DOOR. WE'RE ON THE CHINESE BORDER, AND THAT'S RUSSIA. ITS FLAG JUST ACROSS THE HALF FROZEN RIVER. HERE THE TWO COUNTRIES ARE SO CLOSE, RUSSIA IS JUST A FEW HUNDRED YARDS AWAY. ALONG A 2,600-MILE BORDER, SIGNS OF DEEP CHINA/RUSSIA TIES ARE EVERYWHERE, ON STREETS AND BUILDINGS, ITS STORES STOCKED WITH RUSSIAN GOODS WHERE VENDORS GREET FOREIGNERS IN RUSSIAN. THERE IS EVEN A RUSSIAN STYLE BAR WHERE THE OWNER SAYS CHINESE PEOPLE CAN MINGLE WITH RUSSIANS. CHINA'S PRESIDENT XI JINPING DECLARED A NO LIMITS PARTNERSHIP WITH RUSSIA. FROM THAT DIPLOMATIC BOOST FOR PRESIDENT PUTIN WITH A RECENT STATE VISIT, TO A CRITICAL ECONOMIC LIFELINE HERE, TRADE BETWEEN CHINA AND RUSSIA SURGING BY 30% IN THE LAST YEAR, AND THIS IS WHERE A HUGE PIPELINE DELIVERS RUSSIAN GAS TO CHINA, ENERGY THAT USED TO FLOW TO EUROPE, ALL OF IT KEEPING RUSSIA'S ECONOMY AFLOAT AND FUNDING THE WAR IN UKRAINE. TRUCKS LOADED WITH GOODS WILL COME AND GO FROM RUSSIA ACROSS THIS BRIDGE THAT WAS BUILT AND PAID FOR BY CHINA. RUSSIAN TRUCK DRIVERS TOLD US, THEY'RE CROSSING TO CHINA EVERY DAY. "WE'RE GOOD FRIENDS," HE SAYS OF CHINA. STILL, RELATIONS DURING WARTIME ARE A SENSITIVE TOPIC HERE. WE WERE TRACKED BY CHINESE AUTHORITIES. U.S. OFFICIALS INCLUDING THE U.S. AMBASSADOR HERE TELL NBC NEWS, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE SO FAR THAT CHINA'S SUPPORT FOR RUSSIA INCLUDES WEAPONS. RUSSIA NEEDING ALLIES LIKE NEVER BEFORE AND FINDING ONE CLOSE AT HAND. JANIS MACKEY FRAYER, NBC NEWS, CHINA. >> WE THANK JANICE AND HER TEAM FOR GETTING THAT STORY. >>> COMING UP TONI >>> FINALLY, A DIFFERENT TYPE OF ASSIGNMENT FOR LESTER, DELIVERING SOME REFLECTIONS AND SOME ADVICE TO THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2023 AT VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY. >> I'M OBVIOUSLY AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT AND A DEFENDER OF THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. OUR ABILITY TO EXPRESS OURSELVES, OUR IDEAS AND BELIEFS ARE CORE TO WHO WE ARE, BUT SOMETIMES, SOMETIMES I WONDER IF A LITTLE LESS TALKING MIGHT SERVE US BETTER IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES. ASKING SMART QUESTIONS, SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH, LEARNING TO SPOT THE RED HERRINGS ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, BUT I WORRY THAT LISTENING GETS SHORT SHRIFT. WHEN I SAY LISTENING, I'M SPEAKING OF MORE THAN JUST HEARING WORDS, BUT HEARING THE MEANING AND THE PERSPECTIVE AND THE EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS. BOY, THAT'S ALMOST AS SCARY I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE IT MAY REQUIRE YOU TO HEAR WHAT YOU MAY BE AFRAID TO HEAR. THAT PEACE THAT THREATENS TO DISRUPT YOUR CAREFULLY ARRANGED WORLD VIEW, RESIST THAT FEELING. FIND THE COURAGE. LEARN TO LISTEN WITH YOUR MOUTH CLOSED. ALL THAT SAID, WE DO NEED YOUR VOICE. WE NEED YOUR VOICE TO SPEAK FOR KNOWLEDGE. WE NEED YOUR VOICE TO SPEAK FOR JUSTICE AND FOR TRUTH. WE NEED YOUR VOICE TO SPEAK FOR CIVILITY. SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED YOUR REASON, YOUR SOBER THINKING, THOUGHTS BORNE OF LEARNING AND REAL EXPERIENCE THAT ELEVATE OUR PROBLEM SOLVING, AND KNOW THAT NOT EVERYTHING REQUIRES AN INSTANT IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. TAKE A CHANCE. LEARN TO PAUSE, TO BE SILENT, TO PICK YOUR MOMENT BASED ON KNOWLEDGE AND FULL UNDERSTANDING. FOSTER INFORMED DEBATE. >> GREAT ADVICE THERE FROM LESTER, AND A BIG CONGRATS TO THE CLASS OF 2023. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" THIS FRIDAY. IT'S A BIG WEEK NEXT WEEK RIGHT HERE ON "NIGHTLY." LESTER ANCHORS FROM FLORIDA MONDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT, AND WE'LL ALSO HAVE MY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR TIM SCOTT FROM SOUTH CAROLINA AS HE ANNOUNCES HIS RUN FOR PRESIDENT ON MONDAY, AS WELL. THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING "NIGHTLY NEWS." I'M TOM LLAMAS IN NEW YORK. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT AND A GREAT WEEKEND.