Face heavy rain, hail, and possible tornadoes. And that brutal heat wave not over. Well have the latest forecast. All that, plus, survival story. A plane crash off the california coast, and the couple films the whole thing. There she goes. A rare, up close look at a remarkable rescue. Summer of sharks. How a string of sightings in one of the most popular beach spots in the nation is taking a serious bite out of business. And hot and bothered. The major coffee chain rolling out Pumpkin Spice coffee drinks in the heat of summer. It is so good. Im sweating my face off, and i dont want Pumpkin Spice. Leaving a nation divided. Today, wednesday, august 21st, 2019. Announcer from nbc news, this is today with Savannah Guthrie and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Hi, everybody. Good morning. Nice to have you with us on a wednesday morning. At the top for us this morning, we have the story of the president deciding not to go to denmark after all. He called off his state visit there when he saw his interest in buying greenland rebuffed. Thats one of several headlines out of the white house this morning. We have complete coverage, starting with nbcs peter alexander. Peter, good morning. Reporter good morning to both of you. The longplanned trip was scheduled for the beginning of next month while the president would already be in europe. Overnight, President Trump abruptly postponed it indefinitely. Two days earlier, the president said buying greenland would be strategically important for the u. S. But it was not, quote, number one on the burner. All of a sudden overnight, he suggested it was the main reason for his visit. This morning, President Trump is putting an Upcoming Trip to denmark on ice after the countrys Prime Minister brushed off his desire to buy greenland. A selfgoverning country thats part of the danish kingdom. In a tweet, President Trump said, while denmark is a very special country with incredible people, hes postponing his planned trip early next month with the Prime Minister sed on her statement that she would have no interest in discussing the purchase of greenland. Adding, the Prime Minister was able to save a great deal of expense and effort for both the United States and denmark by being so direct. Essentially, it is a large real estate deal. Reporter just days ago, the president insisted his visit, after being invited by denmarks queen, was unrelated to greenland. We may be going to denmark, not for this reason at all, but were looking at it. Reporter denmarks Prime Minister in greenland last week ridiculing the idea. Of course, greenland is not for sale, she said. Adding, thankfully, the time where you buy and sell other countries and populations is over. On monday, the president posting this photo of a gold trump skyscraper towering over a serene arctic village, appearing to write in jest, i promise not to do this to greenland. The president s decision to scrap the trip seemingly a surprise to the u. S. Ambassador to denmark, who only hours earlier tweeted, denmark is ready for the potus visit. Partner, ally, friend. An ally that fought alongside the u. S. In afghanistan, where more than 40 danish troops lost their lives, a friendship that perhaps now is a bit frayed. Wrve are within the last hour denmarks Prime Minister said she found it regrettable. A former Prime Minister writing, is this a joke . Deeply insulting to the people of greenland and denmark. Savannah and craig . It is another dustup brewing this morning, peter, as you know. The president under fire for comments about jewishamerican voters. Reporter thats exactly right. The president returned his feud with the muslim congresswomen, talib and omar, yesterday. Heres part of his response when asked about omars suggestion that the u. S. Reconsider its aid to israel, directing this startling message to jewishamericans. I think any jewish people that vote for a democrat, i think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty. Reporter several jewish groups quickly condemned the president s comments there. Some arguing it amounted to an antisemitic smear. They have dual loyalty and are more committed to israel than they are to their own countries. Savannah and craig . Savannah andg peter alexander, thank you. Now to the growing worries about the economy. Faced with warning signs over whats to come, President Trump says he is now considering tax cuts nbcs chief White House CorrespondentHallie Jackson has that story for us. Good morning. Reporter craig, good morning. The president insists the cuts he is considering are not linked to those growing economic concerns you mentioned, but keep in mind, how the economy is doing will be central to the president s Reelection Campaign so now, hes sharing a new idea to try and boost the economy, although it probably wont happen any time soon accusing his critics of a recession obsession, the president is downplaying a possible downturn in the economy. I think the word recession is a word thats inappropriate. Certain people in the media are trying to build it up because theyd love to see a recession we are very far from a recession. Reporter but he is not dismissing the idea of cutting taxes to help save people money anyway. Payroll tax is something we think about, and a lot of people would like to see that that very much affects the workers of our country we have a lot of workers reporter only 24 hours earlier, the white house had said a payroll tax cut was not under consideration. According to the president , it is, although not imminently. Whether or not we do it now or not is its not being done because of recession reporter so what is the payroll tax . It is the 6. 2 you pay on what you make that funds programs like Social Security when president obama temporarily cut that tax back in 2011, it saved the average family about 1,000 a year. President trump last pledged to cut taxes back during the midterms. Were going to be doing a 10 tax cut. Another 10 tax cut for the middle class well continue to cut your taxes. Reporter but congress would have to approve a new cut. House democrats almost certainly wont want to give the president a political win before next years election. As President Trump now acknowledges, it is americans who can feel the pain in the short term to get more leverage over beijing in the long term. The fact is, somebody had to take china on. My life would be a lot easier if i didnt take china on reporter remember, while a payroll tax cut might mean you save some money in your pocketbook, it would have other financial implications it would mean a lot less money for Social Security, and it would also add to the already ballooning deficit craig . Hallie, on another topic here, gun reform legislation, President Trump had advocated perhaps stronger background checks repeatedly over the last few weeks. He appears to be backtracking now. What happened . Reporter thats for sure, craig. Youll remember right after the shootings earlier this month in ohio and texas, the president came out and emphasized the need for what he described as very meaningful background checks that was notable at the time since then, the president has softened his tone. He has also, by the way, had conversations with the head of the nra. Now, the president says that we already have strong background checks he is putting the focus instead on Mental Health issues, craig. Hallie jackson from the white house for us thank you. When it comes to gun violence, Police Departments across the country are taking a more aggressive stance now to prevent possible Mass Shootings. That was vividly on display during an arrest in florida. Nbcs Gabe Gutierrez has the story for us this morning. Good morning reporter good morning. Newly released body camera video captures the emotional moment a shocked mother learned deputies were arresting her teenage son the Sheriffs Office in florida released the video to serve as a reminder that online threats are no joke. Hes under arrest currently for making a threat to cause a mass shooting. Reporter this newly released body camera video shows the moment when a 15yearold florida boy was arrested for allegedly threatening to shoot up his school. Authorities say he made the threat in a video game chat room, saying he planned to bring his fathers m15 to school and kill seven people at a minimum hes now facing charges in Juvenile Court his stunned mother telling police, it was just a joke. Hes a little boy hes not one of the crazy people out there doing stuff. We cant take risks we cant say, all right, we trust him. This guy isnt going to do it. Then it happens and we say, we had a chance to stop it. Im telling you, this is not my son. Reporter another sign of zero tolerance in indianapolis, where Police Tracked down a truck driver after a friend claimed he was planning to shoot up a church in tennessee in california, Police Arrested a 15yearold girl, accusing her of posting this image of snapchat, a photo of guns for sale, and the message, dont come to school tomorrow. Police say she admitted posting it but couldnt explain why. The schools superintendent is now warning students whatever your choice might be, whether thats terrorist threats, sexting, vulgarity, all on social media is trackable back to you. Reporter these arrests come after police found other Credible Threats in ohio, florida, and connecticut in just the last week. Authorities across the country are on high alert after Mass Shootings this month in el paso, texas, and dayton, ohio, left 31 people dead. Police often arent sure what the persons making the post are capable of doing, but with kids heading back to School Across the country, they say theyre taking every threat seriously and taking no chances, savannah. Understandably, gabe. Thank you. There will be no break today from the oppressive heat wave and severe storms that targeted tens of millions of americans this week. Dylan is in for al once again. Shes got the very latest. More heat. More storms, huh more heat, more storms, that is correct, craig. We are seeing the storms already firing up. North of syracuse, we have severe thunderstorm warnings in effect currently we also have thunderstorms moving through southern vermont, into central massachusetts, also extending back through western pennsylvania thats round one round two develops later this afternoon and into the evening it affects most of new england, extends to new york and philadelphia, too. Most of new jersey, as well. Large hail, damaging winds we cant rule out a quick tornado with some of the severe storms but the thing with the storms, not everyone will see them this cold front will move in it combines with the heat and the humidity, and you see theyre more popup in nature. While one town can be hit hard by a storm, the next town over might not see any storm at all keep an eye to the sky if youre outdoors today if you hear the rumbles of thunder, get indoors until the storms pass. This cold front will slide through the whole area into thursday thats the reason it will start to cool down by the end of the week it comes with more storms though, especially in the philadelphia area tomorrow afternoon. We might see some airport delays again, if the storms pop up in the boston area, across new york city, through pittsburgh, even st. Louis, where another round of storms is developing. That could lead to airport delays thats something to keep in mind this afternoon now, we do also have the extreme heat the southwest, we have excessive heat warnings. Also down through the South Central plains, parts of tennessee. We have about 50 Million People impacted under some sort of heat watch or heat advisory we are looking for temperatures once again to soar itll feel like it is about 93 in new york city today itll feel like 101 in philadelphia d. C. Will feel like 98 degrees we are going to see some relief, again, by the time we get to the weekend. Well have more on that in a few minutes. Dylan, thanks lots to talk about there now to the remarkable rescue we mentioned at the top of the show a Small Plane Crashed off the california coast, and the couple involved filmed the whole thing. Nbc National CorrespondentMiguel Almaguer joins us with the details on this. Hey, miguel. Good morning. Reporter savannah, good morning. The pilot took off from san jose and was flying above Half Moon Bay. His friend flying another plane nearby witnessed the crash and was filming at the time. Moments after the aircraft went down, the downed pilot pulled out his phone, as well scary moments in the skies above california tuesday after a Small Plane Crash just south of San Francisco. Authorities say the pilot, david lesh, and a female companion, were flying near Half Moon Bay when his plane lost power. Leshs friend and fellow pilot was nearby in another plane, filming leshs aircraft for a midair photo shoot of his plane. A single engine beach craft bonanza. This video capturing the moments leshs plane hit the water. Probably 3,000 or 4,000 feet agl. Lost power did everything i could to get the motor going again. Wasnt happening so i put it into the pacific. Reporter minutes later, lesh and his passenger suddenly floating in the middle of the ocean without life jackets clutching to seat cushions and window shades. Hopefully someone comes and picks us up soon reporter lesh immediately began shooting video of the scene with a waterproof phone. The debris of the plane sinking beside them. Starting to get a little cold out here reporter the pilot of the other plane, owen, kept circling the crash site and radioed air traffic control. At first, he had no idea if lesh was okay your heart sinks. When you hear, mayday, i have no power, and then calls you ten minutes on the phone later ive never been so relieved in my life, to hear him on the phone. Reporter the pair were in the water 30 minutes when a nearby coast guard helicopter lifted them out of the water the coast guard was awesome the coast guard really, we would have been dead for sure. If i was out there another maybe half an hour, i dont think i could have i dont think my muscles would have been working. Reporter a midair photo shoot gone wrong, but a picture perfect rescue leaving two people lucky to be alive incredibly, the pair was not hurt from the crash, but they were getting stung by jelly fish during the time. The faa and ntsb will now investigate the crash. Incredible to see the images. Miguel, thank you. Always amazed at peoples ability to take out their cell phones when theyre in distress like that. Yeah, i dont think id do that id be too busy crying. Right. For my mom. Bargaining. Exactly if twotime world champ carli lloyd ever gets sick of soccer, might want to give football a try she paid a visit to the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens practices this week she turned some heads with her very impressive field goal kicking skills she made one of them from 55 yards out. Yes no easy task, by the way. Well show it to you again there. Lloyd, by the way, also a huge eagles fan she keeps that up, she might be an eagles kicker here. I love it shes an eagles fan. I knew i liked carli. Do the uprights seem closer together no. Not as wide, right . Seemed official. Oh. I meant it was even harder. Oh, okay. It looked like it was skinnier. I dont know. She did great. You could probably kick a field goal. No, i couldnt. No. No . Itd just dribble right in front of me. Thats about it. Weve got some storms and heavy rain all occurring this morning across the interior northeast. It is a little stormy. Also back through parts of the midwest, we are seeing some of that heavier rain this morning the heat continues down through the south, along the gulf coast. More scattered showers in florida. Theres a chance of light rain across washington and into oregon, as well, as the cold front moves in it is still very, very hot with excessive heat warnings in the southwest. Thats a look at the weather across the country well get to your local forecast in the next 30 seconds clown 1 sorry about that. clown 2 apologies. clown 1 . Didnt mean it. clown 3 whoops. stilts sorry clowns were sorry scary hey, were sorry [man screams] [scary screams] burke quite the circus. But we covered it. At farmers, we know a thing or two because weve seen a thing or two. We are farmers. Bumpadum, bumbumbumbum food wednesdgood wednesday. Im meteorologist kari hall. A live look at the Golden Gate Bridge we can see a thin layer of fog rolling in and well see that clearing out quickly. Temperatures headed into the low 70s. Inland slightly hotter reaching 86 in san jose and 91 in livermore. In napa today expect a high of 87 degrees. Through the forecast well see more 90s headed our way and well see several days of some hotter temperatures, even extending into the beginning of next week. Thats your latest forecast we owe a correction and apology. We do first of all, dylan is very eagle eyed about the eagles practice field because the field goal was narrower. It is skinnier, okay. To your point, dylan, which craig and i are on like a 30second delay, we didnt understand what you were saying, it was harder for carli. Its a tough target. You could be a sports broadcaster. Based on that yeah good eye. Ahead on a wednesday morning, an Interna