Campaign controversy what is it that i said wrong . Joe biden pushes back in a new interview overnight after being accused of misrepresenting his involvement in a harrowing war story. I said, sir, i do not want the damn thing do not pin it on me, sir the alleged gaffe that has the Democratic Frontrunner under fire once again. All that, plus, scooting under the influence. The new warning tied to a popular trend in cities across the country. What is good news . Im on the mend, and thats all i can hope for right now. Beloved host alex trebek returns to jeopardy, sharing an encouraging update on his health from the set. Going loco for coco. Coco gauff wins another thriller at the u. S. Open coco mania is catching hold setting up a mustwatch showdown with the defending champ. Today, friday, august 30th, 2019 announcer from nbc news, this is today with Savannah Guthrie and hoda kotb, live from studio 1a in Rockefeller Plaza welcome to today on this friday morning we are rounding out the week with Kristen Welker here, while savannah and hoda enjoy some time off hoda wrapping up her maternity leave. Its been great to be here with you this week were rounding it out on a very busy news day, tracking this monster storm. We are indeed lets get right to Hurricane Dorian the storm intensifying overnight. It is forecast to become a major hurricane today, and it is going to cause problems all over the south over this Labor Day Weekend. Given its size and uncertain path, the entire state of florida now preparing. The first evacuations could be ordered as soon as today more than 10,000 members of the National Guard are on standby to help out. We also know the storm has already made history the first ever all female team of Hurricane Hunters flew into the storm on thursday to gather some critical forecasting information. We have dorian covered from every angle this morning, including what you need to know if youre traveling over this Holiday Weekend. Lets start with mr. Roker and the forecast al, what are we seeing right now . Guys, it is intensifying, hurricane winds extending 25 miles from the center. The Tropical Force Winds out 110 miles from the center. Right now, category 2 storm. 717 miles east southeast of West Palm Beach, florida. 105mileperhour winds. It is slowing down now forward speed northwest at 12 Miles Per Hour hurricane watch is up for the northwest bahamas. Heres the track right now from the National Hurricane center. It comes across and makes landfall sometime now, as youve seen, slowed up 24 hours since we talked to you yesterday, at tuesday, 130mileperhour winds. About 2 00 a. M. Wednesday, it is a category 1 storm, moves inland lets compare the american track and the european model the american model is on the left you can see approaching on monday morning late on tuesday, it makes its way up the coast, according to the european model it is, right now, on the west coast for the american model by wednesday evening. So these two models, a little bit differing, but both within florida. So the entire state of florida has to be concerned about this the impacts, catastrophic winds over the bahamas on sunday eastern florida, look for hurricane gusts on monday. Look how much of florida is under that area of possible strong winds and heavy rain. Coastal sections of the entire southeast may see 6 to 12 inches of rain, but isolated amounts of 15 inches of rain. The basic headline here, guys, is that this system, while it has not hit yet, obviously, it has a lot of time over open water to gain strength we could see even some more strengthening, but we could also see it weakening we have to just continue to watch this because it is still a very volatile storm. Guys al, we know youre going to continue to do that throughout the morning. Thank you for that now to how millions are preparing for dorians arrival the entire state of florida is bracing for the very worst emergency supplies are already in short supply, and lines for gas are growing by the minute. Nbcs kathy park joins us from Cape Canaveral how is it looking, kathy reporter kristen, good morning to you we are watching and waiting for the weather to turn, but it is a muggy start to the day while the path is here for dorian, folks are willing to wait in line for hours to secure the essentials this morning, florida in the target zone of a powerful hurricane. Speaking of the coast, building surf, dangerous riffs, and storm surge a big concern. Reporter with urgent warnings as dorian moves in. You must have an evacuation plan. We want our residents to be prepared do not wait until it is too late. Reporter floridas governor expanding the state of emergency to include every county in the state. With the Emergency Operation center now open day and night until the storm passes President Trump cancelling a trip to poland to stay and monitor dorian. Its looking like it could be an absolute monster. Were ready. We have the best people in the world ready. Reporter residents across the state rushing out for supplies in many places, long lines for water, propane, and gas. On merit island, a twohour wait for sandbags. Were below sea level, so i think everybody is preparing for the worst. Reporter on floridas Central Coast where tourism is key, Business Owners are preparing for the worst on what should be a profitable Holiday Weekend. Well be doing a full scale evacuation, probably shutting down tonight evening, pulling our docks, evacuating the charter boats, getting in tables and chairs and everything secured. Reporter the International Space station capturing this view of the massive hurricane from above while on the ground, a mobile launch pad at the Kennedy Space center move closer, just in case some are taking no chances, like the Rolling Stones the band moved its saturday concert in miami to tonight, and Florida State football will kick off its season tomorrow in tallahassee, not jacksonville. All part of the preparation, big and small, as everyone watches to see where dorian will land. And nearby, Port Canaveral open to commercial traffic, and cruises are still scheduled to leave both today as well as tomorrow meantime, schools up and down florida are starting to cancel classes starting today guys, back to you. Kathy, waiting for dorian to hit, appreciate it. As dorians march to the east coast continues, it is disrupting Holiday Travel plans for millions Major Airlines and the cruis industry are scrambling to adjust nbcs Morgan Chesky is at Miami International airport with that part of the story. Morgan, good morning reporter yeah, craig, good morning. It is certainly not your typical Holiday Travel rush. At florida airports statewide, and here in miami, a lot of people cutting vacation short ahead of Hurricane Dorian, doing its best to wreak havoc on travelers plans at Miami International airport, trying to stay calm before the storm. We didnt know there was a hurricane coming when we planned our trip. Reporter plans uprooted. Travelers forced to decide what to do now. We flew in this morning and decided to fly out the same day. No reason for us to stick around. Reporter several airlines, american, delta, jetblue, and southwest, waiving change fees for certain florida airports passengers urged to check with their carriers there will be a ripple in travel over an already busy Holiday Weekend. A record 17. 5 million passengers are traveling this week, up 4 from last year not just flights are being affected florida is a hub for cruise lines. Some are at a standstill in miami. Ive been contacting the cruise line, and they say itll go on. Now that im here, it is at a halt, and im confused and puzzled right now. Reporter no matter what happens, airport Officials Say theyre ready. Airlines, the airport, and cruise lines are in great communication. Airlines are ready to provide flights. If there is a spike in passengers, theyll be prepared for seats to be on the planes for passengers to get out of town. Reporter if anyone is headed to universal orlando, part of nbc universal, theyre keeping a close eye on the approach of dorian as of right now, all operations are normal, and they are open for business we also did reach out to disney world but have yet to hear back. Kristen, craig Morgan Chesky at Miami International, thank you of course, well have the latest on the hurricane throughout the morning. Indeed now, we want to take a turn to politics and the 2020 potential president ial race. Democratic front runner joe biden is pushing back against reports he misstated details of an emotional war story during a recent Campaign StopPeter Alexander is at the white house with the very latest on this good morning to you, peter. Reporter good morning to you, kristen the former Vice President and Democratic Front runner this morning is dismissing that report that he told a false war story, arguing the Central Point of what he said stands the story of bravery, courage, and compassion not much difference. Reporter joe biden overnight defending a gripping war story hes told on the trail, speaking to the Washington Post. What i was talking about was a young man. I mean, what is the gaffe when i said there was a young man i tried to pin a medal on. He said, i dont want it, sir. He died. He died. He died. Reporter it is a story of a Service Members heroism and heartbreak. Th. This guy climbed down a ravi ravine, carried this man on his back after the humvee caught fire reporter he was to pin a silver star on a navy captain. Do not pin it on me, sir. Please, do not do that he died. He died. Reporter but as the Washington Post reports, almost every detail of that story he told last week appears to be incorrect. That he was conflating elements from multiple events, a point he seemed to concede to the post. I was making the point how courageous these people are. How incredible they are. This generation of warriors, these fallen angels weve lost and so i dont know what the problem is i mean, what is it that i said wrong . Reporter in 2008, thensenator biden met a soldier in afghanistan who performed the ravine rescue biden described on the campaign trail several years later, that soldier, sergeant white, was awarded a medal of honor by then president obama. In january of 2011, the former Vice President did award a bronze star to Army Staff Sergeant chad workman in afghanistan. Those discrepancies in the details highlighting bidens history of gaffes that hes addressed head on, making this comparison to President Trump. Saying last december, quote, im a gaffe machine, but by god, what a wonderful thing compared to a guy who cant tell the truth. President trumps accused biden of being off his game. Joe biden has truly lost his fastball. Reporter critics point to the president s strained relationship with the facts. According to the Washington Post, hes delivered more than 12,000 false or misleading statements since taking office as for that Army Staff Sergeant, chad workman, the soldier who received the bronze star from biden, he tells the post, eight years later, he still remembers that meeting and that moment, saying, quote, he has that look where his eyes can see into your eyes i feel like he really understood craig and kristen . Peter, we know youre tracking another headline also out of d. C what can you tell us this morning about the findings of an investigation into former fbi director james comey reporter heres the broad takeaway the Justice Department is not going to prosecute former fbi director comey for leaking memos detailing his interactions with the president. This is from that ig report, a government watchdog report, and it was released yesterday. It found comey repeatedly violated Justice Department and fbi policies by keeping and sharing personal copies of his memos. The report, importantly, found no evidence that the info released to the public was classified comey is claiming vindication. The president yesterday said that comey has been thoroughly disgraced. One more thing. Busy morning at the white house. There is also news about someone close to the president resigning this morning what more do we know about that . Reporter youre referring to the president s personal assistant madeline westerhout. Her office was right next to the oval office. Westerhout had been the president s gatekeeper since day one. Well, shes now out. A white house official and another person familiar with the situation confirming to nbc news she abruptly resigned yesterday. The New York Times reporting that her departure came after the president learned that she shared details about his family during an off the record dinner with reporters near the president s new jersey estate during his vacation there. The times says she will not be allowed to return to the white house today. Peter alexander from the white house, thank you. This morning also, there is a new warning from federal Health Officials when it comes to marijuana use among teenagers and pregnant women on thursday, Surgeon General jerome adams cautioned that marijuana use can have harmful effects on a teenagers developing brain and also on a growing fetus. Adams also said that the drug being used today is far more potent than it has been in years past saying, quote, it aint your mothers marijuana this is the first Surgeon Generals advisory on marijuana since 1982 there is a lot more to get to today, including coco mania alive and well at the u. S. Open. The teenage tennis prodigy did it again, electrifying the crowd on the way to her second victory. Blayne alexander has more. I watched this match, and it was incredible. Reporter wasnt it fun to watch . Good morning to you. Hours after the victory, coco is getting ready for a doubles match later today. It is another impressive run for the 15yearold tennis sensation who is making it clear that her run at wimbledon was no fluke. She may be a newcomer at the u. S. Open, but last night, she looked right at home, making it cocos court the 15yearold toppling hungarys babos in a hardfought, threeset match, becoming the youngest player to reach the third round of the u. S. Open since 1996 shes now set to face last years open winner naomi osaka on saturday. Inside Louis Armstrong stadium, the roar of the crowd leaving no doubt coco, coco, coco. Reporter coco mania is alive and well. It gets me super pumped im like, wow, im really so grateful im playing in front of all of you guys, and you believe in me. Reporter the world first fell in love with coco in london the teenager bursting on to the scene in wimbledon the youngest player to ever qualify, beating her idol, Venus Williams, and advancing all the way to semifinals. Her parents telling me then, the most important thing have a good presence on the court, not dropping your head, not whining and getting upset with yourself. Reporter it is paying off, with coco nabbing another nailbiting victory. Still taking time for post match selfies and signings shes like an ambassador for tennis now. Reporter turns out, thats cocos favorite part. The amount of people and kids especially that come up to me saying it inspires them is honestly better than any match i could win. Reporter its been a strong week for american women. Taylor townsend upsetting the former number one player in the world and wimbledon champ simona halep. Giving fans in new york plenty to cheer about coco thankful for every moment im super honored to be american and play in new york city like thank you so much reporter guys, the cheers and that smile are great, but coco is also raking in some serious cash last nights win, shes guaranteed to take home at least 163,000 away from the u. S. Open certainly not a bad payday for somebody who is not even old enough to drive. Good point. Great point there how incredible i watched that match last night. Couldnt go to sleep because it was so exciting. It was well past my bedtime. So much grace so much poise for someone who is just 15 years old. Incredible. Now, she faces off against naomi osaka on saturday. I cannot wait. Mustsee tv. You were at the open last night, too. Roker family. Yeah. Obviously, all eyes on the south as dorian bears down, but the rest of the country looking at weather, as well. Thats right. Lets check it out for you youll see we have sunshine across the great lakes also out west. Heat warnings are in effect. We are going to be looking at strong storms in the mid plains and some showers along the gulf coast of texas were going to get to your local forecast coming up in the next 30 seconds baby im not even in a gown and the only thing u have to say is wow make youre jaw drop drop say oh my drop drop drop make u say oh my god my drop drop make youre jaw drop make u say oh my god and you ne