And tired, now teaming up to spread an urgent message about the pandemic they want all americans to hear. Reality check. President trumps legal team running out of options. An inside look at the president s lawsuit, aimed at casting doubt on joe bidens victory. The Trump Legal Team hit with a string of defeats in court. Well have the very latest. Defending her honor. Prince william breaks his silence, now saying he supports an investigation into his mothers most explosive tellall interview. When you feel they arent listening to you, all sorts of things start to happen. Ahead, the scandal that suddenly erupted over the sitdown 25 years later. All that, plus, who knew . The tiny owl discovered hidden in the branches of the Rockefeller CenterChristmas Tree. He was the little gift in the tree this year. Whats next for the adorable stowaway found right outside our window . Today, thursday, november 19th, 2020. Announcer from nbc news, this is today with Savannah Guthrie and hoda kotb, from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. Hey, everybody. Welcome to today. Thank you for joining us on this thursday morning. That little guy had quite the road trip from upstate to here, right . A little stowaway came in on our Christmas Tree, was discovered by a worker. Oh, there he is. Hes been named rockefeller or rocky, as hoda likes to call him. Hes already hired an agent, and hes going to have a youtube show. Well tell you about that in a few minutes. Top story, the coronavirus crisis, cases and hospitalizations continue to climb by the day. It is really out of control. It really is. Now, we have yet another grim milestone. Get this, the u. S. Surpassing 250,000 deaths. The situation leading to a desperate and united plea this morning from doctors and nurses at nearly 100 hospitals nationwide. We have complete coverage. Were going to start with Gabe Gutierrez in hardhit iowa. Gabe, good morning. Reporter hoda, good morning. The Positivity Rate here in iowa is a staggering 41 . Here in des moines, the icus at several hospitals, including this one, are full. Around the country, Health Care Workers are stretched thin like never before. This morning, hundreds of nurses on strike at a philadelphia hospital, protesting low staffing and rising frustration over the covid crisis. I am very concerned about whats going on in there right now. Reporter now, across the country, Health Care Workers from nearly 100 hospitals are joining forces with an urgent plea. Wear a mask. The new psa shows images of overworked and exhausted doctors and nurses begging for help. Its not just the staffing shortage. Theres not enough of us to help. Reporter but also a lack of bed space. Its exhausting. Its overwhelming. Reporter dr. Nicole guild works in iowa, where the icu is full. There is a sense no one is listening to us. It really does feel, at times, as if, you know, were on the field, were fighting fires, and, yet, people continue to set fires. Reporter doctors and nurses are also becoming patients themselves. More than 900 Staff Members at the mayo clinic in minnesota and wisconsin have been diagnosed with covid in just the last two weeks. At the cleveland clinic, 880 caregivers are out due to covid. If we as Health Care Work force members become exposed to someone with the virus, we would have to quarantine for two weeks, which puts us out of the workforce. Reporter in a virtual roundtable, president elect biden became visibly emotional while hearing from an icu nurse in minnesota, saying shes never been tested for covid, despite working on the front lines since february. You got me emotional. Youre all making extraordinary sacrifices. There is hope on the way. Reporter but this is the sound of gratitude. This patient in utah intubated and unable to use his voice, instead, played the violin to show his appreciation. To be able to put aside all of his own needs, to be able to play for the rest of the Staff Members, it was absolutely incredible. Reporter cdc estimates more than 200,000 Health Care Workers have contracted covid since the pandemic began. Hoda . Gabe, thank you. We want to bring in nbcs medical correspondent dr. John torres. Dr. Torres, were watching doctors and nurses basically on bended knee, pleading with people. If youre not going to do it for yourselves, do it for us. I can feel them wondering, like, is anybody listening . Youre exactly right. Thats what im hearing from my friends, as well. Theyre saying, even to the point where people are getting intubated, as theyre with their last gasping breath, are saying, i dont believe this is coronavirus. I think this is the flu. Why are you doing this to me . Or theyre saying, i should have listened and done these things that we know we need to do. The concerning thing is, this has been going on for nine months or so. We have many, many more months to go with this. Everybody working in the health care industry, doctors, nurse, health techs, they are tired and overworked, overwhelmed. Psychologically, it is taking the toll, as well, and that is important. We have to remember that, as well. The nightmare scenario is before us. Thanksgiving is coming. Again, these doctors and nurses are saying, please, dont go outside your household for thanksgiving. Theres a Washington Post editorial this morning from governors, republicans and democrats. It says, in part, if youre planning to spend thanksgiving with people outside your household, we urge you to reconsider. Think about your last thanksgiving and the people you were surrounded by. As hard as it will be not to see them this thanksgiving, imagine how much harder it would be if their chairs are empty next year. Dr. Torres, for folks who are still on the fence this morning, how dangerous is it to try to gather people together, even extended family, for thanksgiving . Its extremely dangerous. Youre gambling with your familys lives. I get it, we all want to see our family members. This is the time of year we gather with them. I had to tell my sisters and nephews, no, do not come over. It was one of the saddest things i had to do in a long time, but i want to make sure everybody is healthy. For most people, were seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, hearing about the vaccine coming. You need to take the extra measures. Even for most people we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, for Health Care Workers, its deja vu. Were doing what we were doing months ago. More people in the hospitals. Were seeing human behaviors push people into these held care situations where they need this attention. For Health Care Workers, it is adding stress. They have to go home to families, put food on the table because they have to work. Its one of those things that keeps adding to itself, and theres no light at the end of the tunnel for them, unfortunately. Dr. Torres, back to thanksgiving for a second. I think a lot of people think, ill get a test, then ill be fine to sit and enjoy thanksgiving. There was a doctor who we just saw who said, you cannot test your way to a thanksgiving day table. I agree with that exactly. That test only gives you an idea of whats happening that day. You could test good on wednesday, be positive on thursday for thanksgiving. You dont want to use the test as your free pass. All right. Dr. Torres, thank you for that. In the meantime, new restrictions to deal with. Skyrocketing case numbers are going into effect today across the country. Here in new york, the nations Largest School district has switched entirely to Remote Learning starting this morning. Nbcs kathy park has that part of the story. Kathy, good morning. Reporter savannah, good morning to you. For days now, the mayor has warned of a potential school shutdown, with coronavirus cases on the rise. Starting today, all students go back to Remote Learning, disrupting an already fractured school year. This morning, the countrys Largest School system is shutting its doors after the city tops a sevenday Positivity Rate of 3 . No one is happy about this decision, but we set a very clear standard. We need to stick to that standard. Reporter now, new york citys more than 1 Million Students will all return to entirely Remote Learning again, for at least two weeks. For many families, its a troubling setback. If they do this, our kids lose out with education. They need to close bars and restaurants before they close schools. Reporter in kentucky, where infections are soaring, all schools, both public and private statewide, must also move online as the virus spreads. This virus, at its level right now, is and will overwhelm each and every one of our schools if we do not take action. This as the u. S. Hits a grim milestone. More than 250,000 coronavirusrelated deaths. That chilling number expected to climb, as hospitalizations reach an alltime high. As a result, new restrictions are taking effect all across the nation. Starting friday in minnesota, gatherings with people outside your household will be banned. Inperson dining suspended. Gyms and theaters will be closed for four weeks. Its not easy, and its not fair, but its a sacrifice that we need to make. Reporter los angeles is instituting a 10 00 p. M. Curfew for nonessential businesses and capping outdoor capacity at 50 . In wisconsin, which hit a new record high for covid cases, nearly all of its icu beds are full. The governor now extending a mask mandate. Call it what you want. Flattening the curve, stopping the spread, staying safer at int home im going to call it what it is. Its about saving lives. Reporter back here in new york city, the decision to shut down schools is not sitting well with everyone, and thats why parents plan on protesting later today at city hall, arguing the transmission rate within schools is relatively low. Just under 0. 2 compared to the 3 Positivity Rate city wide savannah weve heard a lot of folks say, how can i go out and have a drink at a bar, go to the gym, but my kid cant go to school . A lot of parents frustrated today. Thank you very much. It is 7 11 craig is here with the latest fallout from the election. Hey, good morning this morning, we have new details on President Trumps push for recounts in several key spring states, the defeats hes facing in courts, and the pushback against his strategy of not conceding to president elect joe biden. Nbcs chief White House CorrespondentHallie Jackson has the details on all of it hallie, good morning to you. Reporter hi, craig good morning so far, the Trump Campaign and republican allies have really racked up the losses with an uphill climb ahead in their legal push, thats partly because election law generally favors counting ballots, not tossing them out, unless there is evidence of fraud or laws being broken in other words, if theres proof. The president and his team, so far, have not provided any a lot of lawsuits, but no big wins for the Trump Campaign so far in a longshot legal battle that extends across six swing States Campaign and republican allies filed at least 30 Court Challenges nbc news tracking all of them, finding 19 of those cases have been denied, dismissed, settled, or withdrawn in at least three cases, its because judges found the president s allies failed to provide facts or evidence to back up their claim. President trump is absolutely right to fight for election integrity. Lets be clear, this is not about politics this is not about campaigning. This is about the law. Reporter the president s campaign has the right to file challenges under the law, like pursuing litigation and asking for recounts, but his attorneys are alleging a nationwide conspiracy that doesnt exist. Rudy giuliani leading the president s team and its push in pennsylvania, arguing to toss out hundreds of thousands of ballots, and ultimately stop the commonwealth from certifying its Election Results he says because of fraud telling a federal judge this week, this is not an isolated case, but one repeated in at least ten other jurisdictions. The judge sharply critical, told giuliani, at bottom, youre asking the court to invalidate 6. 8 million votes, thereby disenfranchising every single voter in pennsylvania. The lawyer opposing giuliani in court telling cnn the judge, who is a very good judge, just asked, you keep talking about fraud, but i dont see this in the complaint. Eventually, from giuliani said, you know, youre right, we dont have fraud in the complaint. Were not talking about fraud here. Reporter opponents point out there is no evidence of intentional misconduct, and even pennsylvanias republican senator sounds skeptical. I dont think they have a strong case. Reporter the president still plans to fight for now, probably well into december, even if his allies nudge him to acknowledge and accept his loss in the president ial race. According to multiple sources, one senior official telling nbc news, those close to the president know the legal challenges will continue, but understand theyre futile. I view that the vast majority of republicans are embarrassed by what donald trump is doing. Meanwhile, hallie, with regards to the transition, some headlines being made this morning. Reports of Trump Administration officials actually reaching out to biden amid the transmission roadblock, shall we say. What more can you tell us about that reporter youre right on that, craig. This is outreach that has come from some current and former Trump Administration officials who have privately reached out to the biden transition, according to sources familiar with the matter. Two biden transition folks downplay this. They say it is only a couple people from the trump side who reached out, that it wasnt a big deal, and really emphasizing it does not, in any way, replace the formal National Security and covid briefings the Trump Administration is still not providing. Craig, it does suggest that there are people in President Trumps orbit who understand joe biden will be the next president , even as President Trump himself refuses to acknowledge his loss craig . Chief White House CorrespondentHallie Jackson, thank you. Also this morning, craig, the u. S. Is hitting iran with sweeping, new sanctions, as new concerns are raised about its Nuclear Ambitions and activity today Senior International correspondent keir simmons joins us with the latest keir, good morning. Reporter hey, savannah, good morning to you those tough, new u. S. Sanctions followed this morning by a statement by the uk, germany, and france, calling on iran to reverse its nuclear buildup. The u. N. Watchdog demanding answers about uranium particles found at a site in iran. The same watchdog speaking to us, urging the Trump Administration not to take drastic action it is an exclusive interview this morning a senior u. N. Official reacting to a New York Times report, that President Trump sought options for attacking iran to stop its growing nuclear program. Grossi, the monitor of irans Nuclear Ambitions, was in tehran in august and makes a personal plea to the Trump Administration military attack would be detrimental to inspection activity let alone the safety of my inspectors i dont have any evidence that this will happen. Reporter he says the times report, not verified by nbc news, is spectlative the times cited current and former officials the white house has not commented, but pressure is increasing on iran the nuclear site in iran, a mysterious explosion this year now, satellite imagery reveals construction of new facilities near mountains secretary pompeo in israel this morning announcing more sanctions on iran. Their influence in the region is waning, and they are ever more isolated. Those days are over. Reporter President Trump withdrew from the Iran Nuclear Agreement created during the Obama Administration since then, the iranians stockpiling 12 times more uranium. Sort of a retaliation. Reporter grossi says, so far, they see no indication of secret Iranian Nuclear activity. How can we be confident that youre being told the truth . You can be confident that we are constantly pushing and getting all the access we need reporter based on the evidence you are seeing, now is not the time for a military attack on targets in iran . Well, i would hope there would never be a time for a military attack. Reporter while secretary pompeo is in israel, the israeli prime minister, netanyahu, praising the Trump Administrations approach to iran it goes to underscore that iran will be a major Foreign Policy challenge for the new Biden Administration savannah keir, thank you very much appreciate it. All right. 7 18 first check of the weather hey, ms. Dylan how are you . Good morning. Great, how are you guys . Great. Good. Well, its cold out there this morning. If youre out and about early this morning, keep in mind, temperat