President biden should have pardoned mr. Trump. Also tonight, the attempted assassination, a man walking up to slovakias Prime Minister shooting him multiple times. Aides pushing the wounded politician into a car and a man tackled on the ground. The Prime Ministers condition tonight. The barge slamming into a bridge in galveston, texas, causing a partial collapse and unleashing an oil spill. One Community Island cut off. Opening statements in the Bribery Trial of senator bob menendez. The defense suggesting those gold bars didnt belong to menendez but to his wife. A heartstopping new dash cam video from a semi truck as a crash sends it dangling off a bridge. The recordbreaking filibuster in missouri as democrats wage a battle over Abortion Rights. And the athletes dominating the world of womens golf and swinging for a shot at gold in the paris olympics. Announcer this is Nbc Nightly News with lester holt. Good evening, and welcome. Not one but two president ial debates are on the books tonight after an exchange of verbal taunts than a prize fight promotion. President biden and former President Trump have agreed to televised oneonone debates, the first Happening June 27th and notably without a live audience. The second one, september 10th. The arrangement first proposed by President Biden was quickly accepted by mr. Trump, who refused to take part in this years republican primary debates. The first of the showdowns timed by the Biden Campaign to take place before early voting begins. In the time being, the debate among pundits will likely be over which candidate has the most to gain or maybe lose. White house correspondent Peter Alexander now with how it all came together. Before i get started reporter tonight the stage is set for the first tv confrontation between President Biden and former President Trump in more than three years. The agreement punctuating a dizzying day of dealmaking. The president posting this video responding to weeks of pressure from mr. Trump for a debate. Donald trump lost two debates to me in 2020. Since then he hasnt shown up for debates. Now hes acting like he wants to debate me again. Well, make my day, pal. Reporter the president taunting his rival over his manhattan Hush Money Trial that kept him in court four days a with. So lets pick the dates, donald. I hear youre free on wednesdays. Reporter theres traditionally three debates. The president offering two. Mr. Trump who refused all of the primary debates quickly saying yes and pushing for more writing, im ready and willing to debate crooked joe. I would strongly recommend more than two debates and for excitement purposes a very large venue. Just tell me when. Ill be there. Within hours a pair of dates were set, one in late june, another in september. Both sides bypassing the commission on president ial debates proposal for three fall showdowns. President bidens decision comes after former President Trump repeatedly challenged him to debate. You can see, we have an empty podium right here to my right. You know what that is . Thats for joe biden. Im trying to get him to debate. Reporter the june 27th faceoff with no audience will come at a critical moment in the race with recent polls showing mr. Trump in a strong position in some key battleground states, and shortly after the former president s criminal trial is expected to wrap up. Today senator mitt romney, a fierce trump critic, arguing the president should have pardoned mr. Trump. I would have immediately pardoned him. Id have pardoned President Trump. Why . Well, because it makes me, President Biden, the big guy and the person i pardon the little guy. Reporter the debate is certain to be a bitter battle with the president and his predecessor trading insults. The worst president give me the ten worst names. They havent done the damage to our country that this total moron has done. Reporter and for mr. Biden just today the guy has sort of lost his mooring. He seems like the guy who doesnt know what the hell hes doing anymore. Reporter in an already unprecedented campaign, the first crucial clash now the earliest in modern history. And, peter, to be clear, this means this happens before the conventions . Thats right, likely even before mr. Trump has picked his Vice President ial nominee here. The former president is now saying he accepted an offer for a third debate in october. The Biden Campaign, though, they are brushing that off, lester, telling me no more games, no more chaos, in their words, President Biden will do two debates. All right, peter, thanks very much. A world leader is fighting for his life after a brazen Assassination Attempt in broad daylight. Keir simmons now with late details on whats being called a politically motivated ambush. Reporter tonight, a tense europe shaken again, gunshots, and a possible glimpse of the shooter, then slovakias Prime Minister staggers to his car hit in the stomach, his Security Bundling him inside. I heard three shots, this woman says, and then he fell next to the barrier. Tonight he was airlifted to the hospital and is in a lifethreatening condition. Moments after the attack, police handcuffing a man. The countrys president says a suspect has been arrested. I am shocked, she says. Its an attack on our democracy. Tonights tack coming after a spate of of political Assassination Attempts. In 2022 japans former Prime Minister shinzo abe was shot in the street. A year later an assassins gun jammed as the Vice President of argentina was targeted and a south korean Opposition Leader was stabbed in the neck. Slovakias prorussian Prime Minister had run for reelection opposed to military aid to ukraine. Only to uturn months later. His politics divisive. Thousands protesting in the streets over plans to bring it further under government control. Officials say the attacker had political motivations amid ever escalating tension in europe. But exactly why he did it is still not clear tonight. Lester. All right, keir simmons tonight, thank you. Another bridge accident today, this time in galveston, texas, where a barge crashed into a crucial causeway. It comes as federal officials grapple with the recent baltimore bridge collapse. Heres priscilla thompson. Reporter tonight, another scary scene on americas waters. A possible boat that hit the bridge and a power line down and maybe fuel in the water. Reporter a Barge Crashing into a bridge, this time in galveston, texas, closing the only road to a small island community, and causing an oil spill. Our Emergency Management is requesting Fire Department hazmat and advising that theres Fuel Oil Leaking into the water. Reporter the barge holds about 30,000 gallons. Officials say its unknown how much oil has leaked. The barge owner, Martin Petroleum, says it broke loose from its tow and drifted into the bridge. The accident comes after the Dali Cargo Ship crashed into Baltimores Francis scott key bridge in march plunging the bridge into the water, killing six. So, were here today reporter The Ntsb Chair On Capitol Hill today. Yesterday we released our preliminary report, which shows that the dali experienced four total power outages. Reporter investigators finding the pilots lost control of the massive vessel right before the collision. The recent rash of Barge Bridge Accidents including pennsylvania and iowa all raising safety concerns. The ntsb now warning states to examine their infrastructure before its too late. I keep reiterating this, if you own a bridge, if a state owns a bridge or other entity owns a bridge, look at the current structure. Do a risk assessment. You can do that now. Priscilla joining us now. Were there any injuries, and whats the status of the oil leak . Reporter lester, Officials Say there were no injuries, and Martin Petroleum says that leak has been stopped. The ntsb and the coast guard are now investigating as tonight this bridge and the waterway remain closed. Lester. Priscilla thompson, thank you. Here in new york, Opening Statements today in the Corruption Trial of one of the most powerful u. S. Senators, democrat bob menendez of new jersey. Hes accused of Taking Hundreds Of Thousands of dollars in bribes. Jonathan dienst was in Federal Court. Reporter tudor today new jersey democratic senator bob menendez walking into Federal Court where prosecutors allege he put his own greed ahead of his country. In Opening Statements, calling him corrupt, accusing him of taking of hundreds of thousands of dollars in payoffs including gold bars, a mercedes convertible, and other items as part of a widespread bribery scheme. For years Robert Menendez has betrayed the people he was supposed to serve by taking bribes, the prosecutor told the jury. Among the charges, prosecutors allege menendez acted as a Foreign Agent accepting payoffs to help egypt get more military aid and abusing his position as the chair of the Senate ForeignRelations Committee by allegedly helping a new jersey man get a multimillion Dollar Business Deal approved by the egyptian government. This was not politics as usual. This was politics for profit, the prosecutor said. Menendez has pleaded not guilty. His attorney telling the jury today, he was not an agent of the egyptian government, but an American Patriot who took no bribes. Menendez previously said that over 400,000 in cash the fbi found in his home in suit jackets, a safe and shoes was just money he took out of the bank over 30 years. I have withdrawn thousands of dollars in cash from my personal savings account, which i have kept for emergencies and because of the history of my family Facing Confiscation in cuba. Reporter and the menendez defense today suggesting his wife nadine was responsible for the gold bars found in their home saying they were in her closet. He did not have a key to that closet and did not know of the gold bars in that closet, the Defense Attorney said. And jonathan joins me now. Nadine menendez has also been charged here. Thats right, lester. Nadine menendez has pleaded not guilty and will go on trial separately this summer due to illness. Meanwhile, a businessman who pleaded guilty earlier is expected to testify against senator menendez. Jonathan, thank you. The israeli Prime Minister revealing the what he expects the offensive against hamas battalions in rafah to look like, and it would last for weeks even as he acknowledges the rift its causing with the u. S. And spoke to cnbc sara eisen. Tonight with israeli troops pushing further into rafah, Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu underscoring in an interview with cnbc israel is moving forward with its assault there and soon. The intense part of the fighting, the smashing of the battalions is just weeks away. It doesnt take that long. So its a matter of weeks until this is over . The rafah operation if continued as we planned is a matter of week, not months and not years. Reporter netanyahu undeterred by the growing and vocal opposition from the united states. Yes, we do have a disagreement on gaza, rather on rafah, but we have to do what we have to do. Reporter after President Biden vowed last week to stop sending certain offensive weapons to israel, tonight signs u. S. Military support for israel is continuing. A u. S. Official says the Biden Administration has notified congress theyre advancing a potential 1 billion arms sale to israel. The arms transfer wouldnt happen for several years. Meanwhile, pressure on netanyahu isnt only coming from other countries, its also coming from within. Netanyahus Defense Minister criticizing him today for his indecision on who will govern gaza and pushing against any notion of Israeli Military rule if and when hamas is ultimately defeated. Three u. S. Officials say a giant floating dock that will be used to deliver food and other aid will reach gaza tonight. Itll be installed over the next 24 hours, and distribution of that aid should begin in the coming days. Lester. Sara eisen, thank you. In 60 seconds, the Marathon Filibuster in missouri. Whats behind the intense legislative fight. And the dramatic video from inside a semi truck as it video from inside a semi truck as it dangled Fr A Bridge Om if you have Chronic Kidney Disease you can reduce the risk of Kidney Failure with farxiga. Because there are places youd like to be. 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Some pretty dramatic new images in to us tonight from the dash cam of a semi as a collision sends it dangling off a bridge over the ohio river in louisville as the Driver Inside yells in terror. That driver later rescued by firefighters, who rappelled down. The other driver involved has been charged with causing the crash in march. Well turn now to the Battle Being Waged in missouri. Democrats breaking the state Senate Record for longest filibuster in a fight fueled by the issue of Abortion Rights. We get more from yamiche alcindor. Reporter missouri has one of the strictest Abortion Bans in the country. The state senates republican majority wants to keep it that way. Were going to protect our constitution. Well protect it from the abortionists. Reporter but tonight democrats are fighting back. Missourians need to wake up and understand this is an attack on them. Reporter democrats speaking for more than 50 hours during a Marathon Filibuster trying to block a bill that among other things would make it harder to amend the states constitution. Supporters of Abortion Rights say theyve gathered enough signatures for a separate Ballot Measure in november that would protect access to abortions. We have these outside groups coming into our state pouring money in, going to the urban areas, getting signatures, completely circumventing our rural voices. Reporter but in the republican proposal is passed before november enacting the Abortion Amendment would not just require a simple statewide majority, but also practice majorities from five of the states eight districts. The reason that republicans are so committed to silencing peoples voices at the ballot box is because theyre afraid that missourians are going to come out and support restoring their reproductive rights and their access to abortion in missouri. Reporter across the country in at least seven states, every time the issue has been put to voters through a ballot initiative, Abortion Rights have been expanded. Lester, the filibuster ended early this evening after a republican senator moved to send the bill back to committee. Democrats say if a similar version of the bill comes back theyre prepared to filibuster again. All right, yamiche, thank you. Coming up, why so many families are struggling to keep up with the soaring cost of child care and the lengths theyll go to for their kids