Trying to calm down a man screaming antimuslim insults at two women. He was saying something about america. This is a free country. I can do whatever i want. What police are saying about the attack this morning. And lights, camera, action. The summer movie season getting into full swing, from bay watch to wonder woman, and pirates of the caribbean. We have it all covered for you today, saturday, may 27, 2017. This is tatoday live from rockefeller plaza. Welcome to this saturday morning, im craig melvin. Im kate snow. Thanks for having me. We have a good crowd on the plaza, kate. I think we have the shot of the guys in uniform probably there for fleet week, maybe, we have the coast guard represented, as well. Marines. Holiday weekend. But theres some weather to worry about. Maybe not here in new york. Top story, wild weather in the forecast for 61 Million People. Yeah, right through the middle of the country. The midwest is the area were going to see some of that Severe Weather today. Take a look what we saw in goodland, texas, yesterday. Look at the size of that shelf cloud moving over i70. Torrential downpours, hail, damaging winds. A lot of people hiding out under that gas station overhang there to stay out of the storm for a second. We are going to see more Severe Weather today. In fact, we have a moderate risk of stronger storms redeveloping. Especially through parts of the country like missouri, so heres our setup here. Were looking at the tornado threat and severe storms, especially through the midwest. We could see large hail, also some flash flooding with the torrential downpours. Severe watches and warnings already issued through parts of the midwest. Kansas right now and more storms will redevelop later today. Because of this setup, very moist, humid air. Dew points in the low to mid 70s, making it very uncomfortable down south. Then when you have this cold front combining with the heat and humidity, large storms begin to develop this afternoon. Area this red, moderate risk, we could see golf ball to softballsized hail. Very large hail out of this system, damaging wind gusts and tornados likely. Some of which could be strong tornados. Tomorrow the threat moves east from indianapolis to del rio, texas. Still looking at the risk of hail. Perhaps not as big tomorrow, but when youre imagining softball sized hail possible, you can imagine the damage thats going to cause. Thats quite the swath, too. Its a big break. Okay, well come back to you for the National Forecast in a minute. President trump wrapping up his nineday trip in sicily, italy today. The trip largely positive, but this morning trump is facing more scrutiny about his top advisers contacts with russia before he took office. Kristen welker is live with us in italy. Kristen, good morning. Reporter kate, good morning to you. President trump is already casting this trip as a success, tweeting this morning that many nato partners have agreed to pay more in defense, but hes also bracing for the reality. The controversies are only mounting at home and increasingly involving his soninlaw, Jared Kushner. As the president marks his final moments at the g7 summit, a bomb shell report in Washington Post reporting Jared Kushner and russias ambassador discussed setting up a secret channel of communications between the Trump Transition Team and the kremlin in december, before mr. Trump took office. The white house hasnt commented. This as a white house aide telling nbc news they are setting up a war room to deal with reports like this one led by reince priebus, steve bannon, and Jared Kushner. And while kushner is not the subject of the investigation, multiple u. S. Officials believe he has significant information. It all caps an historic week for the president , which started when he touched down in saudi arabia and took steps to reach out to the muslim world, calling on all religions to step up in the fight against extremist. Drive them out of your places of worship. Drive them out of your communities. In jerusalem and baethlehem, his message, the u. S. Is not here to judge. We are not here to lecture. We are not here to tell other people how to live, what to do, who to be, or how to worship. Reporter but a very different tone and welcome in europe, where he was greeted by thousands of protesters ahead of the nato summit in brussels and didnt hesitate to lecture allies standing next to him for not paying their fair share. This is not fair to the people and taxpayers of the United States. Reporter and all those awkward moments in between. His long handshake with the newly elected french president. His push seen around the world of the Prime Minister of montenegro and the first ladys flick of the hand, but the highlight of the week may have been the president s meeting with the pope. Powerful pictures as President Trump faces fresh criticism at home. Hillary clinton sweeking at Wellesley College comparing the president to richard nixon. We were furious about the past president ial election. Of a man whose presidency would eventually end in disgrace with his impeachment for obstruction of justice. Reporter even a jab from former House Speaker john boehner saying Foreign Affairs have been a bright spot, but, quote, Everything Else hes done has been a complete disaster. As for that latest controversy, New York Times reporting that kushner wanted to set up that back channel with russia to discuss serious strategy. Nbc news has not independently confirmed that reporting. President trump heads home in just a few hours. Kate . Thanks so much. Julie smith is director of the Transatlantic Security Program at the new american security. Josh is an msnbc contributor. Good morning to both of you. Let me start with you in d. C. You served as Deputy National security adviser to joe biden, worked on a range of issues. How significant, how unusual is this reported move by Jared Kushner . Well, were still getting all of the information, and its early days, so we dont want to assume too much, but lets say these engagements actually took place and lets say kushner did suggest some sort of secret channel. Its highly unusual to do that during a transition. What you normally do is work through the state department in any of your official engagements with a foreign country, particularly a country that we have very difficult relationships with. The former cia director, John Mclaughlin said on msnbc, julie, if an american Intelligence Officer had done anything like this, we would consider it espionage. Hes not an Intelligence Officer, but was it illegal if, in fact, this happened . Well, again, we have to get the details of what exactly happened, but you wouldnt want to be in a situation where someone on the Transition Team was actually hiding information or hiding this meeting from the u. S. Government, from our own intelligence services, and from the department of defense. Supposedly, they wanted to set this channel up to talk about syria, but theres no reason why you would do that without your military advisers and Intelligence Officers by your side, so there are a lot of questions about this, moral questions, ethical questions, and, of course, legal questions as you pointed out. Josh, the president headed back home after the g7 summit. How would you characterize his trip overseas, both legs . I think hes getting way too much credit with the europe leg. What he did with nato was quite dangerous. Theres an expectation he would reaffirm article five, that we would treat an attack on one member as an attack on all, but white house officials previewing ahead of the trip the president would Say Something like that, but its clear he didnt. That sends a signal to our european allies we might not be there for him. Its ultimately a force of rearming of germany. If european allies decide they cant depend on the United States. The thing now is countries like estonia from countries like russia. That was damaging. The speech in saudi arabia was fine, the earlier part of the trip went better, but i think what happened in europe was quite dangerous. Julie, your take on that, because he also really went after european allies for not pulling their weight, not contributing enough towards the nato budget. Thats right. So we have been hammering our european allies for many years, past president s, past secretaries of defense have been asking our european allies to do more and trump was right to ask them to do that. What he got wrong is he referenced they all owed past dues and theres nothing about European Defense spending where they owe anybody anything. Were asking them to invest in their own defense. Theres no big pot of money to which they are contributing. So the whole tone of the speech was a little off, and i agree that this was a real missed opportunity. Julie smith, josh barro, good to have both of you. Thank you. Overnight, a deadly stabbing attack on a train in portland, oregon. The suspect allegedly had antimuslim views. Nbcs Steve Paterson reports. One was stabbed in the neck. Reporter a tirade on a train ends in horror. Portland police say friday night three people were stabbed by a man described as ranting and raving. Two in particular we are told were on the train, two younger girls believed to be muslim. One was wearing a hijab. I was so scared. He was saying something about america. This is a free country. I can do whatever i want. The other people were saying, you know, calm down, you know, shut up. And it got he got agitated. Reporter two men who tried to intervene were fatally stabbed, a third was wounded but is expected to be okay. Its horrific. Theres no other word to describe what happened today. A suspect went upstairs, southbound across the overpass. Reporter the suspect, a young white male, was quickly captured near the train station. Police say thanks to witnesses who called 911. Steve paterson, nbc news. This morning we want to remember the life of a towering figure in American Foreign policy, an extended member of the nbc news family, as well. Jimmy carters National Security adviser, the father of msnbcs mica pierzynski dead at 89. Heres a look at his life, morgan . And his legacy. Speaking of pierzynski, fled hitlers europe as a boy, went to the u. S. , and became one of the most important figures of his time, ultimately shaping americas relationship with the world. It would be a time which will demand the very best from us. Speaking of berved as nation adviser for carters entire term. That land over there is yours. Youll go back to it one day. The polishborn diplomat who fled his country as a child with the rise of hitler was known as a tough figure in washington and abroad. He faced some of the biggest Foreign Policy challenges of our era. The taking of american hostages in tehran, the failed rescue mission, and the soviet invasion of afghanistan. He was fiercely antirussian and worked tirelessly to hold back the soviet tide. He also brokered peace deals between the egyptians and israelis at camp david. Three months later led the way for the u. S. To normalize relations with china. General review of the international situation, covering many issues of concern. His death was announced by his daughter, our colleague, morning joe cohost. My father passed away peacefully tonight. He was known as his friends as big, hz grandchildren as chief, and his wife as love of her life. I just knew him as the most inspiring, loving, and devoted father any girl could ever have. What a beautiful tribute. Of course, all of us at nbc news extend deepest condolences to mica and her family. Indeed, thank you. Holidlywood alisters turne out to remember chris cornell. Billy idol, courtney love, plus actors brad pitt, james franco, all of them among those who showed up to pay their respects to cornell. The 52 year old was found dead after a concert in detroit may 17th. It was ruled a death by suicide, but the family is now questioning whether antianxiety medicine may have played a role in his death. A st. Louis man is recovering from a frightening fall. The man somehow slipped head first between a commuter train and platform early friday. Nothing visible except his legs. St. Louis firefighters used air bags and the jaws of life to free him, and good news, hes listed in critical but stable condition with a leg injury. Man. Yeah, just that picture. Dylans back. A big weekend for a lot of people. The unusual start of summertime. Were going to feel the summertime heat, especially down south, where humidity is high and temperatures are warm, as well. Also thunderstorms will develop later this afternoon. Already had a round of storms this morning, now another round will redevelop this afternoon. Couple of spotty showers in the pittsburgh area and the plains, where we could see stronger storms today. Hot and humid down through texas in the 90s, close to 100 degrees. Beautiful in the pacific and we are seeing patchy clouds this Early Morning paired with some 50s. Peninsula right now about 50 degrees, souts bay 56, trivalley 52 and in San Francisco also in the 50s. A little bit cooler in the north bay at 55 degrees. But we are expecting that temperature trend to start climbing into the 60s for areas like palo alto, a high of 66 degrees. Were also expecting to see cooler temps by the afternoon. And thats your latest forecast. Over to england now where the investigation into that terror attack at an Ariana Grande concert picking up steam this morning. The security there is sky high, as crowds gather for some major sporting events on a Holiday Weekend for the british as well. Bill neeley is live in manchester. Good morning. Reporter good morning. Just within the last few minutes, the British Government has reduced the terror level from its highest critical to severe, meaning that they dont believe an attack is imminent. Just as in the u. S. , in the u. K. Its a Holiday Weekend. People worry there could be nor attack and thats despite more arrests overnight and a police chief who is confident hes got the terror network. Early this Morning Police used explosives to storm a house and april rest two men. Police now questioning 1 1 men, most in their 20s about the bombing. Weve got to understand everything around the terrorist, the network and how they manufactured the explosive device. Reporter just loose ends to chase do you, he says. Police now know how Salman Abedis bomb was made, loaded with shrapnel and nails and a powerful battery to power the bomb and his call to his parents to said goodbye and forgive me. All across Britain Police have reviewed and in some cases increased activities in more than a thousand events. They will not defeat us. Increased security, too, in london where 80,000 people will fill a soccer stadium today for a big final. The american pop star Ariana Grande, whose concert was attacked, has pledged to return. It has been an emotional roller coaster. The medical staff at the Medical Center are overwhelmed and every day more tears and a city struggling to recover. Part of that activity are the games being staged here today, everyone hoping this city can rise again after a very, very tough week. Thank you so much, sir. Still ahead, caught on camera, an angry bear charging at a bow hunt are. But first this is today on nbc. Time now for the download, our look back at the week there was. There were a lot of conversations, from conversations with nikki haley to an interaction with a sea lion. A massacre without mercy, 22 dead and Dozens Injured after an Ariana Grande concert in manchester, england. There was so much blood. The queen visiting survivors in the hospital as tributes poured out for the victims. The city defiant. If you look around, what have they done . They brought the people together. Dont let my daughter be a victim. Well said candid comments from the u. S. Ambassador about investigation into the possible russian ties with the trump campaign. Haley speaking to craig during her trip to the middle east. President trump said the appointment of Robert Mueller divides the country. You disagree. I think the questions need to be answered so we can get to work. And Greg Gianforte on a special election. Im sick and tired of you guys the last time you did the same thing. Get the hell out of here the congressional candidate on top of me was very disconcerting. The father of a little girl yanked into the water by a 700 pound sea lion in british colombia praised her grandfather for saving his life. A bow hunter in canada fought off a charging black bare. And a woman jumps to the hood of her car to stop a thief in action, a ball of flames next to a gas station in the dreeiver slowly died. And a close call, a car rolling down the driveway, makes it back just in time. Muark zuckerberg returns to harvard to receive an Honorary Degree after dropping out as a sophomore. I do feel that making a movie about all the different kwaumts of lo qualities of love was a neat idea. And it was a reunion of those of love actually reunite for red nose day. That sea lion video, this is a video im sure well see at the end of the year. And the speed with which the grandfather jumped in there. Its unbelievable. The family c