So insulting, and so missing the larger point. Just, ahe why the former Vice President says he is the one owed an apology. Mistaken identity. The surprising turn in the david ortiz shooting. Why officials now believe the bullet that almost killed them was meant for someone else. Pl all that, us fireworks. The controversial changes coming to this years fireworks on the mall. Base brawl. Police searching for parents in the figh at this youth baseball game. And 25 years at stud 1a. Its been 25 years since millions of americansth changed e way they start their day. Were celebrating big today. From nbc news, this is today, with savannahie g andt hoda ko live from studio 1a in Rockefeller Plaza. Welcome to today toda nice to have you with us on a thursday morning. Where were you 25 years ago today . I was watching. I was, too. Katie and brian out there, reopening todays iconic window on the world. Were going to mark it with a greato s tosreg ws,ratieb lreally concerning. Iranians force have downed a u. S. Drone overnight. It was in International Air space off the coastof iran. Iran said it was in their air space. Its being described by one official from iran as a clear message to america. Well start with bill neely, who is there. Bill, good morning. Good morning, savannah. Well, the flashpoint we ave been talking about got very real overnight where for the first timeth in crisis, iranian troops destroyed a u. S. Military targ target. Shooting down anunmanned, unarmed drone. A serious escalation and also a warning from iran overnight, and at the white house and pentagon this morning, no doubt serious discussions. The u. S. Military says one ofts i global hawk drones was shot down by a surfacetoair missile overnight in an unprovoked attack. Iran claims the drone violated its air space. The u. S. Says it happened over the straits of hormuz, International Air space, and no u. S. Aircraft flew over iran. Iranian state tv aounced the attack within hours. Misidentifying the drone as a h globalk, saying the countrys elite revolutionary guard had shot down a u. S. Spy drone. The guard commander says the shooting down sends a clearm sage to america, and while iran dont want war, its ready for i its the second time in a week that iran has fired at a u. S. Surveillance drone. The last, justhors before two oil tankersere attacked in the same area. The u. S. Says revolutionary guards detonated mines on the ship. The u. S. Navy d playing evidence. Tiny fragments of what it says is an iranian mine and the a magnets itffixed to the side of the ship. The latest incident comes a day after a rocet hit the headquarters on the u. S. Oil company exxonmobilin iraq, forcing the evacuation of 21 workers. An attack blamed on iranianbacked militias. Hours before the attack, former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice spoke to Sheinelle Jones about the rising tensions with iran. Its a dangerous moment because the iranians are reckless, and the iranians are the troublemakers in the middle eas theyre the most trouble making dangerous power in the middle east. All this as another 1,000 american troops are being sent to the region to join the u. S. Carrier strikep, grou and air force bombers. We are there to deter aggression. President trump does not want war. The overnight aggression by iran was not deterred. President trump must now decide how to do that and how to respond. No question this a serious provocation. President trump said the tanker attacks were very minor. Last night, he said dont worry about a thing, but iranian troops destroying a u. S. Military aircraft is a v ry ifferent d very challenge. Back to you. Bill neely starting us off. Thank you. Lets bing in nbcs White House Correspondent kristen welker. What are we hearing from the Trump Administration . Moments ago, i spoketo a white house official who tells me the administration is assessing the situation right now. The conversations are ongoing at this point, and its expected there will be meetings about atest provocation at the white house later today. Overnight, mr. Trump was pressed about tensions about iran before this news broke, and he did ry to downplay any escalation, telling fox news, as you just eard, dont worry about a thing. Everyl. Ing is under contro that echoed what he said last iran fter the u. S. Blamed or attacking norwegian an japanese oil tankers in the ulf of oman. In that tinstance,he president said while he would go to war over nuclear weapons, he cast doubt over any military action for other clashes. Bigger picture here, tensions between the u. S. And iran have been steadily increasing since the president walked away from the Iran Nuclear Deal a year ago. For hispart, secretary of state mike pompeo, has said the admngistration is consideri range of options to deal with irans provocations in recent weeks. This comes as predent trumps pick for defense secretary withdrew his name earlier this week, and the new acting defensy secretaust started yesterday. Thank you. Ts turn to admiral james stav retacy who is here now. A drone shot out of the sky, how big of a deal is this . This is a big deal. Ai a big raft. It has a 130foot wing span. The size of a good sized learjet. It can fly 8,000 to 5,000 miles and it costs 120 million. Thank god its an unmanned aircraft. This is a significant step up from what we saw last week with the tanker attacks. The tanker attacks, the drone,ramping up of the Nuclear Capabilities as well. What might their strategy be . He what is this message the iranians are trying to send . A good pelto interestingly. Kim jongun, when he wants attention, he launches longrange ballistic missiles. He sets off a nuclear device. The iranians are taking a play out of that page eyd e going to continue to ramp up these tensions as we go forward. A very dangerous situation. Tecically, iran is saying this morning this drone was in its own air space. The u. S. Is saying it was in international waters. What are the chances a drone could accidentally be in iranian air space . Extremely small. Eun hightech precisely guided, computers. I would pet that was i International Air space. Does the u. S. Need to put out proof if we can . To e have to prove the cas the world. James, good to have you with us. Thank you. Always this morning, issues of race are suddenly front and center in the 2020 battle for the white house. Oe biden says he will not apologize for touting his work with segregationist senators back in the97 10s. Despite an utcray from his democratic rivals, and a renewed debate over reparations for slavery has jumped from the campaign trail to congress now. It got two reports this morning, starting with peter alexander. Good morning to you. Good morning to you. With jong biden takio the democratic debate stage exactly one week from today, the fireworks have already started. The flashpot here, bidens comments, you noted, invoking his work with segregationist senators earlyn his career, arguing its a sign of his ability to forge personal relationships even with politicians he disagrees with. His rivals say hes out of touch with the times and out of step with his party. Overnight, former environment joe biden firings back at hi critics. Theres not a racist bone in my body. I have been involved in rights my whole career, period. How does it feel that your democratic rivals are implicitly saying you have issues talking about race. They know better. The democratic ontrunner on defense and digging in after touting his working relationship with two segregationist senators during the 1970s. James eastland, and herme, talmadg both democrats. Cory booker blasted bidens c comments as wrong. Cory should apologize. He knows better. Booker responding overnight wrfrb. For his posture to be to me, have done nothing wrong. You should apologize, im not a racist, is so insulting. And soissing the larger point. That he should not have to have explained to him. Several of bidens 2020 rivals pouncing, aiming to cast him out of step in an increasingly Progressive Democratic party. The coddle e segregationists, people who if they had their way, i wouldnt be standing here in the united tates senate, its misinformed and its wrong. I dont think you should be bragging aboutking on a bipartisan basis with segregationists. It started tuesday on a fundraiser when biden touted the civility that once existed in the senate, stressing t need to reach consensus. Eastland called africanamericans an inferior rate and said this in 1957. Separation of the racists for the mst harmonious race relation. Biden argued he worked to combat eastlands views, pushing to extend the Voting Rights act. You dont have to like the people in terms of their views, but you just simply make the case, and you beat them. Biden, who served along de the nations first africanamerican president , of course, has long touted his civil rights record and he has strong support within the black community. Still, bidens aides have long urgedt him no discuss his relationships with segregationist senators. Peter alexander, thank you. Race is at the center of a tense debate on capitol hill. The debate on reparations yesterday explored the idea of using taxpayer dollars to compensate descendants of u. S. Slaves. Good morning. We heard impassioned and at times hated testimony yesterday as to whether or how descend nlts of slaves should be compensated for the forced and the centuries of discrimination that followed. The question of reparation picking up traction and gaining attention both on the campaign trail and here on capitol hill. Once politically unpopular, its now a major issue for 2020 democratic president ial ul hop reparations. Many now backing the controversial concept of payments or policies aimed at repairing lingering effects from centuries of slavery and discrimination. These injustices do not just cause tiinjus for africanamericans. It enforces a deep injustice in our nation as a whole. Its a cancer on the soul of our country. Senat and democratic president ial candidate cory booker speaking at a congressional hearing wednesday. As House Democrats call for a Bipartisan Commission to study reparatio. This committee must note inviting the best selling author whose 2014 article r gniting the debate. Why should the federal government bear respo eibility fonomic and social damages to the descendants of the slaves . I think the most obvious reason is because the federal government is complicit in it. Reparations were once viewed as a fringe idea, but a wave ofo grassr activism among racial inequality is sparking a shift. 54 dfmocratic primary voters say theyre likely to support a candidate who backs reparations. But many republicans reject the idea. We are so far removed from the event. We ve, you know, tried to deal with our original sin of slavery by fighting acivil war, by passing landmark civil rights gislation. Weelected an africanamerican president. A view which koets addressed head on. Many of us would love to be taxed for the things we are solely and individually responsible for, but are american citizens and thus bound to a collective enterprise that extends beyond our individual and personal reach. Now, this bill faces major obstacles but that has not stopped the National Conversation about americas history with slavery and how it should best atone for its past. Geoff bennett on the hill this morning. Thank you. President trump is speaking out on a range of topics from u. S. mexico relations to the 2020 reelection. He sat down with jose diaz bulart for his first interview on a Spanish English network. I have been asked that question. You never know. I could comment on different ones. But i wont bother too much. I think just a little b bernie looks like hes had it. Bernie looks crazy, but he always did, but he looks tired crazy right now. Joe biden, he looks like hes just exhausted. I dont know what happened to him, but hes exhausted, and he doesnt do any work. Hes not working. One thing i find out about this job to do it right, and i have done it eright, you hav to work hard. You can see that full 11 00 iew tomorrow night, eastern on telemundo. Check in with the world of sports. Lots to get to. Well start with the womens world cup. The u. S. Taking on sweden this a fternoon. The americans are seeking some revenge for their loss to the swedes in the 2016 olympic games. Both teams have secured spots in the tournaments knockout round. But the u. S. Needs aor win tie today in order to win its group, group f. Also tonight, the nba draft happening right here in new york city at barclays center. Perhaps you have heard, former duke star zion williamson, idely considered the top player available in thedraft, and the new orleans pelicans, they have that number one pick, and heres little doubt in just about anyones mind that the pelicans will be selecting zion williaauon. Bec he could change the game for them, right . For change the game for them and for the league, perhaps. Should be interesting tonight. Lets do this right now, 7 16. Lets check in with mr. Roker. How are we lookingwith the weather . Its not great and not going to get better for a while. This is just outside dallas. Tornado toucng down, causing massive damage. Several reports of tornadoes yesterday and well praerbl see more today. You can see we already have stor firing up rig now. Heavy thunderstorms moving out of new orleans and louisiana, to the southeast. We have flash flood watches for 40 Million People in the northeast and in the ohio river valley. Today, all eyes on the Midatlantic States where we have an enhanced risk. Nine states. A talkingut 50 Million People, low tornado threat, but damaging winds and hail, which continues tomorrow for 8 million folks back through the blains. Were looking at this slowmoving meandering system bringing storms with massive downpours. Laguardia already has a ground stop this morning. Its going to be a mess. Pack your patience. Friday, that system finally moves off the east coast. In the meantime, the damage will be done. Today, look for delays. New york, d. C. , charlotte, atlanta, also in clevela on the road from nd,i95,nd fro jacksonville to bangor, from boston to chicago on i90. Chicago to birmingham, and especially in the northeast and into new england, heavy rain. Rainfall rates 1 to 2 inches per hour. Well have a real mess today. Well do your local forecast coming up in the nex 30 seconds. Everybody has a great story to tell, and our job as producers is to help pull that story out. Its very powerl, and just speeds up your whole day. L fu i always have ateast 4 or 5 programs open on my computer. I do need to be able to work everywhere. 16 hour days are pretty common, so i need a long battery life. Rd it feelso be on this side of the camera for sure. Aloudy and humid start to your this, and were going to be watching the weather very closely. A sigficant threat for severe thunderstorms from 4 00 to 9 00 this evening. Likely to impact your evening commute. M teratures right now are in the sticky 70s across the area. Above 90 degrees today. 91 and turning very stormy later in the afternoon and evening. Much Better Weather owrives tomorr and thats your latest weather. Thank you so much. Coming up, surprising turn in the s doting ofavid ortiz. Why police are now saying big pahe was not t intended target after al early fireworks in the nations fourth of july capitol. Are they putting politics over patriotism . First, this is today on nbc. Of savings and service. Whoa. Travis in it made it. Its amazing. Oh is that travisp . Its pretty cool, isnt it . Theres two of them. Theyre multiplying. No, guys, its me. See, im real. Im real he thinks hes real. Geico. Over 75 yeses of savings and ice. Just ahea investigation into this disturbing fight between parents at a youth baseball game. And were going to celebrate 25 years, kicking off your mornings from studio 1a, and our iconic window on the world. Lots of surprises ahead, too. Sharon says step on it. The meetings started. 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Were staying on top of a developing story. Virginia state police say a driver is dead after a fiery crash last night on the beltway on the ocpy outer loop near i66. The car he was driving hit a cement barrier and caught on re. Lets get the latest on the commute. Its still slow, outer loop t 66, because we still ha that crash on the scene there. O taking a l southbound 270, kind of your normal delays. Manassas, eastbound 66 after Prince William parkway, delays there because the right shut down from that accident. Thank you. Later today on news 4, were worki