>> see you then. tonight, fo america. extreme security as cities from washington to sacramento lock down the nationwide warnings ahead of the inauguration. and shocking new video from inside the capitol on january 6th. the moment rioters pushed through police, entered the senate chamber, and searched for congressional leaders. what they said about who sent them and why were some police just standing by. final countdown, moving trucks at the white house as president trump prepares for his impeachment trial. who will lead his defense? the updated timeline for desperately needed new vaccine approval. >> we're weeks away, not months away for

sure. >> as older americans struggle to get appointments and the warning about a new covid variant that could be worse than the uk strain. phil spector the convicted murderer and behind the biggest hits including the beatles, has died. daring return. the opposition leader believed to be poisoned by russia returned there today and was immediately detained. and the ultimate thank you note the classroom surprise that left this professor in tears >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with kate snow good evening at the start of a mementos week, the inauguration of a new american president, but this time it will look and feel so much different. not only is covid forcing events to be virtual, but there's deep concern about threats in the wake of what happened on january 6th. there's new video tonight showing the mob surging into the capitol, rifling through senators' desks.

a capitol police officer politely asked them to leave. and this weekend the fbi warned of the possibility of violence at state capitals we have every angle covered. we begin tonight with gabe gutierrez >> reporter: tonight, more than 15,000 national guard troops are patrolling the nation's capital. >> i don't think anybody has ever seen anything like this. >> reporter: d.c. is now broken up into green and red zones and there are military and law enforcement vehicles on virtually every corner but today armed protests advertised online by far-right extremists did not materialize here there are small nonviolent gatherings at some state capitols in michigan this man says the fbi contacted him days ago to make sure he was planning a peaceful rally >> a bunch of people decided not to come today because of the fear of the national guard and our state boys over there watching us right now. >> reporter: at least 13 states have deployed their national guards to protect state capitols arkansas is using civilian law enforcement. >> you want to be overprepared versus underprepared.

>> reporter: so far, authorities have arrested 116 people involved in the u.s. capitol siege. now among them the mother of this man previously taken into custody seen carrying plastic zip ties police say lisa eisenhart of tennessee was also in the capitol with her son one current and one former fbi official tell nbc news that the bureau is also investigating whether foreign governments or groups provided financial support to extremists who helped plan and execute the attack the sources say the fbi is examining payments of $500,000 in bitcoin this week in washington, the few groups that have filed for protest permits will be screened for weapons and cordoned off in two locations do you think all of this is a massive show of force >> you certainly hope so there's certainly security like we've never seen before. >> and gabe joins us now from near capitol hill gabe, how do the closures there compare to other inaugurations past

>> well, kate, the perimeter is much larger today the secret service and other agencies dramatically expanded it and tomorrow an inauguration rehearsal is scheduled after it was postponed a day. kate >> all right gabe, thank you. now to that alarming new video the first upclose look at what happened inside the senate chamber during that deadly attack. a journalist filming the chilling moments the rioters broke in and who they were looking for. vaughn hillyard has details. >> protect the constitution of the united states against enemies foreign and domestic >> reporter: tonight, the "new yorker" releasing shocking video captured on january 6th as rioters forced their way into the capitol. trump supporters climbing through the busted doors and windows. >> whose house >> reporter: threatening the police >> [ bleep ] a million of us out there and we are listening to trump >> reporter: and making their way toward the senate chamber. >> protect the

constitution >> knock, knock. we're here >> is this the senate? >> reporter: exposing the significance of the threat >> while we're there, we might as well set up a government. >> reporter: as insurrectionists look for lawmakers -- >> where the [ bleep ] are they >> reporter: -- including democratic speaker of the house nancy pelosi. >> where the [ bleep ] is nancy >> reporter: rummaging through senators' through senators' papers - >> got to be something in here we can [ bleep ] use against [ bleep ]. >> reporter: -- the rioters claiming senator ted cruz is on their side >> would want us to do this so i think we're good. >> reporter: one man, jake angeli, with clear contempt for vice president pence, taking a seat in his chair. >> i'm going to -- because my [ bleep ]. >> reporter: and leaving a note. >> only a matter of time justice is done. >> reporter: as rioters gathered for a prayer >> thank you for filling this chamber with patriots that love you >> reporter: another section of the video shows tense clashes

between capitol police officers trying to defend the ground. >> break all the windows. >> reporter: inside at one point the video shows another officer asking politely for rioters to leave the senate chamber >> now that you've done that, can i get you guys to walk out of this room, please >> yes. >> reporter: while a group of officers appear to be standing by in the hall. >> let the people in >> reporter: striking, raw video, revealing tense moments during the dangerous takeover >> vaughn, videos like these have been helping authorities, right? >> reporter: they have the fbi says that they have received 150,000 photo and video tips related to the attack so far and authorities say they still are working on more than 300 open cases. kate >> okay, vaughn, thank you. there were moving trucks at the white house today. president trump only has two more full days in office, but his final days, of course, are overshadowed by an impending impeachment trial in the senate. kelly o'donnell reports. >> reporter: the

practical transfer of power today as another moving truck left the west wing. cleaning contractors on the job while flags and banners to usher in the next administration are ready on pennsylvania avenue a secluded president trump, perhaps just days from a second senate impeachment trial. but a spokesman today said, "the president has not yet made a determination about hiring his legal team." belittling the process as an impeachment hoax house democrats trying the case are reluctant to publicly discuss strategy or specific timing. >> there's, of course, conversations going on between speaker pelosi and the senate, but we'll be ready to go when it starts >> reporter: trump ally senator lindsey graham argues that impeachment was not intended for a former president. >> this is a scarlet letter impeachment where the democrats are trying openly to disqualify president trump from ever holding office again

>> reporter: some democrats say president trump could also lose access to national security secrets granted to former presidents. >> there's no circumstance in which this president should get another intelligence briefing, not now, not in the future >> reporter: biden officials urged senators of both parties to split time for confirmations, the biden agenda and a trial. >> it's important for the senate to do its constitutional duty but also to do its constitutional duty to move forward on these appointments, on the urgent action the country needs. >> and kelly's with us kelly, there's an important step that kamala harris is taking tomorrow. >> kate, aides say harris will resign her senate seat tomorrow california's governor has already announced her replacement, alex padilla, who along with newly elected senators from georgia is expected to be sworn in this week as democrats take control of the senate and the white house. kate >> kelly o'donnell at the white house. kelly, thank you. let's turn to the

covid crisis now and new hope on the vaccine front. one glimmer of good news amid the heartbreaking accounts of health care workers who say covid's impact is only getting worse. meagan fitzgerald reports from los angeles. >> reporter: tonight, as americans are frustrated over the slow vaccine rollout, dr. anthony fauci says help may be on the way. johnson & johnson and astrazeneca's shots could soon be evaluated for emergency use. >> i would imagine within a period of a week or so or at the most couple of weeks, they're going to be getting their data together and showing it to the fda. >> reporter: another vaccine can't come fast enough. of the more than 126,000 people hospitalized nationwide, nearly 21,000 are in california health care workers are begging for help >> if i could walk people through my building and through the three floors and watch people their age and younger than them breathing their last breaths and dying, who

are otherwise healthy, it might make a difference >> reporter: but on saturday, as temperatures neared 90 degrees in southern california, instead of staying home, people gathered at the beach, some without masks at the same time, los angeles became the first county in the nation to pass 1 million infections >> we aren't even close to being out of the woods. every one of these numbers is devastatingly high. >> reporter: the county also confirming its first known case of the highly contagious uk variant on saturday which the cdc warns exhibits rapid growth and could dominate the u.s. by march. dr. fauci also warning it's not the only mutation he's concerned about. >> there's another more ominous one that's in south africa and brazil we're looking at all of them very, very carefully. >> meagan, so much bad news what is california doing to try to ramp up vaccine distribution >> well, kate, mass vaccination centers are popping up all

across the state including three in the bay area that are set to open at the end of this week, with the goal of administering 10,000 vaccinations a day. kate >> all right, meagan, thank you. still ahead, the struggle for older americans trying to figure out just how to get a covid vaccine. plus, the dark legacy of music producer phil spector. w

topic a lot of us have struggled with, findin

vaccine for parents and others in need many are angry about the roadblocks to simply getting an appointment. erin mclaughlin has more. >> reporter: as states across the country opened up covid vaccinations to older americans, that initial rush of hope is giving way to chaos with long lines, crashing websites, and failing phone calls. >> i am frustrated beyond limits. >> reporter: 79-year-old honey sackelman is at her wit's end. >> i'm filling this out again. >> reporter: she's been struggling to make an appointment in her hometown near new york city. >> i've picked up the phone. i dialed at 4:00 because 4:00 is when they told us to call at 20 minutes after 6:00, they disconnected me. i was on hold for 2 hours and 20 minutes they disconnected me >> reporter: for her the county website was no better. >> every time they told me to go to a

time, it froze >> reporter: one big concern, that making an appointment depends too much on technology. research shows only 60% of those 75 and older use the internet. >> what we need to do is go old-school here. we need to make phone calls. we need volunteers telling people that their eligiliby is now. >> reporter: that's exactly wh'sat startingo ha ten in places like greenberg, new york, where community groups like this one called vaccine angels are planning how to guide and eventually even drive seniors to get their shots. >> we really don't want seniors to give up. >> reporter: experts also suggest calling your doctor for advice and asking friends or relatives for help >> i was calling to check in today. >> reporter: catherine haddad knew she'd have to help book appointments for her parents, neil and betty in north carolina >> it wasn't until i talked to them i realized, oh, no one's going to come knocking on their door and say it's your turn to get a vaccine.

>> we're very thankful you got us in. >> reporter: her efforts paying off both got their first shots last week. >> it's a relief we miss spending time with our families. >> reporter: and for millions of seniors across america, a chance to safe spely time with loved ones is what this is all about. erin mclaughli nbc news, los angeles. now to the death of one of the most influential and also notorious music producers in rock 'n' roll phil spector worked with some of the greatest musicians of our time before being convicted of murder and spending his final years behind bars. molly hunter has more. ♪ imagine there's no heaven ♪ >> reporter: he revolutionized the way pop records were made but phillip spector died in prison aba in 2003 lo after his star-studded music career faded, hes convif killing actress lana clarkson in his l.a. mansion. >> the actions of the hitler-like district attorney and his storm trooping henchmen to seek an indictment against me.

>> reporter: but four decades earlier he was a hit machine. ♪ be my little baby ♪ songs so easy to sing along to ♪ you lost that lovin feeling ♪ between 1960 and 1965, he put 24 records in the top 40 producing the beatles' final album -- ♪ let it be ♪ ♪ let it be ♪ ♪ let it be ♪ his claim to fame the wall of sound. ♪ walking in the rain ♪ merging vocals and an onslaught of side effects and chaotic orchestra layering but darkness stalked him. known, too, for his erratic temper, heavy drinking and gun collection spector was 81 years old, still serving a 19-year prison sentence for shooting clarkson molly hunter, nbc news still ahead, the dramatic moment this russian opposition leader said he was -- who said he was poisoned by putin returned to russia. plus, this week's inauguration will be so different than

years past ♪

tonight, a top biden aide is calling for the immediate release of russian opposition leader alexei navalny, the kremlin critic who said he was poisoned with a nerve agent by russia's spy agency. despite that, he returned to russia today and was immediately arrested. we've been talking a lot about the presidential inauguration, one of america's most sacred traditions now just days away, this year's national celebration is going to take a much different tone, while keeping some of the pageantry from the past sam brock has details. >> reporter: the inauguration of joseph r. biden will not look like any ceremony

america's seen before. certainly, not with massive crowds or extravagant evening balls. once punctuated by president bill clinton playing the sax or nancy and ronald reagan captivating the country with salsa this year, it's not clear what shape a gala might take. the prime time performers like jon bon jovi and bruce springsteen will all be virtual. >> if you have famous singers and actors and other celebrities, it's a little bit calming to all of us when we are in a moment that is in certain ways as scary as this one is and the fact it's going to be a virtual is a sign of our times. >> reporter: many hallmarks of history remain some members of congress, the supreme court, and presidential families, like the clintons, bushes and obamas will still take aeat s the pitoca ashe inaugural address spotlights the nation's needs. >> let me assert my firm belief that the

only thing we have to fear is fear itself. >> reporter: from fdr's speech in 1933 to jfk's in 1961, a call to action >> and so my fellow americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. >> reporter: on january 20, 2021, joe biden will focus on a message of unity, healing, and help for those facing crisis. >> this is a moment like lincoln giving his inaugural at the edge of the civil war, or franklin roosevelt at the depths of the great depression those were scary, awesome moments but america triumphed. >> reporter: while there will be a parade with few people, no jimmy carter moment walking amongst the crowd. we'll all get a boost from customs that gives us comfort ♪ by the dawn's early light ♪ >> reporter: singing "the star-spangled banner" for dwight eisenhower

♪ our country 'tis of thee ♪ >> reporter: aretha franklin performing for the country's first black president. ♪ at last ♪ and beyonce among those serenading a country. this year, jlo and lady gaga, who will sing the national anthem some harmony at a time of discord sam brock, nbc news. >> and please join us for our special coverage of the inauguration that's this wednesday starting with a special edition of "today" at 7:00 a.m. when we come back, the ultimate thank-you notes, the moving show of gratitude for an inspiring teacher. >> oh.

finally tonight, there's good news

about the power of gratitude. at the end of a virtual semester, college students found a touching way to say thanks to an inspiring educator. >> i don't see anybody with their camera on >> reporter: at first, chapman university professor jim brown was totally confused. >> seriously, is it my fault that you have your cameras off >> reporter: then his students revealed their big surprise. >> everybody want to go ahead >> oh, you guys. oh, you're going to make me cry. >> reporter: the handwritten thank-you messages overwhelming him. >> oh. for him? >> dr. brown is one of the best professors i've ever had. >> reporter: freshman, valentina simon and kaitlyn gong helped organize the moment. >> we're like, hey, this would be really fun to do in dr. brown's class. >> reporter: dr. brown has been on the faculty at chapman in southern california for nearly 30 years. his foundations course for freshman one of

the most popular on campus he teaches about identity and tackles different topics like racial inequity and genocide what did you learn from dr. brown >> one person can make such a huge impact so now i'm really trying to commit and, you know, push myself to do as much as i can because i know that it's very possible >> his compassion, his empathy that he teaches us in class, he also has. >> reporter: because of the pandemic, the class met virtually. dr. brown, this couldn't have been an easy semester. >> it was really challenging because we're learning new technologies. you know, usually i'm just bouncing around the classroom, and i miss that. >> reporter: but dr. brown still found a way to connect even inviting students to his home for a socially distanced halloween hello. do you learn from your students >> oh, are you kidding? of course. yes, absolutely. remote learning and i learn so much from them something new every time thank you. very thoughtful.

>> reporter: this, by the way, is dr. brown's favorite course, too. >> i'm so proud of them for making it through the semester they made it through this i mean, i felt, you know, it's why i was so moved by it we went through this journey together and we came out. i think we're okay >> and dr. brown's promised the class an in-person pizza party just as soon as everyone's vaccinated. that is "nbc nightly news" for this sunday lester holt will be with you tomorrow. i'm kate snow. for all of us here at nbc news, stay safe and have a great night. >> oh, you guys. you're going to make me cry

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like this device to increase volume on your cell phone. - ( phone ringing ) - get details on this state program visit right now or call during business hours. right now at 6:00, coronavirus concerns. >> where it's been found and what we've learned about it. the news at 6:00 starts right now. good evening, everyone, i'm terry mcsweeney. >> health officials say that new strain of covid-19 has been detected here in the bay area, something that we've already seen and what we're expecting to happen during this pandemic. so far it's only been found in two local counties, san francisco and santa clara. health officials say it is tied to several large outbreaks discovered specifically in santa clara county.