Democrats launch a mad dash to replace Graham Platner by a critical deadline www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

BREAKING: In a new video, Graham Platner announces he is suspending his campaign for U.S. Senate, opening the door for Maine Democrats to pick a new candidate to take on incumbent Susan Collins this fall.

NEW: Democratic fighting escalates in Maine as Graham Platner stalls on making a decision www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...

The Platner Campaign held an all hands call today and were told the candidate will address his situation later today. It seemed like that meant he would talk to the campaign staff.. not the general public.. but that was not abundantly clear.

The Bernie Sanders aligned political group "Our Revolution" officially backs Troy Jackson to replace Graham Platner in the Maine Senate Race. (Platner has not dropped out yet) Our Revolution ED Joseph Geevarghese says "this is not the Democratic establishment’s opening to handpick a replacement."

It was not easy getting out of the National Mall.. there was a huge bottleneck of people trying to get out through one of a few exits. This particular route was complicated by sprinklers going off, soaking people in tight quarters.

The most impressive thing tonight at the 250 celebration on the National Mall has been the military band. They have been legit bringing it with incredible cover songs throughout the entire fireworks.

Trump begins his speech by saying he was willing to go on at 4am if he needed to. He acknowledges that many people did not stay, but said it was still worth it and is in some ways “more beautiful.”

The America 250 event is back open on the National Mall.. people are making their way back in after being scattered around DC during the passing storm. The President has promised to start speaking at 11p ET with fireworks to follow.

We are getting set for your coverage of America’s 250th Anniversary.. the program on the National Mall begins at 7.. crowds were not allowed in until 5pm because of the hot weather. Now we are bracing for the possibility of thunderstorms. Watch live: nbcnews.com/live

Thanks to everyone for the kind words and feedback around Sunday’s Meet the Press. I am back in the chair for today’s broadcast on NBC News Now, join me at 4p ET at nbcnews.com/now

I am so honored to be filling in for Kristin Welker on Meet the Press today. We talk to Roger Marshall (R-KS) & Chris Murphy (D-CT) and with NY Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan about their new book “Regime Change”. Tune in on your local NBC station.

Status update on Senate GOP and White House relations: *Zero insight on Iran deal. *Trump puts Clayton Nomination on hold demands SAVE. *Thune says no chance SAVE passes. *Cotton says we are doing Clayton hearing anyway. The relationship is fundamentally broken.

🚨BIG NEWS in Playbook this morning.. the lineup is set for the 2nd RTCA Congressional Karaoke Competition! Get your tickets before they are gone! rtca2026.rsvpify.com

Hello from 30 Rock! We can’t wait for tonight’s NBC News Now Primary Election Special. Join Hallie Jackson, Steve Kornacki, Garrett Haake and me tonight starting at 10p E: WATCH: nbcnews.com/now

Tomorrow night! Join us for special live coverage of the primaries in California, Iowa, Montana , New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota. 10p ET on NBC News Now. Stream for free @ nbcnews.com/now

BREAKING: Senate GOP leaders have postponed plans to pass a budget reconciliation package designed to fund ICE & CBP because of concerns around the DOJ weaponization fund. This is remarkable given that the weaponization fund was/is not part of the original bill.

Sen. Thom Tillis test driving a new description for Trump’s weaponization fund. “Payout pot for punks.”

Sabs in 7, pass it on. #LetsGoBuffalo!

Let’s get to a Game 7!

JUST IN: The Senate just approved a resolution that will withhold the pay of all Senators during a government shutdown. This will go into effect immediately on the Senate side. At this point the House has not taken similar action.

Join me today for Meet the Press Now @ 4p ET and Top Story @ 7p ET. Stream for free: nbcnews.com/now

Qu’ils viennent, les Habs ! #LetsGoBuffalo

NEW: Speaker Johnson tells me Congress does not need to weigh in on Iran because “we are not at war.” He said the Administration is working to broker peace and “there is nothing Congress can do to move that along further.”

Ready for pivotal game 4! Let’s Go Buffalo!

Good Morning! Filling in on the Today Show today. Join us!

NEW: Statement from former Gov. Ralph Northam who served with Justin Fairfax when he was LG:

BREAKING: Fairfax County Police have confirmed that former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax shot and killed his wife inside their home and then shot and killed himself. This story is still developing.

Pinch hitting today on the NBC News pod Here’s The Scoop. We talk for Kristen Welker about her exclusive interview with Cuba’s President and Jane Timm about Trump’s meddling in state level races in Indiana. LISTEN: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...

JUST IN: House Democrats, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin, demand President Trump sit for a cognitive exam and the results be released to the public. House Democrats have no legal authority to force the White House ro comply. Their letter to the White House Physician is here:

Good Morning! Just a reminder that the Department of Homeland Security is still very much shut down and while there is a “deal” in place there is no path to passing that deal in the House and Congress remains on vacation for another week.

NEW: House Oversight Committee Spokeswoman: “Since Pam Bondi is no longer Attorney General, Chairman Comer will speak with Republican members and the Department of Justice about the status of the deposition subpoena and confer on next steps.”

WNY Friends.. I said a prayer in front of Lord Stanley that the Cup finally makes its way home to Buffalo. 🦬 ⚔️

JUST IN: House Oversight Chair James Comer officially issues subpoena to Attorney General Pam Bondi to be deposed over the Department of Justice's handling of the release of the Epstein Files.

JUST IN: The House Oversight Committee has requested a transcribed interview with the prison guard on duty when Jeffrey Epstein died. There have been many questions around the circumstances surrounding Epstein's apparent suicide.

I asked President Trump about his threat to not sign into law anything before his voting bill the SAVE America Act passes.. The president made two key concessions. (more)

I’m in Doral, FL where President Trump is set to brief reporters on the ongoing war with Iran.

What an unbelievable hockey game! This Sabres team is for real! Let’s go Buff-a-lo!! 🦬⚔️

Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) takes questions from reporters shortly after being nominated by President Donald Trump as the next Secretary of the Department Homeland Security.

Sen. John Kennedy tells us President Trump called him after DHS Sec Noem testified that the President signed off on her $200 million ad campaign in her contentious hearing. “Put it this way, his recollection and her recollection are different.”

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) to DHS Secretary Noem after pressing her about an alleged affair with staffer Corey Lewandowski : "I think the country needs a divorce from you.. on biblical grounds."

NEW: Rep. Jasmine Crockett has officially conceded the Texas Senate primary to James Talerico. In a statement Crockett says "With the primary behind us, Democrats must rally around our nominee. I'm committed to doing my part and will continue working to elect Democrats up and down the ballot."

BREAKING: NBC News Projects the Texas Senate GOP Primary will advance to a runoff featuring incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton.

JUST IN: NBC News projects Michael Whatley (R) wins North Carolina R-U.S. Senate primary. NBC News projects Roy Cooper (D) wins North Carolina D-U.S. Senate primary. These outcomes were both expected.

JUST IN: The House Oversight Committee is requesting transcribed interview with a new crop of key witnesses including as part of the Epstein probe: • Doug Band • Bill Gates • Leon Black • Lesley Groff • Sarah Kellen • Kathryn Ruemmler • Ted Waitt

In a winter of absolutely miserable weather.. today in DC might take the title of the absolute worst. There is nothing that sucks more than 33 degrees and rain.

MORE: Clinton was also asked several times if he ever visited Epstein’s island and responded under oath every time that he had never been there.

NEW: Source in the WJC depo tells me the former President was pressed specifically about the jacuzzi photo from the Epstein files. Clinton said he did know who the woman was and he did not have sex with her. Clinton said there were other people in the room including Secret Service.

Hillary Clinton began her opening statement in the Oversight Epstein deposition at 11:20am. It’s now past 5pm ET and there is no sign its ending soon.

NEW: An advisor to the Clinton’s just came to the press cams and said today’s deposition has been paused after Rep. Lauren Boebert sent an unauthorized photo of Secretary Clinton to conservative influencer Benny Johnson.