I've said in this space before that I have unending respect for the road warriors I see in airports -- the men and women with the roll-on suitcases and the thousand-yard stare. I fly a lot, but not as much as they do. Today we lived their life and learned their credo, having to do with the tragic state of commercial aviation: you can't get there from here. After a harrowing morning, starting in Newark, N.J., and a macabre series of unfortunate events, a combination of aircraft got us to El Paso, Texas -- where we will originate the broadcast tonight. My thanks to Steven, with Continental Airlines in Houston, for his extraordinary help today. He should run his own airline.

During the course of the half-hour tonight, we will walk from the United States into Mexico, and through our correspondents on the ground, we'll cover the immigration issue as best we can.

"It's a dry heat."
If I hear that one more time, somebody's going down. It's 99 in El Paso, and it's hot as hell. I really feel for our camera, sound and satellite folks who started the ground set-up days ago. It's a complicated remote near a busy border crossing and the sun is relentless. Between us all, we are carrying what seems like the entire U.S output of sunblock for this calendar year thus far.

Also on the broadcast tonight: A special investigation into how easy it is to get fake documents to cross this border, and a look at these two border cities, El Paso and Juarez, Mexico. It's quite a contrast.

We have a very special report from Gaza tonight -- that we have it at all is extraordinary, and a testament to the bravery of our own Tom Aspell and crew. He made it in and out alive.

Sunscreens themselves are in the news, and Bob Bazell will walk us through that issue. David Gregory will have a look at the three New Yorkers in the race.

Please take time to read today's Medal of Honor recipient bio.

We are looking forward to tonight's broadcast from the U.S./Mexico border. A lot of people have worked hard to bring it to you. We hope you can join us from "out in the West Texas town of El Paso."

Photo caption: The marker at the border crossing between El Paso and Juarez. Photo by NBC's Subrata De.

Firefighters all across this country paused today upon hearing that nine firefighters had died in a tragic fire in Charleston, S.C.  It's our lead story tonight.  It is the largest single loss of firefighters since Sept. 11, and should get the attention of every American.  As the local Chief put it today: flames robbed their department of 100 years of firefighting experience.

Jim Maceda will chronicle the good news/bad news of the "surge" in Iraq, Robert Bazell has an excellent follow-up to his own reporting on some of the wounded veterans from this war, and we'll continue our Texas-themed coverage this week with a hugely controversial construction project through that region of the country.

Andrea Mitchell will look at Hillary Clinton's pursuit of the women's vote, and Mark Potter will have our favorite story of the day out of the Vatican.

A DAY IN THE LIFE
After we get off the air tonight, I will head over to the West Side of Manhattan to tape a segment with Jon Stewart for tonight's Daily Show.  After that, I head to an airport motel so I can board a flight at dawn from New York to El Paso, Texas (I think we have to stop at nine different cities in North America to make connections en route), where we will originate the broadcast tomorrow night.  There are few places in this country that are more emblematic of the immigration debate: we will be able to open the broadcast in the United States, and literally walk into Mexico while we're on the air.  From El Paso, it will be on to Dallas for our Thursday night broadcast, and then back home.  We have a week's worth of stories from Texas to go along with our road trip.

I learned in one of the industry trades last night that David Chase, it is said, first submitted a final episode to HBO that called for three minutes of blackness at the end of the episode.  HBO management wisely rejected the idea, fearing all 12 million viewers would call them -- or someone -- to report a cable outage.

The Hillary Clinton Soprano's video is certainly making its way around the Internet.  Points for pluck and interesting casting, according to most of those who have seen it.

SAMMY, AKA FORREST
Take a moment to read today's Medal of Honor biography.  Sammy Davis is a good friend and a wonderful man -- one of the great patriots I know.  He's best known (we profiled him during our recent broadcast from outside Charleston) to American movie audiences as the real-life model for the Tom Hanks film character Forrest Gump.  Amazing things really do happen in battle, often to seemingly ordinary men.  Sammy is an extraordinary guy, as are all 110 living recipients.

We hope you can join us for Nightly News from New York tonight.  We'll look for you tomorrow night from El Paso, Texas.

Katrina is still a fresh memory -- and so it's difficult to watch some of the scenes from the flooding in Texas without thinking back to the helicopter rescues in Louisiana and Mississippi almost two years ago.  Holes cut into rooftops show where the families escaped to the relative safety of the hot shingles, where they now wait and signal for help.  One mother used a black plastic tarp in the midday heat to shield her two small children from the sun.  Tonight Don Teague will cover the story for us; he's on the ground in Texas.

As I write this, the White House complex (the mansion itself, as well as Jackson Place and Blair House) are under security lockdown. Our camera crews have been hustled off the North Lawn (along with correspondent Kelly O'Donnell, gamely reporting on it all via cellphone for MSNBC) due to a suspicious vehicle.  With Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Ohlmert in Washington, they are taking no chances.  Having been a visitor for these security lockdowns at both the White House and Capitol, I can tell you they are harrowing affairs, especially in the first moments when the exact nature of the threat isn't shared with those being ordered to run onto Pennsylvania Avenue, well clear of the building.  These kinds of incidents are part of an almost unmeasurable and ever-present "din" of security in the post-9/11 era.  They aren't good for the nervous sytem or the psyche -- but are, I guess, a necessary evil.  Walking through O'Hare Airport recently, I noticed the regular PA announcement repeating the color of the threat level -- "orange" -- and mentioning the Department of Homeland Security.  It keeps the heart rate at an up-tempo.

Also in the news tonight, Gaza through the eyes of our veteran in the region, Martin Fletcher.  Martin happens to be on home leave and will be by my side tonight. I may use the Newsweek cover story as a starting point for our conversation -- and use this opportunity to explain why there are no visible western journalists covering Gaza.

We'll also talk about immigration tonight, the Mormon Church, the new British entertainment idol, and we'll run some of Matt Lauer's revealing interview with the two young Princes.

Tomorrow, we'll talk about our travel plans for this week.  For now, we hope you can join us for tonight's Nightly News.

If they call Tom Hanks in for help, we'll know this is a serious problem on board the space station.  So far, it seems to be a data issue with some complications.  We have Tom Costello on the case, and he'll report for us.

From Gaza, today's headline appears to be this: the standing government appears split in two, and it looks like a militant Islamist state will take up residence next to America's most important ally in the Middle East. We're on the story, as we are other disparate topics like immigration, breakfast cereals for children and hidden, residential pot farms in California.

Please tune in tomorrow night as well, despite the fact that I'll be enjoying a day off with my family.  My last day off was during the Eisenhower administration, so I'm pretty excited.  Those sure were simpler times.

And please take time to read today's Medal Of Honor recipient biography.  Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham was kind enough to tell me last night that he is following their stories on this Web site, which helps make this pursuit of ours very worthwhile.

We hope you'll join us for our Thursday broadcast tonight.

If you think a thunderstorm ruined our plans to anchor from an outdoor location last night (the 67th floor of 30 Rock), you would be only partially correct. At 6:15 p.m., the FDNY responded to a report of persons trapped in an elevator here. They promptly froze all the elevators in the building -- so we couldn't have gone to the roof if we'd wanted. We instead chose a small studio close to our newsroom, and after much scrambling and hard work, we got a broadcast on the air. As it happened, a downpour arrived before the half-hour was over. Had we made it outside, that storm would have ultimately driven us back inside.

Tonight our plans are more modest. We plan to do the broadcast indoors, from our usual studio. That should work.

Tonight, we are debuting a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll. I say this absent hype: you're going to want to hear Tim Russert run through these numbers.

We have reporting on the incident in Iraq today, and the project they've taken to calling America's White Elephant. Hint: it involves a lot of your tax money.

Also tonight, medical news, and a great story from the Bay Area on "What Works."

Big news in my favorite sport today: how long until federal regulators are forced to break up Hendrick Motorsports? In politics: my old friend and former college classmate Ed Gillespie got Dan Bartlett's old job in the White House today. Also, George Will's column on Fred Thompson this week is generating some talk and is worth reading. I should add that tonight we will remember the man we knew as "Mr. Wizard" on television, and that all those who know Billy Graham and his wife Ruth are thinking of them and praying for them during this current chapter in their lives.

We truly hope you can join us for our Wednesday night broadcast.

We had elaborate plans for tonight's broadcast.  The idea was this: since we originate from this spectacular building (30 Rock) each night, why not take to the roof and highlight the City of New York, our headquarters most nights of the week?  That was until a line of "popcorn" thunderstorms (so named by meteorologists because they can pop up and explode out of nowhere given the right atmospheric conditions...like today) rolled through the New York area during our afternoon editorial meeting.  Our weather, usually west to east, is today northeast to southwest.  Flight delays at JFK are now officially posted at four hours, LaGuardia and Newark slightly less. Radar has been of no use because where there are no storms now -- there will be intense storms in 30 minutes.  We're going to make a NASA-like "go/no go" decision in the next few minutes...this will be fun.

To go with our coverage package tonight on New York, Rehema Ellis has a great piece on an educational success story [editor's note: you can read a blog from the principal below], and we spent the morning with the mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg.  He takes the subway to work most mornings, and so did we.

Brian and Mayor Michael Bloomberg on the 4 train Tuesday morning. Photo credit: Office of the Mayor

In other news tonight, there's the fight to save an immigration deal, the so-called "honor killing" in London, the new data on an aging American generation, the first FDA-approved over-the-counter diet drug (there are complications) and what we're calling "watchgate"...did wildly enthusiastic Albanians steal the President's watch, or did he remove it for safekeeping?  It was actually a topic at the White House briefing today.

Please take time to read today's Medal of Honor recipient biography.  We are watching the skies and talking to the WNBC-TV forecast center here in New York. We'll have a fine broadcast either way...indoors or out!  We hope you can join us for the Tuesday edition of Nightly News tonight.

I'll get to the title reference after this: between meetings, I've been allowed to break away and give you a short rundown of our plans for the evening, which will be a mixture of the following: autism, terrorism, Alzheimer's, the environment, aviation and more. 

And we might just mention the end of the line for the Sopranos.  While I get the fact that it's not for everyone, for those of us who love the show, it's been quite the time.  The much-hashed-out ending did what it was meant to do: I have a very good friend who flatly assumed the sudden ending to represent the end of Tony's life.  Others who watched assumed life goes on for Tony -- as a mobster under constant threat of indictment, as a husband, father, businessman, patient and sociopath.  We now know The Man In The Member's Only Jacket is the owner of a pizza restaurant in Bucks County, Penn. who came here from Italy in 1976.  I thought I examined the show in detail in my other day job -- but today there are all kinds of deconstructions on the Web -- proving again that this has been much more than just a television show for those of us who love it ... and will miss it.

Please make time to take a look at today's featured Medal of Honor recipient.

I hope you can join us tonight for the Monday edition of NBC Nightly News.

One day each year we engage in a tradition around here: our compilation of some of the best commencement speakers of the graduation season.  Tonight: our tribute to the Class of 2007.  It's a beautiful and emotional piece of television, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoy airing it. (Editor's note: This year, we'll have a version available on our Web site. It won't have the same music because of rights restrictions, so if you want to see the original broadcast version, better set the VCR or the TiVo.)

There is big news tonight at the Pentagon.  Headline: the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is out.  Subhead: the Navy has an unprecedented control over management of much of the military.  We'll have the story and analysis.

The President fell ill today in Europe, but is said to be recovering.  The Vice President received some health news today as well.  Kevin Tibbles has the Passport story tonight, Robert Bazell has the fascinating health story of the day: Vitamin D and the Catch-22 it raises.  And we'll be here late tonight following the planned Space Shuttle launch.

In this space yesterday, I talked about a possible piece concerning allegations of a two-tier justice system (arising from the Paris Hilton story) -- and today cable television has been airing little else.  It is heating up -- she is back in jail -- and some of the pictures out of there are incredible.  I'm not sure what any of it says about our society, but George Lewis will lend his deft hand to the effort tonight.

Please make time to read about today's Medal of Honor recipient.

Please have a good and safe weekend.

We hope you can join us for tonight's broadcast.

I commend to your attention the pictures of the G-8 leaders that we have for you tonight, (they apparently all had drinks together on the beach tonight) and the accompanying journalism of David Gregory who is in Germany with President Bush.  The Bush/Sarkozy boardwalk conversation just LOOKED fascinating ... so is the material out of there today.  Then there's the prognosis for immigration reform -- it appears that the last, best hope for a deal during this session will crash into the ground.  It may be that this evening will end with this issue in a total muddle.  If that happens we'll stay on it.

We'll look at some interesting reporting on what passes for information over the Internet (in the hands of our enemies), and at the mounting cost of an American generation coming of age.  We'll also examine the charmed life and business complications of Prince Bandar, and our promoted piece on modern-day crimestoppers.

Nobody mentioned Paris Hilton at our afternoon editorial meeting.  She won't make the broadcast tonight, but if there's a larger, legitimate story to be done concerning allegations of a two-tier justice system, perhaps we'll do that someday.  It's not like there will be any shortage of coverage for those who can't live without the details: just stick around until the shows that follow ours on our many different affiliates.

TO THE LINKS
So much great reading out there to call attention to today: starting with our friend Michael Yon, the U.S. Special Forces veteran who is a freelance journalist covering the war.  His latest dispatch on his tour with British troops is required reading.  Fantastic stuff.  As is the new posting on Slate for all those who have considered vacationing on (or what life is like on) an offshore drilling platform. Finally, today's piece on Huffington by Marty Kaplan gets right to the heart of our new controlling dynamic.  It begins with mention of the name not mentioned at our afternoon editorial meeting.

Apologies to our friends on the West Coast for two NBC Sports hockey pre-emptions this week.  We do hope you took advantage of our Netcast or Podcast.

Please also take time to read the story of Medal of Honor recipient Hector Cafferata.  If the stories of these men have proven valuable to read, please write us and tell us.  Surveying the landscape of our society right about now: I don't see how we can't learn a few valuable lessons from these guys -- the best men I've ever met.

We hope you'll be with us for tonight's broadcast.

A potentially huge medical advance is making news tonight, as is a big potential problem for the FDA.  TB remains in the news, and we'll have an interesting look at the G-8 gathering in Germany from David Gregory.  Mike Taibbi will get us off the air tonight with a wonderful yarn about an ordinary man with an extraordinary story.

Please check out the great Associated Press piece that just came out about the Sopranos -- I just heard Neil Cavuto on Fox -- sitting across from the beloved late Capo Bobby Bacalla -- say that this season has been "awful."  I hope he's watching the same show the rest of us are.  Meantime, the discussion, for the hardcore among us, continues on Slate's blog -- and wherever two or more Soprano's fans gather across America this week.  We just have a few more days to go.  Until we miss the show forever.  Thanks for indulging me.  It's almost over.

And today we profile another great Medal of Honor recipient: Pat Brady.  Setting  aside, if that's possible, Brady's heroics in battle -- Pat is known for his great smile, great wife, great daughter and his love of all things Notre Dame.  I hope you can take a moment to read about Pat.

Back to the day job: we hope you will join us for the Wednesday edition of Nightly News (which will be pre-empted on the West Coast again tonight by the NHL finals. It will be available as an early Netcast on our Web site at 8:30 ET/5:30 PT, however).

I just came back from accomplishing something of a career goal: I just taped a segment for Sesame Street...  How can the rest of the day not feel like a bit of a letdown?  Having been loyal members of the Sesame Street family while raising our kids -- appearing on the show is an honor.  Then again, so is my day job, to wit:

Scooter Libby.  30 months, despite so many character references.  Some on the Web are finding it odd that Fred Thompson (who raised money for his defense) was not among them.  David Gergen will join us for some perspective tonight.  David Gregory will report from the G-8, where he will highlight the president's comments on Putin at today's press event.  We'll look at Democrats and faith, the military reserve home front, and the controversy in the U.K. over Princess Diana's final moments.  We have a fine broadcast planned for tonight.

A word about today's profiled Medal of Honor recipient: Bud Bucha is one of my closest friends among all recipients.  It's been a pleasure getting to know him, as it has all of them.  His story is a special one.  Good news arrived today in the form of a letter from Gen. Perry Smith (Retired), who is the secretary of our board: he reports that by highlighting these men and their bios and stories on the Daily Nightly, sales of the book have risen on Amazon.  If we truly played any part in that, it's wonderful news.  My goal is to get their stories out to as many people as possible.  Imagine if I said something like "it makes a perfect Father's Day gift!"  I would just never do something like that.

Miles to go before we sleep.  I hope you can join us for Nightly News tonight.

We are back on a Monday -- and happy to be. It's more humid here in New York today than it is in the Philippines, and something of a minor Noreaster swept through these parts last night. I have the sad job of telling our West Coast viewers that because of a hockey pre-emption on NBC tonight, the Netcast version of Nightly will be the only way to see the broadcast. (Editor's note: We'll make it available on www.Nightly.MSNBC.com as soon as possible, hopefully between 8-9 p.m. ET).

Today's agenda includes the President's arrival for the G-8, and the background for the talks which has been laid out in part by Putin of Russia. We'll also look at the troop "surge" in Iraq and some of today's domestic developments: including the story we could banner "FREEZER BURN" -- the man famous, post-Katrina, for the cash that was found in the freezer of his Louisiana home -- is under indictment. Congressman William Jefferson has been pursued vigorously by investigators, who just held a press event to explain the 100-page indictment.

Also tonight, we'll look at the new crime stats, the renewed campaign to clean up rap and hip-hop content, and we have an interesting piece on alternative fuels.

I have two interesting articles to call to everyone's attention today: the first, an editorial in the Chicago Tribune, which dates back to our trip there last week and speaks to such an emerging and important issue: our children. And it's just a fluke that the second item is from the same paper: It's the work of my friend Jim Warren, and it's a controversial piece of journalism on an emotional topic.

Please additionally make time for today's Medal of Honor recipient profile, Melvin E. Biddle.

We Sopranos fans are all dealing, in our own way, with What Happened Last Night. The bottom line, after what had to be the most action and angst-packed episode of this final, superb season: it's a foot race to the end.

Back to our day jobs -- we hope you can join us for tonight's broadcast.