find out what your case could be worth. we will help get you the best result possible. ♪ call one eight hundred, eight million ♪ tonight, president biden seeking to reassure americans their money is secure after two of the largest bank failures in u.s. history. the president coming before the camera today saying the banking system is safe after the government took emergency action to protect deposits from two banks that collapsed. can anxious customers now access their money? the new fallout for smaller banks and fears of a larger crisis. also tonight, the major nor'easter on the move. a state of emergency in new york. and another atmospheric river taking aim at flood-ravaged california. we're tracking it all. donald trump in iowa tonight after his lawyer said he will

not testify about hush money payments to an adult film star. it comes as his former fixer, michael cohen, does appear before the grand jury. our nbc news exclusive. uk prime minister rishi sunak. his first u.s. broadcast interview since taking office as he joins president biden and australia's leader to announce a nuclear submarine deal. his tough words for china, calling it a systemic challenge to the world order. what he thinks about the origins of covid and what's his relationship like with king charles? and winning everything at the oscars. the movie making history on hollywood's biggest night. >> announcer: this is nbc "nightly news" with lester holt. good evening, everyone. president biden was up early in front of the cameras before the markets opened this morning in a move to calm jitters following a pair of bank collapses. mr. biden declaring the banking system is safe and telling customers your

deposits will be there when you need them. new york's signature bank following silicon valley bank down the road to collapse over the weekend. those banks are tonight in the hands of regulators. in addition to telling folks their money is safe, the president today called on congress and banking regulators to strengthen banking rules to prevent such failures in the future. the government reassurance appeared o a lo toward easing nerves on wall street. however, concerns remain over whether it's all over. nbc's jake ward has much more. >> reporter: with two u.s. banks being forced into closure in recent days president biden sought to assure the country before markets opened this morning. >> amecans can have confidence that the banking system is safe. your deposits will be there when you need them. >> reporter: his administration announcing sunday night that customers at silicon valley bank, which collapsed on friday, and signature bank in new york, which was shut down on sunday, would be made whole by the fel deposit insurance corporation, or fdic. >> no losses -- and

this is an important point. no losses will be borne by the taxpayers. let me repeat that. no losses will be borne by the taxpayers. >> reporter: the biden administration saying its move is not a bailout of the banks like we saw in the 2008 financial crisis but rather a decision to protect bank customers. >> the money to pay uninsured depositors such as it's needed will come from a deposit insurance fund that's paid for by the banks. >> reporter: the news is welcome relief for ben kaufman, founder and ceo of kids' store camp. most of his company's money was in svb when the bank went under. >> we were panicked. we didn't know how we were going to make ends meet in the coming weeks. >> reporter: desperate to raise cash his company slashed prices by 40%. >> we sent out an e-mail with a discount code. the code was bank run. >> reporter: markets closed mixed today as concern over what comes next for the smaller banks took a toll. the overall stock value for regional banks declined by more than 12%. experts say the white

house had no choice but to act by declaring a so-called systemic risk exception for svb and signature so that the full amount of deposits would be covered by the government. >> the government was trying to stop a precipitous withdrawal, essentially a bank run where uninsured depositors removed their deposits from banks. so it looks for sure like the worst possible outcome has been avoided. the question is whether or not confidence has been reinstilled into the banking system. >> reporter: ben kaufman, who regained access to his funds today, says he typically only has to worry about running his company. >> we now also have to think about where our cash sits and what bank we're at. and that's a whole other added layer of complexity in the already complex world we all live in. >> and jake, in the aftermath of svb's collapse we're also now seeing heightened scrutiny of the action taken within the bank. >> reporter: that's right, lester. two executives at silicon valley bank and its parent company are named in a class action lawsuit that accuses them of not

paying enough attention to rising interest rates and the threat that they posed to the bank. we've reached out to silicon valley bank but have not heard back. lester? >> all right. jake ward starting us off. thank you. for more let me bring in andrew ross sorkin. he's a "new york times" columnist and co-anchor of "squawk box" on cnbc. andrew, help us understand how did we get here in the first place? >> this started because at silicon valley bank they lost $2 billion. and that was really the smoke that lit the fire that scared people. and many of their clients, a lot of venture capitalists in silicon valley, they screamed theater in a crowded theater and everybody ran for the exits. and that's what ultimately created a run on the bank. that's what led to the failure of that bank. but it also led to even bigger questions about other small and regional banks across the country and whether others would leave them too. >> and that brings up the question of what should people at home be doing. they obviously want to know their money is safe.

is there something folks should be doing or not doing? >> well, here's the good news. you actually now need to do nothing. because of this failure and the worry that there could be contagion the u.s. government has now effectively guaranteed all deposits and said keep your money where it is. no matter what happens to these banks we are insuring the money you have there no matter how much money you have in the bank. >> andrew ross sorkin, thank you. tens of millions are under winter weather alerts on both coasts. here in california yet another major storm is on the way. while on the other side of the country they're bracing for a nor'easter. miguel almaguer is in northern california. miguel, more pain in the forecast. >> reporter: absolutely, lester. that's what the forecast says. and while the sun is out here today these flood waters have not receded and now there's rain, a whole lot more of it, on the way. tonight wading through a sea of mud and muck. the flooded community of pajaro is cleaning up from the last storm just as the next one

barrels in. a 300-foot levee breach near santa cruz has left houses underwater, power out and washed away roads. >> so even when the waters recede, we don't know how much damage it's done to our railroads, to our roads. >> reporter: after more than 200 rescues this is what authorities fear tomorrow. a second atmospheric river closing in, days after this damage from the first one. >> the sound of the river is just so loud that it's just frightening. >> reporter: the same central and northern california cities inundated with a foot of rain and in the middle of severe flooding today face another eight inches tuesday. >> we've got a lot of shoveling to do. >> we are too old for this. we just cleaned it up from the last flood. >> reporter: as another foot of snow blankets the sierra, bicoastal storms have 24 million under winter weather alerts. with up to 18 inches

of snow forecasted in parts of new england, a march nor'easter is bringing a mix of rain, sleet and snow to the northeast. salt trucks ready in boston. 8,000 utility workers on standby in new york. >> this could be deadly. >> reporter: for millions a winter of misery. and now the threat of another dangerous blow. miguel almaguer, nbc news, monterey county, california. in new york donald trump's former lawyer michael cohen testified before a grand jury investigating the former president's role in an alleged hush money payment cohen made to an adult film star. mr. trump declined an invitation to testify calling the democratic district attorney's investigation a, quote, old and rebuked case. five days after suffering a concussion in a fall senate republican leader mitch mcconnell was discharged from a washington hospital today. a spokesman says mistake connell wanted to go to physical

therapy at an inpatient rehab facility before returning home. his medical team discovered he had a minor rib fracture. in san diego today president biden was joined by the leaders of australia and the united kingdom to announce a new phase of a defense agreement meant to counter china's expanding aims in the asia pacific region including providing australia with conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines. ahead of that meeting i sat down with uk prime minister rishi sunak for his first u.s. tv interview to talk about his view of china as his own country bounces back from political turmoil. >> britain is back. and part of the job that i've got as prime minister is to give people that confidence in our country. >> reporter: rishi sunak emerged last fall from a revolving door of british prime ministers. now returning to a state he called home for several years, we fittingly met aboard a retired warship, now the "uss midway" museum, just as prime

minister sunak leads the uk into an even closer military alliance with the u.s. and australia. as concerns grow over china. >> is china a threat? >> china represents the biggest state threat to our economic interests for sure. and is a systemic challenge for the world order. now, that's why it's important we take steps to protect ourselves against that. >> reporter: alarms raised recently over that chinese spy balloon. >> what kind of signal did the balloon that overflew the u.s. send? >> the balloon incident here was an example of that behavior i talked about which is concerning. whether it's the balloon incident, whether it's how china is behaving in the south china seas. those are all examples of a regime that is acting in a way that is not aligned with the values that we share between the u.s., the uk, australia and other allies. >> reporter: and china

is also under fire for blocking independent inquiries into the origins of covid. the fbi and energy department now assessing covid came from a lab leak in china though there's no u.s. government consensus. >> what's your government's position on the covid origins? >> there are clearly questions that need to be answered. i'll certainly say that. and we haven't ruled anything out at this stage. i think what we want to see and fully support is a proper scientific inquiry as to the origins. and we would urge everyone including china cooperate with that investigation. >> you think it's still an open question? >> yes. i think there certainly are questions that need answering. we wouldn't rule anything out at this stage. >> reporter: and then there's china's role in russia's war in ukraine. china already gives crucial economic aid to russia. would it go further and provide weapons? >> if that were to happen, what should the response be? >> you know, that would be a very worrying and dangerous development. >> would you support sanctions against china? >> with sanctions it's always something that is best done coordinated with

allies because for sanctions to be effective we have to do them together. >> you have suggested that everything is on the table when it comes to defending ukraine. uk stepped forward with tanks, longer-range missiles. do you draw the line at fighter jets or is that still in the cards as far as you're concerned? >> i think it's important right now that we accelerate and intensify our support to ukraine and the reason i say that is they have an opportunity to have a decisive advantage on the battlefield if they're given enough support. that's why we've led an effort to provide extra capabilities, heavy tanks, longer-range, air defense. and what we want to make sure is ukraine can win. >> your counterparts in germany and france have suggested this will end up in negotiations when all is said and done. do you think that's how this ends? >> ultimately those decisions are for ukraine to make. our job is to put them in the best possible position to make those

decisions. we want to see ukraine victorious. >> reporter: prime minister sunak making history as britain's first prime minister of color, and he came into office at another moment of historic change, with the uk getting its first new monarch in over 70 years. >> what's your relationship like with king charles? >> i mean, i was his first appointed prime minister, actually. it's a very special moment in my life. and now i have the privilege of sitting down with him every week. >> good discussions? >> great discussions. >> he's trying to modernize the monarchy. you're trying to bring more tech into the uk's economy. are you kindred spirits on some level? >> i think actually king charles is someone who issues the politicians and government are grappling with are issues he's been talking about for a long time. particularly climate change. he's been very passionate about that topic.

he's someone who absolutely is someone who wants to represent everybody. as prime minister it's a great privilege to champion all our british institutions, our culture, our history, our values around the world, particularly the monarchy. >> you can watch more of my interview with the prime mister tomorrow morning on "today." in 60 seconds, as spring break approaches a new warning tonight about travel to parts of mexico after the kidnapping of those four americans. i started cosentyx®. five years clear. real people with psoriasis look and feel better with cosentyx. don't use if you're allergic to cosentyx. before starting get checked for tuberculosis. an increased risk of infection, some serious and a lowered ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor about an infection other

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to avoid traveling into mexico, especially at this time. >> mexico, here we come. >> reporter: the abduction of four americans from south carolina visiting one of the most dangerous border towns and murder of two of them has cast a harsh spotlight on going south of the border. there's also the recent disappearance of three women from the mcallen area who went to sell items at a flea market and haven't been seen in weeks. the state department's highest level 4 designation, do not travel, was issued in october for just six states in mexico. but popular tourist destinations like cabo and cancun are at level 2, exercise increased caution. that's the same together as most of western europe including england and france. >> if you were a family were planning a trip right now to one of these coastal destinations would you still go? >> i think it depends on the destination. what's the security situation like, what are past incidents there? >> on the shores of south beach, florida mixed reactions. >> there's maybe other parts of the world where it's warm and nice. you don't have to go to mexico. >> so safety would be potentially a concern? >> safety would be the main thing because when i think about traveling you're looking for comfort

experiences, you're not looking for trouble. >> the reality is any country including mexico, you go to the wrong places there's potential for things like this to happen. >> reporter: with spring break just now hitting its peak fresh warnings and a wave of questions. sam brock, nbc news, miami beach. up next, cloning your voice. how close can artificial intelligence come to the real thing? the wild new tech and the concerns that come with it. you're all set. so your home is safe and smart. we're going to miss you. arm the system, we should go. [sfx: system arming] ahhh... bye. have a good night. when the most trusted name in home security adds the intelligence of google, you have a home with no worries. brought to you by adt. living with eczema we're used to this feeling. ♪♪ it's time your skin gets used to a different one

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artificial intelligence. tonight we're taking a look at voice cloning technology that can sound like virtually anyone. gadi schwartz now with a story you have to hear to believe. >> i'll have you know i graduated top of my class in the navy s.e.a.l.s. >> reporter: for the record that's not really prince harry. it's just one example of what's sweeping the internet today. the latest deep fakes aren't so much about looks but sound. see this speech by leonardo dicaprio? >> i stand before you not as an expert. >> reporter: well, a voice replication company used ai to generate the sound of podcaster joe rogan. >> one of the former -- >> reporter: steve jobs. >> and the billions of others around the world. >> reporter: robert downey jr. >> as an actor i pretend for a living. >> reporter: and others. the technology to quickly clone someone's voice is available to anyone with an internet connection, giving them the ability to make manufactured content like this. >> i'm hungry. hey, boy, give me some chicken nuggets. >> reporter: to see how the tech works we

headed to silicon valley's resemble ai, a company that recently teamed up with the filmmakers behind "the andy warhol diaries," recreating warhol's voice for some of the narration. >> i went down to the office because they were making a robot of me. >> reporter: resemble ai says unlike other voice cloning platforms they require a person's consent before uploading samples of their voice. which we gave. so we uploaded a few examples of my own voice and cadence and soon i could type in anything and have it come out sounding freakishly close. >> this is what my voice sounds like when i clone it. let's see. >> this is what my voice sounds like when i clone it. >> wow. and this is just based on five, ten minutes of my voice? >> five minutes of audio, yeah. >> so we've got lester in here too. >> please take care of yourselves and each other. >> reporter: with the tech has come the potential for misinformation and abuse. >> what's your reaction when you see headlines about hackers taking somebody's voice without their permission, replicating it and impersonating them? >> we have to be very careful about deploying these models

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finally, the movie that nearly swept the 95th annual academy awards, including a history-making win for best actress. here's emilie ikeda. >> and the oscar goes to -- "everything everywhere all at once." >> reporter: like the name of the critically acclaimed film, michelle yeoh is everything and more. >> michelle yeoh. >> reporter: now the first asian woman to win an oscar for best actress. after heunning performance as a laundromat owner sucked into the multiverse. yeoh dedicating the historic moment to her 84-year-old mom and sharing these words of encouragement for the next generation. >> for all the little boys and girls who look like me watching

tonight this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. >> reporter: a message resonating around the world. the malaysian-born actress catapulted into the international spotlight with films like "crouching tiger, hidden dragon" and "crazy rich asians." but she never scored an oscar nomination until now, at 60 years old. >> and ladies, don't let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime. >> reporter: "everything everywhere" taking home almost every major award. >> this is the american dream! >> reporter: just 23 of 1800 acting nominees in american history could be find as asian according to the "new york times." so this unabashedly asian american film sweeping award season represents a watershed moment. >> tonight we frigging broke that glass ceiling. >> reporter: emilie ikeda, nbc news. that's "nightly news" for this monday.

join us tomorrow when i talk exclusively with the faa's acting adminito nolen. thank yofor watching, everyone. i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other. good night. of yourself and each other. good night.

a glimmer of hope, but the trouble is far from over. the latest developments after the sudden crash of silicon valley banks. good afternoon. welcome to nbc bay area news at 4:30. it is a do new name and a new name, silicon valley bank. we will be checking in th our business and tech reporter for the latest, plus some new reaction from president biden. severe flooding impacting a small farm community south of