Tonight, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin apologizing for keeping his cancer battle secret

as U.S. forces prepare to retaliate for that deadly drone strike.

Austin speaking out for the first time since his hospitalization saying quote I did not handle this right adding that his prostate cancer diagnosis was a gun punch and that he should have told the president and the public.

It comes as the US prepares to strike back after a drone

killed three soldiers in the Middle East.

We asked Austin why has the US waited to escalate its response?

Also tonight, the mother of a Michigan school shooter

testifying at her own trial,

what she said about wishing he'd killed her instead,

and why she didn't think he needed help with mental health.

The catastrophic hanger collapse at the Boise Airport, three people killed five critically

injured.

How did it happen? Back- back storm slamming the West Coast,

cars trapped by floods, swift water rescues, we're tracking it. The two NYPD

officers at Times Square,

multiple suspects arrested, why were they released without bail?

And checking in with Elmo,

how his innocent question on social media got a very unexpected response.

This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.

Good evening and welcome.

Offering what he says was an explanation, not an excuse.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin broke his public silence today surrounding his cancer diagnosis and his failure to notify even the president,

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