NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Friday, June 28, 2024

Episode Date: June 29, 2024

Biden says he'll stay in race after rough debate night; In Jan. 6 case, high court narrows scope of who can be charged with obstruction; families of Uvalde school victims speak out about arrest of former police chief; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the fallout from that debate showdown as President Biden looks to turn the page after his unsteady performance. Joe Biden and Donald Trump back on the trail after that contentious debate. The president looking for a reset after his struggles on stage raise alarm among Democrats. Some now calling for him to be replaced on the ticket. Mr. Biden in North Carolina in front of a raucous crowd, admitting he doesn't debate as well as he used to, but still vowing to win. Former President Trump claiming victory during a rally in Virginia, but under fire for his repeated falsehoods on the debate stage.

Our political team breaking it all down tonight. Also this evening, the major rulings from the Supreme Court, including one involving charges against January 6th defendants, another overturning a 40-year-old president long targeted by conservatives, and what the court said about a law that could result in homeless people being arrested. Severe storms striking Florida, powerful winds flipping over a vehicle, and the new tropical depression we're tracking. New details on the indictment over the botched police response to the Uvalde school shooting. And let the battle begin.

Simone Biles and more top U.S. gymnasts competing this weekend to punch their tickets to Paris. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome. President Biden appearing to dismiss talk among some Democrats of replacing him on the ticket after what was too many a week and concerning debate performance against former President Trump last night. The president today before a fired up crowd of supporters in North Carolina declaring when you get knocked down, you get back up, suggesting he's staying in the race, telling the crowd, I know how to do this job. Mr. Biden today appearing far more energized than last night

when he struggled to complete thoughts at times, all while Mr. Trump delivered a rapid fire barrage of talking points on immigration and the economy, a number of them false or misleading. President Biden calling out Mr. Trump over his recent criminal conviction and blasting his morals. Much of the debate, however, overshadowed by Joe Biden's onstage performance. Gabe Gutierrez has late details. Facing panic within the Democratic Party. Today at a raucous rally in North Carolina, a defiant President Biden declared he's staying in the race. When you get knocked down, you get back up.

While acknowledging his debate performance that many Democrats panned as a disaster. I don't speak as smoothly as I used to. I don't debate as well as I used to. But I know what I do know. I know how to tell the truth. I know. I know. I know right from wrong. But I know how to do this job. Today's event, a stark contrast from the night before. Supporters here sticking by him. I would love to have seen that person at a debate last night. Is President Biden the best person to lead the Democratic Party right now?

Who else is there? Meanwhile, at his rally in Virginia, former President Trump taking a victory lap. The question every voter should be asking themselves today is not whether Joe Biden can survive a 90-minute debate performance, but whether America can survive four more years of crooked Joe Biden in the White House. All of it coming after last night's debate, where the 81-year-old president hoped to put to rest questions about his mental acuity. Instead, he fueled even more. With a raspy voice, the campaign blamed on a cold he repeatedly lost his train of thought. Making sure that we're able to make every single solitary person eligible for what I've been able to do with the COVID. Excuse me, with dealing with everything we have to do with, look, if we finally beat Medicare.

Even muddling this answer on one of his key issues, abortion rights. I supported Roe v. Wade, which had three trimesters. The first time is between the woman and the doctor. Second time is between the doctor and an extreme situation. The third time is between the doctor, I mean, between the woman and the state. Former President Trump took advantage. I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don't think he knows what he said either. But President Biden did deliver some sharp attacks against Mr. Trump, branding him a

convicted felon and getting personal. How many billions of dollars do you owe in civil penalties for molesting a woman in public, for doing a whole range of things, of having sex with a porn star on the night while your wife was pregnant. I mean, what are you talking about? You have the morals of an alley cat. Give me a minute, sir. I didn't have sex with a porn star. Former President Trump, appearing more measured to start, became more aggressive with his attacks as the debate wore on. Did you fire anybody? Did you fire anybody that's on the border that's allowed us to have the worst border in the history of the world?

But he also repeated many false claims, including that most Americans supported overturning Roe v. Wade on polls show otherwise. You had Roe v. Wade and everybody wanted to get it back to the states, everybody, without exception. And the lie that there was widespread fraud in the 2020 election. The fraud and everything else was ridiculous. He also refused to give a clear answer on whether he'd accept the results this November. If it's a fair and legal and good election, absolutely. After the debate, Republicans went on the attack, saying the night validated their

concerns about the president's fitness for office. We have been discussing here for a long, long time that President Biden is not up to the job. I mean, everyone sees that clearly. The Biden campaign doing damage control. A source familiar with the discussions tells NBC News staffers considered pulling Vice President Kamala Harris from scheduled post-debate interviews, but she said she wanted to do them to defend the president. Yes, there was a slow start, but it was a strong finish. Gabe, we've learned there's late tonight a new notable call for President Biden to step aside. Yes, Lester, the New York Times editorial board just published a scathing piece headlined to serve his country.

President Biden should leave the race, writing he is not the man he was four years ago. Lester. Gabe Gutierrez tonight. Thank you. There's also a growing alarm tonight among Democrats over the president's debate performance, some privately calling for him to drop out, but others are rallying to President Biden's defense, including former President Obama. Here's Peter Alexander.

Tonight, as President Biden defends his place atop the ticket, some Democrats are considering an extraordinary scenario, whether someone else should be their nominee. Overnight, private worries turn into public alarm. He had one thing he had to accomplish, and that was reassure America that he was up to the job at his age. And he failed at that tonight. There are going to be discussions about whether he should continue. The doubts deepening. One veteran Democratic strategist telling NBC News there is no coming back from this disaster. But tonight, this forceful show of support from former President Obama writing bad debate nights happen.

Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Adding, last night didn't change that. And this from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who some Democrats have floated as an alternative nominee. You don't turn your back because of one performance. What kind of party does that? Also defending the president, Democratic Senator John Fetterman, who won despite struggling in his own debate following a stroke, saying, I refuse to join the Democratic vultures on Biden's shoulder. But more perilous for the president, his performance

comes after the White House spent months pushing back against any questions about his mental and physical fitness to serve. The only plausible scenario for Democrats to select a new nominee, according to a DNC rules committee member, would be for the president himself to decide to withdraw. He himself would have to get out of the race. OK, there's no other way to do it because those delegates that are already elected, they like Joe Biden. They're loyal to Joe Biden. If President Biden were to drop out before he's formally nominated in August, it could create a free for all among Democrats because there's no mechanism for him or anyone else to anoint a chosen successor.

So President Biden made clear again today that he's not going anywhere. And the president's aides tonight say that he'll do the second scheduled debate in September. Lester. All right, Peter, thank you. As it nears the end of its term, the Supreme Court issued several blockbuster rulings today, including a decision affecting January 6th defendants and one that undercuts the federal government's power. Laura Jarrett has details. Tonight, three colossal decisions with far-reaching consequences. The high court narrowing who can be charged under a federal law that dates back to Enron, more recently used to prosecute more than 200 people who stormed the Capitol on January 6th. The justices opening the door now to possible resentencing or even retrials for roughly a few dozen still behind bars.

At least one judge moving quickly today, asking prosecutors to weigh in on next steps with a handful of defendants. Former President Trump likely not impacted by today's ruling, nor most other people who were charged with other crimes related to January 6th. The presumptive GOP nominee still fighting his case, once again coming to the defense of the rioters at last night's debate. What they've done to some people that are so innocent, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. In another major case, the high court knocking down a 40-year-old rule of its own making that required judges to defer to federal agencies when interpreting vague laws passed by Congress. That practice, known as the Chevron Framework, long targeted by conservatives who've argued it gives unelected bureaucrats too much power,

the decision likely to prompt a rush of lawsuits challenging regulations on everything from food safety to the environment. Also today, the court's conservative majority upholding laws banning people experiencing homelessness from sleeping outdoors, finding no violation of the Constitution's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment, drawing a sharp dissent from the liberals, with Justice Sotomayor writing, sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime. Ahead of the court's decision, NBC News' Liz Kreutz met with Helen Cruz. She's racked up thousands in fines under a local ordinance in Grants Pass, Oregon,

prohibiting encampments in city parks. You can't get any more hopeless than you already are when you're out here. And Laura, there is more to come. Another big decision on Monday. Yes, Lester, that is the day that we will get the answer, the long-awaited answer on whether Mr. Trump is immune from prosecution. We will also see former Trump strategist Steve Bannon report to prison that day. Now that the justices have refused to step in on his case,

he's appealing a sentence for defying a House subpoena, Lester. All right, Laura Jarrett, thanks. Dramatic video out of Jacksonville, Florida. We're watching tonight a vehicle picked up and tossed by powerful winds at a car dealership. As we look at severe weather, officials say no one was hurt. We're also monitoring a tropical depression that just formed out in the Atlantic. The potential impacts to the U.S. right now are not clear. We'll keep an eye on it.

In Texas, new details about the indictment of the former Uvalde schools police chief over the failed response to the mass shooting there. Tonight, families of the victims are speaking out. Priscilla Thompson. What went through your mind when you found out this was happening? When I learned of the indictments, it was images, images of Lexi brought me back to that day. Kimberly Rubio will never forget the day her 10-year-old daughter Lexi was murdered at Rob Elementary School. Now, after two long years, new hope for accountability. Former Uvalde School's

police chief Pete Arredondo charged with abandoning and endangering a child after the botched police response in the shooting that killed 19 kids and two teachers. There were dozens of officers that arrived there early that knew that children were in the classroom, that knew that there was an active shooter, and they chose to do nothing. The 30-page indictment accuses Arredondo of acting intentionally, knowingly, recklessly and with criminal negligence toward 10 surviving children as the gunman was hunting and shooting. Arredondo oversaw the response of nearly 400 local, state and federal officers who waited 77 minutes before taking down the shooter. He has not responded to NBC's

request for comment on the indictment. It doesn't bring my son back. Brett Cross, whose 10-year-old son Uzziah died, hopes more officers will be charged and ultimately convicted. I think that they should have to do a year for every minute that these children were in there alone. And tonight, former school police officer Adrian Gonzalez, who was there before the shooter entered the classrooms, has also been indicted on 29 counts of endangering and abandoning a child. His attorney says he did not violate district policy or state law. Lester.

Priscilla Thompson, thank you. Just in tonight, a deadly crash outside New York City, a vehicle plowing into a nail salon inside a strip mall on Long Island. Officials say four people were killed, nine others injured. First responders extricating some victims trapped at the scene. The cause is under investigation. In 60 seconds, the strict new abortion law just approved by Iowa's highest court. The latest restriction leaving women in many states in limbo. The fallout next. We're back now with an update in the Middle East

tonight. The troubled pier built by the U.S. to deliver aid into Gaza has been removed again due to weather, and it's unclear if it will be reattached. We got our first up-close look at the troubled pier earlier this week. The delays have kept most of the aid delivered to the pier from reaching people who need it. Now to the rapidly changing reproductive rights landscape across the country. Major court battles playing out in real time, leaving mothers in limbo. Here's Yamiche Alcindor. Iowa Supreme Court today announcing a six-week ban will go into effect. But as lawmakers across the country grapple with shifting laws, families and doctors are caught in

the middle. I was completely confused. Like Nicole Miller in Idaho. The 39-year-old mother of two little girls was overjoyed when she found out she was expecting a son. But 17 weeks into the pregnancy, she started bleeding. My husband rushed me to the ER. She says she couldn't believe what the doctor told her. He wasn't willing to risk his 20-year career. And I was shocked. I was in a hospital with doctors who could help me, and nobody wanted to help me. Because they were in Idaho, which bans nearly all abortions, Nicole was flown to Utah. She is now part of a lawsuit by the Center for Reproductive Rights.

I just kept thinking that I may never see my girls again. What is it like to be bleeding, to be worried about your life, and then to be put on an airplane? It felt horrible. Many say navigating the shifting legal landscape is a challenge. It's an impossible situation. Every case is different, and we have this law that threatens us with jail time. And so I think most people just aren't doing it. They're sending them out of state.

But earlier this year, Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador said that's not happening. It's really hard for me to conceive of a single instance where a woman has to be airlifted out of Idaho to perform an abortion. What do you think about that? I heard about that. Anger. Having an abortion that day saved my life. And tonight, the AG tells NBC News he can't understand why a doctor would deny a woman

life-saving treatment. Adding the state has made it clear doctors are protected. Lester. Yamiche, thank you. Up next, our series, The Deciders, why some in a key voting group say last night's debate made them want to pick none of the above. We're back now with more fallout from last night's presidential debate. The reaction pouring in from a critical block of voters in this election, black Americans.

We get more from Shaquille Brewster. As the country digests the first presidential debate. He is the worst president. You're the sucker. You're the loser. Challenge me to a golf match. He can't hit a ball 50 yards. You have the morals of an alley cat. The campaigns today, hoping their messages resonated with a particular voting group, both have been targeting.

What do you say to black voters? 87% of black voters backed President Biden in 2020. But that support has slipped down to 71%, according to recent polling by NBC News. Raise your hand for me if you voted for Biden in 2020. We watched the debate in Philadelphia with three Black voters who told us they are now undecided or disappointed with President Biden.

But this moment from former President Trump left a bigger impression. The fact is that his big kill on the black people is the millions of people that he's allowed to come in through the border. They're taking black jobs and they're taking Hispanic jobs. There's no such thing as a black job. We're very diverse people. His perception of how he sees us as a community.

The constant use of division, you know, to try to pit working people against each other. For many Black voters we spoke to, disappointment in both candidates. NBC News' Gotti Schwartz watched the debate with voters in Battleground, Arizona. Why are you talking about golfing? This is a political debate about presidency. And you're talking about golfing right now. And who has the better swing? The reaction to last night's debate we heard from many frustration and even sadness. It really make you not want to vote for the presidency.

It really does. If black voters choose not to turn out in key swing state cities like Philadelphia, that could almost certainly spell electoral trouble for President Biden in November. Lester. All right, Shaquille Brewster, thank you. Coming up from practice to Paris, to the podium, Simone Biles and company's high-flying weekend at the Olympic trials next. Finally, the battle begins tonight.

Simone Biles and more of America's top gymnasts competing for the chance to go for gold in Paris. Here's Stephanie Gosk. Superstar Simone Biles warming up for her third Olympic trials. The two-day pressure-filled event begins tonight. The reality is only five athletes get to go. Are there a lot of unknowns going into this weekend? There are. Those who watch the sport closely say Biles is at the top of her game after her struggles with the twisties in Tokyo. What stands out to me the most is how she's put in work outside of the gym with her mental toughness that's had a positive effect inside the gym. Much of Team USA has already said, but the gymnastics trials are among

the last. And this is not a done deal. There is a lot on the line this weekend. Everyone, including Simone Biles, has something to prove. When the final selection is made on Sunday, the team will likely be a mix of Olympic veterans and some new faces. Vying for spots are Suni Lee, the all-around gold medal winner in Tokyo. Jade Carey, who won Olympic gold on the floor, Shailese Jones, a favorite to make the team, but a bad shoulder could get in the way. When warm-ups were over, we caught up with Jordan Childs, who helped the team win silver in Tokyo. Some Olympic athletes say trials can be more intense than the Olympics. I would say 100%.. Olympic trials for any

sport is the hardest thing that you'll ever do in life. The trials are especially tough in gymnastics because the team is so strong and Paris is less than a month away. Stephanie Gosk, NBC News, Minneapolis. And you can watch Simone Miles tonight when U.S. Olympic trials continue starting at eight on NBC and Peacock. That's nightly news for this Friday. Thank you for watching, everyone. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.