NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Friday, June 9, 2024

Episode Date: June 10, 2024

The fallout in Gaza after Israel’s daring hostage rescue; Trump returns to campaign tour in a show of defiance; Hunter Biden trial expected to wrap up quickly; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, new details on the Israeli rescue operation that freed four hostages, as officials in Gaza say the mission killed hundreds. New videos of Israeli forces carrying out the daring raid, and of the emotional reunions with families. But in Gaza, officials say nearly 300 people were killed in that operation. What witnesses are telling us now, and the major resignation from Israel's war cabinet, ramping up the pressure on the prime minister.

Former President Trump's first rally since his conviction in New York. Our exclusive reporting on his meeting tomorrow with the probation officer. A major highway collapsing in Wyoming. What it means for tourists set to flood into Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. Dramatic video just released.

Look at this. A house exploding as police approach it. The view from inside an armored truck. Move over red light cameras. Now watch for stop sign cameras, why critics call them a money grab. And love and honor the 100-year-old World War II veteran back in Normandy for his wedding. And the best is yet to come, I guarantee it. How two presidents helped him celebrate.

This is NBC Nightly News with Hallie Jackson. We're coming on the air with that new and dramatic inside look at the Israeli raid that led to the release of four hostages and may have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians. You see armed Israeli troops charging in, look at this, later rushing the hostages to freedom in helicopters waiting on the beach. And after the emotional reunions we're seeing today, like this now former hostage, you see him collapsing to his knees when he sees his mother. But elation in Israel quickly followed by a major political shakeup. One of the prime minister's biggest rivals, who joined with him in unity after the October 7th Hamas attack, now announcing he's

quitting the government, blasting Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership and delivering a blow to the embattled prime minister and his months-long war effort. NBC's Matt Bradley is on the ground in Israel. Tonight, new video of Israel's brazen daylight raid that rescued four hostages from the Gaza Strip. These images provided by Israel's military shows soldiers leading two of the hostages to freedom and then flying them back to their families in a jubilant Israel. Soldiers body cam video also showing the intense battle on the ground. One high profile captive, Noah Agarmani, finally met her mother, who's dying of terminal cancer. And Andrei Kozlov falls to his knees when he sees his mother for the first time.

Israelis celebrated one of their few successful hostage rescues. But back in Gaza, Palestinians are mourning their dead and picking up pieces of their shattered homes. Health officials in Gaza are calling Israel's successful raid a brutal massacre. Gazan health officials said nearly 300 people were killed during Israel's assault on the Nuserat refugee camp, where the hostages were hidden. Among the dead, 64 children. According to Gaza's health ministry, nearly 700 people were wounded. Many were treated on the floors of hospitals already overwhelmed by

eight months of war. We have nothing to do with Hamas. I was taking breakfast with my family here. Why you send the helicopter to bomb us? This woman said Israeli forces killed both her sons in the raid. I don't have anyone else but them. I only have them, she said. God is my witness. My son is eight years old. The second one is 12 years old. Children, what's their fault? We were in Nusayrat shopping as normal, said this man. A little later, we see helicopters, 20 of them. They were close. After they were shooting on the whole place, they hit everybody, body parts, people. Everything is gone.

Back in Israel, this rare victory didn't heal the political fractures dividing the government. Benny Gantz, a former defense minister, just announced his resignation from Israel's war cabinet. He slammed Netanyahu, who he said was blocking Israel from, quote, real victory. And he apologized to the remaining hostages' families, saying the government had failed to bring them home. Matt is joining us from Jerusalem. And Matt, with all of these developments, what is the latest now on talks to try to free the rest of the hostages? Well, Holly, despite some initial optimism around a deal that it could be reached, you know, those negotiations are still ongoing.

And Secretary of State Antony Blinken is actually in the region this week, traveling around, trying to shore up support for a deal. Hallie. Matt Bradley, thank you to our exclusive new reporting tonight about what's next after Donald Trump's criminal conviction, a meeting with a probation officer tomorrow. That's as Mr. Trump delivers a defiant message to crowds at his rally in Las Vegas today, his first since that guilty verdict came down. Vaughn Hilliard is there. Tonight, former President Trump turning the campaign trail into a defiance tour. Vote for Trump. We want a felon. On his first campaign swing since his guilty verdict for falsifying business records. The people are watching and they know a fake deal.

Speaking to a crowd of several thousand in 100 degree heat under the scorching Las Vegas sun, the former president's rally coming under the shade of legal setbacks. NBC News has learned that on Monday, the former president is now scheduled for a virtual sit-down interview with the New York City probation officer, a key first step for his sentencing and potential jail time. The officer will evaluate Trump's level of remorse, his financial background and mental state and provide a report to the judge to help him determine the sentence that he will hand down to Trump on July 11th. They've weaponized the Department of Justice like has never happened in this country. Trump publicly showing no regrets. And over the last week, he's repeatedly equivocated on whether he'd seek revenge against his perceived political enemies. Based on what they've done, I would

have every right to go after them. It's a terrible, terrible path that they're leading us to. And it's very possible that it's going to have to happen to them. Just this week, he called for the indictment of the members of Congress who worked on the January 6th Select Committee. And over the last year, he has called for the indictment of District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who oversaw his New York prosecution. Would you want him to seek retribution against those who have brought these charges against him? Of course. They should go to jail. I mean, if you're going to make false accusations, if I made false accusations, I'd be thrown in jail in two seconds. He's not going to get angry. He's got too much to fix. He's not a vengeful person.

Vaughn joins us now from where that rally was. So, Vaughn, how does Mr. Trump plan to make his case to that probation officer tomorrow? Right, Hallie, we should expect the former president to hone in and focus on the fact that he has no prior criminal record. At the same time, he has also expressed no regret about any of his actions that he took that led to that conviction in the New York trial. Hallie. Von Hilliard, thank you. Closing arguments are expected tomorrow in the historic trial of the president's son, with new questions tonight over whether Hunter Biden might take the stand in the gun case against him. Aaron Gilchrist has more on what's at stake in a trial that has, at times, turned deeply personal. Hunter Biden and his legal team taking the weekend to decide whether he'll take the stand in his own defense.

He'd be the last testimony jurors hear before deliberations in a trial that's moved faster than expected. With jury instruction set to be finalized Monday morning and closing arguments soon after, the jury could get the case by afternoon. President Biden's surviving son pleading not guilty to illegally buying a handgun and lying about his drug use on a government form back in 2018. A guilty verdict could mean probation or up to 25 years in prison. Prosecutors rested their case on Friday after calling 10 witnesses, including Hallie Biden, the widow of Hunter's brother Bo, with whom Hunter was romantically involved after Bo's death. Prosecutors played surveillance video of Hallie throwing away the gun after finding it in Hunter's truck. The government also presenting a text Hunter sent Hallie around the time he bought the gun, saying, I was sleeping on a car smoking crack.

Prosecutors also trying to use Hunter's own voice against him, playing clips from the audiobook version of his memoir. By now, I possessed a new superpower, the ability to find crack in any town at any time, no matter how unfamiliar the terrain. The defense calling three witnesses, including Hunter Biden's daughter, Naomi. President Biden and the first lady in France on Sunday, visiting an American cemetery before flying back to Delaware. The president answering questions about his son while overseas. And have you ruled out a pardon for your son? Yes.

Aaron's here with us now. So Aaron, the first lady, you mentioned her. She has been at court nearly every day. Do we know if she'll be there for closings tomorrow? Dr. Biden has only missed one day of court so far. We know that she even flew overnight from France to be in court on Friday. She and the president just landed back here in the U.S. a few minutes ago, heading home to Wilmington. And I wouldn't be surprised if we see her sitting behind her stepson again tomorrow, Hallie. We'll find out soon. Erin Gilchrist, thank you. To a state of emergency in Wyoming now, near some of the country's most popular summer tourist spots. After a landslide wiped out a key road, that could mean a big setback for workers and headaches for

the tourists visiting favorites like Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. Dana Griffin reports. Tonight, an emergency declaration after a mountain road near the popular Jackson, Wyoming tourist destination catastrophically failed. This site has moved really for decades, but starting Thursday, it started moving a lot faster. Drone video showing the massive chunk of the Teton Pass that plunged 70 feet down the mountain. This eight inch crack started forming Thursday. By Friday, an additional 10 to 12 inches rapidly formed. Overnight, it slid all the way down. Complete failure. This road connects Jackson to towns in East Idaho. 10,000 vehicles pass through each day, including families who commute to work and school.

I'm anticipating that my two-hour commute just turned into a six-hour commute. Tourism helps feed David Anderson's family. He warns the collapse will impact everyone from workers to tourists. If they don't come, the economy crashes here. We have to have the tourists. If you are going to be a tourist, just prepare to pay a little more than you normally would. 40% of Teton County's workforce comes from Idaho to support popular tourist attractions like Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone, and luxury resorts. Could this take weeks, months before people can start accessing that road? I'm hoping

to do it definitely less than months. We know how important it is to the economy of Jackson, especially now when we're coming into the summer months, we'll get it done. Crews working to revive a vital transportation lifeline destroyed by Mother Nature. Dana Griffin, NBC News. We are getting our first look tonight at newly released body cam video of a huge house explosion in suburban Virginia. First responders running for their lives and desperately trying to get neighbors to safety. Here's Jesse Kirsch. This was the moment an Arlington, Virginia home exploded. First responders fleeing and evacuating residents. This was the moment an Arlington, Virginia home exploded. First responders fleeing.

I'm here, I'm here! And evacuating residents. Police support, man! I need you to get evacuated and move down the street, okay? Watch again from another angle. Authorities say this armored police vehicle was about to smash in a covered window. But the blast came first. These videos, newly released by authorities, show a December incident that investigators say started with the homeowner firing more than 40 flares into the neighborhood,

sparking a standoff between police and the suspect, who did not surrender. Arlington County Police! Stop shooting the flares! Mr. Yu! Authorities identified the suspect as 56-year-old James Yu, described by neighbors as an erratic individual. There was no nexus to terrorism and there is no continuing threat to this community. Police say officers evacuated the duplex's neighboring unit, adding that the home's gas was shut off as the law enforcement response escalated. Under the front door with your hands up. Police eventually breaching the front door.

Then gunshots ring out. And soon after, the blast, which investigators say was caused by you. His remains now confirmed to have been found at the scene. Authorities otherwise reporting no major injuries despite that massive explosion. Jesse Kirsch, NBC News. Still ahead for us tonight, a high-flying trash war with North Korea launching balloons carrying garbage into South Korea. How the South's now responding K-pop style and traffic cameras now being installed on stop signs. Why drivers say they go too far. We're back with what may sound like a teenage prank,

but with so much more on the line along the most militarized border in the world. North Korea launching balloons carrying trash into South Korea, a big escalation and the South now responding. George Solis has more. It's trash talk at the highest levels over the most militarized border in the world. In recent days, North Korea launching thousands of timer-controlled, trash-filled balloons like these toward South Korea. South Korean authorities say the balloons have been filled with cigarette butts,

paper scraps, cloth, and in some cases compost, but nothing hazardous. How tense are things getting right now between North and South Korea? Paper scraps, cloth, and in some cases compost, but nothing hazardous. How tense are things getting right now between North and South Korea? At first glance, these balloons seem harmless, but it's against the backdrop of a great deal of tension over disputed waters west of the peninsula. In response, South Korea has set up high-powered loudspeakers to blast the North with Korean pop music and messages. The North Koreans are more afraid of BTS than they are of U.S. nuclear weapons. It is disturbing for the North Korean regime when these soldiers are listening to the music and then they start humming the tunes. This is considered mind pollution.

The tit-for-tat propaganda battle between the two rival countries dates back to the Cold War, both sides agreeing to stop for a while. But over the last few years, North Korea's ballistic missile tests sparking the South to respond to the escalation of tensions. And in the last few weeks, activists in South Korea have resumed sending balloons with anti-North Korean propaganda across the border. Experts don't expect the psychological warfare to end anytime soon. We've been distracted by the war in Ukraine, the war in Gaza, as well as Taiwan and China's efforts in Taiwan.

Yet this situation on the peninsula is growing. George Solis, NBC News. When we come back, cameras on stop signs may be coming to an intersection near you. Why some drivers are slamming them as a money grab. Plus, two years after Will Smith's Oscar night slap, how moviegoers seem to be forgiving him at the summer box office. Stunning video from an Oregon rodeo. Take a look at this. A bull got loose in an arena last night. It suddenly jumps the fence and runs right into the crowd. Three people were hurt.

Two of them went to the hospital. But today, we're told all are home and doing okay. Also tonight, a big screen summer comeback for Will Smith. His new movie, Bad Boys Ride or Die, number one at the box office, making about $60 million domestically. It's Smith's first major film after he infamously slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars back in 2022. Now to a growing controversy that has some drivers seeing, well, red, as cities install new stop sign cameras. They're supposed to keep neighborhoods safer, but with tickets topping out at $100 each,

some critics say enough is enough. Here's Erin McLaughlin. I've been taking advantage of. Nikki Jordan is fed up. Here's another one. So this was on 7-15. This one was on 7-19. 2021.

Those aren't speeding tickets. They're tickets she's gotten from one of these stop sign cameras. It really does feel like you can't get a break. The lifelong Washington, D.C. resident says she's gotten seven tickets from this one stop sign camera. Similar to a red light camera, stop sign cameras are currently in use in a handful of states across the country. The goal? Crack down on drivers like these who don't come to a complete stop. The cameras record a car as it approaches the stop sign. If the light flashes or the camera perceives an infraction, that video is then reviewed by a team.

If there's a violation, they send you a ticket in the mail. So in this situation, the key to not getting a ticket is to stop before the line. Washington, D.C. was an early adopter of stop sign cameras and is now expanding their program with dozens scattered across the capital. And each ticket is $100 a pop, by some estimates generating millions of dollars for the district. Neighborhood Commissioner Kishan Puta says he has received numerous complaints, but something needed to be done we had the highest traffic fatalities in 16 years in 2023 and so we needed to do something about it and even while we're talking to him the camera flashes over and over

oh i just saw a flash oh there was another one he says people feel it's more about making money than making the streets safer. A lot of people felt that they were being treated like cash machines. But intersections can be dangerous. Roughly a quarter of traffic fatalities and about a half of all traffic injuries in the U.S. happen at intersections, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. 5,700 crashes occurred at stop sign intersections between 2018 and today. Sharon Kirschbaum is the acting director for D.C.'s Department of Transportation,

and she says the cameras have made the streets safer. We are looking at the intersections where we have the cameras installed, and we can see that there's fewer crashes at those intersections. She says other cities, like New York City and Baltimore, have reached out, wanting to learn more. But Nikki Jordan isn't convinced. I think that the system is flawed. I wouldn't recommend it anywhere else. Erin McLaughlin, NBC News, Washington, D.C. Coming up next, there is good news tonight.

We were there when this 100-year-old World War II vet tied the knot in Normandy. There's good news tonight about love and honor and the World War II vet who returned to Normandy this week for the wedding of his dreams. In Normandy, not just a commemoration, but here, a celebration. Harold Terrence, a World War II veteran, marrying the love of his life. This is probably the most exciting time I've ever had in 100 years of my life. You know, love is not only for the young. We still get butterflies. Terrence proposed to 96-year-old Jeannie Swirlin last year. All right, come on, Newlyweds. Time to get you on this aircraft. The start of their journey in more ways than one.

Harold, why choose Norm them to know that they'll never be forgotten. And that's one of the reasons I've come back. Harold was just 20 years old and an Army Air Forces corporal when he went to Normandy to help transport newly freed American POWs to England in the aftermath of D-Day. Now, eight decades later, he's returned with his bride and their families. For a moment, years in the making. I now pronounce you man and wife. Plenty of room for romance and a toast or two, including from global leaders. Yes, those are the newlyweds invited to last night's state dinner with Presidents Biden and Macron. But even on the world stage,

there may be no alliance more powerful than this one. Didn't know what love really was until I met him. I used to think Romeo and Juliet was the greatest love story. I think our love story is the greatest love story ever. The best is yet to come. Thank you all. The happy couple is now enjoying their honeymoon in Paris. We wish them all the best. That's nightly news for this Sunday. For all of us at NBC, I'm Hallie Jackson.

Thanks for watching and have a great week. How do you remember? How do you remember?