NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Friday, May 3, 2024

Episode Date: May 4, 2024

Catastrophic flooding forces rescues and evacuations in South Texas; Former Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks testifies in Trump trial; 19 receive nation's highest civilian honor; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the flooding disaster unfolding in Texas as we come on the air with even more rain on the way. The catastrophic floods after nearly a foot of rain in the Houston area. At least 700 homes in the county flooded. Roads underwater, drivers stranded, mandatory evacuations, first responders making dozens of rescues, plus the massive tornado ripping through a town and the threat now stretching through the weekend. Also, tonight, dramatic testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial. Hope Hicks, one of his former top advisers, telling the jury about that now infamous Access

Hollywood tape in 2016 and the Trump campaign's damage control after it came out and the moment she broke down in tears on the witness stand. New campus crackdowns, more than 50 pro-Palestinian protesters arrested in New York, and what the NYPD says about an officer accidentally firing his gun during the raid at Columbia. The Democratic congressman and his wife indicted on federal charges. They say they're innocent, what they're accused of doing for bribes. The grim discovery in the search for two Australians and an American missing on a surfing trip, three bodies found in Mexico. The future of air combat, unmanned fighter jets piloted by AI,

and Michelle Yeoh, Katie Ledecky, and other big names at the White House to receive the nation's top civilian honor. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome at the end of what has been an especially dangerous and destructive week of weather across big sections of the country, including 130 reported tornadoes since last Friday. And tonight, floods, The parade of severe weather leaving parts of southeast Texas under heavy flooding tonight. Torrential rains have inundated communities, sending major rivers rising to flood stage, stranding residents, some requiring urgent rescues. Parts of the region have seen a foot of rain in the last 24 to 36 hours, some over 15 inches of rainfall

in the last five days. It has been a fearsome spring, the country tonight wrapping up a fifth straight week with a severe weather outbreak. Coming off an April that saw a near record number of tornado reports. And now tonight, 11 million people from Texas to Oklahoma to Arkansas and Louisiana are under flood watches. Kathy Park joins me now. Kathy, this flood threat is far from over. Lester, that's right. As you can see, the fast-moving floodwaters are still moving through neighborhoods like this one in Texas. Typically, this would be a backyard, but it has been transformed into a lake several feet deep. Tonight, millions in Texas in the crosshairs of catastrophic flooding and dangerous tornadoes. Oh, my God. In the past 24 hours, dramatic lightning strikes like this one caught on camera.

Oh, my God. He's going in the water. Oh, my God God. Oh my God. And nearly a foot of rain in the Houston area, stranding drivers, even washing away roads and part of this nursery. It's hard to tell exactly how much we've lost, but it'll be estimated hundreds of thousands of dollars of product washed away. In Harris County, officials declaring a disaster and urging residents to evacuate Thursday night or prepare to stay for days. This threat is ongoing and it's going to get worse. It is not your typical river flood. Dozens have been rescued so far and one family escaped by swimming to safety as a rushing waters filled their home. When I seen it lift, I refrigerate up and I could sit on it and float around my house like a surfboard, that's when I told her it was time to go. Fourteen rivers are now at major flood stage, including the San Jacinto.

So if you open your front door, I mean, the river is right there. It is. Evelyn Lowry says she's still repairing the damage from 2017 brought on by Hurricane Harvey. How tough is it to see this type of damage again? I'm just crestfallen. I don't know if we can get back up again. I really don't. Now she and so many others are reliving the nightmare as it brays for more severe weather expected to last through the weekend. Kathy Park, NBC News, Conroe, Texas.

A one-time top advisor to former President Trump, Hope Hicks, testified for the prosecution today in Mr. Trump's hush money trial. She recalled the crisis in his presidential campaign when the Access Hollywood tape became public. Von Hilliard now with late details. She was one of former President Trump's most trusted advisors. Hope! We want hope! But today, Hope Hicks walked into court as a prosecution witness in her old boss's hush money scheme trial. Mr. Trump, without smiling, stared on, first directly at her, before turning his attention toward a monitor and papers in front of him. Hicks, today admitting she was nervous, at one point becoming emotional, tearing up and needing a break. Hicks telling prosecutors the release of the Access Hollywood tape weeks before the 2016

election was a crisis. I was concerned, very concerned, she said. Everyone was just absorbing the shock of it. Hicks testified adding its impact on women voters was a major concern. Prosecutors say the release of the tape helped propel the hush money scheme. But Mr. Trump today arguing none of it is related to the charges he's facing, that he allegedly disguised reimbursements to Michael Cohen for hush money payments to Stormy Daniels as legal expenses in his company's internal books. Mr. Trump, who's pleaded not guilty, slamming a corrupt, ancient and highly political attack that he says has nothing to do with this fake case. I'm not allowed to comment

on any of that, as you know, I'm under a gag order. I was very interested in what took place today. On cross-examination, Hicks was asked about a Wall Street Journal report days before the 2016 election on payments allegedly made to Karen McDougal. She said Mr. Trump did not want the paper delivered to his home that day. She said he really values Mrs. Trump's opinion. In saying of Michael Cohen, he likes to call himself a fixer. It's only because he first broke it that he'd fix it. Notably, Hicks testified she was not engaged in negotiations, nor was aware of the hush money payments before they were made in saying she had nothing to do with the Trump organization business records. Former President Trump left the courthouse tonight to head down to Palm Beach for a major Republican retreat with just six months until the general election.

He's expected to see several of his possible VP picks there. Lester. Von Hilliard, thank you. Across America, new pro-Palestinian demonstrations and more people arrested on college campuses as more details emerge about just who took part in some of the protests. Erin McLaughlin has late developments for us. Tonight, the crackdowns on college campuses continue. In New York City, two more schools inviting the NYPD to clear pro-Palestinian encampments at NYU and the new school, where demonstrators turned their backs on police.

More than 50 were arrested. Today, police pointing to disturbing leaflets they say they found during both crackdowns, one of which included violent threats. And at Portland State University in Oregon, new video shows damage done during the occupation of its library. And today at Columbia University, President Manoush Shafiq releasing this video message. A group of protesters crossed a new line with the occupation of Hamilton Hall. It was a violent act that put our students at risk as well as putting the protesters at risk.

This week's raid raising new questions about outside involvement. The university reports that of the 44 arrested in the building, 13 were unaffiliated with the university. Among them was 40-year-old James Carlson, a longtime figure in the anarchist world, according to a senior law enforcement official. He's also being investigated for a possible hate crime after he allegedly set fire to an Israeli flag at Columbia last month. He's pleaded not guilty to charges of trespassing. Student protester Mariam Awan was not part of the group that occupied Hamilton Hall. The cause of the student body is to call for divestment from bombs that are dropping on our friends and family. I think the police violence has only strengthened the central mission.

Tonight, students and faculty are outraged over the use of force after police say an officer accidentally discharged his firearm during the raid inside Hamilton Hall. There was nobody in danger. There was nobody struck. And for us, this is an accidental discharge. Meanwhile, on the West Coast, the UCLA campus is also rattled after the intense crackdown yesterday. Student protester Blair Battle was among the more than 200 arrested. The police get the order, they start to move in. With their batons, they start to push and shove. After about 10 minutes of that or so, I'm knocked down and I can't get back up.

And last night back at Columbia, the traditional pre-final scream was relocated to outside Shafiq's residence as a form of protest. What I take to be the kind of like existential despair and frustration that there is simply no way that they can be heard. Erin McLaughlin, NBC News, New York. The Justice Department has indicted a prominent congressman, Democrat Henry Cuellar of Texas, and his wife for bribery after a two-year investigation. Ryan Nobles is at the Capitol. Ryan, the congressman is now responding. That's right, Lester.

Prosecutors allege that Congressman Cuellar and his wife were part of an elaborate scheme taking as much as $600,000 in bribes from foreign business interests in exchange for Cuellar using his powerful perch in Congress to do, among other things, steer U.S. policy in favor of the country of Azerbaijan. In fact, prosecutors plan to use text messages between businessmen from that country and the Democratic congressman as evidence at trial. Now, Cuar for his part denies the charges of bribery and money laundering and says that he will not step down. Lester.

Ryan Nobles, thank you. The FBI says three bodies have been found in Mexico. It comes as officials look into what happened to an American and two Australian brothers who went on vacation and haven't been heard from for almost a week. Blaine Alexander reports on what authorities are saying. Tonight in Mexico, a remote surfer's paradise has become the grounds of a growing mystery after three travelers disappeared. Now, Mexican officials are questioning at least three people they believe may have been involved.

Late today, authorities say they have located three bodies in the area. Mexican officials have identified the three missing men as American Jack Carter and Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson. According to the family, they were last heard from on Saturday and were in the area on a surfing trip. The attorney general for Baja California, Mexico, says officials found a cell phone that may have belonged to one of the missing men and other evidence, including a white pickup truck. Among the missing, Callum Robinson, a professional lacrosse player and, along with his brother Jake, an avid surfer, according to social media pictures. In a Facebook message, their mother

says the three men never showed up to check into their Airbnb, now pleading for any information. With its picturesque Pacific beaches, the Mexican peninsula of Baja, California has become hugely popular among surfers. But as recently as last summer, the U.S. State Department has urged Americans to reconsider travel to the Mexican state, citing crime and kidnapping. Tonight, Mexican officials say they are working with authorities in the U.S. and Australia. Blaine Alexander, NBC News. The new jobs report is out. The U.S. economy adding 175,000 jobs in April, falling short of expectations, and the unemployment rate ticking up to 3.9 percent. But experts say the slowdown in job growth could help ease inflation and lead the Fed to cut interest rates this year.

An unmanned Chinese spacecraft blasted off today, headed for an unexplored part of the moon. Janice Mackey-Frayer was at today's launch and reports on the new space race. It's one of China's most ambitious space missions yet. To the far side of the moon to bring back samples of lunar rock from a basin never before explored. We're roughly a mile and a half from the launch site. You can feel the ground shake as they have liftoff. If this mission is successful, it will mark a first. The unmanned mission, called Chang'e 6, marks a major milestone here. China's goal, to put Chinese astronauts on the

moon by 2030. All countries should explore, develop and use outer space peacefully, said this mission official, adding there's no need to worry too much about competition. But with the U.S. and other nations also setting sights on the moon, experts see a new sort of global space race. The head of U.S. Space Command recently said China is moving at breathtaking speed in space. Those ambitions have also created a booming industry here, with thousands of space enthusiasts crowding beaches near the launch site. When did you come here? Three days ago.

You've been camping here for three days? Yes, yes. I want to see the strength of my country, she says. The 53-day mission aims to return with five pounds of lunar debris that scientists say could help unlock secrets around the moon's origins and possibly have an impact far beyond here. Janice McEfrayer, NBC News, Hainan, China.

And coming up for us here tonight, a glimpse into the cockpit of the future, flying America's warplanes with AI instead of pilots. Next. We're back now with a history-making flight. For the first time, our cameras were given access as the Air Force staged a dogfight, pitting a human pilot against a fighter jet piloted by AI. We get more from Courtney Kuby. This is a rare look at the future of the U.S. Air Force in combat. It's called Vista, an unmanned fighter jet piloted by artificial intelligence, flying head to head in a dogfight with a manned F-16, even outperforming the human pilot. Defense officials say the U.S. is the only military

in the world with this technology, successfully flying a jet with artificial intelligence. And this is the first time cameras have been allowed to see it. Up till now, there has not been a pathway for machine learning agents to control the flight critical systems of an aircraft. On Thursday, the Air Force secretary made an unannounced trip to Edwards Air Force Base. Suiting up and going for a ride in a mock dogfight, flying nearly the speed of sound separated by just 1,000 feet from the manned fighter jet. He says the technology still needs work. We still got a ways to go with it, but making good progress. But some test pilots aren't sure.

This artificial intelligence is robot. And they're so new, and we don't really understand fully how they work. So you don't trust the aircraft to be flown by AI at this point? No, not really. Like drones, they could fly ahead of manned aircraft during combat, conducting strikes too dangerous for human pilots. But unlike drones, the computer will be in charge, not an operator thousands of miles away. And even though humans will still be involved in making key decisions,

this raises serious questions. Is that a possibility, really, this kind of technology going rogue? I think it's too early to say it is or it isn't. Do you ever see a point of fully autonomous weapons? So U.S. Air Force aircraft that are fully autonomous weapons? We're not going to unleash killer robots on the battlefield to kill anything they want. That's not going to happen. We're going to make sure that we comply with the laws of war.

Kendall says the future is not far away. AI could be in cockpits in the next few years. Computers flying missions once considered too complicated for anything but the human mind, soon changing the face of combat aviation. Courtney Kuby, NBC News, Edwards Air Force Base. And coming up, we'll meet the outstanding Americans who just received the country's highest civilian honor. Next. Finally, the powerful ceremony for a top honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Our Gabe Gutierrez is at the White House.

Late today, they came from every corner of American life to the East Room of the White House. 19 incredible people whose relentless curiosity and venomous ingenuity and hope have kept faith in a better tomorrow. President Biden bestowing the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 19 recipients, from prominent politicians like Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry, and Al Gore, to civil rights icons like Dr. Clarence Jones, who helped write Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech, and legendary activist Medgar Evers, whose family accepted his award posthumously. Patriot was gunned down by the poison of white supremacy, but his spirit endures. Also honored Michelle Yeoh,

the first person of Asian descent to win an Oscar for Best Actress, and Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic woman in space. 27 years old, Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky has already won seven gold medals. And as she told Lester, I mean, I'm competing against myself. I hold myself to a very high standard. Well, today she took a break from training for this summer's Paris Games to accept this hardware. Among all of your accomplishments, where does this rank? This is right up there at the top. You know, I've won some gold medals, but to receive recognition from the White House, from the president, it's a tremendous honor. An honor like no other. A high standard, indeed. Dave Gutierrez, NBC News, the White House.

And that's nightly news for this Friday. Join Kristen Welker on Sunday for a new Meet the Press here on NBC. Thank you for watching, everyone. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.