NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Monday, August 12, 2024

Episode Date: August 13, 2024

Los Angeles prepares to host 2028 Olympic Summer Games; Preliminary 4.4-magnitude earthquake rattles Los Angeles; Trump returns to X ahead of interview with Elon Musk; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the emergency response as a frightening earthquake rattles Los Angeles, the 4.4 magnitude quake striking just miles from downtown. Reports of shaking being felt more than 100 miles away. Police warning people to prepare for possible aftershocks. We're in the quake zone tonight. Also this evening, the race for the White House. Donald Trump's interview this evening on X with the platform's owner, Elon Musk, who has endorsed Mr. Trump's campaign. It comes as Kamala Harris rises in the polls,

Mr. Trump ramping up his attacks, making false claims about Harris's crowd size. In the Middle East, the U.S. deploying a guided missile submarine to the region as the Israeli military goes on to its highest alert for a possible retaliatory strike from Iran. The surprise Ukrainian incursion into Russia. Ukraine now saying it controls nearly 600 square miles of Russian territory. The stabbing caught on surveillance near a New York synagogue. The suspect now charged with a hate crime.

The new tropical storm Ernesto forming in the Atlantic. Plus, the Olympics may have ended, but the drama has not. The battle over stripping Team USA's Jordan Childs of her bronze medal. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome. Residents and visitors across a wide section of the Los Angeles area are preparing for possible aftershocks tonight. After a magnitude 4.4 earthquake rattled the region today, a strong jolt is how many describe the quake, which was centered near Highland Park, California, at a depth of nearly seven miles. Damage appears to be mostly minor. The water was seen pouring from a broken pipe near the top of the Pasadena City Hall. There were other reports of items falling from shelves, but no injuries reported.

The quake, which occurred during the lunch hour, was felt from the mountains northeast of Los Angeles all the way to communities along the Pacific Coast, south to San Diego. Liz Kreutz is in Los Angeles now with the latest. Tonight, Southern California shaken, jolted by a 4.4 magnitude earthquake felt throughout the Los Angeles area. An earthquake is happening. Everything was shaking. The epicenter near South Pasadena, just east of L.A. This home surveillance video showing strong shaking as the quake hit around lunchtime. Wow. Let me call my family. You see the stuff is still shaking right here. Oh my God, there's an earthquake. People reacting in real time. This ESPN anchor momentarily pausing the show.

We're going to make sure that our studio lights, everything stays safe, everything's shaking. The Los Angeles Fire Department going into earthquake mode. Although no reports of significant damage or injuries, in Pasadena at City Hall, a water pipe burst. One person rescued after being trapped in an elevator. What's the impact of this quake? Physically, there's essentially no impact. Psychologically, we have millions of people who felt it.

And for many of them, it's the second quake in the region felt in the past week. Is there a chance that this is a sign of a bigger quake to come? There's always a chance. We have about a 5% chance that within the next three days, we will see something larger from the same location. The latest quake to rock California coming just as the world's focus turns to the city as the next home of the Summer Olympics. Liz, joining me now from Los Angeles. Liz, any sign of aftershocks tonight? Well, Lester, so far there's been at least three very minor ones. That initial quake, though, was the strongest shaking felt in East L.A. in years. And while earthquakes here are common, they are a concern. Experts point out that Los Angeles is one of the best prepared cities

in the country for them. Lester. All right, Liz Kreutz in L.A., thank you. Now to the 2024 race. Former President Trump being interviewed tonight by one of his high profile supporters, ex-owner Elon Musk. And it comes as Mr. Trump spreads misinformation about Vice President Harris as she rises in the polls. Garrett Haake is in Washington. Former President Trump returning tonight to what was once his favorite messaging megaphone, posting on X, formerly Twitter, for the first time in more than a year, writing, Are you better off now than you were when I was president? Our economy is shattered. Our border has been erased. And promoting an interview tonight with the site's outspoken owner and Trump supporter, Elon Musk. The posts come as the former president faces growing criticism from Republicans who say he's not spending enough time attacking Vice President Harris's record.

Over the weekend, Trump indulging in a baseless conspiracy theory about President Biden at the DNC. He's going to walk into the room and he's going to say, I want my presidency back. And falsely suggesting large Harris crowds were AI-generated fakes. The Harris campaign mocking Trump in response, writing, quote, this is an actual photo of a 15,000 person crowd and Trump has still not campaigned in a swing state in over a week. Low energy? Tonight, a new poll shows Harris leading Trump within the margin of error in key battlegrounds, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin,

prompting this public plea to Trump from an ally. Stop questioning the size of her crowds and start questioning her position when it comes to what did she do as attorney general on crime. Question what did she do when she was supposed to take care of the border as a czar. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign is accusing Harris of plagiarizing a signature Trump economic proposal to no longer tax tips.

Harris appearing to adopt the Trump plan this weekend. Eliminate taxes on tips for service and hospitality workers. Trump has been campaigning on his no tax on tips pledge for months. When I get to office, we are going to not charge taxes on tips, people making tips. Trump posting Harris's quote, conning the American public, and we'll flip right back. And tonight, the FBI says it's now investigating the Trump campaign's assertion it was hacked by Iran. Lester. All right, Garrett Haig, thank you.

Turning now to the Middle East, the U.S. deploying a guided missile submarine to the area as Israel braces for retaliation from Iran, a possibility many fear could lead to all-out war in the region. Richard Engel is in northern Israel tonight. The Israeli military tonight is at its highest state of alert and readiness. The military spokesman saying, we take the declarations of our enemies seriously. Iran and Hezbollah have vowed to retaliate for the assassinations of a Hezbollah commander in Beirut and a Hamas leader visiting Iran. The administration is expecting it could come in the next few days or sooner. We have increased our force posture and capabilities in the region,

even in just the last few days. In an unusual move, the Pentagon going public today, revealing a guided missile submarine has been ordered to the region, and that it is speeding up the arrival of a second aircraft carrier. It's all to both deter Iran and its allies, and react in case this spirals into a regional war. While in Israel, hospital patients are being moved to basements, and blood banks are preparing. Meanwhile, in Gaza, Israel is ordering new evacuations, this time in part of a humanitarian zone. Mohamed Al-Rukab, his wife and four daughters, are on the move again.

We are staying in the streets. We are tired and humiliated, he said. It follows this weekend's attack on a school being used as a shelter. The Hamas-run civil defense and doctors say more than 100 people were killed. Israel says 31 militants were hiding there. And Richard, there is some disturbing news tonight about some of the hostages still being held by Hamas. Hamas says that two of its guards, this announcement came tonight, shot and killed. And it suggested that they were acting alone, a male hostage and seriously wounded two females.

Israel says it's investigating. Lester. All right, Richard Engel, thank you. A disturbing crime captured on surveillance camera in New York. A young Jewish man stabbed on the sidewalk and now police say the suspect has been charged with a hate crime. Let's get more from Erin McLaughlin. In New York City, an alleged anti-Semitic hate crime caught on camera. You see a group of men wearing traditional Jewish clothing walking down a Brooklyn street when they're approached by a man in purple who lunges at them and, according to the complaint, stabs one of them in the abdomen

while shouting, free Palestine and do you want to die? The 22-year-old suspect was later charged with attempted murder and a hate crime. The victim is in the hospital in stable condition. It's the latest in a wave of alleged anti-Semitic attacks to strike New York City. In June, this was the scene on a New York subway. A man openly leading an anti-Semitic chant caught on camera by a fellow passenger. This is your chance to get out. Weeks after another man veered his car into a group of students outside of a Brooklyn yeshiva while shouting an anti-Semitic slur, according to police. The Jewish community is under assault. The number of anti-Semitic incidents has skyrocketed nationwide since October 7th.

CARE also reporting a record number of anti-Muslim incidents. When Jews, just because they look Jewish or wear Jewish garb, are basically ascribed the actions of the state of Israel. That's increasingly the type of anti-Semitism that we're seeing in this country. Tonight, we've learned that a former Cornell student

was sentenced to 21 months in prison for making anti-Semitic threats against students on campus. Lester. Erin McLaughlin, thank you. Also tonight, Ukrainian forces pushing deeper into Russia for the first time since the war started with an incursion that surprised Moscow's military. Let's get more from Andrea Mitchell.

Tonight, Ukrainian troops advancing eight miles inside Russia's border, saying they've now gained control of more than 600 miles of Russian territory in Belgorod and Kursk. Russian President Putin vowing to retaliate. He says Russian forces will, quote, squeeze out and knock out the enemy from our territories. After the local governor in a televised meeting told Putin Ukraine now controls 28 Russian villages. This new video showing Ukrainian soldiers removing a Russian flag from the side of a building in the Kursk region. All this stunning and embarrassing Putin.

For the first time, Ukraine's President Zelensky confirming Ukrainian troops are operating inside Russia, prompting this reaction from an exuberant Senator Lindsey Graham in Kiev today. Bold, brilliant, beautiful. Keep it up. Putin started this. Kick his ass. And no objections from the Biden administration, saying Ukraine was defending itself against Russian cross-border attacks. Ukraine's incursion into Russia could give it leverage in any future negotiations with Putin, even as Russia continues to hammer Ukrainian

forces in the east. Lester. Andrea Mitchell, thank you. Just in tonight, a new tropical storm, Ernesto, forming in the Atlantic. Tropical storm warnings are in effect for the Leeward Islands and Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. It could deliver 10 inches of rain to Puerto Rico beginning tomorrow night. And the games may be over, but the Olympic intrigue is not. In just 60 seconds, the battle for Team USA's Jordan Childs to keep her bronze medal. We are back with an update from the Olympics and the fight over an American gymnast's bronze medal. Team USA receiving a major setback after Jordan Childs was told to give her medal back. Emily Aketa has late details.

Tonight, a blow to Team USA in its battle over bronze. USA Gymnastics confirming, even with new evidence, the Court of Arbitration for Sport will not reconsider the case that bumped Jordan Childs off the podium because of the court's rules. USA Gymnastics posting, We are deeply disappointed by the notification and will continue to pursue every possible avenue and appeal process, including to the Swiss Federal Tribunal. Over the weekend, Olympic officials ruled the coach's appeal over Childs' difficulty score that led to this electrifying moment took the shot and it paid

off actually came four seconds too late landing child's back in fifth place behind romania usa gymnastics says it's since submitted time stamped video that shows a request to file an inquiry and a second statement were made within the one minute deadline. It should be an Olympic medal for Ali Raisman. This last minute leapfrogging has happened before. Ali Raisman overtook a Romanian gymnast for bronze in 2012 after her coach appealed her difficulty score on beam. That decision stuck. The two-time Olympian speaking on today. This is just so heartbreaking and I'm just so gutted for Jordan. Athletes obviously have lost their medals before,

but typically in what circumstances? Cheating, testing positive for banned substances. All these instances are when the athlete explicitly broke the rules. So how unusual is Jordan Child's situation? Incredibly unusual, quite unprecedented. A chaotic controversy not of the athlete's making. Emily Ikeda, NBC News.

There's more to tell you. We're back in a moment with a deadly listeria outbreak connected to a popular deli meat brand. It's already hospitalized. Dozens of people will tell you what to look out for. The CDC is advising Americans to throw out some pre-packaged deli meats that could be contaminated with listeria. As Tom Costello reports, dozens of people have already been sent to the hospital and three have died. After nine days in the hospital and 11 in rehab, 88-year-old Sue Fleming is now suing Boar's Head for the listeria infection that she claims came from eating liverwurst. To be honest, I went through hell and back again, and I'm coming out of it.

I don't wish it on anyone. I'm very blessed that I'm alive and talking to you right now. The CDC reports three people have died from eating contaminated deli meats in Virginia, Illinois, and New Jersey. Boar's Head now recalling 71 pre-packaged and ready-to-eat meat and poultry products tied to a Virginia plant with sell-by dates through October 17th, including liverwurst, ham, bologna, beef salami, and bacon. It's literally the only brand I buy. The CDC reports 43 hospitalizations across 13 states now tied to the outbreak, though the real number of people who become sick could be much higher. Listeria is the third leading cause

of death from foodborne illness, with pregnant women, newborns, senior citizens, and anyone with a weakened immune system at greatest risk. Flu-like symptoms, fever, muscle aches, GI upset, those are the classic symptoms of Listeria. And usually people know that something's wrong because they aren't really able to tolerate any fluids. Boar's Head says food safety is our top priority, and we express our deepest sympathies for the affected families. The company and CDC recommend throwing out any affected deli meat, clean any surface that came in contact with the meat, including refrigerators and countertops.

Lester? All right, Tom Costello, thank you. Still ahead, when hundreds of young voters get together in the same room, can they overcome differences that divide them? And can the rest of us stay with us? During a highly polarized election season, what happens when young voters put away their phones and gather in person to discuss the issues? Our Savannah Sellers has an answer that could benefit us all. They came from all over the country, more than 400 first-time voters with little more than their age in common. With one burning question, what happens with politics when people come face to face? I really am curious to hear from different perspectives. Stanford University researchers and the problem-solving organization Helena among the facilitators, they call it America in One Room, a four-day event in Washington, D.C., getting young voters away from the anonymity of the internet. It is harder to insult somebody to

their face because we want to be liked. Online discourse, comment sections, it allows us to be inhuman. Kendall Martin leans left. She's from the Bay Area in California. Climate change is personal to her. What about the environment? I'm a STEM major and I take a lot of the chemistry biology classes. So it's something that always comes up is, you know, climate change and global warming in terms of like presidential candidates and politicians. Sometimes I don't really, I feel like they could talk about it more. Tyler Kronkowski, a conservative from Florida, has serious concerns about immigration and the economy. But he came here hoping to change the perceptions. Recently, Republicans have a really extreme rap of like, if you're a Republican, you're going to be, you don't want abortion.

You don't want, you're big in religion. You don't like gay people or LGBTQ. But I'm not like that. The voters here talked and listened about issues rather than candidates. They went to a ballgame toward the monuments together. When you see them in person, it's so much more human. And you realize that that is a person that has an experience and that it shouldn't be invalidated because you don't agree with it. The results measurable. More participants agreeing their opponents had good reason for their positions and a doubling of those saying they're satisfied

with how democracy works. What happens when people spend time together? Democracy works. People want to solve problems in a democracy like America. The nation's youngest voters proving even in today's politics, polite isn't just possible, it's productive. Savannah Sellers, NBC News, Washington. And that is nightly news for this Monday. Thank you for watching. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.