NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Monday, August 19, 2024

Episode Date: August 20, 2024

Democratic convention kicks off with Biden speech; Thousands protest the Democratic convention over Harris's handling of the war in Gaza; U.S. intelligence officials say Iran targeted the Trump campaign with hacking operation; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight from Chicago, the Democratic National Convention kicking off as Kamala Harris prepares to make history by accepting her party's nomination. The vice president in Chicago as the DNC gets underway. President Biden, who less than a month ago was expected to be the Democratic nominee, now set to formally pass the torch tonight. What he'll say in his keynote speech while outside, thousands protesting the war in Gaza, activists breaching one of the fences. And just in, the hacking attack on Donald Trump's campaign, U.S. intelligence confirming Iran was behind it. Also tonight, deadly flash floods in the Northeast. States of emergency declared, neighborhoods underwater, roads washed out, hundreds of evacuations and rescues, and the threat is not over. George Santos, the former Republican congressman who was caught in lies about his past, pleading

guilty to fraud in federal court. The war in Gaza, Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying Israel has agreed to a U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal. How will Hamas respond? The desperate search after a luxury yacht sinks off Sicily. Among the missing, two Americans and a British tech mogul. Remembering Phil Donahue, the pioneering talk show host who changed the landscape of TV. And Caitlin Clark making history again.

The WNBA record, the rookie sensation, just shattered. This is NBC Nightly News reporting tonight from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Here is Lester Holt. Good evening from Chicago and the United Center, home of the Democratic National Convention, kicking off four days of festivities that will culminate with Vice President Kamala Harris accepting her party's nomination for president. Tonight, President Biden will headline the convention. It will not be the speech he had planned to give or hoped to give a month ago when he expected to be the nominee himself.

But after that dismal debate performance, the president was forced under heavy pressure to step aside as his party clamored for a new generation of leadership. And so in the twilight of his political career tonight, he will ask Americans to rally around the vice president, telling reporters he's ready to pass the torch. It's where we begin tonight with Chief White House Correspondent Peter Alexander. Tonight, Vice President Harris here in Chicago, the start of a week-long Democratic celebration of its new nominee after that stunning party shakeup.

Less than a month ago, Democrats were demoralized. Tonight, they're delighted about a race that polls show has moved in the Democrats' direction. I very much consider us the underdog. We have a lot of work to do to earn the vote of the American people. The night's headliner, President Biden, checking out the stage late this afternoon. Are you ready to pass the floor? Yes, sir.

I am. Four years after he accepted the nomination in the middle of the pandemic, in a hall by himself. The backdrop to the president's speech tonight, he'll be speaking to many of the same Democrats who maneuver to push him out of the race. The president's sources told NBC News was initially angry, but now a senior advisor says President Biden views this moment without regret. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell has been a Biden ally for years. This is not the convention that President Biden was initially expecting, not what he was hoping for. What message do you

want to hear from him tonight? I'm sure it's a bittersweet night for him but i know joe biden he's going to look forward he's helped get us to where we are he knows what's on the line in november the democrats touting a lineup of marquee names tonight hillary clinton and first lady jill biden tomorrow doug emhoff who could become the nation's first first gentleman, earlier enjoying his run through on stage, as well as former President Obama and Michelle Obama. On Wednesday, it's former President Clinton and Harris's running mate, Tim Walz, greeting supporters this morning. We get an opportunity tonight to say a thank you to the best president of my lifetime. All capped off by Harris accepting the party's nomination Thursday night. This weekend, sharply criticizing Mr. Trump for his personal attacks like this. I'm a better looking person than Kamala.

Anybody who's about beating down other people is a coward. This is what strength looks like. Still, Republicans are not ceding all the attention this week jd vance and mr trump hitting a series of battlegrounds kamala puts america last i put america first going after harris on the economy while inflation recently cooled to 2.9 percent many americans say prices remain too high. Their economy is terrible and the inflation is eating everybody alive. And it's been doing that for three years. And Peter, thinking about the president's speech tonight, it's almost as if he's writing his legacy in real time. I know you have some new reporting about what he might tell the country this evening.

Lester, that's exactly right. We're here right in front of the stage. And tonight we're told that President Biden is going to speak about what he was able to accomplish over the course of these last three and a half years alongside Vice President Kamala Harris. But we're told a major focus tonight is also going to be on the future. And from the crowd that's gathered here, California's delegation behind me, he's expected to get a hero's welcome tonight, as much for what he was able to get done as for his decision to step aside. Lester. All right, Peter Alexander on the convention floor. Thanks. And within blocks of where we are right now, thousands of protesters took to the streets and in one case breached a barricade. Maggie Vespa is there. Maggie,

explain what you're seeing. Yeah, Lester, it's really tense out here. You can see Chicago police in riot gear have now lined the street. We're just blocks from the United Center. And you can see it snakes all the way that way toward the barrier itself where protesters have been lined up. And earlier today, as you said, breached part of that barrier, tearing sections of the fence down. This is a largely pro-Palestinian protest. Earlier, we had close to 6,000 people marching slowly, peacefully through Chicago's west side, demanding Vice President Harris and Democrats commit to a ceasefire in Gaza and ending America's support of Israel, saying if they don't

agree to those demands, Democrats and the vice president can't count on the votes of people here come November. Lester. Maggie Bespa, thank you. And just breaking this evening, U.S. intelligence officials say Iran targeted the Trump campaign with a hacking operation. Kelly O'Donnell is following this. Kelly, what more do we know? Well, Lester, as you know, Iran had already been the top suspect. But with this joint statement, the U.S. government is saying it is confident that Iran is behind attempts to hack Donald Trump's campaign. Mr. Trump had said so publicly himself. And the officials point out that Iran is trying to interfere with both campaigns and the U.S. election, in part by using electronic interference,

sending what's known as phishing emails and one that reached longtime informal Trump adviser Roger Stone. Lester. All right, Kelly O'Donnell, thanks. Join us for wall-to-wall coverage on the convention tonight, streaming on News Now. And starting at 10, be sure to join us on NBC for President Biden's speech. Now to the deadly flood emergency in the Northeast with almost a foot of rain causing catastrophic flash flooding. Many saying they've never seen anything like it. George Solis is there.

George, what's the latest? Lesser Connecticut still reeling in the aftermath of this flash flooding. Take a look at this bridge here that was completely washed out by this historic flash flooding. Residents and first responders here seemingly caught off guard. Tragically, this storm also deadly. Tonight, roads and bridges in western Connecticut buckled after the force of raging waters. In hard-hit Oxford, the town's main highway swallowed whole as a nearby river swelled into what one official described as a gushing torrent of destruction.

On a scale of one to biblical, I mean, how intense was this flood? This is, I've never seen so much rain in such a short time. Just heavy, heavy, heavy. Never stopped. Cars submerged as the water caught many off guard, claiming the lives of a 65-year-old and 71-year-old woman. Both swept away by raging floodwaters, according to officials. Oxford got sucker punched yesterday and then taken out at the knees. Our infrastructure is broken.

The town, overpowered by 10 inches of rain in a 12-hour window, growing evidence of the impacts of climate change. Storms not only growing in frequency, but intensity. It ripped apart everything this was all leveled out this mexican restaurant now closed indefinitely it's unrecognizable at this point yeah in neighboring danbury as homes and businesses were threatened by mudslides first responders rescuing more than 100 people roadways and parking lots like this one in danbury looking more like creeks after being washed away in the storm.

The dangerous deluge also wreaking havoc in New York. Long Island declaring a state of emergency. Back in Connecticut, residents bracing for the next storm on the horizon. George Solis, NBC News, Oxford, Connecticut. For months, George Santos was defiant as accusations mounted about his campaign for Congress. Well, now he's pleading guilty to felony fraud charges. Ryan Nobles was in court. Tonight, former Congressman George Santos speaking to a crowd of reporters outside of court after his guilty plea.

I understand that there are legal consequences for my actions and I accept them fully. The embattled Republican, who became the first sitting member of Congress to be booted from office by his own colleagues in more than 20 years, pleaded guilty to two charges, lawyer fraud and aggravated identity theft. This after federal prosecutors indicted Santos on dozens of charges. While throughout his legal woes, Santos defiantly maintained he was the victim of political prosecution, today he showed a different side. It's clear to me now that I allowed ambition to cloud my judgment, leading me to make decisions that were unethical. George Santos stood in the courthouse right behind me and finally under oath told the truth. A virtual unknown, Santos rode a

Republican wave into office in 2022 with a resume that was built on lies. He bragged about cutting million-dollar business deals that didn't exist and boasted about being a star volleyball player, a sport he never played. A scathing House ethics report accused Santos of deceiving his donors and using campaign cash to fund his lavish lifestyle. Congressman, what do you say to your constituents? Excuse me. You guys got to get out of my way. But despite the embarrassing public spectacle, Santos refused to go away quietly. He was active on social media and sold hundreds of short, personalized videos to fans on Cameo. Let's talk about Botox for a second.

Santos is scheduled to be sentenced in February. He faces a minimum of at least two years in prison, but could face up to 22 years behind bars. Lester. All right, Ryan Nobles, thank you. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is getting key buy-in as the U.S. pushes for a Gaza ceasefire deal. By the end of the week, Raf Sanchez is in Tel Aviv. Raf, Secretary Blinken, making it clear time is of the essence. That's right, Lester. Secretary Blinken arrived in Israel with a stark message.

After more than 10 months of war, this may be the last best chance to get a deal to end the fighting and bring the hostages home. Now, the U.S. laid out a detailed ceasefire plan last week. And after meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today, Blinken says Israel has accepted that plan, but Hamas, at least for now, has not. So the U.S. urging Hamas to get on board and then move swiftly to agree on technical details like how many hostages will be released each day. So the secretary says he is determined to get this deal over the line, but there are still major obstacles in the way of an agreement. Lester. Raf Sanchez in Tel Aviv tonight. Thank you. Now to President Biden sweeping new immigration policy.

It provides protections for the undocumented spouses of American citizens, though Republicans have attacked it as amnesty. David Noriega now with one family hoping to benefit. Rodrigo de la Rosa, who goes by Rod, was a small child when he came to Arizona from Mexico. You were five? Yeah, five. Three years ago, he married Ashley de Alba, and they have a little girl on the way. It's the picture of a happy American life.

Except that more than 20 years after coming to the U.S., Rod is still undocumented. He works painting houses, but aspires to be a sports photographer. Does not having papers get in the way of that? It does. It just cuts a lot of opportunities. Like, you can't get a regular job. Keep families together. But starting today, a major new Biden administration program known as Parole in Place will make it much easier for Rog to apply for a green card and then citizenship. Until now, he would have had to leave the country to apply

and risk separating from his family for years. Now he can apply from here. How could this potentially change your lives? So many ways. We would be able to actually do the things that we want to do. We want to both be homeowners. I don't want everything to just be on my name. I want him to have the same opportunities that I have.

To qualify, applicants need to be married to a U.S. citizen, pass a criminal background check, and have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years. The White House estimating that half a million undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens are eligible. Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, slamming the executive action as mass amnesty. Now he's granting illegal amnesty? I mean, this guy is totally out of control. It's completely lawless. In the last election, Joe Biden won Arizona by about 10,000 votes. The number of families who are expected to qualify for parole in place here in Arizona, it's more than that. It's about 15,000. So in a state like this, this program could actually sway the election.

Ashley is one of those swing voters. So my mom saved this for our daughter. Did you vote in 2020? Yes. Who did you vote for? I voted for Trump. With Biden off the ticket and her family set to benefit from a Democratic policy, now she's undecided.

Is it fair to say you're considering voting for the Democrats now? Yeah, I'm considering it. I want to see how permanent this is. Like, is this just a ploy for votes? Or is this something that they're really taking serious? The program will likely be challenged in court. And if Trump wins, it could be scrapped altogether. But if Rod does get his papers...

This is when she was a little bean. He and Ashley will be starting a new chapter in more ways than one. David Noriega, NBC News, Phoenix. In 60 seconds, a desperate search for Americans and a tech tycoon after a luxury super yacht sinks. An urgent search is underway off the coast of Italy after the sinking of a luxury yacht. Six are missing, including Americans. Steve Patterson has much more. Tonight, Italian rescue crews scouring the sea for any sign of life after a private British-flagged superyacht was ripped apart by a sudden freak storm just

before sunrise. It's a strong, very strong. Very strong. 22 people were on board. Rescue boats were immediately deployed, saving 15 people as the storm raged. The Italian Coast Guard confirming six people are still missing, including two Americans. In a harrowing feat, one mother, identified as Charlotte, says she managed to hold her one-year-old baby above the waves until they were both pulled to safety. Miraculously, a doctor confirmed Charlotte's husband, also on board, was found safe. We reunited the whole family, he says. They're here with us. Italian authorities say this 184-foot luxury yacht was anchored about a half mile off the Sicilian coast when it is believed to have been struck by a violent storm. The wreckage now 160 feet below the surface. Sources familiar with

the matter telling CNBC that British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, the founder of England's once biggest software company, Autonomy, is among the missing. In June, he was cleared in a massive U.S. fraud trial related to the company's $11 billion sale to Hewlett Packard. Investigators now say they're hoping to piece together how a modern yacht was so thoroughly destroyed in a storm that barely damaged other ships. Tonight, survivors wait for any word of their missing friends or loved ones, with hope sinking after every passing hour. Steve Patterson, NBC News. And as the DNC gets underway here in Chicago, there's much more to tell you about tonight, including the man who changed TV

forever. We'll remember Phil Donahue next. Talk show host Phil Donahue has died after what his family says was a long illness. He was 88. Ann Thompson now with a look back at his groundbreaking TV career. Is the caller there? Yeah. Go ahead. Before there was The View or Oprah, there was Donahue. What are our values here? For almost 30 years, Phil Donahue led a lively, informative daytime talk show.

Long a feminist, rather than recipes and gossip, he elevated the genre to issues. We grew up with the gay rights movement. We grew up with the anti-war movement. No subject was off limits. Do you feel that discussions of sex might be useful and positive and help promote a healthy society? Or at the end, too salacious. Well, it's more competitive. As the syndicated show moved from Dayton, Ohio, to Chicago, to New York, Donahue was the first to let his audience ask questions. Our radical idea was called democracy.

Yet it was his incisive probing and energy that made him the king of daytime talk, earning 20 Emmy Awards and a Peabody. Tonight, Winfrey posting there would not have been an Oprah show without him. Donahue moved to cable but never duplicated his success. President Biden, who awarded Donahue the Medal of Freedom. From Irish Catholic roots in Cleveland, Bill Donahue rose to transform television. Today called him an icon. A father of five, Donahue married twice, including 44 years to actress Marlo Thomas. The most important moment is that first moment. I mean, it certainly was with me when I walked in the green room on the day that she was a guest.

A television pioneer who got America talking. Ann Thompson, NBC News. That's nightly news for this Monday. Thank you for watching. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night from Chicago.