NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Monday, May 6, 2024

Episode Date: May 7, 2024

Israel is launching strikes in Rafah as Hamas said it has accepted a ceasefire proposal; former President Trump has been found in contempt again in his hush money trial for violating a gag order; millions in the central U.S. are under a high risk for tornadoes as Texas is hit with flooding; and more on tonight's broadcast.

Tonight, Israel launching strikes in Rafah after Hamas said it has accepted a ceasefire proposal. Images of celebrations in Gaza following that announcement from Hamas that it agreed to terms presented by Egypt and Qatar. But Israel saying there's no deal yet. And going ahead with strikes in Rafah, the southern Gaza city, where it told nearly 100,000 people to evacuate. The uncertainty tonight. Also this evening, Donald Trump found him contempt again at his hush money trial for violating his partial gag order.

The new threat from the judge to send him to jail. Severe storms on the move. Millions in the central U.S. under a rare high risk for tornadoes after the flooding in Texas that left a four-year-old boy dead. The U.S. soldier detained in Russia, the crime he's accused of committing. Columbia University making a major announcement about its main graduation ceremony after weeks of protests and dramatic arrests. The frightening moments during a livestream sermon, a man pulling a gun on the pastor, but it fails to go off. How he was stopped. The

final countdown after years of delays. Tonight, Boeing is set to launch its first crewed flight of its Starliner capsule and a historic battleship like you've never seen before. Visitors flocking for a rare glimpse as it gets a makeover. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome. The news traveled fast in Gaza tonight, where celebrations broke out after word began to spread that Hamas had accepted a deal to end hostilities in Gaza. But hopes of a pause in the fighting were just as quickly shattered when Israel declared the deal Hamas was embracing was far from Israel's essential demands. And so instead of a deal tonight, Israel is raising the stakes, pressing forward on its threatened military operation in Rafah, potentially displacing 100000 people who have been told to leave by the Israeli military as it increases pressure on Hamas.

Tonight, though, diplomacy is still alive. Richard Engel is inside Israel. In Gaza tonight, they're celebrating their salvation after Hamas announced it had accepted a sweeping ceasefire. But it seems they're celebrating too soon. Israel says there is no deal yet that the terms Hamas accepted are far from Israel's necessary requirements and are not the original offer Israel had on the table. But Israel is dispatching a delegation to negotiate, while its war cabinet has also unanimously approved a targeted operation against Hamas in the southern city of Rafah. Our crew capturing it starting this morning.

There has been a response from Hamas to the hostage deal. We're currently reviewing that response. While the details remain unclear, a senior Arab negotiator directly involved in the talks tells NBC News Hamas's position has shifted greatly over the past 48 hours and that the deal Hamas says it accepts would see it free 33 hostages in exchange for a roughly 40-day ceasefire, followed by further hostage releases and the freeing of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. But the source notes, with Israel not at the most recent negotiations, Hamas agreed to its own terms, using its own interpretation of the offer.

Israel believes 93 hostages captured on October 7th are still alive in Gaza, and that many of them are being held in Rafah, the only remaining city in Gaza where Israel has not yet conducted major ground operations. Israel this morning ordered roughly 100,000 Palestinians to evacuate from part of Rafah, using leaflets to announce that intense counterterrorism operations were about to begin. President Biden opposes a full-scale assault on Rafah because it is packed with more than a million civilians who fled there for their safety. Richard, meanwhile, we've learned the White House has stopped a U.S. shipment of military aid to Israel. This is a rare move, Lester. The White House blocking a large shipment of offensive weapons,000-pound bombs, just as Israel's intensifying

military operations in Rafah. Two administration officials confirming it, but say that it does not reflect a shift in overall policy. The White House isn't commenting. Lester. Richard Engel, thank you. Back at home, a Manhattan courtroom, a new fine imposed on former President Trump for violating the gag order in his hush money trial. Von Hilliard reports on a sharp new warning from the judge. Tonight, former President Trump facing a new threat of jail time at his hush money trial after his 10th violation of the judge's gag order. He's taken away my constitutional right to speak.

The judge directly addressing the possibility of putting Mr. Trump behind bars over future violations. The magnitude of such a decision is not lost on me. You are the former president of the United States and possibly the next president as well. Adding, as much as I do not want to impose a jail sanction, I will, if necessary and appropriate. Frankly, you know what? Our Constitution is much more important than jail. It's not even close. I'll do that sacrifice any day. The judge fining Mr. Trump an additional $1,000

for complaining about the jury in deep blue Manhattan, saying it's 95% Democrat. The judge saying the former president wrongfully called into question the integrity of the jury. Mr. Trump has pleaded not guilty to low-level felony charges for allegedly disguising reimbursements to Michael Cohen for hush money payments to Stormy Daniels as legal expenses in his company's internal business records. If convicted, Mr. Trump could face anywhere from four years in prison to just probation. Taking the stand this morning, Jeffrey McConaughey, who oversaw the Trump organization's accounting department, striking at the heart of the prosecution's case of falsifying business records.

Testifying about invoices, describing the reimbursements as legal expenses, saying he was ordered by another Trump organization executive to reimburse Cohen $420,000 for the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, most for Mr. Trump's personal account. But on cross-examination, McConaughey said he had not spoken to Mr. Trump directly about the business records. Another Trump Organization employee, Deborah Tarasoff, testifying about Mr. Trump's process of signing checks, including to Cohen, which were shown to the jury, saying if he didn't want to sign it, he didn't sign it. It was signed in Sharpie and it was black. And that's what he uses. And on the prosecution also giving an indication of the timing of this case.

Yeah, Lester, prosecutors said they intend to call witnesses for about the next two weeks. At that point, Mr. Trump's team will be able to present its own defense. And, of course, the question of whether the former president will take the stand himself. Lester. All right, Vaughn Hilliard in New York tonight. Thank you. There is a new severe weather threat we're following tonight after that flooding emergency in Texas led to more than 600 rescues in the Houston area alone, officials said two people were killed, including a four-year-old boy.

The flooding left homes submerged, cars floating, and lives upended. Bill Cairns is here. Bill, conditions are really ripe for another tough night. Lester, we only have these high-risk tornado days about one or two times a year. In the next 12 hours, that's the heart of it for this event. And we're really focusing in here on areas from Oklahoma into southern Kansas. That's where we not only have a chance of tornadoes, but even strong tornadoes. And they could occur well after the sun sets, too, through the evening. So here's what we're watching for watches now all the way from Omaha southwards. We have what we call a particularly dangerous situation tornado watch till 11 p.m. That includes Oklahoma City and Wichita. Already a couple tornado warnings there now, and it should ramp up as we go through

the evening. As 11 p.m. rolls around, that's when the line of storms will arrive at Kansas City, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City. And Lester, we're not done. We're going to deal with this storm system through the night, and then we're going to have a chance of severe storms the next two days right through the heartland. What a wild spring we've had. Bill here. Karen, thank you very much. There's word tonight that a U.S. soldier has been detained in Russia. Pentagon correspondent Courtney Kuby has late details. Courtney, what do we know? Yeah, Lester, according to the U.S. Army, Staff Sergeant Gordon Black was detained in Russia on Thursday, accused of stealing. Now, he was stationed at a base in South Korea, but was actually traveling back to the United States at the end of his tour when he stopped in Russia to see a woman he had a romantic relationship with.

Officials here say he went to Russia without permission from his superiors. Now, the U.S. State Department currently warns Americans not to travel to Russia, saying two other Americans are being wrongfully detained. Paul Whelan and journalist Evan Gerskovich. Staff Sergeant Black is currently being held in pretrial confinement. Lester. Courtney Kuby, thank you. With campus protests over the fighting in Gaza showing no signs of easing around the country, Columbia University today became the latest school to cancel its main commencement ceremony. Maggie Vespa now with late developments. The tidal wave of protests on America's college campuses now colliding with commencement season. Columbia University today canceling its main graduation,

opting instead for individual school ceremonies. It's been a tough time, honestly. It's been really, I think, I think it's been demoralizing. Free Palestine! Also tonight, Emory University announcing it will move its main commencement off campus, citing safety concerns. Why are you doing this? Last month, police clashed with demonstrators there. Meanwhile, commencement season marked by disruptions. A pro-Palestinian protester covered in fake blood stormed Northeastern University stage this weekend. Divest! We will not stop!

While demonstrators marched through the University of Michigan ceremony. At UCLA today, dozens of arrests. We will not rest this school! Demonstrators calling on the school to divest from Israel, marching and holding sit-ins. The administration saying classes would move fully remote the same day campus was supposed to be back to business as usual after police cleared an encampment there last week. Today, officers called in to clear tents at UC San Diego, police arresting 64 protesters. NBC News now tracking protests at more than 75 campuses nationwide, arrests close to 2,500. Protesters at the University of Chicago erecting

a fence around their camp after negotiations with the administration collapsed overnight. Faculty calling on the school to avoid bringing in police. Our most immediate concern is for the well-being of our students. We don't want them getting beat up just because they're camping on the lawn. The school saying students' demands were inconsistent with the university's principles. We're not going away. We're not giving up the fight. And Maggie joining us now from the campus of the University of Chicago. Maggie, there was a deadline there for students to leave the encampment.

Where does that stand? Yeah, Lester, that's right. Students back there tell us the administration ordered them out by midnight last night. So at this point, they say they're just bracing for police intervention. Meanwhile, the school isn't commenting on next steps. Lester. Maggie Vesper, thank you. Not of a frightening moment at a church in Pennsylvania, a man pulling a gun and about to shoot a pastor when the gun fails to go off and all of it playing out on live stream. Emily Akeda now with the video. We have to warn you, it is disturbing.

Minutes into this Sunday sermon outside of Pittsburgh, Pastor Glenn Germany suddenly found himself staring down the barrel of a gun. The heart-stopping moments captured on the church's live stream. You can make out the gun jamming. This morning when I woke up, man. A close call bringing the pastor to tears. I'm seeing, you know, what happened and I'm totally grateful, but I'm really starting to process it right now. A fast-acting church deacon jumped in to help. The two seen wrangling the gun from the attacker's hands, who allegedly told police that God told him to do it.

The pastor's wife watched in horror. You ask yourself, is this really happening? 26-year-old Bernard Polite, who told authorities he didn't know the pastor, has been charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment. Just hours after the incident at the church, Polite's family made a grisly discovery less than a mile away at his home. His older cousin, Derek Polite, had been fatally shot. No charges have been filed in that investigation yet,

but Germany says it makes his narrow escape all the more surreal. This is nothing less than a miracle because I truly see that gun being pointed at me. A relative tells me the suspect has a history of mental illness, but the family is shocked by Sunday's violence. It's unclear if he has an attorney. Lester. Emily Akata, thank you. In 60 seconds, the new investigation into Boeing over one of their popular jets following inspection concerns, plus counting down to tonight's crucial test flight of Boeing's crewed Starliner spacecraft right after this. SRV chamber, press go.

Just in, the FAA announcing an investigation involving yet another Boeing plane, the 787 Dreamliner, just as Boeing Space is preparing to launch astronauts in a brand new spaceship tonight. NBC's Tom Costello is at the Kennedy Space Center. Tom, good evening. Lester, the FAA looking into whether Boeing checked the work to make sure the wings are properly attached to the 787 fuselage and whether Boeing employees falsified documents claiming they checked the work when they hadn't. Boeing says this is not a safety of flight issue. It will inspect the fleet. In the meantime, two astronauts preparing to board and ride a Starliner spaceship. Years behind our tribal SpaceX, Boeing's Starliner spaceship is tonight perched atop a powerful Atlas V rocket.

High stress and high stakes as two astronauts become the first to ride Starliner into orbit. This is where the rubber meets the road. Pilots Sunita Williams and Commander Butch Wilmore, Navy test pilots and NASA veterans, have been training for years. But Starliner is over budget and years overdue. And like its commercial aircraft, quality control at Boeing is in the spotlight. During a 2019 uncrewed test flight, Starliner's internal clocks were misprogrammed, off by 11 hours. Mission control forced to abort. Later learning, Starliner could have crashed into the space station. Last June, more delays. Engineers discovered flammable tape inside the capsule

and parachute straps that might not hold. You know, that adage you've heard since Apollo 13, failure is not an option. The good news, an uncrewed mission did reach the station in 2022. Does this spaceship feel like it's ready for prime time? I feel like we're ready to go and the spacecraft is ready to go. Starliner set to lift off at 10.34 p.m. Eastern time for a 10-day test flight. Lester. Okay, Tom, thank you. Up next, the massive car company you've never heard of in China

and why they're out to lap the rest of the electric vehicle field. Will we see them on the road here soon? We're back now with our series, The Future of the Road. In the battle for the electric car market, one company in China is leading the charge with cheaper models. But could it disrupt sales here in the U.S.? Let's get more from Janice Mackey-Frayer. In the competitive world of Chinese electric vehicles.

It's looking for a spot. That are going further and costing less than ever before. No company makes or sells more than BYD, the Chinese giant taking on Tesla, offering cars for as little as $10,000. Let's drive. Along with higher priced luxury models. Zero to 60 miles per hour in about three seconds. Anything like this in the U.S.? Nothing that I've drove.

But don't look for electric cars from BYD on American roads anytime soon. U.S. government need to be more friendly. Stella Lee is the CEO steering BYD's expansion in the Americas. In an exclusive interview, she said the U.S. is not part of the plan yet. They're not ready. But then for BYD, we are ready. What conditions would need to exist in order to consider an entry into the U.S. market? That's a good question.

You should go back to ask the DCO. BYD faces stiff hurdles in the U.S., including a 25% tariff on imports and pushback from U.S. automakers who see Chinese competition as a major threat. I think it's going to require trade restrictions for a limited period of time, which will allow the Western automakers and the U.S. automakers to catch up. Even Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who just made a surprise visit to Beijing to meet officials, said that without trade barriers, Chinese EVs will, quote, demolish other car companies. BYD began as a battery manufacturer and with the help of government subsidies,

now controls every mile of its low-cost supply chain from parts to shipping. Among the concerns of U.S. automakers and lawmakers, that BYD's plan to build a factory in Mexico could allow the company to skirt tariffs under free trade rules. BYD denies that's the goal. And U.S. officials say there are growing fears China could use smart car technology to spy on American drivers. What did you make of the Biden administration opening an investigation into smart car technology because of national security concerns that this technology was coming from China?

I don't understand. There's no data like it approved that. National security concerns are overblown? Overblown, oversensitive and misleading. BYD alone is producing more than 3 million cars a year with capacity for more and few signs of slowing down. Janice McIffrayer, NBC News, Shenzhen. When we come back, extreme makeover battleship edition inside the country's most decorated warship like you've never seen it before. Finally, the historic U.S. battleship getting a makeover and giving visitors a rare chance to see it in a whole new way. Here's Joe

Fryer. The word underbelly often suggests something sordid, but viewing the underside of this ship is simply breathtaking. The average person never gets a chance to see something like this. After floating down the Delaware, Battleship New Jersey is now like a duck out of water. Dry docked for maintenance in Philadelphia, where she's getting three fresh coats of paint, nearly 3,000 gallons. That hasn't happened in decades. She's 887 foot, seven inches long. Ryan Szymanski is curator of the ship, which is also a museum Right now there's a lot more of her to see, like the exposed propellers One of the most common reactions is, can I touch it?

The answer is yes I actually can, there we go Visitors are coming from all over the world to go under the 45,000-ton vessel, which is propped up on keel blocks. It's incredible. And when you do get to see it, it takes your breath away. She's the nation's most decorated battleship, the only one to see service during the Vietnam War. Kenneth Kirsch served aboard as a Navy machinist back then and is now a volunteer here. Vietnam veterans come aboard aboard and I've actually

seen this where they get down and can kiss the deck and say that if it wasn't for this ship, they wouldn't be alive today. That just touches you. When the work's done, the ship will return to the water and to Camden, New Jersey, where that history will live on. Joe Fryer, 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.