NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Nightly News Full Broadcast (October 5)

Episode Date: October 5, 2024

Donald Trump is back in Butler, PA following assassination attempt there; Large bomb blasts light up the skies over Beirut; The FBI & Dept. of Homeland Security are warning of potential threats in the U.S. ahead of Oct. 7; and more on tonight’s broadcast. 

Tonight, former President Trump back in Butler, Pennsylvania, holding a rally at the same site he was almost assassinated nearly three months ago. Trump taking the stage just an hour ago behind bulletproof glass. How the Secret Service secured the site this time. Trump's tribute to the firefighter who was killed that day and the supporters who were there then and now back. He's coming back for us. We had to come back for him.

Massive explosions in Beirut tonight, some of the biggest yet as Israel ramps up its attacks. Also breaking, a tropical storm headed toward Florida, set to become a hurricane tomorrow. We are tracking its path. Plus, Vice President Harris in the storm zone, visiting recovery efforts in North Carolina amid growing misinformation that the federal government has abandoned the decimated region.

Plus, a new warning from the FBI that there may be violence inside the U.S. one year after the October 7th terror attacks in Israel. A hero passengers forced to take the controls of a small airplane after the pilot passed out. How air traffic control guided her to safety. And there's good news tonight that sent this college student jumping into the arms of his new brothers. This is NBC Nightly News with Jose Diaz-Balart. Good evening. With just 30 days until the election, both Vice President Harris and former President Trump are making high-profile, high-stakes trips to battleground states. Right now, Trump is on the very same stage where a gunman tried to take his life back in July at nearly the same hour.

You remember the images from that day, Trump raising his fist defiantly in the air after a bullet grazed his ear. Today, the security is ramped up. So are the expectations from the crowd, many of whom lined up early this morning to make sure they could get in. Vice President Harris, meanwhile, is departing another battleground state, North Carolina. There, she visited recovery efforts for some of the areas ravaged by the storm. And she defended the federal response amid a wave of criticism, some of it based on falsehoods from Republicans. We begin tonight with Dasha Burns at that Trump rally in Pennsylvania.

Tonight, Donald Trump taking the stage where a would-be assassin tried to take his life. For 16 harrowing seconds during the gunfire, time stopped as this vicious monster unleashed pure evil from his sniper's perch, not so far away. But by the hand of providence and the grace of God, that villain did not succeed in his goal. Speaking behind a shield of bulletproof glass, the former president back in Butler, Pennsylvania, on the very grounds where in July, a turn of his head made the difference between life and death. Today, Trump paying tribute to Cory Comperatore, the former firefighter shot and killed that day while protecting his family. A memorial placed in the very spot where he was sitting. When the sound of gunshots pierced the air on that July evening, Corey leapt into the fire

one more time. In his last seconds of this earth, he threw himself on the top of his wife and daughters. He didn't want them hurt. The Comperatore family also at the Butler Farm show today. Today's event has a far different feeling from the last time. The security presence is everywhere. And in fact, you can't even see the building the gunman climbed onto. There's heavy equipment barriers all around this area to block any line of sight from outside the security perimeter. Still, despite the heightened security, voters tell me it was important for them to be here today. He was shot at here, and he's coming back because he knows the people around here

love him and want him and want to hear him. These supporters were here back in July. It's like when you fall off a horse, you get back on. How are you feeling being back? A little nervous, but it's okay. I've also fallen off a horse and got back on. So I'm here to do that. Also in Butler today and appearing at a Trump rally for the first time, billionaire supporter Elon Musk. Tonight, the Trump campaign seeing the former president's return to Western Pennsylvania as a huge boost to his chances of winning this

key battleground state where polls show a timed race. Dasha, you were there in Butler back in July as well. What did the Secret Service do differently to prepare for today? Well, Jose, following that widespread scrutiny after July 13th, the Secret Service says that the agency is now providing former President Trump with heightened protection, that they've deployed every asset for this rally. That includes drones, counter surveillance and more sniper teams than in July. Jose. Dasha Burns in Butler, Pennsylvania. Thank you. And join Kristen Welker tomorrow morning for Meet the Press. She'll have exclusive interviews with Congressman Adam Schiff and Senator Tom Cotton.

We will get to Vice President Harris's trip to the storm zone in just a moment, but first we have breaking news overseas. In Beirut, Lebanon, massive explosions are shaking parts of the city tonight as Israel ramps up its attack on Hezbollah. Matt Bradley is in Beirut. Matt, good evening. There are some of the biggest strikes we've seen yet there. That's right, Jose. In just the last two hours, we've seen over a dozen large blasts lighting up the sky over this southern neighborhood of Dahia right behind me. Now, with each massive thud, we've seen huge plumes of smoke rising over this residential neighborhood that's a stronghold of the Hezbollah militant group. And the Israeli military had warned residents hours ago to leave the area.

But, Jose, these are some of the largest blasts that we've seen in the two weeks since we took up this position. And it comes as it's, you know, the latest in Israel's expanded assault against Hezbollah as it attacks and kills its leadership up and down Lebanon. Jose? Matt Bradley in Beirut, thank you. Back here in the U.S., the FBI has a new warning as we approach the one-year mark of the October 7th Hamas massacre in Israel.

The agency now warning about possible attacks in this country. George Solis is at Temple Emmanuel in New York City. George, Temple's gatherings is all on heightened alert tonight. Jose, we've seen a police presence here at Temple Emanuel, and this is not a one-off. Security is being ramped up throughout New York City, houses of worship and beyond. It comes as the FBI and Department of Homeland Security has issued a joint warning saying October 7th, quote, may be a motivating factor for violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators who are trying to threaten public safety. The agency advising potential

targets include synagogue, mosque, Islamic and community centers and large gatherings. Authorities are concerned over the possibility of lone wolf attacks. Now today in major cities and in New York's Times Square we saw large demonstrations protesting the escalating tensions in the Middle East and the conflicts. But Jose, authorities at this time say there is no credible threat, but remain on high alert. Jose? George Solis in New York, thank you. And now to breaking weather news. A tropical storm has just formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is now predicted to strengthen into a hurricane by tomorrow.

Tropical storm Milton is spinning across the Gulf right now, heading right for Florida's already storm-battered west coast. It's forecast to hit the coast Wednesday as a powerful Category 3 hurricane. Landfall could be anywhere from the Big Bend area all the way down to the Naples area, bringing winds of up to 115 miles an hour and creating massive storm surge. Meanwhile, Vice President Harris is in Battleground, North Carolina today, touring the storm zone as the government pushes back on misinformation about its relief response. And we now know at least 230 people have died in Hurricane Helene.

Antonia Hilton is in Asheville, North Carolina. Vice President Kamala Harris touching down in Charlotte, North Carolina, meeting with Hurricane Helene survivors and receiving briefings on the recovery. I came here to find out what's going on the ground, to find out what more we can do in terms of federal aid. Like many disaster responses, the recovery from Helene is proving to be complicated and at times slow. Nine days after the storm, many residents here, they may not have running water for weeks. Crews are still doing search and rescue missions

and the remote mountainous communities are still struggling with connectivity. Our communications are down. I mean, I still don't have any internet at home. The National Guard invited NBC News to see the challenges ahead. We can see things that ground rescuers can't. We flew over thick brush and woods, spotting collapsed bridges and roadways as the military

and members of FEMA tried to look for people who might need aid. We want to be able to provide some hope for the individuals that may still be out there hoping for help. But the perfect storm of fear and a lack of communication has led to conspiracy theories about the federal response. It just keeps getting worse and worse, dude. Amplified at a recent rally for former President Trump. They stole the FEMA money just like they stole it from a bank so they could give it to their illegal immigrants. The White House pushing back. It's just categorically false. It

is not true. In the last two years, FEMA has distributed more than $1 billion in taxpayer money to shelter migrants in cities across the U.S. But the White House and FEMA say that's from a separate government program, not for disaster relief. And there's no evidence funds have been diverted. One rumor that FEMA plans to cap aid at $750 has already made some feel abandoned. People are going to need a lot more than that. The national response ain't been near what I think it should have been. FEMA and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety

even publishing webpages to debunk rumors. Despite those challenges, the mission is ongoing as families attempt to move forward. I mean, it has been very challenging. It's been the power out. We have to, we're going to have a generator. Antonia joins us now from Asheville. Antonia, what is FEMA telling you about what they've been able to do there? Jose, FEMA is on the ground here in Asheville, already approving 14,000 applications for assistance in Buncombe County alone and delivering $27 million in aid statewide, Jose. Antonia Hilton, thank you so very much. In all that devastation, all that heartbreak, there's even more tonight. The reality is hardly anyone in the North Carolina storm zone had flood

insurance. And as Jesse Kirsch tells us, so many are now paying the price. As Helene tore through Asheville, North Carolina, this was the scene outside Libre Brousseau's back window, his neighbor's home floating away and flooded by those ferocious floodwaters. What we weren't prepared for is it started moving up the stairs of the lower deck. Meanwhile, water was rising in Brousseau's own home. And tonight, his family is one among so many confronting the unimaginable. Their belongings and homes ravaged without any clear sense of how or even if they'll be compensated. What did the insurance company tell you? We're very sorry.

You know, that's why we encourage you to buy flood insurance. More than a week after Helene, this is where the water level is in Brousseau's backyard. But he says at its peak, the water got all the way up there. Take a look at those leaves trapped along the balcony fence. Like tens of thousands of people in Helene's path of destruction, the Brousseau's don't have flood insurance. In fact, an NBC News analysis shows only about 2% of homes had flood insurance. In Asheville's Buncombe County, less than 1% of homes were protected. Because you really don't see many private insurance policies covering flooding. We know that's going to be

a special effort. FEMA does offer some help for people affected by floods who don't have flood insurance, but payments are typically a fraction of the amount needed for repairs, an amount that could bankrupt a typical household, leaving families like the Brousseau's in limbo. I don't think I'm going to come back here. I mean, I don't think it's worth rebuilding. And Jesse joins us from Swannanoa, North Carolina. Jesse, cell service is finally returning? Yeah, Jose, our team noticing a clear improvement in cell reception today, but there are also still scenes like this. Take a look. A pickup truck that has been lifted up and is on top of this car. Jose. Jesse Kirsch, thank you. Still ahead tonight, the terrifying moments after a

pilot passed out and a hero passenger had to land the plane. Plus, the rise in cyber attacks on hospitals. Could it impact your next visit? We're back with what is a nightmare scenario while flying. You're up in the air when the pilot suddenly passes out. Well, it happened on Friday in a small plane, and the only passenger on board had to take the controls and figure out how to land. Dana Griffin has details. Miracle in the air. Are you with me? Yes, I am. An air traffic controller talking an inexperienced passenger through piloting a twin-engine aircraft

when the pilot lost consciousness midair. Okay, so make sure you add a little bit of power. What was supposed to be a flight from Las Vegas to the Central Coast turned into an all-hands-on-deck operation to get the plane safely on the ground. Look, this animation shows the plane taking off near Las Vegas, Nevada, Friday morning, its final destination, Monterey, California. But the plane was diverted nearly 100 miles southeast to Meadowsfield and Bakersfield, California. But the journey there was harrowing.

Are you able to add power so our airspeed doesn't get too low? Yes, 132. Okay, that's absolutely perfect. At the airfield, Ron Brewster, the Kern County Director of Airports, and his team were standing by. We were able to get fire, ambulance, and everybody on standby. So as the aircraft came to a stop, they were getting medical attention within seconds. Thanks to a team of aviation experts and this calm air traffic controller. Your airspeed is looking good from here. The passenger safely landed. Confirmed aircraft secure. One patient cardiac arrest.

But unfortunately, the ordeal has a tragic ending. He was pronounced deceased at the hospital. As for the brave woman at the controls. How is she? Dealing with a tragedy. She's doing the best she can based on the circumstances. No word yet on if the air traffic controller has had a chance to speak with that woman since their ordeal. Jose.

Dana Griffin, thank you. Coming up next, are hospitals ready for cyber attacks? We'll go inside one medical center preparing for the new high-tech threats. Plus, high school heroes. All this football team's helping a brave little girl get through a very difficult time. Cyber attacks are hitting more hospitals nationwide, putting patients at risk. Tonight, our Valerie Castro goes inside one hospital where all of their systems were knocked offline to see what safety measures they're putting in place before the next big one hits.

A widespread IT outage is affecting major companies around the world. This outage has been wreaking havoc on hospitals. This was probably the biggest event that I've seen of this magnitude in my career. For John Donahue, vice president of corporate information services at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia. Hospitals, that's going to take weeks to recover from that. July 19th was a day he'll never forget. I got the first phone call about 1.30 in the morning on Friday, and my first thought, this can't be true.

This is some prank. From airports to hospitals, a software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike crashed computer systems around the globe. Initially, this looked like a cyber attack. It did. Though it wasn't a cyber attack, for many hospitals it was their first time experiencing what one could be like. It required a physical touch at every file server and every device, close to 60,000 devices in total.

And doctors and nurses were thrown into new territory. We couldn't access anything on the computers. Nurses like Melissa Ju resorting to pen and paper to write down patient information. The CrowdStrike incident forced many medical procedures here at Penn Medicine to come to a complete standstill. But some potentially life-saving treatments couldn't wait. Dr. Allison Lauren was scheduled to conduct a bone marrow harvest that day. In one word, what was that day like for you?

Scary. Ultimately, pulling it off with paper records, cell phones, and trust in her team. Kevin Mahoney, CEO of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, says this was a wake-up call. The health care system is not prepared for these enormous cyber attacks. In 2023, the FBI says 249 ransomware attacks targeted health care institutions across the country. And earlier this year, Ascension, one of the nation's largest health care systems, made headlines after they experienced a cyber attack. It's being demonstrated here. Penn Medicine now finding ways to protect themselves

from potential attacks. So what we have here is a threat map and this shows us globally what's happening from a cyber perspective. So this map is another cyber attack map that we use to spot trends. It's focused on spam volume and malware volume. Is this something you use daily? Our cyber team would use this daily. Getting ready now to prevent a catastrophe in the future. Valerie Castro, NBC

News, Philadelphia. When we come back, there's good news tonight. The joyful moment this young man was welcomed into the arms of his new fraternity brothers. There's good news tonight. You know, so often the good news doesn't get as much attention as the bad. So every Saturday we highlight the many people who spread joy and love. These are just some of those stories this week. There was this party for Ezra Tozak. Leaving a New York hospital after more than a month in the ICU. Because you've been so strong and brave. We first met the five-year-old last May, when he desperately needed a liver transplant.

She's a perfect match. Are you serious? Yeah. Okay, bye. And showed you the moment his preschool teacher, Carissa Fisher, stepped in with this life-saving surprise. I'm going to share my liver with you, buddy. The surgery this summer, a success.

Ezra's mom, Karen, forever grateful. We feel so blessed to, you know, have kind of formed a bond. We're just incredibly, incredibly grateful. And how's this for a celebration? That's beloved Northern California school custodian Pedro Alvarado Reyes taking a victory lap on his very last day. Students and staff at Montebello Elementary marking his retirement with cheers of thanks for taking care of them and the school for more than a decade

there was such joy at South Carolina's Clemson University that's Charlie McGee finding out he got into Pi Kappa Alpha and then running into the arms of his new fraternity brothers. The guys say they chose Charlie, who has Down syndrome, because of his values and his involvement in Clemson life and service to school and community. You gotta get more in the front, girl. And in St. Louis, the SLU high school football team winning off the field.

There they are, more than 30 of them, all getting their heads shaved to support a teammate's loved one who's battling brain cancer. Defensive end Patrick Laffey organized it all to show 7-year-old Nora Bunn just how much she means. That's Nora in the pink hat even helping out along with her big sister. Patrick, what made you decide to do that for her? I just want to show her that, you know, I'm always going to have her back. And anything that she's going through is something that I'm going through too. I don't want her to go through this alone.

For this family guided by faith, the gesture meant everything to Nora's parents. Brent and Janie, what was it like for you? As Patrick said, we have to support each other. In this dome of darkness, people keep showing up and poking holes of light. And there was a huge hole of light poked through our dome of darkness that day. And Nora just had a birthday. Nora, feliz cumpleaños. That's NBC

Nightly News for this Saturday. I'm Jose Diaz-Balart. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Good night.