NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Saturday, October 26, 2024

Episode Date: October 26, 2024

Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, headline campaign events for Kamala Harris; Donald Trump campaigns in battleground Michigan and Pennsylvania on Saturday; Israel launches airstrikes inside Iran; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

This is NBC Nightly News with Jose Diaz-Balart. Good evening. You can tell an election is in its final sprint when the campaigns pull out the big names. And with just 10 days left, both sides are reaching for serious star power. This was a scene just an hour ago. Michelle Obama, the most beloved figure in Democratic politics, campaigning side by side with Vice President Harris. She follows one of the biggest names in music, Beyonce, who spoke to a massive crowd in Texas last night, throwing her support behind Harris. For his part, former President Trump raced across two battlegrounds today. But the big headline, his marathon three-hour interview with

the nation's most popular podcaster, Joe Rogan. The Trump campaign has made no secret that they are trying to appeal to young men, and the former president has done numerous podcasts that target that demo. But Joe Rogan is in a league of his own. We're covering both campaigns tonight, and we begin with Aaron Gilchrist with the Harris campaign. Tonight, Michelle Obama making her first appearance on the campaign trail for Kamala Harris with a message designed to push people to the polls. That there's too much we stand to lose if we get this one wrong. America's first black first lady with the first black and female vice president

making the case for Michiganders to support Harris over former President Trump. If he doesn't view you as his equal or relevant to his ambitions, I promise you he will not think about you when he gets into the Oval Office. The vice president slamming her opponent throughout her remarks. Donald Trump still refuses to even acknowledge the pain and suffering he has caused. Harris also huddling with Michigan doctors and medical students today to discuss reproductive freedom. Very, very critical and important work. The stop in western Michigan comes just a day after Harris was joined on stage by music icon Beyonce in Texas. It's town. Drawing attention to strict abortion laws in the state, Beyonce using her influential voice,

not as an entertainer or politician, she said, but as a mother. A mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in. A world where we have the freedom to control our bodies. With more than 36 million ballots already cast nationally, statewide early voting here in Michigan started today. Penny Hobert voted for Vice President Harris. We already had the other president, and he didn't show nothing to help the people. The cost of living is high, and we need a change. It was better four years ago.

And you feel confident that former President Trump is the person to make things better for you? I do. Team Harris is using the final days of the campaign trying to close the deal, rally the base, bash Trump, and convert enthusiasm into action at the ballot box. Your vote is your voice, and your

voice is your power. Erin joins us from Michigan. Erin, the Vice President's big closing argument speech in D.C. on Tuesday now has an official green light. Today, the National Park Service issued a permit for Harris to hold a 20,000 person event at the Ellipse on the National Mall, the same place where former President Trump spoke on January 6th. Jose. Aaron Gilchrist in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Thank you. Donald Trump today hitting two key battleground states just hours after sitting down for three hours straight with the nation's most popular podcaster, Joe Rogan. Dasha Burns is traveling with the former president in State College, Pennsylvania.

With just 10 days to go tonight, former President Trump in the final stretch to Election Day. They want me to say, oh, Detroit's great, oh, it's so great. You know, it needs help. So I said, it needs help. How the hell can you be positive? While campaigning in the suburbs outside Detroit this afternoon, the former president trying to rally support from Michigan's Muslim voters. We're winning overwhelming support from the Muslim and Arab voters.

After running on a Muslim ban in his first presidential race. Calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States. Before heading to Battleground, Pennsylvania. This is some little gathering we have. Today's stops follow a late night on Friday in the Great Lakes state, where Mr. Trump took the stage nearly three hours late. I apologize, but you know, it's all about winning. We got to win. night on Friday in the Great Lakes state where Mr. Trump took the stage nearly three hours late. I apologize, but you know, it's all about winning. We got to win.

Many supporters so frustrated with the wait, they left before he arrived. We got so tied up and I figured you wouldn't mind too much because we're trying to win. The delay due to a three-hour interview with the nation's most popular podcaster, Joe Rogan, whose heavily male audience is a target for Trump. Well, if I win, this will be my last election. Trump hitting back at comments from his former chief of staff, John Kelly, that he fits the definition of a fascist. I was actually the opposite of a dictator. I was a very straight guy. Showing the scar on his ear from the assassination attempt.

It zicked right there. It healed up pretty f***ing good. And weighing in on a range of topics, including life on other planets. There's no reason not to think that Mars and all these planets don't have life. Mr. Trump also going on long tangents laced with false claims of election fraud in 2020. Today, the same message. You know what the ridiculous system is? You have the rest of your life to vote anytime you want.

You just have one day voting. voter ID, paper ballots. While also encouraging his supporters to vote early. I'm supposed to say it's really tight, but you got to vote anyway. You got to vote. And tomorrow, former President Trump on the trail again, though notably not in a battleground. He'll hold a rally in his hometown of New York City at the legendary Madison Square Garden. Jose. Dasha Burns in State College, Pennsylvania. Thank you. And join Kristen Welker tomorrow morning for Meet the Press. She'll be speaking with Vice Presidential Candidate J.D. Vance and Senator Bernie Sanders. To the Mideast now, and a major escalation there. Israel openly striking targets inside Iran for the first time ever. Israel has carried out covert action there before, but never something like

this. The strikes pay back for Iran's missile attack on Israel earlier this month. Raf Sanchez is in Tel Aviv. The skies over Tehran lit up with anti-aircraft fire. As Iranian forces tried to hold off Israel's strikes. The long-awaited attack carried out by Israeli Air Force fighter jets operating nearly a thousand miles from home. Striking in retaliation for this ballistic missile attack by Iran on October 1st. Israel's military says it hit factories where the missiles were produced and attacked Iran's air defenses. Prime Minister Netanyahu appearing to heed U.S. calls for a limited strike that did not hit Iranian nuclear or oil facilities. Iran acknowledging military bases in Tehran and two other provinces were hit and says four of its soldiers were killed.

But state media playing down the attack. And today, a quiet calm on the streets of Tehran. I'm not afraid at all because it was a small attack, this woman says. That's raising hopes Iran's supreme leader may choose not to escalate further. If the regime in Iran were to make the mistake of beginning a new round of escalation, we will be obligated to respond. Israel has long fought Iran's proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah. But in April, it bombed the Iranian embassy in Syria. Tehran hitting back with its first ever direct strike on Israeli soil. And three weeks ago, we were in northern Israel during Iran's ballistic missile attack.

We are once again seeing the skies lighting up now. Many, many what appear to be these missiles streaking on a straight trajectory towards the southern central section of Israel. What was a decades-long shadow war between Middle Eastern enemies now being fought in the open. Raf, if Iran now decides to respond, what could that look like? Well, Jose, it would most likely take the form of another larger ballistic missile attack. Iran fired around 180 missiles last time, but that is just a fraction of their arsenal. The Pentagon estimates they have

more than 3,000 in their overall stockpile. Jose. Ralph Sanchez in Tel Aviv. Thank you. Ali Rafa is at the White House for us tonight. Ali, we know President Biden has been receiving briefings on developments in the Middle East after Israel's attack. How is the White House reacting tonight? Jose, the White House says President Biden has directed everything be done to protect U.S. troops in the Middle East and ensure the defense of Israel from Iran and its proxies. After this operation, the White House says the U.S. had no involvement in. The president in Battleground, Pennsylvania today telling reporters he was notified by Israel before the attack and that he hopes this is the end of direct fire

between Israel and Iran. All of this, as ceasefire talks in Qatar are slated to resume tomorrow. A senior administration official telling me today they don't expect Israel's actions to affect those negotiations. Jose. Ali Rafa at the White House, thank you. An astronaut was hospitalized overnight after returning to Earth Friday. This is the moment four astronauts splashed down after seven months in space. NASA is not saying which astronaut was hospitalized, only that he or she spent the night in the hospital for an unspecified illness and is in, quote, good health. They have all since been released.

The Grand Canyon is one of the nation's top tourist destinations, but now there is a battle over whether a nearby mine is safe. Our Dana Griffin reports. With its stunning beauty and jaw-dropping views, the Grand Canyon is considered one of America's crown jewels. For Diana Suyuqualla and Carletta Toulouse, members of the Havasupai tribe, it's more than just breathtaking scenery. Diana, is this considered sacred land? Yes, it's very sacred land. Their tribe, which lives in the Grand Canyon, has considered the surrounding area to be their ancestral homeland for centuries.

But now, Diana and Carletta believe the land is under threat from a nearby uranium mine. We don't want it, period. Less than a year ago, the Pinon Plain mine began extracting uranium ore, which is found in the Earth's crust. The Grand Canyon is a very internationally known sacred place and it brings healing to many people and it deserves to be protected. The Havasupai have tried and failed to stop the mine in court and are now participating in protests. Havasupai leaders say they're concerned about potential environmental impacts here at the Grand Canyon, some 10 miles from that mine. But the company operating it says there's nothing to worry about.

This is not going to harm the Grand Canyon in any way. Mark Shalmers is the president and CEO of Energy Fuels, the company that operates the mine. What protections are in place for the environment? There's a huge number of protections. There have been these reviews done by the U.S. Forest Service, by the ADQ, by our hydrologists, with the monitoring wells. There are no concerns with regard to polluting the groundwater and particularly harming the Havasupai. So we're safe to get on the cage?

The company taking us deep inside the mine to see their operation. We are now descending 1,400 feet below the surface to where the uranium is being mined. What would you say to people who say they think that the radiation is going to hurt water supply here and at the Grand Canyon? I would argue that that's not an issue. We've already been able to show that we can do this safely and protective of the environment. But for Carletta and Diana, they say this fight has always been personal. If there were a new impact study conducted and it said what the mining company is doing is 100% safe, will that ease your concern?

We don't want uranium mining at our secret mountain. An uphill battle they say they'll wage until mining ends altogether. Dana Griffin, NBC News, Tucson, Arizona. When we come back, there's good news tonight. Farmers rushing to the rescue, helping one family when they needed it most. There's good news tonight about a field of dreams and the Iowa farming community helping one of their own during an extremely difficult time. Just after sunup in West Liberty, Iowa,

the heavy equipment came rolling in. Grain carts, semis, and combines. For as far as the eye could see, a community of farmers there to honor one of their own. Start your combine! A massive operation. More than a hundred strong showing up and pitching in to help harvest corn crops for the family of longtime farmer Tom Brown, killed in a vehicle crash this summer. Yeah, we raise families together. Just one of those forever friends that

you don't realize how much you're going to miss until they're not there. Let's go have some fun. Tom's daughter, Jessica Schrader, organized a celebration of her late dad's life and legacy, but never dreamed so many would come. It's so meaningful, she says, because the land's been in their family for generations. Tell me a little bit about Tom, your dad. Oh gosh, he was an amazing man. He was a farmer for over 40 years. He honestly was an amazing husband, an amazing dad, but also he was an amazing grandpa. But farming, it was his passion, taking care of the land is something that was really important to him. For Jessica and her mom Diane, the outpouring of kindness comes at a time

when farmers everywhere are faced with increasing economic and environmental challenges. This day is amazing. It's heartwarming. It is just, I am so grateful for everybody's help and support. Neighbors helping neighbors, sowing seeds of love and hope in the heartland what's the bigger message community is everything and be kind you know be kind to others my dad loved his community he loved the people around him and my dad would have dropped anything to go help a neighbor or go help somebody and you know to have that reciprocated has just been amazing. So many life lessons.

What a community. That's NBC Nightly News for this Saturday. Hallie Jackson is here with you tomorrow. I'm Jose Diaz-Balart. Thank you for the privilege of your time. Good night.