NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Sunday, August 18, 2024

Episode Date: August 18, 2024

Harris campaign kicks off bus tour ahead of the Democratic National Convention; Protesters start arriving in Chicago ahead of the Democratic National Convention; More than 80 million people at risk for strong storms or excessive heat; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, Vice President Harris closing the gap with former President Trump ahead of the biggest moment of her political career so far. Hitting the road in Pennsylvania today with the Democratic National Convention set to kick off in just hours. What to expect from President Biden's primetime speech and what new polling shows about where the race stands. Also tonight, protesters gathering already outside the DNC with thousands more expected. The security plan in place and the concern about clashes with police. Extreme weather across the country, an intense thunderstorm. Look at this, sending this bounce house airborne and the dangerous rip current threat on the East Coast as the cleanup from Ernesto begins. Here in Washington, new video appearing to show a beating outside a Shake Shack,

what the victim is saying tonight. A terrifying scene at a music festival, this Ferris wheel erupting in flames. The new crackdown on retail theft, how California is going after shoplifters and car thieves in what could be a blueprint for the rest of the country. An NBC News exclusive, inside Operation We Will Find You as U.S. Marshals track down hundreds of missing kids in just six weeks. And these very good dogs and the people making it easier to find their forever homes. This is NBC Nightly News with Hallie Jackson.

Good evening. We begin tonight with the race for the White House that has clearly changed compared to just a month ago and clearly competitive, with Democrats hoping the week of primetime programming kicking off tomorrow in Chicago keeps momentum moving for Vice President Kamala Harris. New polling shows her gaining ground on former President Trump nationally and in key swing states. In Chicago, the convention stage now set, and so are the barricades, as police outside brace for protests. But before Illinois comes Pennsylvania, with Harris and her running mate on a bus tour

to rally supporters as Mr. Trump gets ready to counter-program with the busiest week of his campaign so far. We've got it covered tonight, starting with Aaron Gilchrist on the road with the Harris campaign. Tonight, the Democratic presidential ticket on the road in Battleground, Pennsylvania. Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Tim Walz and their spouses rolling out their new campaign bus in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, stopping first at a phone bank. How you doing, Hannah? The team making stops in politically opposite counties.

Allegheny, union-rich and solidly blue. And Beaver, a blue-collar county that former President Trump won in 2016 and 2020. You've developed those relationships. The Harris campaign believes it can make some inroads here, as a new Washington Post ABC Ipsos national poll of registered voters shows Harris with a four-point lead over Trump besting Biden's position in the same poll last month. When you know what you stand for you know what to fight for. As Harris tries to promote policy ideas just a day before the Democratic

Convention starts. When you stand for working people, you fight for working people. When you stand for freedom, whether it be to make decisions about your own body or love who you love, you fight for those things. Trump, also in Pennsylvania Saturday night, speaking for more than an hour with a focus on personal attacks over policy comparisons. They should know her biggest advantage is that she's a beautiful woman.

I'm going, huh, I never thought of that. I'm better looking than she is. Tonight, Trump releasing a plan to barnstorm battleground states each day of the DNC this week. Republican South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham on Meet the Press, urging him to focus on policy. If you have a policy debate for president, he wins. Donald Trump, the provocateur, the showman may not win this election. Aaron joins us now from Pittsburgh. And Aaron, Pennsylvania is not the only battleground state getting attention this week.

You're right, Hallie. Harris will do some campaigning in the next door state of Wisconsin, another battleground state. At the same time, former President Trump will be on the trail as well in Michigan, trying to draw some attention away from the Democratic convention. Hallie. Aaron, thank you. President Biden, for his part, is fine tuning his keynote speech for tomorrow's opening night at the DNC. Monica Alba joins us now with the preview. So, Mon, walk us through it.

Hallie, just a month ago, this convention hall was supposed to be President Biden's big stage for the week. And tomorrow night will show just how dramatically everything has changed since he left the race. Now, the evening is meant in part to be a tribute to the president's leadership with First Lady Jill Biden speaking. And then in a primetime speech, the president will detail why he thinks Vice President Harris is best positioned to take on Donald Trump now. And then he'll pass the torch to her with the two expected to share that major moment together. Now, the other big speakers this week will include the Obamas and the Clintons. Governor Walz will accept the vice presidential nomination on Wednesday, and VP Harris will have her keynote on Thursday. Hallie. Monica Alba, thank you. And our coverage of the Democratic National Convention kicks off tomorrow at 4 p.m. Eastern on NBC News Now, with special coverage at 10 Eastern right here on NBC.

I'll see you there. Already in Chicago, protesters are arriving with new concerns about potential clashes with police. Maura Barrett is on the ground there. So, Maura, what are you seeing? The first protest of the week is underway behind me. They're set to start marching here downtown in the next couple of minutes. And I should note, we're about three miles away from where most of the convention action is going to be taking. So it's got a big footprint across the city. And that's why officials say it's all hands on deck. But they also say they're ready.

On the eve of the Democratic National Convention's kickoff, protesters already on the streets of Chicago and even on the river. Strategizing for a massive ramp-up in the days ahead, tens of thousands of protesters expected to pour into the Windy City. People coming by cars, planes and trains. They're calling on Democratic leaders to take action on issues from the Israel-Hamas war to reproductive rights and affordable housing. Activists like Sherry Honkala traveling in from across the country.

How optimistic are you that your voice will be heard this week? I'm very optimistic. We have a shot for somebody to hear us, and we're going to take that shot. The city says it's ready, designating protest zones. The streets in blue just blocks from the convention. Activists, though, calling for more space to protest. We are going to continue to fight up until the step off from the park tomorrow. In downtown Chicago, businesses already boarded up.

I am hopeful that it's not needed. They are overprepared, and I hope everyone stays safe. Chicago police on high alert, training hundreds of officers to help pitch in. Security preps well underway. The governor today with a warning for protesters. If there are troublemakers, they're going to get arrested, and they're going to get convicted. Maura's back with us now, and we're just learning of new plans for stepped-up security, Maura. Yeah, Hallie, the police that are lining the streets around me

received de-escalation training in the last year. We're learning we've also learned the governor has authorized about 500 National Guard troops on the ground for added security. Hallie? Maura Barrett, thank you. Overseas tonight, Secretary of State Tony Blinken arriving in Israel with hopes of kick-starting new ceasefire talks set to resume in Cairo this week. Danielle Hamamjan is in Tel Aviv. So, Danielle, what can we expect?

Well, this is Blinken's ninth trip here since October 7th, and if things go his way this week, it might also be his last before a deal is reached. Now, tomorrow, he'll be meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, who said today that Israel is standing firm on its key demands, but is willing to be flexible in other areas. Hamas, meanwhile, has said basically not so fast. They say that the proposal that's on the table that's meant to be bridging the gaps does not align with the agreement that they've previously agreed to. Blinken on Tuesday will be flying off to Egypt, Hallie, where he hopes to close the deal. Danielle, thank you.

Here at home, we're tracking intense weather across the country with millions at risk tonight and dramatic new video showing just how dangerous these storm systems can be. Here's Guadalcanagas. Oh, wow. A weekend of dangerous weather across the country. When gusts hitting northern Alabama on Saturday, people running for their lives as furniture and even a bouncy slide blew away. Oh, oh.

And all of a sudden the wind just came out of nowhere, like sideways. In Connecticut, torrential rain and flash flooding. And take a look at this, lightning striking the Seattle Space Needle. Nationwide, 46 million in the bullseye for more rain, wind, flooding and possible tornadoes tonight. Throughout the south, more than 40 million under heat alerts from Arizona to Florida. This as reports of approximately 100 spectators getting sick at a Colorado Springs air show and temperatures over 90 degrees. And across the east coast, beaches shutting down as Ernesto, now back as a category one hurricane, triggers life-threatening rip currents across the Atlantic. Two drownings in Hilton Head and nearly 30 ocean rescues off the coast of North Carolina.

Oh my God! On the Outer Banks, where this house collapsed the other day, portions of that shoreline now shut down. Ernesto's hits in Puerto Rico and Bermuda now followed by a massive cleanup. Most of the damage caused by Hurricane Ernesto affected the power infrastructure, like this crossarm which came off a utility pole but is now being repaired. With flights taking off once again at the International Airport, as this tropical paradise slowly starts picking up the pieces. Guadalcanagas, NBC News, Bermuda. Here in Washington, new video appears to show

a beating outside of a Shake Shack. Tonight, the victim is speaking with our George Solis, and a warning, what you're about to see is disturbing. Tonight, police are investigating this incident caught on video at a Shake Shack in D.C.'s DuPont Circle neighborhood Saturday. 28-year-old Christian Dingus says he believes the violence was fueled by hate. There was a desire to be violent towards me. D.C. Metro are reviewing video recorded from inside the restaurant. Christian says it was a kiss with his partner inside the restaurant that prompted a reaction from an employee who he claims told them, you can't be doing that here, as the couple waited for their order.

I didn't want to take any involvement with it. I'm just going to wait for my food and get out of here. My partner got a little bit more upset. Christian says the worker escorted the pair outside and began to berate them verbally. The 30-second clip shows a group punching and pushing a man to the ground, who slowly proceeds to get up. It ends as police appear to arrive on the scene. You guys know police are here. They all just kind of started attacking me at that point,

dragging me back, threw me on the floor, and continuously punching me in my head. Christian says he has a concussion, bruising, and trauma to his leg, head, and face. What's justice going to look like for you and your partner after something so harrowing? I don't know. I mean, I just hope, you know, those that, you know, you know, kind of did this are held accountable. In a statement to NBC News, Shake Shack says in part they are aware of the incident and suspended the team members involved pending further review. George Solis, NBC News. Still ahead tonight, a scary scene at a music

festival with part of this Ferris wheel catching fire, plus a new crackdown on smash and grabs in one state and the new consequences for thieves. We're back with a pretty scary scene at a music festival. Look at this part of this Ferris wheel catching on fire. You see it at the top there in Germany on Saturday. The rides operator tells a German news agency no passengers were in the gondola that erupted, but at least 23 people were hurt. Police are still trying to figure out what started the fire. To California and a crackdown on those so-called smash and grabs. You've seen the video, the swarms of people busting into stores, taking a bunch of stuff. Now the state is trying to fight back in what could be a blueprint for the rest of the country. Here's Dana Griffin. An all too familiar scene playing out on surveillance cameras across California. Smash and grabs, where brazenzen organized groups of thieves invade a business

destroying protective casings to steal high value goods and selling them for a profit just late last week three 7-eleven stores in hollywood hit just minutes apart but now california is taking action that same day governor gavin newsom signing a new set of laws taking effect this weekend, cracking down on retail and car thefts. They will address the challenges that are well outside the purview of previous initiatives and laws. This legislation allows stores to file temporary restraining orders against repeat shoplifters, requires online marketplaces to collect data from sellers to discourage the resale of stolen items and allows law enforcement to combine the dollar amount of thefts from several victims to impose harsher penalties. Do you see other states kind of adopting similar laws? Oh, you've absolutely got a movement across the U.S.

Carl Langhorst is a retail theft expert who says this could be a game changer. You've seen communities start to come together and understand we've got to hold these offenders accountable. That could be jail, but quite often it could be also needed drug rehab or mental counseling. A crackdown on crime hoping to solve a crisis playing out in communities across the country. Dana Griffin, NBC News. We're back in a moment with an exclusive inside look at how these U.S. Marshals tracked down hundreds of missing kids. We're back with an NBC News exclusive and the mission to track down missing kids, which federal officials say has saved hundreds in just six weeks. Ken Delaney has an inside look.

The U.S. Marshals are known for hunting dangerous fugitives. But this summer, U.S. Marshals out of the house from Florida to North Carolina. They've been looking for missing kids. Operation We Will Find You is a six week surge by federal,, and local law enforcement to find missing children across the country. A lot of these kids, you know, these are kids that have run away, and they basically act like fugitives. So we do a lot of the same things that we do to find fugitives to find these kids. That involves social media, that involves computers, that involves old-fashioned police work,

knocking on doors, talking to people, talking to friends, talking to family. Copy. 13 miles, 23 minutes. We got exclusive access to a Marshall's task force as they looked for children in New York City. Their first stop, the Bronx, to find a missing 13 year old. What do we know about her? Is she at risk? She's at risk from all the information I've seen coming out of West New York, New Jersey, potential for sex trafficking. It's 7.05 and the marshals are at the location. They surround the area, go in, but no luck. They're being told that she is not here right now. She's got a yellow dress on. She was on the train.

The marshals say if they stay, she won't come back here. We're leaving some surveillance teams here to watch to see if this girl comes back. Next, across town and another missing teen. It's 1045 and the U.S. marshals have surrounded an apartment building here in Brooklyn where they think a 17-year-old girl is inside, who may have been the victim of sex trafficking. But they need to keep a low profile. We're just trying to stay out of view,

because if they're looking out the windows, then they see all of us. So we got to stay out of the way here for a second. A few minutes later, success. It's almost 11 a.m., and the marshals think they've recovered the 17-year-old girl they were looking for here today. They just put her in that car. She's off the street and she's going to be someplace safe.

Over the six weeks of the operation, the U.S. marshals say they found 200 missing children across the country, including runaways and kids who were abducted. They really are the forgotten children, and that is the whole purpose behind what we do. Marshalls known for hunting criminals now giving vulnerable kids a second chance. Ken Delanian, NBC News, New York. When we come back there's good news tonight about some very good dogs and the humans helping them out. Oh Dakota likes that one. very good dogs and the humans helping them out. There's good news tonight about man's best friend and the people who step up for them when they need it most.

The dogs were good again this week. Here are my top five. He's the guy behind one of the sweetest sites on social media. We have Beacon. He is a four-year-old service dog and one of USA Gymnastics' busiest volunteers. Matt Nelson started We Rate Dogs back in 2015 as a way to celebrate the pups we love. When a fire started in the basement of her house, she beat the smoke detectors in alerting her family. Since then, the number of his followers has skyrocketed to some 22 million. Did you ever think it would get this huge? Absolutely not. No. I thought it had potential because cute dogs and the internet go

hand in hand. We were able to sponsor her entire hospitalization. That success sparking a big idea. We'd like to give these dogs a chance. Putting Matt on a mission. He started a non-profit called 15 Out of 10, raising money to help dogs with special needs get adopted into loving homes. What's so cool about this is the way that you took your social media following and you turned it into a force for good. Our mission is to sponsor shelter dogs with medical conditions with the hopes of making them more adoptable. It was very satisfying to be able to measure success no longer as much on likes per post, but how many dogs we were able to save. So far, the foundation's raised more than $3 million. Our foundation was able to cover the

medical care of Orca. Helping cover medical costs for nearly 600 dogs like Orca. We were able to sponsor the medical care of Rupert. And this little guy, Rupert, who needs expensive treatment for seizures. That money made all the difference for David Tracy and his wife, Darian. Are you ready for a walk? Who fell head over heels in puppy love

with the spunky Maltese mix. Without the help of the 1510 Foundation, do you think you could have done it on your own? Probably not. It's pretty price, it's pretty pricey. What makes Rupert so special? He does this thing we call prancing ponies when he gets excited, where he sticks his both two front legs out. Sarah Hamill works with the Austin Humane Society

and says the grants they got helped them find families for 60 dogs. When we can tell them, hey, this dog had this issue, it already had a surgery, whatever it may be, that just kind of helps inspire them to go ahead and make the decision to adopt. Joy like that? Priceless.

Creating connections and memories to last a lifetime. They're just such innocent creatures that want only to love us. But yeah, I think there's a lot we can learn from dogs. They live in the moment. They are full of unconditional love. And I think that that's something that us as individuals

and our society needs more of. Some very good pups there too. Until September 10th, remember, it is Clear the Shelters month with NBC Universal locals clear the shelters, adopt and donate campaign happening now. In 10 years, it's found forever homes for more than a million pets. That's nightly news for this Sunday. Lester will be in tomorrow. I'm Hallie Jackson for all of us here at NBC. Thanks for watching. Have a great week.