NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Sunday, May 18, 2025

Episode Date: May 18, 2025

Biden diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ form of prostate cancer; 2 dead, more than a dozen injured after Mexican navy ship crashes into Brooklyn Bridge; FBI calls California fertility clinic bombing an ‘act of terrorism’; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Breaking news tonight, former President Biden diagnosed with prostate cancer. We're learning tonight he's set to receive treatment for an aggressive form of the cancer that has already spread to his bones. What we know about his condition and the new reaction just coming in. The heart-stopping moment, a tall ship, look at that, crashes into the Brooklyn Bridge. The boat out of control, the masts crushed. Oh my God. You see here sailors hanging from the rigging, crowds on shore running for safety.

And now the push to understand how this could have happened. Terror in Palm Springs, the deadly bombing at a fertility clinic. What we're learning now about the suspect and why he may have done it. A devastating tornado outbreak leaving a path of destruction in Missouri and Kentucky. We had a community of people in this neighborhood and like it's gone. It's gone. At least 28 people killed in the South and Midwest. Cars flipped, homes leveled and now the new threat to Missouri tomorrow. President Trump taking on Walmart over tariffs, telling them not to raise prices. But the Treasury secretary says he told the company's CEO and what it all means for the price you pay.

The pope calling for peace in his first public mass as the Ukrainian president meets with Vice President Vance just ahead of talks between Russia's leader and President Trump. And there's good news tonight about the kindness of strangers and this mom's trip of a lifetime. This is NBC Nightly News with Hallie Jackson. Good evening. We are coming on the air with breaking news tonight. Former President Biden diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, according to his personal office, which says the cancer has spread to his bones. He and his family are now reviewing treatment options with his doctors. The former president, who's 82, receiving support from around the country and here in Washington, including from President Trump late today, wishing his predecessor a fast and successful recovery. The cancer diagnosis comes as former President Biden's health has been in the spotlight after new reporting on how he was doing in the final days of his 2024 campaign before he dropped out.

We have team coverage tonight, starting with our medical correspondent, Erica Edwards. Tonight, prayers pouring in for former President Biden after his personal office today revealed that he has an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Mr. Biden's office said the diagnosis came Friday after he experienced what they're calling increasing urinary symptoms and that the cancer has spread to his bones. Once the cancer has spread to the bones, it's no longer curable, but it's very treatable and very controllable. According to the Biden team, his cancer is hormone sensitive. The patient would feel better, have better scans.

It's unclear where the former president will be treated or what kind of therapy he may get. Mr. Biden and his family are meeting with doctors and considering multiple treatment options, according to a source familiar with their thinking. President Trump tonight posting that he and the first lady are saddened to hear about his diagnosis and that they wish the former president a fast and successful recovery. And former Vice President Kamala Harris posting that Mr. Biden is in her prayers. The American Cancer Society predicts more than 313,000 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. Erica Edwards, NBC News. Our Meet the Press moderator Kristen

Welker is here with us now in Washington. And Kristen, this diagnosis comes at a time when the health of former President Biden was already so much under the microscope. Hallie, you're absolutely right about that. This was already such a challenging time for former President Biden and his family. A new book is set to come out in a matter of days that argues that the president's inner circle tried to conceal the state of his mental decline. The audio tape from the her interview, that interview that former President Biden did with the special counsel about classified documents came out. It shows that he was halting, struggled to remember key dates. Democrats have been trying to figure out how to respond to that. Many of them saying the former president should have dropped out of the 2024 race sooner.

I think the question moving forward, will the tone shift now? We're already seeing this outpouring of love and support, quite frankly, from Democrats and Republicans. So I think, obviously, as bipartisan support comes, there's also questions about whether they'll shift that conversation. And other questions, too, Kristen, because with all of this comes questions about what is next now for former President Biden. Absolutely. I think it's an open question. He's huddling with his family in Delaware, trying to figure out what his next steps will be in terms of his treatment. We know that. And we are watching to see what the reaction will be. Will the tone overall in Washington shift as we see this bipartisan outpouring of support,

not just from lawmakers here, Hallie, but from leaders all around the world. And Biden is no stranger to struggles. Remember, he's lost two children, including his beloved son, Beau, to brain cancer back in 2015. Kristen Welker, I meet the press moderator. Thank you so much for being with us tonight. To the new questions now over the stunning moment, a tall ship smashed into the Brooklyn Bridge, killing two people. Sailors seen clinging to the masts and hanging from the rigging. People nearby running for safety. Maya Eaglin is near the bridge now with more.

New questions tonight after a ship crashed into New York City's iconic Brooklyn Bridge, killing two sailors. Those along nothing to hit the bridge. Those along the river watched in horror, some running away, as the Mexican Navy training ship collided with the bridge around 8.20 p.m. What is going on? The Brooklyn Bridge is a critical part of New York's infrastructure, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn and a major tourist attraction. They're going to an all-in. They have multiple serious patients coming. a major tourist attraction. Mayor Eric Adams confirming early this morning that two of the

277 people on board died. A Mexican official confirming one of those killed was America Yamilet Sanchez. At least 22 others were hurt, according to the Mexican Navy. Moments before the crash, many sailors seen standing on the masts. A tugboat was seen on camera around the time of the crash. It's unclear right now what its involvement was, if any. The mayor says a mechanical mishap made the vessel lose power and the river's strong current pushed the ship backward. Because of the current, it looks like it ended up under the Brooklyn Bridge, and that's where the tragedy occurred, the masts. Dramatic video shows some people dangling in the air after impact. The boat was on display in New York's Seaport and on its way to Iceland. Those plans put on hold now. Officials say the nearly 142-year-old bridge was not seriously

damaged. There are many more questions than answers as to how the accident occurred and whether it could have been prevented. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating with the New York City Police Department as they try to figure out what exactly went wrong. Maya Eaglin is in lower Manhattan, right near where that damaged ship is. Maya, what is next for officials here? Hallie, we're hearing from officials that they're working on sending some of the surviving crew members back to Mexico and finding a new location for the ship so authorities can start conducting a full investigation and repairs. Hallie. Maya Eaglin in New York. Thank you. In California, the FBI now calling a bombing at a Palm Springs fertility clinic an act of terrorism and revealing new information about the suspect's potential motive.

Our Camila Bernal is there. We have a lot to do with the building compromise. A calculated act of terror shaking the community of Palm Springs, California. This was a targeted attack against the IDF facility. Make no mistake, we are treating this as an intentional act of terrorism. The Target Fertility Clinic American Reproductive Centers. I heard this just huge boom. A car bomb exploding around 11 in the morning on Saturday,

destroying part of the clinic, injuring four, and sending debris flying several hundred feet away in every direction. There's metal everywhere. The suspect, 25-year-old Guy Barkus from 29 Palms, a desert community an hour away. Authorities say he was killed in the blast and two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the incident, telling NBC he was driven by an anti-natalist ideology, a belief that no one should have children. We are tracking a possible manifesto out there, and it's part of our ongoing investigation.

The FBI this weekend searching the suspect's home with a bomb tactical team, saying he appears to have attempted to live stream the blast. Now, a community on edge. Are you scared? Yes, I am. I'm still nervous. We're still a little bit, you know, shaken up and jittery. Despite the fear, the clinic confirming the lab where the eggs,

embryos and reproductive materials are stored was unharmed. This is really important for us to make sure that buildings like this are safe and that the people who depend on that to have families is so critical. And Camila Bernal joins us now from Palm Springs. Camila, we're hearing the clinic hopes to reopen tomorrow. Yeah, Hallie, the doctor that runs this clinic says that they are still planning to operate, but at a different location tomorrow. They're finalizing those details.

And he says that while they were shaken, they will not be stopped. Hallie. Camila Bernal in Palm Springs. Thank you. An intense weather system now barreling toward Missouri after deadly storms killed at least 28 people in the South and Midwest. The recovery now only beginning. Our Kathy Park is in hard-hit Kentucky.

Tonight, tornadoes touching down in Colorado, just after entire neighborhoods across southeastern Kentucky were devastated. It's a nightmare. Parts of the Midwest, unrecognizable. I'll tell you, I've never been so scared before in my life. Oh, my God. Oh my god. Oh my god. After multiple tornadoes tore through with some reports of wind speeds of more than 100 miles per hour. In hard-hit London, Kentucky, Adeline and Rachel Johnson huddled together with

five other family members in the bathroom. They all made it out alive. And what was it like when you walked out? It was a mess. We had a community of people in this neighborhood and like it's gone. It's gone. The severe weather outbreak killed at least 28 across three states. The death toll in Kentucky, 19. What are some of the greatest challenges that you guys are seeing right now, especially with the ongoing search and rescue efforts? Tough part of this one, as I worry there might be a block, a whole block out there. Everybody's dead. One of the victims, a veteran firefighter, killed while responding to the storm, remembered for his courage, commitment, and sacrifice. Is this one of the worst natural disasters you've seen? The worst. During a ride-along in Laurel County, we saw firsthand a landscape that changed overnight.

And in just as quick as a tornado can go through, it's gone and it's tough. The same weather system triggered a massive dust storm in Chicago Friday, followed by powerful storms in Missouri. Oh my God, dude. A preliminary EF3 tornado touched down in the St. Louis area, reducing brick homes to rubble. Our Shaquille Brewster is there. City officials say more than 5,000 buildings were impacted by this tornado, many of them from large trees that simply crashed into homes. But you see here, neighbors already coming out, helping to clean up the debris

ahead of this long road to recovery. A race to dig out with no time to spare ahead of more severe weather on the way. And Kathy Park joins us now from London, Kentucky. And Kathy, we can see how bad some of the damage is behind you. Hallie, that's right. We are alerting that a preliminary EF2 tornado came through with winds of more than 111 miles per hour. And unfortunately, this community was in the bullseye. And starting tomorrow, 31 million Americans are on the path for more severe weather. The stretches from Iowa to Texas and more tornadoes are in the forecast again.

Hallie, Kathy Park in Kentucky, thank you. A new warning tonight about rising prices at one of the country's biggest retailers because of President Trump's tariffs, as he tells Walmart to absorb those higher costs instead of passing them on to you. Yamiche Alcindor has the latest. Tonight, the White House trying to tamp down fears of rising prices because of President Trump's tariffs. I was on the phone with Doug McMillan, the CEO of Walmart, yesterday. On Meet the Press, the Treasury Secretary detailing his talks with one of the country's largest retailers about its warning that some prices will go up.

And Walmart is, in fact, going to, as you describe it, eat some of the tariffs. This is all from their earnings call. And on an earnings call, you have to give the worst case scenario. That coming after President Trump lashed out online, saying Walmart should stop trying to blame tariffs as the reason for raising prices, adding between Walmart and China, they should eat the tariffs. Walmart told investors it will try to absorb some costs of the trade wars, but that shoppers still could have to pay more for things like bananas, avocados, toys, and electronics. On Thursday, the company's chief financial officer explaining,

We're wired to keep prices low for customers, but the level of tariffs that have been proposed is pretty challenging for all retailers, for suppliers. It's a war on consumers. Amid the economic uncertainty, Philip Dampier in New York is stockpiling boxes of items for the next two years, like a new computer, new furniture and even medication. It was an all out panic buying spree for the last two months. My husband's not very happy because the house is a disaster because of all the packages. As a consumer, what would you say to President Trump if you could talk to him? I'm facing a tight budget. Please lower prices. Take the tariffs off. Yamiche Alcindor joins us now from the White House. And Yamiche, this is all happening as there's a rare late night meeting tonight on the president's big

budget bill. That's right. The House Budget Committee is planning to reconvene tonight to try to salvage a multimillion dollar bill focused on President Trump's agenda after a group of hardline Republicans pushing for steeper spending cuts blocked the budget deal. Hallie. Yamiche, thank you. Still ahead tonight, Pope Leo XIV delivering his first public mass since the conclave when he was elected. His message to the world about Gaza and Ukraine next. At the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV calling for peace

during his first public mass today. And in the audience for that message, the Ukrainian president after his country says it was hit by a massive Russian drone attack today. Raf Sanchez has more. Tonight, a new chapter for the Catholic Church begins with the formal inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope greeting the crowd of about 200,000, many from the U.S., some waving the flag of his hometown, Chicago. You could just see people like really soaking it all in and certainly see, you know, people being very moved. Leo receiving the fisherman's ring given to every pope at the start of their pontificate and destroyed upon their death. The gospel chanted by Deacon Nicholas Monin of South Bend, Indiana.

We met him hours before the Mass. Are you nervous? I'm really not. I feel pretty at peace. The 27-year-old becomes a priest next month and planned to ask the Pope for his blessing. I want to ask for his prayers as I begin my priestly ministry and ask him to pray for me and for my diocese. In his homily, Leo calling for unity in the church and peace in a world scarred by hatred, violence and prejudice. And among the gathered world leaders, a small act of peacemaking. Vice President Vance meeting with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.

After Kiev accused the Kremlin of a huge overnight drone attack, the White House says they discussed ending the bloodshed in Ukraine. It was their first encounter since this fiery showdown in the Oval Office. A new pope aiming to be both pastor and peacemaker. And that Van Zelensky meeting coming just ahead of President Trump's scheduled call with Vladimir Putin on Monday. Hallie. Ralph Sanchez, thank you. We are back in a moment with the race to find those escaped inmates in New Orleans.

The new message tonight from the mayor. Plus, the huge climbing record just broke in after this man scaled Mount Everest 19 times. Some breaking news into us. New Jersey transit train engineers have reached a tentative deal to end their strike. The engineers walked off the job on Friday, affecting some 300,000 commuters on the third biggest transit line in the country. But officials tonight say the trains will run tomorrow morning. Also new tonight, back here at home, officials are boosting the reward for any information to help capture seven escaped inmates in New Orleans to $20,000 a person. It comes as the city's mayor is reassuring people in the area they're safe despite the jailbreak. Three of the inmates have

been caught so far this weekend. You are looking at the moment they got out last week. The sheriff's office there has said they have some indication the prisoners had help from the inside. Three employees are on leave as the search for the inmates ramps up. Also tonight, a British mountain guide making history on Mount Everest. 51-year-old Ken Kuhl just scaled Everest for the 19th time, breaking his own record for the most climbs there by a non Sherpa guide, meaning only guides in Nepal have been to the peak more than he has. Kuhl first climbed Everest in 2004 and has done it nearly every year since then. When we come back, there's good news tonight about the power of family and one mom's mission to find joy. There's good news tonight about the kindness of strangers helping give one mom the trip of a lifetime. This is what fun looks like.

That's Erica Hernandez at Universal Studios in Orlando. We're making it happen, baby. On the rides. You're the best. Meeting Spider-Man and making memories to last a lifetime with a different kind of family. It was absolutely amazing. It was emotional. It was fun and everything you can possibly imagine. The Florida mom taking this action-packed trip to honor her son, Javon, who died unexpectedly two years ago.

But this year, she's celebrating his birthday with the friends who loved him most, her bonus kids. How would you say these bonus kids have impacted your life, Erica? I got to say they keep me young, that's for sure. They each carry a piece of Jovan. And when they come together, they bring him home. And they love to be with one another. She got the ball rolling with a simple ask. My dream is to be able to take my son Nas and all of my bonus children to Universal

Studios to celebrate Joanne's birthday. What happened next? The real surprise. Thank you, Taco! Eat pizza! The response, overwhelming. Thank you, Instacart. With companies and people online pitching in to make the trip a reality. The outpour of love and support that came back to me was phenomenal. Something I did not expect at all. From t-shirts to dinners, a week of joy and healing. Can you reflect on that? What this meant to you? It reminded me that my son is always here.

It showed me that he's making an impact even though he's physically not here. A testament to the bonds of friendship and the kindness of strangers. Words can never express the amount of gratitude that's physically not here. A testament to the bonds of friendship and the kindness of strangers. Words can never express the amount of gratitude that's in my heart. I'm literally getting chills.

This trip is not the end. It is just the beginning of what's coming in honor of Jovan. That is nightly news for this Sunday. Lester will be back tomorrow. I'm Hallie Jackson. For all of us here at NBC, thanks for watching and have a great week.