NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Thursday, August 22, 2024

Episode Date: August 23, 2024

Harris to accept historic Democratic nomination tonight; Trump campaigns at border as authorities arrest suspect who threatened to kill him; Arkansas Supreme Court prevents abortion rights initiative from appearing on ballot; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, Kamala Harris set to make history on the final night of the Democratic National Convention here in Chicago. The Vice President taking center stage tonight as the first woman of color to accept a major party's nomination for President. What her message will be to the American people. Her speech coming after running mate Tim Walz, the former football coach, introduced himself to the nation. His family cheering him on and the surprise appearance by Oprah, our full coverage in Chicago. Also tonight, our one-on-one with Donald Trump at the border in Arizona, an urgent manhunt underway there for a man who allegedly threatened to kill the former president.

What authorities have just revealed? We also ask about the reports RFK Jr. will drop out and endorse him and his reaction to nightly criticism out of the DNC, plus his call for mass deportations. How would he pay for it? The body of a British tech mogul among five recovered from that sunken yacht off Italy, the search for his 18-year-old daughter still missing tonight. Ukraine launching new strikes inside Russia, hitting an airbase at a ferry loaded with fuel, the major escalation. And the Team USA archer who has survived so much taking her shot at goal at her first Paralympic Games in Paris. This is NBC Nightly News.

Reporting tonight from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Here is Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome to the United Center. We're on the floor of the Democratic National Convention on night four. There is excitement in this room and there will not be an empty seat. All this, a culmination of an extraordinary chapter in our political history after a summer of upheaval. Vice President Kamala Harris takes the stage and officially accepts the Democratic nomination to be president. She'll address the party's convention on its final night here in Chicago, laying out her upbeat vision for

the next four years and painting a striking contrast with Donald Trump's view of the country. Trump taking his campaign to the southern border today as he continues to attack Harris on immigration, a key issue as the race for the White House moves into its final chapter. All of it coming just over a month after President Biden ended his reelection campaign and endorsed Harris as his replacement. Peter Alexander starts us off tonight here in Chicago. You only get one chance to sell yourself to the people you want to work for, and for Kamala Harris, tonight's the night.

The first black woman and South Asian American to accept the nomination of a major party ticket. Let us always remember, when we fight, we win. Campaign sources tell NBC News, tonight she'll focus on joy optimism and patriotism sharing her personal story the daughter of a middle-class mom detailing the contrast between her vision a new way forward she calls it and former president trump's and committing to be a president for all americans the speech will cap off a stunning two months harris who never won a primary or caucus vote instead was propelled to the nomination after President Biden dropped out.

Joe, thank you for your historic leadership. We are forever grateful to you. Now enjoying a burst of Democratic momentum, but also facing key challenges. She's the sitting vice president at a time when 80% of Americans are dissatisfied with the direction of the country. And polls show voters give Mr. Trump the edge on top issues like the economy and immigration. Last night, her new running mate, Tim Walls, a former teacher and high school football coach, giving a pep talk. We've got the ball.

We're driving down the field. And boy, do we have the right team. Introducing himself and his family to America. Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you are my entire world, and I love you. His 17-year-old son, Gus, in tears, shouting, that's my dad. Later, Walls calling out Mr. and his vp pick jd vance leaders don't spend all day insulting people and blaming others leaders do the work so i don't know about you i'm ready to turn the page on these guys so go ahead say it with. We're not going back. Former President Clinton accusing Mr. Trump of

being obsessed with himself. So the next time you hear him, don't count the lies. Count the eyes. And Oprah Winfrey electrifying Democrats, her first ever appearance at a convention. We are beyond ridiculous tweets and lies and foolery. These are complicated times, people, and they require adult conversation. Urging Americans, regardless of their party, to back the Democratic nominee. We're all Americans and together, let's all choose Kamala Harris! And Peter, viewers at home are likely to notice something out of the audience tonight. What is it?

Lester, it's going to be impossible to miss. Many delegates are wearing white tonight in support of the women's suffrage movement, a nod to the history that Vice President Harris could make if she wins becoming the nation's first woman president. Lester. Peter Alexander, thank you. And now to Arizona and the manhunt for a suspect who also threatened to kill former President Trump. This comes as a Republican nominee campaigned at the border. Garrett Haig spoke with Mr. Trump.

Lester, the former president holding that campaign event at the border here today in the midst of a manhunt. We've learned late tonight that that suspect has now been arrested. All of this as I press the former president about his immigration plans and how he'd pay for them. Tonight, former President Trump holding an event in the shadow of the Arizona border wall. As the sheriff here announced, there's a manhunt for a suspect wanted on unrelated warrants, who also threatened to kill a presidential candidate. Multiple law enforcement sources tell NBC News it's Trump. The former president saying he wasn't told about the threat.

And I have great respect for Secret Service. Trump is in the midst of a battleground blitz, with sources telling NBC News Robert Kennedy Jr. is planning to endorse him tomorrow, though talks are still ongoing. We've been reporting that RFK Jr. is getting ready to endorse you. What role would he have either with your campaign or in your administration? Well, I don't want to get too much into it because you're telling me something I don't know, other than I've always been friendly with him. If he were going to endorse me, I would consider it a great honor. That's despite all the things he said about vaccine, 9-11 conspiracies. Does that reflect on you if you put him in your administration? No, it doesn't mean administration, but certainly having his endorsement

because things that he agrees on, I also agree on. You know, there are many things that are perhaps the opposite of what you're saying, but he's a respected guy. And we asked about the Democratic Convention. What do you make of the attacks against you last night? Well, that's all they have because they failed. They failed on the border, as you can see. They failed on the economy. They failed on jobs. Today, Trump going after Vice President Harris on border security. She wants to have an open border. But we pressed him on his plan for mass deportation. He offered no plan to pay for it.

It's going to cost billions of dollars. Where will that money come from? Well, it'll cost trillions of dollars to keep these people. And I'm talking about in particular starting with the criminals. Earlier, we spoke to an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who came here 20 years ago and has two children who are American citizens. I don't think that people can possibly understand what it feels like to live with that fear of deportation, she told us. If you're trying to deport millions of people, that would perhaps include mixed families. Will you separate families to get to those goals?

Provisions will be made, but we have to get the criminals out. We have murderers in our country, they just walk in. We have over 20 million people, in my opinion, over 20 million people came in and the number is growing every single day. Mr. Trump returns to Arizona tomorrow for another event. RFK Jr. will be here too earlier in the day. It's all increasing the speculation that the two could appear perhaps at a joint endorsement event. Finally, Mr. Trump will end the week in Las Vegas for one final stop on what has been a multi-state battleground blitz, counter-programming the DNC. Lester?

All right, Garrett Haig, thanks very much. I'm joined here by Meet the Press moderator, Kristen Welker, and senior Washington correspondent, Hallie Jackson. Kristen, we would always say this is a major night for the candidate, but in this case, you've got that compressed timeline. Absolutely, this is a big night. One of the things we'll be watching for, does Vice President

Kamala Harris clearly explain how a Harris administration would differ from a Biden administration? So far, she's released very few policy details, hasn't done any interviews. We'll also be listening to her tone. Democrats concerned that Biden's strategy of trying to paint Trump as a threat to the democracy hasn't resonated with voters. So we've seen more positivity. How Harris does tonight could determine whether the momentum she had coming into this week turns into a post-convention battle. Yeah, and maybe there will be momentum, Hallie. But at the same time, this is still going to be a very tight race at the end of this week. It's incredibly competitive right now. It is incredibly close. And there are those in the Trump orbit who believe

that ultimately this race over the next 70 plus days is going to come down to issues like the economy and immigration. Keep in mind the next time after tonight that we will see these candidates in these high profile primetime moments. It's not going to be a party. It will be a face off when the two take the stage for their debate, preparations have already started for both candidates. We understand the vice president has already held at least one mock session. That is going to be a big moment and a big test for these two. All right, Hallie and Kristen, thanks to you both. Join us all evening on NBC News Now for continuing coverage. Speaking tonight, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Senator Mark Kelly, and many, many more. And join me on NBC starting at 9 p.m.

Eastern for the crescendo of the convention as Kamala Harris accepts the Democratic Party's nomination. In Arkansas today, the state Supreme Court prevented an abortion rights initiative from appearing on the ballot in November. Our senior legal correspondent, Laura Jarrett, joins us. Laura, what was the court's reasoning here? Lester, the high court there said it all came down to paperwork. Advocates for abortion had managed to secure more than enough signatures, more than 100,000 signatures, in fact. But the high court said they hadn't met the technical requirements and so it will not appear on the ballot. That means Arkansas will not join at least a dozen states that have tried to get these abortion amendments on the ballots, including battleground states like Arizona

and Florida. The upshot, of course, for women in the state means that the near total ban, which includes no exceptions for rape or incest, will remain on the books there. It's all, of course, been a major topic at the DNC where you are in Chicago, Lester. All right, Laura, Lester. All right, Laura, thank you. Three days after that super yacht sank off the coast of Sicily in a violent storm, the body of a British tech tycoon was recovered today. Mike Lynch was one of six passengers, including two Americans,

who were trapped on the yacht when it went down. His daughter is still unaccounted for. Also tonight, the major escalation as Ukraine takes the fight to Russia. Ukrainian forces carrying out several strikes on targets inside Russian territory, including a port and a base. Erin McLaughlin is in Kharkiv. Tonight, new video shows a critical ferry terminal, which helps connect mainland Russia to occupied Crimea on fire. Russian officials blame Kiev. So far, no comment from the Ukrainians. And today, the Ukrainian Air Force released footage of another attack on Russia, pointedly saying it shows a U.S.-made bomb being dropped on a Russian platoon base in the Kursk region. Today, Ukrainian President

Volodymyr Zelensky, the closest he's been to Kursk since Ukraine's surprise invasion. He says he wants the region to become a buffer zone on Russian soil to help protect major Ukrainian cities to the east, including Kharkiv, where today we saw firsthand how in recent months the Russians have been relentlessly bombing civilians, including this shopping mall. Nina Korsanova says she was working back in May, the day of the Russian rocket attack. CCTV footage shows her walking through the store and then. I fell on the floor. Everything was falling on me, she says. And then I remember seeing the second rocket strike. Miraculously, she survived. That same month, across the city, a recreational campsite also attacked.

Camp manager Arthur Berdov tried to save a pregnant woman, but he says she was already dead. He was later hit in his leg and hand. A Ukrainian war crimes prosecutor tells NBC News that ever since the Kursk incursion, there has been only one airstrike on this city. Tonight in Kharkiv, at least, there's relief and fear. The calm is temporary. Lester. Erin McLaughlin, thank you. In 60 seconds, we'll have late developments on a

dispute that halted freight trains in Canada and threatened the supply chain right after this. The 11th hour plan to avoid disaster. Just in tonight, Canada's government stepping in to get trains moving after a labor dispute halted all the country's freight traffic. As Christine Romans reports, such a strike could have a devastating impact on the U.S. supply chain. Tonight, back on track after more than 9,000 Canadian railroad workers were locked out of their jobs in a contract dispute over working conditions. And the trains stopped.

Good afternoon, everyone. Canada's government stepping in to force both sides into binding arbitration. This timing is critical, just ahead of the grain harvest. Without rails, farmers would not have been able to ship their crops, potentially raising prices, and ports worried about goods piling up intended for U.S. store shelves for the holidays. We want to go back to work, and we're hoping both the company and our negotiating team can get a deal. The government's saying tonight rail operations will resume under the old contract until a deal is reached in arbitration. Without a deal, every minute of stoppage is money.

Every day, approximately $572 million of trade comes in containers across the border in 6,500 rail cars carrying fertilizer, coal, timber, auto parts, grain, building supplies, salt, iron ore, and chemicals. How critical is Canadian rail lines to all of North America's supply chains? In the long term, incredibly important. It serves more than half of Canadian exports and about 30% of what moves between the U.S. and Canada in trade. One of our biggest trading partners every day. A key Canadian labor board now must decide whether to move ahead with the government order. Christine Romans, NBC News, New York. And up next, two important health alerts. The latest COVID booster shot just approved by the FDA. When it will be available? The new global health emergency over NFOX. What you need to know about its spread. Coming up. With COVID surging again across the country this summer, the FDA today approved an updated mRNA vaccine that could be

available in a matter of days. The new version more closely targets the variants currently circulating. The CDC has recommended everyone over six months old to get the updated COVID vaccine and a flu shot this year. And another alert tonight, a global public health emergency declared over a new deadlier form of mpox. Sinclair Asamoah with more now on where the virus is spreading and who is most at risk. In this Brooklyn health center, there's new urgency. Have you seen an uptick in patients asking for the vaccine? Yes, absolutely.

The World Health Organization declaring a new mpox public health emergency just last week, fueled by a different subtype of the virus, clade 1. This strain, more transmissible and deadly. Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral infection spread through close human contact, causing flu-like symptoms and painful lesions. Those most at risk in the U.S. include men who have sex with men and the immunocompromised. Cases have been detected in several countries, with most in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Dr. Jean Natchega just returned from. Community awareness is very important. I think this has been a long time neglected disease.

New Yorker Luke Brown contracted MPOX during the 2022 outbreak after struggling to find the vaccine. You were trying to get it for months. I ended up getting my first of the two dose vaccine. And then the next day is when I got my first lesion. The 31-year-old now urging others to get vaccinated as worries of a larger outbreak grow. There is a concern that the supply will not meet the demand. Health officials now awaiting more shipments of the vaccine in the U.S. and abroad. Zincle Asamoah, NBC News, Brooklyn, New York.

And up next for us, you won't want to miss it, how an athlete found the bullseye after unbelievable adversity. There's good news tonight. Finally, there is good news about a Team USA athlete who has overcome so much aiming for gold at the Paris Paralympics. Here's Kate Snow. Are you just going to tie it with the... This is how Tracy Otto begins a typical day training for the Paralympics alongside her coach Matt and boyfriend Rick. Were you a natural at archery right away?

I like to think so. It set my soul free. Back in 2019, Tracy had never even picked up a bow. Her life looked much different then. She was a pre-med student and aspiring fitness model, newly dating Rick. Then one night, they were awoken by Tracy's abusive ex-boyfriend. He'd broken in with a pellet gun and knife. What happened next was nothing short of horrific. Did you think you were going to die? Absolutely. Tracy was shot, causing her to lose her left eye. She was sexually assaulted. Rick was shot multiple times, and both were stabbed, Tracy, in the back of her neck.

Physically speaking, how did you change? I'm no longer able-bodied. I have an injury at my C5 vertebrae, so I'm paralyzed from the chest down. The attacker is serving a 40-year prison sentence. Nearly five years later, Rick has never left Tracy's side. What do you see in Tracy? Strength, determination, strong willpower. She's going to take this and do something great with it. And here we are. Here we are. That something great is archery, which Tracy first tried as a way to fill her days,

despite having little strength in her fingers or control of her core. It really gave me the ability to have something that I could do on my own. She uses an adaptive bow. A harness keeps her upright and she wears a special glove. This allows me to be able to grip the bow without dropping it. A cable connected to the bow runs up through her hat and to her mouth. When I bite down on this closed pin type apparatus, it allows me to pull the trigger. She's now weeks away from her first Paralympics, all just three years after she shot her first arrow. What do you hope people see in your story? I hope they take away that regardless of your circumstance, it's about you playing the best hand that you can, and you can do anything that you want to do regardless of what happens.

She is proving that. Kate Snow, NBC News, Tampa. What incredible determination. Be sure to tune in to the opening ceremony of the Paris Paralympics Wednesday at 1 p.m. Eastern on USA and Peacock. And coverage gets underway in just a moment here at the Democratic National Convention. You can watch complete coverage streaming on NBC News Now. And at 9 Eastern, join me on NBC as Kamala Harris makes history as she accepts the nomination for president.

That's nightly news for this Thursday. Thank you for watching, everyone. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.