NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Thursday, August 29, 2024

Episode Date: August 30, 2024

Harris gives first extensive interview as she campaigns in battleground Georgia; Severe weather concerns as millions travel for holiday weekend; Growing concern over West Nile virus after teen is paralyzed; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, our NBC News exclusive, one-on-one with Donald Trump. His first on-camera comments on the firestorm involving his campaign's altercation at Arlington National Cemetery. The U.S. Army today confirming a female cemetery worker was, quote, abruptly pushed aside by Mr. Trump's staff when she tried to enforce rules prohibiting political activity on the grounds. The campaign later releasing video of Mr. Trump in a restricted area and seemed giving a thumbs up at the grave of a fallen soldier. What Mr. Trump told us and his new comments on the assassination attempt and that if elected, he would mandate insurance companies to cover IVF treatments. Also tonight, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz sitting down

for their first joint interview, how Harris is responding to accusations that she's flip-flop on policies and what she said about including a Republican in her cabinet. The record-breaking Labor Day travel rush kicking off the severe storms that could disrupt your trip. The failures in dozens of cases involving child sexual abuse still happening years after the FBI admitted botching the Larry Nassar case. Growing concerns about mosquito-borne viruses. You'll hear from a family speaking out after their 18-year-old was left paralyzed and fighting for his life. And the crash and dash sport thrilling the Paris Paralympics. And this year, Team USA has a history-making secret weapon. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.

And good evening. I'm Tom Yamas in for Lester. It has been a blockbuster night on the campaign trail. And we begin with our exclusive interview with former President Trump. Tonight, we ask him about that appearance at Arlington National Cemetery, which is being criticized for bringing politics into the hallowed ground of Arlington, specifically for video and photographs of the former president laying a wreath in honor of service members killed in Afghanistan and posing with family members among the headstones, giving a thumbs up. Tonight, Mr. Trump defending his Arlington appearance, saying that he was not thinking

about his campaign, that he was asked for a photograph by family members who lost their children in the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal he says was caused by the Biden White House. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris campaigning in the Deep South, making news with her first interview since she launched her campaign. But we start tonight with Dasha Burns' exclusive. Tonight, former President Donald Trump back in the battleground state of Michigan, making his first public comments about the controversy over his visit to Arlington National Cemetery earlier this week. I was asked to go there by people who lost their child because of Biden and Harris, because their pullout was so bad of Afghanistan. They lost their child. And all of a sudden I hear that somebody that I have no idea

who it is got into an argument with somebody else at the cemetery about pictures being taken. I took them at the request of the families, and I'm very happy I did. In a statement today, an Army spokesperson said that Defense Department regulations, quote, clearly prohibit political activities on cemetery grounds, and that a cemetery employee was, quote, abruptly pushed aside when trying to ensure adherence to those rules. We lost 13 great, great people. The campaign on Tuesday posting this TikTok, highlighting video of Trump's visit, laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier, then posing among grave sites with family of service members killed

in the attack at Abbey Gate in Afghanistan. Should your campaign have put out those videos and photos? Well, we have a lot of people. You know, we have people, TikTok people. You know, we're leading the Internet. But on that hallowed ground, should they have put out the videos and photos? Well, we have a lot of people. You know, we have people, TikTok people. You know, we're leading the internet. But on that hallowed ground, should they have put out the images of those? I don't know what the rules and regulations are.

I don't know who did it. And it could have been them. It could have been the parents. It could have been somebody. It was your campaign's TikTok, though, that put out the videos. I really don't know anything about it. All I do is I stood there and I said, if you'd like to have a picture, we can have a picture.

The former president also reflecting on the assassination attempt against him in Butler, Pennsylvania. I wonder, having come so close, do you feel safe these days? It was incredible that that happened, that I was turned at that particular point where something, the shooters would say it was like almost 100 percent that bad things would have happened. So I view it as, you know, a very positive event. Maybe it's positive because somebody wants me to take care of our country, which is failing so badly. The former president also suggesting first to NBC News if he were reelected, fertility treatments would be covered without giving specifics on how. Under the Trump administration, we are going to be paying for that treatment. So we are paying for that treatment. All Americans who want it?

All Americans that get it. All Americans that need it. All right, Dasha, let's pick up right there on that IVF proposal. Do we have any idea how much it would cost the government to pay for those? Tom, we actually did the math and it would cost around $7.8 billion annually. Meanwhile, the Harris campaign is responding, saying in part, because Trump overturned Roe v. Wade, IVF is already under attack. Mr. Trump looking to make inroads and headlines on a big night for Vice President Harris. Tom? All right, Dasha Burns with that big exclusive tonight.

And now to the first joint interview with Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Tim Walls, all as they campaign together in the Deep South. Peter Alexander reports tonight from Savannah, Georgia. Tonight, after growing pressure to take questions and detail specific policy positions, Vice President Harris and her running mate Tim Walls are sitting down for their first interview since Harris entered the race nearly six weeks ago, pressed by CNN why her positions on some key issues have changed. I think the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is my values have not changed.

And saying she would want a Republican in her cabinet. It's important to have people at the table when some of the most important decisions are being made that have different views, different experiences. It comes as Harris is going where no Democratic presidential nominee has gone in three decades. Oh, it's good to be back in Savannah. Wrapping up a two-day bus tour here in southeast Georgia, a blue county in a largely red region where the campaign is hoping to tighten former President Trump's margins and to repeat Joe Biden's 2020 victory in this critical battleground state. The latest polls show a competitive race with Harris narrowly leading Mr. Trump in Georgia, as well as Arizona and Nevada, all still within the margin of error. Same story in North Carolina, but Mr. Trump has a slight lead there.

Clinton Edminster owns an art supply shop in Savannah. He had reservations about President Biden's age, but is eager to vote for Harris. What is it about Kamala Harris that gives you confidence that Democrats can win back the White House this fall? It's absolutely her confidence and her enthusiasm, and you need that in order to run a campaign. Tyler Merritt, founder of Nine Line Apparel, a clothing manufacturer, is supporting Mr. Trump. Policy number five on his agenda is to bring manufacturing back to the United States, to stop outsourcing,

and to allow us to bring the living wages that we need to support our families here in the United States. Maria Cato is a floral designer for weddings, most concerned about her business that's been hard hit by inflation. You haven't decided who to vote for. No, because I'm waiting to see policies that's going to help us small business because

small business are really hurting. All right. Peter joins us now live. And Peter, we're learning more about how the vice president is preparing for the debate in less than two weeks. Tom, multiple sources tell NBC News that Vice President Harris has been holding prep sessions between campaign stops and her official duties. And among her goals, according to one source, is to figure out how best to needle Mr. Trump to get him to appear unhinged. As the source said, to get Trump to go full Trump. Tom. All right, Peter Alexander for us. Now to that severe weather rocking flyers and the possibility of more to come as we head into a record holiday weekend of travel.

Here's Priscilla Thompson. Massive tornadoes tearing through the Dakotas. Dozens of freight cars flung off the tracks in North Dakota after five reported twisters slammed the region overnight. Lost the window. The treacherous weather moving in just as millions are eager to get out. You're leaving today. Why? Definitely because Fridays already are chaotic and then a three-day weekend. But harrowing moments in the sky Wednesday after this United Airlines flight hit severe turbulence. I wasn't sure if we were going down, honestly. It was very scary. One person hospitalized and six others injured, officials say,

after that Chicago-bound plane was forced to land in Memphis. It was pretty intense, actually. I saw one of the ladies that hit the roof and then landed on top of me and the other passengers. The long weekend also off to a bumpy start in Denver. A packed terminal after a mechanical issue shut down trains between concourses for hours. You couldn't get on and you couldn't get off once you did get on. And the headaches may not be over yet. Millions are under threat of severe storms tonight and through the weekend, which could impact airport hubs in seven major cities

as TSA prepares to screen more than 17 million passengers. There's good news for those hitting the road, though. Gas prices are down 50 cents from a year ago. And as you can see, there are lines of folks here sneaking in one final getaway, marking the end of this red hot summer of travel. Tom. All right, Priscilla, we thank you for that. We want to turn out to a scathing new government report faulting the FBI for its continued failure to protect some child victims of sexual abuse after the scandal involving former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. Ken Delaney joins us now. And Ken, what did they find? Tom, today's report by the Department of Justice Inspector General found widespread failures by

the FBI to properly investigate child sexual abuse allegations, despite promises by the Bureau to fix the problems exposed in the Nassar debacle. In that case, Nassar's abuse continued while the FBI investigation stalled. Today's report said that problem persists. In one example, the audit found the FBI failed to investigate a child sex abuse allegation for over a year while the suspect abused the victim and another child. The FBI said some agents were referred for potential discipline, adding in a statement that ensuring the safety and security of children is a solemn duty that we are committed to fulfilling. Tom. All right, Ken, we thank you for that. We want to head overseas now. A major blow to Ukraine's war effort. One of the country's top fighter pilots killed amid the massive Russian missile attack on Monday,

killing top Ukrainian pilot Lieutenant Colonel Alexei Mess. Known by his call sign Moonfish, he spoke to NBC News months into the war. It was the most intense at the very first couple of days. The cause of the crash is under investigation as the deadly game of who blinks first continues, with Russia gaining ground in Ukraine's east, while Ukraine takes more land in the Russian region of Kursk. The Russian border is a straight shot that way. This week, we visited the Ukrainian city of Sumy, less than 20 miles from the Russian border, now the staging ground for Ukraine's historic invasion. Putin has said Russia has no borders. This Ukrainian officer says, now we've shown we can enter Russian territory. We spoke with a Ukrainian commander inside Russia.

NBC News is withholding his name at the military's request for security purposes. Are you gaining ground? Yes, little by little, he says. He tells us they've been given strict instructions as to how to interact with Russian civilians. We were told to help them as much as we can, he says. Every two hours, you hear some explosions. Across Sumy, resident Irina Olyanitskaya says she wants more help from the West. The support should be stronger.

You make negotiations with the Russians today, they're going to kill you tomorrow. Aaron McLaughlin, NBC News, Sumy, Ukraine. All right, in 60 seconds, the devastating toll of those mosquito-borne viruses, more deaths reported, and a teenager paralyzed. We'll have the late details right after this. All right, we are back now with the growing concerns over West Nile, confirmed in more than 30 states now. And tonight, one family tells our Maggie Vespa the virus has left their teenage son paralyzed and fighting for his life. Tonight, more American families in agony. It's hard to see him like this.

In St. Louis, John Proctor's once healthy 18-year-old son lies paralyzed on a ventilator at Barnes-Jewish Hospital after John says Bebe got West Nile virus from a mosquito bite earlier this month. How does that hit you that this was in all likelihood, doctors say, a mosquito bite and here's where we are? It's hard to fathom how such a small, insignificant creature can take a perfectly 100% healthy human being and make it so that they can't even move or support their head. They can't regulate their body temperature and it's just causing havoc on his body that fast. The Proctor family's nightmare marking another alarming severe case of mosquito-borne viruses. Today, Wisconsin public health officials

revealing two people there died this month from West Nile. The deaths in Wisconsin come as West Nile cases hit 33 states across the country. Experts point to a hotter, more humid summer, conditions just right for mosquitoes to thrive, spreading West Nile and a deadly virus called triple E. Health officials in Massachusetts today announcing a second human case of eastern equine encephalitis in a woman in her 30s. Five states total now reporting cases as the effects of mosquito-borne illnesses hit home for a growing number of families. I just keep talking. Look at my face. Is dad scared? And he goes, and that's how we get through.

Are you scared? I'm scared. I'm scared. Bebe's family is inside that hospital praying for a full recovery. They've been told it's possible, but could take a year or more. Tom. We'll be thinking about that family tonight. All right, Maggie, thank you.

And up next, our investigation into whether blind ride share customers are being denied rides. And is it against the law? Right after this. Back down with our investigation into ride share companies like Uber and Lyft. Across the country, people with certain disabilities are saying drivers are illegally denying them rides. As Candace Nguyen from our NBC Bay Area station tells us, it's caught the Justice Department's attention as well. As a special ed teacher in San Jose, California, Annalisa DiLeonardo gets to school a little differently. Find the curb. Through the eyes of guide dog Cousteau. He is literally my eyes. Without him, several times I would have been a pancake. Cousteau gets Annalisa safely

to a curb each day to catch a ride share, if they can find a driver who will take them. I don't think it's all for me. He's a service dog. No, that's a good one. Thank you. He is a working service dog. Yeah, but I don't have any. Okay, but it's against LIF's policy to refuse him. You have to take him. I know, but I mean, uh, I'm not, I'm not going to let him go. He's not a pet. He is like a wheelchair. Anytime they break the law is when we start recording.

Those refusals, not just impolite, but illegal. A violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and against the company policies of both Uber and Lyft. And yet this summer, Annalisa has captured the offenses weekly on cell phone video. I don't want to mess up my car. It says, why aren't you taking me? I don't want to mess up my car. It's a service, though. It's a Lyft.

You have to. On a human level, what does it feel like? Like I'm less than and I'm not wanted in society. In 2016, Uber and then Lyft the next year settled lawsuits by the National Federation of the Blind and promised to crack down on drivers. But with the issue persisting years later, the U.S. Justice Department is now getting involved. NBC News has confirmed through a source with the department and Christine Benninger with the nonprofit Guide Dogs for the Blind. Actually, things have gotten worse. We get phone calls on a

daily basis. Benninger says the DOJ's Civil Rights Division is collecting data on these refusals. Her own organization's findings show 83% of clients report being denied rides. A number of clients are actually evaluating whether they would get another guide dog again. The sad part about that is the guide dog is much more than purely safe travel. It's your bridge to the community. Uber told us, We have a clear policy prohibiting drivers denying service because of a rider's service animal, and it can take appropriate action, which may include deactivation of a driver's account.

Lyft said it requires all drivers to accommodate passengers traveling with service animals, and it asks riders to report issues immediately. But Annalisa says filing reports with the two companies leads to little more than the drivers getting a warning. And then I usually get a $5 gift card. And so sometimes I've just stopped reporting. It's a service dog. Yeah, I can't. I'm sorry. Despite the frustration, Annalisa is a teacher first, hoping this story serves as an

important lesson. I'm the same as you and I deserve the same rights and I just want to get to work. Good job. Candace Nguyen, NBC News, San Jose, California. And up next, the good news about the Paralympic athlete competing in what they call Murderball, her brave journey to Paris. Stay with us. Finally, there's good news tonight about the first female athlete on the U.S. wheelchair rugby team at the Paralympics and setting her sights on gold. Here's Emily Akeda. A huge shift in momentum here. With aggressive speed, good defense so far, and chaotic collisions,

it's easy to see why wheelchair rugby is nicknamed Murderball, a combo of rugby, basketball, and handball in specially designed wheelchairs. I love the name Murderball. It's so perfect for what we do out there and the intensity that we bring to the sport. And for the first time at the Paralympics, USA's murder ball team has a woman, 33-year-old Sarah Adam, who scored her first point today. An historic moment. Most people don't even realize wheelchair rugby is co-ed. Not many. What do you hope for young girls who are seeing you in this sport? What do you hope they take away? I think in particular for young girls to see that you can go play a high contact physical sport if that's what you love and see what it's done for me in my life. Adam first grew to love wheelchair rugby as a non-disabled volunteer for a team while in

occupational therapy school. Years later, when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, she suited up as a player herself. I was diagnosed with MS when I was 25 years old, and I'm thinking, what's my future going to be like? What am I going to do? And wheelchair rugby gave me that community of support to say, you're going to be okay. Look at what your life can be. All for one! All for one! All for all! All for all! Helping show the way, wheelchair rugby greats Chuck Aoki and Eric Newby. Seeing how far she's come in a short amount of time, I mean, it blows me away and it just motivates me to work that much harder. Honestly, I think she's going to open the doors not only for us as a secret weapon,

but for women in sports in general. And to anyone who may overlook Adam at first on the court, the co-captains say, Adam has another. Prepare to learn the hard way. As a person with MS, people want to put me in a bubble all the time and say, slow down, be cautious. And I'm like, that's not what I want to do. I want to kind of push those limits. I want to see what my body can do. And in doing that, I've proven a lot of people wrong. The easy goal for Sarah Adam, her sixth. Emily Ikeda, NBC News. Amon. Yes, sir. Paris.

And you can catch Sarah and Team USA in action tomorrow. That's nightly news. We thank you so much for watching. I'm Tom Yamas in New York. Have a great night. USA! Eagles! Let's go!