NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Thursday, March 7, 2024

Episode Date: March 8, 2024

State of the Union address is high-stakes moment for Biden; Inside mission to airdrop desperately needed aid into Gaza; Sailor becomes first American woman to sail solo nonstop around the world; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Breaking news tonight, the high stakes moment here in Washington. President Biden set to make his case for a second term in his State of the Union address. The president coming before Congress and the American people. His pivotal speech tonight in prime time here on NBC. With the rematch now set against former President Trump. Mr. Biden looking to jumpstart his campaign. The major announcement he'll make about a U.S.-led emergency mission in Gaza and what he'll say about the border, abortion rights and inflation.

Also terrifying takeoff, a United Airlines plane, the tire falling off, crushing a car below. The flight diverted. What we're learning, the U.S. Army sergeant accused of selling the military secrets to China. The charges announced today. The trial of the father of a Michigan school shooter underway. You'll hear the tape played in court. The frantic 911 call he made the day of the massacre. The severe weather threat across the southern plains. We're tracking it.

Inside the mission to airdrop aid into Gaza. Our Richard Engel aboard a plane bringing desperately needed relief. The report on the shooter who killed 18 people in Maine. What a new analysis is revealing about his brain and the American sailor and the scares at sea she overcame to make history. This is NBC Nightly News with lester holt good evening and welcome tonight from washington dc where president biden will this evening enter the capital behind me and speak to americans about the state of the union the speech comes just two days after super tuesday when the president and donald trump all but punched their tickets to the November election.

And now tonight, President Biden, burdened by low approval numbers, will try to seize the moment to counter the dark portrait of the state of America as portrayed by Republicans. The president will likely be measured on not just his remarks this evening, but also his mental stamina amid the lingering focus on his age. Earlier today, I was part of a small group of journalists who joined the president at a White House luncheon. The discussion was off the record, but we have separately learned that on the economy, the president will focus on ways to save Americans money. And on the border crisis, he will try to turn the tables and shift the blame to Republicans. Peter Alexander has a preview. Tonight, President Biden set to make a crucial sales pitch facing a skeptical audience and low approval ratings.

In just released excerpts of tonight's address, the president will say it doesn't make the news, but in thousands of cities and towns, the American people are writing the greatest comeback story never told. And as they head to a likely rematch, this subtle dig at former President Trump. Some other people my age see a different story, an American story of resentment, revenge and retribution. That's not me. Recent polls show the president trails his likely Republican challenger within the margin of error. The president will sharply contrast his views with Mr. Trump's on key issues like abortion rights. It was Donald Trump and his Supreme Court who ripped away the rights and freedoms of women

in America. Among the first lady's guests tonight, Kate Cox, who sued Texas over its near total abortion ban. And he'll announce new efforts to deliver desperately needed aid to Gaza with a new land crossing and a U.S.-led mission to build a temporary seaport. But tonight, much of the focus will be on the president's presentation with three-quarters of Americans concerned President Biden does not have the mental and physical health to serve. And on the border crisis, President Biden will blame Republicans for rejecting a bipartisan border security bill.

The only reason the border is not secure is Donald Trump and his migrant Republican friends. A record 8.6 million migrants have entered the U.S. during the Biden presidency. Republicans argue the president could end the crisis by bringing back the Trump border policies he reversed. Today, Mr. Trump attacking the president on the economy, as consumer prices have risen 18% since President Biden took office. We had the greatest economy in the history of the world. It's time to tell crooked Joe Biden you're fired. The president's expected to tout strong job growth and unemployment at a 50-year low following the pandemic.

Keisha Age, a single mom of three in Atlanta, is working two jobs and struggling with high prices. What do you want to hear from the president tonight? Basically, that things are going to get better and that things are going to become more affordable and that people are actually going to be able to live as opposed to survive. And Peter, we're thinking a bit about the audience tonight because we remember last year the president was heckled by some Republicans in the audience audience lester you're right it's a dynamic live event and the republican house speaker has told members of his party to be respectful tonight while progressive democrat cory bush a fierce critic of the president's handling of the war in gaza did not rule out

her own protest this evening lester all right peter thank you and i'm joined now by kristin welker moderator of Meet the Press. Kristen, this is kind of a reset moment for the president as we launch on this road to 24. Absolutely, Lester. This may be the largest audience he will have to make his case for reelection. And I've been talking to allies of the president who tell me he needs to deliver more than a laundry list of accomplishments and goals tonight. They say he has to tell the story of his first term and how a second term will impact Americans, not just attack Mr. Trump.

But Lester, Peter noted voter concerns about his age and mental health. So how he delivers this speech will be just as important as what he says. All right, Kristen, thanks very much. Join me and Savannah Guthrie and, of course, Kristen for the State of the Union address tonight. Coverage kicks off at 9 p.m. Eastern time. Now to the breaking news out of California. A United Airlines flight making an emergency landing in Los Angeles after a tire fell off during takeoff.

Tom Costello is with us. Tom, this is a Boeing 777. That's right. United Flight 35 was leaving SFO for Osaka, Japan at 11.35 this morning. This video, captured by flight tracking website Radar Box, seems to show the tire coming off one of the plane's main landing gear assemblies, which has a total of six tires. The tire fell into a nearby parking lot below, causing significant damage to the cars that were parked there. Nobody injured. The plane, as you said, a Boeing 777, 249 people on board, then diverted to Los Angeles where it landed safely and was met by firefighters.

The airline says passengers will be rebooked on another flight to Japan tonight as United and the FAA investigate why this happened. Lester? All right, Tom, thank you. Just breaking tonight, federal authorities announcing the indictment of a U.S. Army sergeant on charges of transmitting sensitive U.S. military information to China. They said Sergeant Corbin Schultz, an Army intelligence analyst stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, was paid $42,000 by a co-conspirator for leaking information on advanced American weapons. Weeks after Jennifer Crumbly became the first parent in the U.S.

held criminally responsible for their child's school shooting, tonight her husband is on trial. Testimony in his involuntary manslaughter case began today in Michigan. Maggie Vespa is there. Round two of this landmark prosecution now underway. A Michigan father on trial for involuntary manslaughter for his alleged role in the mass school shooting carried out by his son weeks after his wife was convicted on the same charges. The shooter's case is done. The shooter's mother, Jennifer Crumley, her case is done.

You're here to decide the level of gross negligence of James Crumbly. 47-year-old James Crumbly wore headphones as hearing aids in court today. Prosecutors arguing back in 2021, Crumbly failed to secure the gun he bought for Ethan, which the teen used to kill four students. He was the adult out of anyone in the world in the best position to prevent these kids' deaths. Crumbly's defense team telling the jury he didn't know his son had access to the gun, nor did he suspect Ethan was a danger. James Crumbly did not know what his son was going to do. Today, prosecutors playing the frantic 911 call James made the day of the shooting. Prosecutors say he ignored warning signs about his son's mental health,

calling a computer crimes analyst who read this text between Ethan and a friend. This trial taking place in the same courtroom with the same judge and prosecutors as Jennifer Crumbly's trial. A new jury was picked for this trial. Tonight, James Crumbly hoping for a different outcome than his wife. A big question hanging over this trial is whether James Crumbly will follow his wife's lead and testify in his own defense. His attorney at this point not giving any indication either way. Lester. Maggie Vespa, thank you. We're watching severe weather across the south. Strong storms forming now over the central and southern plains with severe thunderstorm watches in place. Nine million

people could face hail, damaging winds and tornadoes. Tomorrow and Saturday, severe storms and flooding will be possible for millions more across the southeast. We'll be tracking it. Now to the Middle East and the desperate need for more humanitarian aid in Gaza. Earlier today, Richard Engel was able to join a relief flight on a mission to drop off meals by air. On an air base in Jordan, we were given an inside look at what has become a last resort for getting aid into Gaza. Air dropping food and humanitarian supplies. So the planes have already been loaded. These are C-130 cargo planes. The mission today was run by the Jordanian military, a close U.S. ally.

We watched the crew do its last-minute briefs until it was time for takeoff. The food aid was on pallets, and the bags on top are the parachutes, fixed with yellow ripcords to open them. First, we flew over Israel, the Israeli military granting permission, deconflicting the airspace so the plane isn't accidentally shot down. Israel looks peaceful from above. Then we reached Gaza, where the damage is clear and extensive. After Hamas's October 7th massacre,

Israel is bombed and cut off Gaza so severely that people are now facing starvation. Officials from Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry say at least 20 people have already died from malnutrition. They've just given the signal that they're ready to drop. We are now over northern Gaza. Any moment now, these packets of food aid will begin parachuting down. Every bit helps, but aid groups say this is not a solution. The meals are for more than 20,000 people, but it's a drop in the bucket. 2.3 million people need help below.

But for now, it's the only thing coming from the sky in Gaza that doesn't explode. The U.S. is also doing aid drops over Gaza, but it's not meant to be permanent. And as we saw today, it is far less efficient than truck deliveries and much more expensive. Lester. Richard Angle and Jordan, thank you. And as the war in Gaza rages on back here at home, the calls for a ceasefire are growing louder. Yamiche Alcindor reports more than a thousand black pastors are among those turning up the pressure on President Biden. For a community church in Atlanta, the war raging thousands of miles away in the Middle East is top of mind. Reverend Timothy McDonald III says it's because he empathizes with the thousands of civilians killed in Gaza. Black people understand pain. We have a history of pain.

McDonald is part of a group of more than 1,000 Black faith leaders demanding President Biden call for a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Why are you publicly calling for President Biden to demand a ceasefire? Because the time is now. Peace is the way. And the ceasefire is a concrete beginning for the pursuit of peace because it involves both sides. The president, while still supporting Israel, is currently pushing for a temporary ceasefire. He is hoping to get hostages out of Gaza and more aid in. The response of the IDF has gone way too far. The killing of innocent women and children, even babies. The longer this war has gone on, the more support President Biden is losing

among the African-American population. Young Black voters in particular, like Reverend Sean Smith, say they have grown frustrated with Biden over the war. Do you think the Biden administration and President Biden understands the depth that this could impact him? I hope he does, simply because of the fact that we want to make sure that we can get as much voter turnout as possible in November. And a lot of people who I know of personally is just saying they're just going to stay home. And do what? Not vote. Something he says Biden can't afford. Young Black people gave Joe Biden the state of Georgia. If we can't turn out the young Black vote, then he doesn't stand a chance. Still some, like Renika Strother, back the president's stance. I'm supportive of

President Biden and what he's done on everything since he's been in office. And now he's making a choice to stand on one side. I'm going to pray that we're all doing what is the right thing to do and that it's going to all work out. Reverend McDonald still hopes President Biden changes course before it's too late. Do you think President Biden and his administration really understands how much his stance on the Middle East might hurt him among African-Americans? I don't think he understands it now, but he's beginning to. Yemi Shalsendor, NBC News, Atlanta, Georgia. In 60 seconds, the search for answers in an unspeakable crime, the new study of a shooter's

brain showing how a traumatic brain injury may have contributed to that deadly mass shooting in Maine. We're back now with a new report of the gunman who killed 18 people in a mass shooting in Maine in October. The report finding he had a traumatic brain injury that likely played a role in his horrifying actions. Let's get more on the story now from Aaron McLaughlin. Tonight, new analysis shows brain damage likely contributed to the erratic behavior of Maine's deadliest mass shooter. They're concerned. Robert Card is seen in this chilling police body camera footage. Oh, because they're scared because I'm going to frigging do something because I am capable. Captured months before, the 40-year-old Army reservist opened fire,

killing 18 people and wounding more than a dozen at a bowling alley and bar in Lewiston, Maine. Police had been called by fellow Army reservists concerned he was acting erratically. After a days-long manhunt following the mass shooting, Robert Card took his own life. The medical examiner sent tissue from his brain to Boston University's world-renowned CTE Center for Analysis. The lead researcher now revealing Card had evidence of traumatic brain injury and that the results are similar to those of blast trauma. The Card family is now pointing to his work as a hand grenade instructor for the U.S. Army Reservists, leading to questions about a possible link.

While Card was never deployed for active duty, his family alleges for years he was exposed to thousands of low-level blasts during his time as a reservist grenade trainer at West Point. Tonight, an Army spokesperson tells NBC News the lab findings are concerning, adding they underscore the Army's need to do all it can to protect soldiers against blast-induced injury. We do know that a lot of veterans are exposed and have been exposed to traumatic brain injuries and blasts. We need to better understand how we can help them. If he's making these threats, they need to get him to the hospital.

Today, multiple U.S. Army reservists testified they raised the alarm about CARD the summer before the shooting. We collectively noticed that CARD was exhibiting strange behavior and we notified our command. One testified CARD was admitted to a mental health hospital and after that never returned to West Point. Tonight an army spokesperson tells NBC News that it's updating its guidance on blast related injuries and that it plans to launch a safety campaign in the near future. Lester. Erin McLaughlin tonight. Thank you. We'll take a break coming up with new weight loss drugs exploding in you. We'll take a break. Coming up with new weight loss drugs exploding in popularity. We'll tell you how soon an effective pill version could be available. That's coming up next.

They are wildly popular and today the maker of a Zempik previewing the next generation of weight loss drugs. As Vicki Wynn reports, it could be another game changer, especially if you don't like needles. From Oprah to influencers to corporations. People whose health is affected by obesity are the reason we work on these medications. The spotlight is on weight loss drugs. Zepbound currently is extremely life-changing for me. Chanel McDaniel takes weekly shots of Eli Lilly's Zepbound, a challenge given her fear of needles. I honestly have to have my husband help me with the shot every single time we do it. She also struggles with the drug's cost, but hope for a pill is on the horizon. Novo Nordisk surging to a record high. Today, Novo Nordisk sharing early results from its phase one trial of weight loss pill,

Omicritin. The company said the pill helped users lose 13% of their weight over 12 weeks, compared to 6% for its injectable, Wagovi. The company's value in the past year as its drugs Ozempic and Wagovi exploded in popularity, up 100%. Eli Lilly, the maker of Zepbound and Mount Jaro, surging even more. Doctors say pills are generally cheaper, easier to take, and simpler to make. Is a weight loss pill a game changer in this industry?

I definitely think that changing anti-obesity medications to an oral form is going to change the game, and hopefully insurance companies will be more likely to carry this medication. As two in five American adults have obesity and with billions of dollars at stake, several drug makers are trying to get a pill to market. Eli Lilly is now in phase three trials of its pill. Pfizer also testing a pill, though it could be years before any are FDA approved. For patients like Chanel McDaniel, the sooner the better. Vicki Wynn, NBC News. Up next for us tonight, sailing into history, the first American woman to make it around the world solo and nonstop.

Finally, tonight, she sailed all the way around the world and into the record books. Emily Akeda now on the American woman who just made history. 29-year-old Cole Brower just wrapped up the voyage of a lifetime. Blazing into port and history today as the first American woman to ever race nonstop around the world alone. Has it sunk in that you're a history maker? No, for sure it has not sunk in. In Spain, she was welcomed by a sea of fans, friends and family. After finishing second in the Global Solo Challenge,

Brouwer was the youngest and only female competitor in the race of 16 sailors from around the world. Along the way, she amassed more than 400,000 followers on Instagram, sharing the ups and downs of life at sea. Her treacherous journey nearly upended when she badly injured her ribs. The New York native sailed 30,000 miles down the western coast of Africa... It's pretty crazy out here. ...over to Australia...

Pretty big waves. And through the notoriously rough waters around South America. There's a couple storms that are going to hit the Cape. Closing the loop 130 days later. What do you hope people take away from your success? I really want people to find what they're passionate about and go and fight for it. Anytime you hear the word no, I would just ignore it. And while the sun has now set on Brower's Ocean Odyssey, she says her mission to inspire young women in the sport is just getting started. Emily Ikeda, NBC News. And good for her. That's nightly news. Thank you for

watching, everyone. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.