NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Episode Date: May 1, 2024

Columbia University threatens to expel students who took over building, former President Trump was fined $9,000 for violating judge's gag order in his hush money trial, the four officers killed in a North Carolina shooting were identified, and more in tonight's broadcast.

Tonight, the tense standoff at Columbia University as pro-Palestinian protests escalate on campuses nationwide. Columbia now threatening to expel students who've taken over a historic campus building after they smashed windows and used furniture to barricade doors, and the new arrests, more than a thousand nationwide since the unrest began. Also tonight, Donald Trump held in contempt for violating his gag order in his hush money trial, the judge warning if he does it again, he could go to jail. And the former president making headlines

with his agenda for a possible second term, what he said about letting states track women's pregnancies, mass deportations, and refusing to rule out violence if he loses again. The historic move on marijuana, the Biden administration planning the biggest policy change in more than 50 years. Major river flooding and tornado reports in the heartland. Al Roker is here. New details in the shootout that killed four officers in North Carolina.

Plus what was found at the scene. A man with a sword going on a deadly rampage in London the moment police with a taser took him down. The issue many iPhone users report with their alarms, the setting you may need to turn off. And it's a whole new ballgame. Can rugby players succeed on the NFL field? This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome. The student-led resistance movements playing out on college campuses around the country are being met with a stronger hand tonight in some places. Police clashing with protesters on several campuses and clearing encampments. But some four dozen of the

tent camps remain across the country, including at New York's Columbia University, where pro-Palestinian demonstrators turned up the heat overnight, breaking windows, storming and occupying a major building on the main campus as the administration made good on its threat to suspend protesters who have refused to leave. Demonstrators insisting the universities divest from Israel. The NYPD tonight remaining out of the Columbia standoff as New York's mayor warns of outsiders trying to co-opt the movement and telling protesters to leave the area now for their own safety.

Erin McLaughlin is there. Erin, where do things stand right now? Lester, tonight the mayor of New York pointing to external actors Erin McLaughlin is there. Erin, where do things stand right now? Lester, tonight the mayor of New York pointing to external actors is urging parents to call their children to get them to leave the campus immediately for their safety. Meanwhile, the NYPD says they are ready to assist if the university calls and asks for their help. Tonight, tensions at Columbia University reaching a new high with the school threatening expulsion. After pro-Palestinian protesters stormed the historic Hamilton Hall overnight, renaming the building Hins Hall after a six-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza. Palestine is almost free!

Student journalist Joseph Zuluaga was on the scene. I think when one of the protesters broke one of the windows, I think that's when it's setting for all of us that history was really unfolding before our eyes. In a statement today, the university said this is about responding to the actions of the protesters, not their cause. While the protesters pointed to the historic occupations of the hall and reiterated their key demand that the university divest from Israel, which Columbia says it won't do. Physics student Charles Beck says he was pushed away

when he tried to stop the protesters. I certainly was a little afraid, but I also just felt like it was important that someone do something. I would not describe last night's protest as peaceful at all. Today, the student protesters fortifying their position inside the hall, hoisting supplies to the top. Columbia University has so far refrained from calling back the police. But that's not the case at UT Austin, with protesters back on campus today following yesterday's clashes, which resulted in 79 arrests. At Tulane University, protesters clashed with police on horseback. And at the

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, tense moments. Nationwide, more than 1,200 have been arrested so far, as the calls for universities to divest from Israel grow louder. We deserve to know where our money is going, where our resources are going. We deserve to know where our money is going, where our resources are going. We deserve to know what our university is invested in. Today, the White House writing, the protests must be peaceful and lawful. Forcibly taking over buildings is not peaceful. It is wrong. While House Speaker Mike Johnson called on campuses to crack down. This is universities across the country struggle to balance free speech

and hate speech. A lot of people like that I went to classes with and dinners with that are chanting for the erasure of the Jewish state and the death of my family. So I do feel a little heartbroken by this. Columbia professor Reinhold Martin was locking arms on Monday with fellow faculty members to protect student protesters. The divestment question has been on the table for a very long time, and not only with respect to the conflict in Palestine. To me, it's a legitimate tool. Aaron McLaughlin, NBC News, New York.

We turn out of a hush money trial of former President Trump, the judge holding Mr. Trump in contempt of court and threatening to jail him if he continues to violate a gag order, which Mr. Trump calls unconstitutional. Laura Jarrett now with late developments. Tonight, former President Trump hit with a nine thousand dollar fine at his hush money trial, with the judge finding multiple violations of the gag order, prohibiting Mr. Trump from attacking witnesses, now threatening to throw him behind bars, saying jail may be a necessary punishment in the future. Mr. Trump's attorneys had argued it's

unfair to hold him accountable for reposting criticism others have voiced, and that certain witnesses like Michael Cohen frequently attack Mr. Trump. The presumptive Republican nominee later deleting the nine posts about Cohen and Stormy Daniels that landed him in hot water. This gig order is not only unique, it's totally unconstitutional. I'm the Republican candidate for president of the United States. There's no crime. There's no anything here.

The former president joined in court today by son Eric, the first family member to attend. The prosecution calling Keith Davidson, the lawyer who represented Daniels and Karen McDougal, two women who say they had sex with Mr. Trump, which he has denied. Mr. Trump is charged with a low-level felony, falsifying business records over his reimbursements to Cohen, who allegedly made the hush money payments. Davidson testifying that after the release of that damaging Access Hollywood tape, interest in what Daniels had to say reached a crescendo. But Davidson only testified about dealings with Cohen, not offering evidence of Mr. Trump's knowledge of the plans.

And Laura, meantime, this flare up over the gag order is not over yet. Yeah, that's right, Lester. Prosecutors continue to say that Mr. Trump violates the gag order and is seeking more fines. The judge plans to hold a hearing on all of this on Thursday morning. Lester. All right, Laura, thank you. And in a new interview, Mr. Trump provides more insights into what a second term would look like. Here's Gabe Gutierrez. Tonight, former President Trump is revealing more of his second term agenda, including new details of his controversial plan to deport millions of undocumented immigrants. I will stop the invasion. Trump now telling Time magazine he'd use the National Guard and possibly the military to deport migrants and isn't ruling out building new

detention camps. When asked whether he'd ignore a U.S. law that prevents deploying troops against civilians, the former president responded, well, these aren't civilians. These are people that aren't legally in our country. In fact, civilians are commonly defined as someone who's not an active member of the armed services, regardless of immigration status. Trump says he'd comply with all Supreme Court orders. When asked whether he might fire a U.S. attorney who didn't follow the president's order to prosecute someone, Trump responded, it would depend on the situation. Yeah. The wide-ranging interview also making headlines about abortion. Trump recently said he would not sign a national abortion ban, leaving decisions up to the states.

It's all about will of the people. Now, asked whether he was comfortable if states decide to punish women who access abortions, he responded, the states are going to make that decision. The states are going to have to be comfortable or uncomfortable. Not me. He was also asked whether states should monitor pregnancies to know if women get an abortion. I think they might do that, he said. You'll have to speak to the individual states. President Biden shot back. This is reprehensible. Donald Trump doesn't trust women. I do. Former President Trump was also pressed on the potential for political violence if he doesn't win, saying, quote, it always depends on the fairness of an election. Lester. Gabe Gutierrez at the White House. Thank you. Also tonight, a historic shift from the federal

government on how we think of marijuana legally, medically and more. Blaine Alexander reports. For more than 50 years, marijuana has been listed among the world's most dangerous drugs, classified alongside the likes of heroin or ecstasy. But tonight, in a major shift, according to sources with knowledge of the decision, the Biden administration is looking to reclassify the drug to Schedule 3, like ketamine or testosterone or Tylenol with codeine, which would allow marijuana to be more easily studied for medical benefits. The change would not legalize recreational marijuana, the possession and distribution of which is still a federal crime, but would recognize it

as a drug less likely to lead to addiction. Stephanie Shepard served nine years for conspiracy to distribute. What does this mean for incarceration rates in America? Hopefully it means a step closer to lowering those rates and also releasing those who are serving heinous sentences for cannabis. Public opinion has shifted dramatically in the last 20 years, from 34 percent of Americans who believe marijuana should be legal to 70 percent. Nearly half of states have legalized marijuana for recreational use. But tonight, one opposition group says the cannabis industry has lobbied heavily to sell demonstrably harmful products and calls out the Biden administration for a,

quote, thinly veiled attempt to reverse polling trends. No one should be jailed. President Biden has already pardoned thousands of marijuana offenders, and the move could garner political support this election year, particularly among young and black voters. The proposed change still has to go through a public comment period and would not become official for at least 60 days. Blaine Alexander, NBC News. We're tracking a new threat of severe weather tonight. There are reports of a tornado in Westmoreland, Kansas in the Topeka area,

and there's a chance of more flooding like they're seeing across the state after the storms of the last week. Al Roker is following it all. How bad will the weather be? Well, Lester, right now we've got some very serious active conditions. We've got tornado watches, but we also have tornado warnings now in parts of Nebraska and in Kansas. And we're going to be watching this continually through the evening, these strong storms. We've got at least 8 million people at risk, strong tornadoes, damaging hail up to two inches from Sioux City all the way down to Wichita. Baseball to softball sized hail. Tomorrow, the next system comes in. The threats from

Nebraska to Kansas, from Hastings all the way down to Midland and Abilene could be strong tornadoes as well. Again, that two inch hail risk all the way down to Midland, up into Dodge City. Flood risk from Omaha down to Austin because, Lester, we're talking about upwards of five inches of rain in the next 24 hours. All right, Al Roker. Al, thanks very much. Now to that shooting in North Carolina with the death toll rising to four. Law enforcement officers killed near Charlotte yesterday. Sam Brock is there. In the aftermath of bullets flying and officers running into the line of fire there's a cavernous hole in charlotte tonight with the death toll now up to four deputy u.s

marshal thomas weeks department of correction veterans sam palochi and alden elliott and officer of the month joshua ire He was out getting illegal guns off the street, and it's going to be sorely missed. This tragedy, now the deadliest for police from gunfire in almost a decade. It's just been very tough, and knowing that you have families that are hurting right now. Law enforcement says this man, Terry Hughes Jr., with a lengthy criminal record, gunned down the officers as they approached serving a warrant before he was shot in the yard of this house. Investigators recovered an AR-15, a handgun, and more than 100 shell casings after a furious confrontation. How does a convicted felon acquire a high-powered assault rifle?

You know, I think you can ask anybody on the streets. You can have these laws on the books, but if someone wants to possess a firearm, they can certainly get one. Now, after a spate of recent attacks on officers, another reminder of what these public servants stand for. Would you do this again, knowing your fate yesterday? Would you do it again? There would be a boisterous yes. Sam Brock, NBC News, Charlotte. Now to the terrifying moments today in London. A man going on a stabbing rampage with a sword, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring four others. Police chasing him down using tasers to subdue him. The motive is unclear, but police do not believe it was a targeted attack or terror related.

In 60 seconds, the new phase in Russia's information war against the U.S. Our exclusive reporting is next. We're back now with our NBC News exclusive. As divisions grow deeper in the U.S. over the war in Gaza, we've learned Russia is exploiting the conflict online, including using A.I. to try to fuel unrest here. Here's Hallie Jackson. A new front in Russia's information war against the U.S. With the Kremlin shifting its focus to the war between Israel and Hamas,

trying to inflame existing tensions in America, NBC News has learned, from two sources familiar with the intelligence reporting and independent researchers. They say the Kremlin's using fake social media accounts and bots, along with propaganda pushed by state-run outlets. Just look at these posts attacking the U.S. government's response to campus protests. What is Russia's endgame here? So Russia at times just wants to create more chaos. So this is just a win for Russia any time there is a conflict in the U.S. Experts say the Kremlin's trying to position itself as a champion of Palestinians while condemning the U.S. for supporting Israel.

This is an opportunity for them. This is a chance to divert attention away from their invasion of Ukraine and to focus the world's attention on Israel's offensive in Gaza. Researchers warn not to overstate the influence of the Russian campaign. These protests would happen with or without Russia's involvement. But looking ahead to November, some top U.S. officials recently sounding the alarm. There is a history here in presidential elections by the Russian Federation, by its intelligence services. And there's plenty of reason to be concerned. The Kremlin has long denied interference. But with Russian actors now allegedly using A.I. to spread disinformation more easily, U.S. officials are bracing for what's to come. Lester.

Ali Jackson, thank you. Coming up, why the alarm on your iPhone may not be working, what Apple says about it, and the rush just before one of the most restrictive abortion laws takes effect. Next. For a lot of iPhone users, it's a worse nightmare come true. Many reporting their iPhone alarms have been failing to sound off and wake them up. Apple says it's a worse nightmare come true. Many reporting their iPhone alarms have been failing to sound off and wake them up. Apple says it's aware and working on a fix. In the meantime, some say turning off the phone's attention aware feature will do the trick. We'll take a turn now to Florida, where in a matter of hours, a six week abortion ban takes effect. It's led to a scramble

at clinics in the state that used to have one of the least restrictive abortion laws in the South. Here's Marissa Parra. Tonight, abortion clinics in Florida stretched to the limit, squeezing in double, even triple the usual number of patients before the state's six-week abortion ban takes effect tomorrow. A lot of patients will come in for their consult and be told that we can't see them. Kelly Flynn runs a clinic in Jacksonville. Are you prepared for that moment when you have to tell the patients you can't treat them? You don't. You can't prepare for that. She says a third of their patients come from outside Florida. That's because the surrounding states have some of the strictest abortion laws in the country. Come tomorrow, the closest drivable options for care after six weeks will be North

Carolina and Virginia. We're looking at the southeast completely like it's an abortion desert now. State Rep Mike Beltran was one of the band's sponsors. We're a conservative state. We should not be allowing abortions and we certainly shouldn't be providing abortion tourism for other states in the south. He points out the law has exceptions for rape, incest, and human trafficking up to 15 weeks, and for the life of the mother and fatal fetal abnormalities. When they are born, how are they going to be taken care of? Cassie is four weeks pregnant. She didn't want us to share her last name, but told us she can't afford another baby, so she started the process of ending her pregnancy.

What is it that you think that they don't understand that you wish that they did? I wish that they understood that there's more to having a baby than just birthing it. In November, Floridians will vote on a proposed ballot amendment that would protect abortion rights until roughly 24 weeks. But Cassie worries what will happen to other women making difficult choices in the meantime. By the end of this week, there might be women who are just two weeks further along than you. And they wouldn't be able to get the same procedure. I would really feel for them because it's just not right. Marisa Parra, NBC News, Jacksonville.

And we will take a break here. Coming up, the lateral moves into the NFL. Meet the players who have never played a snap and are suddenly on football's biggest stage. Finally, the rugby players tackling a new challenge after being drafted into the NFL despite never playing competitive football. Kaylee Hartung explains. Look at that. That is awesome. With the Union Jack flag wrapped around his shoulders, Travis Clayton was welcomed to the NFL. The Buffalo Bills select Travis Clayton. Even though he's never played a down of competitive football.

Go to Buffalo! Has it sunk in? You are an NFL player. I think I keep having to pinch myself, but I don't think it's really sunk in just yet. The former English rugby winger has spent nearly four months honing his skills to become an NFL offensive lineman. At six foot seven, the Bills say Clayton's 40-yard dash is the fastest they've clocked from alignment in 10 years. How steep has the learning curve been? Wow. Extremely steep. I think coming in on the first day, not knowing anything really about the sport. I just climbed up and just learned everything possible.

And in March, Welsh rugby star Lewis Rees-Zamit signed with the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Clayton and Rees-Zamit are both products of the NFL's International Player Pathway, a program designed to seek out talent from around the world. Like Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata, another former rugby player from Australia, who recently signed a $66 million contract extension. Are you ready to step onto an NFL field right now? Australia, who recently signed a $66 million contract extension. Are you ready to step onto an NFL field right now? A hundred percent. A hundred percent. I'm ready to go. This is what I've been training for.

Kaylee Hartung, NBC News, Los Angeles. It'll be fun to watch. That is nightly news for this Tuesday. Thank you for watching, everyone. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.