NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Episode Date: January 17, 2024

Trump moves on to New Hampshire after landslide Iowa win; Gilgo Beach suspect charged in fourth murder; U.S. striking back against Houthi rebels; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, Donald Trump's historic victory in Iowa as the 2024 presidential primary race moves on to New Hampshire. The former president ready to pivot to New Hampshire after winning more than 50% of the vote in Iowa's Republican caucuses. Rhonda Santus and Nikki Haley finishing a distance second and third. And now Haley's saying she won't debate again unless it's against Mr. Trump or President Biden. While Mr. Trump spends the day after his win back in court. The U.S. launching new airstrikes on the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen after a new round of attacks in the Red Sea. It comes a day after Iran launched missiles near the U.S. consulate in Iraq.

How will the U.S. respond? Also tonight, the suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer now charged with a fourth murder. How a single hair and a can thrown away by his daughter led to the new indictment. NBC News obtaining the audio of the 911 call placed from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's home. What it reveals, the massive winter storm and brutal cold slamming the eastern U.S. Thousands of flights canceled. We're tracking it. A 10-year-old American boy attacked by a shark in the Bahamas. What we've learned. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome, everyone. Donald Trump's resounding victory in last night's Iowa caucuses seems to have done very little

to discourage his closest contenders for the GOP nomination, who made quick exits from the Hawkeye State to carry the fight to the next battlegrounds. Mr. Trump took more than 50 percent of the vote in Iowa, leaving Ron DeSantis far behind to claim second place and Nikki Haley third, the ex-president earning 20 delegates in the race for the 1,215 needed for the nomination. On the heels of last night, DeSantis leapfrogged straight to South Carolina, whose primary election is more than a month away, while Nikki Haley turned to New Hampshire, where polls show her in a more competitive position against Mr. Trump

in next Tuesday's primary there. The former president also on the campaign trail tonight after a stop in a New York City courtroom. Hallie Jackson starts us off again tonight. A victory lap expected tonight for former President Trump, hoping for another next week in New Hampshire. The big night is going to be in November when we take back our country. The former president, after his historic landslide win in Iowa, now wants the rest of his competitors to coalesce behind him. I really think this is time now for everybody, our country, to come together. We want to come together. Another dominant showing could set Mr. Trump on a nearly irreversible path to the GOP nomination after he crossed that key 50 percent threshold in Iowa,

a symbol of his hold on the party. As like a business owner, I felt that the economy ran better when he was in office. He's the only one that can save this country. The former president arriving to campaign from court, his legal problems hardly dissuading his backers. Two thirds of Iowa Republicans consider him fit to be president, even if convicted of a crime, according to our NBC News entrance polls. Mr. Trump winning nearly every demographic in that state. But the race in New Hampshire appears closer, with former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley trailing now by just single digits. After a third place finish in Iowa, she's facing pressure to perform well here. Iowa made this Republican primary a two person race. Haley's campaign and

allies spending nearly 30 million dollars here so far, far more than her competitors. And she spent more days in the state than Mr. Trump and DeSantis combined, backed by the popular New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu. Is your state make or break for Nikki Haley next week? I wouldn't say it's make or break. I just think she's going to do really, really well here. What is really well? Oh, she's going to have a strong second place, right? To get there or to a win outright,

Haley will need support from independents who can vote in the GOP primary here and from so-called never-Trumpers. Claire Monnier, now for Haley after her first pick, Chris Christie dropped out, has backed the GOP in New Hampshire for decades, but says she cannot support Mr. Trump. If Nikki Haley doesn't win the Republican nomination, what do you do then? Well, the one I have the least objection to, and that would be Biden. Even though he's a Democrat? Even though he's a Democrat.

Haley's competitors casting her as not conservative enough with DeSantis today on Haley's home turf in South Carolina. Well, guess what? We punched our ticket out of Iowa yesterday. That's after his second place finish in the caucuses. It's about focusing on the people's issues, not my issues. That's ultimately the way that we win the election in 2024. And, Hallie, there's a new headline tonight

about an upcoming debate that was scheduled for New Hampshire. What do we know? That's right, Lester. It's off because DeSantis would have been the only one on stage Thursday. That's after Haley said she would only debate Donald Trump or Joe Biden moving forward. And Mr. Trump, of course, has declined to debate this campaign. Lester. Hallie Jackson, thank you. And the Republican frontrunner was in a federal courtroom here in New York earlier today for the start of his second defamation trial in a civil lawsuit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. Laura Jarrett is here. What's at stake for the former president? Lester, this one is all about damages. The jury must decide how much Mr. Trump owes Carol for calling her accusation, the one that he assaulted her in a department store dressing room in the 90s, made up. That's

the accusation. But this one is different than the jury found him liable for last year, the one about sexual abuse and defamation, the one to the tune of $5 million. This current trial involves statements that he made as president, and Carol wants at least $10 million this time. The former president today continuing to call the case fabricated lies and political shenanigans. The big question is whether he will testify since he's not permitted to say any of that on the stand, Lester. All right, Laura, thank you. In the Middle East, the U.S. launched new attacks on Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen today, while Iranian missiles did major damage landing not far from American facilities in Iraq.

It all has the region increasingly on edge. Courtney Kuby now with late details. Tonight, the U.S. striking back against Houthi rebels in Yemen again, destroying an anti-ship ballistic missile launcher that the U.S. says was preparing to attack ships in the Red Sea. We anticipated the Houthis would continue to try to hold this critical artery at risk, and we continue to reserve the right to take further action. It comes after the Houthis hit a commercial ship with a missile today, according to the U.S. military. The Biden administration now re-designating the group as a foreign terrorist organization,

according to three U.S. officials, the goal to cut off Houthi financing. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNBC's Andrew Ross Sorkin the threat is impacting commercial traffic. Fifteen percent of commercial traffic is going through that strait every single day. Thirty percent of the world's container ships. We're seeing international repercussions for these attacks. U.S. officials say Iran continues to supply Houthi rebels with weapons and intelligence, releasing photos of these Iranian missile parts headed to the rebels in Yemen. The weapons intercepted when the U.S. Navy spotted a suspicious boat in the Gulf of Aden

and sent in a team of U.S. Navy SEALs. They confiscated the missile parts, but not before two U.S. Navy SEALs ended up in the rough waters. They are both still missing tonight. The tension with Iran also playing out on land. U.S. officials say Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles into northern Iraq overnight. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claiming they targeted a spy base for Israel's intelligence agency Mossad in the region. U.S. officials not confirming that, saying U.S. military and diplomatic facilities were not impacted and that civilians, including children, were killed in the missile attack. Sparking protests in the streets in Erbil, the White House condemning the attacks as reckless and imprecise.

And Courtney, you've also learned some new details about the night Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized. Yeah, Lester, we've now heard that 911 call from the night. And what's clear is Secretary Austin's hospitalization was intended to be kept quiet from the beginning, an aide asking the emergency dispatchers to turn off the ambulance sirens and remain subtle. Lester. All right, Courtney Kuby, thank you. On New York's Long Island, the suspect in the Gilgo Beach killings was charged today with the murder of a fourth woman, months after police called him a prime suspect in that case. Emily Aketa on the new evidence. The accused Gilgo Beach serial killer back in court today and facing another murder charge now in the death of Maureen Brannard Barnes, marking the last of the so-called Gilgo Four, sex workers allegedly killed by Rex Heuermann and later found near a desolate Long Island beach in 2010.

I was only seven years old when my mother was murdered. Brannard Barnes' daughter speaking out for the first time today. The indictment by the grand jury has brought hope for justice. The Suffolk County District Attorney says his office had been waiting for the results of cutting-edge nuclear DNA testing that shows a hair at the crime scene belonged to Heuermann's now estranged wife. Investigators got samples of Asa Ellerup's and her daughter's DNA through cans thrown out at their home and near a train station after trailing the daughter. The DA says both were out of town during all four of the killings. Nuclear DNA existed in the hair since they were first recovered in 2010.

And now the science has caught up. But the suspected killer's attorney is calling that evidence problematic and says Huerman maintains his innocence. All along we've been told there's no nuclear DNA and now for the first time 13 years later what was once unsuitable is now nuclear capable. We're gonna have to look into that. New court documents also detail how Huerman used burner cell phones to contact sex workers as recently as last year and searched for updates on the investigation, including sister reveals more about Maureen Brannard Barnes' mysterious disappearance. Tonight, more than 16 years since that disappearance, Brannard Barnes' family's pain still palpable. Losing Maureen has become a wound that never truly heals. It remains a part of me.

And the district attorney is also looking into other victims found along Ocean Parkway as prosecutors continue combing through thousands of documents recovered from Hureman's storage units. His next court date is in February. Lester. All right, Emily Aketa, thank you. Across much of the country tonight, almost 100 million people remain under windchill alerts as snowy and icy conditions for so many show no sign of ending. Erin McLaughlin has the latest. Tonight, tens of millions of Americans are on ice, and nationwide there's at least seven confirmed weather-related deaths. My hands were frostbitten, and I had on gloves. With windshield alerts of minus 30 extending into the Mississippi Valley

and temps well below average everywhere east of the Rockies. And in Chicago, electric vehicle gridlock. They tell you the charges are fast. It takes two hours to charge a car. NBC's Adrienne Broaddus is there. Here in the Chicago suburb, it's so cold, electric car batteries are dying rapidly. Some drivers saying they've waited in line at this charging station up to six hours. Tonight, more than 2,200 flights canceled nationwide, according to FlightAware, with the frigid temps and snow also creating dangerous conditions on the roads.

And from Colorado to Ohio, the cold meant class dismissed. We were all shivering and shaking. Everybody had too much of a shaky voice. We couldn't really do much. Spare a thought for multiple cities in the South now facing possible record lows. As Nashville yesterday saw more snowfall in a single day than what's typical for the entire year. That same storm working its way up the east coast, delivering some fun for this driver in Kentucky and ending a snow drought from D.C. to New York, which had gone more than 700 days without an inch of snow. I was learning so long I almost forgot how to do it. This is Hugo's first time in the snow. Do you like it, Hugo?

What do you think? And Central Park is a winter wonderland. Go! In the Northeast, we could get hit with more snow on Friday and Saturday. And then tonight, over on the West Coast, they're expecting ice, rain, and snow from Washington to Northern California. Lester. Okay, Erin, thanks. In the Bahamas, a 10-year-old boy from Maryland is reported in stable condition

after being attacked by a shark. Police say the boy was bitten on the leg while taking part in a wildlife encounter program at a resort on Paradise Island. Last month, a woman from Boston was killed in a shark attack off Nassau in the Bahamas. In 60 seconds, the toll on children of war in Gaza. The call for aid as kids fend for themselves and their younger brothers and sisters. Richard Engel reports next. Israel says it will soon scale down its offensive against Hamas in southern Gaza, but ruled out a ceasefire. Meanwhile, the children of Gaza are paying an awful price in this war. Richard Engel reports. For the one million children in Gaza, life has become unbearable. Mohammed al-Yazaji is 13 years old and now has more responsibilities than he ever imagined.

With his mother killed in an Israeli airstrike and his father missing, presumed still buried under rubble. Mohammed is taking care of his seven brothers and sisters. They live in a tent in Rafah. Israel ordered Palestinians to come here in southern Gaza for their own safety as Israeli troops battle Hamas. A pile of clothing and blankets is all Mohammed's family has left. I want this war to end and to go back to school and be with my friends, he says. Instead, every morning, Mohamed collects firewood and has learned to cook for his siblings. With no money at all, neighbors sometimes give him handouts. But it's not nearly

enough, so he joins the scramble at the food lines. Children can wait for up to eight hours for a single pot of soup. Mohamed's youngest sister is still a newborn, but he can't get her to drink the formula a shopkeeper gave him. He tries to sing like his mother did, but he doesn't know how to soothe a baby. Also in Rafah are Nadine and Jude Abdel Latif. She's also 13, also from Gaza City. She's moved six times to escape the fighting before ending up here. What we're living is horrible and we're practically living like animals

and we shouldn't live like that. We should live like human beings. Medically vulnerable children have been pushed over the edge. In October, we visited a home for disabled children in Gaza City and saw Yas, blind and with debilitating complex needs. He and the others have also been displaced to Rafah, now living in a garage. He's become very stiff without the medicine he needs to relax his uncontrollable muscle contractions. I don't want our future to live like this. I want it to be changed. And now the U.N. says famine has arrived in Gaza with what an official described as incredible speed. Lester. Richard, thank you. Just in tonight, a major roadblock

in the proposed $4 billion mega merger between JetBlue and Spirit Airlines. A federal judge today blocking the deal after the Justice Department sued, saying it was anti-competitive and would harm consumers. The airlines can't appeal the ruling. And that's nightly news for this Tuesday. Thanks for watching, everyone. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.