NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Episode Date: October 16, 2024

Harris courts Black voters in Michigan after unusual Trump town hall; Harris tries to put Trump's age front and center; Growing concerns about cleanup and misinformation more than two weeks after Helene; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the race for the White House, early voting breaking records in a critical battleground with just three weeks to go. The long lines as voters cast their early ballots in Georgia. Donald Trump traveling to that key swing state for a pair of events, while Kamala Harris takes part in an audio town hall in Michigan as she ramps up her outreach to black men. And the moment Mr. Trump turned his Pennsylvania town hall into an unusual dance party, Harris seizing on it to question his mental fitness.

Now he's firing back. Also tonight, new details after an Afghan man was arrested in Oklahoma for an alleged election day terror plot. Officials now saying it was directed by ISIS-K. And what makes this plot so different? In North Carolina, more than 80 people still unaccounted for weeks after Hurricane Helene. And after the arrest of an armed man, the governor's new plea to stop dangerous misinformation.

The woman fatally shot while exercising on a Nashville walking trail and just in, the suspect under arrest. The new warning to Israel, why the U.S. says it could cut military aid. Lufthansa hit with a record fine for alleged discrimination against Jewish passengers. And there's good news tonight as giant pandas finish their long journey back to the National Zoo. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome. The road to the White House is in the fast lane tonight with energized voters in Georgia setting new records on the state's first day of early voting. By 3.30 this

afternoon, over 230,000 ballots cast. The long lines underscoring the results of the latest NBC News poll, which shows 52 percent of voters say they plan to vote early in this election. Both former President Trump and Vice President Harris on blistering paces of their own tonight, hopping between appearances and interviews. Harris in Detroit making a plea to black men. Trump facing questions about his age in a high profile interview as the Harris campaign tries to shift the conversation to fitness for office. A lot to get to as we enter the final three weeks of the race. Gabe Gutierrez leads us off again tonight. Tonight, after polls showing momentum for former president trump vice president harris is in battleground michigan courting black voters you can't let anybody take you out of the game by not

voting the solutions are not going to happen just overnight harris also ramping up her attacks on trump donald trump is increasingly unstable and unhinged. While today, the former president touting his plans for tariffs, he says, protect American jobs. To me, the most beautiful word in the dictionary is tariff. But he was also pressed after he previously said he'd not spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin since leaving office. Well, I don't comment on that, but I will tell you that if I did, it's a smart thing. It all comes after his unusual town hall in crucial Pennsylvania overnight.

A doctor, please. Cut short following two medical episodes in the audience as many complained about the heat. Personally, I enjoy this. We lose weight. Would anybody else like to faint? Then, for more than a half hour, Trump played DJ and swayed to some of his favorite songs. Let's just listen to music. Who the hell wants to hear questions, right? Meanwhile, here in Battleground, Georgia, early voting is now underway. Election officials say more than 200,000 people cast ballots today, shattering the state's record.

A new NBC News poll shows half of Americans plan to vote early or have already done so, including Harris supporter Mark Evans. Why are you supporting Kamala Harris? I feel that she's the better option for people that look like me. And now, after years of Trump vilifying early and mail-in voting, tonight the former president is urging his supporters here to cast their ballot as soon as possible. This couple just did. I think we are having an existential crisis that we need to make sure we get the vote in. And another development in this state,

a county judge here just ruled that Georgia election officials must certify ballot results, rejecting attempts by Republicans to give those officials more power if they suspect voter fraud. Lester. All right, Gabe Gutierrez starting us off. Thanks. And the Harris campaign this evening zeroing in on that unusual campaign event by former President Trump to try to cast doubt on his fitness to be president again. Hallie Jackson with more on this. Vice President Harris looking to flip the script against former President Trump, putting his age and health front and center. Her campaign pointing to Mr. Trump's unusual

soundtrack session overnight after that pause for medical help for audience members. Mr. Trump today calling the interlude amazing and a great evening. I was dancing with it. I loved it. But the Harris campaign suggesting Mr. Trump appeared lost, confused and frozen as Democrats ramp up a push to cast doubt on Mr. Trump's mental fitness. He's confused. He's a nearly 80 year old man. They're pointing to stumbles like this one. If everybody gets out and votes on January 5th or before the election on November 5th and highlighting his digressions. Did you ever hear of Hannibal Lections and run-ons,

like one described by a former Republican congressman as a heaping pile of hot mess. He's asking, are all these, they only take, they don't take like I do. Anybody wants to go, go, what the hell difference does it make? They have, and how, how dishonest was ABC? The former president has touted his rhetorical roundabouts. You know, I do the weave. As intentional. I'll talk about like nine different things and they all come back brilliantly together. But the fake news, you know what they say? He rambled. And today, trying to turn the focus instead to Vice President Harris. I don't think she could

pass a cognitive test. The Trump campaign says the former president has more energy and more stamina than anyone in politics and is the smartest leader this country has ever seen. And they've highlighted some of Vice President Harris's unscripted moments, including this Monday they called low energy word salad. There is so much about what is at stake that is, frankly, the need for us to fight for the things that we hold dear, that we have always had to fight for, but must continue to fight for. But polls show far more voters think she has the necessary mental and physical health to serve, with a 20-point lead on the question, a stark reversal from Mr. Trump's nearly 30-point margin over President Biden. And former President Trump remains under pressure from Democrats to release

his medical records after saying in August he would. Lester. All right, Hallie, thanks. New details tonight about the Afghan suspect arrested in the U.S. for an alleged terror plot on Election Day. Tom Winter is here. Tom, what do officials know about this? Well, Lester, an Afghan man arrested by the FBI here in the U.S. last week was plotting an Election Day attack directed by ISIS-K, the ISIS branch based in Afghanistan, according to two U.S. officials. Nasir Tawadi was allegedly going to commit a mass shooting. He has yet to enter a plea. This is significant because most would-be attackers over the past 10 years have been self-radicalized so-called lone wolves. Now the same group behind the attack that killed 130 near Moscow is believed to be responsible for planning an attack on our

election day, officials say. The U.S. has been successful in identifying recent terror plots, including an ISIS-inspired plot against a Taylor Swift concert this summer. Lester. All right, Tom Witter, thanks. The governor of North Carolina says 81 people remain unaccounted for after Hurricane Helene, and officials say the recovery is being made all the more difficult by a wave of misinformation. Kathy Park has that story. Tonight, more than two weeks since Hurricane Helene tore its path of destruction through western North Carolina, recovery efforts are being complicated by what officials are calling a persistent and dangerous flow of misinformation. FEMA making operational adjustments in recent days to protect staff, after authorities say an armed man was arrested for allegedly threatening federal workers.

We have over 2,000 people from the federal family in North Carolina and misinformation will not deter us from our mission of helping people. Governor Roy Cooper back in the disaster zone today. There are so many people who are still barely getting by. What are you telling them weeks into this disaster? That we are working to try and draw down every avenue of local, state, and federal support. I think it can safely be described as the worst storm in North Carolina history. And Wayna Smith and her two kids have been without clean running water and electricity for weeks. I had to teach my babies how to brush their teeth and wash their bodies with a bottle of water last week. You know, we didn't have any water. We didn't have any electric. And it was so dark.

My baby was like, mommy, it's so dark. I was like, just go to sleep. That's the only thing you can do. It's devastating. Schools across Asheville closed since Helene hit, now scrambling to reopen. We don't really have running water yet in the schools. Is that the biggest holdup? That would be the number one holdup.

Chrissy Maynor, a single mom of two, showed us how she's surviving without access to basic necessities. I was having to go to the creek down here and get water to flush the toilets. A harsh reality setting in for this lifelong Asheville resident. It's heartbreaking to see so much loss in such a beautiful place that is now destroyed, that's never going to be the same. And adding to the challenge tonight, President Biden says the SBA disaster loan program has run out of money. It provides low interest loans to disaster survivors. The president is calling on Congress to approve more funding. Lester.

A long and difficult recovery. Kathy, thank you. In Nashville late today, police announced the arrest of a suspect in the fatal shooting of a woman who was exercising on a popular walking trail. 34-year-old Alyssa Lockett was found with a gunshot wound and died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The suspect was identified as 29-year-old Paul Park of Brentwood, Tennessee. Police say they do not appear to know each other. And in the Middle East, a U.S. missile defense system arrived in Israel today, along with American troops to operate it, even as the U.S. is now threatening to withhold future military aid to Israel because of conditions in Gaza. Erin McLaughlin is in Tel Aviv tonight with more. Erin.

Lester, the Biden administration is giving Israel 30 days to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza or it could cut military aid to Israel. Human rights groups today said 400,000 Palestinians in northern Gaza are trapped, starving and being bombed. Meanwhile, in response to Iran's October 1st missile attack, three senior Biden administration officials tell NBC News Israel has informed the U.S. it plans to limit any counter strikes against Iran to military targets rather than striking Iran's oil or nuclear assets. Tonight, the news is being seen in the region as a potential de-escalation. Lester. Erin McLaughlin, thank you. Tonight, Texas is a step closer to executing a man with autism that many believe is innocent in the 2002 death of his two-year-old daughter. If put to death on Thursday, as scheduled, 57-year-old Robert Robertson will become the

first person in the U.S. executed based on the now highly controversial shaken baby syndrome diagnosis. Today, a district judge denied a motion by Roberson's lawyers to toss the execution warrant against him. Tomorrow, a Texas board is expected to make a recommendation to the governor as to whether he should spare Roberson's life. I met Roberson on death row three weeks ago. You know, I'm not focusing on that because I would like to believe that the governor and the parole board would do the right thing. His plight has generated bipartisan support among politicians, medical experts and even the detective who arrested him, all calling for his execution to be halted. We'll take a break right here. And in 60 seconds, the crushing cost of elder care, a burden for a growing number of American

families, our in-depth look at one family going through it and how the presidential candidates would deal with it right after this. With a record number of Americans set to turn 65 this year, the cost of senior care is coming into sharp focus, especially as more people look to stay in their homes as they age. Christine Romans with more now in our series, The Cost of Living. Good work. Here in rural Wisconsin, Chuck and Sharon Zimmer's plan for their golden years was interrupted. Come on. When the tech came out, she shook my hand and she said, the doctor's going to call you. My gut was saying he's got Alzheimer's. Anything else you want to do in between? In 2018, the Zimmer's impending

retirement rocked by that diagnosis. Sharon left her job one year shy of her 65th birthday, determined to take care of Chuck at home. Everything that we worked hard for is going back into his care. So you retired from your job to take on another job that is not paid. Correct. So we saw our savings dwindle and dwindle and dwindle. Their financial burden is common and top of mind for many voters in swing states like Wisconsin, where 580,000 unpaid family caregivers spend an average of $7,000 a year in out-of-pocket costs, according to AARP. The tally even higher for families caring for someone with dementia, more than $240,000 in the last seven years of life. Look at the bluffs way over there.

To say nothing of lost income when a partner like Sharon leaves a job to take care of a loved one. I kind of like your one-stop shop. Kelsey Flock helps families connect with local resources. If your loved one is diagnosed younger, they're losing their retirement. They're losing their income. Maybe losing the primary caregiver's health insurance. No wonder among women voters 50 and older, the cost of living, including retirement savings and caregiving duties, tops concerns. The grass is always greener on the other side of the rainbow. Six years since Chuck's diagnosis, the bills pile up.

Medicare covers his medications, but not nursing home or in-home care. They spend up to $1,440 a month for a private aid, but that's just three-hour visits three days a week. Then there's transportation and home security. If Chuck is out there getting the mail, and I'm like, that should be like a minute to come back in, he's not, I can pull it up on my phone. In fact, the Zimmers recently packed up the home they loved. They're downsizing to an apartment to save money.

But 41 years married. What's this remind you of? Golf. They live without regrets. This was Kentucky Derby right after Chuck was diagnosed. And cherish memories as best they can. When the money's gone and he passes away and I did the best that I could and I kept him home, I'm okay being broke. I'm okay saying the state's going to take care of you now because I did the best I could. Lester, Vice President Kamala Harris recently proposed expanding Medicare to include in-home elder care. And the Trump campaign says his economic agenda would lower prices and eliminate taxes on Social Security to help seniors and their caregivers. It's a story that's going to resonate in a lot of living rooms tonight. Thank you, Christine.

After a short break, the major recall of processed meat sold by some of the country's biggest markets and a record fine for a major airline accused of discriminating against a group of passengers. Stay with us. We're back now with a consumer alert. Nearly 10 million pounds of meat has been recalled due to possible listeria contamination. The recall affects ready-to-eat products made by a company called Bruce Pack and sold at stores nationwide, including Walmart, Kroger and Trader Joe's.

The products were produced between June 19th and October 8th. Also tonight, Lufthansa, Germany's flagship airline, has been hit with a historic $4 million fine by the U.S. DOT after it was accused of discriminating against Jewish passengers. We get more now from Sam Brock. Tonight, the federal government taking unprecedented steps. Is there an official explanation for why? Wait a moment, please. After a May 2022 Lufthansa flight carrying mostly Jewish passengers from New York City to Budapest, heard this when the plane stopped for a connection in Frankfurt. Due to an operational reason, we have to cancel your flight.

No, no, no, no. The Department of Transportation fined Lufthansa $4 million, a record for a civil rights violation, against an airline, saying Lufthansa prohibited 128 Jewish passengers, most of whom wore distinctive garb typically worn by Orthodox Jewish men, from boarding their connecting flight. That was due to allegations some passengers weren't following masking protocols. It's the toughest enforcement action that I have seen for a civil rights violation. On the website, Dan's Deals, a popular site for Jewish travelers. This is 2022. This exchange between a passenger and Lufthansa drawing outrage. Jewish people who were the mess,

who made the problems. So Jewish people on the plane made a problem so all Jews are banned from Lufthansa for the day. Just for this flight. Lufthansa condemned the incident at the time and wrote in a statement today, it's introducing a first-of-its-kind training program to address anti-Semitism and is dedicated to being an ambassador of goodwill, tolerance, diversity, and acceptance. Now a DOT declaration not to let this kind of behavior go unpunished. Sam Brock, NBC News. And up next for us tonight, the special delivery causing a new outbreak of pandemonium. There's good news

tonight. Next. Finally, after saying goodbye to its giant pandas, there is good news tonight at the National Zoo. Here's Tom Costello. Touching down at Washington Dulles Airport, the FedEx Panda Express, its precious cargo tracked by news helicopters, and a police escort for high-level Chinese diplomats. The dignitaries, two three-year-olds, Bao Li, a male whose name means treasure and energetic, and Ching Bao, a female whose name means green and treasure. It's just so much excitement, so much joy to welcome them to our city. It's all part of a global breeding and conservation program that's moved the pandas from the endangered list to vulnerable.

If you want to save a species, you have to make more of them. And so that's something we've really done. It was last November when 51 years of pandamania came to an end and the Smithsonian's last three pandas flew home, just as U.S.-Chinese relations grew tense. But then China announced the pandas would return. Two arrived in San Diego in June. Now a 10-year loan agreement with the National Zoo paying China a million dollars a year. For the first 30 days, the pandas will be in quarantine to ensure they don't bring any parasites or infectious diseases to other animals here at the zoo. Today, the zoo was closed as staff worked to get their new residents settled.

Soon, they'll move to an upgraded panda habitat, then make their public debut in January as a half-century of panda detente returns to the nation's capital. Tom Costello, NBC News, Washington. A whole lot of cute to end the broadcast. That's nightly news. Thanks for watching. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.