NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Episode Date: September 4, 2024

New mass protest in Israel over continuing Gaza war; Russian missile attack kills more than 50 in Ukraine; Former aide to NY governor charged for acting as an unregistered agent of China; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, rage in the streets with a third night of mass protests in the Middle East. Outrage and mourning after the killing of six Israeli hostages in Hamas custody. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defiant as backlash mounts. And just in, the new U.S. charges against top Hamas leaders, all as the administration struggles to reach a deal to get the remaining hostages out. Plus, some of Russia's deadliest missile strikes on Ukraine since the war began. Dozens at a military academy killed. And what President Zelensky is telling our Richard Engel in an exclusive interview

about his bold operation inside Russian territory and his plan for victory. The high-level political aide charged of being a secret agent for China, which she and her husband are accused of doing in exchange for millions of dollars. NFL standout Ricky Pearsall back in the weight room days after being shot in San Francisco. His teammates' reaction at why a hero police officer told him, quote, it's not your time, as he held on. Plus, millions losing Medicaid over paperwork, red tape, and bureaucratic mistakes, including children. Why is it happening and what could be

done to stop it? We asked a top governor for answers. And Ezra Frecht shocked the world as he came from behind to win the 100 meters at the Paralympics. Now, there's good news tonight in his next quest for gold. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening. It is great to be back with you. We begin tonight in Israel, a population rapidly approaching its wits end. Tonight, thousands of Israeli citizens once more filling the streets, marching in mass protests against an Israeli government that many believe has failed them. And failed, Hamas held hostages still in custody 11 months into this conflict. The breaking point for many, the murders of six hostages at the hands of their Hamas captors

among the dead Israeli-American Hirsch Goldberg Poland. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tonight refusing calls to retreat, dimming hopes for a ceasefire and prisoner swap. And there was late word tonight the U.S. Justice Department has taken action against the leaders of the October 7th attack. Our Raf Sanchez has been covering this war from the beginning and starts us off tonight from Tel Aviv. Tonight, thousands rallying outside Israel's defense ministry as the largest protests since the start of the war surge on. Public fury mounting over Hamas's murder of these six young hostages and the Israeli government's failure to bring them back alive.

Our government are heartless people. Night after night, protesters have taken to the streets demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu make a deal to bring the remaining hostages home. The question is, will he listen? So far, the answer is no. These murderers executed six of our hostages. They shot them in the back of the head. And now after this, we're asked to show seriousness. We're asked to make concessions. Netanyahu refusing to withdraw Israeli troops from the Egypt-Gaza border,

saying a retreat would allow Hamas to rearm. But it's a key stumbling block in negotiations. Egypt tonight accusing him of obstructing a ceasefire deal. The U.S. says it's against the presence of Israeli troops in Gaza long term. We've made clear that we are opposed to the reoccupation of Gaza. Alex Lobanov, a father of two, was among the hostages killed. A source tells NBC News his widow refused to meet Netanyahu during a condolence visit. The Israeli leader has not met the family of American hostage Hirsch Goldberg Poland, who was buried yesterday in Jerusalem. Finally, my sweet boy, finally, finally, finally, finally you're free.

Israel carrying out more strikes in Gaza today, but the U.N. says it's pushing on with a polio vaccination campaign, getting doses to more than 160,000 children over two days, even as war rages around them. And, Rath, the Justice Department announced terrorism charges against Hamas leaders in connection with the October 7th attack. What do they mean? Lester, of the six men indicted, three have already been killed by Israel. The main living figure is Yahya Sinwar, Hamas's top leader, who's in Gaza. And if anyone is going to find him, it's much more likely to be Israeli troops than U.S. law enforcement. Lester.

All right, Raf Sanchez, thank you. Now to Ukraine in our exclusive interview with President Zelensky, coming just after one of the deadliest Russian airstrikes since the war began. Richard Engel is there for us tonight. Ukraine says two Russian missiles hit a military academy and a nearby hospital in the Ukrainian city of Poltava, killing dozens. What can you tell us about what happened? That's another tragedy in Ukraine. There was a missile strike. The missile flew some three minutes and people didn't have time to go to shelter.

But was it a revenge attack? The strike was just over the border from the Kursk region in Russia, which Ukraine occupied last month. In his first interview since his surprise incursion, Ukraine's President Zelensky today told NBC News invading Russia was a preemptive strike to stop Russia from taking more of Ukraine. We did have understanding from our intelligence that Russia was planning to set up a buffer zone. We had to make the military operations so that the buffer zone was made not by them but by us. Now you've captured this territory in Russia. So the big question is, what do you plan to do with it? We don't need the Russian territory. Our operation is aimed to restore our territorial integrity. We don't need their land. But conceptually, you have this territory now. You say you don't want to keep it long term.

Conceptually, we will hold it. Conceptually, we will hold it. He told us they kept the operation secret. Did you really not inform the Washington, the Biden administration that you plan to do this? No, we didn't inform anybody. And this is not the question of distrust. We informed many institutions in our state, inside Ukraine. Do you think your international partners will go along with you? The United States signed up to defend Ukraine and defend Ukraine's borders and push out the Russian troops.

I'm not sure the U.S. signed up for Ukraine occupying Russia. Our partners do know that we have the full right for that because we were protecting ourselves. Is the plan to take more territory? With all respect, I can't speak about it. I think that the success is very close to surprise. Richard, I know you also asked him about the crash of that F-16 fighter jet that had been provided by the West. What did

he say? He said that incident is still under investigation. He also told me that he plans to brief President Biden, Vice President Harris and Donald Trump this month about what he calls his victory plan for Ukraine and that he was waiting until after the incursion into Russia to do it so that he could show them what Ukraine is capable of. Lester. All right, Richard Engel, thank you. A former top aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul was arrested today on charges of acting as a secret agent of the Chinese government. Chief Justice Contributor Jonathan Deans is following this. And John, according to prosecutors, how did this work? Yeah, well, prosecutors say Linda Sun betrayed her official office by instead acting on requests of Chinese communist government officials. Sun is charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent.

Her husband was also arrested today. He's accused of laundering millions of dollars from China into the U.S. The couple pleaded not guilty in federal court. According to the indictment, the scheme went on for years. In return, Sun and her husband were allegedly given business opportunities in China and luxury gifts. The FBI says the pair used that money to buy a $4 million home on Long Island and a $2 million condo in Hawaii. Governor Hochul's office says Sun was fired last year after evidence of misconduct was discovered, Lester.

All right, Jonathan Dean, thank you. Just nine weeks now until Election Day, with both the Harris and Trump campaigns intensifying their efforts in key battleground states. And we're getting new details on how they are prepping for their critical debate. Here's Gabe Gutierrez. Tonight, the final stretch of the 2024 presidential race is underway. Vice President Harris is set to return to Pennsylvania on Thursday, campaigning with President Biden there just yesterday. Donald Trump is trying to pull us

backward, including back to a time before workers had the freedom to organize. While former President Trump will be in the state tomorrow after holding a rally there just days ago, blasting Harris for changing her position and now opposing a fracking ban, a key industry in Pennsylvania. She's vowed repeatedly that we will ban fracking. The people of Pennsylvania are smart. They're not going to fall for it. Later in the week, he'll head to Wisconsin and North Carolina, where the first general election ballots will be mailed out this Friday. In a razor-thin race. She has a backbone like a ramrod.

She has the moral compass of a saint. This woman knows what she's doing. Today, the former president off the trail, but on the attack. I don't know how people can vote for somebody that has destroyed our country, the inflation, the bad economy. But to me, in a way, the worst is what they've allowed to happen at our border. The next major milestone in the race, next week's debate. A Harris campaign official tells NBC News she'll continue her debate prep Thursday in Pittsburgh, while senior Trump campaign officials say former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is helping him sharpen policy attacks. But tonight, Harris's team is still calling for a change to the rules. During the last debate, at the request of the Biden campaign, mics were muted while the other candidate was speaking to prevent interruptions.

Now the Harris team wants the mics unmuted at all times. Tomorrow, the vice president is heading to New Hampshire, where she'll announce a proposal to expand small business tax deductions. The Harris campaign has aired multiple TV ads focused on her economic message as she tries to cut down on Trump's lead on the issue. Lester. All right. Gabe Gutierrez of the White House. Thanks. A San Francisco 49ers rookie has rejoined his team just days after being shot in the chest. Now we're hearing from the police officer whose quick actions may have saved his life. Here's Steve Patterson. Tonight, San Francisco 49ers team practice underway as rookie

star Ricky Pearsall reportedly already back on his feet after being shot in the chest over the weekend. The team's radio analyst saying he spoke to Pearsall in the weight room on Monday. By the grace of God, Ricky Pearsall is here with the team and doing really well. Police say the 23-year-old was the victim of an attempted robbery Saturday afternoon, shot in broad daylight while walking alone in the city's bustling Union Square. I heard the... Sergeant Joelle Harrell says she rushed to the sound of gunfire, finding Pearsall bleeding on the ground. I see him look down and he looks at me.

He goes, am I going to die? And I'm just like, no. I take off my hat because I wanted to make eye contact with him. I wanted him to hear me. And I said to him, listen, look at me. I know you don't know me, but I want you to trust me. It's not your time. Police say multiple shots were fired in the struggle between Pearsall and the 17-year-old suspect, who was shot by his own gun. The Niners drafted Pearsall as a first-round pick. He was set for his big debut next week on Monday Night Football.

But his life and livelihood saved, thanks in part to the focus of another, wearing a very different San Francisco uniform. I want you to be strong like you are out in the field. Just breathe. He did it, and that helped so much. Steve Patterson, NBC News. Powerful interview there. In 60 seconds, the mounting landslide crisis in one Southern California community, why it's forced power to be cut off to hundreds of homes. We'll tell you more right after this. We're back now with a slow motion disaster in Southern California where a landslide crisis poses an accelerating threat.

Morgan Chesky is on hand and Morgan, the scope here is pretty massive. Yeah, Lester, it absolutely is. And unfortunately, this is just a glimpse of some of the damage that's already been caused here. Tonight, streets are shutting down and some homes are borderline unreachable. All as this crisis deepens by the day. Tonight, a state of emergency on the California coast. Threats of landslides forcing drastic measures in the seaside community of Rancho Palos Verdes, where streets are closing as they crumble. We have made the very difficult decision to disconnect power indefinitely.

Officials issuing evacuation warnings after the utility provider cut power to more than 240 homes. It should have given us 30 days, so we get ready for it. Southern California Edison blames shifting soil for a fallen power line, sparking a recent fire. The sudden shutoff adding to an already growing nightmare for residents like Mike Hong. You've lost power. You've had your gas line closed off. You have intermittent water. Why haven't you left? Well, we don't really have an option. Leave and go where? Geologists say the slide rate has accelerated due to back-to-back winters of heavy rain, in some areas moving more than a foot a week, even creating an entirely new coastline. This is an ever-changing crisis as we navigate through this, and we need to be prepared.

That is the only way we can stay safe. Hong has watched one of several earthen cracks chew through neighbors' property. If we don't get help, eventually this place will be gone. Dreams dashed from a slow-motion disaster. Morgan Chesky, NBC News, Rancho Palos Verdes. And up next for us here tonight, why nearly 25 million Americans have lost Medicaid benefits. We asked top leaders what they're doing to fix it. Millions of low-income and disabled Americans have lost their Medicaid health benefits as states re-examine who qualifies for the program. But advocates say too many lost coverage due to technical errors or red tape.

Here's Jesse Kirsch. Lauren Aiken is legally blind, confined to a wheelchair with cerebral palsy. Even though she's 34 years old, this Jacksonville, Florida resident cannot do much alone. You need help with everything from getting up to preparing meals to going out in the community. I need help, I would say almost 24-7. And yet for more than a month, Aiken says she was alone overnight after the state of Florida revoked her essential Medicaid coverage. It was pure panic because I'm like, what the heck happened? During the pandemic, the federal government required states to keep providing health care coverage to Medicaid recipients, even if they lost their eligibility.

Then the public health emergency went away, and eligibility rules came back last year for the program that's supposed to help low-income and disabled Americans. Since then, more than 25 million people have lost coverage during what's been dubbed the unwinding of Medicaid. And according to a health policy research group, roughly 70 percent of those who lost coverage did so because of procedural reasons like paperwork issues, though some may genuinely not qualify anymore. Kimberly Bryant helps lead Aiken's care team. She says Aiken received digital notices that were not sent to her care coordinators.

Even if she did find this online, would she have been able to read this? No. She can't see that because she's legally blind. Many patient advocates say Florida's unwinding has been particularly sloppy. And it's caused me a lot of stress. They estimate thousands of disabled people, like Lauren, are being impacted in that state alone. And now plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit allege the state has violated the constitutional rights of tens of thousands of Floridians, ending coverage without adequate notice and with little or no explanation

of the actual reason. We repeatedly asked Florida officials for comment, which they never gave. So we went to a press conference to ask Governor Ron DeSantis why people who should have Medicaid lost coverage. The secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families stepped in to say this. We're committed to ensuring that anyone who is eligible maintains coverage. We do have an appointment Friday. But without coverage, Bryant says she took out personal loans to pay Aiken's care team. I love that over $12,000 now. $12,000?

Yes. Of your money? My money. Why would you put out $12,000 for somebody who have only known months? I guess because if it was me, I wouldn't want somebody to care. I couldn't walk away. Late last week, Lauren Aiken's care team says her coverage was restored. It took almost three months and a team of people helping her. Meanwhile, Aiken says she's lost faith in the system that's supposed to help her live life to the fullest. If it can happen to me, it can happen

to anybody. Jesse Kirsch, NBC News, Jacksonville, Florida. And coming up here tonight, first he came from behind to strike gold sprinting. Well, just in tonight, Ezra Freck reaching new heights in the Paralympics. We'll tell you about it next. Finally, there's good news tonight. American Paralympian Ezra Freck winning his second goal. Emily Akeda now on his dominance in Paris. This is the jump Ezra Freck dreamed of. 1.94 meters for Paralympic gold. Freck will not be denied.

Freck overcome with emotion, celebrating with his family in the stands. I can't even put it into words. I swear I put everything into this. I put everything into this. So to come out here, win two goals, especially the high jump, oh, I've literally, I'm the happiest man alive. I can't even tell you. The 19-year-old is now a two-time Paralympic gold medalist after pulling off a stunning upset in the 100 meter just yesterday.

He is gone. But the medal he wanted more than anything was the gold in his signature event, the high jump, looking for redemption after a heartbreaking fifth place at the last Paralympics. What does the gold medal mean to you? This means so much to me. I did what I feel I was put on this earth to do, which is high jump, elevate the Paralympic movement. Freck, who was born with congenital limb differences, have been counting down to today on social media. Day one of 100 until I win Paralympic gold. As he trained for the Games, he told Lester visualizing and sharing his goals is a key to his success.

I think most people fail to vocalize their goals because they're afraid they're not going to accomplish them. I think in order to accomplish something, you must believe you're capable first. That's the first step to accomplishing greatness. Tonight, greatness achieved. Emily Ikeda, NBC News, Paris. I have never met a more focused athlete. Congratulations to him. That's nightly news for this Tuesday. Thanks for watching. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.