NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Episode Date: June 20, 2024

Tropical Storm Alberto lashes Texas as heat wave persists; Putin and Kim Jong Un sign strategic partnership, deepening ties; Netanyahu accuses U.S. of withholding military aid for Israel; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the first named storm of the year bearing down on the U.S. as tens of millions swelter under extreme heat. Tropical storm Alberto forming in the Gulf of Mexico, bringing heavy rain, high winds and coastal flooding to Texas. First responders rescuing people by boat. And it comes as that relentless heat wave stretches from Michigan to Maine, while in New Mexico, raging wildfires turn deadly. Also tonight, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un signing a historic pact,

vowing Russia and North Korea will defend each other if they're attacked, how it could impact the war in Ukraine and raise nuclear threats. Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu clashing with the White House, the war of words after the prime minister accused the U.S. of withholding weapons for months, the multi-state manhunt for a triple homicide suspect considered armed and dangerous, the new law, the first state to require the Ten Commandments displayed in all public school classrooms, our series Justice for All, jails accused of banning in-person visits for profit. And the moment

during our interview when one sheriff admits he was wrong. Remembering one of the best to ever play the game, the legendary Willie Mays and the historic flight, black veterans traveling to the nation's capital in honor of Juneteenth. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome. As we come on the air tonight, Tropical Storm Alberto is churning across the Gulf of Mexico on track for making an early morning landfall. The first storm of the Atlantic season is packing 40 mile per hour sustained winds and already creating considerable troubles as it makes its approach. While eastern Mexico is the likely bullseye of the storm, the heavy rains, high tides and storm surged are already bringing coastal flooding to Texas, inundating roads and properties. As much

as five to 10 inches of rain is possible across southeast Texas through tomorrow, bringing a risk of flash floods. And tonight, we are also tracking the brutal heat in the northeast. Today, more records expected to fall. But let's begin with Tropical Storm Alberto. Sam Brock is in Texas. Tropical Storm Alberto has unleashed fury tonight on Texas. The storm surge slamming seawalls in Galveston, tormenting Rockport with torrents of water and rendering Gulfside communities in Freeport virtual lakes. How high was the water?

Thigh high. Yeah, at least mid-thigh. Yeah, it was hard. It was hard to walk in, especially down this stretch. The current, you could feel it. Vacationers Dustin Leeds and Christine Martin went to sleep on dry land, now surrounded by water. There was no evacuation order, you know, so nobody really knew how bad it was going to get. And it's not just this development with dozens and dozens of homes underwater. All you got to do is cross the street and you have basically the exact same situation on the other side of the road with probably hundreds of people flooded out tonight. Challenging access for first responders who had to team up with fire crews. Trying to get your ambulance into a lot of these neighborhoods, how difficult is it?

It's very difficult. It's impossible. We wouldn't be able to drive into Treasure Island, which is right behind you. There's very few houses we can get to on our own. In Surfside Beach, rescuers coming to the aid of stranded residents by boat as Texas prepped about 20 agencies for emergency action. The flooding in our south, coming as heat and fire impact millions across the country. Raging New Mexico infernos have now claimed two lives, including a talented guitarist from Ruidosa. While a heat wave smothers about 65 million people from the Great Lakes to the northeast. Few tonight feeling good about this weather nightmare. We've just never been through anything like this before, and we're just going to have to take it one day at a time.

And Sam, looks like this isn't over yet. No, Lester, it's not. We are expecting more rain, but the bigger issue might be high tide projected tomorrow for about 5.15 in the morning at a higher level than what we saw today, Lester. Down this road about a half mile is the bay. You cannot tell right now where the bay ends and the road starts. Lester. All right, Sam Brock starting us off. Thank you. In North Korea, the growing alliance between Kim Jong-un and Russia's Vladimir Putin was on full display, raising concerns in the U.S. tonight. Here's Janice Mackey-Frayer. Tonight, North Korea's Kim Jong-un pulling out all the stops in an elaborately choreographed state visit for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The outcast and sanctioned leaders

side by side reviewing troops, cheered by crowds of children with balloons. Then in the front seat with Putin behind the wheel. Earlier, a friendly debate over who would be first into Kim's car, which was a gift from Putin last year. The two unveiled a strategic defense treaty promising mutual assistance in case either country faces aggression. The details of it not spelled out, but both calling it a breakthrough. The deepening alliance raising alarms for the U.S. and the West, who have worked to isolate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Putin has turned to North Korea, which according

to U.S. officials, has already sent millions of rounds of ammunition, artillery shells, and missiles to help Russia's war effort. North Korea is providing significant munitions to Russia and other weapons for use in Ukraine. A looming worry what North Korea might gain from Russia in return, including access to the sort of military technologies that could enhance Kim's nuclear, missile and satellite programs. The visit and all its fanfare doing little to ease concerns. Putin has invited Kim Jong-un to visit him in Moscow. All of it meant to telegraph that Russia is not without friends. And for the U.S. and its allies, that's a worry.

Lester. Janice Mackey-Frayer tonight. Thank you. And there is new tension tonight between the U.S. and Israel after sharp criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that sparked a swift response from the White House. Kelly O'Donnell has that story. Tonight, a new and very public breach in a pivotal partnership over the flow of U.S. weapons to Israel,

after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leveled a stinging accusation, posting a video, notably spoken in English, for an American audience. It's inconceivable that in the past few months, the administration has been withholding weapons and ammunitions to Israel, Israel, America's closest ally. Israel says it must defeat Hamas and secure the release of hostages. During World War II, Churchill told the United States, give us the tools, we'll do the job. And I say, give us the tools and we'll finish the job a lot faster. But his charge has been met with surprise at the White House. We generally do not know what he's talking about.

The fallout was swift. A meeting expected tomorrow with Israeli officials in Washington is off for now. That session to discuss threats from Iran is described as postponed. U.S. officials say they will not reward Israel with such a meeting in response to the Netanyahu video. In May, the Biden administration publicly acknowledged it paused delivery to Israel of a shipment with 2,000-pound bombs. Responding to Netanyahu's message, Secretary Blinken disputed the prime minister's complaint and said that one armed shipment is being evaluated. Because of our concerns about their use in a densely populated area like Rafah,

that remains under review. But everything else is moving as it normally would move. And Kelly, we heard some of the comments in the White House, but the president himself has not weighed in on Netanyahu's new comments. That's right. And tensions remain. The president says he has been direct with Netanyahu's new comments. That's right. And tensions remain. The president says he has been direct with Netanyahu about avoiding civilian casualties and negotiating toward a ceasefire. But tonight, U.S. officials say that Hamas's top leader is still a major holdup preventing a deal.

Lester. All right, Kelly, thank you. There is a manhunt in Arkansas tonight for a suspect in multiple murders. Police say Stacey Lee Drake was seen outside a hotel in Moralton, Arkansas, and is considered armed and dangerous. Police say he's wandered in connection with three killings in Oklahoma and in other areas on robbery, carjacking and murder charges. And here in New York, a suspect is under arrest after a horrifying attack on two teenagers. His arrest coming after Good Samaritan stepped in to help. Here's Rahima Ellis.

Christian Inga was arraigned today in New York City on charges of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl after school last week in a shocking daylight attack. Police say the 25-year-old migrant from Ecuador approached two teens in the park at knife point. According say the 25-year-old migrant from Ecuador approached two teens in the park at knife point. According to the criminal complaint, the suspect tied the boy and girl to one another, gagged them, then raped the girl before fleeing the scene. Police put out the sketch of the suspect and later this video of him riding a bike. Outraged, New Yorkers responded. We waited for him all day. A community of Good Samaritans

recognized the suspect as someone who lived in the neighborhood and waited for him for hours at a grocery store where he was last seen. I see him walking into the store and I had to take him out. The chaotic scene playing out live on the Citizen app. He tried to fight back though. He tried to run for his life. He really tried to run, run, run for his life, but he couldn't. Police say Inga entered the U.S. illegally through Eagle Pass, Texas back in 2021 with his then three-year-old son. He has no prior arrest history in New York City. Authorities credit good police work and a concerned community with leading to the arrest. This was an amazing citywide manhunt for this individual. I am thankful that the community responded.

Inga is charged with multiple crimes, including first-degree rape and kidnapping. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison. Lester? Rahim Ellis, thank you. In Louisiana, the Ten Commandments will now be displayed in every public school classroom under a controversial bill signed into law today by Republican Governor Jeff Laundrie. Louisiana becomes the first state to mandate such a requirement. Opponents say the law is unconstitutional. In 60 seconds, fighting the growing problem of fake pornography targeting everyone from celebrities to kids in school.

Can a bipartisan effort in Congress combat it? Right after this. We're back now with a growing crisis over deep fake pornography made easier with AI technology and targeting everyone from celebrities to innocent teens. Now a bipartisan group of lawmakers is calling for a crackdown. Here's Savannah Sellers. Texas Republican Ted Cruz and Minnesota Democrat Amy Klobuchar joining together to address the disturbing trend of non-consensual intimate images being shared online, including ones created by artificial intelligence.

This is increasingly affecting and targeted at minors. Deepfake porn production up 464% last year, as simple AI technology can make realistic-looking, explicit images of anyone. Actor Jacob Elordi targeted this week in a fake video viewed millions of times. Other stars similarly targeted with face-swapping or nudification technology include Emma Watson, Scarlett Johansson, and Taylor Swift. But it's far from just celebrities. I was just thinking like this is my photo from my Instagram. Why would there be a body that's not mine on it? Elliston Berry says she was 14 when fake explicit images of her created by a classmate in her Texas high school, spread via Snapchat.

Did it feel like there was anything you could do about it? I felt totally helpless as these images were going around. Snapchat says it has zero tolerance for pornography and encourages the use of its reporting tools. But Berry's mother says it was eight months before the social media platform took action in their case. The new bipartisan bill, known as the Take It Down Act, puts the onus on tech companies, requiring them to remove nonconsensual intimate imagery within 48 hours of receiving a credible complaint. And the bill targets individuals, making it a federal crime to publish the images. A crucial step, says legal scholar Marianne Franks. Distribution is important. Yes, the platforms are important,

but making sure that any person who is thinking about doing this to another person thinks twice because they might have to face really serious consequences, that's key. Innocent victims like Elliston Berry, hopeful help is on the way. Savannah Sellers, NBC News. And coming up, thousands of people in jails forced to see loved ones on video calls instead of in person.

Why one sheriff is having a change of heart about it. My report next. Tonight in our series, Justice for All, there are thousands of people in county jails awaiting trial. Many unable to see their children in person, instead forced to pay for video visits. Now that money-making policy is being challenged, one lawsuit filed in Flint, Michigan, where I sat down with a defendant in the case who tells me he's had second thoughts about a policy he once embraced. How you doing today? he once embraced. What begins as excitement ends in tears for Rekhila Harris Dudley and her children. Separated by less than two miles and by a jail policy that doesn't allow in-person

visitation. Rekhila's parents, Phillip and Brenda, have been caring for her children. Every day, where's mama when she's coming home? It must have made for some rough moments with the kids. Oh, yes. Oh, yes. I said, well, right now, granny's mommy, and I'm going to hold you until you feel better. Replacing free in-person visits with costly video calls has become the norm in hundreds of jails across the country. Here, a 25-minute call typically costs $10. It just costs too much and it's not even guaranteed that it's going to work. Now, the policy is at the center of two lawsuits in Michigan,

including one of them here in Genesee County, which is fighting it, arguing there's no constitutional right for in-person visitations. But civil rights attorney Alec Carac de Santis disagrees and says video-only visits are painfully inadequate. We think there's a constitutional right for children to hug their parents. The video calls are operated by for-profit telecommunications companies, but counties like Genesee get to pocket some of the revenue. Kara Casadas calls it a kickback scheme. The theory behind these contracts seems to be

if you stop kids from visiting their parents in person, these desperate families will be forced to spend more money on phone and video calls. This is Rekhila's first time in jail. She says her son's father physically abused her for years, leaving this scar. She's accused of violently retaliating against him after she says he attacked her in February. It was a fight or flight moment. I never thought that I would do anything like that. Rekhila couldn't afford bail, so this screen is the closest she can get to seeing her children. How does it feel that someone is making money off this? It feels disheartening. It feels criminal. I feel it's greed. Greed. Sheriff Chris Swanson runs the jail and was a strong supporter of the policy when it began 10 years ago. He is personally

named in the lawsuit. How much money is the county making from video visits right now? Over 400,000. What was the reasoning behind it? Money. I became the undersheriff in 2010. We had to cut 10% of our budget. When it came to the revenue, it was very attractive. And it still is to sheriffs across the country. But we're going to change that.

And by change that, Sheriff Swanson meant now. In our interview, he told me that he believes he made a mistake and regardless of how the court rules he says he's reversing course reinstating in-person visits starting next month we're going to return to in-person visits and we're going to reinvest our revenues back to lowering costs for jail calls and video visitations you're going to be leaving money on the table. It's money I don't need. And it's money that doesn't come from the inmates. It comes from their families. And so you're penalizing people. And I see that now. You were one of the guys that was a proponent of ending in-person visits. And now you've made this giant turn here. Because the person that I am today is not the same person I was in 2012, 2014.

But not long ago, you were celebrating the dollars coming in. I accept that. Why did it take a lawsuit, though, to make this turn? It didn't have to. But it did. It did. After spending more than 100 days in jail, Rekhila finally made bail last week, able once more to hug her children, unlike thousands of others in jails across the country. The Flint case is back in court next week, but no matter what happens, Sheriff Swanson says he is committed to restoring in-person visits and he is inviting other sheriffs to join him. We'll take a break, and coming up, a fond farewell to the Say Hey Kid and the special flight honoring veterans on this Juneteenth.

There's a long drive way back in San Diego, way back, back it is. The amazing over-the-shoulder grab in the 1954 World Series so famous, it's known simply as the catch and the man who made it, Hall of Famer Willie Mays, being remembered tonight after his son says he passed away. Known as the say-hey kid, Mays is considered one of the best to ever play the game. In 23 seasons, mostly with the Giants in New York and San Francisco, Mays hit 660 home runs and was a 24-time All-Star. He was 93.

And finally, on this Juneteenth, the first of its kind flight honoring more than two dozen of America's Black veterans. Here's Yamiche Alcindor. For Rodney and Ruth Walker, celebrating Juneteenth in the nation's capital is historic. I feel honored and I feel appreciated today as a veteran. Both served during the Vietnam War, Rodney as a combat Marine and Ruth with a job stateside. The two married in 1971.

Early this morning, the couple started their date, joining some of America's finest heroes on a trip from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. Their trip, the first of its kind, the Honor Flight Network bringing together these 26 Black veterans, paying tribute to those who served and marking the end of slavery in the U.S. Today's veterans greeted with a water cannon salute and a warm welcome. What's it feel like to be here on Juneteenth as part of this historic flight? First of all, I would have never imagined being here at all, let alone Juneteenth. I'll cherish this moment for the rest of my life. Since 2005, the Honor Flight Network has flown nearly 300,000

veterans into D.C. Today, the group visited a number of war memorials, making a stop at Arlington National Cemetery, laying a wreath with 101-year-old Calvin Kemp, who served in World War II. I broke down in tears. For the Walkers, a day of reflection. I've seen other men like me who served their country bravely and courageously and with honor. And now they're here and they're celebrating. Yamiche Alcindor, NBC News, Washington. So great they got this moment. That's nightly news for this Wednesday. Thank you for watching. I'm Lester Holm. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.