NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Episode Date: May 15, 2025

Cassie Ventura testifies about physical abuse and rape at Diddy trial; Trump in Qatar on high-stakes Mideast trip; Dangerous early heat wave scorches Texas; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the intense day of testimony in the sex trafficking trial of Sean Diddy Combs, former girlfriend Cassie Ventura detailing years of abuse and accusing the music mogul of raping her as well as blackmailing her with videos of sexual encounters. Ventura breaking down on the stand. Diddy has pleaded not guilty on all counts and why a contentious cross-examination could be ahead. President Trump's Middle East trip, closing a deal for Qatar to buy billions worth of Boeing jets, but it's the one the royal family is offering the president that has top Republicans

now pushing back. The shocking resentencing for the Menendez brothers, will they get parole or even clemency? Spring extremes, near record highs in Texas test the power grid, and a day of delays up and down the East Coast. Plus the Maryland washout, floodwaters coursing through the streets, a 12-year-old boy swept away. Plus Al Roker on the new severe weather threat.

A Georgetown scholar released from immigration detention after a lengthy legal battle. Why the health secretary said Americans shouldn't, quote, be taking medical advice from me. The climbers killed from a 200-foot fall when their ropes gave way. How one man managed to survive. And old-time rock and roll, the guitar maker using old wood to make new axes for some of music's biggest names.

This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome. A New York courtroom today was transfixed by the gripping testimony of Cassie Ventura. She's the woman at the heart of the government's racketeering and sex trafficking case against music mogul Sean Diddy Combs. We'll warn you here, the descriptions in our reporting are graphic in nature this evening. Today, Cassie Ventura describing being raped, she says, by her then boyfriend in 2018. Ventura also going into vivid detail of being physically assaulted by Combs. And there was more testimony today about videos Combs allegedly made of sexual encounters with escorts,

which he says he called freak-off sessions. And Combs has alleged threats to release them. The prosecution today allowing members of the jury to view photos of the sessions. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. Chloe Malas reports. Tonight, Cassie Ventura describing a night in August 2018 when she went to dinner with Sean Diddy Combs after they'd broken up, seeking closure. She says when Combs brought her back to her apartment, he came in and raped me on the living room floor. I remember crying and saying no, adding it was fast. His eyes were black. He wasn't himself.

Ventura breaking down on the stand as she described the emotional fallout of their tumultuous 11-year relationship calling combs abusive and controlling and describing a number of brutal physical assaults the first she says was in 2007 or 2008 in a car he hit me on the side of my head and I fell to the floor, she testified. I was shocked. I didn't understand why he was so angry. She said after another assault, she asked her mom to take photos of her injuries. And for the third day in a row, prosecutors showed the jury this video of Combs brutally beating Ventura at a hotel. How important is all of this testimony on the domestic abuse? The allegations of domestic abuse really help explain why she

stayed. And so while maybe they don't have direct bearing, they kind of explain her state of mind. She also testified that when Combs was angry with her, he threatened to release videos of their explicit encounters with escorts, which they called freak offs. Ventura says she feared if the videos became public, it would ruin everything I worked for and make me look like a slut. Today, jurors were shown photos from freak-offs on their own individual screens, shielded from public view. Ventura said they had hundreds of freak-offs, which she says left her feeling emotionally empty and like I did a job, adding they led to infections and that she developed an addiction to opioids, which she used to numb her feelings. She says she ultimately went to rehab because she was

spinning out and didn't want to be alive anymore. Combs' lawyers have called him a complicated man, acknowledging Combs has been violent in the past, but they say all sexual acts were consensual, and he didn't engage in sex trafficking. Chloe, you were in the courthouse again today. What other testimony stood out to you? Lester, a pivotal moment came at the end of her testimony today when she revealed the amount of her 2023 civil settlement with Combs. She said that it was $20 million.

That's the first time we've heard that amount. And tomorrow, Combs' defense team will begin their cross-examination. Lester? Blowing the loss tonight. Thank you. Now to President Trump's high-stakes trip to the Middle East, today visiting Qatar, which pledged billions of dollars of new investments in the U.S., all while scrutiny is growing over Qatar's offer of a new Air Force One jet. Garrett Haik is there for us tonight. Tonight, another lavish welcome for President Trump on his

Mideast trip. It's just a perfect evening. This time in Qatar. Air Force One escorted by Qatari fighter jets. The emir rolling out a literal red carpet. The president's motorcade met by an honor guard on Camelback. The dramatic visuals again giving way to deal making. The White House touting two hundred and forty243 billion in new Qatari investment in the U.S., headlined by a $96 billion deal to purchase as many as 210 Boeing jets. It's the largest order of jets in the history of Boeing. That's pretty good. Trump is the first president to visit Qatar in more than two decades, which is home to America's largest Middle Eastern military base, but has also drawn criticism, including from the president, over its close ties with Hamas.

The nation of Qatar, unfortunately, has historically been a funder of terrorism at a very high level. And the president facing more Republican blowback over his plan to accept a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar, gifted to the Pentagon to serve as a temporary Air Force One, amid Boeing's ongoing delays delivering a replacement. How do you know something's not implanted and it doesn't blow it up? So obviously there's a concern, security concern there. I can think of a lot of other things Qatar could do for us, like, for example,

quit harboring Islamic jihadist terrorists who are trying to kill Americans. Overnight, the president defending his decision on the deal, which has not yet been finalized. With the United States of America, I believe that we should have the most impressive plan. Now, some people say, oh, you shouldn't accept gifts for the country. My attitude is, why wouldn't I accept the gift? We're giving to everybody else, why wouldn't I accept the gift? We're giving to everybody else. Why wouldn't I accept the gift? Because it's going to be a couple of years, I think, before the bowings are finished. And this morning, President Trump meeting briefly with the new Syrian president, a former al-Qaeda member who broke with the group and once

had a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head before deposing dictator Bashar al-Assad. Trump lifting U.S. sanctions on the new before deposing dictator Bashar al-Assad. Trump lifting U.S. sanctions on the new Syrian government at the request of Saudi Arabia and Turkey. He's got the potential. He's a real leader. He led a charge and he's pretty amazing. Meanwhile, Garrett, we're now learning more details about those Ukraine ceasefire talks tomorrow in Turkey. That's right, Lester. Tonight, the Kremlin says Russia's President Putin will not attend those talks, while Ukraine's President Zelensky is expected to. Meanwhile, President Trump addresses U.S. troops here tomorrow, then heads to Abu Dhabi. Lester. All right, Garrett Haig, thanks. An early season heat wave is hitting Texas with triple

digit temperatures as a series of extreme floods and fires stretches across the country. Ryan Chandler reports now from Dallas. Tonight, a dangerous dome of oppressive heat scorching Texas ahead of schedule. Heat can be extremely dangerous, especially if you don't prepare ahead of time. At this Dallas EMS station, first responders are preparing for weather's most common killer. We kind of keep an eye out for younger children, elderly adults. We're used to the heat in Texas, just not this early. This is an unusual heat wave, giving many areas their first triple digits of the year.

And it's not just in Texas. This heat is just awful. Dry heat fueling wildfires in Minnesota. More than 33,000 acres have burned. It's just too hot, too dry, too much wind. But as parts of the country bake, the East Coast is getting drenched. From D.C. to New York, some of the country's busiest airports are facing delays because of thunderstorms and rain.

It follows major flooding in Virginia. Fire rescue teams said they believed they found the body of 12-year-old Jordan Sims who was washed away in rushing water Tuesday. Obviously this is a very tragic situation. In Maryland, flash flooding forced evacuations. Water rushing up to the second story of this elementary school. Children carried through the water, rescued on boats. Scientists say extreme deadly weather is becoming more common. Both of these extreme heat events and heavy downpours are precisely the two kinds of extreme weather phenomena that are most clearly

linked to climate change. A link, scientists warn, could make major weather events more severe. Ryan Chandler, NBC News, Dallas. And let's get right to Al Roker. Al, the radar is full of some new storm threats tonight. Absolutely, Lester. Here in the Northeast, for example, we've got flash flood warnings in New Jersey. Also throughout, as you make your way into the Appalachians, 8 million people under those flash flood watches and warnings.

We've got severe thunderstorm watches and warnings for the central plains through 11 o'clock central time tonight. We've got also the risk of damaging wind, hail and isolated tornadoes. That threat expands tomorrow with 51 million people. Chicago, Grand Rapids, Green Bay, Minneapolis. Plus the risk of EF2 or stronger tornadoes in parts of Wisconsin. And then on Friday, 26 million people at risk. Cincinnati, Paducah, St. Louis, Evansville, Indiana. And we've got heat alerts and heat advisories. Four million people in Texas, Leicester. These temperatures, record setting,

probably on into next Tuesday. Okay. Al, thank you for that. Now to the ongoing legal saga of Eric and Lyle Menendez. The brothers, who have served 30 years in prison for the murder of their parents, are now closer to freedom than they've been in decades. Here's Laura Jarrett. With a major win in court, the fate of Eric and Lyle Menendez will soon be in the hands of California's parole board. Now we see the pot at the end of the rainbow, so to speak.

A judge agreeing Tuesday to reduce the brothers' life sentences to 50 years for the shotgun killings of their parents in Beverly Hills in 1989, meaning they are now immediately eligible for parole under state law. This actually wasn't a difficult decision at all. It was slightly easier than other cases. Longtime prosecutor Brock Lunsford, one of those in the district attorney's office who originally supported resentencing for the brothers, says one of the most significant factors now working in their favor, their good behavior and lack of violence behind bars for the past three decades. They've always said they killed

their parents and they've rehabilitated and tried to help other people. And that's that's rare. Lunsford now suing District Attorney Nathan Hockman, alleging he was sidelined in the DA's office for supporting Eric and Lyle's bid for release, an accusation Hockman denies. But one potential hurdle still left for the brothers, a recent assessment from the state parole board finding a moderate risk of danger to the public if they're released. One factor Governor Newsom says he will consider as he, too, weighs their requests for freedom. I am the ultimate arbiter who will have to review the parole board's recommendations. As for what comes next here, that parole board expected to set a date to hear the brothers case sometime within the next six months, Lester. All right, Laura, thanks. Now to the fireworks on Capitol Hill. Two cabinet secretaries facing tough questions, including Democrats pressing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

about President Trump's deportation efforts. Ryan Nobles has the latest for us. Tonight, Georgetown postdoctoral fellow Badr Khonsuri released from ICE detention. There was no charge. There was nothing. They made a subhuman out of me. DHS accused Khonsuri, an Indian citizen here on a student visa, of promoting anti-Semitism on social media and having close connections to a senior advisor to Hamas, which he denies. The judge ruling his freedom of speech and due process rights were violated. This as DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was pressed by Democrats about Kilmar Obrego Garcia, removed to an El Salvador prison and accused of being a gang member, which he denies. It's got to be extremely discouraging to be one of your constituents. To see you fight for a terrorist like this and not fight for them is extremely alarming to me.

I'm fighting for due process. And that's under the Constitution. And she was asked about suspending habeas corpus, which allows people to challenge their detention. So do you think it falls under the constitutional guidelines that I just read to you? I'm not a constitutional lawyer, but I believe it does. This is the president's prerogative to pursue, and he has not indicated to me that he will or will not be taking that action. While in another hearing, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressed on the jump in measles cases and his vaccine skepticism. If you had a child today, would you vaccinate that child for measles?

For measles? Probably for measles. But I don't think people should be taking advice, medical advice from me. And in a shift, FBI field offices have been ordered to shift more officers to immigration enforcement. That's according to multiple officials. Lester. Ryan Nobles, thanks. Now to President Trump's message to Iran's leaders that Iran will not be allowed to have nuclear weapons, but that he's ready to work out a deal. Tonight, we're getting a response from a top Iranian official who spoke with Richard Engel in Tehran. President Trump today seemed confident he'll reach a nuclear deal with Iran.

Didn't I have a feeling it's going to work out? After warning, there's a time window for Iran that's closing. But if Iran's leadership rejects this olive branch and continues to attack their neighbors, then we will have no choice but to inflict massive maximum pressure. Iranians appear to overwhelmingly want a deal. The country's economy is suffering, and many tell us they want to end their international isolation. Today, we sat down with Ali Shamhani, the military, political and nuclear advisor to Iran's supreme leader. He said Iran also wants a deal. Shamhani is one of the few people in Iran authorized to speak about the sensitive negotiations.

We can definitely have better relations with the U.S. Shemhani said that Iran is willing to commit to never having a nuclear weapon, to getting rid of its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, to only enriching to a level needed for civilian use, and to allow inspectors in to oversee it all, in exchange for lifting all sanctions immediately. He said Iran would accept that deal tonight. Lester. OK, Richard Engel, thank you. In 60 seconds, a terrifying

scene in Washington state. Three people killed after plunging hundreds of feet on a hiking trail. What happened and how one man survived. Next. We turn now to a hiking trip that turned deadly in Washington state. Four climbers plunging more than 200 feet to the ground below with only one person surviving. Here's Morgan Chesky. In Washington, a rescue mission turned recovery following a climbing trip in the remote northern Cascades. Authorities say four friends plan to climb the North Early Winter Spire, a challenging route featuring a sheer rock face. They were on the rock face of the northern spire and as they descended, the anchor point that they were using failed and all

four climbers fell. A 200-foot free fall, followed by another 200-foot skid over a snow-covered chute. The impact, killing three. But somehow, 38-year-old Anton Selick endured, struggling miles to his car, where officials say he drove in and out of consciousness for 60 miles to find help. The fact that one person survived that. It's pretty amazing the fact that he had a head injury, a severe head injury, and internal bleeding. It is just amazing that he was able to make his way back to the highway. Tonight, authorities say Selick remains hospitalized, surviving conditions that for friends prove fatal. Morgan Chesky, NBC News. We're back in a moment with more drama. A hot air balloon disaster. How that man dangling from the basket managed to save two people on board.

Back now with a new recall for some self-driving cars. Waymo says it's recalling more than 1,200 self-driving vehicles to update software after a number of minor collisions involving chains, gates, and other barriers on the road. That recall could impact hundreds of cars on roads across San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin. Now to a hot air balloon disaster in Mexico. We want to warn you the video is disturbing. This was the terrifying scene when the balloon lifted into the air after the basket caught on fire on the ground. The man dangling below fell and died after saving two people who were on board before the balloon went up to the sky. Mexican authorities are investigating what happened. Also tonight, an update from the sports world with Boston Celtics

forward Jason Tatum posting this photo after his surgery to repair a season-ending Achilles injury that happened during Monday's playoff game against the New York Knicks. The Celtics say Tatum's surgery was successful. In his post, Tatum thanks fans for their support. When we come back, from trash to treasured guitars, centuries-old wood finding new life in the hands of some of the planet's most famous musicians. There's good news tonight about one guitar shop now hitting a new note thanks to pieces of New York's past. Here's Joe Fryer. It always smells like Christmas inside Carmine Street Guitars, where Rick Kelly turns pine and other cuts of wood into museum-worthy musical instruments.

This is Hotel Chelsea. That's probably one of our more famous finds. This centuries-old wood, perfectly seasoned for sound, comes from historic New York City landmarks procured by dumpster diving. It's just really recognizable. When you see it, you know it's the stuff. The stuff that over the decades has been played by legends like Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, and Lou Reed. Guitars crafted from the bones of old New York, now made by a new generation. Cindy Hewlett started as an apprentice here 13 years ago. I didn't want to just build myself a guitar and leave. She didn't leave. Nope, she didn't. I couldn't get rid of her. Cindy's social media following is huge.

The wait list for her custom guitars is over a year long. Business is rocking. I mean, we're a family. I'm just as lucky to have somebody to pass it on to, so it's great. Yeah. I'm not crying, you are. Together, they're making sure the city's past plays on. Joe Fryer, NBC News, New York. And any guitar player will tell you you can't have too many guitars. That's nightly news for this Wednesday. Thank you for watching. I'm Lester Hull.

Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night, everyone.