NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Friday, August 29, 2025

Episode Date: August 30, 2025

Severe Turbulence on plane sends two people on board to hospital; Israel launches new assault in famine-gripped area inside Gaza; New details about Minneapolis church shooter’s background and family; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, dramatic turbulence and a dangerous start to holiday weekend travel. Oxygen masks dropping as a flight from Aspen to Houston was forced to make an emergency landing. Severe turbulence sending two people to the hospital. Now millions of Americans are set to hit the road and the skies. What the CEO of Southwest tells us about the major changes on the way. Just breaking tonight, the court ruling declaring most of the president's tariffs illegal. The president reacting tonight. New developments after the heartbreak in Minneapolis.

Police now saying they interviewed the shooter's mother as red flags from the past emerge. Plus, what a former classmate says about the attacker's fascination with Nazis years earlier. Just into us why dozens of students are having to be hospitalized in Ohio after saying they felt sick. Massive explosions across Gaza City as Israel's military advances. In Washington, President Trump yanking Secret Service. protection for former Vice President Harris right as she's about to hit the road for a book tour. Plus, the Senate shakeup what an Iowa Republican's decision not to run again could mean for the GOP's grip on power. Why we're seeing so many cases of a deadly flesh-eating bacteria

linked to oysters. And the streets of New Orleans filled with celebration and sadness, 20 years since Hurricane Katrina. Now, Tom Yamis is moving conversation with actor Wendell Pierce and those still living with the fallout from that monster storm. Nightly news starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. Good evening. I'm Halley Jackson in for Tom, with a turbulent start to the holiday weekend and scary moments for the passengers on board this SkyWest flight. You can see the oxygen masks right there dangling from the ceiling after the plane dropped about 5,000 feet. Stuff scattered in the aisles after that dramatic

turbulence. So severe, two people had to be hospitalized. Dozens of others evaluated. There's EMS boarding the plane. One passenger describing watching someone fly out of their seat and across the aisle when it happened. It comes at the start of a holiday weekend, expected to be the busiest for Labor Day travel in more than a decade. Nearly three million people set to fly out today, millions more hitting the road. Our Tom Costello starts us off. It happened at 39,000 feet over Texas. SkyWest, 5971 emergency aircraft. SkyWest united 5971, an Embrair Regional Jet flying from Aspen to Houston, suddenly hit severe turbulence, experiencing a pressurization issue and quickly dropping nearly 5,000 feet. Oxygen masks dropped as passenger belongings hit the ceiling and floor.

It felt like three different drops, because I remember seeing the man, you know, bounce up and hit the ceiling of the airplane twice, and then it flung him over into the seats across. The pilots making an emergency landing in Austin. We will need a stretcher, and I know that there is bleeding as well. Two people on board take into area hospitals. It comes as the Labor Day getaway is shaping up to be the busiest in more than a decade. On the roads, drivers are paying 16 cents less per gallon than a year ago, while lower airfares have lured fires to some late summer escapes.

For Southwest Airlines, Labor Day marks a countdown as it prepares for the biggest transformation in its history. Southwest CEO Bob Jordan. 85% of our customers want assigned seating, and so we're changing that. The airline, once known for its all-a-board approach, will soon add different classes of seating and extra legroom for a price.

By January, every Southwest plane will look like this. In standard seating, you'll get three. 31 inches of distance from seat back to seat back. In the front and the exit rows, extended row seating designated by the logo, gives you 34 inches of distance. With its stock down 50% over four years, not all bags fly free anymore, and the airline is considering adding airport lounges and flights to Europe. But CEO Jordan insists Southwest will remain true to its culture.

At one point, we had plastic boarding passes. At one point, we said we would never have a frequent flyer program. So you've got to change to become and stay relevant to your customers, meet their needs. Tom is joining us now from Washington. So Tom, what's the expectation for the rest of the holiday weekend as we look ahead to Monday? Yeah, if you're on the roads, listen, the worst time to travel is right now until 8 o'clock, no matter what time's on you're in. Then again, on Monday and the afternoon and evening, best time to travel is before noon every day this weekend.

And again, on Monday when everybody tries to get back home again, Hallie. Tom Costello, thank you. Now to that breaking news, a major decision tonight by a federal appeals court ruling that most of President Trump's tariffs are illegal. Christine Romans joins us now, and Christine seems like this trade war is heading to the Supreme Court. Bring us up to speed. That's right, Halley, in a new legal blow, an appeals court moments ago striking down most of President Trump's tariffs on imported goods, saying he could not use emergency powers to justify those border taxes. But the court, panel saying the tariffs can stay in place as the legal process plays out. Tariffs have been a signature policy of President Trump's second term, which he says

level the playing field for American workers, and he has used them to negotiate trade deals with several countries. Late tonight, President Trump posting a, quote, highly partisan appeals court ruled incorrectly, saying, Hallie, he'll appeal to the Supreme Court. Christine Romans, thank you to the investigation now and to the horrific school shooting in Minneapolis with new developments tonight about the shooter's background and family. Here's Maggie Vespah. 24 hours after police said they couldn't make contact with the mother of the Minneapolis church shooter, NBC News has confirmed she's hired a criminal defense attorney, and tonight

an update. Can you tell us, have investigators been able to talk to the shooter's mother? I can tell you this through working with our partners with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension of Minnesota. There has been conversation, and I am not at liberty to go any further than that. NBC News has reached out to Mary Grace Westman, who hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing, so far no comment. Meanwhile, questions loom about whether Wednesday's massacre could have been prevented. There's definitely red flakes. Former classmate and friend Josephina Sanchez telling NBC News affiliate CARE 11 in 6th and 7th grade, the shooter had a chilling fascinating. with Nazis. He would salute to Hitler and definitely do it when the teachers weren't watching.

The shooter's hate-filled journal stating it was around that age she started thinking about committing a school shooting. A few years later in 2018, a police report obtained by NBC News shows officers responded to the home where she lived with her mother, the reasons, mental health, and a check on the welfare of a juvenile. Can you say whether warning signs were missed? Those are investigative details, and we'll leave them in the investigation until we're able to give that information to you. The attack, killing 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper-Moisky. Astoria Safe, also 10, among the injured. She has a bullet trapnel stuck in her skull.

Her being here today is a miracle. Maggie Vespa, NBC News, Minneapolis. We are following developing news in Ohio. where more than 30 students had to be hospitalized after feeling sick. Two schools evacuated because of it. Adrian Bradis is joining us now. So, Adrian, what else do we know? Hallie, as you mentioned, the sheriff in that county telling us nearly 30 Ohio students were taken to seven area hospitals

after reports of experiencing symptoms similar to carbon monoxide poisoning or the flu. It all happened late this morning at the Mapleton Middle School. The district says students started experiencing headache, nausea, and dizziness. The middle school and the nearby high school were evacuated out of an abundance of caution. That is, according to the district. The sheriff also says there was no evidence of carbon monoxide or criminal activity at this point. Hallie? Adrian Bradis, thank you.

Overseas, at least 70 people have died in Gaza today, according to health officials there, as the Israeli military launches a new offensive on Gaza City. Molly Hunter reports tonight from Jerusalem. Tonight, massive explosions in the east of Gaza's cities. The IDF announcing it has begun preliminary operations and the initial stages of the attack on Gaza City. Amir, my son, this man wails over and over my son, carrying the lifeless body of a young boy after an Israeli strike. There's an estimated 1 million people crammed into Gaza City. We don't know where to go, this father of eight says.

As airstrikes intensified two days ago, the IDF encouraged residents to move to empty areas shown in blue. on this map. But a map on the IDF website shows some of those areas inside the red danger zone. Asked about confusion caused by the discrepancy, the IDF didn't answer NBC's question and said the map on the website still stands. The situation in Gaza City already dire, famine declared here last week by the IPC, the International Hunger Monitoring Group. Nine-year-old Merriam used to weigh 55 pounds, now just to weigh 55 pounds, now just a 19. I was in first grade, she says, when there was food, I was fine. I want to go back to how things used to be. Her 32-year-old mother, Madela Lee, says her little body is rejecting food.

My daughter is dying in my hands, she says, every hour I wake her up, even if I don't need anything, just to make sure she's still alive. Also today, the IDF announcing it had recovered the remains of two hostages, including 55-year-old Elon Vice, who was murdered in Kibbutz-Berry on October 7th. Holly? Molly Hunter in Jerusalem, thank you. To President Trump's legal battle now with a Fed governor he just fired, who was in court today suing to keep her job in a fight that could determine the future of the Federal Reserve. Here's Gabe Gutierrez. Tonight, an increasingly tense showdown as President Trump moves to reshape federal government agencies traditionally seen as non-political. Federal Reserve Governor,

or Lisa Cook in court this morning, suing to keep her job. After the president fired her over allegations, she lied on a mortgage application, listing two homes as her primary residence to get better loan terms, which she denies. He has the cause that he needs to fire this individual, and so we'll continue to fight this battle. Cook's lawyer telling the judge this allegation of fraud has become the weapon of choice for this administration. The judge not ruling today, leaving the Fed in limbo. But it comes as President Trump, pressures the central bank to lower interest rates. That's fundamentally what this is about. Who makes the decisions about this country? Is it those the American people elect or is it unelected bureaucrats?

While overnight, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emailing staff after the firing of CDC director Dr. Susan Menares. I am committed to working with you to restore trust, transparency, and credibility to the CDC, Kennedy writes. Naming top deputy Jim O'Neill acting CDC director. O'Neill is a former investment executive, not a doctor. Kennedy pushing to revamp the CDC after he says it made mistakes during the pandemic. The CDC has problems. But Menars' lawyer says she was targeted because she refused to rubber stamp unscientific, reckless directives. She said she would never do anything illegal and she would never do anything that ran counter to the science. And she said the secretary asked her to do both.

Gabe is joining us from the White House now, and Gabe, we are learning of a new twist tonight in the GOP fight to hold on to the Senate next year. Yes, Halley, Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, plans to announce she will not run for re-election. That's according to three people familiar with her decision. She's faced pressure from conservative Republicans in the past. Still, the GOP is favored to keep her seat in the state President Trump won by double digits. Halley. Gabe Gutierrez, thank you. Much more in a minute.

Trump removing secret service protection for former Vice President Harris. So why now? We're back in 60 seconds. To President Trump's move now to cancel secret service protection for his 24 opponent, former Vice President Kamala Harris. Andrea Mitchell is here. And Andrea, you have some new reporting on why former President Biden extended her protection? Exactly, Halley. Former presidents get secret service protection for life, but by law, former vice presidents only get protection for six months. Then President Biden had extended protection for Kamala Harris for another year because of the level of threats against her, according to a person familiar. But a senior White House official says President Trump has now revoked that protection. Just as next month,

Harris goes on a 15-city book tour. President Trump had already canceled protection for President Biden's son, Hunter, and daughter Ashley, saying taxpayers should not have to foot that bill. Trump has arrests also removed secret service for Dr. Tony Fauci, as well as former Trump officials who wrote critical books about him. And that includes John Bolton. Ali? Andrea Mitchell, thank you. Still ahead tonight, a wild story out of Florida. When Batman, or somebody dressed like him, answered the bat signal.

We'll explain next. Back now with a warning, afterward two people died from eating raw oysters contaminated with a flesh, eating bacteria. Caused by Vibrio, it's usually found in warmer water along the coast. Health officials say it can get in your system when it comes into contact with an open wound or by eating raw or undercooked seafood. Louisiana and Florida have confirmed more than three dozen cases. New body cam footage now of that viral arrest of a Chucky Cheese employee in costume. Tonight, police in Florida releasing some videos showing the moments officers confront and later arrest the man last month as confused parents and children looked on.

Officials accused the suspect of using the credit card of a woman who had been to that Chucky Cheese location. And police in Florida say Batman, or at least his doppelganger, helped stop a neighborhood burglar. I told him, I said, listen, don't try to get away. That is not Bruce Wayne, but Kyle Mivit from Cape Coral, who was sleeping in his Batman pajamas. That's when he got an alert about somebody breaking into his car. He ran down the street to a neighbor's garage and stopped the suspect who was then arrested by police. When we come back, they are marching in the streets of New Orleans to honor and remember 20 years since Hurricane Katrina. When we return, Tom joins us with a powerful

roundtable alongside actor Wendell Pierce and more. Finally tonight, as we mark the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, I'm joined tonight in our studio by three people who were directly impacted. Dr. Courtney Jackson was a teenager living with her family in New Orleans when Katrina hit. Actor Wendell Pierce grew up in New Orleans. And Travers Mackle is an anchor for our NBC affiliate WDSU in New Orleans. Courtney, I'm going to start with you. You weren't a doctor back then.

You were 19 years old. What do you remember about Hurricane Katrina when it hit? Well, actually, I remember when the storm first hit. It was just a lot of, you know, trees down. And then we thought things were over and then watered. kind of came in out of nowhere and I was like well where does this water come from because I thought the storm had passed at that point and the water was just rushing in and then I had to think about you know my family and how I was going to alert someone to know that we were in the house so I

decided to punch a hole really in the attic and I got in the attic and I noticed someone across the street and I told that person um across the street if anyone's coming on a boat or rescue or anything to let them know that my family was here. The red and white on it? All right. All right. All right. All right. And Travers, you were a local reporter at the time when this happened, Hurricane Katrina. And you actually met Courtney. Right. We met 20 years ago. We had covered the storm in the Superdome. And I think as a journalist, you think, okay, we're going to cover a hurricane. It's going to hit. It may be bad. It moves on. This was

not the case for Katrina. When the levees broke at 80% of the city, goes underwater and it's flooding that you just can't even imagine. So me and the crew I was with jumped on a police boat. I mean, look, it is crazy to think about that police officers had to kind of drop their badges and guns and pick up boats and access to go through roofs and addicts. And we jumped on this police boat and we were there to document the rescue of Courtney. All right. Come on. Wendell, your family is from New Orleans. You are New Orleans. When I think of New Orleans, I think of you. There were some neighbors that lived near your family when Katrina hit. What happened to them? I live in the neighborhood of Pontchartrain Park, the historic neighborhood,

and we had neighbors and church members, the binombs, who lived around the corner from us. They were in their 80s. And we were talking to them after Mass and said, are you going to leave? We're thinking about evacuating. They said, oh, no, we're going to ride this out, which is a common practice in New Orleans. And we decided to leave because never before had there been a mandatory evacuation. I actually wanted to stay. And then we were in the storm about 50 to 60 miles west of the city. And the most frightening thing I remember was this is the emergency broadcast system. This is not a test. And we are so accustomed to hearing that as a test. But when they said this is not a test. It sent a chill through my body. And they said the levees in New Orleans have

broken. And we all grow up knowing that if the levees ever failed New Orleans, we always knew the city would fill up like a bathtub. I made the assumption that there were going to be people who died. And unfortunately, the binoms, they did die. And so in this 20th anniversary, I think of all of those lives that we lost. And, you know, I think that we have to live a purpose of life and a purposeful reflection in this 20th year, hold people and ourselves accountable so that their deaths won't be in vain. 20 years later, is New Orleans any safer? So I think it is.

$15 billion in a better flood system later, the city is better protected from a storm. And unfortunately, they learned the hard way. They learned that over 1,000 people died, which is tragic. but the local state and federal response was not good. We look at this studio. I know it is chilling to see your city underwater. This is not New Orleans today. When people ask you why New Orleans, what do you tell them?

New Orleans is the best display of the American aesthetic. We create a jazz. Where you have the freedom to improvise and at the same time honor the forum and the form of the song. We live our culture more than anyone else. And culture is that intersection between life and the people who live it. The people are resilient, the people are visionary, the people are creative. So it is the best of the American aesthetic on display.

And that is the spirit of New Orleans. I thank you for your time. That's going to do it for us tonight. We thank you so much for watching Nightly News on this Friday. I'm Tom Yamas. Tonight and always, we're here for you. Good night. No, my boy!

No, boy! Oh! Thank you.