NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Friday, July 18, 2025

Episode Date: July 19, 2025

Trump sues for $10 billion over WSJ’s Epstein report; 3 sheriff’s deputies killed in explosion at Los Angeles training facility; Trump administration secures release of ten detained Americans; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Breaking tonight, the president sues over a report he personally wrote a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein. This has the Justice Department moves to unseal grand jury testimony from the Epstein criminal case. As scrutiny mounts over the president and Epstein's relationship, the Wall Street Journal reporting he personally wrote the disgraced financier a vulgar message for his 50th birthday. Now the president suing Dow Jones, the's publisher as well as the reporters. It comes after a rare reversal from Trump calling on his Justice Department tonight to release

grand jury testimony in the criminal case. Plus the deadly explosions at a Los Angeles sheriff's training facility. Three deputies killed after two military type explosive devices were brought there overnight. So what set them off and what happened? Just in the deal to send 250 people deported from the U.S. to Venezuela, they're being exchanged for the 10 people you see here, Americans that were detained by the Maduro regime. She avoided being kidnapped while she was at work.

Now the teen who barely got away is speaking out. Her message to you if you find yourself in the same situation. Curtain call for Stephen Colbert. The shock news that CBS is ending one of the most storied shows on television. What's behind the late show cancellation? And what's the future of the industry?

The chaotic scene after a Beyonce concert let out the stampede on an escalator that spilled out onto a busy subway platform. Driverless car fleets take off in cities across America. Would you let your kid ride without a driver to their next soccer game? Why some parents are. Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. And good evening. Jeffrey Epstein died nearly six years ago, but the intensity over questions about his death and the people he was associated with has only intensified.

Now the Wall Street Journal reports that President Trump sent a vulgar note to Epstein for his fiftieth birthday as part of a book compiled by no other than Ghislaine Maxwell. The paper cites documents they reviewed, though NBC has not independently verified them. The president has vehemently denied the report and is suing the paper's parent company, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch. The president has been trying to dampen the latest flare-up on the interest in this case, calling on his Justice Department to ask a judge to release any grand jury material after the DOJ and FBI announced earlier this month

there was no Epstein client list. Here's Garrett Haake on the rapidly developing story tonight. Tonight, amid the ongoing firestorm over the administration's handling of Justice Department files on notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the president filing a $10 billion libel lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal's parent company, owner Rupert Murdoch, and the reporters behind

its article, describing an album prepared by Epstein's former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, for his 50th birthday back in 2003. According to documents the journal says it reviewed, the album contained letters from Trump and dozens of Epstein's other friends and associates. NBC News has not independently verified the existence of the documents. The Wall Street Journal says the letter contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand drawn, and says the text consists of an imaginary conversation between Trump and Epstein.

The president strongly denying the report, saying, this is not me. This is a fake thing. It's a fake Wall Street Journal story, adding, I don't draw pictures of women. It's not my language. It's not my words. According to the Wall Street Journal, the written dialogue of the imaginary conversation includes the lines, Donald enigmas never age. Have you noticed that? Jeffrey, as a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you. Donald, a pal is a wonderful thing. Happy birthday, and may every day be another wonderful secret." Vice President Vance slamming the report, posting,

"'Where is this letter? Would you be shocked to learn they never showed it to us before publishing it? Does anyone honestly believe this sounds like Donald Trump?' All of it after that rare reversal from President Trump. Tonight, the Department of Justice asking a federal judge to unseal grand jury testimony related to Epstein, following this overnight post from the president. Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I've asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent grand jury testimony subject to court approval. By law, grand jury testimony is kept secret,

with some limited exceptions. The president's sudden about face, an attempt to silence an uproar from some of his most vocal supporters, who wanted all Epstein-related material to be released. The president had blasted those supporters as weaklings for falling for what he called a distraction pushed by Democrats.

The credible information has been given. It's people that are really doing the Democrats' work. They're stupid people. And today, suggesting there was no damaging information on him in the files, posting, If there was a smoking gun on Epstein, why didn't the Dems who controlled the files for four years use it? Because they had nothing.

The controversy heated up after Bondi repeatedly teased the release of Epstein files. It's sitting on my desk right now to review. But then the DOJ and FBI releasing a memo saying they had found no incriminating client list of Epstein's and that they would make no further disclosure. And Garrett joins us tonight. Garrett, earlier this week the president told you he had total confidence in Attorney General

Pam Bondi. But you have new reporting tonight that there's a different feeling among others in the White House? Yeah, Tom, some White House officials are frustrated that the president has been left to clean up what they believe is a mess created by Bondi and the DOJ with the release of that memo in the first place. Now, as for that filing asking for grand jury records to be released, the DOJ with the release of that memo in the first place. Now, as for that filing asking for grand jury records to be released, the DOJ cites the enormous public interest in this case in their appeal to the judge to release that information.

But a decision on that could take some time. Tom? Garrett Haake leading us off from the White House. Garrett, thank you. Now to another breaking story, an explosion in Los Angeles that killed three veteran sheriff's deputies who were part of an elite arson explosives team. The sheriff said today it's his department's largest loss of life in more than 150 years. Here's Camila Bernal.

A deadly and devastating explosion rocking the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. There's definitely a black cloud hanging over the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and our county family. Three highly trained deputies killed after what appears to have been an accidental explosion, according to sources familiar with the investigation. This is unfortunately.

The largest loss of life for us as the LA County Sheriff's Department.. since 18 57 deputies were two military great explos sources saying the explos last night, then transfer center and at 7 30 this m We have an explosion in th of the scene shows the glass of this SUV blown out,

signaling the blast may have happened next to the bomb squad vehicle. The deputies killed were part of the department's elite arson explosive team. Explosives are incredibly unforgiving and they are always dangerous. Despite all your experience and all the precautions, if you make one little tiny mistake, there can be a tragic outcome. Tonight, the Sheriff's Department and law enforcement around the country mourning the three deputies who served between 19 and 33 years. It very much is a shock to me still, but some of the best deputies I've ever worked with. It's a big loss for the department.

Absolutely. And Camila joins us tonight from that training facility. Camila, a lot of different law enforcement agencies now involved in this investigation. Yeah, Tom, in addition to the LA County Sheriff's Department, you have state and federal agencies helping, including the ATF and the FBI. And one of the big questions for these agents is what happened? Why were

these devices transferred to this location? Tom Camila Bernal for us. Camila, thank you. This just in tonight. 10 Americans, the State Department says had been wrongly detained just released by the Venezuelan government. Kelly O'Donnell has been tracking the late developments throughout this day and Kelly, we're just getting our first glimpse of them after their release. That's right, Tom. Tonight those detained Americans are on their way home. We'll show you an image now from the president's envoy showing the 10 Americans who had been held by Venezuela's Maduro regime, an adversary of the U.S. On a flight tonight, we're told, and officials say they are being swapped in a deal involving U.S. ally Salvadoran President Bukele, who

is turning over 200 alleged Venezuelan gang members who had been deported to his country by the Trump administration and then held in that notorious CICOT prison in El Salvador. Now they will go back to their home country, Venezuela, and the Americans are making their way home. Tom? All right. Kelly O'Donnell. Kelly, thank you. We have an update tonight on that killing of a woman in Maine who was out on a pond paddle boarding earlier this month, officials filing a murder charge today against a teenager. Erin McLaughlin is

back now with more on this. Erin, tell us what you know. Tom, according to the petition filed today and obtained by NBC News, 17 year old Devin Young of Frankfurt, Maine, has been charged Devin Young of Frankfort, Maine has been charged with the murder of Sunshine Stewart. This photo is the profile picture from Young's Facebook account. The body of Sunshine Stewart, who was 48 years old, was found, according to police, near a campsite in the small town of Union, Maine on July 3, triggering a manhunt that led to Young's arrest earlier this week. Young appeared today before a judge via Zoom and entered a denial, which is the juvenile version of not guilty. The state filed a motion to try him as an adult.

His attorneys declined to comment. His next court hearing is set for late August. Okay, Erin, we thank you for that. In Florida tonight, we're hearing directly from a young woman who police say fought back against a would-be kidnapper in a harrowing close call, all of it caught on camera. Here's NBC's Jesse Kersh with that interview. With this young woman screams piercing the air investigators in St. Augustine Florida say her alleged attacker tried pushing her into a stolen pickup truck. But surveillance video shows the teenage store employee would not go quietly.

She fought back. Just that I had to get away and I was terrified that he was going to hurt me. In a video released by the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, 18-year-old Emma Marine in her own words, now describing the traumatic June 29th ordeal. It was just a normal day, just. He came in an hour and a half before. The incident and then he just used about them left. Marine says when the man came back,

he started grabbing merchandise and then she tried to stop him from leaving a block his way and then he said what are you going do about it and then I sort of froze up a little bit. According to authorities, Marine's attempted kidnapper is 31 year old Theodore Michael Tundador who fled and was later arrested. He now faces multiple charges. NBC News reached out to his attorney but has not heard back. Meanwhile the sheriff's office is applauding Marine's response, screaming, fighting back

and getting people's attention. I hope this can show other women and young females like myself that you can fight back and that it doesn't matter how small you are. Jesse Kirsch, NBC News. Now to that announcement that's rocked late night TV, CBS cancelling The Late Show, which I'm not being replaced. Colbert's live studio audience stunned by his bombshell announcement. I'm not being replaced. This is all just going away. CBS calling the decision to cancel the late show purely financial adding it is not related in any way to the show's

performance content or other matters happening at Paramount. Colbert show which tapes here at the Ed Sullivan theater has been the top rated late night talk show for nearly a decade. The only other host, David Letterman, who made his debut in 1993. As host, Colbert became known for his political commentary. The New York Times says Trump's trade war could be his biggest economic gamble,

but who better to gamble with our economy than a guy who somehow bankrupted his own casino? I'm kidding, obviously. It was multiple casinos. gamble with our economy than a guy who somehow bankrupted his own casino. I'm kidding obviously it was multiple casino. Earlier this week, a bear slam CBS's decision to settle a lawsuit with Trump for 16 million dollars over a 60 minutes interview with Kamala Harris. Now I believe that this kind of complicated financial settlement

with a sitting government official has a technical name in legal circles. It's big fat bribe. CBS's parent company is also in the midst of a multi-billion dollar merger, which needs the administration sign off. President Trump posting today, I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. Colbert's readings have been steadily declining. A person familiar with CBS's thinking telling CNBC

that the show loses money for the network. The advertising revenue for network late night shows has been cut in half over the last seven years. Younger viewers don't tune in at 11.35 like the older generation did. Tonight, Colbert's late night competitor, Jimmy Fallon, calling him one of the sharpest, funniest hosts to ever do it, adding,

I really thought I'd ride this out with him for years to come. Chloe Malas, NBC News, New York. And when we return, getting your own car is a rite of passage for so many teens across the country. Why some are turning to driverless cars to get to practice or get home. Stay with us. Who's driving the car?

Even as many of us are trying to decide if we would get into a driverless car, a new question for parents now. Would you put your 14-year-old in one alone? Steve Patterson has that story. Of all the ways for 14-year-old McKaylee Whitlock to hitch a ride, nothing feels more natural than being driven without a driver. I'm a competitive figure skater and so sometimes if I need to get to an early practice or if I need a ride home from practice I'll take a Waymo. Their family, among the first in Waymo's new Teen Accounts program.

Earlier this month, Waymo, owned by Google parent company Alphabet, launched the service allowing Phoenix area teens aged 14 to 17 to catch their own rides with accounts linked to their parents. How much value has this added to your life? It's been a blessing. You know, I work full time, my husband works full time, so it gives us more flexibility. No driver, no parent, just a teen like McKaylee on the road in an AI-powered robot. Teens can ride 24-7 across the entire 315 square mile service area.

Is there some risk with that amount of autonomy? What kind of protections are in place for teens? I mean, teens can share their status with their parents, so there's real-time information exchange about where they are, where they're going. And there's a very specifically trained writers and 14 to help them if there's something that goes on in that team, right? Waymo already operates in five major markets for adults. While rare, there have been instances of the riderless cars malfunctioning, like for this man whose Waymo wouldn't let him out at the Scottsdale Airport. This car is just going in circles. Waymo says that incident was due to a glitch

fixed with a software update and bills its tack as the world's most experienced driver. Their data touts 88% fewer serious injury crashes than an average human driver. I would rather her be in a driverless car with a better safety record than in a car with a new, with a new teen driver. Having never tried one myself, McKaylee ordered us a ride.

I will definitely yell at you. It's moving. Oh my gosh. This doesn't freak you out? No. For McKaylee, no cause for worry, just another Wednesday. Do you feel safer in this car than you would in a friend's car? Yeah.

You feel safer in this car than you would in your parents' car? Yeah. Wow. So you really do feel like this is the future and you're totally comfortable in it? Yep. 100%, yeah. The future, Waymo says, coming to more cities soon, but to McKaylee, already old news.

Steve Patterson, NBC News, Phoenix. All right, and we are back in a moment with a massive stomach bug outbreak on a cruise ship that already made more than 140 people sick. We'll tell you which boat. Stay with us. An urgent manhunt is underway in Texas following a deadly highway hit and run. Police say they are looking for several suspects, one

armed with an AK style rifle who fled the scene in San Antonio after their car slammed into a passenger bus bound for Mexico on Thursday. The force of the crash hurling the bus into an 18 wheeler, four people have died and 13 more, including some children, were injured. Also tonight, a rough ride for a Royal Caribbean international cruise ship with more than 140 passengers and crew members sick from a gastrointestinal illness, according to the CDC. The voyage happened from July 4th through the 11th, going from Los Angeles to multiple stops in Mexico and back again. The Royal Caribbean group says the health and safety of everyone on board is their top priority. And officials in Atlanta are now saying an insect might be to blame for this stampede at a subway station after Beyonce's Cowboy Carter show earlier this week.

Police say they heard a scream and that witnesses said a young girl was reacting to seeing a bug. Nine people were injured in that chaos. Okay, when we come back, by day she's a dentist, but for decades she's answered hundreds of kids' questions in search of answers from the tooth fairy. There's good news tonight. That's next. Finally, there is good news tonight, but before we share it, if you have kids still at the age where they're losing teeth, you might want to cover their ears. Our Savannah Sellers with the story of a dentist stumbling into a role that has made her a favorite with children in search of the Tooth Fairy.

A gap tooth grin and a surprise under the pillow. A visit from the Tooth Fairy means you're growing up. I gave them to the Tooth Fairy, that's awesome. But with growing up comes skepticism. Is the Tooth Fairy just mom and dad? Enter Dr. Purva Merchant, a pediatric dentist in Seattle by day and Tooth Fairy by night, or rather by email.

So the Tooth Fairy is kind of like your alter ego. Is that right? Yes, it sort of happened by email. So the tooth fairy is kind of like your alter ego. Is that right? Yes, it sort of happened by accident. It all started with a kitschy email account designed to keep dental school applications organized almost 20 years ago. The address obvious enough that panicked parents wrote in hoping for a magical answer from an inbox that may not exist. Like this, Kayden thinks it is me giving him money for exchanging the tooth. I wrote back, dear Kayden, I've received an email about your lost baby tooth. I'll stop by with a special surprise for your tooth. Just one of more than 6,100 wishes answered.

I get a chance to be a small part of their life and it's just sending off good vibes into the world. Little Caroline wrote, I'm so so sorry I swallowed my tooth and I love you one youngster asked can I borrow my tooth back only for one day I want to show it to my friends please and some are running investigations. If I see you in person I will believe you if I don't that means you're not real and the tooth fairy never forgets her

sign off don't forget to means you are not real. And the Tooth Fairy never forgets her sign-off. Don't forget to brush and floss. Happy growing up. Love the Tooth Fairy. Savannah Sellers, NBC News. You can't forget to floss. That's Nightly News for this Friday. I'm Tom Yamas. Thanks so much for watching. Tonight and always, we're here for you. Good night.