NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Friday, September 5, 2025

Episode Date: September 6, 2025

WSJ: HHS report to make potential link between autism and Tylenol use during pregnancy; 22,000 jobs added in weak jobs report; South Korean workers arrested during immigration raid at Hyundai site; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the new report, Health Secretary R of K Jr. expected to release a study, potentially linking taking Tylenol during pregnancy to autism. The company stocked down after the Wall Street Journal reported, HHS will explore links between autism and the popular pain reliever, despite data that it's safe. The news coming a day after Kennedy was grilled by senators about his controversial public health views. The urgent new warning signs about the economy, losing jobs for the first time since the pandemic.

Rising unemployment hitting young people especially hard as tariff uncertainty impacts nearly every part of the economy. President Trump arguing real job numbers will come in a year, what it could all mean for interest rates. Inside one of the biggest ice raids yet, officers lining people up at a Hyundai plant, construction site arresting 475 who ICE says were working illegally. most of them from South Korea, the major immigration escalation, the top secret seal Team

Six mission inside North Korea, the high-stakes operation to plant a listening device to spy on Kim Jong-un, how the stealth mission involving submarines fell apart, tracking multiple tropical threats, including a hurricane headed towards Hawaii. Also tonight, why Elon Musk could be the world's first trillionaire. And it's a story you have to see to be. believe a stick of dynamite set to explode in a family's yard diffused by the family dog, the life-saving moment caught on camera. And our very own, Chanel Jones, opening up about the loss of her husband, the powerful message she's sharing about grief as she returns to the Today Show. Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas.

And good evening. We start with a major headline when it comes to public health. You'll remember just yesterday, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., facing intense questions from Republicans and Democrats alike over his approach to vaccines and trust in medicine. Now, a new story is already sending ripples through the country and stock market. The Wall Street Journal publishing that Kennedy's department is set to put out a report looking into what may cause autism. And one of the links they are exploring, the role Tylenol plays in women who take it while pregnant.

NBC News hasn't verified what's in the HHS report, and the department itself says the report isn't ready for release. But the news has sent Tylenol's parent company stock into a nosedive. Ann Thompson leads us off. For months, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has promised to find the cause behind America's rising autism rates. By September, we will know what has caused the autism. epidemic. Tonight, the Wall Street Journal citing people familiar with the matter says a new HHS report

is expected to potentially link autism to pregnant women's use of acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. The journal also says the agency will suggest folate as a way to decrease autism symptoms. An HHS spokesperson would neither confirm nor deny the story, saying the upcoming report will use gold standard science, and any claims about its contents are nothing more. than speculation. The journal says the report relies on existing studies and is expected to also suggest other potential causes for autism. The science on the potential association between acetaminopin and autism is mixed. This year, a study from New York's Mount Sinai Hospital suggested prenatal exposure to acetamine may increase the risk of neurodevelopment disorders, including autism.

while last year a study in JAMA found no link. Today, shares of Kenview, the company that owns the maker of Tylenol, drops some 10%. Tonight, Kenview says it has continuously evaluated the science and continues to believe there is no causal link between acetaminopin and autism. Is it safe for pregnant moms to take Tylenol? It is the position of the American College of Obstetricians and Gagnacologists that Tylenol is safe when it is taken according to directions. And with that, Anne, joins us now live in studio.

So, Anne, what does this all mean for pregnant women? Two recommendations. First of all, talk to your doctor because pain and fever can put your child at risk as well. And remember that this is only a potential link, not a cause, and there's a big difference. And a big reminder tonight. All right, Anne, we thank you for that. Okay, now to the economy in that worst-than-expected jobs report. It comes a month after the president fired the top official in charge of the president.

that data. Here's Peter Alexander. Tonight, President Trump is dismissing the latest disappointing jobs numbers. They'll say you're losing jobs and then they say, by the way, we have a correction a month later. It follows a weaker than expected jobs report. Employers only adding 22,000 new hires in August. And revised numbers show 13,000 jobs lost in June. The first time that's happened since the pandemic. Unemployment ticking up slightly to 4.3%. The White House acknowledges it's a setback. Inflation is low and economic growth is solid.

The only part of the data that's disappointing is the job's numbers. Just last night, the president hosting major tech executives who touted new investments in America. From Mark Zuckerberg at Meta. At least $600 billion through 28 in the U.S. Yeah. It's a lot. To Apple's Tim Cook. 600 billion.

600 billion. It's a lot of jobs. President Trump insists that will pay off in a year from now. When these monstrous, huge, beautiful places, they're palaces of genius. And when they start opening up, you're seeing, I think you'll see job numbers that are going to be absolutely incredible. But tonight among those most affected black women and young people, the unemployment rate for black women rising to 6.7%. Tyra Sistrunk was laid off from the Department of Education. I'm seeing colleagues who are taking definitely half the pay that they were.

just so that they could have something. Youth unemployment now tops 10%. Leah Bailey is a recent college grad still looking for full-time work. I feel very most lied to because I did. I thought that if I had a degree, it would help me. All right. Peter joins us now with Christine Romans as well.

Peter, I'm going to start with you. This is the first job report that comes out after the president criticized how the state is calculated. Yeah, not just criticized, but fired the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, claiming without evidence that she was manipulating those numbers. The conservative ally that he has picked to replace her has not yet been confirmed. All right, Christine, the two big questions tonight. How is this going to affect interest rates going forward? And how did the stock markets react? Yeah, the president again calling for lower rates today. And frankly, the reality is the

Federal Reserve is now more likely to cut interest rates when it next meets. That would lower borrowing costs for homes and cars and all other consumer debt. In fact, Tom, mortgage rates fell today, making this the best time in almost a year to refinance. Still, stocks fell on worries that after several years of robust jobs growth, you know, companies are now turning more cautious. We've had now four months in a row of less than 100,000 new jobs created, Tom. All right, Christine and Peter, appreciate that tag team. See you later. Now to the massive immigration rate in South Georgia sweeping up hundreds of South Korean workers at the construction site for a major automotive plant. Priya Shrether is there tonight for us.

Tonight, new video from inside the dramatic raid. We're going to search for it for the whole site. We need construction to cease immediately. DHS agents lining up workers at a Hyundai plant under construction near Savannah, Georgia. We're supposed to have our ID? If you haven't, it's great, and you don't need to go grab it if you don't. Officials say they arrested 475 workers who were in the U.S. illegally. The largest single site enforcement operation in Homeland Security history.

This operation underscores our commitment to protecting jobs for Georgians and Americans. Officials say the majority of those arrested are South Korean nationals and worked for contractors and subcontractors, not for Hyundai directly. Hyundai posting it complies with, quote, all laws and regulations and will review its contractors. President Trump backing the DHS operation. They were illegal aliens and ICE was just. doing its job. It comes as the Trump administration is signaling it will step up its crackdown on illegal immigration with expanded ice operations in Chicago. NBC's Shaquille Brewster is there. Organizers of Chicago's Mexican Independence Day parade tell us that they're going to have

volunteers all along the parade route with phones, radios, and even whistles to alert if they see federal agents. The intensifying ice action sparking mixed reactions. Our community is under attack. Let's be clear. President Trump wants a confrontation. As far as deportations, they have criminal records. They should not be here. Meanwhile, the South Korean government is responding to the ice raid saying, quote, the rights and interests of our nationals must not be unfairly violated. Tom. Priya Shreider for us tonight, Priya, we thank you. Now to a busy moment for the tropics with one hurricane looming in the Pacific,

another one dying off and something trying to develop in the Atlantic. Bill Karens joins us tonight with a look at it all. Tom, with the flood threat diminishing in Arizona, let's focus on Kiko. This storm has rapidly intensified during the day today, has a large eye. It's now a category four, powerful storm. So Hawaii, all eyes are on this. It's about four to five days away from you. The trend has been a little to the north of the islands today, maybe missing a direct hit on the big island.

It's going to weaken significantly by the time it gets there likely a tropical storm, but with the high mountainous peaks, we're worried about the flash flood threat in the Hawaiian Islands. As far as out in the Atlantic, the hurricane center actually lowered the chance of this development. Now it's 70 percent, and it's kind of wish-washy on if it's really going to develop or if it's going to head to the islands or just kind of diminish to the south here. This is still a wait-and-see, but nothing imminent or threatening yet, Tom. All right, Bill, we thank you for that. Now to a U.S. operation in North Korea involving submarines, Navy SEALs swimming in heated suits, and a listening device for spying on Kim Jong-un. The top secret mission, which was first revealed by the New York Times today, took place in

2019 and ultimately failed. Here's Courtney Cuban. On a frigid night under the cover of darkness, a group of U.S. Navy SEALs boarded a submarine like this one and quietly made their way to the shores of North Korea, unaware that their top secret mission was about to turn deadly, say three former U.S. officials familiar with the operation. The undisclosed 2019 mission, first reported by the New York Times, was intended to plant a listening device to spy on reclusive North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, according to the officials, who confirmed the details of the plan to NBC News. They say the seals used two mini-subs to get as close to the shore as possible. Riding with open hatches, they used heated dive suits to protect from the freezing water. The seals swam the final stretch to shore. Their number one priority, move undetected. They cut all communication, and unlike most missions, they had no drones overhead to warn about possible dangers. So when the seals caught sight of a North Korean boat, they had no one to ask for permission and acted immediately, shooting everyone on board. Once they got to the boat, there were no weapons and no uniforms. The men appeared to be fishermen. The SEALs issued a

distress call and left without planning the listening device, according to the officials. The mission approved by President Trump took place within days of his 2019 nuclear summit with Kim Jong-un. Today, the president denied any knowledge of the operation. I'm hearing it now for the first time. The officials say it's not clear whether North Korea ever knew U.S. Navy SEALs were on their shores. The Pentagon declined to comment. All right. Courtney, joining us now live. And Courtney, there was also a major change at the Pentagon today following an executive order by President Trump. Yeah, that's right, Tom.

The president's signing an executive order declaring the Department of Defense now has a secondary name, the Department of War. But within moments of signing, Pentagon officials already changing signs around the building, including one declaring Secretary Hegsa as the Secretary of War. Tom. All right, Courtney Cuby for us. Courtney, we thank you. We head overseas now because this Sunday, a teenage boy who loved video games is about to become the first ever millennial saint of the Catholic Church. Kier Simmons spoke with his mom in an exclusive interview. Tonight, a new saint in jeans and a sweatshirt.

Carlo is a sign of hope. Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager who died in 2006 from leukemia, is credited for two miracles, helping heal a young woman. boy and a woman. The late Pope Francis cleared the path for his sainthood. Now this Sunday, Pope Leo will make him Saint Acutus, his first canonization as pontiff in St. Peter's Square. Carlo's mom will be there too. Carlo was a young boy of Milan who was a little bit a jack of internet, a computer jack. But he used his skill to do what he had in the heart, to love the love of Jesus, to let people know about his faith.

Carlo was both ordinary and extraordinary. He loved playing video games, then used those computer skills to engage other young Catholics. His story has been drawing people to his shrine in the Hilltop Italian town of Assisi. Carlo was born. Carlo Catholic's hope will connect with and inspire young people. What is the one message that Carlo would want people to? are here in this difficult, difficult modern world that we live in. Open yourself to the others. There is a world, you know. There are so many people who are

suffering. There are so many things, difficult things in the world. Not to be close to our self. Tonight, here in Italy, 2,000 years of faith feels a little more modern because of one young man. Tom. Kier Simmons with that big exclusive. Kier, we thank you. And we will be right back with the incredible surveillance video, a man tosses a dynamite stick into a journalist's yard, how his dog helped prevent disaster. We hear from them next. We're back with an incredible story. A family dog has been credited with saving their lives by diffusing a stick of dynamite that was thrown onto their property, and it was all caught on camera. Here's Sam Brock. Tonight, a Peruvian journalist and his family are alive after security footage shows someone

taking an explosive device and dropping it in the courtyard of their home in a city north of Lima. But the journalist says quick action from his hero pup Munchis. At one in the morning may have averted disaster as the dog tried to move it with her paws and snout, then ate the fuse. Do you think Munches saved your life? Of course, the La Republica investigative reporter told us the evidence is in the video, and I now fear for her life. Carlos Messia Serrata says he does believe he was targeted due to the nature of his work and immediately phoned police after it happens. He tells us the police informed him it was the kind of dynamite used in landmines and ultimately have detained a suspect. With all attention, now falling on the fearless 25 pound K9 who suffered

injuries. How is Monchi's doing today? She's having trouble barking, he said, explaining her vocal cords were damaged. You can't hear her bark now. The family will need help for medical care. Still, the Cocker Spaniel mixes actions saved an entire household with 10 people and three other dogs inside. She chewed it and shoot it and saved our lives, he told us, proof that this pup is not only man's best friend, but also best protector. Sam Brock, NBC News. That's one brave dog. All right, when we come back, is the world's richest man about to get richer, a trillion dollars? The massive payday that could be ahead for Elon Musk.

Plus, Caitlin Clark sidelined for the season. what her comeback timeline could look like and what LeBron James just said about it. Stay with us. We're back now with that former Alaska Airlines pilot who was accused of trying to shut down a plane's engines mid-flight after taking psychedelic mushrooms, pleading guilty for interfering with the flight crew and endangering lives. He was off duty at the time. The pilot was sentenced to five years of probation and a fine. And he's already considered the world's richest man, but could Elon Musk be the world's first trillionaire? You heard me correctly. Tesla's board today proposing a massive pay package for its CEO that could get him there, Musk would need to hit some ambitious growth goals

for the company to cash in. And she's one of basketball's biggest stars, but the Indiana Fever's point guard, Caitlin Clark, is out for the rest of the WNBA season because of injuries. The team says she's expected to be back and healthy by the start of next season. LeBron James posting his support online saying this is a minor setback for a major comeback. All right, and when we come back, the emotional return of our dear colleague, Chanel Jones, following the loss of her husband to cancer, her powerful message on navigating grief. That's next. Finally tonight, our beloved colleague, Chanel Jones, returned to the Today Show this morning after taking a leave of absence to be by her husband Uchay side in the final month.

of his battle with cancer. Chanel sat down with Savannah for a powerful and emotional interview about the time she calls a beautiful nightmare. I wanted to be strong and I wanted to look back and know that I was strong

but I didn't want to be so strong that I missed the fight, that I missed the beauty and the fight, that I missed just looking in his eyes because I was his oxygen sometimes. I would just, I love you. We're going to be okay. I love you.

Look at me. I'm here. And can I just say, Chanel, as your friend that witnessed this, you did that. We would have been married 18 years this month, and it just felt like we always kind of had it. And when he was dying, I would say, this sucks and this is scary, but if you asked me if this was going to be my fate, I would do it all over again. Uche was such a fighter and he had such strong faith. It was his lifeline. You know, I can easily understand why when people go through something like this, they

turn away from their faith. But you look at somebody like my husband, his faith is what kept him going. No one gives you a manuelan grief. It comes at unexpected times and places. I thought grief was linear. Grief is not like, today it's better, it's better, it's better, ah, we're there. Grief is like a wave. And what I've told my kids, it's almost like rain can't last forever. I see it as like, okay, here comes my cleansing rain. And it's okay. I know there could be people watching me in hospital rooms around this country. Cancer doesn't have to

steal our joy. We can get up, we can get out of bed, and we can go to work. And we can go to work. We can go to school. We can squeeze the most out of the days that we have. And honestly, I feel like Uche's heartbeat lives on in mind. And so for all of us who are grieving, it's like, okay, we can grieve, but we can also still try to move forward. We don't move on, but we move forward with our loved ones. And Chanel, from all of us here at Nightly News,

you know we are keeping you and your amazing children in our thoughts. That does it for us this Friday. I'm Tom Yammas. Thanks so much for watching. Tonight and always we're here for you. Good night.