NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Monday, August 25, 2025

Episode Date: August 26, 2025

High winds and heat fuel dangerous West Coast wildfires; Trump suggests expanding federal crackdown on crime to Chicago; LAPD makes several arrests in alleged gang-related burglary ring; and more on tonight's broadcast.

Tonight, the wildfire emergency as summer heat puts firefighters to the test across the globe. More than 1,200 firefighters battling wildfires in Oregon from the ground and from the air, already charring nearly 22,000 acres. Powerful winds and dangerous heat stoking fires in Napa Valley. Firefighters were dropped off by choppers in remote areas. Plus the dust storms over the weekend that kicked up winds of 50 miles per hour, threatening the Burning Man Festival and the fight overseas with record wildfires in Europe, a helicopter losing control while trying to pick up water, everyone on board somehow surviving.

The intense Israeli air strikes on a Gaza hospital, the chaos and then a second blast exploding as first responders rushed to the scene. Five journalists killed. The question tonight, how could Israel mistakenly strike a hospital twice? President Trump creating specialized national Guard units, and now suggesting he may target Chicago next on his federal crackdown on crime, calling the city a killing field. Illinois's governor telling the president to stay out of a state. The massive home explosion in Missouri that people said felt like an earthquake, a neighbor's home also exploding, what police think happened. The neighborhood on edge as an out of control hot air balloon is forced to make an emergency landing, how people on the ground help save lives.

President Trump get his face on Mount Rushmore are Ryan Nobles in South Dakota to find out what he learned about the masterpiece and if the National Memorial is about to get a facelift. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. And good evening. As we come on the air here, crews are battling wildfires across the West and the globe. Intense winds, low humidity and dangerous heat for millions are creating the perfect conditions as fast. 50 large fires burn. In central Oregon, the flat fire, leveling houses and prompting evacuations, burning nearly 22,000 acres and just 5% contained. In California, crews are getting the upper hand on the picket fire, but the dangerous fight is raging across the globe, including in Europe, with one of their worst summers ever.

Watch this, a helicopter losing control as it tried to pick up water from a lake. Somehow, the pilot and crew managed to escape alive. The stakes are high and the heat is on. We start tonight with Morgan Chesky from Los Angeles. Tonight, high winds and brutal heat, fueling a bitter West Coast firefight. Flames in Central Oregon scorching homes and more than 21,000 acres, the fight to contain crucial from above, where key drops saved entire neighborhoods.

We did have some new growth yesterday, but caught it relatively early. Red flag warnings now cover parts of Oregon, Washington, in California, where crews are battling the picket fire in Napa Valley. The terrain so rough, helicopters dropped off firefighters by day before searching for hot spots at night. It's amazing. Yeah, I've never seen them run at night before this year, so it's pretty incredible.

Despite burning nearly 7,000 acres, crews say they've reached 13% containment and count. It's comforting to know that they were on it right away. We also got lucky with the wind. In neighboring Nevada. Oh my God, the whole side of the RV. Fierce winds, whipping through the popular Burning Man Festival this weekend. The 50-mile-per-hour gust, destroying tents, and temporarily shutting down entry, leaving thousands stuck in their cars for hours.

Campsites covered in layer after layer of dust. Across the country, even New York wasn't immune to wild weather. severe thunderstorms forced hundreds to take shelter at the state fair where a heavy rain and high winds wreaked absolute havoc and morgan joins us live tonight from southern california morgan these ongoing heat alerts aren't helping firefighting efforts no tom in fact they're complicating the ongoing firefighters in these multiple states and at last check 11 million americans remain under these heat alerts on a west coast where the fire risk remains incredibly high Tom. Okay, Morgan Chesky for us. Morgan, thank you. Now to those deadly Israeli air strikes on a hospital in Gaza that killed 20 people, including several journalists. Israeli officials calling it a mishap, but under pressure tonight to explain how this happened. Here's Mali Hunter.

Outside of southern Gaza's only functioning hospital, chaos after an Israeli strike. Minutes later, with first responders and journalists on the scene, a second blast. seen live on the air, striking the same spot. And here, that moment inside the hospital, in all 20 people were killed. The now mangled staircase at the side of Nassar Hospital was a lifeline for journalists, a well-known place to access Wi-Fi. Five journalists are among the dead,

Hosam Al-Masari with Reuters, Miriam Abu Daka, a photographer with the AP, Muhammad Salama with Al Jazeera and freelancers Moez Abu Taha and Ahmed Abu Aziz. Tonight, Israel says it's investigating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posting Israel deeply regrets the tragic mishap at the hospital. We are operating in an extremely complex reality. Hamas terrorists deliberately use civilian infrastructure, including hospitals as shields. In Washington, President Trump was asked about it today.

I don't want to see it. At the same time, we have to end that whole nightmare. The Committee to Protect Journalists says at least 189 journalists have been killed in Gaza in the last 22 months. And today, the Gaza and Press Corps placing bloodstained cameras on their press vests, saying goodbye to five more of their own. And with that, Molly joins us live from Jerusalem. Molly, the big question tonight, right? How does Israel explain these mishaps? And what are they saying more tonight? Tom, they haven't explained.

All they have said is that there was a strike earlier today in the area of Nassar Hospital. They launched an investigation. Meanwhile, the APN Reuters have already issued a joint letter demanding answers from Israeli authorities. Tom. All right, Molly, we thank you for that. Back here at home, President Trump's tonight suggesting he'll take his crackdown in Washington to more states and send more national guard to other cities, which is sparking sharp backlash. Here's Garrett Hake.

Tonight, National Guard soldiers deployed by President Trump to crack down on crime in Washington, D.C., are now armed following a new Pentagon order, as the president floats the possibility of extending federal deployments to other U.S. cities, including Chicago. We may wait. We may or may not. We may just go in and do it, which is probably what we should do. They need help badly. Chicago desperately needs help. But late today, this from Chicago's Democratic mayor, who notes the city's murder rate is down 32 percent. from last year. This stunting that this president is attempting to execute is not real. It doesn't help drive us towards a more safe, affordable big city. And Illinois Democratic governor, J.B. Pritzker, posting this video along Lake Michigan. And we have a lot of people running, having a great time. Insisting the city does not need assistance from federal law enforcement. Mr. President, do not come to Chicago. You are neither wanted here nor. You are neither wanted here nor

needed here. But so far this year, the city is still averaging over one killing a day. Just this weekend, there were three homicides and 27 people were shot. We still have a problem. We have a problem with illegal guns. We have a high murder rate. We need help with that. If Trump really wants to help, what he can do is give us a federal Homeland Security grant so we can hire more police officers. While the president pushing back on Democratic accusations that he's behaving like a dictator. A lot of people are saying maybe we like a dictator. I don't like a dictator. I don't like a I'm not a dictator. I'm a man with great common sense and a smart person. And when I see what's happening to our cities, and then you send in troops, instead of being praised,

they're saying you're trying to take over the republic. All right, Garrett joins us live from the White House. Garrett, the president also making headlines on crime with some new executive orders, including on cashless bail. That's right, Tom. The president targeting several Democratic-run cities and states, including Washington, D.C. and Chicago, which uses cashless bail system in their courts. The president believes those hurt public safety. The order signed today could be used to cut off some funding for places that keep using those systems after 30 days. And in a separate order signed today, he also created a new specialized National Guard unit that could be deployed in cities for police work going forward. Tom?

Garrett Haig, with a lot of headlines from the White House, Garrett, we thank you. Now to those astonishing images from Missouri, multiple homes destroyed. After a massive explosion in a neighborhood outside of St. Louis. Here's Adrian Broad us. Tonight, the alarming aftermath in a neighborhood outside St. Louis. Two homes flattened by an explosion. Others burned to the ground. Residents terrified. I heard boom, and my doors shook and my bells on my door shook. And I said, oh, my God, is it an earthquake? Multiple injuries were also reported. They walking people out on stretches.

For miles, people could see this thick black smoke rising. As soon as I heard it, I felt it, I got up and ran over. there, and I've seen one house that was already crumbled. Fire officials say the explosion triggered multiple alarms across the city, knocking out power and forcing a neighboring Walmart to evacuate. Upon arrival, the initial crews found multiple buildings burning. Total of five were reported. We do have three individuals that have been transported to the hospital at this time.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation, and authorities are still trying to determine the scope of the damage. Some are damaged so much. We couldn't get in there. We had to send cadaver dogs. And tonight, as they look at the devastation, people here saying it's a miracle. No one was killed. I got a call from my sister. She was screaming in the phone. Like, help, help, like my house. I'm just so grateful that she and my niece and nephew, they're all fine. So that's what matters most. Everyone is safe. Adrian Broad us, NBC News. In Los Angeles today, the police department charging several gang members, they say, are responsible for nearly

100 residential burglaries across the city. And authorities saying the group used sophisticated tech to break in. Here's Liz Kreutz. Tonight, Los Angeles police busting what they describe as a prolific burglary ring responsible for 92 home break-ins across the city. Ten suspects, all adult career criminals with prior arrest for violent and property crimes have been identified. Authorities say the suspects, ranging in age from 20 to 47, call themselves the rich

roland burglary crew. part of a South L.A. gang that uses advanced technology to target multiple high-end neighborhoods. They are sophisticated. They do things like have the ability to jam your Wi-Fi cameras, jam your Wi-Fi alarms. The arrests come amid a wider string of home break-ins from celebrities to everyday residents, like this recent heist showing mass thieves fleeing a home with duffel bags full of ransacked items. The victim saying it happened just moments after he left his home, leading him to believe, he was being watched. We've seen cases where cameras have been put in flower beds across the street from the house.

According to police, during this latest round of arrest, authorities recovered multiple firearms and ammunition, burglary devices, including window punch tools, radios, face masks, headlamps, and cans of bear mace, and loads of stolen goods from high-end jewelry to designer purses. These are not crimes of need. These are crimes of greed. We're going to track you down, and we're going to put you in jail or prison. And Tom, the DA says that some of the arrested suspects who have prior records can now face life sentences if convicted. Tom.

All right, Liz. Now, I don't want to alert for anyone who gets shipments from overseas. Mail carriers around the world are pausing service to the U.S. in response to an executive order signed by President Trump. I'm joined tonight by Brian Chung with us live. And Brian, what kind of packages are we talking about here? Yeah, Tom, it could choke up Etsy or eBay orders from abroad or even a family member's care package from reaching you.

That's because the president signed an executive order ending an exemption Friday. That's allowed goods under $800 to come into the U.S. without extra charges for the last decade. That's having a major impact around the world. I mean, look at this list of countries. Mail carriers in all of these places say they're stopping shipments to the U.S. entirely for now, since they have no idea how those tariffs will be collected. And by the way, the administration says this is to stop fentanyl from coming into this country. So, Brian, when those tariffs kick in on Friday, what happens in the prices immediately go up?

Yeah, well, I mean, at some point, if the international shipments do pick back up, those items will be tariffed at the country-specific rates set by the administration, which right now range from 10 to 50%, which can mean hundreds in added costs. In fact, I spoke with a stationary store owner who told me today that's not going to be good for them. I would say about half of what we have is from other countries. Are you going to have to raise your prices? Yes, we are. And a lot of friends of mine who are in retail, we've all sort of said the same thing. One important note, though, gifts ship from abroad under $100 will remain tariff-free, meaning no issue if you're getting a postcard or a souvenir from a broad topic. All right, Brian, thanks for explaining that. We appreciate it.

In 60 seconds, we'll be back with the idea as big as Mount Rushmore. The president's supporters have floated whether his face could one day be on the American landmark. So we sent Ryan Nobles to find out, could it happen? That's next. We're back now with the push by some of President Trump supporters to add him to Mount Rushmore. The faces of four presidents are already carved into the mountain, each standing 60 feet high. So is there room for a fifth? We sent Ryan Noble to South Dakota to find out. Mount Rushmore, an American icon.

Did it just blow your mind? It was a little overwhelming when you first see it. Untouched for more than 80 years, there is now an effort by some supporters of Donald Trump to add his face to the monument. I think history is going to show that he's in the same pantry. Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna has a bill in Congress that would add Trump to Mount Rushmore. Interior Secretary Doug Bergam left open the possibility. Will we ever see President Trump's face on Mount Rushmore?

What do you think? Well, they certainly have room for it. But the practical reality is much different. Dan Wank is the former superintendent at Mount Rushmore. You can't change somebody's work of art. Over the years, people have proposed adding faces to the sculpture, from Susan B. Anthony to Ronald Reagan. Wank says the answer is always the same. It doesn't matter because it can't be done.

But aside from the historic, political, and artistic reasons against changing Mount Rushmore, there's one big barrier, and it's non-negotiable. I wouldn't want to be messing with Mount Rushmore. From an engineering and geological perspective, adding any face is near impossible. A close look shows the mountain filled with deep fractures, like this massive fracture that runs right by Washington's head. Paul Nelson, an engineer who worked on the mountain, warns any new carving could cause serious damage. But it's not something that can be messed with. Is that fair to say?

No, no. Yeah, I wouldn't want to start blasting or carving rock. While the mountain looks deep and wide from the front, a side view reveals a massive valley behind the sculpture, leaving very little room to carve. For perspective, Roosevelt's head is one hundred. hundred feet behind the original granite. You have to remove so much rock that once you remove the rock to get something competent, there's just not any rock left. For Dan Wink, the conversation is fine, as long as that's where it ends. I love controversy.

He's like, bring it on. Bring it on. It doesn't matter how worthy someone is. If the rock is not there, you can't carve them. Putting an end to this age-old debate, at least for now. Ryan Noble's NBC News, Mount Rushmore, South Dakota. All right, and we are back in a moment with such great heights, the hot air balloon coming back down to earth on a residential street, how they avoided disaster.

We'll show you how this ended up. Welcome back. Just days after he was released from detention, Kilmar-Breggo-Garcia is back in government custody. Abrago Garcia spoke today for the first time publicly since the legal battle over his status erupted, calling his release a miracle before surrendering back to ICE. The Trump administration has threatened deporting him to Uganda, though a judge paused that for now. Abrago Garcia's case drew headlines after he was deported to El Salvador in March. Supporters say he was wrongly removed, but the Trump administration has accused him being a member of MS-13, which his attorneys have denied. And take a look at this, a hot air balloon hovering

just above homes in Bedford, England, before hitting the street. The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing after the wind suddenly changed. Locals jumped into action. action and grabbed ropes the pilot had thrown down, guiding the balloon down, safely. And take a look at this, all these skydivers breaking the vertical world record Friday, high above Illinois. After five days, the group says they finally got the weather conditions they needed, getting all 174 jumpers in formation the previous record was set a decade ago. All right, that's nightly news for this Monday. I'm Tom Yamas. Thanks so much for watching tonight. And always, we're here for you. Good night.

Thank you.