NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Monday, January 12, 2026

Episode Date: January 13, 2026

New clashes over ICE operations in Minneapolis; Backlash after DOJ launches criminal investigation into fed chair; Trump responds to anti-government protests in Iran getting more violent; and more on tonight’s broadcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Breaking tonight, Cache is intensifying in Minneapolis as Minnesota sues to keep ice operations out of the state. The growing escalations days after a woman was shot and killed by ice. Officers smashing car windows dragging out and arresting a man, tear gas and flashbangs launched at demonstrators as a thousand more ice officers arrive. Protesters surrounding officers blaring whistles are reporter at the scene as tensions flare. Also tonight, the criminal inquiry into Fed chair Jerome Powell. Powell blasting the investigation in a rare video, saying the president is trying to intimidate the Fed over interest rates. What President Trump told our reporter about the probe, as some Republicans speak out against the inquiry. Hundreds killed in Iran and many others fear dead as the government cracks down on nationwide protests.

What President Trump just announced moments ago. Double murder suspect in court, the ex-husband, arrest. for killing an Ohio couple making his first appearance, how investigators linked him to the crime. New surveillance video of an arsonist downseen a synagogue in gasoline before lighting it on fire. Avalanche dangers, a woman and her dog swept up in the snow, how they survived. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. And good evening. We begin tonight with that growing unrest and chaos in Minnesota following the deadly shooting of a woman by an ICE officer. On the streets of Minneapolis today, clouds of tear gas filling the air as protesters clash with federal agents over their enforcement tactics.

We have new video tonight showing ICE officers. You see it right here, smashing the windows of this car, dragging a man out and arresting him in the middle of the road saying he was impeding an ICE operation. Over the weekend, thousands taking to the streets with protesters saying they won't stop fighting until federal forces leave their state. But the Trump administration showing no signs of backing down, instead surging the number of officers in Minneapolis, sending a thousand more in. The fight now heading to the courts as Democratic officials in Minnesota file a new lawsuit to force the feds to leave. We begin tonight with Maggie Vespah, who's on the ground in St. Paul for us. Tonight, mayhem in a Minneapolis neighborhood. Anti-ice protesters banging on federal officers' vehicles. who deployed tear gas to disperse crowds.

This officer appearing to pepper spray someone out the window of a moving van. Look at this behind me. You can see people arguing with that Border Patrol agent with this federal officer. We're seeing scenes like this popping up across Minneapolis. I'm mad. I'm very mad. You're mad right now? Yes. Well, not right now. I've been mad.

And this video showing immigration officers pulling someone out of a car who they say was impeding enforcement operations. The Trump administration now surging hundreds more federal law enforcement officers to the city. The weaponization of a vehicle, a deadly weapon against our law enforcement, we're seeing that's becoming a more and more common tactic. DHS touting the work of federal officers in Minneapolis the last few days, saying they've arrested criminal suspects in the U.S. illegally, including with convictions for sexual assault of a child, rape of a child, homicide, and manslaughter. What are they out there protesting for? They are actively trying to impede law enforcement operations and end the President Trump's mandate to deport illegal alien criminals from our communities. But Minnesota Democrats now suing to block the surge in officers here. This is, in essence, a federal invasion of the Twin Cities and Minnesota, and it must stop.

While tonight, amid the chaos, that's Jamie Schweisnettel. Earlier, he showed us how residents opposed to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement track ICE officers communicating via encrypted chat, saying the protests here will go on. People who live in this neighborhood have been through enough. We don't need tear gas. We don't need goons and masks with machine guns setting off tear gas bombs here. Like, they should just leave us alone. Maggie joins us outside ICE headquarters in St. Paul tonight. And Maggie, we see the demonstrators there just behind you.

and there have been clashes into the night? Yeah, Tom, that's right. Our teams have been witnessing officers deploying pepper spray and tear gas multiple times today. The latest just in the last hour pushing these protesters back from the entrance to the local ICE headquarters across the street. Suffice it to say, this anger here isn't going anywhere, Tom. That is clear. Maggie, thank you. Now to that showdown between the Trump administration and Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The Justice Department opening a criminal investigation all after President Trump has,

repeatedly slammed Powell for not lowering interest rates. Here's Kelly O'Donnell. A stunning escalation in the White House feud with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. The Department of Justice is launching a grand jury investigation. Powell himself announced that the Federal Reserve has been subpoenaed. Today, the White House denied that President Trump sought the probe. No. As for whether or not Jerome Powell is a criminal, that's an answer. The Department of Justice is going to have to find out. says the inquiry is about his June testimony before Congress. On the renovation of the central banks Washington headquarters that the president viewed in July,

where he slammed cost overruns pushing the price tag from $1.9 billion to $2.5 billion, though not taxpayer money. The president has pounded Powell over interest rates. Well, I'd love him to lower interest rates. Other than that, what can I tell you? The DOJ declined comment on what it called ongoing investment. investigations. Powell, who had avoided conflict with the president, engaged. The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates

based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president. In a phone call with NBC News, the president said he would not use an investigation to pressure Powell. What should pressure him is the fact that rates are far too high. That's the only pressure he's got. The investigation set off a large. for some Republicans. North Carolina's Tom Tillis vowed to block any Trump nominees to the Federal Reserve. Another example of amateur hours as far as I'm concerned. House Speaker Johnson backed the DOJ. No, the Justice Department is not being weaponized. And with that, Kelly joins us tonight live from the White House. And Kelly, I know you have some new reporting for our viewers that the Treasury Secretary

is pushing back on this investigation as well. Secretary Besson spoke to the president directly about this. And a source familiar with that conversation. conversation described the situation as a mess, and that Bessent is, quote, frustrated that a probe of Powell creates unnecessary distraction. Tom? Kelly, thank you. We want to turn to Iran now where the crackdown on anti-government protesters appears to be getting worse. Just moments ago, President Trump, who has already threatened military action there, announced that any country doing business with the Islamic Republic will have to pay a tax on business done with America. Richard Engel has the latest.

The few images protesters managed to share with the world despite the government's internet crackdown reveal a nation in open revolt and facing a brutal crackdown. As Iranians search for loved ones, killed or missing, a U.S. official with direct knowledge of events tells NBC News protests have now spread to every province in Iran and that the government seems to be on its heels. President Trump, who threatened to attack Iran in support of the protesters, says he's reviewing military options. The Speaker of Iran's Parliament today warned if the U.S. attacks, American bases will burn.

President Trump said that would be a big mistake. What would they do that? We'll consider things targets they wouldn't believe. If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they've never been hit before. And they won't even believe it. I have five options that are so strong. So, I mean, if they did that,

it'll be met with a very, very powerful. force. In Iran, state media, the only media amid the communications blackout is telling Iranians the government is in full control, as pro-government counter-protesters have been mobilized. Iran's president took to the streets. The country's supreme leader went so far today as to claim victory, praising his security forces for defeating what he described as rioters, backed by Israel and the United States. Iran's Islamic government in power since 1979. may be breaking, but its security forces appear to remain intact. Richard joins us now live, and Richard, the president just announced tariffs on countries

doing business with Iran. Exactly. Iran is already one of the most sanctioned countries in the world. These new 25 percent tariffs, Trump's announced, attempt to target countries that do business with Iran, which include China and Russia. Richard Engelforst, Richard, thank you. The doctor arrested for us. for the murder of that Ohio couple found dead in their home, making his first court appearance today. The suspect, the ex-husband of the woman killed. Our Aaron McLaughlin was in the courtroom today. This is the first time we're seeing accused killer Michael David McKee in court.

The vascular surgeon, clean cut in handcuffs, wearing a yellow jumpsuit, speaking only to say his name. During a two-minute-long court appearance, where he waived his right to an extradition hearing. Wade is right to an extradition. McKee now charged with two counts of aggravated murder for the shooting deaths of his ex-wife, Monique, Tepi, and her husband, Spencer. Tonight, the Teppi's brother-in-law tells NBC news, McKee was an emotionally abusive person when he was with Monique, adding it was obviously a shock that something like this could happen,

but we quickly believe McKee had something to do with it. Phyllis Williams is close friends with Monique's mother and attended her wedding to McKee back in August 2015. They were not surprised who the perpetrator was, and I'm very glad justice will be served. The couple had no children and divorced after less than two years of marriage. Court documents cited incompatibility. Three and a half years later, Monique married Spencer Tepi, sharing this in her vows. I had quite a journey to get to you, countless bad bumble dates,

of wrong relationships and waterfalls of tears. But it was worth every cringing second because it led me to you. The couple had two children ages four and one, who were also inside the Columbus, Ohio home when McKee allegedly opened fire. 11 days later, McKee was arrested for the double homicide, roughly 400 miles away in Rockford, Illinois, where he practiced medicine. Today in court, McKee's public defender said he plans to plead not guilty to the charges in Ohio as soon as possible. Aaron joins us live, and Aaron, you're outside the courthouse there in Rockford. Do we know when McKee will be extradited to Ohio? Well, Tom, it's unclear.

Officials here say it's up to authorities in Ohio to come pick him up. The judge set a status hearing for next Monday. Tom. Okay, Aaron, we thank you for that. In Mississippi, a 19-year-old has been charged with arson after breaking into a synagogue and lighting it on fire. And now a new video shows the moment he poured gasoline inside. Jesse Kirsch has more.

Tonight, this is what's left. of Jackson, Mississippi's only Jewish House of Worship after an anti-Semitic attack. The Beth Israel synagogue largely reduced to rubble after a suspect deliberately set fire to the temple. This synagogue's surveillance footage shows the hooded attacker pouring gasoline inside. Authorities say 19-year-old Stephen Spencer Pittman is now charged with arson after confessing to lighting the fire because of the building's Jewish ties. According to the FBI, map data shows Pittman left home early Saturday, stopped at a gas station and then arrived at what he called the synagogue of Satan.

That's when he allegedly used an axe to break a window, poured gasoline and set the synagogue on fire. Later, Pittman allegedly laughed as he told his father what he did and said he finally got them. Investigators say the suspect's father turned in his son. The attack against the synagogue is an attack against all of us. A congregation spokesperson says no synagogue members were injured in the attack, but at least two sacred prayer scrolls were destroyed. Anti-Semitic incidents have been surging in the U.S. after Hamas' 2023 terror attack on Israel,

according to recent data from the Anti-Defamation League. This was not the first attack on Beth Israel. In 1967, the Ku Klux Klan bombed the temple and the home of its anti-segregationist rabbi, according to the synagogue website. Tonight the suspect is in custody, as the synagogue congregation says it wants Jewish life to continue proudly and even defiantly.

Tom? Jesse Kirsch for us tonight. We have new videos showing the power and the danger of avalanches. One incident turning deadly in the snow over the weekend. Here's Liz Kreutz. Tonight, multiple avalanches creating a dangerous few days on the slopes. This harrowing video showing a skier in the mountains between Spain and France being violently swept downhill by an avalanche.

You can hear her calling out for her dog. as she slides down the mountain for some 15 seconds, finally, safely coming to a stop. The incident is one of several recent avalanches, from Juneau, Alaska, where there's an evacuation advisory following multiple avalanches, including this one, to Washington State, where on Friday, an avalanche turned deadly. Officials say 38-year-old Paul Markoff and 43-year-old Eric Henney were killed while skiing in the eastern Cascade Mountains. According to the sheriff's office, two others they were with survived, using a small satire. satellite device to send a distress call. They were shaken and they had tried to do what they could

to find and save their friends unsuccessfully. The avalanche risk also high in Colorado, where this video shows a group of skiers swept up in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Officials say one of the riders dislocated his shoulder while grabbing onto a tree. Thankfully, they all made it out alive. What is it about the conditions right now that are triggering these avalanches? Well, all but one of these were avalanches and wind-drifted snow. And so it was a combination of a little bit of new snow, a bunch of wind that drifted that new snow, and then it was a really nice weekend, which just lured a lot of people out into the mountains. An important warning, this winter, Liz Croix, NBC News. We are back at a moment with the crash landing cut on camera, a paraglider, plummeting hundreds of

feet into the ocean. Plus, a scary moment for the U.S. bobsledding team. Did you hear about this? How a four-man race turned into a solo ride. That's next. We're back now with a wild moment caught on camera. This paraglider in Florida plummeting hundreds of feet after getting caught in sudden wind gusts, then splash landing into the ocean. Beachgoers swam out to help him. Police telling us tonight he was not injured. Also tonight a disastrous moment at the World Cup for an American bobsled team.

You see here what happened. Three of the four athletes slipping on the track, one of them careening into the ice wall. Only the driver makes it into the sled as it takes off a four. man ride turning into a solo mission there. 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.