NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Monday, January 26, 2026

Episode Date: January 27, 2026

Sources: Trump to reduce Border Patrol officers in Minneapolis after shooting; Anti-ICE protestors clash with federal officers at hotel; Trump administration under pressure over deadly Minneapolis shooting; 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.

We're following two major breaking stories as we come on the air, the Trump administration ordering the Border Patrol leader in charge of Minneapolis to leave after that protester was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents, and the deadly winter storm leaving hundreds of thousands without power as temperatures plunge. Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino expected to leave Minneapolis tomorrow, along with some agents. The major shakeup as outrage over the killing of Alex Pready grows with massive. demonstrations in the streets and at the hotel where federal agents were believed to be staying. Growing memorials for Predi, the ICU nurse shot and killed. And what the new videos of the shooting reveal, we break it down frame by frame and what we're learning about body cameras on the agents. Plus the political backlash, more Republicans breaking from the Trump administration over ice tactics and why that issue could lead to a government shutdown by the end of the week.

Millions digging out from historic snowfall, cars and trucks spitting off roads, the death toll rising as life-threatening cold takes hold, and now 700,000 without power. You'll meet one family forced to camp out in their home to stay warm. The alarming video, a baby falling out of a moving car, nearly run over. How did this happen? This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yomas. And good evening. we begin tonight with the fast-moving developments in Minneapolis after a protester, Alex Pretti was shot and killed by federal agents in broad daylight over the weekend.

Late today, we learned that the commander of the border patrol, Greg Bovino, you see him here, is expected to leave Minneapolis tomorrow, and that some of his agents will leave the area in the days ahead. The Trump administration seeming to take the rare move of trying to turn down the temperature. It comes after days of furious protest over the shooting of Pretti and, ICU nurse at the VA. Over night, angry residents surrounded this hotel where they believed agents involved in the shooting were staying. And we have new reporting on what the videos of the shooting reveal and how they appear to contradict the original Homeland Security narrative that

Preddy was brandishing a gun. We're going to break it down for you frame by frame tonight. There are growing tributes to Preddy in Minneapolis. You see them here and across the country. And there are mounting questions tonight about the investigation into that shooting with some Republicans now breaking ranks with the president over it. We're going to cover it all tonight. We begin with Camila Bernal on the ground in Minneapolis. Honestly. Tonight, under pressure following the shooting death of Alex Prattie,

the Trump administration is planning to reduce a number of Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis sometime this week. An administration official and a law enforcement official tell NBC news, while Border Patrol commander Greg Bevino is expected to leave the city tomorrow. All, as President Trump now says he's sending borders our top. Holman to Minnesota tonight amid a dramatic shift in tone between President Trump and Minnesota's Democratic governor, Tim Walz. Following a phone call, both are describing in positive terms. The president saying we seem to be on a similar wavelength. This, after Walls, had slammed the president's crackdown on illegal immigration.

What do we need to do to get these federal agents out of our state? While the White House tonight still demanding Minnesota allow local police to cooperate with immigration officers. This tragedy occurred as a result of a deliberate and hostile resistance by Democrat leaders in Minnesota. DHS says officers were trying to arrest a suspect convicted of domestic assault. When we first see Alex Pretti on the scene in a confrontation with a law enforcement officer holding his cell phone. He's seen again in the street recording when officers asked protesters to move back. Pretti then reaches for an officer who's pushing another protest. to the ground, that officer using pepper spray on them. Then we see several officers struggling to get

Prady to the ground. DHS says Prattie had brought with him a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and two extra ammunition clips. A split second before the shooting, we see this officer in a gray jacket run out of the scrum with what looks like Prattie's firearm. Just at that moment, in another angle, you can hear someone appearing to yell about a gun. Then the first shot is heard. Officers back away firing several more shots. Afterwards, you hear someone say, where's the gun? One more. We got the gun.

An officer says he has it. President Trump saying about the shooting, I don't like any shooting, but I don't like it when somebody goes into a protest. And he's got a very powerful, fully loaded gun with two magazines loaded up with bullets also. Police say Prattie had a permit to carry a weapon. This angle of the video showing Pretti's hands shortly before the shooting. One holding a cell phone, the other is empty, contradicting initial comments by Homeland Security Secretary Chrissy Noem, who said he was brandishing a weapon. An individual arrived at the scene to inflict maximum damage on individuals and to kill law enforcement. NBC's Gabe Gutierrez, pressing the White House today.

Why did administration officials jump to conclusions before an investigation, have even been conducted. Well, look, this has obviously been a very fluid and fast-moving situation throughout the weekend. As for President Trump, whom I speak for, he has said that he wants to let the investigation continue and let the facts lead in this case. Camila joins us now live, and Camilla, I know you have some new reporting on the investigation into that shooting. That's right, Tom.

The Department of Homeland Security tells us they have multiple officer body cameras that are currently under review. Meanwhile, still a very somber mood here as crowds continue to gather at the site of this memorial. Tom? That body camp footage is going to be critical to that investigation. Camila, thank you. The reaction to the shooting in Minneapolis has been fierce with anti-ice protesters rushing a hotel lobby where they believed federal law enforcement officers were staying. Here's Morgan Chesky. New images tonight of anti-ice protesters trying to storm the lobby of a hotel where they thought ice agents were housed. multiple cars in the parking lot damaged.

When federal officer heard asking for Minneapolis police. Where is the local preview? That clash with authorities and temperatures well below zero left this behind today. Shattered glass and graffiti up and down this hotel because the group believed it was housing dozens of federal agents. All after another shooting involving federal law enforcement in Minneapolis. How would you describe the last almost three weeks here in your city? Hell.

As we're learning more about 37-year-old Alex Preti, an ICU nurse at the city's VA hospital. Here he's speaking after the passing of a soldier who was one of his patients. Freedom is not free. We have to work at it, nurture it, protected, and even sacrifice for it. What was your initial reaction? It was of shock and horror. Dr. Osma's shock at Met Alex in 2014, when she hired him for his first job, later recommending him. for nursing school.

Alex was a kind, helpful, and a gentle soul. He wanted to protect his community the same ways that we would want to protect our family or our community. In a statement tonight, Prattie's parents writing in part, the sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun. Adam Martinez, one of the hundreds converging on a now growing memorial where Prady was shot. He stood up for someone that got pushed.

And for that, he took, I don't know how many bullets. And, I mean, that's the sad thing that, I mean, who's next? Now, as for the chaos that happened at this hotel, tonight, Minneapolis police tell us that one officer was here and did provide assistance to an injured federal officer. Tom. Okay, Morgan, thank you. The Trump administration is facing growing political backlash from both parties to the operation in Minneapolis. Gabe Gutierrez is at the White House with that part of the story. Tonight, the White House is facing mounting pressure over the deadly shooting in Minneapolis.

Not only are Democrats threatening to block DHS funding, which could lead to a partial government shutdown on Friday. We should be able to use our vote to push for reforms in a complete overhaul of this agency. A growing number of Republicans are questioning the federal surge in Minnesota. I think the situation is only going to get worse, and I really think that there are so many, cities in the United States that have issues with criminal illegals that I think they would be, they would be better received in other cities. Some in the GOP are now calling for a full investigation and congressional hearings, others urging the White House to come up with a new game plan. They being the White House, need to recalibrate on what needs to be done to make sure that

that respect is going to be reinstilled. In Minnesota today, a Republican gubernatorial candidate even dropped out of the race. support the National Republican stated retribution on the citizens of our state. Now, with Borders are Tom Homan heading to Minnesota and Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino heading out, according to two administration officials, the White House is downplaying any friction among top officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Christy Knoe. Should the deployment of Mr. Homan to Minneapolis be seen as a sign that the president is dissatisfied with how the officials on the ground had to handle the incident?

No, Mr. Holman is doing an exceptional job, and he has been working with Secretary Nome and President Trump over the course of the last year. Secretary Nome still has the utmost confidence and trust of the President of the United States. Gabe joins us now from the White House. Gabe, we're learning about another key phone call the president had today connected to Minneapolis. Yes, Tom. President Trump just spoke with Minneapolis mayor, Jacob Frye, who says the president agreed that the present situation cannot continue. Frye plans to meet with Borders are Tom Homan tomorrow. Tom. All right, Gabe, thank you. We turn out to our other big story tonight, the crippling ice and snow from that winter storm that have left major cities at a standstill, while much of the South is still dealing with widespread power outages as they go into yet another freezing night. Aaron McLaughlin

has fallen in all for us. Tonight as the monster storm moves out, the deep freeze settles in. Frigid temperatures, blankets of ice and feet of snow, still grouping a huge portion of the country. At least 20 people have died so far, including elementary school teacher Rebecca Ruber. Police in Kansas say the 28-year-old froze to death. Her smile, it was so vibrant. That's what I'm going to miss the most. First responders are still working around the clock to keep up with collisions and spinouts. Even emergency vehicles are having trouble getting around.

This semi-slid off the road in Tennessee, shutting down the highway. And in the Midwest, where it's been single digits or lower since Friday, stranded cars litter the roads. The extraordinary storm created this in New York City, where even the rivers are freezing over, with record snowfall in several states, including here in Massachusetts. It's crazy. Oh, my God. I never. I live in here for 90 years, but I never see something like this. I've been out here for a few hours. It's a long time. which I don't know.

Chase Hill is frozen right now. 160 million Americans remain under cold alerts, including many down south, where hundreds of thousands of households are still without power. George Solis is in Nashville, where temperatures are expected to plummet again tonight. While some without power have evacuated, some families like the Claiborne have decided to camp out in their home to stay warm.

We've set up our tent in our living room. We have a small indoor propane heater that will go for five hours or so. We've covered all the windows, and you can see we've covered the doors between the draftier parts of the house and this one, and we're just keeping a few rooms warm at a time. Mississippi resident Jane Hubbard also has no power. She heard a giant oak tree crash into her neighbor's house as the storm barreled through. It sounded like a, I don't know, some loud thunder. Have you ever lived through anything like this? Well, I live through Katrina. You're comparing this to Katrina? It's pretty bad. It's pretty bad. We have no, no power.

no water, no, nothing. Tonight, the city of Dallas looks more like the Arctic tundra. In Boston, firefighter, Lieutenant James Brooks says it's the worst he's seen in years. Had a pretty good amount of calls and everything. Different calls, water leaks, chiro accidents, medical calls. It's kind of chaotic. Aaron joins us now live. And Aaron, this is incredible.

As we look at your live shot there, the snow is still coming down in Boston. That's right, Tom. is expected to last through the night, which was why the mayor of Boston just announced schools will be closed for a second day tomorrow so that they can deal with all of this. Because in these frigid temperatures, this snow's not going anywhere. Tom. Walls of snow there. All right, Aaron, we thank you for that. Al Roker joins us now live. Al, that brutal cold is going to be so intense. And you're now tracking another storm just behind it? Absolutely. It's an insult to injury, Tom. As we just heard, 160 folks from Midland, Texas to Washington, D.C. under some sort of cold weather advisory.

You can look at the potential record lows from Laredo, Texas to Youngstone, Ohio for tonight, into tomorrow the morning lows, single digits as you get into the week for Chicago, upper 20s for Jacksonville. Those are the lows, afternoon highs, teens, and 20s. And yes, Dom, as we talk about this system, we're watching it on Saturday make its way up the coast through Sunday, but it's so close, we're going to have to watch this because if it moves a little further to the east, to the west, I should say, 50 miles. That could mean a major snowstorm for the I-95 course. Even more for Boston. All right, we're back in a moment tonight with the alarming video.

How did a child fall from this moving car and end up in the middle of the street? Plus, my interview with one of the biggest CEOs in artificial intelligence, what he says about the dangers of AI. That's next. Welcome back. More than two years after the Hamas, October 7th attacks, the remains of the final hostage have been identified and returned. Ron Gavili was a young police officer, an elite unit, killed during the initial attacks. His return allows the next phase of the ceasefire deal to potentially reopen a border crossing. Back here at home, take a look at this dramatic video. Fullerton Police in California arrested a mother for child endangerment after her child fell from her moving vehicle.

You see the passenger door open slightly and the child ends up on the street. The woman then comes around the back. and picks the child up, the 19-month-old is expected to recover. Today, an urgent warning from a top AI executive, Dario Amode, the man behind the popular AI model, Claude and the company Anthropic, telling me in an exclusive interview why he thinks there should be more regulation of his technology. Are you worried some of your colleagues, some of these other CEOs may be more concerned about their stock prices, more concerned about taking their companies public, more concerned

about dollars and cents than the future of humanity? So, you know, I think to be fair, none of us fully know how to control AI systems. Like, you know, I can't tell you there's a 100% chance that even the systems we built are perfectly reliable. We do everything we can to make them more reliable every day. We run tests. We advocate for regulation of the technology. But I think the problem is when you have a lot of players, the dangers are set by the least responsible players. And you can see my complete interview with Anthropic CEO on Top Story on our streaming channel, News Now. That's nightly news for this Monday. I'm Tom Yamis. Thanks so much for watching.

Tonight and always we're here for you. Good night.