NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Monday, March 16, 2026

Episode Date: March 17, 2026

Midwest slammed by record-shattering blizzard; TSA callout rate surges as DHS shutdown continues; Trump urges allies to help escort ships through Strait of Hormuz; 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.

Tonight, a brutal March megastorm ripping across the country, damaging winds and intense rain battering the east, while the Midwest digs out from record-breaking snow. Just take a look at these whiteout conditions with blizzards making roads messy just days before spring, while firefighters try to get a handle on this huge warehouse fire in the bitter cold. And the dramatic Coast Guard rescue of a snowmobiler, look at that, stranded on an ice shelf. On the East Coast, rare tornado watches with punishing wind doing damage from Charlotte to the nation's capital and a funnel cloud forming over a highway in Maryland. Thousands of flights canceled from the weather, but it's a one-two punch for travelers with lines stretching out the door as hundreds of TSA agents walk off the job. What you need to know before you fly. The war with Iran, a giant fireball over Dubai's airport after a drone attack, and the terrifying moments, a cluster bomb explodes near Tel Aviv.

You see it there? Richard Engel on the ground. Plus, President Trump demands allies send ships to escort tankers through the strait of Hormuz as oil tops a staggering $100 a barrel. One of the president's top advisors diagnosed with breast cancer. The reaction from the Oval Office tonight. Cuba plunged into darkness, the entire Cuban power grid collapsing as a top official speaks out in a rare exclusive interview with our team. Panic on the beach as crowds of spring breakers take off running.

Why this party devolved into chaos. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. Good evening. I'm Hallie Jackson in for Tom, and we are coming on the air tonight with severe weather battering much of the country, leaving a trail of destruction. from the Great Lakes to the deep south. The rare threat of tornadoes, keeping the East Coast on alert as funnel clouds like that one, and intense storms build. In Charlotte, powerful wind, sending debris flying across the city, ripping away roofs. In the Midwest, three feet of snow in some spots. In one Michigan town, snowdrifts piled so high you can barely see outside these

windows. And in Wisconsin, danger for drivers facing near whiteout conditions on the road. Nearby, fire crews battling a huge warehouse fire in the middle of the blizzard. Very tough to get a handle on the flames because of the bitter cold. You can see the smoke rising into the air. All of it adding up to a travel nightmare with more than 4,000 flights canceled today alone. We begin tonight with Angie Lasman in hard hit Wisconsin. Tonight, the Midwest buried in record smashing snow. Look at these near whiteout conditions in this video from Wisconsin. You can barely make out the road. Car After car, after car stuck. Probably one of the crazier snowstorms we've ever seen.

One town got a jaw-dropping three feet. While here in Green Bay, this storm already dumping 20 inches of snow so far, solidifying its place in the record books as the largest March snowstorm since 1888. An impressive amount of snow, even for Midwest standards, with just four days till spring. A massive fire broke out at a warehouse here this morning. Firefighters fighting high winds and freezing equipment as they battled the blaze. The blizzard also causing dangerous conditions on the roads in Iowa, where this tractor trailer overturned. And in South Dakota, where pushing was the only way out for this Amazon truck.

While in Michigan, a dramatic rescue. Watch this Coast Guard cutter make its way to a snowmobiler stranded on a sheet of ice, pulling him on board to safety. Meanwhile, the East Coast was pummeled by an outbreak of severe. Dear storms today, with portions of 10 states under tornado watches. Take a look at this funnel cloud that formed over a highway in Maryland. The wind and rain leading to a mess at the nation's airports. More than 4,000 flights canceled today, with the storms triggering ground stops at major hubs, including Atlanta and Chicago. In Charlotte, high winds sent debris through the air.

The winds were so strong in Texas over the weekend, it sent this child floor. flying. Even the South was hit by frigid temperatures today with a rare snowstorm in Alabama. While back in the Midwest, the snow is finally tapering off, but the digout is just beginning. Angie is joining us now from a very snowy Green Bay. And Angie, we're talking about the biggest storm in the Midwest all season, even with spring just days away. That's exactly right, Hallie. More than 300 cities across the Midwest, picking up double-digit snowfall totals, including here in Green Bay where cleanup has just begun. City officials now extending that snow emergency through Tuesday night urging drivers to stay off the roads. Hally? Quite the same. Angie Lastman, thanks.

It's more than just the weather complicating air travel on this very busy spring break travel week. The government shutdown is a growing factor with more TSA officers now calling out sick or leaving altogether. Here's Tom Costello. The busiest spring break travel week yet. I'm a TSA. We say I'm all the way back and baggage place. With building frustration and long lines at key airports, including Austin, Atlanta, and LaGuardia. After missing a second paycheck, the TSA says 366 officers have now quit. Hundreds are calling out every day to work a second job to make ends meet. This is a kitchen table issue.

Sit at the table. Speak to the TSA officers. Find out from them what's going on. For some, it's potentially life and death. I've heard from officers who cannot afford co-payments for cancer treatments or office business for their sick children. The airports with the highest call-out rates include 21% in Atlanta, JFK, and Houston Hobby, 16% in New Orleans, 14% in Pittsburgh. When Republican Senator Cornyn showed up with burgers for TSA officers, Democratic Congressman Gray Kassar was there.

Instead of bringing people burgers, he should bring them their paychecks. On truth social, President Trump today said the crazed Democrats are not allowing TSA agents to get paid. Democrats have offered to fund TSA but want changes to ICE procedures after two Americans were killed in Minneapolis. The TSA's advice get to the airport two to three hours early. We are concerned that if this continues, it's a matter if and not when we're going to have significant impacts at the airport. And those impacts are just going to worsen. Tonight, no sign of compromise on Capitol Hill. the TSA insists security not being compromised, but officers and passengers are paying the price every day.

Hallie? Tom Costello, thanks. To the war with Iran now and the new pushback as President Trump tries to get allies to help escort ships through the critical straight of Hormuz. Gabe Gutierrez reports. Tonight, I've made Iran's attacks on oil tankers trying to drive up oil prices. President Trump is pressuring U.S. allies to send warships to help unblock the vital. straight of Hormuz. Some are very enthusiastic and some are less than enthusiastic, and I assume some will not do it. The president saying he's been talking with about a half

dozen countries to counter the Iranian regime. This is a paper tiger that we're dealing with now. It wasn't a paper tiger two weeks ago. It's a paper tiger now. But Germany's defense minister arguing today, this is not our war, a top diplomat for the European Union saying there's no appetite to help with escorting ships, the president ripping the president ripping the NATO Well, we want to know, do you have any minesweepers? Well, we'd rather not get involved, sir. I said, for you mean, for 40 years we're protecting you and you don't want to get involved. We'll protect them. And if ever needed, if we ever needed help, they won't be there for us. About 20% of the world's oil typically flows through the Strait of Hormuz, virtually all of it to Asia, not the U.S.

but the instability is affecting global oil prices. Jet fuel is up, which could lead to higher airfares. And the average price for a gallon of gas is up more than 70 cents since the war began. When this is over, oil prices are going to go down very, very rapidly. You can't let the most violent, vicious country in the last 50 years have a nuclear weapon. Late today, the vice president pressed on why he supports this war, despite previously opposing U.S. intervention abroad. We have a smart president, whereas in the past we've had dumb presidents,

and I trust President Trump to get the job done, to do a good job for the American people, and to make sure that the mistakes of the past aren't repeated, absolutely. Gabe is joining us now from the White House, and Gabe, we're hearing the president might delay his upcoming high-profile trip to China. Yes, Halley, the president said today that he may want to postpone his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping for a month or so because of the war, adding it's important for him to be here.

Hallie? Gabe Gutierrez, thank you. And with the straight of Hormuz, clearly a major flashpoint, Iran is renewing its attacks on neighbors in the region, including with strikes on key international airports. Here's Richard Engel. Iran is lashing out. Today, with airports again in the crosshairs.

In Dubai, fires burn from an Iranian strike. Oil facilities hit in the Emirates. We filmed an Iranian cluster bomb as it exploded mid-air near Tel Aviv. Those lights floating down are each small bombs. One of them landed on Rahm Masasa's house. He showed me exactly where he was, saying he thought about ignoring the air raid sirens. But... I knew that if a missile would hit me, my wife would kill me.

For having ignored the siren. For having ignored the siren, yeah? He walked down these steps and made it to the safe room. I closed the door of the shelter, and the second I closed it, bam. The blast was 10 seconds after he decided to leave. Did you tell your wife that it was thinking about her and what she was going to do to you if you didn't listen to the siren? Yeah, she said I was right. She would have killed me.

In Lebanon, Israeli troops are rapidly expanding their ground operation against Hezbollah. 800,000 people displaced so far. While in Iran, the government, which launched a brutal crackdown on protesters in January, is now threatening to kill anyone who protest the regime. President Trump says that's why demonstrators, for now, have not taken to the streets. They can be brave, but they're not stupid, and they have no gun, and you have snipers in buildings. Richard is joining us now from Tel Aviv, and Richard, you have some new reporting tonight about potential off-ramps here, right? Potential is a key word. Six U.S. officials familiar with the war plans say that President Trump has been presented with war plans, and they include off-ramps, should he choose to take them.

They also include options to escalate this war, but there are military ways that he could end this war right now. But in Iran today, a senior Iranian official said they're not focused on negotiations. They're not looking for a ceasefire at the moment. They're focused on defending their country. Richard Engel, thank you. Late tonight, a major setback for the Health Secretary's overhaul of vaccine recommendations for kids. Ann Thompson is joining us now. So, Ann, walk us through this new ruling from a federal judge tonight. Halley, today's decision puts a temporary stop to Secretary Kennedy's plans to overhaul the childhood vaccine schedule. Earlier this year, the CDC announced it was reducing the number of diseases kids needed to be immunized against from 18 to 11.

The court found that the CDC failed to consult the vaccine advisory panel as required by law. Kennedy fired all the panel members last year and replaced them with many who share his vaccine skepticism. The court put on hold the appointments of all those new members and all the votes of the committee. HHS is expected to appeal. Howie? Ann Thompson, thank you. Just in tonight, President Trump revealing his chief of staff, One of the most powerful people in Washington has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Kelly O'Donnell is here with us tonight. And Kelly, Susie Wiles is going to go through treatment while basically working full time. Like many women do, and good to be with you, Hallie. Susie Wiles holds a special kind of authority in Washington. She has the president's trust and carries considerable influence as the first woman to ever serve as White House chief of staff. What you don't expect with Susie Wiles is any effort to be the face of this White House. But today her story is the story. She announced that she has breast cancer and intends to keep working through her treatment.

In a statement, she noted that nearly one in eight women in the U.S. will face breast cancer. She wrote, these women continue to raise their families, go to work, while said she is encouraged by a strong prognosis. Kelly O'Donnell with us here in Washington. Thank you. To Cuba tonight now, descending into a blackout as conditions deteriorate. But in a rare and exclusive interview, one top official says, Because the country's now hoping to open up more of a relationship with the U.S., even with some critics skeptical. Our George Solis has made his way to Havana and has more.

Tonight, Cuba is in the dark. The entire electrical grid collapsing today as the country struggles with an energy crisis, leaving millions on the island without power. During this latest blackout, people have been spilling out to the streets here for hours. Fortunately, some cloud cover to keep them from this blistering heat. It's been three months since the drop of oil has reached the country. Highways are empty because there's no gas. Women are delivering babies in dark hospitals with no electricity. Conditions are deteriorating.

I sat down exclusively with Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Perez Oliva Fraga, considered by many to be Cuba's economic czar, his plan to attract more foreign investors, including large companies from the United States. He says Cuba is open to having a fluid commercial relationship with U.S. companies, with Cubans residing in the United States and their descendants. This person tells me it would be a breath of fresh air. And while there are people in the United States who legally do business with Cuba, Washington's trade embargo restricts many companies from doing authorized business there.

Today, President Trump was asked about taking Cuba. Taking Cuba, I mean, whether I free it, take it, I think I can do anything I want with it. What a relationship would look like, though, remains to be seen, particularly since Congress has to vote, and many in Congress are skeptical. I would ask and advise any Cuban that lives here or any Cuban in exile. Please, don't invest in Cuba. You're wasting your time. Today, Cuban American activists in Miami came together to send a message.

If we don't have any change in political rights, if we don't have any political guarantees, there's no economic change that's possible. Freedom is to be able to choose your destiny. It's about Cuban sovereignty, not about business. And tonight those Cubans plunged into darkness will come here along Havana's iconic seawall. To not only cool off, but escape the reality of the situation. Halley?

George Solis in Cuba, thanks. In just 60 seconds, chaos and confusion as people run for safety at spring break ahead inside the crackdown on crime. We are back with a chaotic scene at a popular Florida spring break spot. Thousands of people panicking, scrambling on the beach, all of it captured on camera. Jesse Kirsch explains. This is the moment chaos erupts in Daytona Beach, Florida. Hundreds of people running across the beach Saturday after what appeared to be gunshots ringing out. There were zero gunshots on the beach because what they were doing was crushing a water bottle to make it sound like a gunshot to stampede the crowd.

The Volusia County Sheriff says it happened even with dozens of law enforcement officers in the crowd. Later adding at least one weekend shooting was also spring break related. And in Port Oranzas, Texas, police say a 17-year-old shot and wounded five people on a beach late Saturday night. No one's running from gunshots. But in Miami Beach, Florida, an iconic party town has worked on a spring break rebrand in recent years. And it seems to be working. Police say this weekend arrests plummeted almost 21. percent year over year. The city's surging resources, more police, DUI and license plate checks,

but also parking and getting towed are more expensive. The strategy that we implemented was in all hands on deck and a collective strategy involving not in the police department, but different city entities that made it very clear. We welcome you to our city, but if you decide to break the rules and break the law, you'll be dealt with accordingly. Raising a new strategy to avoid scenes like this. Jesse Kirsch, NBC News, Miami Beach, Florida. Back now with a big Border Patrol update, the man who led President Trump's immigration crackdown in major U.S. cities

will retire at the end of the month, according to two officials. Greg Bovino had earlier been stripped of his commander title following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. And U.S. soccer and Nike revealing the new jerseys for the men's national team. there they are ahead of the World Cup this summer. The kits feature two uniforms, one with stars and one with stripes, plus a separate goalkeeper kit. The team will show them off later this month. And that is nightly news for this Monday.

I'm Hallie Jackson. For all of us here at NBC, thanks for watching and have a great night.